EIGHT illegal diamond panners, among them two soldiers, reportedly fatally assaulted their colleague for allegedly swallowing the syndicate’s diamonds.

The two soldiers are stationed in Chipinge.

The suspects — Gift Gamunorwa (25), Samson Sazwe (29), Kudzanai Lazarus (30), Howard Tongai (32), Gift Mutowo (25), RegaiMukumbiri (25), Melusi Maseko (40) and Langton Ndlovu (27) — were on Monday hauled before Mutare provincial magistrate, Miss Nyasha Kuture.

They were remanded in custody and advised to apply for bail at the High Court.

The accused persons are being charged with murder as defined in Section 47 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act, Chapter 9:23.

It is alleged that Evans Makowa (31), who hails from Mwapamba Village under Chief Marange, was murdered on December 6 in Chiadzwa, Marange. The late Makowa and the eight accused persons were illegal diamond panners operating in Chiadzwa.

On the fateful day at around 2.30pm, the now deceased was in the company of the accused persons panning for diamonds in Chishingwi when they picked up some pieces of diamonds.

However, the accused persons accused Makowa of swallowing some of the diamonds, resulting in a dispute.

They started assaulting Makowa with logs all over the body, demanding that he produces the hidden diamonds.

The suspects then bundled Makowa into the boot of a car and drove to a Tserukai Rombe’s homestead, where they continued assaulting him.

They put Makowa in the boot again and drove away to an unknown destination.

At this point, other illegal diamond panners alerted Makowa’s father, Stephen Makowa, about the assault.

Later that day, two of the suspects – Gamunorwa and Sazwe – dumped Makowa’s body in a bushy area in Muedzengwa Village.

Two days later, Godfrey Doriro, Pirimidzai Nechipote and Nyasha Nechipote were hunting when they bumped into the body.

Headman Samson Musaamba was advised of the development and a report was made at ZRP Marange.

Homicide detectives attended the scene and their investigations revealed that Makowa did not die at the spot. His body was only ferried and dumpedthere.

The body was conveyed to Victoria Chitepo Provincial Hospital for post mortem.

On December 11, Gamunorwa was arrested by members of the public after he was identified as one of the suspects.

During interrogation, he implicated all members of the syndicate, thereby leading to their arrest.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa has rejected the youthful-looking statue of liberation icon Mbuya Nehanda saying the proper face should be a lot more wrinkled and resemble that of a woman well past middle age.

This was revealed by presidential spokesperson George Charamba who told State media that Mnangagwa prefers a statue depicting an elderly, wrinkled Nehanda which most Zimbabweans can relate to. Said Charamba:

When we have that kind of artistic production there are key features which must ensure that onlookers immediately connect with the production and one key feature has to do with the physical appearance of the real-life figure you are talking about so the President immediately reacted he wanted to understand why artistically VaMutasa had decided to make Nehanda look a lot more youthful.

Then it emerged that the reality is that VaMutasa had in fact done something that approximated Nehanda in life but the authorities at the monuments and museums were of the different view they thought the artistic production must convey and communicate vigour, permanence, the youthfulness of the spirit which Nehanda incarnates or personifies so they then suggested that Nehanda be made a lot younger to suggest that buoyancy which they wanted to communicate to the onlooker.

The President didn’t agree and as it turns out that youthful face of Nehanda will be put away and will have a Nehanda who is closer to how the good lady looked in real life which means a lot more wrinkled well past middle-aged but of course showing the strength and stresses of captivity.

The Mbuya Nehanda statue, which is yet to be erected in central Harare, has become a source of ridicule with critics saying it resembles a “slay queen”.

The Zimbabwean government has effectively banned Christmas parties due to Covid-19, but defiant revellers say they will celebrate, even if it means hosting bush parties.

Home affairs minister Kazembe Kazembe said police were out in full force to enforce Covid-19 lockdown regulations to save lives as Zimbabwe enters the second wave of the pandemic.

“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,” he said.

Since March, Zimbabwe has recorded 11,866 cases, 9,836 recoveries and 314 deaths. In the second wave, is recording an average 117 new cases daily.

Traditionally, December is a festive month with weddings and parties countrywide.

This year, while parties are banned, low-key weddings are permitted.

“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,” said Kazembe.

The party scene is vibrant, but not in the central business districts of cities. Nightclubs in city centres are routinely shut down and some unlucky revellers arrested. But shisa nyamas and pubs in residential areas and city outskirts are recording brisk trade.

“The police are incapacitated. They don’t have fuel to do normal policing duties, so how do you expect them to drive 20km out of town to stop a party?” said a club owner.

Tourism facilities such as hotels and bed and breakfast lodges remain open. Some parties are being held at the relatively cheaper B&Bs.

“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,” one partygoer said.

The biggest losers are nightclub owners in the CBD. Those who try to break the curfew rules have to be prepared to deal with corrupt law enforcement agents, usually teams composed of police and soldiers who keep them open by the hour for a fee.

“It’s bad, but what can we do [except bribe]? Government is not being fair to us. We are not Covid-19 transmission centres. Look at the public transport system. Buses are overcrowded and they are controlled by the government. Even the so-called ‘essential services’ are as bad.

“Come the first week of January next year, we are expected to pay school fees, buy uniforms and other basics, yet we were shut down in what was meant to be our busiest season. If worst comes to worst, we will party in the bush,” said a club owner.

The government turned down a proposal from the Vic Falls Carnival to hold the annual New Year’s Eve event, which usually draws crowds from SA, Botswana, Namibia and Zambia.

“There’s no carnival this year. We called it quits after the government rejected our proposal to host the event due to the Covid-19 pandemic,” said carnival spokesperson Emmanuel Tivatyi.

TimesLIVE

Presidential spokesperson George Charamba says President Mnangagwa has rejected the youthful-looking statue of liberation icon Mbuya Nehanda.

Charamba told state media that the President prefers a statue depicting an elderly, wrinkled Nehanda which most Zimbabweans can relate to.

More to follow…

By ACorrespondent- A teenage girl who was allegedly possessed with an evil spirit has been plunged into deeper trouble after a self-proclaimed prophet reportedly sexually attacked her before assigning a tortoise to suck her breast.

A resident from Pelandaba suburb, Thulani Sibanda, said the self-proclaimed prophet only known as Madzibaba Sadza visited the minor’s granny in Nyanga to exorcise her homestead.

“After exorcising the homestead Madzibaba Sadza convinced the granny that he could secure a job for her 17-year-old granddaughter. The granny agreed and he left with the minor to Nkayi to conduct another exorcism,” said a resident.

Sibanda went on to expose the sex offender’s shenanigans.

“On 12 December 2020 at around 4.30am, after a healing session he ordered his aide known as Madzibaba Mthembo to take the minor to a secluded room which was about 200 metres away from his bedroom hut. The unsuspecting minor went there. He (Madzibaba Sadza) followed them with a packet of chips and gave it to the minor. Madzibaba Mthembo left them in the room.

Madzibaba Sadza undressed and remained naked. He ordered the minor to undress. The minor initially refused but he threatened to stab her with a knife. The teenager unwillingly took off her clothes and he licked her private parts before raping her,” said Sibanda.

He added:

“He sexually attacked the minor once again at around midday and once the following morning. He gave her a tortoise and said she should allow it to suck her breast so that she would make money. The minor said the tortoise sucked her during the night.”

On 13 December 2020 they left Nkayi for Bulawayo.

“They arrived at his lodgings in Pelandaba suburb and put up at his rented room where during the night he raped her and let his tortoise suck her breast and insisted that she must let it suck her and when they go to South Africa she would secure a well-paying job and get rich instantly,” said Sibanda.

The minor managed to escape after Madzibaba Sadza went to take a bath.

She narrated her ordeal to a neighbour who informed other residents.

“Unfortunately when we went to apprehend Madzibaba Sadza we found that he had fled. We then took the minor to Western Commonage police station and made a report,” said another resident who only identified herself as Khethiwe.

Bulawayo police spokesperson Inspector Abednico Ncube said:

“We are investigating a case of rape where a self-proclaimed prophet allegedly raped a minor several times and also assigned his tortoise to suck the minor’s breast for ritual purposes.

He added:

“We are appealing to members of the public to seek understanding of how God’s services are done or provided. Normal and genuine services and prayers are conducted in church.”

Insp Ncube appealed for information that may lead to the arrest of the Madzibaba Sadza who is on the run.

Councillor for the area Frank Javangwe said:

“We urge community members to be on alert for such fake prophets who take advantage of unsuspecting people. As a community we deplore such evil acts and if anyone comes across him (Madzibaba Sadza) they must report him to the police.”

The Member of Parliament for Mpopoma-Pelandaba constituency Charles Moyo said: “As a constituency we bemoan such a devilish deed, it’s against our culture and we are appealing to the community of Bulawayo and whoever could have information that may lead to the arrest of Madzibaba Sadza to contact any nearest police station. I urge community members to report such cases to community leadership.”

–statemedia

Tinashe Sambiri|The MDC Alliance has accused the Zanu PF government of thwarting development in local authorities.

The MDC Alliance has also indicated that its councillors are being blocked from carrying out their activities independently.

The whole thing is meant to frustrate MDC Alliance and councillors, according to the vibrant movement.

Watch video below :

By A Correspondent- A city pastor is in deep trouble after a woman he impregnated took him to court for allegedly failing to support their 16- month-old child.

Luke Banda of Glory of Christ International Church was sued by Mitchell Monica Moyo from Richmond who was demanding $7 000 every month as child upkeep.

According to court documents Moyo claimed Banda who has legal obligation to maintain his minor child had failed to do so.

“I am applying for maintenance in the sum of $7 000 per month for a child who is one-year-and-four-months old. The respondent and I are however, not married and he doesn’t maintain the child. May he also be allowed to release the child’s birth certificate,” requested Moyo.

Moyo claimed she was unable to cope with the financial demands associated with looking after the child especially in the harsh economy as she was not employed.

In his defence, Banda said he could not afford the expenses because he was not a man of means.
The cleric insisted that his ex-lover’s demands were unreasonable as he survived on “hustling” to provide for his other children aged four and one-year-old. He then offered to pay $700 per month.

“I am not opposed to her claim but I can’t afford $7 000. I am offering $700. Most of the time I hustle and realise about $900. I also have two other children, one who is four years old and the other is a month-old. I am willing to maintain my child but at the moment I am financially unstable,” responded Banda.

Moyo declined to accept the pastor’s offer describing it as a “mockery” for a person who is conducting church duties.

“The $700 he is offering cannot buy anything. I cannot take it, Your Worship since the child has many needs. He is a pastor by profession and I don’t think he gets $900 on a monthly basis,” protested Moyo.

The presiding magistrate Nomasiko Ndlovu ordered Banda to bring his mobile money statement for the past three months to ascertain it was true that he was not a man of means. This was also after he indicated that he didn’t have a bank account.

By A Correspondent- Since Haggar the maid took her madam Sarah’s husband Abraham in the Bible, this act of husbands sleeping with domestic helpers has been despised.

And for a Bulawayo helper this practice by some maids of sleeping with their male bosses seems to have backfired when she fell pregnant and was allegedly tricked into taking an abortion pill leading her to develop life-threatening complications.

Cathrine Sibanda from Suburbs who confessed that she had been romantically involved with her boss Nontokozo Gumpo’s husband Njabulo Gumpo, claimed that she suffered complications after the latter brought a pill which he instructed her to insert in her privates when she told him she was heavy with his child.

A teary Cathrine who now apparently regrets sleeping with her boss’s husband claimed she was now living on borrowed time after Njabulo stopped paying her medical bills.

She said Njabulo literally shut the door on her when he blocked all her phone numbers.

To make sure that he completely dissociates himself from her, Njabulo teamed up with his wife and approached the Bulawayo Civil Court where they sought a protection order against Cathrine saying she was disturbing their peace by constantly phoning and coming to their house in Matsheumhlope.

“I am applying for a protection order against Cathrine Sibanda. We once had an affair. For the purpose of maintaining peace and my marriage (with Nontokozo), Catherine Sibanda and her children should not come to our place, or near of any of us. Cathrine should also not insult or gossip about us.

“There is an ongoing court case and it is tarnishing our image. We are really living under unbearable conditions with my wife as a result of Cathrine who is always coming to me while accusing me of dumping her.

She also harasses my wife who has a problem of high blood pressure. She is also emotionally abusing us by putting pictures of me and my wife on her WhatsApp profile,” complained Njabulo.

The court case in question involved his wife in which she verbally attacked Cathrine telling her that her private part was torn apart, wide open because of sleeping with married men.

Cathrine, however, opposed her ex-lover’s request saying it was a plot to stop her from pestering him so that he pays her medical bills for the illness which he caused.

“I am opposed to the application. I dispute that I go to or near his house and that I am emotionally abusing his wife. The wife is the one who insults me whenever she sees me. She is verbally abusive. As we speak, we have a pending case at the court.

He is seeking a protection order against me in order to avoid paying my medical bills for an illness which he caused.

“He blocked my numbers after I indicated to him that I am ill. I haven’t been able to contact him because he blocked me. I fell pregnant in 2017 and he came with a pill which he said I should insert in my vagina in order to protect the child but the pill caused problems in my body hence the illness that I am talking about.

“From 2012 up to 2020 he has been taking care of me until recently when we had a misunderstanding. That is when he blocked me when I was supposed to see a specialist. Now that he has blocked me, I won’t be able to receive any assistance from him,” lamented Cathrine.

Njabulo hit back saying he was not sure if he was the one responsible for her pregnancy since Cathrine allegedly double-crossed him with one Sibanda from her church.

“She once had an affair with one Mr Sibanda from her church. So, I am not sure if what she is saying is true. Besides that, this affair only happened in 2014 and by that time she was our maid. She knew very well that I was married.”

When the presiding magistrate Nomasiko Ndlovu asked him if he was really responsible for Catherine’s alleged illness, a regretful Njabulo said: “I am not sure if it’s me or Mr Sibanda who caused it. She knew that I was married and that affair caused a lot of problems between me and my wife.

“When it happened, she went to an emergency clinic and my wife and I paid all the expenses after we talked about the issue. My wife also paid for her rentals and food on condition she does not come near us again but she is still giving us problems.”

In her ruling the magistrate ordered Cathrine not to abuse Njabulo and his family by calling or texting him and his wife and going to their home.

By A Correspondent- Zimbabwe national football team, the Warriors, is set to play Bulawayo Chiefs in a friendly match which is part of the preparations for the African Nations Championships (CHAN) finals scheduled for Cameroon in January.

This comes as the Mutare-based side Manica Diamonds beat the national side 3-2 in the capital in a friendly match played on Monday.

Following the defeat, Warriors head coach, Zdravko Loga Logarusic said he was discovering new players in the friendlies and intimated that he will continue to reconfigure the squad.

A number of players who had initially been included in the 34-men provisional squad have been released while some including Denver Mukamba who had been overlooked have been called to join the Warriors squad.

Zimbabwe will play against Cameroon, Burkina Faso and Mali in the group stages of the tournament.

By A Correspondent- The United Kingdom (UK) Embassy in Zimbabwe will be closed for Christmas and New Year holidays. The embassy made the announcement on social media.

The embassy’s statement reads:

Please note that the British Embassy Harare will be closed over the Christmas period from 21st December 2020 – 28th December 2020 and then again on 1st January 2021.

However, our Consular experts are available to help 24/7 on the following numbers:

Consular assistance (available 24/7) +263 242 338 809

Emergency Outside Office Hours + 44 20 7008 1500

By A Correspondent- Zimbabwe on 17 December 2020 recorded another coronavirus-related death to bring the total number of fatalities to 314 since March.

The Ministry of Health and Child Care reported that the latest victim of the deadly virus was from Mashonaland East Province.

In its daily update, the Health Ministry said as of 17 December 2020, Zimbabwe had recorded a total of 11 866 cases 9 836 recoveries and 314 deaths.

The cases have been rising recently following months of low numbers of new cases.

Most of the cases recorded in the recent past are local.

More: Ministry of Health and Child Care

By A Correspondent- A second memorial service for the late socialite Mitchelle “Moana” Amuli will be held on 2 January in Highfield, her mother Yolanda Kuvaoga has said.

Kuvaoga told the Daily News that Moana’s father, Ishamael Amuli, and the Amuli family held their own memorial service dubbed Sadaka three days after the socialite’s burial.

As a result, Moana’s mother is in the process of organising her own memorial service for the late fitness enthusiast.

Kuvaoga said:

Mitchelle’s memorial service is set for January 2 in Highfield. I was not part of their Sadaka as I do not understand their Islamic culture. In short, we have failed to agree on everything, from the burial.

Moana died in a fiery car accident on 8 November alongside socialite and businessman Genius “Ginimbi” Kadungure and two of their friends from Malawi and Mozambique along Borrowdale Road in the capital.

She was buried on 28 November at Warren Hills cemetery (Muslim Section) in the capital in line with her father’s Islamic culture after a struggle as Kuvaoga preferred Zororo Memorial Park along Harare-Chitungwiza Road.

Besides the parents’ public fallout, Moana’s burial was also delayed by DNA tests which had to be conducted as she was burnt beyond recognition in the accident.

-dailynews

In June this year A Zanu PF MP in the country’s lowveld reportedly withdrew hospital beds and other medical supplies donated to Chiredzi Polyclinic by an opposition MDC official.

Farai Musikavannhu, who represents Chiredzi West, dumped the goods donated by John Mangange outside the council offices.

Mangange is based in the United Kingdom. He contested for the parliamentary seat but lost to Musikavanhu.

Musikavanhu reportedly teemed up with State Security agents to forcibly remove an ambulance, 30 wheelchairs, three 5 000-litre water tanks, 10 electric operated beds, BP testing kits from the clinic and other items.

Former Chiredzi West MP Darlington Chiwa, who represented ZANU PF in the constituency had this to say:

If this was the idea of (President Emmerson) Mnangagwa and his wife’s (which I doubt) way of thinking; then they are not fit to rule this country. Zanu PF should thoroughly vet some of their candidates, otherwise, some are just in there to destroy the party from within.

On the other hand, we have overzealous State security agents in Chiredzi that is why some are now playing the part of bodyguards to certain individuals, or harass ordinary citizens over petty issues, while some are now involved in food distribution.

I don’t think their headquarters are even aware of such behaviour that is reducing the respected intelligence department to mere police constabularies bereft of elementary professional ethics.

WATCH THE LIVE VIDEO LOADING BELOW…….

By A Correspondent- The Government has given the Thokozani Khupe-led MDC the green light to go ahead with its extraordinary congress tomorrow, albeit in a decentralized manner.

MDC acting spokesperson said the gathering would be held simultaneously in five provinces around the country as clusters. Harare, Chitungwiza, Mashonaland Central, West and East would be grouped together in the capital.

Bulawayo, Matabeleland North and South would meet in Bulawayo while Midlands North and South would congregate in Kwekwe or Gweru. Manicaland would meet in Mutare and Masvingo would meet in that city or any other town in the province.

Mashakada said strict social distancing rules would be observed. Khupe, Douglas Mwonzora, Morgen Komichi and Elias Mudzuri are contesting for the party’s presidency.

By A Correspondent- Children between the ages of zero and 14 constitute 84 295 out of the 1 356 000 people living with HIV, with more than 90% of them infected through mother to child transmission.

In a speech read on his behalf by his deputy, John Mangwiro, Vice-President and Health minister Constantino Chiwenga lamented the plight of children who continue to be infected at a time interventions and medicines to prevent HIV transmission were available. He was speaking on the occasion of the 4th quarter of the National Validation Committee meeting on dual elimination of mother to child transmission of HIV and Syphilis held in Harare yesterday.

“Our women folk must visit healthcare facilities to receive antenatal care and delivery services to prevent mother to child transmission of HIV and Syphilis. Children should also receive post-delivery care,” he said.

Chiwenga said the COVID-19 pandemic has, since March, derailed efforts to meet global 2020 targets on HIV.

“Here in Zimbabwe, COVID-19 had been with us since March 2020 and has resulted in the country instituting containment measures including lockdowns to try and mitigate the spread and impact of COVID-19.”

Chiwenga urged responsible authorities to work towards addressing the bottlenecks affecting the provision of healthcare to HIV positive, pregnant and breastfeeding women and their children and to reach out to communities to help improve health seeking behaviour.

The World Health Organisation has come up with the initiative for countries to eliminate mother to child transmission of HIV and Syphilis which has been embraced by Zimbabwe.

-Newsday

By A Correspondent- Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) governor John Mangudya has launched a rare scathing attack on the government for steeply increasing tariffs for public utilities, warning the decision will have serious ramifications on market stability.

In the 2021 National Budget, as part of its strategy to increase revenues for next year which is expected to be ZW$390,8 billion (US$4,6 billion), excluding retained revenue, Finance minister Mthuli Ncube announced that fees and charges for public services would be reviewed upwards.

This comes as the government needs to fund its ZW$421,61 billion (US$5 billion) budget for next year as it remains mostly broke and has no external access to fresh finance due to growing human rights abuses as well as existing arrears.

At the time of the announcement to increase fees and charges for public services, economists warned that the decision could add to the existing inflationary pressures as both the formal and informal players could in turn increase their prices.

“Yes, the pricing of public utilities is also of concern, of great concern. We have advised government, we have advised the Minister of Finance that we need to be responsible when it comes to public utilities because the way the figures go up appears like there is no relationship with the rest of the products,” Mangudya said, at the Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce 6th Annual Business Review Conference on Thursday.

“To increase the price by 120% in an economy where inflation is 5% and below, month-on-month, is not being responsible. We, as advisors to the government, have advised the same line and have said it because we do not want to lose stability because of prices of public utilities. We would be shooting ourselves in the foot.”

The reference to the 120% increase Mangudya alluded to, was the decision by the Zimbabwe National Roads Administration (Zinara) to increase tolling fees for light motor vehicles that fall under class one to ZW$120 from ZW$45.

Mangudya said he agreed with economists, consumers and business that raising fees and charges for public services would be detrimental to efforts to stabilise the economy.

According to Mangudya, efforts to stabilise the economy have led to a drastic increase in foreign currency which, as of the end of last month, stood at US$1,06 billion.

From this amount, US$566,23 million was held in nostro accounts by local banks with partner accounts outside the country while US$498,18 million was foreign currency at the banks in Zimbabwe.

Foreign currency reserves rose due to increased exports which grew 6,9% to US$3,43 billion in the first 11 months of the year from 2019 due to the performance of the forex auction.

Further, international remittances rose 40% to US$1,45 billion in the 11 months of the year compared to US$1,04 billion during the comparative 2019 period.

overall foreign currency receipts rose 17% to US$5,76 billion in the 11 months of the year from a comparative of US$4,92 billion last year.

Lastly, reserve money supply has been contained at below quarterly target of 25% since January with the central bank boss reporting the figure to be just under ZW$19 billion last month.

As such, more pressure on inflation will see demand for products and services increase causing a decrease in supply, thus increasing the need for foreign currency to import to meet the gap.

Mangudya said the increase in foreign currency now means that savings are also being created to meet demand for imports.

“Business tends to copy what the government is doing. So, the Zinara issue on tollgates of ZW$45 to ZW$120 was quite high…the psychological effect will affect business,” he said.

Government departments and ministries that had not reviewed fees, levies and charges at the time the 2021 National budget was announced late last month were told to do so by January 1, 2021.

However, in light of decreasing job opportunities, high unemployment and eroding wages from a depreciating Zimdollar the rise in these fees and charges could overwhelm struggling families.

“If you look at abject poverty, it has gone up. And I think if you look at Zimbabwe the poverty rate is about 34% or 35%, abject poverty on the ground,” former ZNcc president Luckson Zembe said.

“If you look at general poverty you are talking about between 70% and 80% on the ground to the extent that as developmental organisations who were focusing on rural areas, we have had to take a turn and come into the urban centres because of the nature of poverty and how livelihoods have been impacted.”

He said currently seven million Zimbabweans were food insecure and that talk about a stable environment was not correct because of the level of poverty on the ground.

-TheIndependent

By A Correspondent- Zanu-PF disappointed many party bigwigs after the party endorsed most of the results of the recent hotly disputed district coordinating committee elections (DCC) elections.

Among those who were left in the lurch are party heavyweights in Midlands and Masvingo provinces who had alleged electoral chicanery during the recent internal polls and were hoping for reruns.

Instead, the politburo only ordered reruns in a few districts where rains had disrupted the voting process.

The reruns in Mutare Urban, Makonde and Tsholotsho districts, will be held on December 28.

Some contentious results in Zaka and Kwekwe were allowed to stand even though Mnangagwa allies had raised complaints of electoral fraud.

-dailynews

With prosecutor Tapiwa Kusena arrested yesterday for him to explain how he consented to granting robber Musa Taj Abdul bail, it has emerged how another notorious armed robber was released on bail under unclear circumstances this month.

Douglas Mutenda was recently released on $5 000 bail on four counts of armed robbery, including the much publicised one at Mashwede Towers where US$100 000 was stolen.

He is part of the gang that includes Musafare Mupamhanga, Godfrey Mupanhanga, Spicer Takawira, Carrington Marasha, Benjamin Chitunhu and Conwell Kasambarare, who were also freed on bail under questionable circumstances.

They were arrested on a spate of armed robberies and their cases are still pending before the courts. Through his legal representatives at TK Takaindisa Law Chambers, Mutenda applied for bail at the High Court on October 20 this year.

The State led by Mr Douglas Chesa opposed the application, saying the prosecution had a very strong case against him.

Mr Chesa, in his opposition papers, told the court that Mutenda led to recoveries of some of the stolen properties and there was a CCTV footage that showed him at the crime scene.

He said Mutenda’s accomplices implicated him and there were phone calls linking him to the offence, which left the prosecution with a very strong case against him.

High Court Judge Justice Tawanda Chitapi dismissed Mutenda’s bail application on grounds that he was likely to abscond and that he was facing a serious offence.

Barely a month after his bail application was dismissed at the High Court, Mutenda engaged a different lawyer and approached the same court, but went before a different judge.

Mutenda engaged lawyer Mrs Concilia Maheya, who made a fresh bail application under changed circumstances on December 8.

In the application, Mutenda argued that his co-accused, Musafare Mupanhanga, Spicer Takawira, Benjamin Chitunhu and Conwell Kasambarare, had been granted bail. He also argued that he had no pending cases as the State had alleged.

Mr Chesa responded to the fresh bail application on the same day consenting.

“The present application is based on changed circumstances, which the respondent (State) is of the view that they tilt the scales in favour of the applicant,” he said. “In the initial application, neither the then legal representative nor the investigating officer who gave oral evidence in court told the court that there were other accused persons who are facing the same charges, already on remand and are out on bail.

“The applicant (Mutenda) is linked to the commission of the offence through implication by his co-accused. He was arrested at his home and no recoveries were made from him. Further, no formal identification parade was conducted to allow the respective victims to finger the applicants as having been part of the gang that committed the offence. The only probable link being the CCTV coverage and call history of his cell phone.”

Mr Chesa said in his consent papers that issues of the CCTV and call history were to be tested and determined during trial.

He said there was need to have proof from the police on whether Mutenda was on the run or not, as there was no evidence presented before the court in that regard.

Justice Benjamin Chikowore, acting on Mr Chesa’s consent, granted Mutenda bail on December 9, a day after he made his application.

By A Correspondent- MDC-T Secretary General Douglas Mwonzora has fired pot shots at the lawyer-studded MDC-Alliance saying they have let down their members by not educating and leading them in the legal path to avoid being recalled from parliament.

The three most senior MDC-Alliance leaders, including the president Nelson Chamisa and his co-deputies Tendai Biti and Welshman Ncube are all lawyers by profession.

Mwonzora, who is gunning for the MDCT presidency at tomorrow’s extraordinary congress, also refuted claims his outfit was a Zanu-PF project to destroy the opposition in the country.

“The recalls had to happen. We did not expel anybody from the party. People who were recalled expelled themselves. In terms of the constitution of the MDC-T, if you join or form another political party, you cease to be a member of the MDC-T automatically. So by their actions these men and women ceased to be MPs and councilors of the MDC-T,” Mwonzora said in an interview.

“What we did was to inform parliament about that, to inform the minister (Local Government), to inform the councils. These men and women knew about the section of the constitution and certainly the leaders of the MDC-Alliance, who are lawyers, knew about the constitution that it provided for that, yet they sacrificed their members; they treated their members like cannon fodder and we regret that there were recalls but these recalls were necessary,” he said.

“We do not exist to recall people and as secretary general, I had to sign the recall letters and it is like signing a death warrant for somebody and it’s not an enjoyable exercise. So we want to plead with our friends in the MDC-Alliance to be responsible, the leaders to be responsible. We have lawyers in the MDC-Alliance; they have Biti, they have Ncube and the president too; those people badly let their members down by not advising them on issues of law,” Mwonzora said.

“Our agenda in parliament is to bring key political, social and economic reforms in Zimbabwe. So after our congress you will see that we will concentrate on the reform agenda. One of the reforms of course is the electoral reforms that we are going to concentrate on. Under these electoral reforms is to have what we call the diaspora vote. We think that the diaspora has been playing a key role in sustaining the families in Zimbabwe so they have been contributing to the country’s gross domestic product,” he said.

“So they need the right to vote. What we are going to do as MDC is to present the paper in parliament, to the Ministry of Justice, as well as to the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission on how to make the diaspora vote credible and safe to answer to the questions that Zanu-PF has been giving with regards to the diaspora vote.”

Mwonzora said their agenda was to make sure that they keep the government busy and to fulfill what it promised to the electorate but not to praise the government.

“We also make sure that the people of Zimbabwe are not shortchanged by the government; that is our agenda as MPs, we are not there as praise singers of the ruling party, but of course, when they do something which is correct, we must acknowledge, we must be able to say that you have done something correct. But we are not an extension of the ruling party,” he said.

He said after congress people would start to see MDC-T’s new way of doing things, adding that he was sure to romp to victory ahead of the acting party leader Khupe, Elias Mudzuri and Morgan Komichi.

“On the by-elections, we said we were ready for the by-elections, we are not as weak as people think, but let me tell you that the party which has gone to court to stop the by-election is the MDC-Alliance. In June this year, Chalton Hwende, Happymore Chidziva and Prosper Mutseyami went to court and cited MDC-T, President of Zimbabwe, ZEC and Justice minister and their prayer was that there must be no by-elections.”

He said it is them who stopped the byelection and when the Ministry of Health announced a ban of by-elections, they started complaining forgetting that they are the ones who went to court to stop the by-elections.

The MDC-T has recalled over 30 legislators and over 100 MDC-Alliance councillors across the country. The development critics say has weakened service delivery in councils and left constituencies without representatives in parliament, thereby increasing the chances of the affected areas lagging behind in development.

-The Independent

By A Correspondent- Fired Gweru Town Clerk, Ms Elizabeth Gwatipedza has dragged the local authority and the minister of Local Government and Public Works, July Moyo, to court challenging her dismissal.

Gwatipedza was suspended from her post in October last year before she was subsequently fired on December 2 this year after a disciplinary hearing convicted her of gross competence and insubordination.

Ms Gwatipedza, through her lawyers Mutatu Legal Practitioners, filed an urgent chamber application at the Bulawayo High Court citing GCC and Minister Moyo as respondents.

In her founding affidavit, Ms Gwatipedza said it was unlawful for GCC to act on the disciplinary authority’s recommendations without the approval of the Local Government Board.

She said:

I was employed as a Town Clerk of the first respondent (GCC) for three years until on the 14th of October 2019 when I was suspended pending a disciplinary hearing.

I was charged for acts of misconduct and formal charges were preferred against me on 24th October 2019 and the suspension was without salary and benefits.

As a result, I challenged my suspension through my legal practitioners and my salary and benefits were restored. The disciplinary hearing was conducted from October 30, 2019 to September 30, 2020 and I was found guilty and convicted.

She added that the disciplinary authority’s decision to dismiss her was invalid as his duty is only to recommend a penalty to the council, and thereafter the council must then notify of its decision to terminate the contract.

Gwatipedza also said the disciplinary authority should have made a recommendation to the Local Government Board which can approve or reject the termination of the contract rather than merely deciding to terminate it.

She claimed that since her contract has “not been lawfully terminated,” she was still an employee of the council and therefore entitled to her salary and benefits.-statemedia

The ruling ZANU PF has accused nurses of having “a broad opposition agenda” saying the periodic salary protests they have embarked on since last year are meant to destabilise President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration.

Nurses affiliated to the Zimbabwe Nurses Association (ZINA) have since last year embarked on a series of protests demanding better salaries and working conditions.

Speaking to reporters at the ZANU PF Politburo held Wednesday in the capital, the party’s acting secretary of information, Patrick Chinamasa applauded other nurses who returned to work.

He said:

We also took note as politburo of the positive gesture by nurses at Sally Mugabe Hospital who bravely broke ranks with the opposition-aligned Zina and returned to work.

That is the kind of patriotism we want to see from civil servants.

Responding to Chinamasa’s assertions, Zina president, Enoch Dongo, said it was shameful for Zanu PF to use threats and lies to silence nurses.

He said:

That is cheap politics. We are there for the welfare of nurses and that has nothing to do with politics. Ours is a labour issue and not politics.

Clearly, the statement by Chinamasa is misleading. Why has it ended up to that level? The issue with government spilled into the courts and we have two judgments in our favour. Does that mean the High Court is also working with the opposition?

This comes after nurses were recently “forced” to apologise for embarking on industrial action meant for the restoration of their 2018 salaries and to ensure they have a safe working environment.

newsday

Social media has once gone ablaze over a picture in which a Zanu PF legislator in Chiredzi donated a car battery to police in Mkwasine.

There has been serious concern from citizens over donations by politicians and how they want photo moments even when they donate very little things like in this case a mere car battery that costs less than USD$100.

View picture below and give us your opinion on what you think about this….

By A Correspondent- News anchor for national broadcaster ZBC, Lee Ann Bernard has come under fire after she appeared to mock diaspora based Zimbabweans.

The news reporter posted a meme which suggested that diaspora based Zimbabweans work menial jobs. The meme further suggested that when these people visit home, they put up a show and pretend as if they are well off. Lee Ann posted the image, with a caption in which she seemed to be inquiring if what is depicted in the images is a true representation of what diasporans go through. This was accompanied by laughing emojis.

The news reader’s apparent joke did not go down well with most people, both local and foreign-based, who appeared to take offence at the joke. Many criticized Lee Ann for mocking hard-working people who earn an honest living and who are supporting their own as well as extended family members back home.

Given the nature of Lee Ann’s job, some also said that it was better to earn an honest living than to read “lies” and “propaganda” for a living.

We post below some of the reactions to the tweet:

By A Correspondent- A notorious criminal from Mutare will be spending the next 67 years behind bars for armed robbery.

The man who was sentenced to 63 years imprisonment this year, was also handed another four years for a robbery he committed in Rusape.

46-year-old Arnold Munyaradzi Mapani Buwu of Natview Park wasted no time and pleaded guilty to robbery when he appeared before Rusape magistrate, Miss Ruth Moyo.

State prosecutor, Mr. Benoni Makuvire told the court that Munyaradzi Mapani Buwu and his friend Amos Nyaira(now late) robbed a shopkeeper at Nyabadza Business Centre and got away with items valued at $35 000.

“On June 1, 2020, at around 7.30 pm, Millicent Mbutsa locked her shop and secured everything. On June 2 around 1 am, Buwu and Nyaira went to the complainant’s shop armed with a hammer, a machete, and an iron bar. They broke the door to gain entrance,” he said.

Bawu and Nyaira are alleged to have terrorized Millicent Mbutsa and her husband demanding cash before they settled for groceries and other valuable items.

“The accused person threatened the complainant and her husband with death and demanded cash from them. They then robbed them of various groceries and property before going away. The complainant later made a police report,” said Mr Makuvire.

Police detectives from Mutare’s Criminal Investigation Department (CID) apprehended Bawu on the 23rd of July. He was in the possession of Mbutsa’s cellphone.

Buwu led detectives and Mbutsa to the location of the stolen property leading to the recovery of hair clippers and a solar inverter worth around $5 270.

The hammer that was used during the robbery has also been recovered.

-ManicaPost

Caledonia Mining Corporation has entered into another option agreement in Zimbabwe having entered into an option agreement over Glen Hume, also in Zimbabwe, earlier in December.

This option agreement gives Caledonia the exclusive right to explore and subsequently, if exploration is successful and at its sole discretion, acquire the mining claims over an area known as Connemara North, a property which, like Glen Hume, is situated in the Gweru mining district in the Zimbabwe Midlands that has historically produced significant quantities of gold.

Connemara North is approximately 30 km from Glen Hume with good road access between them offering the potential of operating synergies should Caledonia decide to develop both areas.

Connemara North is the northern section of the currently closed Connemara mine, which was previously owned by First Quantum Minerals; it was placed on care and maintenance in 2001 and subsequently disposed of in 2003.

It has not been commercially mined since this time but before being placed on care and maintenance the Connemara mine produced approximately 20 000 ozpa of gold from an open pit heap leach operation. Previous public disclosures made by First Quantum in 2001 indicated that they had plans to expand the existing open pit operations at Connemara mine, when gold prices were approximately US$300/oz.

At this stage it is not possible for Caledonia to verify any of the work performed by previous owners or to ascertain what proportion of any purported resource lay within the boundaries of the Connemara North property over which the company has secured the option.

The option gives Caledonia the right to explore the area for a period of up to 18 months and subsequently, if exploration is successful and at its sole discretion, to acquire the mining claims over the area. The total consideration is an initial payment of $300 000, followed by a further payment of $5 million (payable in cash or shares at the discretion of the vendor), which would be payable should Caledonia decide to exercise its right to acquire the mining claims. Caledonia has also agreed to the payment of a 1% net smelter royalty to the vendor on gold it produces from Connemara North.

“We are pleased to enter into this option agreement which gives us the right to explore and subsequently to acquire mining claims over the Connemara North property, part of a wider area that contained a previously operational mine which shows great potential and has been lying untapped for 20 years,” says Caledonia Mining Corporation CEO Steve Curtis

“We are excited at the prospectivity of Connemara North and Glen Hume and if evaluation work proves successful and our exploration programs deliver favorable results, Caledonia will have a great opportunity to establish a footprint in the highly prospective Zimbabwe Midlands, which could deliver operating synergies between the two sites

“This has been a busy year for Caledonia and with the completion of Central Shaft in sight I am pleased that we are now able to start delivering on the other components of our corporate strategy,” Curtis concludes.

PRIMARY and Secondary Education Minister Ambassador Cain Mathema has called on pupils to be vigilant and take all necessary measures to prevent contracting the deadly Covid-19 virus during the festive holidays.

Schools have been the latest target of Covid-19 and the Third Term which ends today saw more than 300 pupils contracting the deadly virus.

In his Christmas message, Ambassador Mathema said pupils should enjoy the holiday responsibly remembering that on January 4, schools are opening for the First term.

He also hailed President Mnangagwa for his direction which has led to the socio-economic development of the nation.

Minister Mathema also extended his gratitude to teachers, pupils and all responsible authorities for the support despite challenges brought by Covid-19 during the school year ending today.

He said one of the major successes was being able to contain and manage Covid-19 at 49 affected schools countrywide.

“It has been a challenging year with the advent of the Covid-19 pandemic, which is still among us today. The pandemic forced Government to send all schools into lockdown for at least six months from 24 March 2020. However, I must hasten to applaud that together, we have managed to ride the waves in ensuring that learning and teaching continues in spite of the Covid-19 pandemic,” said Ambassador Mathema.

He said Government and school authorities successfully administered the June 2020 ZIMSEC examinations, reopened schools through the phased school calendar and managed the Cambridge examinations.

“The containment and management of Covid-19 cases in 49 of the 9 625 schools with no casualty reported to date was a major success for the Ministry. We also conducted the ZIMSEC examinations for Grade 7, Form 4 and Form 6 without discriminating those that tested positive for Covid-19,” said Ambassador Mathema.

He said that innovative alternative teaching and learning strategies were used for learners to catch-up and cover lost learning and teaching time during the lockdown.

Ambassador Mathema said to implement social distancing for the prevention and management of Covid-19, the Ministry had established an alternative schooling timetable to cater for infrastructure deficiencies.

He said several milestones were reached and challenges addressed within the ministry, in collaboration with sister Ministries, partners and stakeholders.

“These challenges range from Covid-19 infections in some schools, shortages of personal protective equipment and conditions of service of teachers. Indeed, your cooperation with the Ministry has made these recent months of our association a source of great satisfaction and encouragement to me in this important period of our country’s educational development,” he said.

Ambassador Mathema called for continued mutual cooperation in 2021 from pupils, teachers, school authorities, partners and every stakeholder within the Ministry.

“I also want to remind our learners that as they go into their communities, they should be vigilant to stay safe and prevent infection from Covid-19 as the school opening day on 4 January 2021 beckons.

It has been fantastic working with all the constructive and progressive players in the Education Sector in 2020 and I hope together we can continue providing quality, relevant, equitable, inclusive and wholesome education for all Zimbabweans,” he said.

Paul Nyathi

South Africa on Thursday reported 9,126 new coronavirus cases, taking the national tally to 892,813, the country’s health department reported.

184 more COVID-19 deaths were recorded, taking the country’s death toll from the disease to 24,011.

Zimbabwe Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC) coronavirus/COVID-19 situation report as of 16 December 2020:

New cases: 117
Locals: 117
Returnees: 0
Deaths: 1
Recoveries: 134
PCR Tests Done: 1959
National Recovery Rate: 82.9%
Active Cases: 1 716
Total Cumulative Cases: 11 866
Total Recoveries: 9 836
Total Deaths: 314

Own Correspondent

All suburbs in Harare will have dry taps this weekend as the local authority has completely shut down its main water treatment plant, Morton Jaffray, to install a new pump and carry out routine maintenance.
The council has been shutting down the water treatment plant over the past years for various reasons, including routine maintenance, but that has failed to translate into increased water supplies to suburbs.

A notice to residents yesterday said; “The Harare City Council would like to notify residents and stakeholders that there will be a shutdown at Morton Jaffray and Warren Control Waterworks scheduled from 4pm on Friday 18 December up to Sunday 20 December 2020,” it said.

“The shutdown is to enable our contractors to install new water pumps. The department will also be taking advantage of this critical shutdown to undertake other critical outstanding maintenance works.”

Residents have been urged to use available water sparingly during the period. The Harare City Council said the successful completion of the works will reduce physical water losses obtaining at the moment.

Paul Nyathi

THE High Court Tuesday put on hold the start of the trial of MDC Alliance youth activists Cecilia Chimbiri and Netsai Marova which was set to commence on Wednesday.

The trial could not proceed after the two approached the High Court asking for stay of proceedings pending a determination on their co-accused Joanna Mamombe’s appeal at the High Court.

Mamombe filed for a review of Magistrate Bianca Makwande’s ruling separating her from her party colleagues in the matter.

Makwande had separated the three on the basis that Mamombe was mentally unfit to stand trial.

“We were not happy with the magistrate’s decision. So, we approached the High Court seeking stay of trial for the two. We have obtained the order. At the same time Mamombe applied for a review of the magistrate’s ruling separating her from her co-accused. So, the matter has been postponed to January 22 next year awaiting a determination on the appeal,” lawyer Alec Muchadehama, representing the three, told journalists.

The prosecution is, however, accusing the three of falsifying their arrest, abduction and torture to smear Zimbabwe’s human rights record.

Paul Nyathi

ZANU PF spokesperson Patrick Chinamasa has Unwarrantedly castigated MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa for what he says is being a “shameless liar” after the opposition leader rightfully blame the Government for the demolitions of houses in the suburb of Budiriro in Harare.

While addressing journalists at the Politburo meeting on Wednesday, acting Chinamasa said Chamisa should not try to hide behind a finger.

“Let me put the record straight, the demolitions were sought and carried out by the MDC-A ran municipality but what surprises us is that Mr Chamisa, fully aware that his council was behind the demolitions went and sought to blame it on the central government, a complete falsehood, a complete lie. The record is very clear”.

Chinamasa said the ruling party had made it clear that they would be no demolitions until and unless alternative accommodation has been found.

“We were not aware that despite those pronouncements on our part, the municipal council of Harare would go ahead, with the blessing of their leader Mr Chamisa and demolish without offering alternative arrangements.

“We are aware that they had gone and sought a court order.

“I want to believe what colleagues of Mr Chamisa say about him that he is opportunistic.

“He lacks moral fibre to accept that they erred in demolishing houses.

“He clearly has no regard for the truth and we condemn this lack of principle in the strongest terms,” Chinamasa said.

Chamisa early this week described the demolition of houses, which exposed residents to rains and diseases as “cruel and heartless” and criticised the government saying that it behaves in an unpleasant old fashioned manner.

Chamisa toured the demolished houses in Budiriro high-density suburb in Harare where he came face-to-face with desperate residents, who had been sleeping in the open for days after their houses were razed down.

Over 150 houses were demolished in Budiriro, leaving hundreds of people, including children in the open.

Property worth thousands of dollars was also destroyed in the process.

Chamisa accused government of masterminding the demolitions.

“The council is under control of spooky and shadowy forces that are ruthlessly driving an agenda to punish the people. Council has no police, no teargas canisters and it is clear it is the State that gave the police the greenlight to fight the people. What we can see is the visible hand of the State interfering with the operations of the councils,” Chamisa said.

“It is a pattern of corrupted governance software where you use force and violence even where it is not called for. Why were the houses allowed to be built in the first place? Why inflict pain when the weather conditions are unfavourable and the rains are upon us. Can’t you spare a thought for kids and parents?

“The heartless and cruel demolition of citizens’ homes is a violation of the dignity and security of persons. This command politics based on iron-fisted governance style must be resisted by us all. Those responsible please stop it,” he said.

Paul Nyathi

Government through the Office of the Harare Provincial Development Coordinator’s office has produced a full list of all housing cooperatives in the capital whose houses are set for demolishing.

Provision of the list and warning but goverment could well be an answer to the question of who is behind the demolishing which has been described as inhumane and harsh.

Below is the statement from goverment.

The Mirror

Dr Tapiwa Mudyahoto, a senior lecturer with the Great Zimbabwe University (GZU) has filed a $3m defamation lawsuit against a female student who accused him of demanding sex from her for marks.

The papers were served on Nomsa Mwashita this week under case number 234/2020 and Mirror investigations have shown that the plaintiff plans to defend herself against the claim.

According to papers obtained by The Mirror, Mudyahoto says Mwashita, a Bachelor of Education (BED) student made a false report to authorities alleging that the former demanded sex from her in exchange for marks. Mwashita went on to fail the subject taught by Mudyahoto and she blamed the result on her refusal to give in to her lecturer’s demands.

Mudyahoto who says he has a PHD in Philosophy from Fort Hare University taught Introduction to sport module and in 2019 Mwashita was one of his 24 students under Part one Semester 2.

Mwashita also accused Mudyahoto of showing her his manhood when she visited his office.

Mudyahoto says in his court application that this was defamatory and added that the University has since cleared him of any wrongdoing after three independent lecturers to remarked Mwashita’s examination papers and all three still gave her a fail.

Mudyahoto also alleges that Mwashita failed to provide information on the incident where she was shown the former’s sex organ. This, he says, forced the University to abandon investigations of the matter.

Sources however, told The Mirror that it was not true that Mwashita failed the exam after her papers were remarked. They said that instead all three markers gave her pass marks.

The sources also said that Introduction to Sports is the only module that Mwashita has ever failed during her course work.

“After the publication of results the defendant lodged a false and baseless allegation that she failed the module because she turned down plaintiff’s love proposal.

“The defendant’s allegations were communicated to various departments including student affairs, Human resources, security and the vice chancellor’s office,” reads part of the court document.

State Media

The police have arrested two more Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) officials deployed at Beitbridge Border Post, as the Government intensifies its crack down on rent-seeking activities at the border with South Africa.

Nelson Chinguwo and Innocent Sithole are accused of causing the clandestine release to their owner’s goods that had been seized for violation of customs laws.

The state stood to lose over $6,2 million and US$8 000 in import revenue.

Under the current customs law, goods seized from offenders are kept in a State warehouse for 90 days before being disposed of through an auction in the event the owners fail to settle matters with the revenue collector within a given period.

Authorities estimate that the country could be losing an estimated US$1 billion in uncollected import duty due to smuggling and other criminal activities along the Limpopo River annually.

Chinguwo and Sithole’s arrest follows that of three others last week, who are accused of facilitating the smuggling of four tankers laden with 176 000 litres of unleaded petrol worth US$85 000 in import duty.

The duo, who are facing criminal abuse of office charges, have since appeared before Beitbridge Resident Magistrate, Mr Toyindepi Zhou.

Chinguwo, who is alleged to have released goods valued at $5,9 million and US$8 000 was remanded to December 24 on $30 000 bail. Sithole is accused releasing goods worth $160 000 and was remanded to same date on $20 000 bail.

The State, led by Mr Ronald Mugwagwa, alleges that an assortment of goods was seized at Beitbridge Border Post in June this year from various people for violating customs laws.

The goods were then locked in a State warehouse at Manica Transit Shed.

They were subject to release on conditions the owners paid import duty amounting to $6,2 million and US$8 000.

Mr Mugwagwa said between November 24 and December 3, Chinguwo released part of the goods attracting the import duty of $5,9 million to their owners, while Sithole released goods worth $160 000.

He said the matter came to light on December 3 when a senior Zimra official checked the records after coming across some of the owners leaving the State warehouse at Manica Transit Shed.

He discovered that the duo had tempered with records to cause the release of the said consignment.

The matter was then reported to the police leading to subsequent arrest of Chinguwo and Sithole.

State Media

The thousands of home owners in Harare Metropolitan province who will be evicted and their houses demolished by the City of Harare after the rains under court orders already granted have been advised to approach leaders of their housing cooperatives to find their legal status or get their money back.

The advice was given by Harare Provincial Development Coordinator Mr Tafadzwa Muguti.

If householders believe they have a case that their buildings are legal, then they must appeal to the High Court, not the Local Government Ministry since the Government cannot override court orders.

Members of more than 20 housing cooperatives illegally selling residential stands in Harare face eviction and demolition after the High Court ruled in favour of City of Harare, and the city is now able as a result of the subsequent orders to repossess the land.

Most of those affected are on land without approved layout plans, no services, and usually on land where building is banned for environmental reasons or because the land is zoned for schools, recreation or other social purposes.

In a statement, Mr Muguti urged members of the affected housing cooperatives to approach their leaders for further management.

All residents and members of the stated housing cooperatives need to approach the leadership and the Registrar of Cooperatives to ascertain their legal standing, monetary contributions and any other payments made to date to their cooperatives as the land would be repossessed after evictions, said Mr Muguti.

“It must be noted that all housing cooperatives are required to have valid offer letters and site plans approved by authorities and therefore their legal status of occupation clearly defined.

“Those who feel that they have all their paperwork in place are free to appeal these judgments directly with the High Court and not the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works,” said Mr Muguti.

Mr Muguti encouraged people who wish to lodge complaints against housing cooperatives to approach the ministry offices.

The Cabinet resolved on Tuesday that the Government shall not interfere with court judgments and that demolitions can take place after the rainy season.

Recently, council demolished houses in Budiriro leaving 190 families stranded in the rain, hence the requested delay in implementing court orders until after the season is over.

Among those affected by the court orders permitting the council to evict and demolish are:

• Houses at Stand 17401, Carlton Road Graniteside where council was at loggerheads with Shupukai Topodzi and Charles Nyatito;

*The Remainder of 2552 Crowbrough Township where Vatema Vatonga Housing Co-op operates;

• Lot 2 of Parkridge Estate known as Paddock 27, Crowborough, where people were allocated stands under Takakura Housing Co-op, United We Stand Housing, Ideal Homes Housing, Bantu Housing, Igarwe Housing Co-op, Progot Housing Co-op, Greenland Housing Co-op, Home of Angels Housing, Excellent Stares Housing, Dzapasi Housing, Universal Housing Co-op, Lambano Housing Co-op, Chitepo Housing Co-op and Nyabira Housing Co-op;

*Stand 3973 Budiriro 2 and 41156 Mbare where Midzi and Zamuse lost their case against council face demolitions and Stands allocated by Events Housing Cooperative.

State Media

THE country justice delivery system has come under the spotlight following the suspicious granting of bail of a suspected armed robber Musa Taj Abdul, who despite having been on the run for more than 20 years, almost tasted freedom after the State consented to his application.

Although Abdul (47), along with his alleged accomplices Godfrey Mupamhanga (27), Rudolf Tapiwa Kamhanga (29) and Douglas Mutenda (31) were subsequently locked up, as they are facing fresh charges, fears abound that this could be a tip of the iceberg of corrupt syndicates in the justice delivery system where more criminals with lesser profiles are likely slipping under the radar and going scot-free.

The prosecutor Tapiwa Kasema, who consented to the granting of bail to the suspected robbers and then went into hiding, has since been arrested and is assisting police with investigations in a case insiders in the judiciary say could open a can of worms.

According to a report of armed robbery cases and warrants of arrests at the country’s courts, more than 50 suspected criminals were granted bail by the High Court from June to November, in what insiders say is a curious pattern that warrants spotlighting the whole justice delivery chain.

“There is a routine where a magistrate denies bail to a suspect and then that suspect appeals to the High Court and is then granted bail with the State consent and the judge does not do anything about that,” said a source.

While the Minister of Justice Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Ziyambi Ziyambi could not comment on the alleged pattern that is seemingly emerging of suspects getting bail easily, he said the case of Abdul raised a stink.

“This is a terrible case. Someone was on the run, he obviously has no fixed abode and he is given bail. That is unacceptable. Even though we respect their independence, there is no way a person who was on the run and was arrested during a shootout can then get bail. Even if they say the prosecutor did not oppose bail, the judge should have noticed this, this whole case raises eyebrows,” said Minister Ziyambi.

The acting secretary in the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) Ms Faith Mushure declined to comment on the matter but investigations previously carried by this publication reveal a pattern whereby lawyers and litigants are now shopping for a High Court station, sometimes preferring to go halfway across Zimbabwe from anyone connected with the case hoping for a favourable judgment.

Recently, some criminals seeking bail pending their appeals, who separately lost bail applications at the High Court in Bulawayo, quickly engaged new lawyers and misled the High Court in Harare into freeing them without disclosing their initial bail attempts.

Litigants and lawyers end up abusing the law, literally cherry-picking judicial officers who should handle their cases.

In some civil cases, a plaintiff who stays in Bulawayo together with the defendant, may for suspicious reasons, file summons at the High Court in Harare or Mutare.

Such leeway has fuelled corruption and is likely to defeat the spirit of decentralising the courts.

An investigation by The Herald revealed that three convicted persons were granted bail pending appeal by the High Court in Harare through misrepresentation to other courts.

Despite losing their bail applications in Bulawayo where they were convicted of their crimes, the convicts approached the High Court in Harare where they were treated as first-timers.

The High Court had to revoke their bail orders after staff at the Bulawayo Magistrates’ Court discovered the scandal when the relatives of the convicts were paying bail money.

Matthias Mutemabundo who was convicted of nine counts of theft and jailed 48 months at Bulawayo Magistrates Court (Tredgold) lost his initial bid for bail pending appeal at the High Court before fraudulently approaching the High Court in Harare where Justice Msithu freed him on bail.

Mutemabundo was being represented by Mr Simon Chabuka of Magaya-Mandizvidza Legal Practitioners.

It was never brought to the court’s attention that the convicted person had been denied by the same court, sitting in Bulawayo. Bail was revoked on December 13 last year.

In terms of the law, he could have appealed to the Supreme Court or filed an application for bail on changed circumstances.

In another bail scandal Norest Ushe, a Zimra official who was jailed in Bulawayo for over a vehicle importation scam involving criminal abuse of office, lost his bail application at the High Court in Bulawayo.

Without disclosing his first bail attempt, Ushe through Mr Admire Rubaya of Rubaya and Chatambudza Legal Practitioners, filed another bail application before Harare judge Justice Foroma who freed him on $5 000 bail.

It also later turned out that bail had been fraudulently granted, resulting in the Harare High Court revoking the bail order.

Jefat Chagadama who was also convicted of a criminal offence and jailed by a Bulawayo magistrate, had his application for bail pending appeal thrown out but approached the High Court in Harare where he was freed on $500 bail by Justice Tawanda Hebert Chitapi.

He was represented by Mr Oliver Marwa of Rubaya and Chatambudza Legal Practitioners.

Bail was revoked after it came to light that the convict had misled the court.

A mining dispute involving Border Timbers Limited (under judicial management) and Kuguta Kushinga Mining Syndicate was determined by Manicaland provincial mining director in Mutare on March 10 this year but the appeal, for unclear reasons, found its way to Masvingo High Court.

The Herald understands the case had been set down for hearing in Masvingo but the judge noticed the anomaly and referred the matter back to Mutare.

State Media

ZIMBABWE will tomorrow launch the National Dress of Zimbabwe, an initiative spearheaded by the First Lady Amai Auxillia Mnangagwa.

In a statement, Amai Mnangagwa said tomorrow the nation will witness an outcome of efforts made by different Zimbabweans in pursuit of having a national identity.

The statement was read on her behalf by Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Minister, Dr Sithembiso Nyoni, in Harare yesterday.

“On Saturday December 19, 2020, at 10am, we will witness an outcome of efforts made by different Zimbabweans in the quest to have a national identity, to come up with the designs for our national fabric.

Consultations with different sectors including Government Ministers, artistes, historians, traditional leaders, chiefs’ wives, researchers and academics took place.

“The role I played as First Lady of Zimbabwe was to ensure inclusivity that no ethnic or other groups were left behind. I am sure that after this, we will see academic gowns, chiefs and Parliament robes. The launch on Saturday will be a beginning, not an end.

“With creativity we have in our people, I know that improvements will continue to be made as this is an important symbol in the preservation of our values and cultural heritage, further creating unity among our people.”

The First Lady said she is glad that Zimbabwe will not be known or introduced by word of mouth alone, but also through a national attire.

She thanked designers who came all over the country to showcase their initiatives and skills.

“I want to thank them, some have spent sleepless nights in the selection of patterns, designs and eventually apparel. I also want to thank the Government of Zimbabwe, development partners and all other stakeholders.

“I would thank in particular, the Ministry of Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development for coordinating all these efforts,” she said.

The search for the national dress started in 2005, but did not yield any results, prompting Amai Mnangagwa to take it upon herself to ensure the programme succeeded.

Earlier this year, designers were then tasked to come up with a national dress whose features included the Zimbabwe Bird, chiffons and the flag that would be appropriate for all occasions and make people feel proudly Zimbabwean.

State Media

PROSECUTOR Tapiwa Kasema, who is under investigation for consenting to bail for four armed robbers allegedly led by Musa Taj Abdul, was arrested yesterday morning and is in police custody pending his appearance in court for remand.

The four robbers were re-arrested before they could be released on bail and yesterday appeared in court on three fresh charges of armed robbery and were remanded in custody.

They will have to apply to the High Court in a new application.

Kasema was suspended from duty by Prosecutor-General Kumbirai Hodzi and could not be found for two days when police wished to question him, but surrendered himself at CID Headquarters in the company of his lawyer.

He was then arrested and is still assisting police with investigations conducted by the CID Police Anti-Corruption Unit (PACU).

Kasema is expected to appear in court soon.

National police spokesperson, Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi, confirmed the arrest.

“We can confirm that Tapiwa Kasema has been arrested this (yesterday) morning. He surrendered himself at the CID while in the company of his lawyer. He is now in police custody and due processes of the law are now being followed,” he said.

Since Tuesday, officers from Harare Central Police Station, who were keen to question him as the investigation started, could not find him at his Glen View 3 home where his family professed ignorance over his whereabouts, nor at his mother’s house.

Sources close to the investigations yesterday said on Tuesday, Kasema had allegedly sent a text message to one of his colleagues at NPA, informing him that he had gone into hiding.

Kasema has been arrested before, in May last year on criminal abuse of office charges after he allegedly consented to the release of a passport belonging to former Cabinet minister Ignatius Chombo, who is facing a slew of corruption allegations.

Abdul (47) was on Monday granted bail by High Court judge, Justice Benjamin Chikowero, along with co-accused Godfrey Mupamhanga (27), Rudolf Tapiwa Kanhanga (29) and Douglas Mutenda (31), but before they could post bail money on Tuesday, police brought up fresh charges against them and requested that they remain in custody pending their remand hearing on the new charges and further investigations.

Yesterday, the four and four other accused appeared in court on three fresh charges arising from robberies in Bulawayo Bindura and Murambinda.

Taj Abdul, Liberty Mupamhanga, Prince Makodza, Godfrey Mupamhanga, Charles Lundu, Rudolf Kanhanga, Innocent Jairos and Tapiwa Mangoma were facing three counts of armed robbery when they appeared before Harare magistrate Mrs Vongai Guwuriro Muchuchuti.

Mrs Guwuriro remanded the gang in custody to December 30 and told them only the High Court can grant bail in robbery cases.

The State alleges that on July 23 the gang pounced on Andrew Murwisi at Murambinda growth point in Buhera armed with pistols and iron bars.

They allegedly forced their way into his supermarket, pointed a gun at him, demanded money and other valuables, and hit him with a metal bar before robbing him of cellphones, his pistol, US$5 000, R2000 and $5 000. They allegedly fired shots as they jumped into their vehicle and drove off.

A TEENAGE girl who was allegedly possessed with an evil spirit has been plunged into deeper trouble after a self-proclaimed prophet reportedly sexually attacked her before assigning a tortoise to suck her breast.

A resident from Pelandaba suburb, Thulani Sibanda, said the self-proclaimed prophet only known as Madzibaba Sadza visited the minor’s granny in Nyanga to exorcise her homestead.

“After exorcising the homestead Madzibaba Sadza convinced the granny that he could secure a job for her 17-year-old granddaughter. The granny agreed and he left with the minor to Nkayi to conduct another exorcism,” said a resident.

Sibanda went on to expose the sex offender’s shenanigans.

“On 12 December 2020 at around 4.30am, after a healing session he ordered his aide known as Madzibaba Mthembo to take the minor to a secluded room which was about 200 metres away from his bedroom hut. The unsuspecting minor went there. He (Madzibaba Sadza) followed them with a packet of chips and gave it to the minor. Madzibaba Mthembo left them in the room.

Madzibaba Sadza undressed and remained naked. He ordered the minor to undress. The minor initially refused but he threatened to stab her with a knife. The teenager unwillingly took off her clothes and he licked her private parts before raping her,” said Sibanda.

He added: “He sexually attacked the minor once again at around midday and once the following morning. He gave her a tortoise and said she should allow it to suck her breast so that she would make money. The minor said the tortoise sucked her during the night.”

On 13 December 2020 they left Nkayi for Bulawayo.

“They arrived at his lodgings in Pelandaba suburb and put up at his rented room where during the night he raped her and let his tortoise suck her breast and insisted that she must let it suck her and when they go to South Africa she would secure a well-paying job and get rich instantly,” said Sibanda.

The minor managed to escape after Madzibaba Sadza went to take a bath.

She narrated her ordeal to a neighbour who informed other residents.

“Unfortunately when we went to apprehend Madzibaba Sadza we found that he had fled. We then took the minor to Western Commonage police station and made a report,” said another resident who only identified herself as Khethiwe.

Bulawayo police spokesperson Inspector Abednico Ncube said: “We are investigating a case of rape where a self-proclaimed prophet allegedly raped a minor several times and also assigned his tortoise to suck the minor’s breast for ritual purposes.

He added: “We are appealing to members of the public to seek understanding of how God’s services are done or provided. Normal and genuine services and prayers are conducted in church.”-B-Metro

PRIMARY and Secondary Education Minister Ambassador Cain Mathema has called on pupils to be vigilant and take all necessary measures to prevent contracting the deadly Covid-19 virus during the festive holidays.

Schools have been the latest target of Covid-19 and the Third Term which ends today saw more than 300 pupils contracting the deadly virus.

In his Christmas message, Ambassador Mathema said pupils should enjoy the holiday responsibly remembering that on January 4, schools are opening for the First term.

He also hailed President Mnangagwa for his direction which has led to the socio-economic development of the nation.

Minister Mathema also extended his gratitude to teachers, pupils and all responsible authorities for the support despite challenges brought by Covid-19 during the school year ending today.

He said one of the major successes was being able to contain and manage Covid-19 at 49 affected schools countrywide.

“It has been a challenging year with the advent of the Covid-19 pandemic, which is still among us today. The pandemic forced Government to send all schools into lockdown for at least six months from 24 March 2020. However, I must hasten to applaud that together, we have managed to ride the waves in ensuring that learning and teaching continues in spite of the Covid-19 pandemic,” said Ambassador Mathema.

He said Government and school authorities successfully administered the June 2020 ZIMSEC examinations, reopened schools through the phased school calendar and managed the Cambridge examinations.

“The containment and management of Covid-19 cases in 49 of the 9 625 schools with no casualty reported to date was a major success for the Ministry. We also conducted the ZIMSEC examinations for Grade 7, Form 4 and Form 6 without discriminating those that tested positive for Covid-19,” said Ambassador Mathema.

He said that innovative alternative teaching and learning strategies were used for learners to catch-up and cover lost learning and teaching time during the lockdown.-Chronicle

Some Ordinary Level students in Zimbabwe are alleged to have failed to write the Agriculture Paper One examination on Tuesday after a mix up on one of the timetables.

According to the master time-table, the Agriculture Paper One was scheduled for Tuesday, but the candidates’ statements of entry indicated the paper was set for January 15 2020.

Zimbabwe School Examinations Council (ZIMSEC) director Lazarus Nembaware admitted that there was an error but said no students missed the examination. He said:

The standard operating procedure is that if there is a conflict between what appears on the statement of entry, candidates should follow the timetable.

Candidates who wrote Agriculture started to go to their centres from the first of December so they were able to see the timetable at their centres.

So I will be very much surprised where a candidate says that they failed to write because I was reading my statement of entry and not the timetable.

Earlier this month there was another mix up on maps used in the Geography Paper One examination, but ZIMSEC maintains the problem was timeously rectified. Said Nembaware:

Schools that discovered that there were no maps for the Geography examination earlier communicated and they were supplied.

For those who realized it on the day of the examination, they did one of the following; they allowed the examination to continue while the maps were being given to them by our ZIMSEC regional managers or they quarantined the students if the time was over, waiting for the maps to come.

My report from all regions shows that every candidate who registered for the examination wrote it.
– ZTN News

Tinashe Sambiri|The MDC Alliance has lost another senior party official, Senator Agnes Mloyi.

Senator Mloyi died on Wednesday.

“The MDC Alliance has learnt with great sadness of the passing of Senator Agnes Mloyi.

She was a pillar of strength & wisdom to the movement. We extend our deepest condolences to her family & loved ones.
May she rest in peace,” the MDC Alliance said in a statement.

MDC Alliance Secretary General Charlton Hwende said:
“We have just been informed that Senator Agnes Mloyi a members of the MDC Alliance National Executive has passed on. Our Sincere Condolences to the family on behalf of the MDC Alliance Family. Funeral Arrangements will be announced soon after consultations with the Family.”

Tinashe Sambiri|Government is exposing teachers and pupils to the deadly COVID-19 pandemic due to lack of proper safety measures in schools.

According to Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe president, Dr Takavafira Zhou, latest COVID -19 cases have been recorded at Dangamvura Primary School in Mutare and Chibi High School in Masvingo Province.

Read Dr Zhou’s statement below:

Dangamvura Primary (Mutare) and Chibi High School (Masvingo): Latest Covid 19 Cases

17 December 2020

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, while many more are waiting for results today.

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.

Covid 19 has run riot in several boarding schools possibly because students are overcrowded in hostels, share textbooks, and lack of social distancing due to limited infrasture, bloated classes and absence of social distance.

Chibi High is the latest school to be affected but many more boarding schools are in similar predicament but teachers and pupils have not been tested due to shortage of testing kits.

Dr Takavafira M. Zhou (Ptuz President)

Court Update

17 December 2020
11:40 am

Masvingo Youth Assembly In Solidarity

Masvingo Provincial Youth Secretary and Councillor for Chiredzi Town Council Gilbert Mutubuki appeared before Triangle Magistrate Court this morning.

The case was represented by vibrant human rights Lawyer Advocate Mureri . Magistrate Chikodzore further postponed the continuation of trial to 23 December. The reason cited was that one of the witnesses couldn’t understand Shona, but Shangani only, a questionable reason that may give us much doubt and pessimism on Zimbabwean Court’s fairness and competence.

The court officials said they would wait for 23 December inorder to bring an interpreter.

It is also questionable that the courts knowing very much that they are surrounded mostly by the Shangani/Tsonga people in the area they don’t have a readily available interpreter. The postponement is meant for nothing but to persecute the accused and henceforth potrays how the judiciary and the prosecuting authority is captured by the Zanupf regime.

The Case has also been moved to Chiredzi Magistrate Courts from Triangle.

The delay in trial is further denying Councillor Mutubuki his freedom of movement and peace of mind.

Like anyone else during festive season one might want to travel or he might also want to commit himself to other programs upon his authority as a Councillor and Provincial Youth Secretary.

It is from this act of the judiciary that bias and capture is foreseen.

Chiredzi west Youth Chair Lenny together with other Chiredzi leaders attended the court. As supportive as they are Councillor Mutubuki ‘s Parents and family members also attended in solidarity . Meanwhile as MDC Alliance Youth we shall not retreat to support our fellow leader.

WeWantAFreeFestiveSeason

FreeOurGilbert

LandIsForEveryone

Timoth Muswere
Masvingo Provincial Youth Spokesperson
0773841414
[email protected]

Tinashe Sambiri|The MDC Alliance will on Friday set the record straight on the operations of local authorities in the country.

MDC Alliance Secretary for Local Government, Hon Sesel Zvidzai will present the party’s position on the operations of local authorities.

“Tomorrow, 18/12/20 @12 noon the MDC Alliance will present a press address on the State of Local Government.

Our Secretary for Local Govt Hon Sesil Zvidzai will set out the MDCA alternative policy position & highlight what needs to be done to improve service delivery by local authorities.

ChangeThatDelivers,” the MDC Alliance said in a statement.

A VICTORIA Falls man who allegedly became violent at a fuel garage and assaulted two cops as he resisted arrest has appeared in court.

Constables Prosper Zingi and Nollen Mhanga of Victoria Falls Police Station had been deployed at Marange Fuel Service Station to control a fuel queue and enforce social distancing.

Tinashe Macharaga (30) allegedly jumped the queue and pushed his vehicle towards the pump resulting in the two police officers ordering him to remove his car.

Macharaga allegedly became violent.

He allegedly grabbed a pair of handcuffs that the officers tried to put on his hands before kicking both officers.

The trio tussled and the cops managed to subdue and arrest Macharaga.

He pleaded not guilty to assaulting a peace officer when he appeared before Victoria Falls Resident magistrate Ms Lindiwe Maphosa who remanded him out of custody to today for continuation of trial.

He claimed that Constables Zingi and Mhanga assaulted him and forced him to move his car from the queue.

“I was at Marange Fuel Service station where I had left my car in the queue the previous evening. I went back in the morning for fueling and when it was my turn, I pushed my car towards the pump and that is when the police officers came and said I should remove my car from the queue,” said Macharaga.

He said he was treated at the hospital as a result of the assault.

Constables Zingi and Mhanga said they were deployed to maintain order at the fuel service station when Macharaga became violent towards them.

“He started shouting at me and my colleague when we told him to move his car. He accused us of being corrupt saying we wanted to create space for our friends to refuel ahead of him. We told him that he was disturbing the peace but he said he wasn’t afraid of police as he had a relative who is our boss at police headquarters. I grabbed his hand to arrest him and he grabbed the handcuffs,” said Constable Mhanga.

Prosecuting, Mr Listen Nare said Macharaga became unreasonably violent and disorderly after being told to move his car from the queue.-Chronicle

The Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) has obtained a court order compelling a Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) official Jefinias Mazambani, Police Commissioner-General Godwin Matanga and Home Affairs Minister Kazembe Kazembe to pay ZWL$151 000 as compensation to an assault victim.

According to a statement by ZLHR, Mazambani brutally assaulted a 15-year-old boy in 2019 while he was investigating the theft of a mobile phone handset in Mutare’s high-density suburb of Sakubva.

The 15-year-old minor bled profusely as a result of the assault by Mazambani.

The boy was released from police custody without being charged. But despite being released from police custody without any charges pressed against him, police officers continued making impromptu visits to the juvenile’s residence and continued assaulting him.

The minor sustained injuries which include a perforated eardrum, facial swelling and swelling on his knees.

The minor’s parents engaged Peggy Tavagadza of the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, who sued ZRP for inhuman and degrading treatment after he was handcuffed and assaulted by Mazambani.

In his judgment, Mutare Resident Magistrate Lazarus Murendo ruled that the assault of the minor by Mazambani was severe and he suffered excruciating pain hence he should be paid damages amounting to ZWL$151 191 as compensation.

 – Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights –

Emmerson Mnangagwa has been dragged to court by the families of artisanal miners trapped underground after Esigodini mine collapsed.

The families want the president to declare the collapse a national disaster to cause the abandoned rescue operations to resume.

In an urgent chamber application filed at the Bulawayo High Court on Monday, Patience Ncube, mother to one of the trapped miners Nkosilathi, appealed for an order directing Mnangagwa and government agencies to implement an emergency rescue operation.

Reads in part the application filed on behalf of the family by its lawyers Mathonsi Ncube Law Chambers:

That the 5th respondent declares Matshetshe Mine collapse a disaster within the meaning of section 27 of the Civil Protection Unit Act.

That the provincial civil protection officer Matabeleland South province must within 48 hours of this order direct the 4th respondent within his area to prepare an emergency plan for the rescue/evacuation of the trapped miners or their bodies.

The mine collapsed on 10 November due to flash floods and the rescue operations have since been suspended after government chief mining engineer, Michael Munodawafa said it was too risky.

Munodawafa said it would take over a year of continuous work before any success was achieved as the area “is characterised by friable ground, loose rock material and debris posing the danger for further collapse.”

The six artisanal miners who were trapped underground were identified as Nkosilathi Ndlovu (29), Christopher Dube (23), Ndumiso Dube (19), Blessed Ncube (24), Nduduzo Ntini (28) and another only identified as Mlilo.

The families of the trapped miners said the rescue mission was important for “us as families to find closure in this issue and possibly be allowed to do traditional family rites.”-NewsDay

By A Correspondent- On 13 December, Takudzwanashe Mudenga and Perfect Khumalo went to a mountain at the Resthaven Christian Retreat and Conference Centre to pray.

The mountain that is popularly known as ‘prayer mountain’ is located next to Harare Quarry an area where there is gold mining.

Takudzwanashe Mudenga who narrated the unfortunate incident on his Facebook page said when they arrived on the mountain top and prepared to read the bible three soldiers emerged from the bushes.

“As usual, we were talking about Jesus and everything that we wanted to pray for as we meandered our way up to the hilltop. Upon arrival, I grabbed my phone and started swiping sideways looking for the Bible app to read a few scriptures and encourage each other before we started praying.

“Unexpectedly, I heard the breaking of twigs as three uniformed soldiers emerged from behind the bushes. The formation with which they were advancing towards us told me something was off. One of them was swinging sparkly handcuffs in his hand, while the second one was busy unwinding a rubber sjambok and the third military officer was not armed, Mudenga wrote on his Facebook page.

One of the soldiers then asked the two boys what they were doing on the mountain top and why they chose that particular spot.

When the two responded that they were on the mountain to pray the soldiers then ordered them to sit down and empty their pockets.

“…‘Hello, boys, what are you doing here?’ One of the soldiers inquired. ‘We are here to pray, Sir,’ I responded. ‘Why here?’

He asked. ‘

Because it’s a convenient place without noise or other disturbances’,” I fearlessly replied.

“Come, sit here!” The soldier holding a sjambok yelled. Like sheep, we hoisted ourselves down to the spot he had designated. Suddenly, we were ordered to empty our pockets and put our cellphones away from us. “Manje, chibvisai hembe murare pasi makabatana uye makatarisa pasi!” [Now, remove your shirts and lay face down close to each other!] He snarled again.

Takudzwanashe Mudenga said the soldiers started torturing them with a whip beating them mercilessly telling them that it was their turn to die for Christ.

“Jesus died for you and it’s now time to die for him,” the officer continued. “Say, Jesus, I am dying for you!” We recurrently repeated his words as the whip went up and down our naked backs. Seeing their determination, it reminded me of how the Pharisees mercilessly tortured the character of Jesus as portrayed in the passion play.

“We squirmed, screamed and groaned but our voices could not be heard anymore. These men were certainly on a mission to kill and to destroy. The whips could be felt smacking and shaking the ribs. “Your Jesus got you in trouble, today,” they repeatedly said those words and two soldiers took turns on us, he said.

The three soldiers then threatened to push Takudzwanashe and Perfect down the edge of a cliff before they abandoned that plan and frog-marched them down the hill.

Takudzwanashe remembers thinking that he was about to die at the hands of the soldiers.

“All I wanted was to call my brother say, “Bye, we had a good time on earth. Remain in Christ.” But probably in the hands of the men who were trained to kill, I was not going to have that chance. I kept on asking myself, “What kind of Zimbabwe was this?”

When they arrived at the foot of the hill the two men were given another thorough bashing this time around they were naked.

“At the foot of the hill, there was a huge rock on which we were told to lay face down again. However, were had to remove all our clothes now. They began assaulting us as if nothing ever happened on the summit of the hill.

“Amid all this, I didn’t need to be reminded anymore who Jesus was, but I willfully shouted, “Jesus, you are the king!” Now the whip was landing on any part of the body open for business. I remember checking Perfect lying by my side only to see his head squashed under a soldier’s boot. It was horrendous! He cried as the sjambok ripped open his skin. Nothing could make him feel better except seeing the whip back on my bums. That was the only moment of relief.

The three soldiers continued beating and torturing the two men as they lay on the ground and were later released battered and bruised.

“You guys have been enjoying the show without me, it’s my turn now,” the officer watching the parameter said as he seized the sjambok. “I am going to whip them, then we go. You, how many whips do you want?” The question was directed to me. “I don’t know, Sir,” I replied. “No, give me a number!” He howled. “Two,” I answered. “Good. Two multiplied by two twice gives eight, boss,” the other soldier shouted. Perfect having noticed the trap I had just plunged myself into, he quickly said his figure was three. They all roared in laughter as they shout, “Fifteen” simultaneously.

“The two-striped officer whipped me twice and Perfect thrice like we had agreed but the other two objected our dismissal. Therefore, took over and battered us like stubborn oxen beneath the yoke. Then the words we dearly wanted to hear came out. “Wear your clothes and run!” I swiftly pulled my trousers up, grabbed my belongings and dizzily followed the path leading to where Perfect went.” Takudzwanashe said.

The two victims filed a report at Braeside police station.

By A Correspondent- Some Ordinary Level students in Zimbabwe are alleged to have failed to write the Agriculture Paper One examination on Tuesday after a mix up on one of the timetables.

According to the master time-table, the Agriculture Paper One was scheduled for Tuesday, but the candidates’ statements of entry indicated the paper was set for January 15 2020.

Zimbabwe School Examinations Council (ZIMSEC) director Lazarus Nembaware admitted that there was an error but said no students missed the examination.

He saidThe standard operating procedure is that if there is a conflict between what appears on the statement of entry, candidates should follow the timetable.

Candidates who wrote Agriculture started to go to their centres from the first of December so they were able to see the timetable at their centres.

So I will be very much surprised where a candidate says that they failed to write because I was reading my statement of entry and not the timetable.

Earlier this month there was another mix up on maps used in the Geography Paper One examination, but ZIMSEC maintains the problem was timeously rectified.

Said Nembaware:

Schools that discovered that there were no maps for the Geography examination earlier communicated and they were supplied.

For those who realized it on the day of the examination, they did one of the following; they allowed the examination to continue while the maps were being given to them by our ZIMSEC regional managers or they quarantined the students if the time was over, waiting for the maps to come.

My report from all regions shows that every candidate who registered for the examination wrote it.

By A Correspondent- The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) says people with relatives suffering from mental illness should always keep an eye on them and also make sure that they receive their medication.

This comes after a 25-year-old mentally challenged Nkayi man axed to death another mental patient on the neck without provocation.

National police spokesperson Paul Nyathi said: Members of the public with relatives suffering from mental illnesses are advised to monitor them and ensure that they receive medical attention.

This follows a murder case where a 23-year-old male adult was struck with an axe by a mentally challenged man (25) in Nkayi district.

On [Tuesday] the suspect entered the room where the victim and his brother who is also mentally ill were sleeping and struck the victim once on the neck with an axe and went away.

The suspect is still at large and investigations are underway.

Earlier this month a Grade 7 female pupil was stoned to death by a mentally sick patient in Gweru.

The girl was on her way from Sandara Primary School where she had just written an examination.

By A Correspondent| The recently appointed Provincial Development Co-ordinanator, Tafadzwa Muguti, has threatened Chitungwiza Mayor Lovemore Maiko with stern action if he fails to meet the 72-hour ultimatum to reverse an “offensive” council resolution.

The resolution, passed on December 3, appointed Engineer D Duma as the Acting Town Cleck, replacing one Mrs E Machona.

Failure to effect a reversal of the appointment, according to Muguti, would see councillors Peter Clever Matiringe, Chengetai Nyagondo, Richard Chamisa and Tonderai Chiwanza arrested and arraigned before the courts.

The charges, under which the dismissals would be premised, are not clear except that the allegations against Councillor Maringe have to do with chairing a meeting that approved the offending resolution.

It is further alleged that Councillor Matiringe refused to read a letter that was directed to the Town Cleck, saying it would be read under the Town Cleck’s desk.

This publication also understands that the said councillor sat on the mayoral chair without following the Urban Councils Act which requires that councillors choose a representative to chair a meeting in the event that both the mayor and his deputy are absent.

This, however, was not the case.

According to the Urban Councils Act, section 104 (3)(4), all due process was not followed.

Councillor Matiringe is now facing a litany of charges, including that of drafting a letter advising the PDC of the developments which took place on December 3 and another in which he is said to have written to Mrs Machona seeking to know why she had issued a Press statement purporting to be the Acting Town Clerk.

The other charges, however, are not clear.

Meanwhile, councillors Nyagondo and Chiwanza are said to have violated their bail conditions while Councillor Chamutsa’s “crime” is that of seconding Councillor Nyagondo’s proposal.

These councillors have been threatened with suspension should they fail to ensure that the 72-hour ultimatum is meet.

One of the conditions under which the ultimatum is premised includes the
reversal of a resolution made on December 3 to reinstate Mrs Machona.

The other resolution includes the listing of all illegal sites for demolition, including the setting up of a special committee by councillors to investigate those councillors alleged to be working in cahoots with some land barons.

The councillors being charged have also been asked to Identify the staffers who are leaking information to outsiders, including that they should work towards clearing the PDC’s name from mudslinging.

The ultimatum should be responded to by December 18, failure of which would lead to the four councillors facing the music.

What is confusing, though, is that in the past five months, teams from the municipality, Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission and Local Government ministry have been probing without success the Chitungwiza Municipality on issues of corruption.