Government has suspended face-to-face meetings in the public service to ensure the safety of its employees and trimmed its workforce to 30 percent as the fight against Covid-19 intensifies.

This comes as 34 people died yesterday, while 1 365 cases were recorded. Harare recorded 777 of the new cases.

This was announced by the Acting Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Dr Jenfan Muswere during an update on the Level Four lockdown that began yesterday.

The lockdown was announced by Vice President Constantino Chiwenga, who is also the Minister of Health and Child Care on Saturday with Acting President Kembo Mohadi giving policy direction on the implementation of the lockdown on Sunday.

Dr Muswere said the Public Service Commission (PSC) had streamlined to 30 percent, with the essential service workforce expected to be physically at work across all ministries and Government departments.

“Face-to-face meetings have been suspended. Meanwhile, strict Covid-19 protocols on PSC buses will be enforced. Knock-off time for Government employees shall be 3pm,” he said.

The minister reiterated that only essential services would be allowed to operate during the lockdown as stipulated by law, including closing at 3pm.

He said other commercial operations and services specified in Part 5 of the lockdown order, that is to say all formal businesses and registered informal traders, had been suspended as from yesterday.

“Regarding law and order, our security forces are on high alert and vigilant to arrest offenders.

“In particular, the Task Force noted the suspension of Matapi police officers for negligently allowing a super spreader event to proceed under their watch as well as the arrest of organisers of the big, illegal event that took place in Mbare on New Year’s Eve,” Dr Muswere said.

In an earlier interview, PSC Secretary Ambassador Jonathan Wutawunashe said the trimming of the workforce was aimed at minimising the risk of infection within the public service.

“We have directed that only 30 percent of the public service be at their respective workplaces as a way of decongesting the workplaces.

“Others will work from home and some on call and might be told to report for duty if those at work are overwhelmed or need to rest,” said Ambassador Jonathan Wutawunashe.

Those coming to work would be given safety nets to fall back on in the event they contracted or succumbed to Covid-19 complications.

Ambassador Wutawunashe said some benefits set out last year still stood, like giving those who fell sick, up to up to six months of sick leave on full-pay as well as paying all medical bills for front-line health staff.

Generally, civil servants are entitled to 90 days’ sick-leave on full salary if they are incapacitated by ill-health.-The Herald

Government has suspended face-to-face meetings in the public service to ensure the safety of its employees and trimmed its workforce to 30 percent as the fight against Covid-19 intensifies.

This comes as 34 people died yesterday, while 1 365 cases were recorded. Harare recorded 777 of the new cases.

This was announced by the Acting Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Dr Jenfan Muswere during an update on the Level Four lockdown that began yesterday.

The lockdown was announced by Vice President Constantino Chiwenga, who is also the Minister of Health and Child Care on Saturday with Acting President Kembo Mohadi giving policy direction on the implementation of the lockdown on Sunday.

Dr Muswere said the Public Service Commission (PSC) had streamlined to 30 percent, with the essential service workforce expected to be physically at work across all ministries and Government departments.

“Face-to-face meetings have been suspended. Meanwhile, strict Covid-19 protocols on PSC buses will be enforced. Knock-off time for Government employees shall be 3pm,” he said.

The minister reiterated that only essential services would be allowed to operate during the lockdown as stipulated by law, including closing at 3pm.

He said other commercial operations and services specified in Part 5 of the lockdown order, that is to say all formal businesses and registered informal traders, had been suspended as from yesterday.

“Regarding law and order, our security forces are on high alert and vigilant to arrest offenders.

“In particular, the Task Force noted the suspension of Matapi police officers for negligently allowing a super spreader event to proceed under their watch as well as the arrest of organisers of the big, illegal event that took place in Mbare on New Year’s Eve,” Dr Muswere said.

In an earlier interview, PSC Secretary Ambassador Jonathan Wutawunashe said the trimming of the workforce was aimed at minimising the risk of infection within the public service.

“We have directed that only 30 percent of the public service be at their respective workplaces as a way of decongesting the workplaces.

“Others will work from home and some on call and might be told to report for duty if those at work are overwhelmed or need to rest,” said Ambassador Jonathan Wutawunashe.

Those coming to work would be given safety nets to fall back on in the event they contracted or succumbed to Covid-19 complications.

Ambassador Wutawunashe said some benefits set out last year still stood, like giving those who fell sick, up to up to six months of sick leave on full-pay as well as paying all medical bills for front-line health staff.

Generally, civil servants are entitled to 90 days’ sick-leave on full salary if they are incapacitated by ill-health.-The Herald

Tinashe Sambiri|The late MDC Alliance Senator, Christine Java Rambanepasi was a mother, fighter and brave cadre, President Nelson Chamisa has said.

President Chamisa commended the Java family for giving Senator Rambanepasi a befitting send-off.

“Senator Rambanepasi was a mother, fighter and brave cadre.She was a veteran of the struggle for freedom.

At the same time we remember her as a great mother.

I am happy with all the work that has been done here. I really appreciate your effors.

Our mother was a woman of dignity and integrity,” said President Chamisa.

President Chamisa also urged the Java family to remain strong following the death of Senator Rambanepasi.Senator Rambanepasi’s sons, Apostle Java and Passion Java acknowledged President Chamisa’s presence at the funeral.

Tinashe Sambiri|The late MDC Alliance Senator, Christine Java Rambanepasi was a mother, fighter and brave cadre, President Nelson Chamisa has said.

President Chamisa commended the Java family for giving Senator Rambanepasi a befitting send-off.

“Senator Rambanepasi was a mother, fighter and brave cadre.She was a veteran of the struggle for freedom.

At the same time we remember her as a great mother.

I am happy with all the work that has been done here. I really appreciate your effors.

Our mother was a woman of dignity and integrity,” said President Chamisa.

President Chamisa also urged the Java family to remain strong following the death of Senator Rambanepasi.Senator Rambanepasi’s sons, Apostle Java and Passion Java acknowledged President Chamisa’s presence at the funeral.

Tinashe Sambiri|ARTUZ Secretary for Welfare Masvingo, Sheila Chisirimunhu, who was sentenced to 10 months in prison has been released on ZWL $ 2000 bail.

See full statement below:

A Masvingo High Court Judge today released jailed Masvingo Province Artuz Secretary for Gender and Social Welfare Sheila Chisirimunhu who was sentenced to 10 months in prison on bail.

We therefore celebrate the defeat of Satan concurrently demanding her immediate acquittal since it was her right enshrined in the supreme law of the country to demonstrate and petition for a better living wage. We are grateful to the Judge who did not oppose bail for our own Sheila Chisirimunhu.

Holding a placard inscribed :We demand 520US is not nowhere near inciting public violence. Zanupf must desist from capturing the judiciary system. A living wage is what all right thinking Zimbabweans must fight for versus enduring slave wages at the hands of an insensitive and corrupt regime.

Thank you Artuz leadership for leading the hashtag #FreeSheilaCampaign. I appreciate the role played by all social democrats around the globe. Your demand for non-selective application of the law to citizens has been granted through this historic bail after imprisonment. We reinterate that criminals criminals are walking free while political prisoners languish in hell- hole prisoners.

Obadiah Moyo stole 60 million US dollars, Mupfumira, Chombo only to mention but a few, these are the criminals who eat on behalf of starving teachers. They must face justice, they are genuine candidates for imprisonment. Sheila Chisirimunhu is a trade unionist who is obliged to the fight against peaceful slavery.

We will not sit and relax until Sheila Chisirimunhu has been acquitted.

Former Artuz Spokesperson
Robson Ruhanya.

Tinashe Sambiri|The high incidence of COVID-19 cases in Zimbabwe is a direct result of Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa regime’s gross incompetence, MDC Alliance vice president, Hon Tendai Biti has said.

Hon Biti argued the fragile health system has been further stretched by the escalating COVID-19 cases.

“The National Health System has collapsed . Long before the Covid implosion a vulnerable health delivery system had been mulcted by shortages, corruption&poor wages .With the Covid implosion, a fragile system has all but collapsed. This man has failed and failed in absolute terms,” argued Hon Biti.

“The new Covid Regulations SI10
of 2021 are a potpourri of confusion and disaster .

Policy making should never be knee jerk . It should always be subject to expert advice.
The decision to tighten LockDown is a complete disaster that will affect livelihoods .

Jan is already a tough month

The illegitimate regime has no capacity to govern. Focus should have been on more tests, face masks , social distancing , sanitizaton and restrictions on entry from Countries with new Covid variants.

Force and conscription of people s livelihoods and freedoms will not address Covid 19,” added Hon Biti.

A Lupane man allegedly beat his friend, who later died in hospital, following a dispute over a cap.

Matabeleland North police spokesperson Inspector Glory Bhanda confirmed the incident which happened on Saturday.

“On 2 January 2021 at 1pm Moffat Moyo (37) and Thandazani Ngwenya were drinking beer at Sivalo business centre under Chief Mabikwa.

“A misunderstanding ensued between the two after Ngwenya alleged that Moyo had stolen his cap. Moyo left intending to go to his homestead but Ngwenya followed him armed with a knobkerrie and assaulted him several times on the head,” said Insp Bhanda.

She said Moyo escaped from Ngwenya and informed his brother Mr Phibeon Moyo who escorted him to St Luke’s Hospital where he was transferred to Mpilo Central Hospital for further management.

“His condition deteriorated on 3 January and he died while on admission. The accused vanished after committing the offence and is still at large.

“As police we are concerned about these unnecessary killings which are on the increase. If people have disputes they should engage third parties who will assist them to come to a common understanding,” said Insp Bhanda.

The murder follows the killing of three people in Matabeleland South province during the Christmas period.

The first case occurred in Tjehanga Village in Bulilima District under Chief Masendu where Putshu Moyo alias Mabutho/Kuzvinetsa whose age could not be obtained allegedly fatally stabbed Lizwe Mguni (26). The two neighbours had had a dispute on December 18 while drinking beer at a local shop at about 10pm.

Matabeleland South Police spokesperson Inspector Loveness Mangena said the second murder case was also in Bulilima District in Bambadzi area under Chief Madlambuzi where Finios Mlalazi (42) struck Nkululeko Makhaba (48) with a log on the head and he died on the spot.

The two were earlier at Bambadzi Business Centre and had a dispute over an undisclosed issue.

She said the third murder happened in Bhazha area of Matobo District on December 23 when a man axed his wife to death.

“Sidingulwazi Hlabangani (26) of Tungwane B Village under Chief Masuku struck his wife Sinini Maphosa (21) when a dispute over an unknown issue ensued,” she said. — Chronicle

Chief Justice Luke Malaba has suspended all regular court operations and scaled back other courthouse activities, with the Sheriff and Messenger of Court ordered to stop evictions and executions, following a sharp increase in Covid-19 cases.

The suspension of court business comes after Vice President Constantino Chiwenga, who is also Health and Child Care Minister, announced fresh 30-day lockdown regulations on Saturday following a spike in coronavirus cases.

In a memo also known as the Practice Direction issued on Sunday, which applies to the Constitutional Court, the Supreme Court, the High Court, the Labour Court, the Administrative Court and the Magistrates’ Courts, Chief Justice Malaba said the reintroduction of Level IV national lockdown measures had necessitated the issuance of the practice direction to guide court operations, filing of pleadings, process and handling of cases before the courts for the duration of the lockdown period.

He said with effect from yesterday, the filing of new cases, process, documents, pleadings and papers shall be suspended for 30 days up to February 3, unless the period is earlier extended or revoked.

Only initial remands, urgent applications and bail applications shall be entertained.

In addition, registries shall be open for litigants and legal practitioners on week days between 8am and 3pm to accept process related to matters specified in the Practice Direction note.

The Sheriff and the Messenger of Court shall only serve process relating to urgent applications, but shall not conduct any evictions, executions or sales in execution flowing therefrom, according to the notice.

Litigants, lawyers and witnesses shall at all times be subjected to temperature checks and sanitisation of hands at entry into court premises.

They are also required to wear face masks in the manner prescribed by law, avoid person to person contact, and maintain social distancing as prescribed by law.

“Any person who does not comply with the requirements specified . . . shall not be allowed entry into courthouse or shall be asked to leave the court premises or courtroom or courthouse,” said Chief Justice Malaba.

“Entry into court premises/ courthouses/ courtroom shall be limited to litigants, their legal practitioners, necessary witnesses and identified members of the press.”

Further, entry into court premises or courthouses will strictly not be permitted to the public who have no business at court while litigants who are required to attend court in a province or district other than where they are normally resident, shall obtain the necessary letters of clearance at the nearest police station.

Chief Justice Malaba said the time limited by any rule for the filing of process, pleadings, documents and/ or papers was suspended for the duration of the lockdown.

“Any act required by the rules to have been done during the period of the lockdown within a specified period of time, shall be done within the specified limit calculated from the first business day following the last day of the lockdown period,” he said.

All pending civil cases are deemed to have been postponed and the registrars and clerks of court of the respective courts will reset the matters in consultation with the parties in line with set guidelines.

Similarly, all pending criminal cases on remand by virtue of the practice direction, have been rolled over for a period of at least 30 days.-The Herald

Below is the full statement by the Acting Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Jenfan Muswere on the lockdown measures which came into effect today.

LOCKDOWN STATEMENT BY THE ACTING MINISTER OF INFORMATION, PUBLICITY AND BROADCASTING SERVICES, HON J MUSWERE.

Fellow Zimbabweans, I address you on the first day of our National Lockdown that was pronounced by the Hon Minister of Health, who is also the Vice President, Cde CGDN Chiwenga on the 2nd of January 2021.

This report also comes on the backdrop of the statement released by the Acting President, Cde KCD Mohadi on the 3 of January, which gave policy direction and how the nation will conduct itself over the course of the lockdown.

Whilst the flattening of the curve of the Covid 19 infections in the last few months gave us hope, the reality on the ground nationally and globally is that there is a spike in Covid-19 cases, and we ought to be vigilant as a nation, hence the need to adhere to the measures announced for the lockdown.

For the avoidance of doubt, the country has reverted back to level 4 lockdown as stipulated within SI 10 of 2021.

Essential services and emergencies will continue to operate within the confines of the regulations.

Other commercial operations and services specified in Part 5 of the lockdown order that is to say all formal businesses and registered informal traders are suspended as from today.

My fellow countrymen and women, events of the past two to three weeks do not need me to remind you that Covid-19 kills. Let us be responsible and do our part to fight this war against Covid-19.

The Covid-19 Taskforce met yesterday, 4th of January 2021 to review the situation pertaining to the resurgence of Covid-19 cases and the following issues were raised and addressed:

1. On Surveillance, as of 1 January 2021. Zimbabwe’s cumulative cases of COVID-19 stood at 14 084, with 11 347 recoveries, and 371 deaths. The number of new cases has almost doubled in two months from 8 374 on 1 November to the current 14 084.

There is a recovery rate of 80,6%, with 12 753 being a result of local transmission. New cases increased from 833 in week 51 to 1 204 in week 52

2. Regarding law and order, our security forces are on high alert and vigilant to arrest offenders.

In particular, the Task Force noted the suspension of Matapi police officers for negligently allowing a super spreader event to proceed under their watch as well as the arrest of organisers of the big, illegal event that took place in Mbare on New Year’s Eve.

3. On Primary and Secondary Education, the commencement of the 2021 School calendar has been deferred till further notice to allow for monitoring of the COVID-19 pattern.

Further to this, the nation is advised that teachers including invigilators as well as pupils sitting for exams will be given free passage to their respective schools, subject to them having a clearance letter from the Ministry authorities For Higher and Tertiary Education students, classes will continue online while final exam classes will be allowed free passage to sit for their examinations

4. Media practitioners are considered to be part of essential services as stipulated in SI 200 and in this regard, pending the production of new Accreditation cards by the Zimbabwe Media Commission, journalists will continue to use 2019 Press cards whilst the ZMC puts in place modalities for registration for the current year with immediate effect.

Support staff for the Media Industry at large will have exemption letters issued through the Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services on request from their media houses

5. Concerning information and risk communication, the Subcommittee will continue to hold awareness campaigns in line with Covid 19 regulations and disseminate COVID-19 messages through the media focusing on behaviour change.

Sub-national structures have already begun engaging key stakeholders such as traditional, political and religious leaders to ensure that the message cascades down to the grassroots.

6. Pertaining to cross border movement, entry through land borders will only be permissible for citizens and returning residents upon production of valid Covid-19 Free Certificates issued within 48 hours.

There shall be no exit of travellers through land border posts except for commercial and transit cargo transporting essential goods and services.

It must be reiterated that only International Airports remain open to ordinary travellers for both exit and entry in which entry clearances are subject to strict production of Covid-19 Free Certificates.

Government wishes to advise Zimbabweans abroad that use of fake Covid 19 certificates not only puts your own loved ones at risk, but perpetrators are liable to prosecution

7. Moving onto Government employees, The Public Service Commission has put in place measures to ensure the safety of its workforce including streamlining the size of essential services workforce expected to be physically at work to 30% across Ministries.

Face to face meetings have been suspended. Meanwhile, strict Covid-19 protocols on PSC buses will be enforced. Knock-off time for Government employees shall be
15.00hrs

8. Members of the public, entities in essential services such as mining, communication and telecommunication, agriculture production and security companies are advised that movement and exemption letters will now be issued by the respective line Ministries

May I once again take this opportunity to reiterate the Acting President’s call which said: “We all have the responsibility to adhere to set guidelines. When we work together against the pandemic, we will save lives and ensure a healthy and productive citizenry”.

We all have a collective responsibility to ensure our personal safety, the safety of our loved ones and that of the nation at large. We can stop covid 19.

Let us all play our part. Social and physical distancing, staying at home, masking up ones and that of the nation at large. We can stop covid 19, let us all play our part Social and physical distancing, staying at home, masking up and personal hygiene including sanitising and frequently washing our hands with soap and running water will do the trick.

Good Evening and God bless Zimbabwe. I thank you

Hon J Muswere

Acting Minister of Information, Publicity and
Broadcasting Services

05/01/21

By A Correspondent- Mbare’s New Year Eve music gig organisers Dhama, DJ Fantan and Levels admitted to violating the Covid-19 regulations by hosting the show when they appeared at the Harare magistrates court today.

Dama, born Simbarashe Chanachimwe, DJ Fantan born Arnold Kamudyariwa, and Tafadzwa Kadzimwe known as Levels admitted to “partaking and contravening a public gathering during a national lockdown period” when they appeared before Harare provincial magistrate Mrs Vongai Guwuriro.

Chanachimwe was represented by lawyer Mr Tafadzwa Hungwe while Kamudyariwa and Kadzimwe were represented by lawyer Dumisani Mtombeni.

Mr Micheal Reza and Mr Taddy Kamuriwo are appearing for the State.

Tinashe Sambiri|ARTUZ Secretary for Welfare Masvingo, Sheila Chisirimunhu, who was sentenced to 10 months in prison has been released on ZWL $ 2000 bail.

See full statement below:

A Masvingo High Court Judge today released jailed Masvingo Province Artuz Secretary for Gender and Social Welfare Sheila Chisirimunhu who was sentenced to 10 months in prison on bail.

We therefore celebrate the defeat of Satan concurrently demanding her immediate acquittal since it was her right enshrined in the supreme law of the country to demonstrate and petition for a better living wage. We are grateful to the Judge who did not oppose bail for our own Sheila Chisirimunhu.

Holding a placard inscribed :We demand 520US is not nowhere near inciting public violence. Zanupf must desist from capturing the judiciary system. A living wage is what all right thinking Zimbabweans must fight for versus enduring slave wages at the hands of an insensitive and corrupt regime.

Thank you Artuz leadership for leading the hashtag #FreeSheilaCampaign. I appreciate the role played by all social democrats around the globe. Your demand for non-selective application of the law to citizens has been granted through this historic bail after imprisonment. We reinterate that criminals criminals are walking free while political prisoners languish in hell- hole prisoners.

Obadiah Moyo stole 60 million US dollars, Mupfumira, Chombo only to mention but a few, these are the criminals who eat on behalf of starving teachers. They must face justice, they are genuine candidates for imprisonment. Sheila Chisirimunhu is a trade unionist who is obliged to the fight against peaceful slavery.

We will not sit and relax until Sheila Chisirimunhu has been acquitted.

Former Artuz Spokesperson
Robson Ruhanya.

Tinashe Sambiri|The MDC Alliance Assembly Of Women has strongly condemned the shooting of a pregnant woman in Lupane by overzealous cops.

The pregnant woman was shot and injured as police opened fire on a commuter omnibus.

In a statement the MDC Alliance Assembly Of Women spokesperson, Barbara Tanyanyiwa slammed the barbaric behaviour of cops who shot the woman.

Below is Tanyanyiwa’s statement:

The incident that happened in Lupane whereby police opened fire on a suspected stolen kombi and injured a pregnant woman who was a passenger was very unfortunate.

Citizens are no longer safe at all as those that are supposed to protect them are the ones that are harassing them.

There was no need for the police to open fire as they were not sure whether the car was stolen or not. They acted in a barbaric manner and this must be denounced in toto by every Zimbabwean.

As the MDC A Assembly of women, we say no to such kind of acts as police should be protecting the people instead of injuring them.

We condemn the shooting incident in strongest terms and demand the reprimanding of the police officers involved.

This is the reason why we have been calling for reforms because we are not safe at all. Our rights are being violated everyday especially by the security forces and the government has been turning a blind ear on this.

We wish the woman a speedy recovery and hope that the government will chip in to pay her bills and make sure that she gets proper treatment.

Tinashe Sambiri|The high incidence of COVID-19 cases in Zimbabwe is a direct result of Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa regime’s gross incompetence, MDC Alliance vice president, Hon Tendai Biti has said.

Hon Biti argued the fragile health system has been further stretched by the escalating COVID-19 cases.

“The National Health System has collapsed . Long before the Covid implosion a vulnerable health delivery system had been mulcted by shortages, corruption&poor wages .With the Covid implosion, a fragile system has all but collapsed. This man has failed and failed in absolute terms,” argued Hon Biti.

“The new Covid Regulations SI10
of 2021 are a potpourri of confusion and disaster .

Policy making should never be knee jerk . It should always be subject to expert advice.
The decision to tighten LockDown is a complete disaster that will affect livelihoods .

Jan is already a tough month

The illegitimate regime has no capacity to govern. Focus should have been on more tests, face masks , social distancing , sanitizaton and restrictions on entry from Countries with new Covid variants.

Force and conscription of people s livelihoods and freedoms will not address Covid 19,” added Hon Biti.

Tinashe Sambiri|The late MDC Alliance Senator, Christine Java Rambanepasi was a mother, fighter and brave cadre, President Nelson Chamisa has said.

President Chamisa commended the Java family for giving Senator Rambanepasi a befitting send-off.

“Senator Rambanepasi was a mother, fighter and brave cadre.She was a veteran of the struggle for freedom.

At the same time we remember her as a great mother.

I am happy with all the work that has been done here. I really appreciate your effors.

Our mother was a woman of dignity and integrity,” said President Chamisa.

President Chamisa also urged the Java family to remain strong following the death of Senator Rambanepasi.Senator Rambanepasi’s sons, Apostle Java and Passion Java acknowledged President Chamisa’s presence at the funeral.

Tinashe Sambiri|The late MDC Alliance Senator, Christine Java Rambanepasi was a mother, fighter and brave cadre, President Nelson Chamisa has said.

President Chamisa commended the Java family for giving Senator Rambanepasi a befitting send-off.

“Senator Rambanepasi was a mother, fighter and brave cadre.She was a veteran of the struggle for freedom.

At the same time we remember her as a great mother.

I am happy with all the work that has been done here. I really appreciate your effors.

Our mother was a woman of dignity and integrity,” said President Chamisa.

President Chamisa also urged the Java family to remain strong following the death of Senator Rambanepasi.Senator Rambanepasi’s sons, Apostle Java and Passion Java acknowledged President Chamisa’s presence at the funeral.

By A Correspondent- It was almost business as usual in some residential areas in Harare on the first day of the Level 4 lockdown, as people could be seen wandering along streets.

A survey conducted by the state media on Tuesday morning revealed that at Warren Park 1 shops, large numbers of people could be seen roaming around the shopping centre.

Some people even had the audacity to drink beer in public though they kept one eye on the road just in case security services came.

High numbers of people were also observed at Mbudzi Roundabout on the Harare-Masvingo highway.

Meanwhile, in central Harare, there were fewer people compared to the previous days and most businesses were shut.

There were police roadblocks on major roads leading into the city centre and at most of them, it took up to an hour to pass.

Worryingly, reports suggest that some Ordinary Level pupils could have been delayed to arrive for their examinations due to the congestion at checkpoints.-statemedia

5 January 2021

HIGH COURT ENDS TEACHER’S 18-DAY DETENTION OVER POOR SALARY PROTEST

MASVINGO High Court Judge Justice Neville Wamambo on Tuesday 5 January 2021 ended the 18-day detention of Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (ARTUZ) leader and Masvingo teacher Shilla Chisirimunhu, who had been sentenced to serve 16 months in prison after she was convicted for participating in a protest demanding improved salaries and working conditions for teachers.

The 53 year-old Chisirimunhu, who is a widow, and is represented by Martin Mureri of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, petitioned the Masvingo High Court on 31 December 2020 seeking to be admitted on bail pending the determination and outcome of her appeal against both conviction and sentence. The ARTUZ leader was sentenced to serve 16 months in prison after she was convicted on 18 December 2020 by Masvingo Magistrate Mbonisi Ndlovu and found guilty of participating in a gathering with intent to promote public violence, breaches of the peace or bigotry as defined in section 37 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act. She was arrested in June 2020 together with Obert Masaraure, the ARTUZ President, after they allegedly participated in a demonstration held in Masvingo, where teachers protested against poor salaries and unfavourable working conditions and demanded to be paid a monthly salary amounting to US$520.

Her appeal against both conviction and sentence, which was filed by Mureri at Masvingo High Court is yet to be set down for hearing.

While Chisirimunhu was jailed, Masaraure, who had also been on trial facing the same charges of participating in a gathering with intent to promote public violence, breaches of the peace or bigotry as defined in section 37 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act, was acquitted by Magistrate Ndlovu.

On Tuesday 5 January 2021, Justice Wamambo ordered Chisirimunhu to pay bail amounting to RTGS$2 000 and to report at Chesvingo Police Station in Masvingo once every last Friday of the month.

Justice Wamambo also ordered Chisirimunhu to continue residing at her given residential address until the finalisation of her appeal lodged at Masvingo High Court against both conviction and sentence.

ENDS

The Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) has learnt with deep sadness of the passing on of Bekezela Maduma, the Secretary General of Gwanda Residents Association on 31 December 2020.

Maduma’s death is a great loss not only to his family, but the entire Matabeleland region.

Up until his death, Maduma actively worked with ZLHR and other civil society organisations in the protection and promotion of human rights.

Maduma championed challenging of human rights violations and represented the interests of Matabeleland at various forums.

At the time of his death, Maduma was leading litigation efforts aimed at ensuring access to safe, clean and potable water to the residents of Gwanda.

ZLHR will always value the contribution to fostering a culture of human rights that he made. As a partner, a client and a human rights defender, we salute Maduma for actively pursuing redress for violations for many people in Matabeleland region. Through several advocacy and litigation efforts, Maduma worked towards protection and promotion of human rights, democracy and constitutionalism in Zimbabwe.

Maduma will be sadly missed by all those who were privileged to share some moments with his worthy existence. ZLHR family expresses deepest condolences to the Maduma family, friends and colleagues.

May his soul rest in peace.

Hamba Kuhle Maduma! Go Well!

By A Correspondent- The Government will secure the area around the Victoria Falls gorge to avoid repeats of tragic incidents like the one that killed a Harare man over the festive season.

This comes as search units are battling to retrieve the body of Roy Dikinya who plunged to his death while taking pictures with a friend. His body has since been located some 100m at the fall’s Danger point.

The search units are now waiting for the delivery of suitable equipment from a mine in Matabeleland South to be brought to Victoria Falls today although Government has appealed for any other company with suitable equipment to come forward and assist.

-DailyNews

Zanu-PF communications director Tafadzwa Mugwadi who tested positive for Covid-19 at the beginning of December 2020 has recovered.

Mugwadi announced on Twitter that he is back and had recovered.

Mugwadi was one of more than a dozen Zanu-PF employees and their family members who caught the virus at the party’s Harare headquarters.

The party’s secretary for administration Obert Mpofu and his wife Sikhanyisiwe also into isolation after testing positive for the respiratory illness, although they were reported to be stable.

At the time, Zanu-PF had been hosting party meetings at his HQ including a cocktail for journalists.

The 15-story building was temporarily sealed off to allow for disinfection processes.

Jailed Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe member Sheila Chisirimunhu who was sentenced to 16 months in prison has been granted ZWL$2000 bail.

This was confirmed by ARTUZ President Obert Masaraure.

Chisirimunhu, a gender and welfare secretary for the Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (ARTUZ), began her jail time in December last year amid outrage from trade union movements and human rights campaigners.

By Farai Maguwu| Whilst it is clear the new Covid 19 variant has emerged in UK and South Africa and can only be imported into the country, government has left airports open, thereby making the whole country vulnerable to those flying in. Hotels will remain open, meaning hotel staff can easily contract the virus from visiting tourists or business people and in turn they will carry it to their relatives locked up at home. Nationwide restaurants and bars have been closed except those in hotels serving largely foreign delegates who must be the biggest suspects in terms of spreading the new variant.

Mines, which are now in the hands of the ruling elites, to remain open. Thus the only poor people allowed to travel are those helping to make the elites rich – the workers. Their travel is also restricted between home and workplace. On what basis is mining an essential service? Essential to who? Go tell it to the poverty stricken villagers in Marange that mining is an essential service. Tell those who sit in darkness around Hwange colliery and thermal power station that mining is an essential service. They will ask, essential for who?

Agriculture, which is also now in the hands of the ruling elites to remain open. Like mine workers, those working for the ruling elites on farms will be allowed to travel between home and farm.

The informal sector, where people live on hand to mouth has been banned. Even those selling tomatoes at a street corner are banned. Very interestingly, Vice President Chiwenga did not explain how government is going to supply food to the citizens he locked up. Who then shall come to the rescue of the poor Zimbabweans who are marooned on the no man’s land between poverty and starvation

Thus Zimbabweans are locked up in their homes but foreigners and the ruling elites are free to go wherever they want.

Government through the Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (ZESA) hiked the price of fuel with petrol and diesel now selling for USD$1.23 and USD$1.21 up from USD$1.18.

The Zim dollar price has also gone up to ZWL$100.91 and ZWL$99.35 for diesel and petrol respectively.

Previously petrol and diesel were being sold for ZWL$97 and ZWL98.

Government through the Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (ZESA) hiked the price of fuel with petrol and diesel now selling for USD$1.23 and USD$1.21 up from USD$1.18.

The Zim dollar price has also gone up to ZWL$100.91 and ZWL$99.35 for diesel and petrol respectively.

Previously petrol and diesel were being sold for ZWL$97 and ZWL98.

By A Correspondent- A pregnant woman was allegedly shot and injured by police during a high-speed chase in Lupane, Matabeleland North along the Bulawayo-Victoria Falls highway after boarding a suspected stolen kombi with her two children.

The kombi ended up plunging into a river. The driver and a teenager who was travelling with him escaped.

The woman had boarded the kombi in Sabela Village going to Lupane Centre enroute to Bulawayo and police started pursuing the commuter omnibus suspected to have been stolen.

They opened fire and shot the woman.

In an interview at the family home in Bulawayo’s Pumula South, Ms Sithembiso Moyo (28) said she was shot on December 28 last year near Lupane Centre and she sustained a deep wound and fractured left shoulder.

Ms Moyo said inside the kombi, there were three people the driver, a woman and a teenager.

She said while heading towards Lupane Centre, three police vehicles started chasing their vehicle and then shot at it from behind.

The driver and a teenager escaped and the granny who had also been in the kombi had been a hitchhiker.

“As we were heading towards Lupane Centre I heard bullets hitting the vehicle. I then hurriedly tried to hide my two children under the seats so that they could be safe from the bullets. In the process that is when a bullet hit my left shoulder,” said Ms Moyo.

“The driver and the teenager then jumped from the moving vehicle and fled before the kombi fell off a bridge and stopped. Police tried to track them down but failed.”

Ms Moyo was then ferried by an ambulance to Mpilo Central Hospital in Bulawayo where she was admitted. She said she was discharged after some days as there were no specialists to assist her.

Ms Moyo revealed that during her admission to the hospital some members of police from Criminal Investigations Department (CID) visited her.

She said she was appealing for assistance to get specialist treatment as she was in pain.

“I buy painkillers for R300 every week and I am dressed by an individual here once a day, instead of twice as per doctor’s instruction. I am charged R50 for dressing daily which is difficult for me to afford.

“The police officer who shot me, a Nkala, promised to foot medical expenses but he has gone silent,” said Ms Moyo in intense grief.

She said she is still traumatised because of the shooting.

“I’m five months pregnant so I am not comfortable and this has disturbed the future of my children. I cannot sleep at night. I sleep on one side because of pain with no help,” said Ms Moyo.

Her mother Ms Innocencia Tshuma (56), said she has been disturbed mentally by the terrible incident.

“I don’t know where I will get the money to meet the medical bills. What I want first is the treatment of my child,” said Ms Tshuma.

Contacted for comment, national police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said he was still looking into the matter.-statemedia

View pictures below showing the central business district of Harare on the first day of lockdown.

By A Correspondent- The National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) has submitted to Government for consideration names of potential candidates to fill senior executive posts as part of the parastatal’s restructuring process.

The NRZ board, which is chaired by Advocate Martin Dinha, embarked on a restructuring programme last year to trim the number of executive directors from six to three.

The initiative has seen senior managers being retired as part of the restructuring drive to bring in “fresh blood” to turn around Zimbabwe’s strategic bulk goods transporter.

Former general manager, Engineer Lewis Mukwada, and three other senior managers, namely director marketing, Mrs Elector Mafunga, director corporate services, Mr Misheck Matanhire, and director operations, Mr Samson Bhuza, were fired last year.

Mr Joseph Mashika has been appointed acting general manager.

It is hoped that the restructuring exercise will result in managerial functions being reassigned into a smaller and leaner group of top employees from six executive directors to three and 15 senior managers.

In a telephone interview from Harare yesterday, Adv Dinha said they had submitted to the Office of the President and Cabinet, and the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development some of the interviewed and shortlisted candidates to fill the posts at NRZ for security checks.

“We have interviewed for the post of general manager, corporate secretary, chief internal auditor and for financial director… the responses were poor, so, we are re-interviewing.

“For procurement, we are revamping our procurement system as you might be aware, it’s shambolic,” he said.

Adv Dinha said the parastatal awaits to be advised by Government on whether the names submitted qualified and passed through security checks before they can be appointed.

“There are processes such as security vetting and the other things that are done because we don’t want to employ undesirable elements.

“So, we’re waiting to be advised by Government whether those names we submitted qualified or they have passed through security vetting,” he said.

Adv Dinha said some of the vacant posts received international responses but some of the shortlisted candidates could not be interviewed because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Asked why the interviews could not be done on the virtual platform, he said:

“We can’t conduct the interviews digitally because we want to see the candidates physically.

“Digital mechanisms always betray, we want to see the person physically and verify that we are talking to the right person.

“We must know the person, what if the person on the other side is not the person we would have shortlisted; people can post a dummy on digital platforms such as zoom or anything.”

The restructuring of NRZ, he said, was ongoing adding that they want to make sure the parastatal senior executives and management are aligned to the existing number of labour force and revenue being generated by the entity.

Contacted for comment on last year’s freight volumes, NRZ public relations manager Mr Nyasha Maravanyika said such figures were yet to be availed by the responsible department.

In 2020, the parastatal announced that it had been forced to revise downward its annual freight movement target by 10 percent for the year following a significant drop in business owing to a myriad of challenges NRZ faced in 2019.

Part of the parastatal’s challenges are largely to do with the company’s dilapidated rail infrastructure and obsolete equipment, which includes locomotives, coaches and wagons.

In 2019, the entity missed its target of hauling 4,2 million tonnes of cargo, only managing to transport 2,8 million tonnes, which again was 17,6 percent less compared with the 2018’s achievement of 3,4 million tonnes.

At its peak in the 1990s, the company used to move about 14,4 million tonnes of freight against an installed capacity of 18 million tonnes. -statemedia

By A Correspondent- Three illegal miners allegedly escaped from a collapsed shaft in Mazowe last week leaving behind their trapped colleague.

The trapped partner who was identified as Ngonidzashe Mayimbo died on the spot while his colleagues fled from the scene.

Mashonaland Central police spokesperson confirmed the case without giving further details.

Witnesses said the three illegal miners escaped and the body was subsequently found by other miners two days after the fateful incident.

The body was retrieved and ferried to Concession mortuary for post mortem.

Since the beginning of the rainy season last year, Zimbabwe has recorded a handful of mine collapses some of which claimed many lives.

Evacuations are underway at some mines while some operations have been suspended after advisers had opined that it was too dangerous to try and rescue those trapped.

-Bulawayo24

By A Correspondent- The Godfrey Tsenengamu-led Front for Economic Emancipation in Zimbabwe (FEEZ) has announced the launch of an anti-corruption platform called the Zimbabwe Anti-corruption Citizens Taskforce (ZACCT).

In a statement this Monday, FEEZ said ZACCT will represent Zimbabweans in the fight against graft and looting at all levels of society.

The statement read:

The Front for Economic Emancipation in Zimbabwe (FEEZ) is glad to give to the country an anti-corruption platform for the citizens in the name of ZACCT, which is now a registered legal entity representing and pushing on behalf of the citizens of Zimbabwe in the fight against corruption and looting.

ZACCT is a voluntary initiative and collective effort of all progressive citizens to fight against rampant looting and corruption at all levels of society in Zimbabwe

ZACCT as a body corporate is capable of being sued, suing or defending any action in its corporate name and of performing all acts as bodies corporate by law perform.

A corrupt free and prosperous Zimbabwe in our lifetime is very possible. Aluta continua !!!

Tsenengamu is a former ZANU PF Youth League national commissar and was fired from the party in on March 4, 2020, by a unanimous Politburo decision.

He was accused of disrespecting senior ZANU PF members after he called for Cartels involved in corruption (in cahoots with senior politicians) to be brought before justice as they were destroying the country’s economy.

By A Correspondent- A prominent Gweru businessman and gold miner, Philemon Mubata has died.

He was 53.

Mubata succumbed to COVID-19 on Monday morning while admitted at a private hospital in Gweru.

He was was director for Big Valley Masters Group of companies which had about 100 employees and over 300 contractors at its mining concern in Shurugwi.

Mubata’s brother, Costa, confirmed the death and revealed that the now deceased complained of dizziness on Sunday and was taken to the hospital where he tested positive for coronavirus.

He said:

The death was rather sudden and we are still in shock, he only complained of dizziness yesterday (Sunday) at around 4 pm and we decided to take him to the hospital at around 5 pm.

He was admitted after testing positive to Covid-19 and today (yesterday) and around 4 am we received the sad news that he was no more, we are in pain.

Big Valley Masters mining’s acting general manager, Lovemore Mutema said Mubata was at the mine a day before his demise and looked fine.

Said Mutema:

We were together at the mine a day before and he looked fine. Everyone is still in a state of shock that he has suddenly passed away, he was a man of the people and he will be dearly missed by both, Shurugwi and Gweru community.

He is survived by wife Egness and four children two boys and two girls.-statemedia

MISA Zimbabwe National Chairperson Golden Maunganidze has written a letter to Commissioner-General of Police Tandabantu Godwin Matanga asking police to ensure the safety of journalists during the 30-day lockdown which starts tomorrow. Below is the full text of the letter:

MISA Zimbabwe takes note of the recent statement by the Vice President and Minister of Health and Child Care, Dr Constantino Chiwenga, pertaining to the increase in COVID-19 cases in Zimbabwe and thus necessitating a national lockdown for purposes of preventing and containing the virus.

In that regard, MISA Zimbabwe is humbly reaching out and appealing to your esteemed offices to ensure the safety and security of journalists, who in terms of the regulations are providers of essential services.

Our appeal and concern on the safety and security of journalists is informed by the media freedom violations that ensued when the country implemented the first national lockdown measures in March 2020.

Several journalists were either assaulted or harassed by law enforcement officers for reportedly violating the COVID-19 regulations and undertaking their lawful professional duties using the then expired Zimbabwe Media Commission-issued accreditation cards.

It is against that background that MISA Zimbabwe obtained a High Court order barring the police and other law enforcement agencies charged with the enforcement of the COVID-19 lockdown regulations not to arrest, detain or interfere “in any unnecessary way with the work of journalists.

In light of the current national lockdown, MISA Zimbabwe is therefore appealing to your esteemed office, to ensure that journalists as providers of essential services conduct their professional responsibilities of disseminating and facilitating access to information on the pandemic and government’s measures and efforts to contain the virus, without any hindrance.

It is our very well-considered view that the obtaining situation requires urgent professional co-operation and constant communication between the police, the Zimbabwe Media Commission and the media players.

This is critical given that the 2021 accreditation fees are still to be gazetted while the accreditation cards for this year have not yet been issued.

The ZMC should therefore consider decentralizing its accreditation processes for the convenience of journalists in line with the new lockdown measures.

We are therefore appealing to your esteemed offices for this information to be relayed to all police stations in the country for purposes of ensuring that journalists will not be arrested or harassed for using the accreditation cards issued last year.

MISA Zimbabwe, therefore, urges critical stakeholders to co-operate in protecting and promoting media freedom to ensure timely, accurate and verifiable information on COVID-19 and the measures that can be taken to prevent contamination and spreading of the virus.

In turn, the media should be professional in conducting its lawful duties and ethical responsibilities in line with the profession’s codes and ethics while also being mindful of the profession’s safety and security measures.

By A Correspondent- MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa yesterday described the late Buhera South senator, Christine Java nee Rambanepasi, who died in the early hours of Sunday, as a principled politician who never succumbed to pressure to join the rival MDC-T faction now led by Douglas Mwonzora.

Chamisa was speaking at the funeral wake of the late MDC Alliance legislator in Waterfalls, Harare, yesterday.

“She was a very industrious person,” Chamisa said.

“We hear there have been cases where some leaders said ‘come to me, I will give you better pastures’. It is normal, we are the shepherds and people have the right to choose who to support.”

Several MPs last year dumped Chamisa while others were recalled by the rival faction then led by Thokozani Khupe following the March Supreme Court ruling that ruled that she was interim leader of the MDC-T.

Rambanapasi-Java is mother to Tabernacle of Grace Church founder Apostle Batsirai Java and United States-based Zimbabwean charismatic preacher and socialite Passion Java.

She succumbed to cancer at the age of 65.

She joined the MDC in 2000 and was elected Manicaland provincial secretary for elections before she was elected senator for Buhera South in the 2008 elections.-newsday

By A Correspondent- Chief Justice Luke Malaba has suspended all regular court operations and scaled back other courthouse activities, with the Sheriff and Messenger of Court ordered to stop evictions and executions, following a sharp increase in Covid-19 cases.

The suspension of court business comes after Vice President Constantino Chiwenga, who is also Health and Child Care Minister, announced fresh 30-day lockdown regulations on Saturday following a spike in coronavirus cases.

In a memo also known as the Practice Direction issued on Sunday, which applies to the Constitutional Court, the Supreme Court, the High Court, the Labour Court, the Administrative Court and the Magistrates’ Courts, Chief Justice Malaba said the reintroduction of Level IV national lockdown measures had necessitated the issuance of the practice direction to guide court operations, filing of pleadings, process and handling of cases before the courts for the duration of the lockdown period.

He said with effect from yesterday, the filing of new cases, process, documents, pleadings and papers shall be suspended for 30 days up to February 3, unless the period is earlier extended or revoked. Only initial remands, urgent applications and bail applications shall be entertained. In addition, registries shall be open for litigants and legal practitioners on week days between 8am and 3pm to accept process related to matters specified in the Practice Direction note.

The Sheriff and the Messenger of Court shall only serve process relating to urgent applications, but shall not conduct any evictions, executions or sales in execution flowing therefrom, according to the notice. Litigants, lawyers and witnesses shall at all times be subjected to temperature checks and sanitisation of hands at entry into court premises. They are also required to wear face masks in the manner prescribed by law, avoid person to person contact, and maintain social distancing as prescribed by law.

“Any person who does not comply with the requirements specified . . . shall not be allowed entry into courthouse or shall be asked to leave the court premises or courtroom or courthouse,” said Chief Justice Malaba.

“Entry into court premises/ courthouses/ courtroom shall be limited to litigants, their legal practitioners, necessary witnesses and identified members of the press.”

Further, entry into court premises or courthouses will strictly not be permitted to the public who have no business at court while litigants who are required to attend court in a province or district other than where they are normally resident, shall obtain the necessary letters of clearance at the nearest police station.

Chief Justice Malaba said the time limited by any rule for the filing of process, pleadings, documents and/ or papers was suspended for the duration of the lockdown.

“Any act required by the rules to have been done during the period of the lockdown within a specified period of time, shall be done within the specified limit calculated from the first business day following the last day of the lockdown period,” he said.

All pending civil cases are deemed to have been postponed and the registrars and clerks of court of the respective courts will reset the matters in consultation with the parties in line with set guidelines.

Similarly, all pending criminal cases on remand by virtue of the practice direction, have been rolled over for a period of at least 30 days. Subpoenas and warnings in court issued directing accused persons and/ or witnesses to appear in court between yesterday and February 3, were cancelled and shall be reissued after the expiry of the lockdown period.-statemedia

By A Correspondent- Police yesterday said the Ministry of Industry and Commerce is now solely responsible for issuance of travel exemption letters for essential service workers who will be working during the tightened Level Four lockdown period.

Government on Saturday imposed a 30-day strict national lockdown to contain the spread of Covid-19.

Some of the tightened lockdown measures came into effect on Saturday while others including closure of some commercial entities, start today.

According to the Government’s regulations interprovincial or inter city travelling will be restricted to essential services and exempted commercial services such as mining, manufacturing and agriculture.

In a statement yesterday, national police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said cops have started enforcing the Statutory Instrument 10 of 2021, Public Health (Covid-19 Prevention, Containment and Treatment) (National Lockdown) (No. 2) (Amendment) Order, 2021 (No. 9).

Asst Comm Nyathi said under the new measures, members of the public are expected to shop within a five-kilometre radius from their homes while essential services employees will be allowed to pass through checkpoints after producing exemption letters. He said essential service workers without Government exemption letters will not be allowed to pass through checkpoints.

In the past companies could issue exemption letters to their employees.

“Members of the public, entities and essential services sector such as food distribution and retailers, mining, communication and telecommunications, agriculture production, security companies and companies as pronounced by the Government and the media are advised that after consultations with Covid-19 Ministerial Task Force, movement and exemption letters will now be issued by the Ministry of Industry and Commerce,” said Asst Comm Nyathi.

“There is no need for movement exemption letters for those going to buy or restock food stuffs or medication within five-kilometre radius from place of residence, unless there is no such establishment within the radius or the needed services is not available there, in which case one may obtain it from the nearest location to his or her home.”

There was however, no clarification on how the Ministry of Industry and Commerce will provide the exemption letters. Asst Comm Nyathi said it was in the public’s best interest to adhere to regulations and stay home as failure to do so will result in arrests.

“The public is therefore implored to take heed of the Government’s Covid-19 national lockdown level four measures and restrictions and stay at home except movement to access food and medicines.

“Police will effect arrests on anyone who will be found in public places such as supermarkets, banks, pickup points and others without wearing or improperly putting on masks and not practicing social distancing,” he said.-statemedia

By A Correspondent- A Harare man allegedly smashed a 65-year-old woman with a brick on the head several times, resulting in her death after she tried to restrain him from assaulting his girlfriend.

Nicholas Matarirano (27) of Stoneridge Park, allegedly struck Joyce Garikai on the head after she tried to restrain him from attacking his lover, Kundai Kanupula, following a misunderstanding. Matarirano appeared at the Mbare Magistrates Court facing a murder charge.

He was not asked to plead to the charge when he appeared before magistrate Ms Feresi Chakanyuka, who remanded him in custody to January 14. He was advised to approach the High Court for bail application.

Prosecuting, Mr Lawrence Gangarahwe said on December 28 at around 2am, Matarirano was at Taisekwa Shops in Stoneridge with his lover, Kanupula.

The two allegedly had a misunderstanding that saw Matarirano assaulting Kanupula. The 65-year-old woman intervened and tried to restrain Matarirano.

In anger, Matarirano allegedly picked up a brick and struck the senior citizen on the head several times leaving her with deep wounds.

The woman was rushed to Sally Mugabe Central Hospital where she was pronounced dead on arrival. Matarirano was is scheduled to return to court on January 14 for his routine remand.

By A Correspondent- A 35 year old Rusape man died after being shot five times on Saturday by three armed robbers masquerading as police officers.

The robbers had raided the man’s house along Gopal Avenue. One of the robbers was wearing a police uniform while his two accomplices were in civilian attire. The robbers did not steal anything after shooting the victim, whose name is yet to be released.

Investigations are still in progress and police have since launched a manhunt for the suspects.

So far, police know that the robbers went to the victim’s house where they knocked at the gate before two of them jumped over a security wall to get into the yard, before confronting the victim’s 65-year-old father and ordered him to sit down and  he complied.

The victim later approached the robbers and was also ordered to sit down but refused. They then shot at him five times before they fled. A report was made to the police. His body was taken to Rusape General Hospital mortuary for post-mortem.

National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said the man died on the spot. On New Year’s Eve, police recorded a number of disturbing murder cases linked to beer-drinking binges.

Asst Comm Nyathi said, “On December 31, 2020, at Tshelela Nyoni’s shop, Silalatshani, Filabusi, a 25-year-old man was fatally stabbed with an okapi knife following a misunderstanding.

“Again, on December 31, 2020, a 41-year-old man was stabbed on the chest with a knife after a misunderstanding over a girlfriend at Drummond Shops, Makhado, Beitbridge.

“In Filabusi, a 49-year-old man was stabbed with a knife on December 16, 2020, and later succumbed to the injuries on December 30, 2020.”

He had attempted to resolve a dispute between the suspect and other family members.

In Mwenezi, a six-year-old girl was fatally assaulted by her uncle on December 29 with a switch after she had lost track of cattle she was herding, along with another minor.

In a bid to conceal the crime, the suspect and his accomplice cut off the girl’s private parts and set the body on fire. They were arrested following a tip_off.-statemedia

A pregnant woman was allegedly shot and injured by police during a high-speed chase in Lupane, Matabeleland North along the Bulawayo-Victoria Falls highway after boarding a suspected stolen kombi with her two children.

The kombi ended up plunging into a river. The driver and a teenager who was travelling with him escaped.

The woman had boarded the kombi in Sabela Village going to Lupane Centre enroute to Bulawayo and police started pursuing the commuter omnibus suspected to have been stolen.

They opened fire and shot the woman.

In an interview at the family home in Bulawayo’s Pumula South, Ms Sithembiso Moyo (28) said she was shot on December 28 last year near Lupane Centre and she sustained a deep wound and fractured left shoulder.

Ms Moyo said inside the kombi, there were three people the driver, a woman and a teenager.

She said while heading towards Lupane Centre, three police vehicles started chasing their vehicle and then shot at it from behind.

The driver and a teenager escaped and the granny who had also been in the kombi had been a hitchhiker.

“As we were heading towards Lupane Centre I heard bullets hitting the vehicle. I then hurriedly tried to hide my two children under the seats so that they could be safe from the bullets. In the process that is when a bullet hit my left shoulder,” said Ms Moyo.

“The driver and the teenager then jumped from the moving vehicle and fled before the kombi fell off a bridge and stopped. Police tried to track them down but failed.”

Ms Moyo was then ferried by an ambulance to Mpilo Central Hospital in Bulawayo where she was admitted. She said she was discharged after some days as there were no specialists to assist her.

Ms Moyo revealed that during her admission to the hospital some members of police from Criminal Investigations Department (CID) visited her.

She said she was appealing for assistance to get specialist treatment as she was in pain.

“I buy painkillers for R300 every week and I am dressed by an individual here once a day, instead of twice as per doctor’s instruction. I am charged R50 for dressing daily which is difficult for me to afford.

“The police officer who shot me, a Nkala, promised to foot medical expenses but he has gone silent,” said Ms Moyo in intense grief.

She said she is still traumatised because of the shooting.

“I’m five months pregnant so I am not comfortable and this has disturbed the future of my children. I cannot sleep at night. I sleep on one side because of pain with no help,” said Ms Moyo.-Chronicle

A 32- year-old woman from Neshuro, in Mwenezi, south of Masvingo allegedly axed her husband and daughter to death before committing suicide following a row over the upkeep of her in-laws.

Florence Nhotito of Paringira Village in the Makurirofa area of Neshuro on Saturday allegedly killed her husband Simbarashe Butete and daughter Leander (3), in cold blood before hanging herself from a tree, about 3km from her matrimonial homestead.

Stunned villagers found Simbarashe and his daughter Leander’s bodies lying in a pools of blood in their bedroom with an axe stuck in each head.

Masvingo provincial police spokesperson Inspector Kudakwashe Dhewa confirmed the murder and suicide cases saying bodies of the trio were taken to Neshuro District Hospital.

Inspector Dhewa said investigations were ongoing to establish the actual circumstances leading to the grisly murders and suicide.

“Police managed to recover both axes that were stuck in the first deceased (Simbarashe) and the second deceased (Leander)’s heads. The suspect, who is now deceased, was found hanging in a tree about 3km from her home and the bodies of the trio are awaiting post-mortem,” said Inspector Dhewa.

According to facts gleaned by the police on Saturday morning, Simbarashe allegedly had a heated dispute with his wife over the upkeep of the former’s parents who stayed about 100 metres from their matrimonial home.

Its is not clear what precipitated the dispute but it erupted in the presence of their eight year-old son.

Florence allegedly then asked the son to go and fetch some firewood while she remained behind with the other two deceased.

After a while, Florence allegedly left her home and passed through a neighbour’s house where she told a juvenile girl that she had murdered her hubby and daughter and that she was going to kill herself.

The girl alerted other villagers about the murder.

Villagers ganged up and tried to apprehend Florence but she outpaced them and vanished into the bush.

They then went to Simbarashe’s homestead and found his lifeless body and that of his daughter lying in a pool of blood in the house.

Two axes were stuck on the pair’s heads which also had deep axe cuts and the back and on the left and right side. A further search by villagers led to the discovery of Florence’s body hanging on a tree branch on the outskirts of the village.

A report was made to the police who came and took the bodies to the mortuary.-The Herald

Tinashe Sambiri|President Nelson Chamisa is deeply concerned about the high incidence of COVID-19 cases in Zimbabwe.

President Chamisa urged Zimbabweans to stick to stipulated precautions to avert the spread of the deadly pandemic.

Doctors have revealed that hospitals battling to contain the rising Coronavirus cases.

Below is President Chamisa’s statement:

Extremely concerned at the level at which Covid-19 is now killing our citizens.

Doctors informed me that all Covid-19 hospital units are full.Citizens are now dying without getting access to hospitalization. Be vigilant follow Covid-19 precautions at all times:mask up, wash hands!

We are losing relatives, friends and members of our communities to this deadly pandemic. We cannot afford to be as complacent as we have been in recent months. Our communities are paying the price. We must change our conduct if we are to beat this pandemic.

I call upon responsible offices to apply & encourage precautions.

The virus does not select,therefore selective application of rules is self-defeating.I extend my prayers to all those who are unwell & salute our healthcare warriors for taking the frontline role in this deadly war.

Tinashe Sambiri|MDC Alliance Secretary General Hon Charlton Hwende has dismissed as false and baseless claims by the State media that the party has fired its workers.

Hon Hwende described the claims as misleading.

According to Hon Hwende, party workers are on yearly contracts that are renewed annually.

Below is Hon Hwende’s statement:

I have noted a misleading report carried by the State Media on the alleged firing of the MDC Alliance workers.

The correct position as confirmed by our Communication Department is that our Workers are all on yearly contracts that expire on the 31st of December.

We are already in the process of preparing New Contracts for 2021 to regularize their employment.

Our official Party programs will resume on the 9th of January with Branches countrywide meeting to plan on programs of action for their respective Branch and also discussing and resolving on the National Programs that they want the Party to implement in 2021.

Tinashe Sambiri|The late MDC Alliance National Secretary for Security and Defence, Assistant Commissioner, Emmanuel Chimwanda will be laid to rest in Gutu District on Thursday.

In a statement the MDC Alliance described Assistant Commissioner Chimwanda as a brave and dedicated cadre.

Assistant Commissioner Chimwanda Chimwanda was relieved of his duties after refusing to persecute opposition members at the height of the violent seizure of land belonging to commercial farmers.

Below is the funeral programme for Assistant Commissioner Chimwanda Chimwanda:

FUNERAL PROGRAM FOR COMMISSIONER EMMANUAL CHIMWANDA
1)- BODY WILL BE COLLECTED ON TUESDAY 05-01-21
2)-THE BODY WILL LIE IN STATE AT HIS SOUTHERTON HOME
3)THE BODY WILL DEPART FOR GUTU, MUTEMA AREA ON WEDNESDAY 06-01-21
4) BURIAL AT CHIMWANDA HOME STEAD ON THURSDAY 07-01-21