Tinashe Sambiri|The MDC Alliance has launched an initiative to raise funds for the welfare of jailed party members.

See statement below:

Machinja aneRudo let’s show our love and help our incarcerated brothers. Together we can.

The ecocash number to use for donations is +26378 298 7718
The number is registered under the name of Daniel Molokele

For bank account payments; the details are as follows:

F.D. MOLOKELA-TSIYE
POSB Esteem Account
Harare Showgrounds branch
Account number – 500 003 179 206

MDC Alliance

According to the Progressive Teachers Union(PTUZ), Over 10 000 teachers reportedly resigned from their jobs between September and December 2020.

This was revealed in a statement by PTUZ president Takavafira Zhou who in a statement said even those who did not resign in 2020 have mentally resigned from the job:

Another driving force has been failure by government to prioritise the health and safety of teachers. Several teachers have decided to protect themselves and their families by leaving teaching. With the quantum leap of COVID-19 cases among teachers and pupils, there is danger that the resignation rate might exceed 20 000 by January 2021.

Worse still 99,9% of all remaining teachers have mentally resigned from the profession although they physically remain at their stations. This is a dangerous scenario for any profession and calls for urgent intervention by government in order to stabilise the situation and guarantee quality public education and skills revolution as envisaged in Agenda 2030.

Teachers have fallen from grace to grass because of government’s failure to restore their salary’s purchasing power parity pegged at US$520-US$550. The challenge in the education system also calls upon all teachers across the teacher unions’ divide to bury their differences and fight together as brothers and sisters for status restoration.

When contacted for comment Minister of Primary and Secondary education Cain Mathema professed ignorance on the matter and said:

I am hearing that for the first time. I don’t know where he is getting his figures. I haven’t received such a report at the moment. I don’t belong to his organisation anyway, so I am in the dark. Maybe he knows better,

The government has been on a massive teacher recruitment drive this year due to the ongoing pandemic that dictates that social distancing regulations be observed to curb spreading the pandemic.-NewsDay

ZIMBABWE has recorded two more Covid-19 related deaths and 112 new cases in the last 24-hour cycle, bringing the total number of cases to 11 358.

The two deaths were recorded in Manicaland and Masvingo. So far, the total number of people who succumbed to the deadly virus now stands at 309 while the national recovery rate stands at 84,1 percent.

A total of 1 626 PCR tests were conducted on Monday and positivity was 6,9 percent. According to the Ministry of Health and Child Care, the 112 new cases are local with the highest number of 52 cases reported in Bulawayo followed by Matabeleland South, which had 24 new cases.

The Midlands recorded 14 new cases while Masvingo, Mashonaland West and Harare provinces recorded five cases each. Manicaland recorded four cases while Mashonaland Central has three new cases.

“As of December 14, 2020 Zimbabwe, has now recorded 11 358 confirmed cases, 9 554 recoveries and 309 deaths,” reads the statement.

“One hundred and three new recoveries were reported and the national recovery rate stands at 84,1percent and active cases are 1 495.”

So far, Bulawayo province has recorded 2 888 cases, 2 244 recoveries, 559 active cases and 85 deaths and Matabeleland South province has recorded 1 193 cases, 959 recoveries, 225 active cases and nine deaths while Matabeleland North has 463 cases, 341 recoveries, 119 active cases and three deaths.-Chronicle

SA recorded 10,008 new Covid-19 cases in the past 24 hours for the first time since August 1.

SA’s highest ever single-day increase in cases was on July 24, when 13,944 new infections were recorded.

Health minister Dr Zweli Mkhize said on Wednesday night that the new cases were at a positivity rate of 21%, more than double the “ideal rate” of 10%. There are now 883,687 total cases countrywide.

Mkhize said cases were “growing exponentially”.

He warned that additional restrictions could be put in place if the rise in cases continues.

“We continue to assess the entire country and, where we identify risks, we will engage and make a determination if further containment measures or restrictions are required.

“Today alone we’ve seen a significant increase in the daily numbers, with the Western Cape continuing to lead and now breaching the 3,000 mark for the first time this week. Seven other provinces reported increases today, while the Eastern Cape reported a decrease in their new cases today,” said Mkhize.

The minister also reported 166 new Covid-19 related deaths. Of these, 89 were in the Eastern Cape, 31 in the Western Cape, 25 in KwaZulu-Natal, 10 in Gauteng, nine in the Free State and two in Limpopo.

In total, 23,827 deaths have been recorded across the country.

The provinces were the biggest number of new infections in the past 24 hours were:

Western Cape — 3,233 cases;
KZN — 2,743 cases;
Gauteng — 1,795 cases;
Eastern Cape — 1,619 cases (the only province to show a decline in new infections, having recorded 1,956 cases on Tuesday);
North West — 182 cases;
Limpopo — 154 cases;
Mpumalanga — 146 cases;
Free State — 88 cases; and
Northern Cape — 56 cases.
Mkhize pleaded with South Africans to follow the health guidelines, and also stood by government’s decisions to shut certain beaches.

“We wish to commend all South Africans who heeded government’s call and complied with regulations by not going to the beaches. We know that although this has taken away time for enjoyment from our people, it will certainly contribute to curbing the spread of the virus. Our beaches are known for overcrowding during this time and people tend to be carefree.

“We urge people who will be going to the beach tomorrow and on days permitted, to ensure that it does not become a day of regret where people get infected and lives are lost. We plead with you to be responsible and protect yourself.

“We also note the various legal challenges that have been brought against government regarding the recent regulations. As health, we stand by the recommendations made to the [national coronavirus command council] which are well substantiated by evidence.

“We have every intention to oppose these applications as the department, and government’s mandate to protect the lives and health of our people remains paramount. We dare not neglect this responsibility by omitting to take the necessary actions to protect the health care system from being overwhelmed and collapsing, as we’ve seen in other countries,” said Mkhize.

TimesLIVE

Prosecutors’ claims that Harare mayor Jacob Mafume tried to bribe a key witness in his impending corruption trial, hit a snag when a ZRP cop on the case confessed to finding a paltry USD65 instead of the USD1000 he is accused of trying to bribe using.

A senior police officer admitted under cross-examination that Mafume had just US$65 when he was arrested, and an Econet number he was allegedly communicating with to set up the bribe was not registered to the witness.

Harare magistrate has since Ngoni Nduna postponed his ruling on Mafume’s bail application to Friday.

Prosecutors led by Constance Ngombengombe and Kudzai Chigwedere read out the latest charges against Mafume, accusing him of offering witness Edgar Dzehonye US$1,500 to change his testimony.

ZRP officer on the case, Joseph Sirihwindi laid reasons why he was opposed to granting bail to Mafume.

“He is now facing two charges as such he has high propensity to escape justice

“He is likely to interfere with witnesses since he has already shown the propensity,” he said. The State therefore said these were its compelling reasons for denying Mafume bail.

In his submissions however, Thabani Mpofu said the charges against his client were “as amateurish as they are ridiculous.”

He said the number which was cited in the form 242 did not belong to Dzehonye but to Dumda who in Mafume’s case was not a State witness.

“The State must say there are no conditions that can conceivably secure the interest of justice.

“There can be no doubt that this is a bodged trap gone bad

“There are no call records showing calls made by the accused to Dzehonye

“He never called Dzehonye but was called by Dumba the person he knows. A person whom the State has not taken a statement and a person the state accepts he was at the scene.

“The accused got to the car. And when he was talking to Dumba he was not aware that there was a person at the back seat and then he was apprehended.

“The cellphone number involved belongs to Dumba and not Dzehonye. Dzehonye has given a different cell number.

“There are lies your Worship, a tissue of them told about this number,” Mpofu said.

Chief Inspector Busani Ncube, who was arrested on allegations of illegally escorting 41kg gold ore from Jumbo Mine in Mazowe to Harare will know his fate today when the court makes a ruling on his bail application.

Through his lawyer Miss Portia Makurumure, Ncube argued that he was not a flight risk and was only a passenger in the car where the gold ore was found.

Prosecutor Mrs Idah Maromo opposed bail saying he was likely to abscond trial if freed on bail.

Plan Lanjisi and Trust Chiparatongo, who were in the same car with Ncube, admitted to their charges and will be sentenced today.

On Saturday, Ncube, Lanjisi and Chiparatongo were travelling in a Honda Fit from Jumbo Mine but attempted to evade the tollgate along the way, which raised the suspicion of soldiers guarding it.

Ncube, Lanjisi and Chiparatongo failed to explain why they wanted to evade the tollgate resulting in the soldiers asking to search the car. Ncube allegedly identified himself and told the soldiers not to search the car, as it was taking him home.

The court heard that the soldiers insisted on searching the car and found the gold ore. They recovered a pistol and seven rounds of ammunition from Ncube.

HARARE – Under-fire Harare prosecutor Tapiwa Kasema has reportedly gone on the run after he did not turn up for work, and police failed to locate him during raids on two addresses.

Prosecutor General Kumbirai Hodzi announced Thursday that Kasema had been suspended pending an investigation for consenting to bail for alleged armed robber Musa Taj Abdul, 47, and three others.

Police sources said detectives – acting on a corruption complaint by the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) – had been to the homes of Kasema and his mother, but failed to locate him.

Abdul was freed on Z$5,000 bail by the High Court on Wednesday after the NPA, represented by Kasema, consented to bail.

Government spokesman Ndavaningi Mangwana immediately criticised the ruling by Justice Benjamin Chikowero, observing that Abdul had been on the run for 20 years before his capture in Beitbridge following a shoot-out with police in August. He had been dubbed Zimbabwe’s “most wanted”.

Before the four suspects were freed from prison, police hit them with new charges. Abdul and his co-defendants Godfrey Mupamhanga, 27, Rudolf Tapiwa Kanhanga, 29, and Douglas Mutenda, 31, will appear in court on Friday facing the new charges.

The suspects face a string of armed robbery charges. Police say as many as 53 robberies have been linked to Abdul, although he had been charged with just two before Wednesday’s bail decision.

Source: Kukurigo

Notorious machete welding Shamva robbers were yesterday jailed to 10 years in prison by Bindura magistrate Tendai Chifamba.

Witness Makuni (34) and Mustafa Sitayela (35) will however spend 7 years 2 months after the magistrate conditionally suspended the sentence.

Prosecutor Vincent Marunya told the court that from February to March the convicts pounced on Shamva resident weilding machete assaulted them and robbed them of their valuables farming inputs, laptops and money.

Sitayela was then arrested on March 8 while illegally panning for gold in Shamva.

Investigations proved that he was facing 6 counts of assault and robbery.

He then implicated his accomplice Makuni who was arrested at a bus terminus.

Sitayela led police details to his wife Netsai Muzambi where they recovered two laptops.

ZANU PF cadres who may feel aggrieved by the outcome of the recently held District Coordinating Committee (DCC) polls can seek recourse through the appropriate party channels but must not use the media to air their grievances as that amounts to putting the name of the party into disrepute, President Mnangagwa said.

This comes as the governing party has dispatched teams to some areas around the country to gather views of some aggrieved persons as Zanu PF seeks to ensure that the aspirations of its members are fulfilled so as to entrench democracy.

In his address to the 347 ordinary session of the Politburo at the party headquarters in Harare yesterday, the Mnangagwa commended teams that supervised the DCC elections and also the candidates who campaigned in a peaceful and disciplined manner.

“Let me reiterate that the DCC structures and the elections thereof must unite the party and act as a springboard for entrenching our party’s revolutionary ideology, constitutionalism and strong grassroots mobilisation.

“Article 3 Section 20, subsection 2 enshrines the right of members to be elected to any office of the party, subject to the rules and regulations determined by the Central Committee; while subsection 7, gives members the right to seek remedy in respect to any grievances as a result of the action of any person in authority over him”.

As such the President added that any party cadres who may have grievances with the outcome of the DCC polls has a right to seek recourse through the relevant party channels.

“However, in doing so loyalty and discipline, as expressed through understanding and adherence of the party constitution, ethics and guiding principles must always be at the core.

“I therefor want to dissuade our members from using both the mainline and social media to express their grievances. Doing so, amounts to bringing the name of the party into disrepute”

ZANU-PF Gwanda South legislator Abednico Ncube could be the first one in trouble after he called for a rerun in the party’s Gwanda District Coordinating Committee (DCC) elections arguing that less than a quarter of members voted due to logistical issues.

In a statement issued to state media Ncube, who is also a member of the Politburo and Matabeleland South Provincial Affairs and Devolution Minister, said the outcome of the elections were not a true reflection of the people’s desires.

He said the statement made by Dr Sithembiso Nyoni who is the leader of the Matabeleland South voting process that elections had gone smoothly was not a true reflection of what transpired.

“The voting process for DCC members in particular in Gwanda District didn’t go well at all because a few people voted. Less than a quarter of people in the district voted and to say that the voting process went well will be misinforming the head office,” said Ncube.

“Gwanda South is composed of eight wards and out of those wards only one voted. The teams which had been deployed to facilitate the voting process on Saturday arrived as late as 2 or 4PM in some wards and many people had already left.

“They were then advised to go back on the following day but found a few people.

“Zanu-PF is a democratic party and in order for the DCC elections to be deemed successful people should be given a chance to vote in their numbers and select a leader they want.”

He said they had scrutinised names of candidates that applied for DCC posts and raised concerns about some of the names but their concerns were ignored.

Ncube alleged that some people were trying to destroy the party by imposing their own candidates. He said Gwanda District party members were committed towards defending the party, revolution and President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

“We are saying let’s have a re-run of DCC elections in Gwanda so that these anomalies can be corrected and people can vote for the leaders that they want. Let’s have elections being done correctly by having more people voting.

“Gwanda is a stronghold of the party and if we let slide such issues, we will cripple the party,” he said.

The Prosecutor-General Mr Kumbirai Hodzi has suspended prosecutor Tapiwa Kasema for consenting to granting of bail to four notorious armed robbers led by gang leader Musa Taj Abdul.

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 remained in custody as the four are facing fresh charges.

Chief Law Officer Mr Justin Uladi confirmed the suspension of Mr Kasema saying the matter has been referred to the police for investigations while they are preparing to launch an appeal against the High Court decision.

Before they could post bail money yesterday, police brought up fresh charges against the suspects and requested that they remain in custody pending their remand hearing on the new charges and further investigations.

The Harare teenager Tafadzwa Soropa, who has been missing since last Saturday afternoon and whose car was discovered dumped near the Mukuvisi river the following day, has been found. His brother speaks to ZimEye.com VIDEO

HARARE mayor Jacob Mafume today appeared in court on obstruction of course of justice or alternatively contempt of court for allegedly interfering with a key witness, Edgar Dzehonye, in another matter where he is facing criminal abuse of office.

The State led by Mrs Constance Ngombengombe and Mrs Kudzai Chigwedere opposed granting of his bail saying he was likely to interfere with witnesses and abscond trial.

The State called investigating officer Superintendent Joseph Sirihwini to substantiate its grounds of opposing bail.

Through his lawyer Advocate Thabani Mpofu, Mafume said he was prepared to deposit $30 000 as bail coupled with other conditions.

He appeared before magistrate Mr Ngoni Nduna.

By A Correspondent | The Murehwa based Makore family has announced a decision to bury their 7 year old Tapiwa without his head.

In a development many Zimbabweans suggested signals the secret hand of high profile persons in the murder, the Makore family has decided to give up on finding Tapiwa’s skull. Last month, several neighbours of key suspect, Mr Thanks Makore in Damafalls, Harare told ZimEye.com they witnessed police officers who arrested him receiving beer and food from the arrested suspect. (WATCH VIDEO BELOW)

Speaking on Friday afternoon, family spokesperson, Gogo Beaulah, said: “As a family we have decided to gi for burial. We have sat down; it is very heavy for us to bury the child without a head but there is nothing we can do; we are burdened. We hope that the police are going to assist us to find the child’s head.

“It is a very difficult thing we have looked at all sides of the matter… We looked at the father and mother for them to continue moaning… We don’t have a promise of when the child’s head is going to be found.”

Speaking to Tilda, she also responded on the issue of an order by the local chief who has declared that the lad should not be buried without his head. She said:

“We went back to the chief to update him and tell him that is a family we are now overburdened. Waiting for over 3-months the chief said that there is nothing he can do, and then he said we have waited for too long so I would draw my word barring the burial.”

She then added while announcing the date of burial saying:

“We have arranged for the 9th of January 2021 for burial; we are looking to all family members who have gone for holiday and those would be at work and we have found that date to be most appropriate and fitting.”

Tinashe Sambiri|The MDC Alliance has launched an initiative to raise funds for the welfare of jailed party members.

See statement below:

Machinja aneRudo let’s show our love and help our incarcerated brothers. Together we can.

The ecocash number to use for donations is +26378 298 7718
The number is registered under the name of Daniel Molokele

For bank account payments; the details are as follows:

F.D. MOLOKELA-TSIYE
POSB Esteem Account
Harare Showgrounds branch
Account number – 500 003 179 206

MDC Alliance

The brother to Finance Ministry Over Sec George Guvamatanga, Charles, has defended the COVID risky seating arrangement at RGM airport, saying "unopenga iwewe…if you get to the DO NOT SIT, the two seats will be for one person…" LIVE streaming on https://t.co/eY98GsdO0a pic.twitter.com/idFM3eQMuS

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) December 16, 2020

Tinashe Sambiri|President Nelson Chamisa has described the late veteran church leader, Rosemary Shumbambiri as a dedicated Christian who spent her life serving the Lord wholeheartedly.

Gogo Shumbambiri was married to the late Reverend Dr Shumbambiri of the Apostolic Faith Mission.

In a brief statement President Chamisa said :
At a farewell church service to honour a heroine of Faith, the late Gogo Shumbambiri who has gone to be with the Lord. Rest in Power Mupositori. You fought a good fight of faith.”

Sitembile Ndlovu Matemba, a Christian said:
“Aaaaaa shame ndivo vakatichatisa vose Nababa the late Shumbambiri. Surely the heaven has gained. They played a great role in my life. May Gogo rest in peace.

Clement Mawire wrote :
“So sad mama you are gone untimely.

May the good old lady rest in eternal power.You have been promoted to glory to join your beloved husband Dr Reverend Shumbambiri.

We will always miss you amai.To the Bindura Bethel Assembly that was solely formed by the Reverend- it’s such a huge blow.The couple changed my life.R.I.P mama.”

By A Correspondent- Deputy Harare Mayor, Luckson Mukunguma, who was arrested on Monday after a car chase in Victoria Falls and was  charged with criminal abuse of office, has been released on $10 000 bail.

Mukunguma yesterday appeared in the Tredgold Magistrate Court in Bulawayo for remand to Harare.

He will appear before the Harare Magistrate’s Court on January 15 next year.

As part of his bail conditions, the MDC-T councillor was ordered to surrender his passport, not to interfere with witnesses and to report twice a week at Warren Park Police Station.

The court heard that Mukunguma as councillor for Ward 25 Harare City Council and acting in connivance with Edmore Nhekairo, the director of Housing and Community Services, facilitated the creation on a layout plan of stand numbers 10656, 10657, 10658 and 10659 in Western Triangle in Highfield and then sold them to Juliet Tipedze, Melody Magorimbo, Edith Chaota and Carrington Ndimba who were not on the Harare housing waiting list.

It is alleged that Mukunguma and Nhekairo instructed Plaxedes Koke, the housing allocations officer with the council, to prepare provisional allocation letters for the four.

Mukunguma personally collected them from her and took them to Nhekairo’s residence for signing, since he was on leave, before delivering them to the four.

Mukunguma was arrested on Monday by Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) officers after an alleged car chase from Victoria Falls to Hwange.

He was reportedly playing hide and seek with the police for four weeks

Addressing the media Wednesday, Housing Minister July Moyo said the deolitions of illegal settlements will continue in accordance with the rule of law.

Said Moyo:

“While the demolitions have caused a near humanitarian crisis, the rule of law should always be upheld as most of such illegal settlements are breeding grounds for epidemics and other social vices.”

By A Correspondent- The trial of suspended Registrar General Clemence Masango, who is facing criminal abuse of office charges over vehicle purchases, continued yesterday with the State calling the former chief accountant in the department, Mrs Ndanatsei Elizabeth Gota, to the stand.

Masango is alleged to have instructed CMED to buy a double cab and six single cab pick-ups without Cabinet approval.

Mrs Gota told the court that the procurement process had been started by former Registrar Tobaiwa Mudede with a request for 11 Isuzu pickups.

“Upon becoming the Registrar General Clemence Masango had proceeded to alter the procurement order to include a Ford Ranger Wildtrack that was not part of the initial order,” she said. Due to this the department could only receive five of the Isuzu trucks as the money for the other 6 had been used for Masango’ s Ford Ranger Wildtrack.”

According to Gota, Masango flouted procurement procedures in doing this and she had raised the issue up with him and he had insisted on the change in the order.

Deputy Chief Magistrate Mrs Bianca Makwande adjourned the trial to December 23. The State led by Mr Tafara Chirambira told the court that sometime in October 2018, Masango sought authority from Permanent Secretary for Home Affairs Mr Melusi Matshiya to buy vehicles for the Civil Registry.

On October 29, the State alleged that Masango wrote to Mr Matshiya requesting authority to purchase two Toyota Land Cruisers 200LC vehicles to improve access to district registries and sub offices that had become inaccessible due to rugged terrain.

The request was approved on November 5, but before the vehicles were purchased Matshiya reversed the approval through a letter written in November 2018 addressed to Masango citing a shift in Government policy regarding purchase of vehicles. Masango allegedly acknowledged receipt of the letter and instructed Mrs Gota, to take note and comply.

The State alleges on January 18 last year Masango then unlawfully and corruptly originated a memorandum to Mrs Gota instructing her to facilitate initial documents meant for purchase of Land Cruisers and transfer US$78 505 towards purchase of a Ford Ranger double cab and for purchase of five Isuzu Lite single cabs without Cabinet authority and approval from the ministry.

Acting on the said instructions, Mrs Gota wrote to a branch manager at FBC Bank authorising him to make payments of US$78 505 to Duly’s Motors (Pvt) Ltd’s Stanbic Bank account to buy the Ford Ranger Wild Track vehicle and a further US$95 291 was transferred to CMED FBC account for purchase of five Isuzu Lite single cabs.

The State also alleges that Masango further directed Gota to write to CMED instructing them to purchase the required Ford Ranger from Duly’s Motors Pvt Ltd and it complied. A total of six vehicles were then subsequently delivered to the Civil Registry department.

-statemedia

By A Correspondent- The state has cast doubt on the authenticity of suspension orders served on two police officers, Superintendent Douglas Shoko and Detective Chief Inspector Paul Chimhungu, in custody on suspicion of tampering with evidence in Henrietta Rushwaya’s alleged gold smuggling case.

Shoko and Chimhungu claimed in court that they were served with suspension orders while in Remand Prison and they intended to use these for their fresh bail application bid based on changed circumstances, in that there was no way they could now access evidence as they were forbidden to return to work.

Yesterday, their legal practitioner Mr Admire Rubaya asked the court to order the State to verify the authenticity of the orders from the police if there was any doubt that the orders were genuine.

The two are accused of tampering with court documents that incriminated Ali Mohammed, a co-accused of Rushwaya who she originally allegedly fingered as the organiser of the smuggling attempt.

They are being charged with criminal abuse of duty.

“We request that the court assist in making verifications of the suspension orders. They were served with the suspension orders while in State custody. The State is saying there are not genuine which left us wonder if they had typing machines in prison,” said Mr Rubaya.

Magistrate Trynos Utahwashe said he could not order State to verify but told Mr Rubaya and the State led by Mrs Nancy Chandakaona to find ways of getting verification from the police.

Mr Utahwashe then remanded the two in custody to December 29 pending verification of the suspension orders.

Shoko and Chimhungu were stationed at CID Minerals Flora and Fauna and were tasked to investigate the alleged attempted to smuggle 6kg of gold by Henrietta Rushwaya.

Upon her arrest at Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport, Rushwaya is alleged to have told police she was given the four bars by Pakistani businessman Muhammad Ali.

The two officers arrested Ali Mohammed soon after Rushwaya named him, but released him on the same day.

They were alleged to have tampered with documents, which indicated that Rushwaya had submitted documents that were incriminating Ali Mohammed.

They were then arrested and taken to court charged with criminal abuse of duty.

statemedia

By A Correspondent- Chief Inspector Busani Ncube, who was arrested on allegations of illegally escorting 41kg gold ore from Jumbo Mine in Mazowe to Harare will know his fate today when the court makes a ruling on his bail application.

Through his lawyer Miss Portia Makurumure, Ncube argued that he was not a flight risk and was only a passenger in the car where the gold ore was found.

Prosecutor Mrs Idah Maromo opposed bail saying he was likely to abscond trial if freed on bail.

Plan Lanjisi and Trust Chiparatongo, who were in the same car with Ncube, admitted to their charges and will be sentenced today.

On Saturday, Ncube, Lanjisi and Chiparatongo were travelling in a Honda Fit from Jumbo Mine but attempted to evade the tollgate along the way, which raised the suspicion of soldiers guarding it.

Ncube, Lanjisi and Chiparatongo failed to explain why they wanted to evade the tollgate resulting in the soldiers asking to search the car. Ncube allegedly identified himself and told the soldiers not to search the car, as it was taking him home.

The court heard that the soldiers insisted on searching the car and found the gold ore. They recovered a pistol and seven rounds of ammunition from Ncube.

–statemedia

By A Correspondent- A 54 year-old man from Mt Hampden was fined $3000 for acquiring agricultural inputs under the Pfumvudza programme using his son’s birth registration entry number.

Pupurai Kutamahufa also risks being jailed for a month if he does not pay the fine.

He admitted to the offence when he appeared before magistrate Mrs Munashe Chibanda charged with fraud.

On November 6, Charles Chara went to Mt Hampden where people were receiving inputs under the Pfumvudza program.

He was then told that there were people who were receiving inputs after using their children’s names to register into the scheme.

Chara then went to Agritex offices where he discovered that Kutamahufa had registered one of his sons as a beneficiary using a birth registration entry number.

Kutamahufa received amonium nitrate and maize seed.

He was arrested and taken to court charged where he was fined for the offence.

Mrs Stylone Marufu prosecuted.-statemedia

By A Correspondent- Police in Mahusekwa, Mashonaland East province, have finally apprehended Nhamo Katsukunya (40) of Rustenburg Farm who has been on the run for more than a month after he brutally beat his son, Emmanuel (12), using switches leaving him seriously injured.

Emmanuel was brutally assaulted by his father for allegedly leaving the family garden unattended and has been hospitalised for more than a month at Marondera Hospital.

Katsukunya’s arrest was confirmed by Mashonaland East provincial police spokesperson Tendai Mwanza.

He said:

Nhamo Katsukunya was arrested recently during a midnight police raid at his homestead.

He was believed to have been coming to sleep at the homestead during the night and leaving the same place in the wee hours of the next morning.

Police received that information and a raid was conducted leading to his arrest.

The accused is currently remanded in custody while Emmanuel is recuperating in Mudzi where he was taken by his mother after being discharged from hospital.

The boy is having his wounds dressed and attended to at Kotwa Hospital in Mudzi District.

-newsday

In a welcome development, the state prosecutor who did not oppose bail for notorious armed robber Musa Taj Abdul and this three fellow armed robbers and gang members has been suspended.

Many people were shocked to learn that prosecutor Tapiwa Kasema had consented to the bail application for Taj Abdul and three of this accomplices, despite the fact that Taj Abdul had been on the police wanted list since 1999. Even worse, he was finally apprehended following a shootout with the police.

Prosecutor-General Kumbirai Hodzi was not pleased with the way Kasema conducted himself in the bail application and has since suspended him pending the outcome of an investigation into why he had not opposed the granting of bail.

On Monday, High Court judge Justice Benjamin Chikowero granted Taj Abdul ZWL$5000 (approximately US$60) bail after the Kasema consented to the granting of bail. Justice Chikowero also granted bail to two other armed robbers who were part of Taj Abdul’s gang. 27-year-old Godfrey Mupamhanga was granted ZWL$5000 (approximately US$60) bail while 29-year-old Tapiwa Kanhanga was granted ZWL$2000 (approximately US$25) bail.  A fourth gang member, 31-year-old  Douglas Mutenda was also granted bail.

As part of their bail conditions, Justice Chikowero also ordered the four to reside at their given addresses and to report to the police every Friday between 6 am and 6 pm until the matter has been resolved. The order did not mention anything about passports.

National Prosecuting Authority Chief Law Officer Justin Uladi told the Herald that Kasema has been suspended and that the matter has now been referred to the police for investigations. He also said that the National Prosecuting Authority would launch an appeal against Justice Chikowero’s decision to grant the armed robbers bail.

The  armed robbers never got the chance to taste freedom as they were arrested on fresh new charges before they had managed to post the bail money. The police requested that the quartert should remain in custody pending their court appearance on the new charges as well as further investigations. In a brief statement, national police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi yesterday said:

“As far as we are concerned, Musa Taj Abdul is still under remand and if there are any changes, we wait to be advised by the relevant Judiciary department.”

Taj Abdul is alleged to have committed at least 53 armed robberies as well as several murder cases.

By Parliament- Former Kadoma Textiles workers have been left homeless after being evicted them from their places of residences at Martin Spur Township.

The employer argues that his former employees were evicted to make way for incumbent workers who deserve an opportunity to stay in the homes during their tenure of employment.

On the other hand, these ex-employees were resisting moving out citing unfair labour practices.

Seven pensioners and another employee, Nyasha Musamadya, who is still contesting his contract termination, were evicted from the company homes they were occupying, with some having been there for over four decades.

The affected former employees are part of a group of eight pensioners flagging unfair packages and twenty-one employees contesting termination of their contracts by the textile concern.

“We received letters of intention to evict us on November 26 this year. This is just too much for us,” said pensioner Nicholas Chimubvuri, 69, in an interview.

“It is ordered that judgment be and is hereby granted in favour of the plaintiff against the defendant for; a) eviction of the defendant and all those claiming occupation through him from House No. – – – Martin Spur Township, Kadoma,” the order read.

Evicted pensioners served the company for periods ranging from twenty to forty-two years.

“We’re not saying we don’t want to leave. They should settle our outstanding package arrears then we go elsewhere. From here I’m going to Donain communal lands,” said a frustrated Samson Maruza, 68, while dismantling his foul run.

Human resources director Charles Chibanda said the company had done all it can to assist the former employees, accusing them of buying time.

“As a company we did all we could at law. We went through necessary processes but the employees are just trying to buy time. We will not give them another chance,” he said in an interview.

-hmetro

By A Correspondent- Flamboyant businessman Phillip Chiyangwa recently told the High Court that he is paying maintenance for more than 50 children, a revelation that has left many in shock and disbelief.

According to the state media Chiyangwa divulged the existence of more than 50 of his children during a High Court appeal against a $40 000 maintenance order for his two sons with ex-girlfriend Pamela Rusere.

In June a Harare magistrate ordered Chiyangwa to pay $40 000 maintenance for his minor children aged 13 and 7 years.

The businessman was also ordered to pay school fees of R49 172.83 per term.

However, Chiyangwa appealed against this ruling claiming that he earns $70 000 per month and that he pays maintenance for over 50 kids.

“He put his monthly earnings at a paltry $70 000 a month while conceding to sitting on many boards.

“He did not divulge the income from these on the basis of the income being independent on dividends.

“He purported to have fathered 50 children and mentioned some for whom he pays maintenance in very cursory terms…the record does not show any evidence he produced in this regard apart from the names of the mothers of the children,” reads the High Court’s findings.

The High Court, through a joint decision by Justice Webster Chinamora and Justice Emy Tsanga, dismissed Chiyangwa’s appeal. “The appeal is dismissed with regards to the claim for maintenance in the sum of $40 000 a month for the two minor children.

“The appeal is partly upheld with regards to the payment of school fees directly to the school in foreign currency in that order of the lower court is altered in paragraph (b) to read as follows;

“The respondent be and is hereby ordered to pay termly expenses being school fees for the minor children in the sum of R49 172.83 which shall be deposited into Rusere’s local bank account being Standard Chartered Bank, account number …. at the auction-rate as at the day of payment.

“The order shall be with effect from the first term of 2020,” reads parts of the judgment.

In his High Court appeal, Chiyangwa challenged the magistrates ruling on three main grounds:

1. The businessman said the magistrate had erred by ordering him to pay maintenance for his children when he was responsible enough to maintain them.
2. Chiyangwa questioned why he should pay school fees in Rands for children who supposedly live in Zimbabwe
3. He told the High Court that, in granting the $40 000 maintenance order, the magistrate’s court did not take into account the fact that he consistently took care of his children’s needs.

The mother of the children Pamela Rusere told the court that Chiyangwa was well aware that his children lived and went to school in South Africa.

She also claimed that the businessman paid for the kid’s school fees while they were in South Africa and they only came back to Zimbabwe after he stopped paying the schools fees.

“It was not in dispute that the respondent moved to South Africa after going there on holiday in 2015. It was not in dispute that the appellant has previously paid some school fees for the two minors whilst they lived in South Africa.

“The reason why the respondent said she had come to Zimbabwe was that one of the children had been pulled out of school when Chiyangwa stopped paying fees,” reads the judgment.

In her submissions, Rusere said: “I assumed that respondent would fall out of his seasonal trance, but apparently, he went on like a drunken skunk until the minor children were dismissed from school, thus I had no option but to come to this honourable court to knock some sense in the respondent, but apparently he is hell-bent on attacking my character.”

-HMetro

By A Correspondent- An HIV-positive inmate at Harare Remand Prison yesterday told magistrate Judith Taruvinga that he was not accessing medical treatment due to unavailability of drugs at the prison clinics.

The inmate, who cannot be named for ethical reasons, submitted an application to be removed from remand, arguing that his health condition was deteriorating because the Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services was not providing him with the required medicines.

There is a report of increase in trafficking of illegal drugs, including psychedelics, ketamine and LSD, but no HIV drugs available despite this, according to Tripsitter Magazine.

The inmate is facing armed robbery charges and was denied bail.

-newsday

By A Correspondent- The Ministry of Health yesterday revealed that Mashonaland West and Midlands’s provinces have the highest cases of Sexually Transmitted Infections in the country.

Presenting oral evidence before the Parliamentary Committee on Health and Child Care, deputy director for HIV/AIDS and STIs in the Ministry of Health Tsitsi Apollo said the country recorded 300 000 STI cases during the period 2019 to 2020 with the majority being from Midlands and Mashonaland West.

Apollo said the affected areas were mining areas which have a high influx of sex workers.

“Midlands and Mashonaland West have recorded the highest number of STIs in the country probably because they are mining towns,” she said.

Apollo also said the distribution of condoms had been greatly affected by movement because of the COVID-19 lockdown restrictions.

“We still have high-risk sexual practices that need to be addressed. This could be largely due to shortages of condoms in 2019 and 2020,” Labode said.

“For urethra and vaginal discharges recorded in 2018 and 2019, the age band that recorded the highest was the 25 and 49 age group; most of these cases were coming from the Midlands province and Mashonaland west provinces.”

She added:

“Moving on to genital ulcer diseases, there was a reduction from 35 000 in 2016 to 32 000 in 2019, most of these recorded among the 25 to 49 age groups affecting more males than females again Midlands province is leading followed by Mashonaland west,” said Apollo.

STIs are caused by bacteria, viruses or parasites that are transmitted through unprotected vaginal, anal, or oral sex as well as skin to skin genital contact.

-newsday

By A Correspondent- A 42 year old man from Nkulumane suburb in Bulawayo was stabbed to death, stripped naked and thrown into a sewage trench.

The man’s blood-stained clothes and shoes were found a few houses from where his body was dumped on Monday.

Mduduzi Ngwenya reportedly left his home on Sunday at around 11PM drunk and did not tell his wife where he was off too.

Police said his body has been taken to Mpilo Central Hospital for post- mortem.

Bulawayo provincial police spokesperson Inspector Abednico Ncube said investigations are underway and appealed to members of the public with information that might lead to the arrest of the killers to contact any nearest police station.

“The deceased is a male adult aged 42 of Nkulumane suburb, Bulawayo and was not employed. On December 12, 2020 at around 11PM, the deceased left home drunk and went to an unknown destination without notifying his wife,” said Insp Ncube.

A trench where the body of a murdered man was dumped in Nkulumane on Monday. He said on December 14, 2020 at around 7AM, a police officer who was on duty manning Nkulumane ZRP charge office received an anonymous call informing him that there was a body in the sewage trench.

Insp Ncube said the scene was attended by Tshabalala ZRP and members of the criminal investigation department (CID).

He said they found Ngwenya’s body lying naked in a sewage trench and that the body had stab wounds on the forehead.

“He had three deep cuts on the forehead, bruises on the neck and around chest. His clothes which include a black pair of trousers and one black safety shoe were dumped inside a yard at a nearby house in Nkulumane, Bulawayo. We appeal to anyone with information that may assist the police to contact any nearest police station,” said Insp Ncube.

By A Correspondent- Makokoba residents dumped plastic bags with sewage at Bulawayo City Council offices protesting the municipality’s slow response in attending to burst sewage pipes.

The disgruntled residents revealed this during the Matabeleland Institute for Human Rights (MIHR) training workshop for the Bulawayo Water Action Social Movement representatives over the weekend.

One of the representatives, Zhwaki Lunga said residents reported burst sewer on November 1 and council did not act until the end of the month, forcing them to take sewage in plastic bags and dump it at the reception of the City Health Department offices.

“Eleven residents participated in this non-violent strategic action on November 30, so as to register their dissatisfaction over poor service delivery,” Lunga said.

The residents also said after the November 30 action, the local authority responded two days later and fixed the burst sewer.

However, it was unfortunate that before the end of the week the sewer had burst again.

MIHR co-ordinator Khumbulani Maphosa, while addressing participants at the workshop, applauded the Makokoba residents for peacefully claiming their rights and encouraged other residents to emulate them.

“I am happy you didn’t spill the sewage on the flow or on council furniture because that would have been criminal, what you did should be emulated by residents when they see inaction on their rights issues,” Maphosa said.

The workshop, which was conducted by MIHR and Community Water Alliance, sought to empower Bulawayo Water Action Social Movement representatives with strategic non-violent tactics to assert their right to water.

MIHR is an organisation that exists to build and strengthen non-violent social movements for the protection and promotion of human rights and freedoms.

Bulawayo deputy mayor Mlandu Ncube said he was not aware of the protest and promised to find out what happened.

By A Correspondent- Government yesterday said demolitions of illegal settlements will continue and told residents that have received eviction notices from councils to seek alternative shelter.

Addressing a press conference, Local Government minister July Moyo, however, said Harare City Council should not execute the nearly 30 eviction orders from the courts until after the rainy season.

“All those who have been given eviction orders should know that these eviction orders are legal instruments and therefore cannot be defied by individuals,” Moyo said.

“As government, because we uphold the rule of law, unless individuals have gone to court to rescind these court orders, those court orders will be effected at the appropriate time.”

A total of 134 families were left homeless in Budiriro, Harare, after council demolished illegal structures under Tembwe Housing Cooperative. Moyo said at the end of the rainy season, the demolitions would resume.

“That appropriate time obviously must take advantage of a situation where there is no rain.

“We don’t want as government to throw people in the rain. Those evictions that have taken place, people cannot go back and build on the same places, they should be relocated so we can regularise the place they have been evicted from.”

He said further evictions will be directed by the central government.

“The Harare City Council is the one that applied for those evictions, they got court orders. It is only the timing that we are now saying; don’t carry out the rest of the evictions until there is an appropriate time when there is no rain.

“They (council) will be working with the Harare Metropolitan government which is led by the Minister of State. The law enforcement agencies will be supporting the government in order to make sure that the demolitions are done in an orderly manner. We must respect the court rulings,” he said.

National Housing minister Daniel Garwe warned, desperate homeseekers to stop dealing with land barons.

“What is obtaining now is the land barons who grabbed that land and paid nothing, in this case, are telling people lies, they are saying go and build and build as quickly as possible so that the ministry can come and regularise,” Garwe said.

“Those are false statements; we are not going to listen to that. People must not be in complicity with land barons because if you buy stolen property, at law, you are in complicity and you also suffer the criminal consequences like the land baron. We want to provide order in the cities, provide in towns and in the country.”

“We have witnessed situations particularly in Harare, where council officials and councillors have been selling land illegally to desperate homeseekers, areas set aside for schools, clinics, recreational facilities, roads and sewer, people are being sold those stands. All those settlements are illegal, they will remain illegal and they will be demolished. We want to be very categorical on that, land barons will not remain with any land as the land belongs to the State,” he said.

-newsday

The late Agriculture Minister Perrance Shiri left behind US$2.6 million in cash as well as a house in South Africa.

This is in addition to other assets, which include a house in Borrowdale, a fleet of top of the range vehicles, a farm in Bindura with chalets, several buses and a thriving trucking company.

His estate is now at the centre of serious wrangling between his siblings and his children. His brother, Benjamin, believes that the children should inherit everything. Close family members confirmed that the late Shiri had left behind US$2.6 million in hard cash, which he wanted to use to construct a hotel at his Bindura farm.

Shiri is said to have left behind a will, which bequeathed a big chunk of his wealth to his children and a few close family members.

-dailynews

The University of Zimbabwe (UZ) elected a female Students Representative Council (SRC) president for the first time in 2019 since the establishment of the higher learning institution in 1952.

The new president, Abiona Mataranyika is a member of the Zimbabwe National Students Union (ZINASU).

Takudzwa Ngadziore, the former Great Zimbabwe University SRC president posted on Twitter updating on the results of the elections.

He said:

After (67) Years of existence, the University of Zimbabwe elected its first Female SRC President backed by the Zimbabwe National Students Union @Zinasuzim Meet @abionamatt2 Leadership par excellence! She has defied history in many ways, while leading the #ZINASUlives #AhoyUnion

The University of Zimbabwe was opened in 1952 as the University College of Rhodesia and Nyasaland and was initially affiliated with the University of London.

It was later renamed the University of Rhodesia and adopted its present name upon Zimbabwe’s independence in 1980.

Student activism in the country has been mainly male-dominated and this mirrors the political culture at the national level.

Female politicians have often found it difficult to break into and retain positions of influence in politics and governance issues despite efforts to transform Zimbabwe from being a patriarchal society.

The Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) on Tuesday said it was not involved in the opposition MDC-T’s Extraordinary Congress pencilled for this Saturday.

In a statement, ZCTU said its members who will be participating in the elective congress will be doing so in their personal capacity, not representing the organisation. Read the statement:

The ZCTU is not involved in the MDC-T extraordinary congress. We were never approached.

ZCTU, as a labour movement, has members across the political divide and individuals like deputy secretary-general Thomas Masvingwe are participating in their individual capacities as supporters of their party.

The Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) was formed in 1999 largely out of the labour movement (ZCTU.

Meanwhile, MDC-T’s interim leadership on Monday said it met the ZCTU leadership to sign a code of conduct among other things, but the labour union yesterday said it will not participate in the congress.

The Supreme Court-sanctioned congress is aimed at electing a substantive heir to the party’s founding leader, Morgan Tsvangirai.

The late former Prime Minister (GNU era) succumbed to cancer on the 14th of February in 2018.

The snub comes when the MDC-T and rival MDC Alliance led by Nelson Chamisa have been fighting over the party’s name and assets with each side claiming to be the original party left by Tsvangirai.

-newsday

By A Correspondent- The chaos that gripped Zanu-PF district co-ordinating committee (DCC) elections will today come under the spotlight as the ruling party bigwigs meet to take stock of the polls.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa will today chair a potentially explosive politburo meeting after divisions rocked the party since the holding of the DCC elections last week that have seen party members appealing to him for assistance.

There have been claims of rigging, intimidation and violence before, during and after the polls.

Acting party national spokesperson Patrick Chinamasa confirmed the meeting yesterday, but could not give the agenda.

Chinamasa was not picking calls yesterday to confirm whether the chaotic DCC elections will be part of the agenda.

“The secretary for administration Obert Mpofu wishes to advise all members that there shall be a politburo meeting to be held on Wednesday,” a notice announcing the meeting read in part.

Analysts said the chaos that gripped Zanu-PF in the DCC elections was an indication that the ruling party had failed its first internal democratic test since the November 2017 coup.

Reports of violence, arrests and rigging were reported in Nyanga, Goromonzi, Midlands, Masvingo and several other districts and dozens of complaints have since been lodged with the party leadership.

Hundreds of potential candidates were blocked from contesting after they were labelled G40 loyalists while names of some party members were missing from the voters’ roll.
Mnangagwa had earlier directed that all those linked to G40 should not be allowed to contest.

“That created problems because some of us were labelled G40 and we suffered for that, that divides the party and the leadership cannot allow some of its cadres to be labelled G40 by those they will be contesting against,” one of the victims in Goromonzi said.

In Mutare where re-runs been ordered in some districts, party members burnt voting materials alleging rigging.

-newsday

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

More: NewsDay

Paul Nyathi

The Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights have convinced the High Court to lessen the bail reporting burden on three opposition MDC youth leaders Joana Mamombe, Cecilia Chimbiri and Netsai Marova.

The trio whose life was inconvenienced through imposition of onerous bail reporting conditions of reporting 3 times a week at the Police has had the condition reduced to once a week.

Justice Mushore relaxed the bail reporting conditions after lawyers from the ZLHR asked the court to alter these taxing conditions which were keeping the trio at police stations.

The 3 were arrested in June and charged with publishing or communicating falsehoods

Prosecutors claim that the trio lied about being abducted, tortured & being held incommunicado in May, a charge which they deny.

Own Correspondent

THE country’s schools have to date recorded 558 Covid-19 cases, with the Government on Tuesday announcing that it will continue with its response efforts within the learning institutions.

A number of schools have had their teachers and learners test positive to the pandemic, with the most affected being John Tallach in Matabeleland North which recorded over 180 cases.

Speaking during a post cabinet briefing, Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Senator Monica Mutsvangwa revealed that they were now putting in place mechanisms at the schools ahead of the festive season break.

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

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

The Minister further revealed that Government will be upping their response efforts to meet the anticipated surge during the festive season.

“Regarding the supply of Personal Protective Equipment, hand sanitizers and medical drugs, Cabinet advises that measures are being put in place to increase stocks to meet the anticipated surge in demand during the festive season.

“Meanwhile, given the recent upsurge in confirmed COVID-19 cases, the transport sector has intensified surveillance to improve compliance with Standard Operating Procedures,” said the Minister.

Minister Mutsvangwa said they will also intensify dissemination of information to assist returning residents fulfill Covid-19 free certificates entry requirements.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health and Child Care has reported that as of Tuesday the country recorded 164 new Covid-19 cases.

Bulawayo had the highest number of reported cases meaning they still have the highest number of active cases in the country at 582.

“164 new cases and one death was reported in the last 24 hours. Seven day rolling average for new cases rises to 87 from 85. All provinces reported cases today (Tuesday). Bulawayo reported the highest.

“All 164 are local cases, death was reported by Harare. 45 new recoveries were reported, national recovery rate stands at 83,3 percent and active cases go up to 1 613,” reads the update.

To date the country has therefore recorded a total of 11 522 cases, 9 599 recoveries and 310 deaths.

Paul Nyathi

Prosecutor Tapiwa Kasema who on Tuesday shocked the country when he allowed High Court Judge Justice Benjamin Chikowero to grant bail to a gang of thugs on Monday has a history of accepting bribes in the past.

Kasema also shot to fame when he was arrested in 2019 on criminal abuse of office charges after he allegedly consented to the release of a passport belonging to former Cabinet minister Ignatius Chombo, who was facing several corruption allegations.

Kasema was arrested by officers from the CID Commercial Crime Division and his docket was being handled by the Anti-Corruption Special Unit department.

Suspected armed robber and gang leader Musa Taj Abdul (47), were granted bail by High Court Judge Justice Benjamin Chikowero on Monday along with co-accused Godfrey Mupamhanga (27), Rudolf Tapiwa Kanhanga (29) and Douglas Mutenda (31) after the state led by Kasema consented to bail.

The gang will fortunately remain in custody as police quickly threw in fresh charges against them.

Before they could post bail money police brought up fresh charges against the suspects and requested that they remain in custody pending their remand hearing on the new charges and further investigations.

In a brief statement, national police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi yesterday said: “As far as we are concerned, Musa Taj Abdul is still under remand and if there are any changes, we wait to be advised by the relevant Judiciary department.”

The four were arrested in Beitbridge in August with five others: Charles Lundu (47), Tapiwa Mangoma alias Tapa (27), Innocent Jairosi (32), Prince Makodza (31) and Liberty Mupamhanga (29).

Some had been sought for more than 20 years.

Adbul, Mupamhanga and Mutenda, who have been in custody for about four months, were granted $5 000 bail each by Justice Chikowero, while Kanhanga was released on $2 000 bail.

As part of their bail conditions, they were ordered to reside at their given addresses and report to the police every Friday between 6am and 6pm until the matter has been finalised.

When the alleged robbers appeared before the Harare Magistrates’ Courts in August on several charges of armed robbery, they were escorted by more than 10 police officers from the CID Homicide Unit.

They were not asked to plead when they appeared before Mr Richard Ramaboa who remanded them in custody and were advised to apply for bail at the High Court.

Paul Nyathi

Harare Mayor Jacob Mafume has arrived at the Harare Magistrates’ Court, Rotten Row for his initial remand.

Mafume is being charged with violating his bail conditions for allegedly caught talking to one of the key witnesses in his case where he is charged with criminal abuse of office for allegedly issuing a residential stand to a relative.

The opposition MDC Alliance however claims that its capital city Mayor is being persecuted for opposing the inhuman implementation of demolitions in Budiriro.

“There’s no substance to the new charges he faces. We demand his immediate release,” said the party in a statement.

Paul Nyathi

THE Meteorological Services Department (MSD) has issued a thunderstorm alert with the Matabeleland region among the areas expected to receive the heaviest rains in 24 hours.

MSD issued the warning on Tuesday, noting that the lightning and heavy rains will persist from Wednesday until Sunday.

MSD revealed that the rains could lead to flash and riverine floods in some areas.

“Thunderstorms and rains are expected over much of the country, through to Sunday 20 December, with heavier falls in excess of 50 millimetres in 24 hours in areas such as Matabeleland North, Matabeleland South, Bulawayo Metropolitan, Midlands into Masvingo.

“This is due to moisture from a cloud system currently active over Botswana. These projected rains may lead to flash and riverine floods posing potential risk in the Western and Southern parts of the country, where more than 50 millimetres of rain are expected,” reads part of the warning.

State Media

Harare regional magistrate Mr Trynos Utahwashe yesterday deferred the matter involving former Local Government, Public Works and National Housing Minister Ignatius Chombo and ex-Zanu-PF youth leaders – Kudzanayi Chipanga, Innocent Hamandishe and Mathew Mleya – to February 18 next year, pending a determination of the Supreme Court.

Chombo approached the Supreme Court seeking permanent stay of proceedings in the magistrates’ court, where he is facing several cases involving corruption, fraud and abuse of office.

He is jointly charged with Chipanga, Hamandishe and Mleya on allegations of wearing regalia emblazoned with President Mnangagwa’s initials, although they had been expelled from Zanu-PF.

It is alleged that between December 8 and 13, 2017, the trio connived to wear party regalia emblazoned with President Mnangagwa’s initials, although they knew they were no longer members of Zanu-PF.

They took photographs of themselves while wearing the regalia, including hats embroidered with the Zanu-PF flag, inscribed “ED” and “Kutonga Kwaro”.

The court heard that the quartet then posted the said photographs on social media.

According to the State, the Zanu-PF leadership saw this as a nuisance.

Chombo is also appearing on his own on criminal abuse and fraud charges and the cases were deferred to the same date. It is alleged that on October 1, 2005, Chombo hatched a plan to defraud the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) under its “Other Crops and Livestock Support Facility”.

Chombo allegedly applied for a loan amounting to $14 billion, which was to be repaid within 18 months and indicated his address as Allen Grange Farm, Rafingora. He is said to have misrepresented that he would use the loan to buy agricultural equipment.

The equipment included a 30-tonne lorry valued at $2 billion, 30-tonne truck valued at $1,5 billion, 200hp tractor four-wheel drive valued at $2,5 billion, combine harvester valued at $5 billion, 52 dish roam disc valued at $1 billion, nine row monosem planter valued at $1,2 billion, 2x500kg chicken feed mixer valued at $8 million.

Instead, Chombo allegedly abused the money and it was investigated and established that he had imported various motor vehicles, including a Toyota Hilux Vigo for socialite Pokello Nare, which was delivered at 222 Samora Machel Avenue, Harare.

Zimbabwe is experiencing moderate local transmission of COVID-19, according to new guidelines published by the World Health Organization (WHO), an official has said.

Addressing a post-cabinet media briefing Tuesday, Zimbabwean Information Minister Monica Mutsvangwa said following the categorization, the WHO recommends citizens in the country to continue applying individual precautionary measures such as hand hygiene, cough etiquette, isolating at home if unwell and the wearing of masks, among other preventative measures.

The public is also recommended to continue practicing physical social distancing and avoid crowded places, close-contact settings, and enclosed spaces with poor ventilation.

According to the categorization, child care services, primary and secondary schools in the country should remain open with adequate safety and surveillance measures in place, while e-learning at tertiary institutions is encouraged.

Sporting and other social gatherings should also be evaluated using risk-based approaches.

“The World Health Organization has published new guidelines to assist countries in the management of COVID-19 cases.

“The guidelines place Zimbabwe in Category CT2, which includes countries experiencing moderate local transmission.

Mutsvangwa said the Cabinet notes with satisfaction that Zimbabwe is already implementing the WHO recommendations and will continue to strengthen the measures while encouraging members of the public to strictly adhere to them.

She said the country had recorded a cumulative total of 558 cases of COVID-19 at learning institutions across the country since they reopened in September. This is an increase from 332 cases that were reported last week, out of a population of 4.5 million students and 221,272 teachers.

Zimbabwe is recording a surge in COVID-19 cases after the reopening of schools and borders.

As of Tuesday, the country had recorded 11,358 COVID-19 cases, 9,554 recoveries, and 309 deaths. Enditem

Xinhua

THE Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) yesterday distanced itself from MDC-T’s extraordinary congress, delivering a blow to the beleaguered party which was seeking to associate itself with the largest labour movement in the country as internal fissures widened over alleged fraud by its interim secretary-general Douglas Mwonzora.

Some party members want Mwonzora suspended for dipping into the party coffers and allegedly “siphoning” $300 000 ahead of the congress where he will battle it out with Thokozani Khupe , party interim chairperson Morgen Komichi and his deputy Elias Mudzuri.

The opposition party, largely formed out of the labour movement, on Monday said it met the ZCTU leadership to sign a code of conduct among other things, but the country’s biggest labour union delivered the jab yesterday, saying it won’t be part of the congress.

The ZCTU presided over the MDC Alliance congress in 2018, where Nelson Chamisa won the presidency.

“The ZCTU is not involved in the MDC-T extraordinary congress. We were never approached,” ZCTU said in a statement.

“ZCTU, as a labour movement, has members across the political divide and individuals like deputy secretary-general Thomas Masvingwe are participating in their individual capacities as supporters of their party.”

The MDC-T extraordinary congress is set for this Saturday subject to police and health authorities’ approval, but suspended national organising secretary Abednico Bhebhe has approached the courts seeking its postponement.

The party is also battling internal fissures, with some officials calling for Mwonzora’s suspension for allegedly abusing party funds.

Mwonzora on Monday admitted taking the money, but said it was used to pay a lawyer, Sarudzayi Chitsanga, who had a bereavement, adding that the party owed its lawyers, engaged to fight MDC Alliance, US$100 000.

But party members claimed that there was no signed requisition for the money, accusing Mwonzora of withdrawing the funds working with party director of finance Todd Maingire without the knowledge of other leaders.

A party member, Leonard Chisvo, who has already reported Mwonzora to the police, was fuming yesterday calling for the secretary-general’s suspension.

Chisvo told journalists yesterday that there were fears that some officials were creating their own structures and demanded the immediate suspension of Mwonzora.

“The party received $7,8 million from the Political Parties Finance Act in May this year, and also received another batch of $161 million recently. There has been much concern over the abuse of party funds in MDC-T. There have never been any party programmes funded by the party, but the money has just been abused,” he said.

“Recently, Mwonzora embezzled $300 000 from the party’s BancABC account and it was not authorised nor accounted for.”

Chisvo said Mwonzora gave the loot to his personal lawyer and his presidential campaign manager for the MDC-T’s forthcoming extraordinary congress, adding that his behaviour should not escape punishment.

“Obviously, there was convergence of sinister interests. The money did not flow into any party programmes nor any intended party issue,” Chisvo said.

“The MDC-T members abandoned Chamisa and MDC Alliance accusing them for abusing party funds, lack of transparency and use of militia and lack of democracy. Similarly, Mwonzora has created his own militia and party members are not free to visit the Morgan Richard Tsvangirai House due to fear of violence.”

Chisvo accuses Mwonzora of usurping the powers of other party organs such as treasurer, presidency, organising and information and elections departments.

He said just as Bhebhe was suspended and ultimately expelled for alleged indiscipline, the same should be done to Mwonzora who he said was facing serious allegations.

“In this scenario, we expect immediate course of action against Mwonzora. There must be no selective application of the rules of the party” he said.

“The allegation that Mwonzora apologised to the standing committee and was forgiven by the acting party president Khupe is not constitutional. They have no mandate to cover up corruption, fraud and criminal offences in the party.

“What interests do they have to forgive someone who has stolen almost half a million dollars? Ordinary party members are neglected while orphans, widows and the physically harmed due to political tension are not looked after,” he said, adding that the party should act decisively on the matter.

Chisvo demanded the immediate suspension of Mwonzora from the party.

“Urgently investigate the circumstances under which money was withdrawn and take due legal process to ensure that Mwonzora pays back the $300 000 which he withdrew from the bank and abused.

“An urgent reconfiguration of financial bank signatures and accounting books and that the MDC-T leadership perfects all systems and the delegates to congress, including the voters’ role.”

Own Correspondent

Zanu PF is holding a Politburo meeting today at its headquarters in Harare where a number of pertinent issues are expected to be discussed.

In a statement, the party’s Secretary for Information and Publicity Simon Khaya Moyo urged members to be punctual.

“The Secretary for Administration Dr Obert Mpofu wishes to advise all members that there shall be a Politburo meeting to be held on Wednesday 16th December 2020 at the home of the people’s revolution Zanu PF headquarters commencing at 10:00hrs,” reads the statement.

All members are expected to be seated by 9.45am.

The meeting comes a week after the party conducted successful DCC elections countrywide.

It is widely expected that the Politburo meeting will review the just-ended DCC elections and debate the continued fight against Covid-19, among other issues.

State Media

An attempt by former minister Professor Jonathan Moyo and his wife Beatrice to block a man allocated land on their Mazowe farm which the Government is seeking to repossess was thrown out because the judge found the application not urgent and defective.

The couple went to the High Court early this year contesting the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Water and Rural Resettlement’s decision to repossess Patterson Farm, arguing that the State sold the land to the former minister in 2002 and the outcome of that suit was still pending.

However, in a ruling on Monday, Justice Esther Muremba dismissed the urgent application fronted by Mrs Moyo.

The couple sought to block Mr Barclos Mujuru, who was allocated land on the farm, and the Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Water and Rural Resettlement who allocated the land.

Mrs Moyo used the application for the interdict to also seek to have the withdrawal letter served on her husband in December last year rescinded, arguing it was granted under circumstances lumbered with illegality and abuse of authority.

But Justice Esther Muremba dismissed the application because Mrs Moyo had no legal standing in the matter.

She did not agree with Mrs Moyo’s legal counsel that she was entitled to protect her rights and interest in the pending review matter.

The fact that Mrs Moyo had a pending matter did not constitute a real and substantial interest giving her the legal footing to file such an application for an interdict, said Justice Muremba.

The review sought earlier challenged the ministry’s decision to rescind the offer letter that was issued in favour of Moyo, she said.

Justice Muremba queried if the offer letter was in the name of Professor Moyo, then what standing did Mrs Moyo have to challenge the withdrawal of the letter.

If Mrs Moyo was on the farm, then she was riding on the offer letter of her husband, and thus as an individual she has no right to that land.

It was then the court’s finding that she had no basis to challenge the State for the withdrawal of an offer letter which was issued to her husband.

“She is just a third party who is in occupation of the land by virtue of being married to the second applicant,” said Justice Muremba.

“She is farming on the land and her interest is purely economic. This constitutes financial interest, which is only indirect interest and that does not give her locus standi.”

Turning to Prof Moyo, Justice Muremba found that he did not file an affidavit to show that he was before the court and there was not even a power of attorney by him authorising anyone to act on his behalf in bringing the proceedings before the court.

The dispute over the farm spilled into the High Court after the Lands Ministry on December 18 served Prof Moyo with a letter withdrawing the land offer of Patterson Farm.

The letter ordered him to wind up all or any operations that he might have started and vacate the farm.

Aggrieved by the withdrawal of the offer letter, Prof Moyo approached the High Court seeking a review of the decision under the Administrative Justice Act.

In October this year, Mr Mujuru occupied a portion of Patterson Farm allocated to him, prompting Mrs Moyo to rush to same court for relief.

Mrs Moyo argued in her urgent application that the portion taken by Mr Mujuru had already been prepared for farming, thus the couple wanted to stop him from interfering with their occupation of the farm pending determination of their application for review.

REPORT BY THE MINISTER OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND PUBLIC WORKS, HOUNARABLE J.G MOYO ON THE DEMOLITIONSIN BUDIRIRO, HARARE,14 DECEMBER 2020.

BACKGROUNG

Due to the rampant illegal occupation on open spaces of land by land barons in Harare, the Harare City Council took illegal occupants of such land to court. To date, Harare City Council has secured twenty-three court rulings in their favor, and twenty two are yet to be executed. The executed one is against Events Housing Cooperative, a splinter group from Tembwe Housing Cooperative.

On the 8th of December 2020,the demolition of illegal structures in Budiriro affected one hundred and thirty four(134)families. While it is a fact that Events Housing Cooperative was in the process of being allocated the said piece of land, Tembwe Housing Cooperative invaded the land resulting in the Harare City Council and the two cooperatives dragging each other to court. The judgment was made on the 29th of January 2020 under case number 4457/19.(see copies of judgment attached as annexure 1)

HARARE CITY COUNCIL LAND ALLOCATION POLICY

The city’s land housing allocation policy clearly states that no housing cooperative is allocated two adjacent pieces of land, hence the split of Events from Tembwe Housing Cooperative. This was done to make it possible for events housing cooperative to acquire the adjacent pieces of land although they were former members of Tembwe Housing Cooperative. The court ruling is not about the legitimate owner of the land between Tembwe and Events housing cooperatives, but was on legal occupation of the in question.

SIDE EFFECTS OF THE DEMOLITIONS

The timing of the demolitions, during the rainy season and the on-going covid 19 pandemic has degenerated into a humanitarian crisis prompting the general public outcry. While the objectives of the court ruling are yet to be fully applied, the Harare

Metropolitan Provincial Civil Protection Committee activated its structures to assist the affected families. A meeting on the 12th of December 2020 between the Civil Protection Committee members and the affected members reached a deadlock on the proposal by the Government and its partners to relocate the affected families to Zimbabwe grounds in Highfields, where thee are water and sanitation facilities, as a temporary measure. The reason for relocating them to Highfields was for the Government not to act against the court order, notwithstanding other challenges associated with the relocation exercise. The affected families’ argument was that, they were not Events Housing Cooperative members but are Tembwe Housing Cooperative members. Their argument was thrown away by the court during the court ruling.

RECOMMENDA TIONS

1. Enforcementofthelawbyalllocalauthorities,includingHarareCityCouncil, should continue for sanity to prevail.
2. Given the sensitivity of the demolition, development partners should use the existing structures and work closely with the office of the Minister of State and Devolution for Harare in providing relief to the affected households, in partnering with Development Partners.
3. While the demolitions have caused a near humanitarian crisis, the rule of law should always be upheld as most of such illegal settlements are breeding grounds for epidemics and other social vices. The occupations are also championed by individuals who are seeking to profiteer from ordinary peoples’ quest for land and housing. These land barons are causing chaos and frustrating orderly development in Harare.
4. Humanitarianassistanceintheformoftents,foodandnon-fooditemswillbe provided by Government and its partners once residents have moved to the proposed site in Highfields ,Harare.

Paul Nyathi

Police have rearrested armed robber and gang leader Musa Taj Abdul (47), who was granted bail by High Court Judge Justice Benjamin Chikowero on Monday along with co-accused Godfrey Mupamhanga (27), Rudolf Tapiwa Kanhanga (29) and Douglas Mutenda (31).

The dangerous criminals who evidently did not deserve bail will remain in custody as police swiftly arrested the four on fresh charges.

Before they could post bail money yesterday, police brought up fresh charges against the suspects and requested that they remain in custody pending their remand hearing on the new charges and further investigations.

In a brief statement, national police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi yesterday said: “As far as we are concerned, Musa Taj Abdul is still under remand and if there are any changes, we wait to be advised by the relevant Judiciary department.”

The four were arrested in Beitbridge in August with five others: Charles Lundu (47), Tapiwa Mangoma alias Tapa (27), Innocent Jairosi (32), Prince Makodza (31) and Liberty Mupamhanga (29).

Some had been sought for more than 20 years.

Adbul, Mupamhanga and Mutenda, who have been in custody for about four months, were granted $5 000 bail each by Justice Chikowero, while Kanhanga was released on $2 000 bail.

As part of their bail conditions, they were ordered to reside at their given addresses and report to the police every Friday between 6am and 6pm until the matter has been finalised.

When the alleged robbers appeared before the Harare Magistrates’ Courts in August on several charges of armed robbery, they were escorted by more than 10 police officers from the CID Homicide Unit.

They were not asked to plead when they appeared before Mr Richard Ramaboa who remanded them in custody and were advised to apply for bail at the High Court.

State Media

No more houses will be demolished during the rainy season after Harare City Council was barred by the Government from effecting court orders allowing demolitions of illegally-built houses until the season is over.

But the Government has stressed that the orders are valid, can be implemented when the rains are over, and that regularisation of unserviced land will be confined to areas where proper layout plans were prepared.

There will be no regularisation of unplanned stands on wetlands or land reserved for social amenities.

There are believed to be 22 demolition orders ready for implementation, all for a number of houses, and the Government’s move follows the demolition of 190 houses in Budiriro, Harare, last week by council on land reserved for a school, a move described as legal but badly timed since the rains are now falling.

Speaking last night after yesterday’s Cabinet meeting, Local Government and Public Works Minister July Moyo said while the Government fully upholds the rule of law and does not interfere with the Judiciary and its orders, council should be sensitive on its timing when implementing the orders.

“As Government, while we support the court orders and we respect the orders given by the courts after the application by the Harare City Council.

“For the avoidance of doubt Harare City Council is the one which applied for those evictions. They got court orders. It’s only the timing, and we are now saying don’t carry out the rest of the evictions until there is an appropriate time when there is no rain,” he said.

Minister Moyo said the Government had no role in the Budiriro demolitions.

“Harare City Council took illegal occupants to court. To date it has secured 23 court rulings in its favour and 22 are yet to be executed. The executed one is against Events Housing Cooperative which is a splinter group from Tembwe Housing Cooperative,” he said, when referring to the Budiriro evictions and demolitions.

“It is not Government which took any of these to courts. The judgment of the court was on January 29, 2020, against the affected families. This was under case number 4457/19. The affected families were warned and given time when they should have vacated, but because some of these families listen to land barons they had not heeded the call.”

Minister Moyo said the city council then made an application to make sure that messengers of court were directed to go and evict.

“At the same time all those who have been given eviction orders should know that these eviction orders are legal instruments and therefore cannot be defied by individuals. As Government we uphold the rule of law. Unless individuals have gone to court to rescind these court orders those court orders will be effected at the appropriate time.”

“That appropriate time must take advantage of the situation where there is no rain. We don’t want, as Government, to throw people in the rain,” he said.

Minister Moyo said Government has made available alternative places where the evicted families can be housed. But he reiterated that those evicted cannot go back and build at those same places.

National Housing and Social Amenities Minister Daniel Garwe said according to the human settlement policy there are selected areas that will be regularised.

“By regularising what we are basically saying as Government is that there is need to be water, sewer, roads and ICT. This can be provided in areas that had been originally designated for human settlement,” he said.

“We are not talking about wetlands or areas that are set aside for social amenities. We refer to areas were people were properly settled and layout plans were produced and stands have got numbers, but for some strange reasons there were no services provided.”

Minister of State for Harare Metropolitan Province Senator Oliver Chidawu emphasised that there was need for order if the country is to develop.

The call by the Government comes after acting Harare town clerk Engineer Zvenyika Chawatama said more demolitions were coming soon with specific reference to the High Glen area where illegal settlers invaded land earmarked for a football pitch.

ZIMBABWE has recorded two more Covid-19 related deaths and 112 new cases in the last 24-hour cycle, bringing the total number of cases to 11 358.

The two deaths were recorded in Manicaland and Masvingo. So far, the total number of people who succumbed to the deadly virus now stands at 309 while the national recovery rate stands at 84,1 percent.

A total of 1 626 PCR tests were conducted on Monday and positivity was 6,9 percent. According to the Ministry of Health and Child Care, the 112 new cases are local with the highest number of 52 cases reported in Bulawayo followed by Matabeleland South, which had 24 new cases.

The Midlands recorded 14 new cases while Masvingo, Mashonaland West and Harare provinces recorded five cases each. Manicaland recorded four cases while Mashonaland Central has three new cases.

“As of December 14, 2020 Zimbabwe, has now recorded 11 358 confirmed cases, 9 554 recoveries and 309 deaths,” reads the statement.

“One hundred and three new recoveries were reported and the national recovery rate stands at 84,1percent and active cases are 1 495.”

So far, Bulawayo province has recorded 2 888 cases, 2 244 recoveries, 559 active cases and 85 deaths and Matabeleland South province has recorded 1 193 cases, 959 recoveries, 225 active cases and nine deaths while Matabeleland North has 463 cases, 341 recoveries, 119 active cases and three deaths.-Chronicle

Zanu PF is holding a Politburo meeting today at its headquarters in Harare where a number of pertinent issues are expected to be discussed.

In a statement, the party’s Secretary for Information and Publicity Simon Khaya Moyo urged members to be punctual.

“The Secretary for Administration Dr Obert Mpofu wishes to advise all members that there shall be a Politburo meeting to be held on Wednesday 16th December 2020 at the home of the people’s revolution Zanu PF headquarters commencing at 10:00hrs,” reads the statement.

All members are expected to be seated by 9.45am.

The meeting comes a week after the party conducted successful DCC elections countrywide.

It is widely expected that the Politburo meeting will review the just-ended DCC elections and debate the continued fight against Covid-19, among other issues.-The Herald

Villagers from Zananda area under Chief Nhema in Shurugwi are still reeling with fear after a huge crocodile was found stashed in a disused hut at the Marandure homestead.

The crocodile was discovered by Josphine Marandure last week and she alerted other family members who then went and made a police report at Donga Police post. She said:

We reported the matter to the police and they then alerted officials from the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority who then came and capture the croc the following day.

Chief Nhema confirmed the incident which he said has left villagers petrified. He said:

We are still in a state of shock because we have not had such incidents before but we have been given some explanations by officials from Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority that such incidents happen especially when its raining season like this.

The humongous reptile which did not harm anyone is thought to have crawled out of a nearby Zananda Dam which was now full following some heavy rains in the area.

Zimparks rangers shot and killed the crocodile saying it had become a threat to human life as it had abandoned its natural habitat.-The Herald

According to the Progressive Teachers Union(PTUZ), Over 10 000 teachers reportedly resigned from their jobs between September and December 2020.

This was revealed in a statement by PTUZ president Takavafira Zhou who in a statement said even those who did not resign in 2020 have mentally resigned from the job:

Another driving force has been failure by government to prioritise the health and safety of teachers. Several teachers have decided to protect themselves and their families by leaving teaching. With the quantum leap of COVID-19 cases among teachers and pupils, there is danger that the resignation rate might exceed 20 000 by January 2021.

Worse still 99,9% of all remaining teachers have mentally resigned from the profession although they physically remain at their stations. This is a dangerous scenario for any profession and calls for urgent intervention by government in order to stabilise the situation and guarantee quality public education and skills revolution as envisaged in Agenda 2030.

Teachers have fallen from grace to grass because of government’s failure to restore their salary’s purchasing power parity pegged at US$520-US$550. The challenge in the education system also calls upon all teachers across the teacher unions’ divide to bury their differences and fight together as brothers and sisters for status restoration.

When contacted for comment Minister of Primary and Secondary education Cain Mathema professed ignorance on the matter and said:

I am hearing that for the first time. I don’t know where he is getting his figures. I haven’t received such a report at the moment. I don’t belong to his organisation anyway, so I am in the dark. Maybe he knows better,

The government has been on a massive teacher recruitment drive this year due to the ongoing pandemic that dictates that social distancing regulations be observed to curb spreading the pandemic.-NewsDay

Tinashe Sambiri|The MDC Alliance says Mr Douglas Togaraseyi Mwonzora cannot fire members of another political party.

This comes after Mr Mwonzora “fired” more than 60 members in Mashonaland East Province.

The MDC-T party fired the members for being loyal to President Nelson Chamisa.

“The MDC-T Mashonaland East province has expelled its members who joined another party,” read the notice written by Mr Mwonzora.

However, MDC Alliance provincial spokesperson Chengetai Murova scoffed at the move by Khupe saying the MDC-T cannot sack members who belong to another party.

“I think he (Mwonzora) is losing his senses. We belong to the MDC Alliance not the MDC-T. We have been clear on that issue, we are members of the MDC Alliance.

How can he fire people who don’t belong to his party? We saw the list, with many MDC Alliance members’ names on it, and we laughed at it. We are not moved by such antics, it won’t change anything,” he said.