The family of a 20-year-old man from Mawabeni in Matabeleland South who was allegedly shot by the police in May is demanding accountability and is seeking justice.
Smilo Mahlangu claims his son, Khanyisani, was shot by the police who were enforcing lockdown regulations at Mawabeni Business Centre on May 29.
Khanyisani was part of a crowd that fled when police approached them resulting in him being allegedly shot in the leg.
Narrating the ordeal to CITE, Smilo Mahlangu said her son was shot by the police and they left him on the scene without getting any help for him.
“My son was shot in Mawabeni around 7pm on 29 May, 2020, by a police officer only known to us as Sibanda from Esigodini,” said Mahlangu.
“They shot him and left him there, he was only picked up by some people who took him home and he was ferried to the clinic the following day.”
She revealed that she has tried to engage the police in Esigodini on her son`s case but she has not found any answers.
“The police are not giving me any answers on why they shot my son, he only told me that he was shot while they were running away from a group of officers who were on patrol while they were coming out of a bottle store. They had no face masks on and it was past curfew time which started at 6pm then,” she said.
Mahlangu claimed the Officer in Charge at Esigodini Inspector Lewis Kadzuraumera tried to cover up for the officer who shot his son and demanded that they provide them with the costs they would have incurred.
“We took him to the clinic and passed by the police station and they kept us from 1 pm till 5 pm until the doctor knocked off.
“The following day which was now the third day after he was shot, we took him to the clinic again, and he was put under an x-ray and the doctor confirmed that the bullet had grazed him and he dressed the wound,” narrated Mahlangu.
“Despite providing them with the costs, we never received any assistance from the police.”
Khanyisani said he is still in pain and the open is producing pus.
Meanwhile, Matabeleland South acting police spokesperson Inspector Loveness Mangena said they were not aware of the case.
“I am not aware of the case, we did not hear or receive this case, this is a case of interest if it happened, we should be knowing it,” said Inspector Mangena.
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.
South Africa’s health minister Dr Zweli Mkhize has hinted that the second wave of the deadly COVID-19 is being driven by a new variant called 501.
Below is a thread of tweets by Dr Mkhize confirming the new variant….
We have convened this public briefing today to announce that a variant of the SARS-COV-2 Virus- currently termed 501.V2 Variant has been identified by our genomics scientists here in South Africa.
We have convened this public briefing today to announce that a variant of the SARS-COV-2 Virus- currently termed 501.V2 Variant has been identified by our genomics scientists here in South Africa.
This genomics team, led by the Kwazulu-Natal Research Innovation and Sequencing Platform, or KRISP, has sequenced hundreds of samples from across the country since the beginning of the pandemic in March.
Clinicians have been providing anecdotal evidence of a shift in the clinical epidemiological picture- in particular noting that they are seeing a larger proportion of younger patients with no co-morbidities presenting with critical illness.
The evidence that has been collated, therefore, strongly suggests that that the current second wave we are experiencing is being driven by this new variant. #SARSCOV2MediaBriefing
Karim: “What we are seeing now is that the rate of increase in cases is similar as the first wave but the second wave has now over shot the peak of the first wave.” #SARSCOV2MediaBriefing
Karim: “The second wave has now hit all provinces with some early signs of it spreading faster than the first wave.” #SARSCOV2MediaBriefing
Karim: “The second wave is showing early signs that it is spreading faster than the first wave. It is not clear if this second wave has more or less deaths. We have not seen any red flags looking at our current death information” #SARSCOV2MediaBriefing
Karim: This new 501.V2 variant has become dominant in South Africa. This new variant has 3 mutations. #SARSCOV2MediaBriefing
Karim: The higher viral load in swabs may translate to higher efficiency of transmission. #SARSCOV2MediaBriefing
Mkhize: We knew it was coming but none of us expected for it to come as quickly as it did. There was no specific projection. It comes at a time when the behaviour over the festive season is likely to worsen the spread of the virus.
Mkhize: We have noticed a degree of complacency with mask-wearing and hand sanitizing. The second wave is increasing during this season but we believe it is most likely to increase after this season. It may well have another bump where numbers are showing an increase.
By Jane Mlambo| Local premier league giants Dynamos has trounced a Warriors Select side 3-2 in a practice match played this morning.
Dembare found the goals through Cameroonian Albert Eonde who scored all the 3 goals while Warriors goals came from Tafadzwa Jaravani and Obriel Chirinda.
Warriors are set to play in the CHAN African Nations Championship tournament set for Cameroon early next year.
Total CHAN 2020 takes place from 16 January to 7 February 2021. The Indomitable Lions of Cameroon open the event against Zimbabwe at the Ahmadou-Ahidjo Stadium in Yaoundé at 4 p.m. GMT.
A National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) train derailed in Bulawayo early on Friday killing two employees and injuring seven others.
NRZ spokesman Nyasha Maravanyika said the accident happened in Redbank, 30km from Bulawayo close to the highway to Victoria Falls after sand was dumped on the railway tracks following heavy rains.
The goods train travelling to Bulawayo was carrying coal, coming from Sawmills, a railway yard in Umguza district, Matabeleland North.
Maravanyika said: “The derailment happened just after midnight. The accident was caused by sand that covered the rail road level crossing following heavy rains. This caused our locomotive to go off track.”
He said 11 NRZ employees were onboard at the time.
“We are sad, we are sorrowful because this incident took away two lives,” Maravanyika said, noting that fatalities from goods train accidents were very rare.
The NRZ believes farming activities along the railway line loosened the soil, which was then swept onto the tracks following heavy rains.
“As NRZ, we encourage communities not to do agricultural activities along railway lines. We should all protect and preserve railway reserve land and railway equipment to avoid loss of lives through accidents,” he said.
One of the dead men has been named as Tawanda Makombe, who was also the vice chairman of the Bulawayo Volleyball Association.
By Tinashe Eric Muzamhindo| Few days ago, I read a statement about the First lady Amai Auxilia Mnangagwa coming up with an initiative ” National Dress Code”, which she is going to confer or launch, for some of words, it is word on the streets, we are not aware of the definition, the objective, and some of these events are not necessary considering the burden of our national fiscus. Government must have priorities prior to economic development targets using the economic recovery framework. We need a functional economy, backed by increase in productivity. Some of these state functions, banquets, dinners, breakfasts clearly shows lack of priorities in service delivery at hand. We need a hands on leadership which must get to the ground, use development and economic indicators to come up with a Strategic Thinking framework to rescue the former SADC breadbasket economy. Launching such a project at the time when over 80% of citizens are facing a bleak x mas clearly shows that leadership may be out of touch with what is on the ground.
I’m failing to understand what the national dress code will help our economy, and what is the key objective prior to the project? We have ailing state companies like Mineral Marketing Corporation of Zimbabwe, NRZ, Cold Storage Commission, and many others, it is my hope that Government must set their priorities right, by redirecting expenditure to the mainstream economy. Economy is production, and increase in exports, therefore by settling our balance of payments. National Dress Code must be done by corporate world or backed by corporate world using corporate social responsibility ( CSR).
Focus must be on :
1. Redirection of expenditure to the critical sectors of the economy such as Agriculture, infrastructure development, mining, industry, tourism and private sector 2. Address the huge local and external debt. We have a debt obligation which must be addressed.
3. A proper National Development plan 4. Citizen perspective is very important. Engage citizens 5. Seperate politics and Development 6. Introduce a proper business model to run this country 7. Cabinet reshuffle is long over due 8. Policy direction of the country is critical. 9. Cut expenditure. Unnecessary state functions must be banned. Make use of District and provincial officials to officially open small and non existing footbridges. 10. Liberalize economy. Allow all players to participate in economic activities. We have projects like Command Agriculture which must be open to everyone for bidding purposes. State Procurement Board must be regulated in line with Parliamentary Act. 11. What is the role of Deputy Ministers? Do we need Deputy Ministers in all ministries?
12. Review of investment policy. Nature of deals must be reviewed 13. We need a proper Economic Recovery framework/ Plan 14. Leadership should be a reflection. You need a mirror for reflection. Political acumenship is very important.
15. Our nation must not depend on handouts. Creat employment. Pour money in the mainstream economy. 16. Privatization of state companies is the way to go. 17. Devolution policy framework 18. Strategic Engagements is important.
19. Human Rights obligations 20. We need a Solution oriented and focused thinking development framework
Hopefully this statement will circulate in leadership circles including civic society, Government, heads of parastatals, church, Research oriented Organizations and all citizens.
We need a clear plan for our country !!!
Tinashe Eric Muzamhindo is the Head of Zimbabwe Institute of Strategic Thinking – ZIST, and he is also a leading Project Management Consultant, and he can be contacted at [email protected]
MARVELOUS Nakamba has insisted that he is always ready to give his all for Aston Villa whenever he is called upon after playing his first full 90 minutes in the English Premier League this season.
The Warriors midfielder, who had fallen down the pecking order, finally got a chance to start a game after teammate Douglas Luiz was suspended for Thursday’s encounter against Burnley that ended in a goalless draw.
Nakamba blamed his side’s failure to convert chances they created for the draw.
“We played our best as a team. We had some chances to finish it off, but unfortunately, we couldn’t take them. Of course, it’s disappointing not to collect more points. In football, you can never be satisfied with one point, especially at home,” Nakamba told Villa TV.
“Now we have to pick our heads up and look forward to the next match. When we get those chances again, we have to focus on finishing them.”
Ahead of their next encounter against West Bromwich Albion tomorrow, Nakamba said he was ready to deliver at any given time.
“Every time I’m needed, I’m always ready for the team. We have a group of good players who are pushing each other in training.
“We have to continue to give our best in each and every game. We have to try to keep getting better and better. We’re looking forward to the next game, the derby.
“We have to go back to the drawing board as a group and focus on the next match,” Nakamba said.-Chronicle
By Jane Mlambo| Following widespread ridicule and mockery of the Mbuya Nehanda statue as a wrong depiction of the first Chimurenga heroine, President Emmerson Mnangagwa has given in to pressure and ordered that the bronze sculpture be re-done.
After pictures of the statue made rounds on social media, Zimbabweans did not waste time to dismiss it as a mockery to the legendary heroine with some saying she didn’t have the figure and bust depicted by sculptor, David Mutasa.
Now President Mnangagwa has rejected the statue for its youthfulness which he said should be replaced by a wrinkle and old mbuya Nehanda as widely portrayed in her pictures.
“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,” said Charamba.
The Combined Harare Residents Association (CHRA) is shocked by Harare City Council Acting Mayor’s decision to reinstate senior Council employees who had been arrested on allegations of corruption. The circus that is being perpetuated at Town House is a mockery to principles of good governance and accountability.
The Acting Harare Mayor Councilor Mukunguma wrote a letter on the 17th of December to call upon the suspended Town Clerk, Hosiah Chisango stating that, ‘due to exigency of work and the demands of the office of the Town clerk you are hereby notified to proceed with your work in your capacity as the Town Clerk’
The reasons proffered by the Acting Mayor are not justifiable and this is a sad demonstration of lack of seriousness in terms of dealing with corruption. It does not make sense to reinstate an employee who has not been proven innocent in the court of law. In addition, the reinstatement is likely to lead to interference with investigations on the alleged matters.
The Acting Mayor Mukunguma is offside and needs to be reigned. The office of the Mayor of Harare is ceremonial and the decision to reinstate the Town Clerk, Hosiah Chisango can only be done through a council resolution.
CHRA is also concerned with the interference of the Harare Provincial Development Coordinator, Mr.Muguti, who has jumped in to give a directive to Council on this matter. Our concern arises from the fact that Chapter14 of the Zimbabwean Constitution is clear on structural composition of provincial councils and the PDC is not part of that structural composition.
We reiterate that, the PDC should not assume judicial position as the member of the executive arm of the state. This is against the doctrine of separation of power and the oversight role of the local authorities according to law which comes from the Minister of Local Government.
As CHRA we are aware that the current chaos at Town House is caused by factional politics from MDC. These are machinations aimed at imposing a commission on the residents of Harare, which will cripple representative democracy.
CHRA implores the implementation of devolution in the Constitution of Zimbabwe with clear structural composition which has authority to make decisions for Local Authorities when such chaos resurge .
MPILO Central Hospital has recorded an alarming 74 Covid-19 cases over the past four days which left a nine-month-old baby and 14 staff members infected.
The infected staff members work at Mpilo’s Persons Under Investigation (PUI) ward for Covid-19 while others are from the National Tuberculosis Reference Laboratory where Covid-19 tests are conducted.
The rest are patients.
The development comes at a time when Bulawayo province is now accounting for more than 32 percent of the 620 new cases recorded in Zimbabwe during the same time.
One of the 74 people who had Covid-19 died on admission before his results were out. The nine-month-old baby has been referred to United Bulawayo Hospitals (UBH) for admission.
The Old Bartley Memorial Block at UBH is the only functional public designated Covid-19 centre where positive and symptomatic patients are admitted. Since the outbreak of the global pandemic in March this year, 314 Zimbabweans have died of Covid-19.-Chronicle
By Dr Takavafira Zhou |The school term comes to an end tomorrow and is a sigh of relief to millions of students and teachers who were constantly affected and infected by covid 19 due to absence of covid abatement equipment in schools, overcrowding in hotels, infrastructural limitations, bloated classes and shortage of teachers that cumulatively militated against appropriate 1:20 teacher-pupil ratio and social distance.
However, the shortage of testing kits and inability to test several teachers and pupils with mild to moderate symptoms that resonate with covid pose serious challenges to the spread of covid 19 as such infected teachers and pupils can spread covid 19 to their respective family members as they now have to travel to their respective homes.
It would have been prudent to test all teachers and pupils in order to possibly quarantine all those who test positive, until they have recovered. Having witnessed the quantum leap of covid 19 cases in schools and the ill-preparedness of the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education to respond to the pandemic, it is advisable to enhance preparedness before opening schools next year. The testing of teachers and pupils before congregation cannot be ignored, and so likewise is the provision of covid 19 abatement equipment to all schools. Mere assumption that schools have received PPEs as Ndoro, Hon Matema and perm Sec Thabela wanted us to believe, is dangerous, if not suicidal. It is also crucial to address not only these health and safety concerns, but also the welfare of teachers. Without a remedy to these key issues, the opening of schools for 2021 would be riddled with challenges, if not impossible. To be forewarned is to be forearmed.
TEN gun-toting robbers on Sunday pounced on a Rusape farm and assaulted security guards before looting irrigation equipment worth thousands of dollars.
In a well-executed robbery that took place at Tara Farm on December 13, the robbers assaulted the security guards while others loaded their loot in a lorry.
The farm owner, whose name has not yet been established, tried in vain to give chase, but abandoned the mission after his vehicle ran out of fuel. Deputy Manicaland provincial police spokesperson, Inspector Luxson Chananda confirmed the robbery.
“Ten gun-toting robbers pounced at Tara Farm and disarmed the first security guard who was manning the main gate. They severely assaulted him with logs and sticks before gaining entry into the main premises.
“They assaulted the other two guards before tying up all of them. The robbers stole irrigation centre pivots, 14 tyres, several gearboxes, several electric motors, spanners and the guards’ cellphones. They loaded the stolen goods into their truck and drove off,” said Insp Chananda.
A chief security officer at the farm arrived at the scene just after the robbery and called the farm owner who quickly reacted and followed the robbers in a high-speed chase.
He, however, ran out of fuel.
The 10 are still at large and police are appealing to members of the public for information that will lead to the arrest of the suspects.
Meanwhile, three unknown machete-wielding robbers pounced on a trader in Middle Sabi and made good their escape with portable radios.
“Kayembe Batiyanga was selling his wares in Middle Sabi and upon approaching Farm 31 Compound, the three robbers demanded cash from him. He did not surrender anything and so they assaulted him all over the body. They stole two portable radios and went away. Batiyanga tried to follow them, but they threatened to kill him with machetes,” said Insp Chananda.
By Dr Takavafira Zhou| The myriads of schoolboy blunders exhibited by Zimsec this year are a clear indicator to effect that the examination board was never ready to conduct examinations this year.
The errors on registration of candidates, candidates entry for subjects never registered for, disparities between indications on candidates entries and actual examination dates; the inadequate packages of exam papers or missing examination material and mixing of examination papers as in the case of ‘O’ level geography paper 1 and paper 2; virtually absence of braille question papers; total failure to deliver examination papers in time and midnight writing of examination papers; lackadaisical printing of exam papers and rampant leakages in English and Mathematics papers, among many challenges, are clear indicators of Zimsec shambolic preparations for managing examinations in 2020.
Impeccable sources at Zimsec are indicating that professionals at Zimsec had preferred conducting examinations from beginning of February 2021 to Mid-March but insanity prevailed over good reason. It would seem political expediency ultimately triumped over reason with the consequent worst management of examinations in Zimbabwe. As such, enunciation to the readiness of Zimsec to conduct examinations was nothing more than mere grandstanding.
The credibility of examinations is dependent on efficient and effective management of examinations. Unless professional decisions are taken to foster sanity at Zimsec, the credibility of our examinations may be totally destroyed. Hope Zimsec would take corrective measures as a matter of urgency. It remains to be seen how Zimsec would manage the marking of examinations, and if the casual approach is taken, the process may suffer a stillbirth.
A new variant of Covid-19 has been identified in SA and is circulating widely — but it is not clear yet whether it is more severe than the original strains.
Health minister Dr Zweli Mkhize made this revelation on Friday night, speaking at a briefing alongside top scientists including Prof Salim Abdool Karim and Prof Tulio de Oliveira.
What was particularly concerning, they said, was that the new strain appeared to be spreading significantly quicker than the dominant strains when the coronavirus first started circulating in the country.
Also worrying, Mkhize said, was that there was a shift in the clinical picture — in that a larger portion of younger people with no comorbidities were presenting with severe illness.
Abdool Karim started his address ominously, saying: “We do not have good news for you.”
He said the virus was “spreading faster than the first wave” and was “probably across most of SA by now”. However, it was not clear whether the second wave had, proportionately, more or fewer deaths.
“In other words, the severity is unclear. We have not seen any red flags, looking at our death information,” he said.
Mkhize said that there was “no reason for panic”, and that the strategies of wearing masks, sanitising and social distancing would be as effective in preventing the spread of the new variant as the originals.
On Thursday night, there were 892,813 confirmed Covid-19 cases countrywide, with more than 9,000 of them in the preceding 24 hours. In the 24 hours before then, SA recorded more than 10,000 new cases, the first time it had done so since August 1.
Also by Thursday night, 24,011 deaths had been recorded across the country — with 184 of them coming in the preceding 24 hours. -Sowetan
A MUTARE woman dumped her boyfriend for refusing to pay her lobola after years of cohabiting.
The matter was revealed on Monday before Mutare magistrate, Mr Lazarus Murendo, when Tendai Machaya was applying for a protection order against her former live-in boyfriend, Austin Maroso.
A few months back, Maroso caught Machaya red-handed with another lover.
She claims that she had already moved on with her life as Maroso had not paid any bride price for her.
She also told the court that Maroso had assaulted her, hence her protection order application.
“He wanted to kill me and I cannot take it anymore. He now stalks me and each time he sees me, he assaults me. I am now his punching bag and I beg that he be stopped from stalking me,” she said.
“We were just lovers, I was never his wife. I wonder why he is telling this court that I was his wife. ln which law book does it say that if we cohabit I automatically become his wife? He never paid anything for me, not even five cents. We were just cohabiting,” she said..
Maroso told the court that being reminded on a daily basis that he had not paid any lobola pushed him to assault Machaya.
“The statement that I never paid even a five cent coin to her parents as bride price angered me,” said Maroso.
“Well, did you pay anything?” asked Mr Murendo, thereby drawing laughter from the gallery.
“I wanted to. I do not want to lie, I wanted to pay lobola for her, but she discouraged me so much when she assaulted my mother. I cannot marry someone who assaults my mother.-The Manica Post
A ZIMUNYA man who was recently convicted of stealing from an accident scene will perform 260 hours of community work.
Gerald Madziro (26) was convicted on his own guilty plea when he appeared before Mutare magistrate, Ms Nyasha Kuture.
Mr Brian Goto prosecuted.
Mr Goto said Madziro was the first to arrive at the scene of an accident which happened at the 11km peg along the Mutare-Chimanimani Highway.
He loaded the property of the Mr Davison Mushaikwa into his vehicle before rushing him to Victoria Chitepo Provincial Hospital.
However, Mr Mushaikwa was pronounced dead upon arrival at the hospital and Madziro disappeared with his property.
Among the things stolen by Madziro were two diagnostic machines, one laptop, an electric scissors, a computer box, an alternator,a diesel pump and a inverter, all valued at US$2 755 .
Two weeks later, Mr Mushaikwa’s wife — Ms Evas Sithole — received information that Madziro had stolen the property.
Investigations led to the recovery of the property, save for the inverter.-The Manica Post
By Dr Masimba Mavaza | The listening president Cde ED 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. The president issued the statement in agreement with many Zimbabweans who had complained about the well packed Morden looking Chihera Charwe Nehanda Nyakasikana.
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: The Nehanda must reflect the true Nehanda
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 and majority of Zimbabweans 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”.
Many perverted minds took turns to make obscene jokes on the icon. In the midst of the lose minded jokes voices of genuine views was heard and as in his nature the cde listened and acted to the majority view.
This rearrangement of Mbuya Nehanda’s face will delay the erection of the statue.
The erection of Mbuya Nehanda’s statue is an honour which is long overdue. Many Zimbabweans have praised the president for his humble spirit and the honouring of the icon.
Many countries honour their heroes through statues and naming roads and buildings after their heroes. In catholic churches they have statues of Biblical heroes while in Scotland there are statues of their heroes like David Livingstone and many others. This is then trend in many countries and the decision to honour Mbuya Nehanda is a noble plausible decision taken by the president.
Among other heroes with statues already erected is father Zimbabwe Dr Joshua Nkomo.
A 27-YEAR-OLD man has been arraigned before the courts for allegedly sodomising his inmate at Mutare Remand Prison.
Moses Madhure last week appeared before Mutare regional magistrate, Mrs Lucie-Anne Mungwari facing charges of aggravated indecent assault as defined in Section (11) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act.
He pleaded guilty and will be back in the dock on December 18 for sentencing.
The complainant (name withheld) resides in Machipanda, Mozambique, and is currently at Mutare Remand Prison.
The court heard that on unknown date, but during the month of November 2020, Madhure went into a bathroom where the complainant was bathing and requested to be intimate with him.
When the complainant refused, Madhure forced himself on him.
The matter came to light on November 29 when the complainant, acting under duress, was seen caressing Madhure’s privates by another inmate who went on to inform the prison officer who was on duty.
Madhure was subsequently arrested.-The Manica Post
Tinashe Sambiri|Recalled MDC Alliance John Nyamhoka says he will not abandon the people’s struggle.
Nyamhoka described Thokozani Khupe and Douglas Mwonzora as hopeless political turncoats.
See statement below :
Statement by Councillor John Nyamhoka after being recalled by Khupe cabal
I have received a letter of recalling me by the so called MDC T under their bogus president is Thokozani Khupe.
I want to make it very clear that I will never jump onto a dead train of misguided elements who think power is about money.
When I was voted into power as ward 17 Councillor I used MDC Alliance ticket of which I’m proudly a member. I have no time to listen or follow the Covid-19 judgment by a certain Judge who take orders from Zanu PF.
The only reasons for recalling me is my loyalty to the People’s Party which is MDC Alliance, for not being trapped into Zanu PF agenda and for standing for the people who gave their trust to me.
Mwonzora and Khupe are anti development. They have Zanu PF DNA of trying to fix the people of Zimbabwe. By recalling me they think they are fixing me yet they are fixing the general populace of ward 17 who are over 35 thousand.
I will stand with the people, I will stand with MDC Alliance and I will remain loyaly to President Advocate Pastor Nelson Chamisa.
Yours in Struggle Councillor John Nyamhoka Ward 17
The Thokozani Khupe led MDC’s congress scheduled for Saturday tomorrow has been postponed indefinitely, due to lack of a quorum and following squabbles over the voters roll. This was as the Secretary General Douglas Mwonzora was accused of tampering with the electoral roll. Efforts to obtain a comment from him were fruitless at the time of writing as his phone kept ringing without being answered. At the time of broadcasting, none of the top leadership were picking up their calls just as Khupe herself briefly answered and then quickly disengaged. Her compatriot Elias Mudzuri responded saying he did not want to speak. “Why don’t you talk to the others,” he said. Video loading below…
Tinashe Sambiri|The MDC Alliance Youth Assembly has strongly condemned the conviction of its officials in Midlands.
See full statement below :
18-12-2020
SIX MDC Alliance Midlands youth leaders who were convicted on trumped up charge of “participating in an unlawful demonstration” today were fined RTGS 20 000 each by a Kwekwe magistrate.
The six are:
1.Midlands province Youth Chair Sekai ‘Muchaina’ Marashe
Clr Melody Chingarande 3.Clr Washington Moyo 4.Cde Lovemore Savanhu 5.Cde Tinashe Nyamushosho 6.Cde Leonard Musemwa
It is clear that the latest move by the state is meant to deter other young people from questioning Emmerson Mnangagwa’s corrupt military dictatorship.
As the MDC Alliance Youth Assembly we maintain that our comrades are innocent.
This is another case in point of persecution by by prosecution of opposition members by the junta.
#OneMillionCampaign
YouthVoices4Change
Stephen Sarkozy Chuma MDC Alliance Youth_Assembly National Spokesperson _
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
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
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
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
The Thokozani Khupe led MDC’s congress scheduled for Saturday tomorrow has been postponed indefinitely, due to lack of a quorum and following squabbles over the voters roll. This was as the Secretary General Douglas Mwonzora was accused of tampering with the electoral roll. Efforts to obtain a comment from him were fruitless at the time of writing as his phone kept ringing without being answered. At the time of broadcasting, none of the top leadership were picking up their calls just as Khupe herself briefly answered and then quickly disengaged. Her compatriot Elias Mudzuri responded saying he did not want to speak. “Why don’t you talk to the others,” he said. Video loading below…
By A Correspondent- Four men assaulted and robbed a motorist who had parked his vehicle to fix two tyre punctures at night.
The motorist was robbed of an unknown amount of cash in the form of South African rands, United States dollars as well as bond notes and groceries.
National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said the incident occurred on Thursday night along the Masvingo-Beitbridge Road.
He said: On the night of 17/12/20, a motorist parked his motor vehicle along the Masvingo-Beitbridge road when it had developed two same side tyre punctures which he failed to fix.
He was then approached by four men who assaulted and robbed him of his cash in the form of SA rands, US dollars and Zim dollars plus various groceries.
In another incident, police in Beitbridge arrested a group of 40 cross borders who were trying to illegally gain entry into the country from South Africa through undesignated points.
This comes as hundreds of Zimbabweans reportedly cross the border illegally daily to buy groceries or seek medical attention in South Africa.
Some of the border jumpers will be returning home for Christmas but the fear is that uncontrolled cross-border human traffic may spread the coronavirus, with Zimbabwe’s dilapidated public health system not in a position to cope with high infection rates.
In a statement, Ass Com Nyathi warned members of the public against entering or exiting the country through illegal points.
The Combined Harare Residents Association (CHRA) is shocked by Harare City Council Acting Mayor’s decision to reinstate senior Council employees who had been arrested on allegations of corruption.
The circus that is being perpetuated at Town House is a mockery to principles of good governance and accountability.
The Acting Harare Mayor Councilor Mukunguma wrote a letter on the 17th of December to call upon the suspended Town Clerk, Hosiah Chisango stating that, ‘due to exigency of work and the demands of the office of the Town clerk you are hereby notified to proceed with your work in your capacity as the Town Clerk’.
The reasons proffered by the Acting Mayor are not justifiable and this is a sad demonstration of lack of seriousness in terms of dealing with corruption.
It does not make sense to reinstate an employee who has not been proven innocent in the court of law.
In addition, the reinstatement is likely to lead to interference with investigations on the alleged matters.
The Acting Mayor Mukunguma is offside and needs to be reigned in. The office of the Mayor of Harare is ceremonial and the decision to reinstate the Town Clerk, Hosiah Chisango can only be done through a council resolution.
CHRA is also concerned with the interference of the Harare Provincial Development Coordinator, Mr Muguti, who has jumped in to give a directive to Council on this matter. Our concern arises from the fact that Chapter 14 of the Zimbabwean Constitution is clear on the structural composition of provincial councils and the PDC is not part of that structural composition.
We reiterate that the PDC should not assume a judicial position as the member of the executive arm of the state.
This is against the doctrine of separation of power and the oversight role of the local authorities according to the law which comes from the Minister of Local Government.
As CHRA we are aware that the current chaos at Town House is caused by factional politics from MDC.
These are machinations aimed at imposing a commission on the residents of Harare, which will cripple representative democracy.
CHRA implores the implementation of devolution in the Constitution of Zimbabwe with a clear structural composition which has the authority to make decisions for Local Authorities when such chaos resurge.
Two National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) employees were killed while seven others were injured when a train derailed in Bulawayo early on Friday.
The accident happened in Redbank, 30km from Bulawayo close to the highway to Victoria Falls after sand was dumped on the railway tracks following heavy rains.
Nyasha Maravanyika, the NRZ spokesman said the goods train travelling to Bulawayo was carrying coal, coming from Sawmills, a railway yard in Umguza district, Matabeleland North. He said:
The derailment happened just after midnight. The accident was caused by sand that covered the railroad level crossing following heavy rains. This caused our locomotive to go off track.
Maravanyika expressed sorrow over the fatal accident and noted that fatalities from goods train accidents were very rare.
One of the dead men has been named as Tawanda Makombe, the vice-chairman of the Bulawayo Volleyball Association.
Eleven NRZ employees were onboard at the time of the incident.
By A Correspondent| A young lawyer Freddy Masirirevu has joined the initiative to educate other fellow men to fight Gender based Violence.
Zimbabwe joined the rest of the world in commemorating 16 days of activism against Gender Based Violence.
On Friday the young lawyer mobilised scores of young people to denounce those who use their political muscles to abuse women.
With placards written “Power is temporary but humanity is permanent”
Speaking to this publication Masirirevu said that the march comes at a time when certain individuals where manipulating the sytem of the country to abuse women.
“Gender based violence is broad and it doesn’t happen in a domestic set up but sometimes in work places and some political connected people are also abusing women using the systems of the government something which should stop
Everyone was born from the womb of a women and those people should be respected rather than abusing them,” Masirirevu said.
Vice President Constantino Chiwenga’s estranged wife, Marry Mubaiwa who is being vehemently denied of her travel documents to get treatment for a skin ailment that she is battling which she believes emanated from the Bulawayo bomb attack three years ago.
She has currently made an urgent High Court application to have her passport released following the callous treatment she is allegedly receiving from the State.
All this drama is unfolding and affecting women who are deemed anti-establishment yet we have a government that claims to respect human rights
Earlier this year MDC trio of Netsai Marova, Cecilia Chimbiri and legislator Joana Mamombe were allegedly abducted and tortured but however the girls were later accused of communicating falsehoods
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”.
Masvingo magistrate on Friday acquitted Obert Masaraure of ARTUZ but shockingly convicted his co-accused Sheila for participating in a gathering with intention to cause public violence. She will be sentenced on Monday.
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.
The Fifa’s The Best awards ceremony was held on Thursday with Robert Lewandowski of Bayern Munich crowned the Player of the Year.
Lewandowski beat the competition of Juventus’ Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Mess of Barcelona, who won it last year, to scoop the honour.
Jurgen Klopp of Liverpool became the first manager to win two consecutive Coach of the Year awards. He ended the Reds’ 30-year wait for a Premier League title and amassed a club-record 99 points.
Son Heung-min won the 2020 Puskás Award for his goal against Burnley while Manuel Neuer of Bayern Munich picked the Men’s Goalkeeper of the Year gong.
Here is the complete list of winners:
The Best FIFA Men’s Player: Robert Lewandowski (Poland / FC Bayern München)
The Best FIFA Women’s Player: Lucy Bronze (England / Olympique Lyonnais / Manchester City WFC)
The Best FIFA Men’s Goalkeeper: Manuel Neuer (Germany / FC Bayern München)
The Best FIFA Women’s Goalkeeper Sarah Bouhaddi (France / Olympique Lyonnais)
The Best FIFA Men’s Coach: Jürgen Klopp (Germany / Liverpool FC)
The Best FIFA Women’s Coach: Sarina Wiegman (Netherlands / Dutch national team)
FIFA Puskás Award: Son Heung-min (KOR) – Tottenham Hotspur FC v. Burnley FC [Premier League – England] (7 December 2019)
FIFA Fan Award 2020: Marivaldo Da Silva (Sport Recife, Brazil) – Walks 60 kilometres to watch Sport Recife home matches.
FIFA Fair Play Award: Mattia Agnese (Ospedaletti, Italy) – For saving the life of an opponent who had lost consciousness following a clash of heads.
FIFA FIFPRO Men’s World XI: Alisson, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Virgil van Dijk, Sergio Ramos, Alphonso Davies, Joshua Kimmich, Kevin De Bruyne, Thiago Alcantara, Lionel Messi, Robert Lewandowski, Cristiano Ronaldo.
The announcement of the Aston Villa team news for last night’s Premier League clash with Burnley was met with cheers from the Zimbabwe football-loving public.
For the first time this season, Warriors star Marvelous Nakamba was named in Dean Smith’s starting eleven in the absence of Brazilian Douglas Luiz.
The 26-year-old former Club Brugge man has endured a tough start to the 2020/21 campaign and before being introduced seconds before the end of the 1-0 win over Wolves last week, he had only played 13 minutes of Premier League football this term.
His buddy, devoted Warriors fan Alvin Zhakata, even took a WhatsApp screenshot of statuses as many Zimbabwean reacting to the soft-spoken midfielder’s first start in the English top-flight.
This was the opportunity many prayed he would get; did he fully grab it though?
It was a game Aston Villa perhaps should have won had they taken the numerous chances which fell their way.
“Relatively quiet for Nakamba, who was bypassed by Burnley on their counters as they opted to go other and around him – rather than through. Better used in a game where Villa may be on the back-foot. Did well to block a Ben Mee header – but the play resulted in a foul on the Villa man anyway. Had to cover far too much space to be as effective as he can be. Made up well for his own error, getting back to help Hause. Arguably it should not have occurred in the first place though,” wrote Birmingham Mail’s James Rushton in giving the Zimbabwean a match rating of 5 out of 10.
While Rushton’s ratting might have been a bit harsh considering that Nakamba made a total 21/24 accurate passes and won 2/5 duels and was never disposed of the ball, it’s still a difficult to tell if he really did enough to earn another start in the next game, a trip to West Brom on Sunday.
Matt Maher, the Chiefs Sports Writer at Express & Star had a different view of how Nakamba performed.
“The multiple absentees meant first Premier League starts of the season for Kortney Hause, Ahmed Elmohamady, Marvelous Nakamba and last Saturday’s match-winner Anwar El Ghazi.
Nakamba and Hause in particular performed admirably though El Ghazi, despite plenty of willing running, wasted numerous excellent chances. So too did Bertrand Traore with Jack Grealish, otherwise outstanding in a central role, on occasion guilty of not being greedy enough,” he wrote.-Soccer 24
The English FA has charged Edinson Cavani with misconduct over an Instagram post containing a Spanish phrase which can be interpreted as being offensive.
The 33-year-old Uruguay international made the comment in response to a message of congratulations for his heroics in the 3-2 win at Southampton on Sunday. He came off the bench to score a brace and assisted Bruno Fernandes for the other goal in the comeback victory at Southampton on Sunday.
He has until January 4 to respond to the charge.
A statement from the FA read: “Edinson Cavani has been charged with misconduct for a breach of FA Rule E3, in relation to a social media post on Thursday 29 November 2020.
“It is alleged that, contrary to FA Rule E3.1, a comment posted on the Manchester United FC player’s Instagram page was insulting and/or abusive and/or improper and/or brought the game into disrepute.
“It is further alleged that the comment constitutes an ‘Aggravated Breach’, which is defined in FA Rule E3.2, as it included a reference, whether express or implied, to colour and/or race and/or ethnic origin.
“The striker has until Monday 4 January 2021 to provide a response to the charge.”-Soccer 24
Nakamba Marvelous Nakamba put on an average performance on his first start in the EPL this season.
The midfielder started in Aston Villa’s goalless draw against Burnely on Thursday night and played the entire ninety minutes. He was used from the bench in all the previous games of the campaign and the opportunity came after the suspension of Douglas Luiz and the injury of Ross Barkley.
Nakamba, who had the least number of touches (32) of any outfield player featured for the entire game, got a rating of 6/10. He made a total 21/24 accurate passes and won 2/5 duels.
The Zimbabwean also completed three recoveries and one headed clearance.-Soccer 24
Tinashe Sambiri|Recalled MDC Alliance John Nyamhoka says he will not abandon the people’s struggle.
Nyamhoka described Thokozani Khupe and Douglas Mwonzora as hopeless political turncoats.
See statement below :
Statement by Councillor John Nyamhoka after being recalled by Khupe cabal
I have received a letter of recalling me by the so called MDC T under their bogus president is Thokozani Khupe.
I want to make it very clear that I will never jump onto a dead train of misguided elements who think power is about money.
When I was voted into power as ward 17 Councillor I used MDC Alliance ticket of which I’m proudly a member. I have no time to listen or follow the Covid-19 judgment by a certain Judge who take orders from Zanu PF.
The only reasons for recalling me is my loyalty to the People’s Party which is MDC Alliance, for not being trapped into Zanu PF agenda and for standing for the people who gave their trust to me.
Mwonzora and Khupe are anti development. They have Zanu PF DNA of trying to fix the people of Zimbabwe. By recalling me they think they are fixing me yet they are fixing the general populace of ward 17 who are over 35 thousand.
I will stand with the people, I will stand with MDC Alliance and I will remain loyaly to President Advocate Pastor Nelson Chamisa.
Yours in Struggle Councillor John Nyamhoka Ward 17
Tinashe Sambiri|The MDC Alliance Youth Assembly has strongly condemned the conviction of its officials in Midlands.
See full statement below :
18-12-2020
SIX MDC Alliance Midlands youth leaders who were convicted on trumped up charge of “participating in an unlawful demonstration” today were fined RTGS 20 000 each by a Kwekwe magistrate.
The six are:
1.Midlands province Youth Chair Sekai ‘Muchaina’ Marashe
Clr Melody Chingarande 3.Clr Washington Moyo 4.Cde Lovemore Savanhu 5.Cde Tinashe Nyamushosho 6.Cde Leonard Musemwa
It is clear that the latest move by the state is meant to deter other young people from questioning Emmerson Mnangagwa’s corrupt military dictatorship.
As the MDC Alliance Youth Assembly we maintain that our comrades are innocent.
This is another case in point of persecution by by prosecution of opposition members by the junta.
#OneMillionCampaign
YouthVoices4Change
Stephen Sarkozy Chuma MDC Alliance Youth_Assembly National Spokesperson _
Rainy season brings lot of fun, greenery and cool climate with it. However, it also invites lot of health disorders as well. Dealing with such illnesses associated with rainy season is not very difficult. You should be aware of certain quick remedies if you cope with such illnesses due to rainy season. Parents of small children need to be extra-careful during rainy season to prevent such disorder. Read on to know more about it.
Rainy season comes with lot of fun, excitement and along with it there are host of infections that are prevalent during this season. People should be aware of these problems so that they can take necessary precautions during this season. The most common illness is related to respiratory system and water and food borne diseases cannot be overlooked.
Cold and flu are common illness that is found in rainy season and this is usually due to fluctuation in the temperature. If you are a student, a working citizen or a mom, you need to protect yourself from these illnesses and prevent from getting sick.
When rain starts pouring in, you first look for a shelter and try to save yourself from getting drenched. However, a shelter can save you from getting wet in rain but it will not protect you from catching any kind of infection. This is especially when your immune system is very low.
Common Illness caused During Rainy Season
Dengue Cold Flu Food infection Water infection Cholera
Leptospirosos is caused by bacteria that can be carried either by a human or some animal. Its severe form can damage kidney, liver, meningitis and respiratory failure.
Precautions During Rainy Season
Keep Rain Gear With you Always – The most effective thing that you can do is to keep your rain gear always ready when you go out in rainy season. A raincoat with hooded jacket and waterproof shoes are the best items.
Vitamin C – Increasing the intake of Vitamin C either in natural form or as food supplement will help you drive away the cold virus faster. It is still a matter of debate among doctors whether Vitamin C is cure for cold. However, a healthy supply of this vitamin will activate your antibodies and reduce the severity of cold, undoubtedly.
Shower After Being Caught in Rain – Although it sounds very unusual because if you are drenched in rain, you will never want to take another shower. But taking a shower after you have been caught in rain will protect you from many infections.
Hot Drinks – After you come back home caught in a rain, take a shower, dry yourself and wear dry and clean clothes. The best thing is to make a hot soup for yourself or at least drink a cup of hot milk. This will help you from catching cold or save you from catching any kind of infection that can occur due to sudden change in the temperature of the body.
Cleanliness – Cleanliness is very important during rainy season. Even if you catch a cold, you should clean your hands regularly and use a sanitizer always after that.
Drink Plenty of Water – Water intake may reduce naturally because of the sudden drop in the temperature of the environment. It is good to drink plenty of water and do not wait to get thirsty to drink water. This will help you drain toxins from your body.
Watch your Intake – Try to eat nutritious food and avoid eating out during rainy season. Prepare meal with full precaution and maintain health and hygiene throughout the house.
It is very important to keep yourself protected during the rainy season because you can catch infection frequently. It is always better to take precautions and be prepared whenever you go out of your home
Credit: Bangkok Hospital
Inserted by Zimbabwe Online Health Centre
For more information follow /like our Facebook page :Zimbabwe Online Health Centre
Tinashe Sambiri|Recalled MDC Alliance John Nyamhoka says he will not abandon the people’s struggle.
Nyamhoka described Thokozani Khupe and Douglas Mwonzora as hopeless political turncoats.
See statement below :
Statement by Councillor John Nyamhoka after being recalled by Khupe cabal
I have received a letter of recalling me by the so called MDC T under their bogus president is Thokozani Khupe.
I want to make it very clear that I will never jump onto a dead train of misguided elements who think power is about money.
When I was voted into power as ward 17 Councillor I used MDC Alliance ticket of which I’m proudly a member. I have no time to listen or follow the Covid-19 judgment by a certain Judge who take orders from Zanu PF.
The only reasons for recalling me is my loyalty to the People’s Party which is MDC Alliance, for not being trapped into Zanu PF agenda and for standing for the people who gave their trust to me.
Mwonzora and Khupe are anti development. They have Zanu PF DNA of trying to fix the people of Zimbabwe. By recalling me they think they are fixing me yet they are fixing the general populace of ward 17 who are over 35 thousand.
I will stand with the people, I will stand with MDC Alliance and I will remain loyaly to President Advocate Pastor Nelson Chamisa.
Yours in Struggle Councillor John Nyamhoka Ward 17
SIX MDC Alliance Midlands youth leaders who were convicted on trumped up charge of “participating in an unlawful demonstration” today were fined RTGS 20 000 each by a Kwekwe magistrate.
The six are:
1.Midlands province Youth Chair Sekai ‘Muchaina’ Marashe
Clr Melody Chingarande 3.Clr Washington Moyo 4.Cde Lovemore Savanhu 5.Cde Tinashe Nyamushosho 6.Cde Leonard Musemwa
It is clear that the latest move by the state is meant to deter other young people from questioning Emmerson Mnangagwa’s corrupt military dictatorship.
As the MDC Alliance Youth Assembly we maintain that our comrades are innocent.
This is another case in point of persecution by by prosecution of opposition members by the junta.
#OneMillionCampaign
YouthVoices4Change
Stephen Sarkozy Chuma MDC Alliance Youth_Assembly National Spokesperson _
Impala Car Rental chief executive officer, Mr Thompson Dondo has once again stretched his philanthropic hand after he donated ZWL$500 000 to Mr Nhamo Magwizi whose house was razed to the ground during the recent demolitions in Budiriro.
Mr Dondo yesterday braved the early morning showers to visit a visibly distraught Mr Magwizi at his demolished house to lend his supporting hand.
In the midst of incessant early morning rains, Mr Dondo sat down in the open with Mr Magwizi asking him what assistance he needed.
Seated in his wheelchair and socking in the rains, the 42 year-old Mr Magwizi was clearly at loss of words: “Hupenyu for me hwatoita upside down. I dont even know what to do. I am thinking of building one room and a toilet, but you never know they will come back again to destroy our houses.
“I am hoping if we cant stay here, the authorities will find somewhere to put us. Our situation is terrible.
“My aim was to make sure my family has somewhere to stay. A roof over their heads.
Handichatozivi ndodii. Hapana chaedza chandiri kuona pazvinhu zvese izvi. Others are saying ngatishingirirei zvichaita but I am not sure about that
“The inconvenience is just too much. All i want at the moment is just one room and a toilet for me to use.”
Mr Magwizi who is married and has two children said after the demolitions, he has been staying with one of his friends in Budiriro while his family has moved to Kadoma.
Mr Dondo said he would transfer the 500 000 into Mr Magwizi’s account “tomorrow morning without fail.”
“I saw your story on social media and ndakanzwa tsitsi. It’s raining and you are a disbled man with a family. My heart sank and I said I have to do something for you in the immediate.
“I will transfer 500 000 into your account tomorrow. I dont think building another one room and toilet here is a good idea. Nyatsofungai exactly what you want to do next,” advised Mr Dondo.
Mr Magwizi works for the Ministry of Health and Childcare as an accountant.
“If people accept you, you find it easy to accept yourself and live a normal life. As I am I have a driver’s licence.
“Chandinonyanyo kushuvira ndechekuti mudzimai wangu accepted me as I am. My wish is that she stays at a comfortable place. That is why I went out of my way to secure a stand here. I want her to live comfortably.
“When the demolitions took place, I was not around. I received a phone call from some of my neighbours and relatives. I was fortunate that these neighbours and relatives managed to remove my property from the house before it was demolished. After the demolitions they also managed to save some of my bricks.
“I really thought I had sorted issues to do with accomodation. At first we paid US 300 then monthly subscriptions of US 22. We stopped paying subscription in 2013 when we discovered that something was wrong.
“I thought ndawanawo pekuisa mhuri. I am growing up and so anything can happen to me. I dont want to leave my kids with nowhere to stay.
“I was really, really hurt because I thought I had fulfilled one of my dreams to provide accommodation for my family.
It’s expensive to build a house in this environment. Things are expensive so our money has gone to waste
My family was also very hurt. If something is to happen to me they will be homeless.
“I want to thank you Mr Dondo and Impala Car Rental for this assistance. Mwari akukomborerei,” said Mr Magwizi.
As Mr Dondo was about to leave, he asked Mr Magwizi whether he wanted to be driven back to town and the response he got was touching enough to crush any man’s heart.
“No ndosara zvangu pano ndione kuti ndodii,” said Mr Magwizi as the rains continued pounding.
This was not Mr Dondo’s first time to extend such a helping hand to the needy.
His company, Impala Car Rental is well-known for its corporate social responsibility, that has seen several artists and needy people in communities benefiting.
Musicians such as Jah Prayzah, Suluman Chimbetu, Shiga Shiga, Selmor Mtukudzi, Allan Chimbetu and DJs like Zobha and Bridget Gavanga and many others have benefited from Mr Dondo’s philanthropic work.
Some of his philanthropic work is seen through the Alfred Dondo Foundation. The foundation has more than 60 children that it caters for in terms of paying school fees and buying uniforms.
Most of these children are from Chivhu (Mr Dondo rural home) but now the foundation is looking after children from all over the country. Last year, the foundation worked with South African superstar Nasty C to raise funds for the less privileged.
Impala Car Rental General Manager, Ms Viola Chirata recently said: “By nature Mr Dondo is a giver. He is someone who is into giving.”
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
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.
“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.”
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:
By A Correspondent- Malawi has been named the country of the year for “reviving democracy in an authoritarian region” by the Economist newspaper.
The Economist cites the nullification of the 2019 election by judges who cited irregularities and ordered a rerun that was won by the 65-year-old Lazarus Chakwera after he secured 58.57 per cent of the vote beating the incumbent Peter Mutharika.
The Economist reports:
The vote-count was rigged with correction fluid on the tally sheets. Foreign observers cynically approved it anyway. Malawians launched mass protests against the ‘Tipp-Ex election.
The publication also says Freedom House’s report that democracy and respect for human rights regressed in 80 countries between the start of the pandemic and September but only improved in Malawi.
The Economist further reports that although Malawi is still poor, its people are treated as citizens, not subjects.
This comes after reports of gross human rights violations in Zimbabwe, a claim which the state denies.
Zimbabwe’s opposition and human rights defenders claim the state has been infringing human rights by kidnapping and torturing government critics.
Authorities, however, say the allegations are being raised by individuals sponsored by “the enemy of the state” to soil the image of the Southern African country.
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.
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.
President Museveni yesterday re-appointed his son Muhoozi Kainerugaba, a Lieutenant General, to command Uganda’s Special Forces Command (SFC). SFC is an elite unit responsible for the security of the Ugandan President, his immediate family and vital national installations such as oil fields.
He also tapped Maj Gen Paul Lokech as the new deputy Inspector General of Police (IGP) in a raft of changes that affected some ranks of the army and the police force.
Maj Gen Lokech, a battle-hardened Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) commander, replaces Maj Gen Muzeyi Sabiiti, who until his deployment as deputy IGP 33 months ago, deputised Lt Gen Muhoozi as the commander of the Special Forces Command (SFC).
Maj Gen Sabiiti was recalled to the army general headquarters, pending deployment, in the mini-reshuffle that the Defence and Military spokesperson, Brig Flavia Byekwaso, last evening referred to as “normal changes”.
As the Commander-in-Chief, the President has the power, sometimes with the advice of the army leadership, to appoint or designate any military officer to any command positions any time without giving reasons for the choices.
Yet, the tone of President Museveni in yesterday’s radio message was starkly different: a warning to future protestors, a rebuke of the police and an expression of his displeasure with the force’s personnel.
Bobi Wine protests
“I congratulate the UPDF for defeating the insurrection that the traitors, with their foreign backers, attempted to stage a few weeks ago,” he said, in reference to the November 18 and 19 protests over the arrest of presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi, aka Bobi Wine.
At least 54 people were killed, the police and Mr Museveni announced days later, with many of the victims succumbing to gunshot wounds after armed men in civilian clothing fanned out to subdue the two-day disturbances as police appeared restrained.
The President noted: “The police force must be made to do its duty of defending Ugandans from lawlessness, threat to life and property. Any police person that does not do this must leave the police. There are thousands ready to replace them.”
Maj Gen Sabiiti and Lt Gen Muhoozi joined the military at the same time, in the famous Intake 6 of May 1999, and many in that cohort comparably rose through the ranks faster and now occupy key UPDF command positions.
Maj Denis Omara, the SFC spokesman, yesterday said Lt Gen Muhoozi’s return to superintend the Special Forces is significant because modernisation of the Special Forces was brainchild of the First Son.
“As a former commander, he will fit in well and enable us achieve some of the things SFC needed since he pioneered our modernisation,” Maj Omara said.
Placing son at helm significant
Lt Gen Muhoozi’s return on an election eve to command SFC while doubling as Senior Presidential Adviser on Special Operations, is significant as it places him at the helm of Uganda’s most sensitive security operations, high-value military assets and specialised branches such as marines, airforce, paratroopers and artillery brigades.
Highly-placed sources told this newspaper that the rebound of the First Son to mainstream military leadership, after nearly three years on the sidelines, may be to prepare him for other possible assignments.
Lt Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, 46, joined the army in 1999.
Training
He did a cadet course at Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in Britain.Upon his return to Uganda in 2000, Lt Gen Muhoozi joined the Presidential Protecion Unit as 2nd Lieutenant and in 2001, he was promoted to the rank of Major.
He later went to Fort Leavenworth in the US and upon his return, he was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel.
He has been influential in the training and formation of the Special Forces.
He has also trained in South Africa, Egypt, and Israel.
Gen Muhoozi commanded a unit of Special Forces during Operation Lighting Thunder in 2008 against the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) rebels in DR Congo.
He has also been in the planning and overseeing of Special Forces operations in South Sudan and Somalia. Sources close to him say he was passionate about the military even while young and that is why he chose to serve.
Report by Risdel Kasasira, Andrew Bagala and Derrick Wandera
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.
Masvingo magistrate court has acquitted @omasaraure but has shockingly convicted Cde Sheila for participating in a gathering with intention to cause public violence.The peaceful 22 June protest being termed violent? Sentencing at 2pm.We will appeal against sentence & conviction. pic.twitter.com/pSDdscbEHw
— Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe,ARTUZ (@ARTUZ_teachers) December 18, 2020
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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| Airlink, the independent regional airline, will launch a convenient new non-stop service between Cape Town and Harare from 18 January 2021 – its latest in a series of new and resumed routes across its Southern African network.
It will satisfy demand for direct flights between the two cities and follows the lifting of travel restrictions that previously curtailed travel between the neighboring countries while they both worked to successfully contain the spread of the Coronavirus.
“Airlink is excited to be launching this important new route, which will provide convenience to business and leisure travellers, saving them precious hours transferring via Johannesburg and also limiting their exposure to potential touch-points, which is a key consideration as we adjust our travelling habits during the COVID-19 pandemic. Airlink’s unique service on the route will also support trade, commerce and tourism between the two cities and their respective markets at a time when it is desperately needed,” said Airlink CEO, Rodger Foster.
Our north-bound flights will depart from Cape Town during the mid-morning, with the south-bound flight leaving Harare in the mid-afternoon. The schedule provides travellers with seamless connectivity with Airlink’s full service flights linking Cape Town with other South African destinations.
Airlink’s great value for money Economy Class fares include a 20kg free economy class checked in luggage allowance plus a 15kg sporting equipment allowance. Onboard, our customers are treated to a complimentary light meal, refreshments, generous leg room and a choice of aisle or window seat (our flights do not have middle seats).
ZBC news anchor Lee Ann Bernard has come under fire for mocking Zimbos in the diaspora after she posted a picture depicting a maid abroad and what they look like when they come back home. Do you think that her tweet was a mockery or people are just being too sensitive?
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:
Yeaaa now I believe what they always say kuti kana wapiwa face nemagaro zvimwe unozvionera ??
Eye it’s very true asi ka Inzwa Ndikatanga basa ma 8am by lunch time tinokutambirisai atete tikasara ne change hence why we don’t need to twerk for politicians !
Kana tiri ku double shift it’s a double hatisi kushandisa zviwuno
You must get out of your bubble and travel! Those days are gone! Zimboz are running tings here! Big tings! We send US$1Billion annually to Zimbabwe,sustaining the economy! Tambirai ma RTGS makanyarara ???
This is wrong There are many people out there who are doing very well and there are also people in Zimbabwe who are doing well There is an element of hate in that pic
You have an exaggerated opinion of yourself.This is an exceedingly condescending tweet. It is lack of good sense coming from someone people claim works for a national broadcaster. Taking umbrage at this feeds into your desired outcome from this tweet so I personally wont do that pic.twitter.com/FBiEU5SorE
Disgusting coming from someone making a living off reading LIES everyday. What's the hatred of people making honest living. Life is about choices. Show some decency. Normal work, providing for our families. Remember it comes with not worrying about where the next meal comes from.
Regardless of how deplorable diaspora jobs can be, they can never match those who risk their health hoping from one married men to the other as long he is settling the bills! You have no moral justification to mock other people’s hussle like this!
My household helper earns US$400 per month. I know many in Zim (including those reading news at ZBC) earning less than US$40 per month. It’s not what you do…it’s what you earn!!!
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.
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.
MAPUTO. — Mozambican President Filipe Nyusi said on Wednesday the government was aware of Islamic radicalisation in the northern province of Cabo Delgado five years before jihadists launched a bloody insurgency there.
More than 2 300 people have died and over 570 000 have fled their homes since a shadowy group, known locally as Al-Shabab, unleashed their campaign in the gas-rich province.
In a state-of-the-nation address to lawmakers, Nyusi revealed the identity of the group’s purported leaders and details about their organisation’s rise.
“The radicalisation was promoted by a citizen of Tanzanian nationality identified as Abdul Shakulo,” he said.
“He urged disobedience to the constitution, banned Muslim children from attending (state) schools and required them to attend madrasas, or Koranic schools,” he said.
“The criminal activities of these groups, who called themselves Islamists, started in 2012. The government of Mozambique already knew (of them) in 2012 and managed to contain their expansion until 2017.”
In 2017, the jihadists attacked three police posts in the city of Mocimboa da Praia, killing two police officers.
Since then, the group carried out more than 500 attacks, according to ACLED, a US-based NGO which documents the violence.
Government forces have failed to contain their advance.
But Nyusi said many of the movement’s leaders have been killed in combat and the government was committed to equipping and training its troops to overcome the insurgency.
“We Mozambicans need to develop our capabilities internally. We will be the ones who will be in the first line of defence of our homeland. The government will do everything to make this process happen,” he said.
Nyusi added that the leadership of the group was “mostly foreign” and named five men who he said had been killed in fighting the security forces.
“Among the terrorists killed in combat, there are citizens of Tanzanian origin, Congolese, Somalis, Ugandans, Kenyans and mostly Mozambicans,” he said.
A number of countries have been offering aid to Mozambique to fight the jihadists, including the former colonial ruler Portugal, the United States, France, Spain and Russia, Nyusi said.
“We are intensifying international cooperation to combat terrorism,” he said, adding that the various proposals were being assessed to ensure a coordinated strategy.
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.
Today, the MDC Alliance will host a presser on the State of Local Govt including threats & opportunities. Citizens deserve a functional public service delivery system. The dysfunction of councils must be attacked at its root. The people must come first. Devolution is urgent. pic.twitter.com/dzT5ighsxm
The mayor of Zambia’s capital, Lusaka, has stirred a bit of controversy by planning to hold his wedding in a stadium in the city while the coronavirus measures say weddings should be limited to 50 people.
But Miles Sampa defended his decision on BBC Focus on Africa radio by saying that it wasn’t his choice but “the people of Lusaka told me that they wanted to attend the wedding”.
His said that a pre-wedding event at his home was mobbed by hundreds of people.
To avoid overcrowding, he has decided to hold the wedding ceremony and reception in the stadium the day after Christmas and let people in on a first-come-first-serve basis.
He added that coronavirus safety measures would be in place.
Answering criticism that he could delay the nuptials he said: “I’m not going to wait until corona disappears – my bride might run away!”
Air Zimbabwe, the national airline of Zimbabwe, has announced its special festive season flights from Harare to Victoria Falls.
The flights are as follows:
Mon 21 December Wed 23/30 December Thu 24/31 December Sun 27 December Sat 02 January Flight fares are as follows:
USD315 return USD180 one way (subject to availability) Payments can also be made in RTGS. The national airline also indicated that there is up to 40kg baggage allowance.
It also stated that there is a senior citizens discount. Added the airline:
Our flights HRE/VFA/HRE depart HRE at 0830hrs and VFA at1550hrs on 21, 23, 24, 27, 30, 31 December and 3 January.
Meanwhile, the minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development, Joel Biggie Matiza, has said the national carrier is planning to introduce China and London routes in a bid to turn around the embattled national airline.
Those interested can book online at airzimbabwe.aero
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
