By A Correspondent- United Kingdom-based founding president of the Economic Freedom Fighters Zimbabwe (EFFZ) opposition party, Innocent Ndibali has stepped down.

Ndibali will pave way for Xolani Tshuma, who was his deputy.

He was at the helm of the party since its formation four years ago.

Ndibali said the reasons for stepping down were that he wanted to concentrate on philanthropic activities as well as his businesses.

The outgoing leader also said his decision was a “conscious, carefully thought-out, strategic, progressive, selfless and democratic” move for a leader to step down from the top position and facilitate smooth transfer of power.

“It was my personal decision. The central command team and the war council of EFFZ have endorsed that decision. My view is and has always been that EFF Zimbabwe is transformative and revolutionary. This is why as a leader I want to demonstrate a new political culture that political leaders should facilitate a peaceful transfer of power. I am happy that I led by example,” Ndibali told Southern Eye.

He said the decision-making body in the party, the central command, had since endorsed Tshuma as the new president.

“I now want to focus on other areas of interest, mainly to focus my attention on growing my business and also to dedicate more time and resources on philanthropy,” Ndibali said.

“I want to thank all those who worked so hard and continue to work so hard to build the party. I am stepping down from the leadership at a time the party is in good shape and the support base has grown exponentially.”

Ndibali hailed government for embarking on the land reform programme, but expressed reservations about the move to compensate white commercial farmers who lost farms under the programme.

In 2017, Ndibali made headlines after he was arrested while addressing journalists at the Bulawayo Media Centre.

Police alleged that he had violated his visa conditions by addressing journalists. He was, however, acquitted of the charges.

-newsday

POPTAIN — the high-riding dancehall singer who rose to fame with his hit song “Fadza Mutengi” — has had a long, bumpy and winding road to stardom.

Born Ameen Abduljaleel Matanga in Gweru some 26 years ago, the hit-maker opened up on his touching life and not-so-rosy musical journey.

Poptain was born in a Muslim family and is the youngest of three children.

He defied the odds and found success where some people would have easily failed.

Tragedy

In fact, from the day he was born, the odds always seemed to be heavily staked against him.

Following the death of his parents when he was only a young boy, the singer and his two siblings — Charity and Akim — went to live with an uncle in Kwekwe in 2001.

Barely two years later, the uncle died, resulting in the siblings moving to Harare, where they were put under the care of an aunt. The move to Harare was to change Poptain’s life forever.

“When we moved to Harare, we were given the impression that we were going to boarding school. We were elated as we bid farewell to our friends and relatives,” he recounted.

However, to their unpleasant surprise, they were put in an orphanage.

“I was shocked and hurt. To me, this was deceit. During my early days at the orphanage, I would find a secret place where I would often go to cry my heart out.”

But it was to become a blessing in disguise.

“My interest in music grew when I was at the orphanage,” he said.

After completing Ordinary Level in 2011, the singer and his siblings went back to live with their aunt.

“My aunt, who is deeply religious, wanted me to be a Muslim teacher and despised secular music. I knew that my first love was music and I swore that nothing could stop me from achieving my goal,” added the young musician, who is now a proud father of one.

Poptain was subsequently introduced to a recording studio by Naddy Nice, a fellow Muslim with whom he had developed a close relationship.

“I owe Naddy Nice a lot. Every time I held the microphone, he would urge me to refine my talent. He is the one who gave me my stage name.”

Continuing to defy his aunt by relentlessly pursuing secular music came at a price — he was chased away from home.-The Sunday Mail

POPTAIN — the high-riding dancehall singer who rose to fame with his hit song “Fadza Mutengi” — has had a long, bumpy and winding road to stardom.

Born Ameen Abduljaleel Matanga in Gweru some 26 years ago, the hit-maker opened up on his touching life and not-so-rosy musical journey.

Poptain was born in a Muslim family and is the youngest of three children.

He defied the odds and found success where some people would have easily failed.

Tragedy

In fact, from the day he was born, the odds always seemed to be heavily staked against him.

Following the death of his parents when he was only a young boy, the singer and his two siblings — Charity and Akim — went to live with an uncle in Kwekwe in 2001.

Barely two years later, the uncle died, resulting in the siblings moving to Harare, where they were put under the care of an aunt. The move to Harare was to change Poptain’s life forever.

“When we moved to Harare, we were given the impression that we were going to boarding school. We were elated as we bid farewell to our friends and relatives,” he recounted.

However, to their unpleasant surprise, they were put in an orphanage.

“I was shocked and hurt. To me, this was deceit. During my early days at the orphanage, I would find a secret place where I would often go to cry my heart out.”

But it was to become a blessing in disguise.

“My interest in music grew when I was at the orphanage,” he said.

After completing Ordinary Level in 2011, the singer and his siblings went back to live with their aunt.

“My aunt, who is deeply religious, wanted me to be a Muslim teacher and despised secular music. I knew that my first love was music and I swore that nothing could stop me from achieving my goal,” added the young musician, who is now a proud father of one.

Poptain was subsequently introduced to a recording studio by Naddy Nice, a fellow Muslim with whom he had developed a close relationship.

“I owe Naddy Nice a lot. Every time I held the microphone, he would urge me to refine my talent. He is the one who gave me my stage name.”

Continuing to defy his aunt by relentlessly pursuing secular music came at a price — he was chased away from home.-The Sunday Mail

Popular rapper Ex Q (real name Enoch Munhenga) in an interview with Digest said he has managed to stay relevant when his peers, fellow urban groove singers fizzled out into oblivion because of his hard work, Newsday reports.

Said the hitmaker:

I was blessed by God, He gave me a second chance to be part of the music industry also, it’s God who has taken me this far. I am also blessed that I have a good team that understands my art, a good team that understands that sometimes I need more time to work on my music and also to give direction and experiment on a lot of things, shout out to my team, I am blessed.

With God, everything is possible and it happens at his time. I work hard, and I really take my time. Other

artistes from urban grooves may also blow up. Again it might take time, but as long as they are in the industry and have passion for it, they will keep going.

I was lucky because I believe with my first song Musalala that is when my breakthrough came because

soon after I started doing live shows. I released another one and then started performing the two songs for two years and from there the rest is history.

Ex Q lamented the slow growth if not the regression of the music industry in Zimbabwe and said:

To be honest the music industry is not growing, it is getting worse because I remember when we started, without shows we used to sell cassettes and CDs. As for me, when I released my first cassette, I did well and I knew the number of copies that I sold and my life changed through selling music.

Now it is hard because we rarely sell music as people are now relying on shows and few corporates, but these corporates don’t release money, if they release, the person between the corporates and the artiste would want a bigger share and they don’t want to give artistes what they deserve. So at the end of the day things are getting worse and also with our economy it’s hard.

The corporate side is not really supportive. So if the economy gets back on its feet then the music industry will also do well.

Ex Q over the years has collaborated with a lot of artists that include Freeman, Tocky Vibes, Amara Brown just to name a few.-NewsDay

Video loading below….

Zimbabwe’s cash-strapped utility Zesa Holdings Ltd. is allowing people to pay their bills in foreign currency as it struggles to fund the nation’s power imports.

Zesa said in an emailed statement on Sunday that the decision would bring consumers more “convenience.” Previously, only miners and exporters were allowed to pay for power supplies in U.S. dollars and other foreign currencies.

The southern African country generates less than half of its own electricity and relies on imports from South Africa and Mozambique for the rest. Local production has been hit by a drought that shuttered the nation’s main hydropower plant and by frequent breakdowns at its coal-fired Hwange facility.

The government has gradually opened more of the struggling economy to foreign transactions since the start of a virus lockdown in March, backtracking on an earlier decision to make the Zimbabwe dollar the sole legal tender. Citizens can now use U.S. dollars for food shopping, fuel, toll fees and passports.

The move has undermined demand for the Zimbabwe dollar, sending its value slumping and it now trades at 81.73 to the U.S. dollar.

The utility said the exchange rate from a weekly foreign auction system would be used to settle consumers’ electricity bills.

©2020 Bloomberg L.P.

A South African family in the small town of Verulam was almost wiped out by Covid-19 in a matter of weeks, leaving just their daughter fighting for her life.

President Cyril Ramaphosa addressed the nation on Monday about beating the second wave but that morning, Cynthia Chitray, 71, and her son Dean Chitray, 42, were found dead in their Brindhaven home.

They were in quarantine after testing positive for Covid-19.

On Thursday, the daughter, who asked not to be named to avoid stigmatisation, was discharged from a Pietermaritzburg hospital where she had been on a ventilator and in intensive care due to the virus.

She is at home but continues to require a supplementary oxygen supply.

The first family member who contracted Covid-19 and passed away was Sam Chitray, 71, the father, who the family suspected contracted it from a hospital check-up for a kidney disorder about three weeks ago.

A family member told the Sunday Tribune that his uncle’s health began to deteriorate after his check up and was subsequently admitted to hospital.

“His daughter visited him before he was admitted to see how his check up went, and that is when we believe she contracted the virus. Her husband also tested positive. The health department visited the family to do contact tracing, testing and to place them into quarantine,” he said.

He said Sam died last week Friday and his funeral was conducted on Tuesday according to Covid -19 protocols.

Sam Chitray received a Covid-19 burial on Tuesday after passing away last Friday. Picture: Supplied.
“Dean and Cynthia were cremated on Wednesday after investigations into their deaths were conducted. We were told there was no foul play or signs of a burglary. I actually phoned Dean on Sunday evening to ask how he and his mum were doing, and he said they were doing fine, but his mum was asleep. It was discovered that she had died 12 hours before Dean, who was found on the couch in the living room,” he said.

The daughter was the sole survivor.

The family member said when she learnt of her father’s passing, it crushed her, and that was why they delayed breaking the news about her brother and mother.

“That stress and heartbreak worsened her condition and caused her to require ventilation. We kept the news from her about her mum and brother for as long as we could so she could be as strong as possible. That is also why we requested the statement of a Verulam security company to be taken off of Facebook,” he said.

A concern the family had were the various conspiracy theories formulated by the community around the deaths.

“We want the record to be set straight. There were no murders or suicides. It was Covid-19. The family is suffering a great loss, and the daughter is still fighting to regain her strength. It has been a nightmare, but one we are trying our best to get through. Right now, she needs as much love and support as possible, so that is what we are giving her.”

Sunday Tribune

MINES Minister Winston Chitando has been dragged to court by a local businessman Yakub Ibrahim Mahomed who is accusing him of seizing eight mining claims in Mberengwa.

The minister is also being accused of mining the gold claims while knowing there was an ongoing dispute regarding ownership.

Chitando is further accused of influencing mines secretary Onesimo Moyo, and Nelson Munyanduri, the Midlands provincial mining director, for the two government officials to ignore Mahomed’s complaints.

The complainant said he had conducted investigations which showed that Chitando’s company, Golden Reef Mining had illegally taken over his claims.

The dispute has since spilled into the High Court where Mahomed has made an application seeking the cancellation of a special grant issued by the mines minister favouring the Golden Reef.

He also wants the forfeiture notices of his claims cancelled.

Mahomed said the forfeited mining claims should be declared his assets, and be returned to his company, Anesu Gold, which has been cited as the applicant in the court papers.

In the court application, Moyo and Munyanduri are cited as the first and second respondents respectively.

The embattled businessman also wants Chitando’s Golden Reef to pay him for the gold it has mined from the disputed mining claims.

In his court papers, Mahomed said he was the registered owner of the gold claims also referred to as Mangoro Claims (Ipanema).

The mining claims were previously owned and registered in the name of Start Mining Services, but belonged to Mahomed.

He told the court the certificates of registration of the claims are renewed periodically, which also involves the payment of inspection fees.

At the end of 2018, a loan facility of US$6,4 million was approved by the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) owned Fidelity Printers and Refiners, with his company, Anesu Gold being the collateral for the loan. The loan was to finance mining operations at the Mberengwa site.

This loan had the approval of the RBZ governor John Mangudya, and finance ministry secretary George Guvamatanga.

“Fidelity (Printers) gave the facility on the strength of clean and unencumbered mining claims following due diligence process,” the businessman said.

In his founding affidavit filed on behalf of Anesu Gold, Mahomed said in January 2019, the registration certificates were handed over to Fidelity Printers with specific instructions to cover all outstanding inspection fees from the loan facility.

A loan was released with full knowledge of all parties and the fees were paid to the mines ministry and receipted in Gweru by Munyanduri.

“Then it came to pass that at some stage the applicant received a bombshell that some of the mining claims had been forfeited and that actually, a special grant No. 7321 had been issued over the forfeited mining claims. On further investigations, I found out that two notices of forfeiture had been issued,” said Mahomed.

He told the court the two notices were published by sticking them on the notice board at the mines ministry head office in Harare, and Munyanduri’s offices in Gweru.

The notices were never served on Mahomed.

“I never saw, let alone received the notices and, therefore, the applicant was not aware of the notices until after the event. Otherwise I, on behalf of the applicant would have taken steps to protect the applicant’s rights and interests in the mining claims,” said Mahomed.

“It is more proper to set out the unfolding of events to show that behind the alleged forfeiture of the mining claims stands the dark shadows of gigantic Uncle Tom called fraud and corruption,” Mahomed complained.

According to the court papers, Anesu Gold holds 70% of the shares in Start Mining Services and Mberengwa Enterprises holds 30%.

Mahomed’s founding affidavit shows that Anesu Gold eventually purchased Mberengwa Enterprises’ 30% shareholding making it a 100% shareholder of the mining claims.

Court papers also show that in 2012 Chitando was approached by Rugare Gumbo who owned the 30% in an attempt to lure him to invest in the claims, but the minister declined the offer. Gumbo is a former Zanu PF national spokesperson.

Mahomed claims he also once engaged businessman Shingi Mutasa and Chitando before he was appointed mines minister. Chitando flew to the Mberengwa gold claims for an inspection, but Mutasa failed to turn up.

He said it was when Chitando gathered information of the “juicy areas” of the mining claims that he hatched a plan to boot Mohamed out.

The businessman said he continued carrying out due diligence regarding mining processes, paying inspection fees, which were received by the mines ministry, but was never told about the forfeiture.

Before the forfeiture, the mining claims were 128 in total.

Mahomed said he had secured an Australian investor and wanted the courts to help him for the deal to be transparent.

He went on to say Golden Reef belongs to Chitando as his findings shows the minister is one of the directors through his company Windev Investments.

“The third respondent (Golden Reef) has taken occupation, possession or control of the eight forfeited mining claims, and is busy mining there, ignoring the fact that there is a dispute between the parties herein. It is making the hay while the sun shines in its direction,” Mahomed said adding he prayed for the special grant to be cancelled.

The matter is yet to be heard.

ALL AFRICA

Paul Nyathi

Reports just in indicate that a CAG bus travelling from Bulawayo to Binga was involved in a horror accident where several people are reportedly badly injured with no casualties reported this far.

The Bus which was going to Binga from Bulawayo failed to go up the steep ascent on Gwayi River and fell into a ditch falling short by a few meters from splunging into the flooded river below.

The bus was blocked by trees as it reportedly headed towards the nearby flooded Gwayi river in reverse according to sources.

More details on the accident are still coming through.

Mitchell “Moana” Amuli’s mother Yolanda Shorai has pleaded with Women’s groups to fight in her corner to get back her granddaughter from Mitchell’s father.

Moana was a Zimbabwean socialite and video vixen who died in a car accident last month when Genius Ginimbi Kadungure’s Rolls Royce Wraith where she was a passenger was involved in a head-on collision with a Honda Fit, veered off the road before hitting a tree and exploding into flames.

Her parents have since then been fighting over how to bury her remains and who to have custody of Moana’s baby. 

Watch the video below for more.

Tinashe Sambiri|MDC Alliance vice president, Hon Tendai Biti has said Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa is a man living in a delusional world.

According to Hon Biti, 10 million people have been subjected to untold suffering due to Mr Mnangagwa’s callousness.

“2020 was the worst year for all workers.10 m people faced a humanitarian crisis, with 79% of the people being plunged into extreme poverty.

On the human rights front , there was massive closure of political space.

There was an increase in abductions,torture and abuse of human rights.

The persecution of journalists and activists was a huge indictment.The attacks on the democratic movement were unprecedented and pathological.

So Emmerson’s remarks reflect another Zim not shared by the ordinary citizens . His is a world of delusion .

In the real world the Zimbabwean is suffering , alienated , isolated, fatalistic and hungry,” argued Hon Biti.

Tinashe Sambiri|MDC Alliance leader, President Nelson Chamisa, has said the popular movement will remain solid and intact despite frantic efforts by Zanu PF to destroy the people’s project.

President Chamisa has also emphasized that the popular movement is not ashamed of pursuing the peaceful path to the future.

“Our BIGGEST ACHIEVEMENT over the years has been to remain standing & keeping the fight for real change.

It’s not easy to fight dictatorship only with open palms, bare hands and on the platform of peace.

We are not ashamed of our non-violence path to the future.

Waging a consistent fight for freedom, democracy and transformation is a major score and no mean achievement.

We have a solid vision, clear policies, precise goals and effective strategies…After the persecution, trials, betrayals and tribulations victory kicks in. Victory is certain! It’s coming,” said President Chamisa.

(Analysis) MDC T Secretary General, Douglas Mwonzora is set to win the MDC-T presidency, it has emerged. Mwonzora holds a lot of strategic control of the voters, latest developments suggest, and a press conference held at Crown Plaza in Harare on Tuesday had the complainant in a police case against Mwonzora, Mr Leonard Chisvo bring clarity that Mwonzora has not been arrested – that Chisvo had only reported the man to the police, at the time of writing. Mwonzora was reported for theft of party funds, allegations which he denies. Speaking to ZimEye on Monday, Mwonzora said the allegations are meant to stop him from being elected party president on Saturday.(VIDEO).

"Mwonzora Winning MDC-T Congress" | SO WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO KHUPE?

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) December 20, 2020

Mwonzora faces arrest today, " but I'm going to win the Congress (the Presidency), no question about it," pic.twitter.com/kYjmXpu5GA

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) December 15, 2020

By A Correspondent- A Harare school recorded 37 Covid-19 cases days before the end of the third term on Friday, sparking a standoff between parents and Health and Child Care ministry officials over the handling of the matter.

Parents were not happy with plans by Roosevelt Girls High to send the affected children to Wilkins Hospital for quarantine amid fears that the outbreak had affected more people as results for 30 students were still pending.

Some of the parents with children that were yet to be tested for the coronavirus took them home on Friday after haggling with school authorities.

Only those that tested positive for Covid-19 and those awaiting results remain under quarantine at the school.

The school was sealed off by the Health ministry officials last Thursday after initial positive Covid-19 results were received.

Tests were conducted after parents of a Form 5 pupil, who fell sick and was hospitalised, reported to the school that their child had tested positive for the disease.

This prompted the school to conduct tests on all her contacts and about 60% of them tested positive.

Taungana Ndoro, the Primary and Secondary Education ministry spokesperson, was not picking calls yesterday and also not responding to questions sent on WhatsApp.

A number of schools around the country have recorded Covid-19 outbreaks raising fears that the institutions were not adequately prepared to handle the situation.

Takavafira Zhou, the Progressive Teachers Union president, said more pupils and teachers were testing positive to the virus.

“Cases of Covid-19 have been reported at Dangamvura Primary in Mutare, with several teachers and pupils testing positive at Chibi High School in Masvingo province yesterday (Friday) while many more are waiting for results today (yesterday)” Zhou said.

“With several students showing signs that resonate with Covid-19, it would be prudent to test all the students at Chibi High rather than allow them to leave the school and infect their family members.”

Zhou added: “Covid-19 has run riot in several boarding schools possibly because students are overcrowded in hostels, share textbooks, and lack of social distance due to limited infrastructure, bloated classes and absence.

-standard

Zimbabwe’s poorly paid teachers have little room to manoeuvre when trying to force a change in their work environment as the country’s laws are heavily staked against government workers, a new report says.

According to the Labour Justice index (Teaching Profession) 2020 produced by prominent labour lawyers Munyaradzi Gwisai and Edzai Edson Matika, the government’s handling of strikes by teachers this year showed that civil servants had limited options because of bad laws.

The index was prepared on behalf of the Obert Masaraure-led amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (ARTUZ).

“There is nothing to celebrate as there is grave labour injustice occurring in the teaching profession largely owing to the legislative gap between the constitution of Zimbabwe and the existing operative laws in the public sector,” reads the report.

“There is need to challenge the existing laws, which take away the rights given by the constitution.

“Trade unions need to push for legislative alignment through litigation and/or advocacy and lobbying to ensure that the existing laws reflect the dictates of section 65 and related provisions of the constitution.”

At the beginning of the just ended school term, teachers at public schools refused to return to class citing lack of personal protective equipment in the face of the Covid-19 outbreak.

Teachers also wanted their salaries to be paid in foreign currency, saying their incomes had been eroded by inflation.”

The government awarded teachers and other civil servants modest salary increments sometime in October, before threatening to dock salaries of those that insisted on continuing with the job boycott.

Throughout the year, ARTUZ led small demonstrations to raise the plight of educators, but the authorities responded by arresting the union’s leaders.

Masaraure is a victim of regular abductions and torture by suspected state security agents. He has also been arrested several times for his activism.

Gwisai and Matika recommended that teachers’ unions must put pressure on the authorities to align laws that affect their profession with the constitution to end the ill-treatment of their members.

“Trade unions need to push for legislative alignment through litigation and/or advocacy and lobbying to ensure that the existing laws reflect the dictates of section 65 and related provisions of the constitution,” the report says.

“There is need for unions to step up their activities and use their collective force.

“The adage ‘united we stand divided we fall’ stood to its real meaning this 2020 when teachers defied the threats by the employer and remained resolute with their fight for better salaries until such a time division was sown amongst them.

“Every unilateral decision by the employer to the detriment of the workers must not go unchallenged as spirited resistance to adverse unilateral decisions has proved effective over the years.”

The report added: “examples of such adverse decisions that have been resisted include the garrison shops decision, the issue of the civil service being placed under the Office of the President and Cabinet and some collective government housing schemes.”

By A Correspondent- ZAPU, Thursday, celebrated its 59th anniversary, with party members saying the ideals of the liberation struggle have not been achieved under the Zanu-PF leadership.

The revolutionary party was formed in 1961, whose aim for political struggle was motivated to improve quality of life for majority blacks and their social welfare.

But the party laments that its motivation to join both the political and liberation struggle against the whites have not yielded much economic emancipation for Zimbabweans.

“We are convinced that a ZAPU government would give priority to improving the welfare of citizens even in the face of economic deterioration. Of course, a comprehensive and lasting solution to social problems is not possible without good governance, particularly getting rid of corruption, nepotism, tribalism, gender discrimination and other forms of exclusion,”said ZAPU Acting Secretary Mildred Mkandla at the party offices in Bulawayo.

ZAPU interim president Isaac Mabuka 59th Anniversary address

Mkandla lamented the socio-economic challenges the country is going through.

She said due to that realisation, ZAPU had to revive its Social Welfare Department.

“Our late president, Dr Dumiso Dabengwa found it necessary to reconstitute this ZAPU Department of Social Welfare although while we could take a broad view of socio-economic challenges we needed to organise our various interventions and to keep building our party capacity to respond,” Mkandla said.

The social welfare secretary noted there was a need to enhance ZAPU’s capacity for it to respond to socio-challenges, as the range and scale of problems faced by party members and ordinary citizens had grown.

“In the course of doing our work in the last few years, it has become apparent that we need to build and in some cases enhance systems and our capacity. For instance, given the decline of national and local authority services there must be better awareness of alternatives provided by voluntary agencies and charitable organisations so people can receive assistance,” she said.

“I praise our office of the Treasurer General that has shown great flexibility to facilitate speedy collection of financial contributions to respond to crises and emergencies. However nothing beats the establishment of a fund for use in emergencies.”

ZAPU claimed it received no donor funds but sourced money from party members for its various social interventions.

“Things that have been done before 2020 have not been recorded and reported but a listing of some done this year shows the variety of interventions. Some of the practical interventions in crises the department undertook included providing support to Bulawayo’s Covid-19 prevention, intervened in Luveve during the outbreak of water- borne diseases and loss of life, supported residents in Binga District during floods by organising clothing and utensils for affected communities, groceries and medical supplies to Veteran- Moffat Hadebe who fired the first shot against Rhodesian forces in 1964,” Mkandla said.

-cite

By A Correspondent- Farm workers say the government must consider paying farmers in foreign currency for deliveries of cash crops so that the producers can pay their workers reasonable wages.

Raymond Sixpence, a Progressive Agricultural and Allied Industries Workers Union of Zimbabwe (Pawuz) official, said farmers were not able to pay their workers in foreign currency because their earnings were exclusively in Zimbabwe dollars.

“Tobacco, cotton and maize farmers are being paid little money, which is not enough to buy new machinery,” Sixpence said.

“Farmers should be given foreign currency because the local currency is not enough.

“So we are saying government should be there to help farmers so that they will have enough money to prepare for the new season.”

He said Pawuz wrote to the Lands Agriculture, Water, Climate and resettlement ministry seeking government intervention, but never got a response.

By A Correspondent- The Consumer Council of Zimbabwe (CCZ) has bemoaned the steady increase in prices, saying the trend defies the economic environment in the country.

Rose Mpofu, the CCZ deputy director, said businesses must ensure that prices are realistic especially compared to what is obtaining in neighbouring countries.

“We appreciate very much all the information that we are getting about the stabilisation and also particularly the inflation which is going down, especially the month-on-month. However, we continue to realise that in fact prices are not really going down.

“In fact, sometimes prices are going up,” Mpofu said at the recent Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce (ZNCC) 6th Annual Business Review Conference held in Harare.

“At what point are we going to realise prices that are realistic especially when we compare with other countries in the region?

“Sentiments we are getting from business when we interact with them is that they complain about the raw material and that they are fighting problems of high taxes for those raw materials.”

Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe governor John Mangudya told the same event that businesses were using different foreign currency exchange rates, resulting in distortions.

“You are very right about what is being observed. Others (businesses) use $90, $95 and $100 (exchange rate against the United States dollar), again as stated, this is non-compliance,” Mangudya said.

“It is nothing else besides non-compliance.”

The rising prices have raised questions about Zimbawe National Statistics Agency (Zimstat) inflation figures, which show a downward trend.

According to Zimstat, the inflation rate eased to 401,66% in November year-on-year from 471,25% the previous month.

It said on a monthly basis, prices increased by 3,1% compared with 4,37% previously.

The regular price increases come in the background of dwindling disposable incomes, reduced consumer spending, high unemployment as businesses cut jobs to reduce costs, and eroding wages caused by a depreciating local currency.

Temba Mliswa, the Norton MP, told the conference that civil servants were hardest hit by the price increases.

“Somebody who was being paid US$500 recently is now getting US$50,” Mliswa said. “So how then can this money buy anything?”

Mangudya pleaded with consumers to be patient as he promised that the spate of price increases would come to an end.-standard

By A Correspondent- Daggers are drawn in Zanu-PF over ruling party officials that are amassing land in urban areas, which they sell to desperate home seekers, with some disgruntled youths demanding action.

A letter to President Emmerson Mnangagwa by Zanu-PF youths in Mashonaland and messages on WhatsApp groups belonging to different wings of the ruling party obtained by this publication show that tension is rising over the land grabs.

The issue of people that have amassed vast tracts of land illegally in the cities, referred to as land barons, has come to the fore in recent weeks after 190 houses were demolished in Harare’s Budiriro suburb after the owners illegally occupied council land.

Caleb Kadye, a Zanu-PF member, has been identified as the leader of Events Housing Cooperative that invaded a site reserved by the council and subdivided it.

The Government said members of the cooperative paid US$2000 each for the stands and indicated that the Budiriro debacle was a tip of the iceberg as the capital had tens of such cooperatives that occupied land illegally from around 2012.

The letter to Mnangagwa by Zanu-PF youths in Mashonaland West reveals that the rot could have permeated to most parts of the country.

According to the youths, some of their leaders in the province have acquired 40 hectares of state land they intend to use for their own personal gain, including creating housing stands for sale.

The letter claimed there was a plot by key youth officials in Mashonaland West, who were using fake claims to get state land in Kadoma.

“This is all based on a fraudulent claim whereby in the documents they sent to Chinhoyi provincial, local government offices, he (the Zanu-PF official) only printed his name and three other youths, who include two ladies who are notoriously known in Kadoma for land scams and defrauding land seekers,” says the letter naming a prominent youth league official.

“They have been to court multiple times on fraud charges，your offices can check with the Kadoma Magistrates Court about the two ladies.”

“So they hatched a plan to personalise the land once they get the offer letter which they are about to receive soon from the Ministry of Local Government. No youth will benefit from this land,” the letter read in part.

The letter claimed the provincial youth leaders in Mashonaland West were using the Zanu-PF youth league to get the land, which they will subdivide and sell to home seekers.

“We are appealing to your high office your excellency to intervene and stop this corrupt document and investigate how it managed to sail through some stages,” reads the letter.

“In 2020, does the government still give vast tracts of land to individuals for stand developments?”

It also emerged that some youth league officials in Harare were using Zanu-PF youth league WhatsApp platforms, some of them in settlements that have been flagged as illegal by the Government.

Some of the stands advertised on WhatsApp are in Hatcliffe and Epworth.

A Zanu-PF youth league official, who spoke on condition of anonymity said some of the people advertising the stands were doing so on behalf of known land barons.

“I know some of them as runners of a Zanu-PF politician, who sells urban land,” the official said.

“There are Zanu-PF youths run estate companies with offices in Harare, who are the foot soldiers.”

Zanu-PF director of information Tafadzwa Mugwadi had not responded to questions about the letter to Mnangagwa at the time of going to print, but he distanced the party from land barons.

“Zanu-PF for the record is not working with and has never worked with any land baron or baroness,” Mugwadi said.

“We are the ruling party, and the Ministry of National Housing and Social Amenities is naturally convenient to us for such purposes such that the party has no need to work with third parties to attend to housing needs of our people.”

Marian Chombo, the Local Government deputy minister, said Mnangagwa’s administration will deal harshly with land barons.

“Huge amounts of money are lost to these people,” Chombo said.

“Indeed, they try and approach various government offices in an effort to sanitise or regularise their illegal activities.

“Government does not allocate land after it has been illegally parcelled out.

“The party has not encouraged anybody to distribute stands.”

She said beneficiaries of land in urban areas should always check with the department of state land in her ministry to verify the authenticity of cooperatives.

“No land will ever get a development permit without the input of the department of state land, which would verify the correct ownership before subdivision,” Chombo added.

“Land barons have no future in this new dispensation.”

-cite

By A Correspondent- A Mutare man raped his 13-year-old daughter before marrying her off to a polygamist for US$10, a magistrates court was told.

The man, whose name has been withheld to protect the identity of the minor, appeared before magistrate Nyasha Kuture facing charges of pledging a minor to another man.

He was sentenced to an effective nine months and is awaiting trial on the rape charges.

Prosecutors said sometime in 2019 in Dangamvura, the man was renting a three-roomed house where he stayed with his two wives.

He had a misunderstanding with his second wife before chasing her away.

The polygamist went to sleep in his first wife’s bedroom together with the complainant and her siblings.

During the night, he raped his 13-year-old daughter and threatened her with death if she disclosed the offence.

One day the man handed the girl over to Lucas Hondo who took her to Tembere village under Chief Zimunya.

Hondo’s second wife prepared a room for the complainant to sleep with the man who already had four wives.

Prosecutors said the girl was sold for US$10.-standard

By A Correspondent- Zimbabwe Teachers’ Association (ZIMTA) Mashonaland Central Provincial Executive Officer Lewis Banda (55) and his co-accused Tafadzwa Muchenje (33) have been acquitted by Magistrate Mrs Chifamba after full trail, where they were facing stock theft charges at the Bindura magistrates court.

Banda and Muchenje were facing charges of possession of stolen property after a botched deal which saw them purchase a beast without due diligence.

The facts gathered are that on the 17th day of December 2020, Banda and Muchenje were directed to the residence of Brighton Mudzongachiso to buy a beast by one Donald Mukombe.

The duo bought the beast on the day in question at USD340 and slaughtered it before taking away the carcass to Bindura.

It further emerged that Donald Mukombe had stolen four beasts from Matepatepa area of which two of the beasts belonged to Nicodemus Ruwani who had already embarked on a search of his lost beast.

Working on a tip off Bindura Rural Police arrested Donald Mukombe who led them to Brickburn farm where he kept the beasts and found one beast already sold to Lewis Banda and Tafadzwa Muchenje leading to their subsequent arrest.

The prosecution’s case against Banda prima facie was that the accused person got possession of a stolen beast and was aware that the beast could be stolen hence he was guilty as charged.

Investigating officer CST Ndlovu in giving evidence insisted that there was a possibility that Banda and Muchenje knew that the beast was stolen as they overlooked some cattle movement procedures such as getting police clearance.

In handing her judgement on 18 December 2020, Magistrate Chifamba highlighted that the defence counsel had proved beyond reasonable doubt that the accused had no reasonable grounds to suspect that the beast had been stolen.

In the verdict summary, the court established that the accused persons did not know that the beast was stolen as testified by all witnesses. Furthermore, the accused persons paid a fair price for the beast, a development that dispelled all suspicion that it could have been stolen.
Donald Mukombe was slapped with a 27-year jail term for cattle rustling whilst Brighton Mudzongachiso awaits judgement on 28 December 2020

https://twitter.com/ZimEye/status/1340546589346041856?s=19

The Zimbabwean government has effectively banned Christmas parties due to a second wave of the coronavirus characterised by a huge spike in new infections.

Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Minister Kazembe Kazembe said police were out in full force to enforce COVID-19 lockdown regulations.

He said:

We are not yet out of the COVID-19 woes. The country is in the second wave of the virus. Parties will not be permissible during the festive season.

Weddings will be allowed but with limited numbers. Police will be out in full force to enforce COVID-19 regulations and make sure they are being followed.

However, defiant revellers say they will celebrate, even if it means hosting bush parties.

A club owner told TimesLive that police are incapacitated and don’t have fuel to do normal policing duties and it would be impossible for them to drive 20km out of town to stop parties.

A partygoer said it was easy to circumvent the coronavirus lockdown by holding parties at tourism facilities such as hotels and bed and breakfast lodges.

He said:

You book a lodge for US$100 (about R1,450), invite around 20 friends, bring drinks and a good DJ. It’s even cheaper than spending at a nightclub.

Since March, Zimbabwe has recorded coronavirus 11 866 cases, 9 836 recoveries and 314 deaths.

In the second wave, the country is recording an average of 117 new cases daily.

-timeslive

Popular South African producer and man of the moment, Master KG is in the eye of a storm after he was exposed to have ordered his lover, Queen Lolly, to abort the couple’s pregnancy.

The “Jerusalema” star is expecting his first child with fellow musician Queen Lolly, real name Nomfundo Shezi. However, far from being pleased, Master KG, real name Kgaogelo Moagi, is reported to have ordered Queen Lolly to abort the pregnancy.

The sensational allegations were made by Queen Lolly who told City Press that Master KG had ordered her to “get rid of the baby” after she informed him that she was pregnant. A seemingly irate Queen Lolly also accused the global sensation of being an inveterate womaniser who preys on powerless women. She told the publication

“I fell pregnant two months ago and when I told him, he told me to have an abortion. I asked him why he was doing this, when I had put up with everything he had already put me through, including dating another woman and going public about it. There are many different women he’s been with while asking me to be patient with him,”

She also said that this was the second time that she had fallen pregnant with Master KG’s baby,

“He wants me to terminate the pregnancy, but he doesn’t like paying hospital bills. Last year, I fell pregnant and I went through the whole thing by myself. I had a miscarriage and he wasn’t there, although he knew [what had happened].

“I asked him how I can have an abortion if he doesn’t pay hospital bills. The first time, he said: ‘Please make a plan.’ KG is a womaniser and preys on powerless women because he knows he has power,”

Queen Lolly insisted that she has no plans to be in a long term relationship with the Limpopo-born musician who had turned on her after she announced that she was pregnant.

“He said he didn’t give a f**k and I could go ahead and tell the press about it because he was loved all over the world, but who was I? He said he wasn’t ready for a child. I told him I needed money to terminate and he asked how much. I told him to do the booking since he was the one who didn’t want the baby, and that he shouldn’t book me into a cheap backdoor clinic.”

Master KG on the other hand refuted the allegations and accused Queen Lolly of trying to tarnish his image because he had broken up with her and refused to produce a song for her.

“Just because I am not doing what she wants me to do, she is coming up with stories to make me look bad in the public. First thing, she’s saying that I said she must abort, whereas she is the one who sent the message and said she’s going to abort. If there is a baby and it is mine, I don’t see a reason for her to abort my child. I have a baby already. Why would I tell her to abort?”

State Media

IN a bid to expedite the issuing of emergency passports and avoid litigation, the Government has directed that the document be applied and issued only at the Registrar General’s Office in Harare.

This was after it was noted that the 24-hour emergency passport which costs US$318 was in some cases taking more than a week to reach the owner thereby defeating the “emergency” status of the document leaving the State liable to prosecution for failing to deliver the passport in the prescribed 24 hours.

Acting Registrar-General Mr Henry Machiri told Sunday News that citizens should take note of the changes to avoid delays in the event they want to travel as a matter of urgency.

Citizens have registered their dismay after being denied access to pay for forex passports in other provinces except Harare only as they could not be delivered in 24 hours.

Emergency passport applications were previously submitted at provincial registry offices but the passports are taking more than 24 hours to return to the city of application.

The development comes at a time when the country is expected to receive a number of diasporans especially those based in South Africa commonly known as injiva who will be coming for the festive holidays where they also take time to regularise their travelling documents as some would have expired.

“It is not that we are denying them to apply from any offices they wish but if you look at it, you apply for a 24-hour passport and you are in Bulawayo and we take four or more days to give you that passport, that becomes a breach of contract. That’s where the matter is.

“For this US$ passport if you give us your application at 9am, you are supposed to get it at 9am the following day.

One is confident that they can book a flight to travel at 1pm as they are guaranteed of a passport in 24 hours. Imagine booking a flight and the passport does not come back in the stipulated 24 hours because you applied from Bulawayo.

That will be bad,” he said.

Added Mr Machiri; “We want to ensure that we honour our contract with you by giving you the passport in 24 hours.

Provinces outside Harare are now scared to breach that contract, hence they do not want citizens to apply anywhere outside the Harare RGs office.

“We have recorded instances where we have been taken to court for breaching contracts when a passport is not availed in 24 hours after paying forex and the courts looked at our agreement where we promised to deliver in 24 hours and we are found on the wrong side.”

The acting RG also said provinces like Bulawayo vehicles were coming once a week for the delivery of passports which completely erases the possibility of a 24-hour passport being issued from the province.

However, the acting RG said the current passport backlog is below 300 000 as some passports have been issued.

Before the onset of Covid-19, the backlog was crawling towards the 500 000 mark.

Roman Catholic-run Minda Girls High at Maphisa Growth Point in Matobo District, Matabeleland South Province is the latest school to report multiple Covid-19 cases, after 20 pupils tested positive for the pandemic with the school directing that learners who test positive will remain at the school beyond the closing date.

Schools closed for the third term last Friday and while some parents were uniting with their children and getting prepared for the festive season, pupils who are still positive were told to remain isolated at the learning institutions, especially boarding schools.

To date the country’s schools have recorded 558 Covid-19 cases with the hardest hit being John Tallach High in Ntabazinduna, Matabeleland North Province where more than 180 cases were reported.

However, most of the school pupils have recovered.

In an interview with Sunday News, director of communications in the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, Mr Taungana Ndoro said those who tested positive will remain at their schools or at home as per the direction of the Ministry of Health and Child Care.

“Those who tested positive and still on mandatory isolation will remain under the direction of the Ministry of Health and Child Care until cleared. This may be at the school or at their homes depending on the Ministry of Health (and Child Care)’s direction,” said Mr Ndoro.

He said the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education has already put in place mechanisms to cater for those that tested positive noting that their aim was not to expose the community and contain the spread of the pandemic.

“In all this, we are closely working with the Ministry of Health and Child Care authorities and they have been giving us the much required guidance to help contain the spread of the pandemic within our schools.

“It is important to note that there are set protocols to follow when someone tests positive for the pandemic and their implementation is guided by health officials and one of these is the issue of isolation from society,” said Mr Ndoro.

At Minda High School authorities have revealed that pupils who tested positive will stay at the school for a further week, which was when their mandatory isolation period is expected to end.

In a message sent to parents on Friday, the school’s head, Mr Norcan Nyamambi, said they were working with health authorities to contain the pandemic and also ensure the affected pupils remained on quarantine.

“We shall continue to give you updates as we get full guidance from the relevant authorities. Parents and guardians of affected learners will be contacted individually,” reads part of the message.

Last Tuesday, the Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Senator Monica Mutsvangwa, revealed that Government was putting in place mechanisms at schools ahead of the festive season break.
The minister was speaking during a post-Cabinet briefing.

“The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, in collaboration with Ministry of Health and Child Care continue to strengthen infection, prevention and control strategies in schools as they prepare to break for the Christmas and New Year holidays.

“Cumulatively, 558 cases have been reported at learning institutions across the country,” she said.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Primary and Secondary has said schools must continue to cap the coming term fees at $25 000 as the ministry has not approved any new fees increase.

Mr Ndoro said schools should charge fees that were approved in September when schools opened for this year’s third term.

“As of now there are no new fees structures that have been approved by Government. The schools will continue to use the fees structure that were approved when the schools opened in September. All schools must not peg their fees beyond $25 000. All our provinces have been authorised to approve all fees structures that do not exceed $25 000.

Any schools intending to raise their fees to beyond $25 000 will have to approach the head office for approval,” he said.

There have reports that some boarding schools have also indicated that they will reduce intake for Form One next year to reduce congestion.

As part of efforts to reduce spread of Covid-19, the Government recommended class sizes be reduced.

Unlike day schools where schools were directed to stagger attendance of pupils, boarding schools were forced to stick with all their pupils at the same time since they could not send them home.

Mr Ndoro said some of the schools in the country, mostly boarding, should also implement measures to decongest their hostels and dormitories so as to comply with the ministry’s Standard Operation Procedures.

Zimbabwe Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC) coronavirus/COVID-19 situation report as of 19 December 2020:

New cases: 102
Locals: 96
Returnees: 6
Deaths: 2
Recoveries: 60
PCR Tests Done: 1581
National Recovery Rate: 82.2%
Active Cases: 1 849
Total Cumulative Cases: 12 151
Total Recoveries: 9 984
Total Deaths: 318

State Media

ZIMBABWE has upped preparations for a nationwide rollout of the Covid-19 vaccine, with the Government having concluded two extensive studies to assess readiness for the deployment of inoculation jabs, President Mnangagwa has said.

Updating the nation on the country’s Covid-19 response and containment measures at State House in Harare yesterday, the President warned against unnecessary travel and large gatherings over the festive period.

The country, said the President, was staring at losing out on the gains made in containing a widespread outbreak of the coronavirus if Zimbabweans continue to disregard Covid-19 containment measures that include enforcement of physical distancing and wearing face coverings.

Zimbabwe has recorded 12 047 cases of the coronavirus since March, with 316 people having died from the contagion.

The country has witnessed a spike in new infections over the past month, with 3 218 new cases having been recorded between November 16 and December 18.

“While a vaccine is the ultimate preventative measure, it is not available to us just yet,” said the President.

“Preparations for the deployment of a vaccine, once approved, are, however, in progress guided by two national preparedness assessments conducted in October and November 2020.

“Zimbabwe will only roll out vaccines that have been analysed and found to be effective and safe for our population.”

He said Zimbabwe was party to the World Health Organisation led Global Access Facility — Covax — which plans to secure and distribute millions of doses of the vaccine to developing countries, once licensed and approved.

The initiative, which seeks to secure at least 220 million doses, will enable the fast and equitable distribution of the vaccine.

Provisionally, the WHO distribution mechanism seeks to proportionally allocate doses until all countries have enough doses to cover 20 percent of their population.

“The WHO, working with other global immunisation partners, has come up with a Covid-19 Global Access Facility (Covax).

“This is designed to accelerate the development and manufacture of safe, effective Covid-19 vaccines in order to guarantee rapid, fair and equitable access to vaccines for all countries.

“Zimbabwe is participating in the facility.

“In addition to this, Zimbabwe is also participating in clinical trials and vaccine research to ensure that the country’s decision is guided by local science.”

Paul Nyathi

Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Monica Mutsvangwa had issued a statement warning Zimbabweans to avoid the spread of the Coronavirus during the festive season.

Minister Mutsvangwa who last month hosted a huge birthday party which had several ministers and senior government officials warned citizens against partying over the festive.

Several ministers and guests gathered in Harare at the end of November to celebrate the 60th birthday of information minister Monica Mutsvangwa with no mask in sight.

Zimbabweans reacted with anger after pictures emerged showing ministers Mutsvangwa, Joel Biggie Matiza, Ziyambi Ziyambi and Kazembe Kazembe at the shindig which went on late into the night.

The pictures were shared on social media by government spokesman Ndavaningi Mangwana.

In response, Mutsvangwa said she had no regrets after her family organised the surprise 60th birthday bash for her.

“So, my family cannot host a birthday party for me?” she asked rhetorically when asked for a comment.

“I have attended several events in the last week alone and then my family surprises me with a party with 50 guests comprising of my best friends and then it is a problem?”

Speaking in a pre-recorded statement shared online on Saturday, Mutsvangwa, called on Zimbabweans to exercise extreme vigilance over the festive season to avoid intensifying the spread of Covid-19 in the country, something which they failed to do as cabinet ministers.

Minister Mutsvangwa said while the Government has put in place measures to help contain the spread of the virus, it was up to individuals to take necessary precautions to guard against the coronavirus.

“I am here to tell you that Covid-19 is still raging and claiming more lives,” she said.

“Far from claims that its strains have receded, the disease remains the number one enemy to human health.

“It is killing the young and old and continues to threaten our very existence.

“In keeping with World Health Organisations standards, the Zimbabwe Government has over the year contained the disease by scaling up testing, contact tracing, surveillance and enforcement.

“However, you and I should continue to play our part, do not let your guard down.

“Do it for your son, daughter, mother, father, brother and sister, all your loved ones.

“Do not be the ones to spread the disease to them.”

https://twitter.com/ZimEye/status/1340546589346041856?s=19

State Media

A PRIMARY school in the Vumba resort area near Mutare has been renamed after the late national hero, Vice President Dr Joshua Nkomo.

Vice President Kembo Mohadi announced the renaming of the school, which was formerly known as Excelsior Primary School, yesterday when he officiated at a handover ceremony of a refurbished classroom block at the school.

VP Mohadi, who is board chairman for the Development Trust of Zimbabwe (DTZ) which financed the refurbishment, said names of learning institutions that were inherited from the colonial era have no significance today.

“We are renaming this school after the liberation war icon and Father Zimbabwe, the late Cde Joshua Nkomo,” said the Vice President.

“He was instrumental in the formation of this school by virtue of his immense contribution to the formation of the Development Trust of Zimbabwe.

“The renaming of the school becomes part of a broader initiative meant to restore pride in our identity and history as well as celebrate the life of our leaders both the living and departed.”

He said authorities will strive to rename education institutions to honour the country’s national heroes and nationalists from the region.

Vice President Mohadi chairs the Cabinet Committee on State Occasions, Social Services and Poverty Reduction and National Peace and Reconciliation which, among other roles, oversees the renaming of institutions with colonial era names.

State Media

PRESIDENT Mnangagwa yesterday launched the National Dress Fabric at a colourful event at State House, marking the first time that the country has been able to settle on a national dress style since 1980.

First Lady Amai Auxillia Mnangagwa spearheaded the search for the National Dress Fabric after embarking on comprehensive consultations with different stakeholders and ethnic groups from all the country’s 10 provinces.

The National Dress Fabric encompasses national symbols such as the Zimbabwe Bird, the National Flag and the Chevron pattern. Designs of the fabric were showcased at a glamorous fashion show held at State House.

Speaking after launching the National Dress Fabric, President Mnangagwa lauded the First Lady for leading the milestone achievement that is crucial to promoting and preserving national identity.

He said the National Dress Fabric promotes unity among Zimbabweans, in light of Unity Day, which will be commemorated on Tuesday.

“The fabric plays an important role in the preservation of national values and cultural heritage and helps create unity among our people. I challenge the citizenry to conceptualise our apparel as more than just a form of identity. It must be a bridge, joining communities with the uniqueness of their heritage, more so that this launch is happening two days before our country commemorates Unite Day.”

The President said the National Dress Fabric will contribute to convey Zimbabwe’s culture, ways of life, values and belief systems.

“I am enthused that fashion and design now plays an equally important role with other artistic fields in our national development discourse. I therefore want to appreciate all the fashion designers and stakeholders in the textile industry for this achievement,” President Mnangagwa said.

He said the Government would set aside days when people would wear the fabric.

“Going forward, as Zimbabweans, both here and in the Diaspora, let us now promote our country’s sovereignty and national identity through this National Dress Fabric. On our side as Government, we should designate days when our people wear attire with the National Dress Fabric, inclusive of those in the education sector,” President Mnangagwa said.

The President implored the media to popularise the National Dress Fabric while encouraging the fashion and arts sectors to do the same.

“In addition, the Zimbabwe Fashion and Textile Industry and Creative Industry are challenged to draw inspiration from this national fabric by blending the designs into contemporary fashion, art, film and music trends. This will ensure that the National Dress Fabric is immortalised and passed on to the next generations.”

In her remarks, the First Lady said she intended the National Dress Fabric to depict the country’s traditions, history, national heritage and aspirations while being appropriate to all social and religious gatherings.

In addition, the fabric had to embrace all ethnic groups and historic backgrounds.

Consultations involved ministries, researchers, academics, traditional leaders, designers, historians, women and church groups.

The First Lady said she decided to take up the initiative to come up with a National Dress Fabric as many Zimbabweans had no idea of what to wear during national events, leading many to adopt foreign styles.

“I considered countries like South Africa and Malaysia with complex cultures but had national dresses and I said Zimbabwe with its more unified culture should find it easier to have one of its own. As a woman, in my own mind, I thought of a national dress for Zimbabwe which included a wraparound cloth, headdress and ornaments, including necklaces, earrings and bracelets. But I decided to consult with experts on how to go about it,” she said.

The First Lady assigned the Minister of Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development, Dr Sithembiso Nyoni, to oversee the work for her.

“I would like to take this opportunity to appreciate the work that has been put in by Honourable (Sithembiso) Nyoni and her ministry, King Fisher, the Fabric Designer, fashion designers and the multi-stakeholders who have been critical in ensuring that this process comes to fruition and that Zimbabwe can finally launch a national dress.

“Today, we witness the launch of the National Dress Fabric as well as the fashion show where various designs of the national fabric are on display. We also look at the way this fabric can be designed so that it aligns well with the drive to instil nationalism among Zimbabweans near and far. We want to encourage all Zimbabweans to fully engage and participate in the promotion and popularisation of the national dress and national fabric,” Amai Mnangagwa said.

While the initial search for the National Dress Fabric started in 2005, it did not yield any results prompting Amai Mnangagwa to take it upon herself to ensure the programme succeeds.

Yesterday, the President and First Lady toured stands where the fabric was being exhibited in different designs.

Vice President Dr Constantino Chiwenga, Cabinet ministers and senior officials from the Government and ZANU PF attended the event.

IN a bid to expedite the issuing of emergency passports and avoid litigation, the Government has directed that the document be applied and issued only at the Registrar General’s Office in Harare.

This was after it was noted that the 24-hour emergency passport which costs US$318 was in some cases taking more than a week to reach the owner thereby defeating the “emergency” status of the document leaving the State liable to prosecution for failing to deliver the passport in the prescribed 24 hours.

Acting Registrar-General Mr Henry Machiri told Sunday News that citizens should take note of the changes to avoid delays in the event they want to travel as a matter of urgency.

Citizens have registered their dismay after being denied access to pay for forex passports in other provinces except Harare only as they could not be delivered in 24 hours.

Emergency passport applications were previously submitted at provincial registry offices but the passports are taking more than 24 hours to return to the city of application.

The development comes at a time when the country is expected to receive a number of diasporans especially those based in South Africa commonly known as injiva who will be coming for the festive holidays where they also take time to regularise their travelling documents as some would have expired.

“It is not that we are denying them to apply from any offices they wish but if you look at it, you apply for a 24-hour passport and you are in Bulawayo and we take four or more days to give you that passport, that becomes a breach of contract. That’s where the matter is.

“For this US$ passport if you give us your application at 9am, you are supposed to get it at 9am the following day.

-State Media

Social media has roundly rejected the national dress launched yesterday by the first lady Auxillia Mnangagwa in what exposes deep rooted polarisation in Zimbabwe.

The condemnation of the national dress speaks on the timing as Zimbabwe is really in need of healing to do away with partisanship which sees everything done by the present government as a Zanu PF agenda while ruling party supporters treats everything done by the opposition with suspicion.

First to attack was MDC Alliance Spokesperson Fadzai Mahere who raised concern over the prioritization of the national dress at the expense of other more pressing issues.

“8,6 million Zimbabweans are food insecure. The public health system is on its knees. Teachers are incapacitated. Nurses can’t afford transport to go to work. Yet, the “Govt” is focused on this,” said Mahere.

MDC-T member Fungai Chiposi said he was not impressed by the national dress.

“I have been viewing the National Dress images and designs and I am not inspired at all,” said Chiposi.

Another social media user, Thabisa Sibanda accused government of not doing enough consultations before launching the national dress.

“The Zimbabwe National dress is a very good idea. I am not convinced that it has been executed properly. When were the consultations done?,” he said.

Former Herald Editor Tichaona Zindoga said the idea of a national dress is noble but will fail to get traction because of the decision to use the first lady to launch it.

“Idea of a national dress is a noble one, albeit one that has failed to gain traction after several attempts. Latest attempt will likely fail because of perception of it being a hegemonic project. It doesn’t help that one Auxillia Mnangagwa is leading it,” said Zindoga.

Covid -19 death at Gutu Mission Hospital

Name of deceased- Pauline Dzapasi
Age-54. Sex-F
DOA-17/12/20
DOD- 19/12/20
Nxt of kin- Augustine Dzapasi
Cell-0772102356
Place of burial- Tirizi Farm 87, Gutu.

*The remains will be ferried today (19/12/20) by Doves funeral from Gutu Mission Hosp to the above mention address Tirizi.

Source -Gutu Mission Hospital Staff

POPTAIN — the high-riding dancehall singer who rose to fame with his hit song “Fadza Mutengi” — has had a long, bumpy and winding road to stardom.

Born Ameen Abduljaleel Matanga in Gweru some 26 years ago, the hit-maker opened up on his touching life and not-so-rosy musical journey.

Poptain was born in a Muslim family and is the youngest of three children.

He defied the odds and found success where some people would have easily failed.

Tragedy

In fact, from the day he was born, the odds always seemed to be heavily staked against him.

Following the death of his parents when he was only a young boy, the singer and his two siblings — Charity and Akim — went to live with an uncle in Kwekwe in 2001.

Barely two years later, the uncle died, resulting in the siblings moving to Harare, where they were put under the care of an aunt. The move to Harare was to change Poptain’s life forever.

“When we moved to Harare, we were given the impression that we were going to boarding school. We were elated as we bid farewell to our friends and relatives,” he recounted.

However, to their unpleasant surprise, they were put in an orphanage.

“I was shocked and hurt. To me, this was deceit. During my early days at the orphanage, I would find a secret place where I would often go to cry my heart out.”

But it was to become a blessing in disguise.

“My interest in music grew when I was at the orphanage,” he said.

After completing Ordinary Level in 2011, the singer and his siblings went back to live with their aunt.

“My aunt, who is deeply religious, wanted me to be a Muslim teacher and despised secular music. I knew that my first love was music and I swore that nothing could stop me from achieving my goal,” added the young musician, who is now a proud father of one.

Poptain was subsequently introduced to a recording studio by Naddy Nice, a fellow Muslim with whom he had developed a close relationship.

“I owe Naddy Nice a lot. Every time I held the microphone, he would urge me to refine my talent. He is the one who gave me my stage name.”

Continuing to defy his aunt by relentlessly pursuing secular music came at a price — he was chased away from home.-The Sunday Mail

Tinashe Sambiri|MDC Alliance leader, President Nelson Chamisa, has said the popular movement will remain solid and intact despite frantic efforts by Zanu PF to destroy the people’s project.

President Chamisa has also emphasized that the popular movement is not ashamed of pursuing the peaceful path to the future.

“Our BIGGEST ACHIEVEMENT over the years has been to remain standing & keeping the fight for real change.

It’s not easy to fight dictatorship only with open palms, bare hands and on the platform of peace.

We are not ashamed of our non-violence path to the future.

Waging a consistent fight for freedom, democracy & transformation is a major score and no mean achievement.

We have a solid vision, clear policies, precise goals and effective strategies…After the persecution, trials, betrayals and tribulations victory kicks in. Victory is certain! It’s coming,” said President Chamisa.

Tinashe Sambiri|MDC Alliance leader, President Nelson Chamisa, has said the popular movement will remain solid and intact despite frantic efforts by Zanu PF to destroy the people’s project.

President Chamisa has also emphasized that the popular movement is not ashamed of pursuing the peaceful path to the future.

“Our BIGGEST ACHIEVEMENT over the years has been to remain standing & keeping the fight for real change.

It’s not easy to fight dictatorship only with open palms, bare hands and on the platform of peace.

We are not ashamed of our non-violence path to the future.

Waging a consistent fight for freedom, democracy & transformation is a major score and no mean achievement.

We have a solid vision, clear policies, precise goals and effective strategies…After the persecution, trials, betrayals and tribulations victory kicks in. Victory is certain! It’s coming,” said President Chamisa.

State Media

ZIMBABWE has upped preparations for a nationwide rollout of the Covid-19 vaccine, with the Government having concluded two extensive studies to assess readiness for the deployment of inoculation jabs, President Mnangagwa has said.

Updating the nation on the country’s Covid-19 response and containment measures at State House in Harare yesterday, the President warned against unnecessary travel and large gatherings over the festive period.

The country, said the President, was staring at losing out on the gains made in containing a widespread outbreak of the coronavirus if Zimbabweans continue to disregard Covid-19 containment measures that include enforcement of physical distancing and wearing face coverings.

Zimbabwe has recorded 12 047 cases of the coronavirus since March, with 316 people having died from the contagion.

The country has witnessed a spike in new infections over the past month, with 3 218 new cases having been recorded between November 16 and December 18.

“While a vaccine is the ultimate preventative measure, it is not available to us just yet,” said the President.

“Preparations for the deployment of a vaccine, once approved, are, however, in progress guided by two national preparedness assessments conducted in October and November 2020.

“Zimbabwe will only roll out vaccines that have been analysed and found to be effective and safe for our population.”

He said Zimbabwe was party to the World Health Organisation led Global Access Facility — Covax — which plans to secure and distribute millions of doses of the vaccine to developing countries, once licensed and approved.

The initiative, which seeks to secure at least 220 million doses, will enable the fast and equitable distribution of the vaccine.

Provisionally, the WHO distribution mechanism seeks to proportionally allocate doses until all countries have enough doses to cover 20 percent of their population.

“The WHO, working with other global immunisation partners, has come up with a Covid-19 Global Access Facility (Covax).

“This is designed to accelerate the development and manufacture of safe, effective Covid-19 vaccines in order to guarantee rapid, fair and equitable access to vaccines for all countries.

“Zimbabwe is participating in the facility.

“In addition to this, Zimbabwe is also participating in clinical trials and vaccine research to ensure that the country’s decision is guided by local science.”

Tinashe Sambiri|Harare Mayor Jacob Mafume is being persecuted for exposing rampant corruption in the Zanu PF structures, MDC Alliance Youth Assembly Gift Ostallos Siziba has said.

Siziba urged the nation to stand in solidarity with political activists who are being persecuted by Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration.

See his statement below:
Harare Mayor Jacob Mafume is in prison. He is being persecuted for exposing the regime.

I gather there’s chaos in town house.
I stand in solidarity with Jacob for the regime is coming for all of us, if we don’t speak out no one will.

Don’t be misled by the regime’s faceless troglodytes that the mayor is corrupt- it’s a simple narrative to strike moral equivalence between Zanu PF and the alternative.

What a shame!

ZanupfMustGo

FreeMayorJacob

A ZIMUNYA man who was recently convicted of stealing from an accident scene will perform 260 hours of community work.

Gerald Madziro (26) was convicted on his own guilty plea when he appeared before Mutare magistrate, Ms Nyasha Kuture.

Mr Brian Goto prosecuted.

Mr Goto said Madziro was the first to arrive at the scene of an accident which happened at the 11km peg along the Mutare-Chimanimani Highway.

He loaded the property of the Mr Davison Mushaikwa into his vehicle before rushing him to Victoria Chitepo Provincial Hospital.

However, Mr Mushaikwa was pronounced dead upon arrival at the hospital and Madziro disappeared with his property.

Among the things stolen by Madziro were two diagnostic machines, one laptop, an electric scissors, a computer box, an alternator,a diesel pump and a inverter, all valued at US$2 755 .

Two weeks later, Mr Mushaikwa’s wife — Ms Evas Sithole — received information that Madziro had stolen the property.

Investigations led to the recovery of the property, save for the inverter.-The Manica Post

TEN gun-toting robbers on Sunday pounced on a Rusape farm and assaulted security guards before looting irrigation equipment worth thousands of dollars.

In a well-executed robbery that took place at Tara Farm on December 13, the robbers assaulted the security guards while others loaded their loot in a lorry.

The farm owner, whose name has not yet been established, tried in vain to give chase, but abandoned the mission after his vehicle ran out of fuel. Deputy Manicaland provincial police spokesperson, Inspector Luxson Chananda confirmed the robbery.

“Ten gun-toting robbers pounced at Tara Farm and disarmed the first security guard who was manning the main gate. They severely assaulted him with logs and sticks before gaining entry into the main premises.

“They assaulted the other two guards before tying up all of them. The robbers stole irrigation centre pivots, 14 tyres, several gearboxes, several electric motors, spanners and the guards’ cellphones. They loaded the stolen goods into their truck and drove off,” said Insp Chananda.

A chief security officer at the farm arrived at the scene just after the robbery and called the farm owner who quickly reacted and followed the robbers in a high-speed chase.

He, however, ran out of fuel.

The 10 are still at large and police are appealing to members of the public for information that will lead to the arrest of the suspects.

Meanwhile, three unknown machete-wielding robbers pounced on a trader in Middle Sabi and made good their escape with portable radios.

“Kayembe Batiyanga was selling his wares in Middle Sabi and upon approaching Farm 31 Compound, the three robbers demanded cash from him. He did not surrender anything and so they assaulted him all over the body. They stole two portable radios and went away. Batiyanga tried to follow them, but they threatened to kill him with machetes,” said Insp Chananda.

The suspects are still at large.-The Manica Post

MNANGAGWA TO CRIMINALISE UN-PATRIOTISM DIASPORA VOICES https://t.co/pZmiyKS46y

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) December 19, 2020

https://youtu.be/4oObnDl_FeI

Tinashe Sambiri|MDC Alliance leader, President Nelson Chamisa, has said the popular movement will remain solid and intact despite frantic efforts by Zanu PF to destroy the people’s project.

President Chamisa has also emphasized that the popular movement is not ashamed of pursuing the peaceful path to the future.

“Our BIGGEST ACHIEVEMENT over the years has been to remain standing & keeping the fight for real change.

It’s not easy to fight dictatorship only with open palms, bare hands and on the platform of peace.

We are not ashamed of our non-violence path to the future.

Waging a consistent fight for freedom, democracy and transformation is a major score and no mean achievement.

We have a solid vision, clear policies, precise goals and effective strategies…After the persecution, trials, betrayals and tribulations victory kicks in. Victory is certain! It’s coming,” said President Chamisa.

Tinashe Sambiri|Harare Mayor Jacob Mafume is being persecuted for exposing rampant corruption in the Zanu PF structures, MDC Alliance Youth Assembly Gift Ostallos Siziba has said.

Siziba urged the nation to stand in solidarity with political activists who are being persecuted by Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration.

See his statement below:
Harare Mayor Jacob Mafume is in prison. He is being persecuted for exposing the regime.

I gather there’s chaos in town house.
I stand in solidarity with Jacob for the regime is coming for all of us, if we don’t speak out no one will.

Don’t be misled by the regime’s faceless troglodytes that the mayor is corrupt- it’s a simple narrative to strike moral equivalence between Zanu PF and the alternative.

What a shame!

ZanupfMustGo

FreeMayorJacob

Tinashe Sambiri|MDC Alliance leader, President Nelson Chamisa, has said the popular movement will remain solid and intact despite frantic efforts by Zanu PF to destroy the people’s project.

President Chamisa has also emphasized that the popular movement is not ashamed of pursuing the peaceful path to the future.

“Our BIGGEST ACHIEVEMENT over the years has been to remain standing & keeping the fight for real change.

It’s not easy to fight dictatorship only with open palms, bare hands and on the platform of peace.

We are not ashamed of our non-violence path to the future.

Waging a consistent fight for freedom, democracy & transformation is a major score and no mean achievement.

We have a solid vision, clear policies, precise goals and effective strategies…After the persecution, trials, betrayals and tribulations victory kicks in. Victory is certain! It’s coming,” said President Chamisa.

By A Correspondent- Preparations for the building of a state-of-the-art hospital in the tourist resort of Victoria Falls by International Health Delivery (IHD) have begun with consultations over location of the medical institution currently underway.

The construction of the health centre is expected to begin in a year’s time.

IHD executive director Chitwan Malhotra yesterday said the hospital was being built not only to be a medical referral centre for Zimbabweans, but also for those in the Sadc region.

“We need to boost the health infrastructure in the Victoria Falls and we will be setting up a state-of-the-art hospital in Victoria Falls which will be equipped with the most recent technologies,” Malhorta said.

“It will not only for the people of Zimbabwe, but also for people from neighbouring countries who will be coming for treatment, diagnostics and medication.”

She said the aim was to make the hospital part of medical tourism in the region.

“The hospital is a big project and it has a lot of stakeholders involved. This includes the local authority, Health and Local Government ministries. For this project to be on the ground, it will require a year of work with the ministry and other stakeholders.”

She said the location of the land where the hospital will be set up is yet to be identified. The location, she added, should be strategically placed within the resort town.

-statemedia

By A Correspondent- Harare Mayor, Councillor Jacob Mafume was arrested for alleged criminal abuse of office after he had reportedly parcelled out council stands to his sister.

His arrest has triggered varying opinion with some, especially those aligned to the opposition MDC Alliance, saying it was politically motivated.

Following his arrest, his deputy, Councillor Luckson Mukunguma was elevated to the post of Mayor. Ironically, he had been arrested on 16 December but is already back in the office.

Speaking on the matter, Jealousy Mawarire, the spokesperson for the National Patriotic Front suggested that Mafume’s arrest was a strategy to clear the path for Mukunguma’s elevation.

He said:

I thot Harare Deputy Mayor, Luckson Mukunguma was arrested last week, how come he is Acting Mayor? So the arrest of Harare Mayor @JMafume is meant to elevate Mukunguma to the post of Mayor which he lost to Mafume @PoliceZimbabwe & the judiciary in Zim are being abused by Junta-PF

He was arrested last week on allegations of fraud, how come he is not in remand prison like others?

Mukunguma was arrested on 16 December for alleged criminal abuse of office. On the 17th of December, he was already back in office reinstating some of the council officials whose cases are still pending.

This is happening when the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works has issued a directive which notes that council employees facing criminal charges should not report for duty until their cases are finalised at the courts.

Mukunguma, a local businessman who is also the chairperson of the council’s finance committee, is a member of the MDC-T led by Thokozani Khupe.

He contested to replace ousted Harare Mayor Herbert Gomba but lost to MDC Alliance representative, Jacob Mafume, after securing 14 votes while Mafume garnered 19.

MDC-T’s acting spokesperson Tapiwa Mahakada has confirmed the postponement of the party’s extraordinary congress. 

Below is his statement.

19 December 2020

MDC-T Extra-Ordinary Congress: Latest developments

I have to advise all our MDC-T party structures, supporters, and delegates that the much-awaited EOC has been postponed to a date to be soon advised.

This development has been necessitated by logistical challenges that we had underestimated and these are being sorted out so that the party holds a seamless Extra-Ordinary Congress.

We owe it to our members to hold a transparent, democratic and credible Congress that will elect the successor to our late iconic leader, Dr Morgan Richard Tsvangirai. The decision to postpone Congress was arrived at after all the contestants agreed that more preparations needed to be done in order to deliver a credible Congress that will reflect the will of the 4500 MDC-T delegates.

The four contestants are Dr Thokozani Khupe, the Acting President, Engineer Elias Mudzuri, the Acting Vice National Chairperson, Dr Morgen Komichi, the, National Chairman and Advocate Douglas Mwonzora, the Secretary-General.

Yours In Solidarity

Dr Tapiwa Maji-Marefu MASHAKADA MDC-T Acting National Spokesperson

By A Correspondent- The Public prosecutor (PP) Tapiwa Kusema who consented to bail in Musa Abdul’s case and was later arrested on charges of criminal abuse of office, reportedly did not seek approval from his superiors for bail concessions beforehand, The Herald reports.

The matter came to light in court during his bail hearing when the officer investigating his case Detective Assistant Inspector Collius Mushambi gave testimony in court and said:

There are standard operating procedures, clearly outlining how the accused is supposed to operate as far as consent to bail to accused arrested for armed robberies, firearms or violence is concerned.

There is a memorandum dated November 19, 2020 from accused’s superiors reminding law officers how they were to operate in respect of violent crimes.

The section dealing with bail consents made it clear that “all consents must first of all be approved by your superior. No one should file a consent without the knowledge of your superior regardless of the nature of the offence

Det Mushambi also said the police are afraid if Kusema is granted bail he will abscond trial: (The) matter was brought to police on Monday and with a view to arrest the accused, we visited the address which was known to police. Accused did note reside there but it was his parents’ address and we left a message that he was being sought by police

We later managed to obtain the actual address of accused on Tuesday and again a message was left that he was wanted by police. We could not locate him the whole of Wednesday and did not report for work. He came to the police yesterday (Wednesday) accompanied by his defence counsel.

“He said he was consulting legal practitioners when we asked about his whereabouts. We discovered that the coming of accused to police was after he had realised that he could not hide because the matter was on social media. There are submissions prepared by accused consenting to bail for applicants filed at High Court of Zimbabwe, a copy is with police,

He further said if he is granted bail in which he is accused of abusing his office in Musa Abdul’s bail, there might be a public disorder because they have received numerous calls on the issue:

There will be public disorder. There is public outcry over the matter. There were several calls to the police asking what was happening and that alone may cause people not to trust the justice delivery of the country

The hearing will provisionally continue on Monday if the magistrate is available.-statemedia

-statemedia

By Correspondent- The woman who was legally married to Gringo has distanced herself from Gringo’s alleged relative’s statements that Gringo’s son is conniving with her to fix the woman who was now married to Netsai Meki at the time of this death.

Memory Chisinga who is reportedly legally married to Gringo since 2002 spoke to the publication and said she doesn’t want anything from the late comedian’s estate because she is OK.

This was reportedly after Netsai Meki, the woman Gringo was married to when he died tried to register his estate only to be told he is legally married to Chisinga. Chisinga is saying she is being abused on social media as people claim she is behind the chaos marring the late Gringo’s family.

Said Chisinga:

I have a life here in South Africa. I left Gringo when I was seven months pregnant and my boy is now 17 years old. I don’t want anything to do with his so called estate. I am happy with what I have,

I have instructed my relative to send me the marriage certificate to prove to the world but unfortunately the person who knows the whereabouts of  the papers  is not at home. I left Gringo in 2003 because of his insecurities.

Meki should not drag me in their dirty shenanigans rather she should deal with others. I was done with Gringo, 17 years ago and I don’t need anything. I raised my children single handedly. Why claim his properties now? I don’t have issues with Meki as I have never met her.

“Remember if I wanted anything to do with the late I would have sued her for adultery damages because I was legally married when she moved in with him

Chisinga even said she was aware of Gringo’s illness and her friends even helped Gringo during the time he was in dire need:

I am not part of the Boora family but I have children so I hear everything that happens there.

I have a very good relationship with other family members.

I knew about his illness from day one. My friends Jackie Ngarande and Pokello helped in paying for his surgery last year, but ungrateful Meki had the guts to say . . . (Aah taifunga kuti vabatsira because they love Gringo ndaisatoziva kuti ishamwari dzamai Tanaka).

Who does that? I didn’t come to the funeral but my family represented me.

If I was selfish, I would have taken the next flight to Zimbabwe the moment I heard about Gringo’s death.

I would have used my marriage certificate and taken over as the surviving spouse or worse sued Meki for adultery damages, like said before. I have long moved on and don’t stoop that low.

Meanwhile, Gringo’s memorial service was held at night last week after his son Taurai said he could not attend earlier as he was attending a wedding. 

-statemedia

-statemedia

This was somebody's money making scheme. They did not mean to launch a serious, unifying national dress. Someone just needed an excuse to cash in. Here we are. pic.twitter.com/UqGUMolm1d

— Fadzayi Mahere?? (@advocatemahere) December 19, 2020

By A Correspondent- MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa has taken to social media to detail what the opposition has achieved since its formation in the late 90s.

Sharing a picture of him and the MDC founding father Morgan Tsvangirai, on Facebook, the firebrand politician said they have remained strong over the years and they are still standing 2 decades later before adding that it is difficult to fight a dictatorship with open arms.

Said Chamisa:

Our BIGGEST ACHIEVEMENT over the years has been to remain standing & keeping the fight for real change. It’s not easy to fight dictatorship only with open palms, bare hands and on the platform of peace. We are not ashamed of our non-violence path to the future.

Waging a consistent fight for freedom, democracy & transformation is a major score and no mean achievement. We have a solid vision, clear policies, precise goals and effective strategies…After the persecution, trials, betrayals and tribulations victory kicks in. Victory is certain! It’s coming.

This comes after some people have started stating that the youthful politician has no strategy to defeat the current administration adding that he has been silent while the Khupe led faction is recalling legislators and councilors and he has no strategy to stop the faction which according to them is working together with the government to silence him. Chamisa during his mother’s memorial service early this month said silence is also a strategy.

By A Correspondent- Mr Nqobani Sithole a lawyer based in Bulawayo is suing the registrar-general(RG)’s office in his personal capacity for misspellings and errors in words and phrases written in Ndebele in the Zimbabwean passport.

In the papers filed by Sithole at the High court which cites the RG as a respondent, he attributed the errors and misspellings to the RG’s offices.

In his founding affidavit, Sithole stated that:

I am a Zimbabwean citizen and entitled to a number of rights and freedoms including the freedom of movement and residence as set out in section 66 (1) (c) of the Constitution, which encompasses the right to have a passport.

The same Constitution in section 6 (3) (a) guarantees every person’s right to the use of a language of one’s choice.

I am a native speaker of IsiNdebele language, which does not only define my culture, but millions of others in Zimbabwe

I am very worried that a trend has developed in Zimbabwe about a seemingly determined effort to decimate, mutilate and generally treat with disdain my language IsiNdebele by the Registrar-General. Recently, police did the same when social media was awash with pictures of a sign post at Magwegwe Police Station showing Magwegwe written as Magwegewe

The single word ‘kayikhululi’ has been wrongly split to appear as if there are two separate words kayi khululi. On pages 46, 47 and 48, in paragraph two after the header of page, the IsiNdebele word ‘akuvunyelwa’ has been wrongly written ‘akuvhunyelwa.

On pages 46, 47 and 48, in paragraph two in line two (after the header to the page, the IsiNdebele word ‘kwalokho’ has been wrongly written as ‘kwaloko.

According to the publication here are some of the words and phrases in the passport that must be corrected by the Registra general’s office:

Some of the phrases that he is challenging include: “Ukuthathelwa labo ababe belayo”, which he wants substituted with “ukuthathelwa lowo ozabe elayo.”

Mr Sithole said the words “okunga fanelanga” must be replaced with a single word “okungafanelanga” with “we pasipoti” being substituted with “wephasipoti.” He argued that the word “ivhiza” was not proper and should be replaced with “iviza” and “ukuphatwa” with “ukuphathwa.”

Other words that Mr Sithole wants corrected are “emphahleni” which he said should read “empahleni”, “kwaloko” should be substituted with “kwalokho.”

He said “isidhindo” should be substituted with “isidindo” and “epejini” with “ephejini.”

The registr-general’s office is yet to respond. Meanwhile the registra general is on suspension on alleged abuse of office charges.-statemedia