Tinashe Sambiri|In an incident that has set tongues wagging, a maid stole her employer’s husband after allegedly using the “anointed love charm.”

The maid identified as Lucia from Victoria Range Surbub, Masvingo, snatched her boss’ husband after using “muti”.

Lucia boasted of snatching her employer’s hubby.

“The lady used to treat me like an animal, she owes me more than $300 US.

I did what I did willingly as a form of revenge. I asked for my money and she refused to cooperate.

I then visited Prophet Isaac Makomichi to get the love potion.

He gave me oil and said I must apply it on my face and smile at my target.

I then did it and it worked. He paid $US 6000 for my bride price and our wedding is coming soon.

I don’t care about what is being said about me.

I’m now happily married,” Lucia posted on Facebook.

Church leaders in Masvingo accuse controversial preacher, Isaac Makomichi of misleading believers. The church leaders have called for a meeting to discuss how to stop Makomichi from distributing the “anointed charms.”

Makomichi claimed he was unaware of the fact that the lady was targeting someone’s husband.

The controversial preacher’s Facebook page called “Sir Isaac Makomichi Love Potions” has also been widely criticized.

Tinashe Sambiri|The MDC Alliance has dismissed Nick Mangwana’s assertion that Harare Mayor Jacob Mafume was arrested for “bribing a witness.”

Mafume was rearrested in Harare on Monday.

In a statement, MDC Alliance exposed Nick Mangwana’s lies about Mafume’s rearrest.

Mayor Jacob Mafume has been arrested again.

It is alleged he interfered with a witness.

He denies this. After his remand hearing, he went to Strathaven Shopping Centre where he was greeted by a woman he knows.

He greeted her back then plainclothes police arrested him. Nobody was bribed as suggested by Nick Mangwana.

We condemn the continued persecution of Mayor Jacob Mafume.

This is a clear attempt by the system to hamstring his work at Council and entrench central Govt interference in the running of The City of Harare .

He is being punished for being a member of the MDC Alliance.

FreeJacob

MDC Alliance

Mayor Jacob Mafume has been arrested again.

It is alleged he interfered with a witness.

He denies this. After his remand hearing, he went to Strathaven Shopping Centre where he was greeted by a woman he knows.

He greeted her back then plainclothes police arrested him. Nobody was bribed as suggested by Nick Mangwana.

We condemn the continued persecution of Mayor Jacob Mafume.

This is a clear attempt by the system to hamstring his work at Council and entrench central Govt interference in the running of The City of Harare .

He is being punished for being a member of the MDC Alliance.

FreeJacob

MDC Alliance

A 10-YEAR-OLD boy from Ndlovu outside Victoria Falls drowned while swimming with two other juveniles in a stream.

The incident happened on Friday and the boy was buried yesterday afternoon in Mpumelelo Village BH25, Ndlovu under Chief Mvuthu.

The now deceased boy Pardon Nkosikhona Nyoni reportedly left his grandparents’ homestead where he stayed with his grandmother Mrs Gladys Maphosa and went to swim at a nearby Malayitha stream about 600 metres from the homestead.

The boy was in the company of two juveniles younger than him who later rushed to inform elders after realising he was drowning.

Family spokesperson Mr Morgen Gazza Dube who is the boy’s uncle said the family was heartbroken.

“He left home in the company of two others to go and swim at the stream. It looks like he was the first to go into the deep pool while his friends waited for him to return and when they realised he was not returning, they rushed home to inform the elders,” said Mr Dube.

According to villagers, Pardon is the second boy to drown in the stream after another drowned a few years ago.

The stream is called Malayitha because some years back a man called Malayitha from the same community narrowly survived death after he was swept by the flooded stream but managed to escape with the help of other villagers. — Chronicle

The body of a missing 23-year-old National University of Science and Technology (NUST) student was found near Manada Dam in Solusi on Sunday.

Thembinkosi Sishoma from Pumula suburb who was reportedly studying for an Environmental Science degree at NUST had been missing since 1 December.

CITE reported a close relative saying the deceased who was driving a blue Honda Fit registration number AEE 4969, was hired by two men to ferry their goods to Roseburn near Solusi on the day he was last seen alive. The relative said:

He was hired on 1 December around 4 along Ntemba Road by some men. It is alleged that two men approached him and presented themselves as Omalayitsha who had had a breakdown and wanted him to ferry their goods to Roseburn along Solusi Road.

He never came back and we started looking for him around the areas along Tsholotsho. When we got in the areas around Chefunye, people said they had spotted the car fuelling.

The relative said they were called by police from Figtree who informed them to come to Manada dam where the body was discovered buried in a shallow grave and covered with some shrubs.-CITE

Stunner, one of the pioneers of the Urban Grooves music revolution in Zimbabwe has been honoured as the Zim Hip Hop artiste of the decade by the Zim Hip Hop Awards organisers.

Real name Desmond Chideme, Stunner rose to fame during the early 2000s when urban grooves music was beginning to take dominance in the entertainment circles.

Years later, with his Tazoita Cash Records, he is dominating the Zim hip hop or popular music sphere. With several hits including Dhaf’khorera, Godo, Team Hombe, Panofa Munhu and most recently Ndakarosva Rufu, Stunner was well deserving of this honour.

Also honoured at the awards were Holy Ten who bagged three awards and R.

Peels and Asaph who walked away with two gongs each at the Pogues Zim Hip Hop awards that were held at the HICC on Saturday.-The Herald

A Bulawayo man who felt he “married the wrong woman” lamented before a court that he was no longer interested in his wife who stabbed him on seven different occasions with a knife.

Elelwani Moyo from suburbs said his fears went a gear up after his wife Nosizo Moyo who had been using different knives to attack him bought another “sharp blade” which she threatened to finish him off with.

He said for the past three years they had been married, he was harassed, coercively controlled, intimidated and abused by a woman who promised to love him for the rest of his life when they got married on 23 December 2017.
He made the revelations after his wife, who was seeking a restraining order against him, claimed he had been physically abusive to her barely two months into their marriage.

“I have been married to Elelwani Moyo since 23 December 2017 under the Marriages Act Chapter 5:11. Two months into the marriage and up to date he has been abusive towards me. He assaults me with fists and sometimes he uses a belt. Three weeks ago, he banged my head against the wall. I eventually left and went to my parents’ house. He also insults and calls me barren and when he beats me up, he threatens to kill me,” claimed Nosizo.

Elelwani, who was not opposed to the application, pleaded with the presiding magistrate Nomasiko Ndlovu to grant a reciprocal order saying he was the one who was on the receiving end.

“I am not opposed to the application but I want the court to grant a reciprocal order. The reason being that since we got married, she has made my life hard. She has been physically, verbally and emotionally abusive to me and my family. She is aggressive to everyone who is related to me.

“Things worsened in June 2018, when I had to sleep on the floor sometimes just to avoid her. She would come and pour cold water on me as a way of provoking me. As if that was not enough, in October this year, she stabbed me with a knife and I have scars all over my body,” he said amid sobs.

He produced different pictures of the knives his wife used to attack him with, and said he didn’t report her to the police thinking she would change.

“The abuse went on until 2019 when she bought different knives to attack me. I just reported once to the police thinking she would change. She has stabbed me more than seven times and she does it on different occasions and with a different knife. She bought another one which she says she wants to kill me with,” said Elelwani adding that his wife was also using an electrical cord to assault him.

When asked by the magistrate if he was still interested in the marriage, shaking his head in disbelief, Elelwani said: “It is hard to stay with her. She made my life hard and miserable. She is also denying me access to the house”.
Nosizo also said she was no longer interested in her husband.

After observing that the two parties’ marriage seemed to have irretrievably broken down with no prospect for a restoration, the magistrate who had initially suggested to refer them for counselling later granted a reciprocal order compelling them to keep peace by not physically, verbally and emotionally abusing each other.

By A Correspondent- High Court judge Justice Benjamin Chikowero has deferred ruling on a suspected ritual murderer, Thanks Makore’s bail application.

Though Justice Chikowero was expected to give his decision on the matter, he notified the legal counsels for both parties that his ruling was not yet ready and would be delivered in due course.

Makore is seeking bail and is in custody pending trial with his co-accused Tapiwa Makore Senior, Tafadzwa Shamba and Maud Hunidzarira.

Thanks is the prime suspect in the apparent ritual murder of his seven-year-old nephew, Tapiwa Makore Junior who was murdered on September 17.

He reportedly paid his twin-brother Tapiwa and herdsman Shamba US$1 500 for the boy’s head and arms.

The boy is yet to be buried as his head has not yet been located.

A relative of the Makores, Beula Musupai, said the family was still in pain following Tapiwa’s murder and expressed worry over the slow pace with which the matter was being handled.

-statemedia

By A Correspondent- Cabinet has approved Principles for the Amendment of the Constitution on Proportional Representation in Local Authorities which seek to advance gender equality to local government structures.

Addressing the media during a post-cabinet media briefing in Harare on Tuesday, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Monica Mutsvangwa said Cabinet approved the principle to provide for a 30% quota for women in all local authorities.

Said Mutsvangwa:

Cabinet considered and approved Principles for the Amendment of the Constitution on Proportional Representation in Local Authorities, which was presented by the Minister of Local Government and Public Works.

The proposal is in response to submissions by Women Councillors at Victoria Falls, which President Emmerson Mnangagwa undertook to bring to Cabinet.

The Principles seek to extend the progressive Constitutional provisions on gender equality to local Government structures.

In particular, the systems of proportional representation for the election of candidates to Parliamentary seats will be extended to local authorities.

The principles will facilitate increased women and minority parties representation in lower tiers of governance thereby bringing stability and balance in decision-making as power-sharing becomes more visible at the grassroots level.

Another key highlight is that Cabinet approved the principle to provide for a 30% quota for women in all local authorities

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.

By A Correspondent- Villagers from Zananda area under Chief Nhema are now living in fear after a huge crocodile was found stashed in the bedroom hut at one of the villagers homestead.

The huge reptile was discovered by one Ms Josphine Marandure at around 10 pm last Sunday as she got into the bedroom hut intending to sleep.

The shell shocked Ms Marandure said she alerted other family members who then went and made a police report at Donga Police post.

“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,” she said.

Chief Nhema confirmed the incident which he said has left the whole village shell shocked.

He said the huge reptile which did not harm anyone could have crawled out of a nearby Zananda dam which was now full following some heavy rains in the area.

“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 Managememt Authority that such incidents happen especially when its raining season like this,” he said.

-statemedia

Police have launched a manhunt for Former Bindura Deputy Mayor Nobert Dhokotera of the MDC Alliance who is now a fugitive after failing to appear in court.

Dhokotera was recalled by the MDC-T last Tuesday and is now on the police wanted list after failing to appear in court for assaulting his superior and former Mayor, Carlos Tokyo with whom he is jointly accused of leaking information to the council land audit team.

The state issued a warrant of arrest for the fugitive Dhokotera saying he abused his bail privileges by absconding.

The MDC-Alliance official is believed to have fled to South Africa.

Dhokotera was on suspension for misconduct, before he was expelled alongside former mayor Tokyo last Tuesday.

The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has finally released some of the much awaited DNA forensic results for the late Tapiwa Makore with a set of bones ruled out to be belonging to a human being.

Some of the body parts like the left palm have came out positive while the results on the skull are yet to be released. The Makore family’s lawyer Tabitha Chikeya has confirmed the latest developments.

More details to follow…

Paul Nyathi

Cabinet has speedily approved a promise made by President Emmerson Mnangagwa last week to accord women a quota in local government administration as is done at the National Assembly.

Mnangagwa, agreed to “panel beat” democracy, that systems be put in place to ensure at least 30 percent of all local government councillors are women.

The women councillors made their case during the inaugural Zimbabwe Local Government Association of Zimbabwe (Zilga) women councillors’ indaba, which was held under the banner of “Women in Local Government Forum” (WILGF) in Victoria Falls last week and with President Mnangagwa officiating.

Cabinet on Tuesday considered and approved Principles for the Amendment of the Constitution on Proportional Representation in Local Authorities, which was presented by the Minister of Local Government and Public Works.

In particular, the systems of proportional representation for the election of candidates to Parliamentary seats will be extended to local authorities.

The principles will facilitate increased women and minority parties representation in lower tiers of governance thereby bringing stability and balance in decision-making as power-sharing becomes more visible at the grassroots level.

Another key highlight is that Cabinet approved the principle to provide for a 30% quota for women in all local authorities.

Speaking to Mnangagwa, women councillors said their participation at all levels of decision making is critical for the development of the country as local government plays a fundamental role in the day-to-day lives of women, the elderly, youth and men by virtue of being closest to the general populace.

President Mnangagwa said local government is the bedrock of national governance as has accepted the WILGF argument.

He said it was necessary to consider extending the women’s quota to councils, urging women councillors to equally develop and implement concrete strategies to realise their objectives.

“You are advocating for an improvement in your representation at local government level. We fought for democracy and there was a lot of sacrifice by the girl child and boy child for us to achieve that democracy. Currently councillors are elected on the basis of that democracy,” he said.

“You are now asking me to panel-beat democracy in order to meet our needs rather than our needs to be met through plain democracy. Fortunately, I am in agreement with you, and that is granted, and I will ask the Minister of Local Government to begin the process,” said the President to a thunderous applause from the councillors.

By A Correspondent- Zimbabwean judge Happias Zhou was blocked from sitting on an international legal panel as punishment over a judgement which invalidated the 2018 conversion of United States dollar balances to RTGS ordered by finance minister Mthuli Ncube.

Zhou was in the running to become one of seven members of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea when his nomination was withdrawn without his knowledge, legal sources said.

“Just a month after his bond note judgement, the government surreptitiously withdrew his candidature. He was never consulted. This is a most blatant attack on judicial independence,” the source said, declining to be named for professional reasons.

Judicial Service Commission spokesperson Rumbidzai Takawira has not responded to written questions sent weeks ago, despite acknowledging receiving them.

The States Parties to the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea elected six members to the Tribunal in August, with the seventh seat to be contested. It was announced at the time that “the candidacy of Happias Zhou of Zimbabwe was withdrawn before voting.”

Documents seen by ZimLive show that on July 3, the registrar of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea received by email a note verbal from the Permanent Mission of Zimbabwe at the United Nations.

The note stated: “The Permanent Mission of the Republic of Zimbabwe wishes to advise the registrar of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea that the government of the Republic of Zimbabwe has decided to withdraw the candidature to the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea for elections scheduled for September in New York.”

No reasons were provided.

Legal sources familiar with the development say it was punishment for Zhou’s judgement, which the government is appealing.

“We criticise judges all the time but never take time to consider their struggles,” the source said.

“The more independent ones take forever to get their vehicles of service. They don’t go on international trips and have their participation on these tribunals blocked. It’s all about control.”

In May, Justice Zhou ruled that fiscal and monetary changes announced by the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe on October 1, 2018, including a 2 percent tax on money transfers and conversion of account balances into RTGS “manifestly violate the right to property” and are invalid.

Exchange Control Directive RT120/18, which was contained in Statutory Instrument 109 of 1996 issued a few days later on October 4, caused the collapse of the surrogate bond note currency on the black market even as authorities insisted the bond note and electronic dollars would remain officially pegged at 1:1 to the United States dollar.

The move wiped out billions of dollars in savings and left a huge hole in pension funds.

Justice ruled that the apex bank should have preserved all balances in United States dollars, with its directive affecting only future transactions.

“It is offensive to any sense of justice that a person who holds money in a bank can wake up on any day to be told that his money means something else different from what it has always been,” Justice Zhou said in a devastating 17-page judgement.

“No reasonable person who had applied his or her mind to the matters in question would have taken the decision which has the effect of eroding a person’s investment or savings in this manner.”

The government is challenging the ruling, which has far reaching implications, at the Supreme Court.

Justice Zhou recently underwent a public interview, seeking a seat on the Constitutional Court bench.

-ZimLive

Paul Nyathi

Forex auction results for 15 December 2020 are in and the Zimbabwe dollar has further rebounded against the greenback.

The weighted average this week has made a small improvement from ZWL$81.8572 last week to ZWL$81.7368 this week.

US$2.47 million was awarded to Small to Medium enterprises forex auction while US$29.46 was awarded to the main forex auction.

In total, US$31.94 million was allotted this week compared to US$30.27 million last week, with the bulk of the allotment (US$16.07 million) going to raw materials.

207 bids were received on the Small to Medium enterprises forex auction, with 182 accepted and 25 disqualified. On the main forex auction, a total of 278 bids were received, 253 were accepted while 25 were disqualified.

The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) said bids which were disqualified were not eligible in terms of the Priority List.

Bids with overdue CDIs, outstanding Bills of Entry (BOEs) and those with sufficient FCA balances were also disqualified.

Some bids were allotted on a pro-rata basis to conform with the Import Priority List, the RBZ said.

By A Correspondent- The Zimbabwe School Examinations Council (ZIMSEC) has finally spoken on reports claiming that one of its employees leaked 2020 Ordinary Level Mathematics and English papers 1 & 2 examinations.

ZIMSEC Public Relations Manager Nichollette Dhlamini told TechZim that the accused, Arnold Maimba (22,) was a temporary worker.

She said ZIMSEC usually employees such contract workers to ease the pressures of the demanding time of writing sessions.

The examination council has since suspended the Risk Manager and Packing and Collating Manager pending an investigation into how Maimba managed to smuggle the papers unnoticed.

Dhlamini said all security personnel at the Norton Printing Press have been suspended and replaced.

The police recovered all the ZIMSEC 2020 O’ Level Papers that Maimba had smuggled out when his home was searched.

He also provided the authorities with a list of all the people that he had sold the papers to.

Police are still looking for the people who may have benefited from the scam.

By A Correspondent- The granting of bail to notorious armed robber Musa Taj Abdul alias Musa Mohammed (47), who has been on the wanted list for 20 years, just before the festive season by the High Court has raised a few eyebrows.

Justice Benjamin Chikowero granted Abdul and his two co-accused Godfrey Mupamhanga (27) and Rudolf Tapiwa Kanhanga (29) bail on Monday.

Adbul and Mupamhanga were granted $5 000 bail each while Kanhanga was released on $2 000 bail.

The suspected serial robbers had been on the run for 20 years and were arrested in Beitbridge in August after an exchange of fire with police detectives.

As part of their bail conditions, Justice Chikowero ordered the trio to reside at their given address and report to the police every Friday between 6 am and 6 pm until the matter has been finalized.

Commenting on the hardcore criminals’ release from remand prison without even being ordered to surrender their passports and title deeds to their houses, University of Kent Law Lecturer Alex Magaisa wrote on Twitter:

I would like to read this judgment because it looks odd. A suspected armed robber who’s been on the run is not required to surrender the passport. He doesn’t have one? He’s required to pay just over US$60! Someone like Hopewell Chin’ono had to surrender title deeds to his home!

Add to that this chap was only arrested following a shootout which suggests he was resisting arrest. I am all for recognising the right to bail but on the face of it, this case looks dodgy. This chap will do a runner and if I were a betting man, I would put a wager on it!

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

Caledonia believes that Glen Hume offers significant exploration potential. The agreement covers an area of approximately 350 ha. with substantial evidence of gold mineralisation including historical mining activity. Caledonia has conducted airborne geophysics which indicates attractive exploration targets and has also conducted preliminary metallurgical work indicating favourable grade and recovery. A preliminary contract has been signed with the existing drilling contractor and a drill programme has been put in place.

Caledonia has acquired the right to explore the area for a period of up to 15 months and subsequently, if exploration is successful and at its sole discretion, acquire the mining claims over the area. The total consideration is an initial payment of US$2.5 million in cash, followed by a further payment of US$2.5 million (payable in cash or shares at the discretion of the vendor) which would be payable should Caledonia decide to exercise its right to acquire the mining claims.

Caledonia has agreed to the payment of a 1% net smelter royalty (NSR) to the vendor on gold it produces from the area. The NSR can subsequently be bought out at Caledonia’s discretion for a lump sum payment of US$15 million within the first 5 years following the acquisition by Caledonia of the claims, or US$10 million until the tenth anniversary of operation or US$5 million thereafter.

Steve Curtis, CEO of Caledonia Mining, said: “As we approach the completion of the Central Shaft, our production is expected to increase by 45% to 80 000 oz by 2022, we also expect to realise a substantial increase in cashflow as a result of increased production, reduced costs per ounce and lower capital expenditure. This gives us the financial and management capacity to take on new opportunities in Zimbabwe and we are pleased to enter into this option agreement which give us the right to explore and subsequently to acquire mining claims over this property.

“This agreement represents the first step towards our goal of increasing our portfolio and becoming a multi-asset gold producer in Zimbabwe, one of the last gold frontiers in Africa.”

Caledonia Mining acquires option over Zimbabwe exploration prospect

Paul Nyathi

Tuesday was a big day for journalist Hopewell Chinono when he did not only get back his passport from the High Court, but also got back his lead lawyer Beatrice Mtetwa.

Chinono appealed to the High Court to have a Harare Magistrates Court decision blocking Beatrice Mtetwa from representing him in parliament. He also applied to the same court to have his passport released to him so he would be able to travel outside the country for medical attention.

High Court Judge Justice Happias Zhou on Tuesday morning ruled that Magistrate Ngoni Nduna has no power to remove Mtetwa as investigative journalist Chin’ono’s lawyer, setting aside his ruling.

Nduna removed Mtetwa from the case in which Chin’ono is charged with inciting public violence through four posts he made on microblogging site Twitter before the foiled 31 July protests.

Justice Zhou reinstated Mtetwa back on the case after she had been removed by Nduna in August this year and also ruled that Nduna must recuse himself from the case.

In another ruling, High court judge, Justice Edith Mushore ordered the release of Chin’ono’s passport for 21 days so that he can travel to seek specialist medical attention in Gauteng, South Africa.

Chin’ono was arrested in July this year and spent close to two months at Chikurubi Maximum Security Prison on charges of inciting public violence.

His lead lawyer Douglas Coltart said that Chin’ono’s reporting conditions have been suspended for 21 days but the condition is just that he can travel to South Africa for specialist medical care.

State Media

Villagers from Zananda area under Chief Nhema are now living in fear after a huge crocodile was found stashed in the bedroom hut at one of the villagers homeatead.

The huge repitile was discovered by one Ms Josphine Marandure at around 10 pm last Sunday as she got into the bedroom hut intending to sleep.

The shell shocked Ms Marandure said she alerted other family members who then went and made a police report at Donga Police post.

“We reported the matter to the police and they then alerted officials from the Zimbawe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority who then came and capture the croc the following day,” she said.

Chief Nhema confirmed the incident which he said has left the whole village shell shocked.

He said the huge repitile which did not harm anyone could have crawled out of a nearby Zananda dam which was now full follwing some heavy rains in the area.

“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 Managememt Authority that such incidents happen especially when its raining season like this,” he said.

Paul Nyathi

In the least expected ruling, High Court Judge Justice Benjamin Chikowero granted notorious armed robber Musa Taj Abdul (47) and his two co-accused Godfrey Mupamhanga (27) and Rudolf Tapiwa Kanhanga (29) bail.

The trio were arrested in Beitbridge in August with five others Charles Lundu (47), Tapiwa Mangoma alias Tapa (27), Innocent Jairosi (32), Prince Makodza (31), Liberty Mupamhanga (29) after being on the run for more than 20 years.

Taj Abdul is accused by police of masterminding numerous criminal activities, including high profile robbery cases reminiscent of the Chidhumo-Masendeke robberies which kept the nation spellbound in the 1990s.

On their dramatic arrest, police officers recovered a Noringo Pistol silver in colour with an obliterated serial number and a magazine of 11 live rounds, 19×12 bore gauge live rounds on a webbing belt (bandoleer) placed in a black satchel stashed in a washing basket. A pair of number plates AEX 1577 was recovered under the bed. The motor vehicle was also searched and the team of police officers recovered a black face mask (balaclava) stashed in the vehicle boot.

Abdul has been known for evading police arrests and escaping shootouts in which some of his accomplices were killed by police in several incidents around the country.

He was involved in a shoot out with the police in March this year in Harare.

At the time the police had linked the gang to the nine cases of armed robbery. Some of which include the armed robbery which occurred on December 20 last year at Wessel Shop in Msasa, Harare, where they disarmed a security guard and stole a special Amadeo Rossi revolver, $160 000 and an Isuzu KB240 single cab vehicle.

On February 5 this year, the gang allegedly went to Makoni Shopping Centre, Chitungwiza, armed with pistols, an AK47 rifle and robbed unsuspecting complaints of US$19 000, $30 000, cellphones and a Toyota Allion vehicle, which was later found abandoned in Glen View.

Adbul and Mupamhanga were granted $5 000 bail each while Kanhanga was released on $2 000 bail.

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

The trio and their accomplices are facing several charges of armed robbery.

Tinashe Sambiri|The MDC Alliance has dismissed Nick Mangwana’s assertion that Harare Mayor Jacob Mafume was arrested for “bribing a witness.”

Mafume was rearrested in Harare on Monday.

In a statement, MDC Alliance exposed Nick Mangwana’s lies about Mafume’s rearrest.

Mayor Jacob Mafume has been arrested again.

It is alleged he interfered with a witness.

He denies this. After his remand hearing, he went to Strathaven Shopping Centre where he was greeted by a woman he knows.

He greeted her back then plainclothes police arrested him. Nobody was bribed as suggested by Nick Mangwana.

We condemn the continued persecution of Mayor Jacob Mafume.

This is a clear attempt by the system to hamstring his work at Council and entrench central Govt interference in the running of The City of Harare .

He is being punished for being a member of the MDC Alliance.

FreeJacob

MDC Alliance

“The one that he would have carried home is a dummy record, if you go to court you will be able to find the actual file,” the lawyer said.

By A Correspondent| Relatives are fuming after the file in the case against the uncle of the slain 7 year old Tapiwa Makore, suddenly went missing at court yesterday.

Family members informed ZimEye they are not happy with the events of Monday morning at the High Court.

Mr Thanks Makore is one of the key suspect in the murder which was discovered on the 17th September 2020. Tapiwa’s body was found dismembered and several parts including the skull missing.

Police officers 2 weeks ago were spotted drinking beer and eating meals donated by the same person they arrested at his house Damofalls, Harare.

One family member told him ZimEye.com:

“We got to the high court, there were many relatives at around 8am, when we got it in at around 9am, we were ready to protest and it was Mai Tapiwa’s first time to come to court…

“So the lawyer suddenly told us the files are missing.

“He also announced saying the judge on the case did not come, and the files are missing. “

He also said, “Neither Thanks Makore is attending court.”

Video loading below …

Later on responding early Tuesday morning, the family lawyer made a detailed albeit contradicting response saying the judge had carried the file home to work on it there, while at the same time saying that there are always two copies, including one which is left at court, should a jurist decide to carry one home.

“Yes it is true that his file was not there when we got there; so we were told to come back on the 18th of December,” they said. They continued:

“I went to see the clerk for justice Chitapi who said that the file will be taken to his house because he is on vacation.

“On the issue of DNA checks, we are going back today, we were told that they are going to check the report…

“We are going to PGHQ, the office of the police commissioner general, the DNA records are in the hands of the police right now the company does not have anything with them.

“There is a head (skull) that was found and it was commented that the head cannot be that of a 7 year old child.”

The female lawyer however added confusion when she said, the file that the judge takes to his home is just a copy, the original remains at court.

“The one that they would have carried is a dummy record if you go to court you will be able to find the actual file,” the lawyer said.

The lawyer was speaking to Tildalive.

WHAT DO YOU THINK IS HAPPENING BEHIND THE COURTS?

By A Correspondent- Three Harare lawyers have been struck off the roll of legal practitioners for failure to disclose their past criminal convictions involving corruption and fraud, the Law Society of Zimbabwe has said.

Rosewitter Mademo, Auxillia Madembo and Andrew Hamandishe are the latest to be de-registered.

The three were deleted from the register of the Legal Practitioners, Conveyancers and Notaries Public following proceedings in the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal on December 1 this year.

Madembo and Mangwaira were both found to have failed to disclose a criminal conviction involving dishonest or corrupt dealing when applying for registration as a legal practitioner.

Hamandishe had been convicted of misappropriating trust funds and fraud.

Once a lawyer has been de-registered, they cannot legally practice or offer legal services.

The Law Society does not have any powers to regulate a de-registered person, thus it will not be liable for any prejudice arising from the engagement of a de-registered lawyer or any lawyers whose firm has been placed under curatorship.

Any clients of the law firms placed under curatorship should contact the curators in connection with their matters.

In December 2019, nine lawyers including prominent Masvingo lawyer Tongai Matutu were banned from practicing for offences including misappropriation of trust funds.

Mr Matutu was slapped with a three-year suspension from practicing after he was found guilty of failure to carry out a mandate.

The others were Mr Amon Tendai Toto, Mr Augustine Chizikani, Mr Benjamin Machengete, Mr Simbarashe Tawona, Mr Obedience Machuvaire, Mr Shingiriro Moses Chinyenze, Mr Leslie Sibanda and Mr Joseph Maweni.

Mr Chinyenze and Mr Sibanda were found guilty of abuse of trust funds, while Mr Maweni was de-registered for abusing trust funds and irregularly transferring a property.

-statemedia

By A Correspondent- Government says it has registered success in its negotiations with civil servants over salaries and other employment terms and is planning continuous improvements on the welfare of public servants.

This follows industrial actions which disrupted service delivery for the better part of the year, particularly in the education and health sectors.

The constant erosion of salaries in the first half of the year was caused by macro-economic instability.

A raft of measures implemented by President Mnangagwa’s administration to insulate the local currency against devaluation, however arrested the instability in the second half of the year.

The Transitional Stabilisation Programme (TSP) which will be succeeded by the National Development Strategy 1 at the end of this month, brought stability to the market.

Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Professor Paul Mavima outlined Government’s success in the collective bargaining exercise.

“Government has succeeded in its engagements with civil servants. We came to a conclusion that saw their salaries being improved.

This can also be attributed to success recorded on the macro economic front.

“As Government, we are always looking at improving the conditions of civil servants.

“They will all get their bonuses and some have already received theirs. Those who are yet to receive will get them in batches,” said.

Minister Mavima said President Mnangagwa placed importance on the welfare of public servants as evidenced by his direction to pay Covid-19 relief allowances to help them through the economic impact caused by the pandemic.

“During the first phases of the Covid-19 pandemic, all civil servants were paid Covid-19 relief allowances by the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development, which were directed by the President,” said Minister Mavima.

Prices of basic commodities are stabilising and marginally decreasing on selected items since the introduction of the foreign exchange auction system in June.

Fuel, sugar, cooking oil, rice and bread are among commodities whose prices have moved southwards in recent months, bringing relief to consumers who had become accustomed to prices changing.

Consumer Council of Zimbabwe executive director Ms Rosemary Siyachitema said although there was stability it was not yet at a stage where consumers could celebrate.

“The stability and reduction of prices has been there, but it is not yet at a stage where we can celebrate, the reduction is not that much, but it is better though.

“On electricity, yes there has been a slight reduction, but like I said, it is not yet a stage where we can celebrate. The consumers now can spend, but it is not yet enough,” said Ms Siyachitema.

Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce president Dr Tinashe Manzungu commended Government for the way it has handled the salary negotiations and adjustments for civil servants.

Dr Manzungu said it was a delicate process where there was need to improve the conditions of service for workers, but at the same time, not crippling industries.

He said too high salaries which were not backed by revenue inflows, risked scaring away investment from the country by making labour a huge cost centre and unsustainable.

-statemedia

By A Correspondent- A 45 year old Guruve woman allegedly killed her husband after hitting him with an unknown object on the head.

After committing the offense she dragged the body and tied it on a tree to conceal the alleged crime.

The matter came to light at Guruve magistrates courts yesterday where Tabeth Mutungwa appeared before Rumbidzai Mugwagwa.

She was not asked to plead to a murder charge and advised to apply for bail at high court.

The state led by prosecutor Carson Kundiona alleged on December 8 the accused had an altercation with her husband Webster Zhuwaka after accusing him of having an extra marital affair.

Mutungwa became violent and fatally assaulted the now deceased Zhuwaki with bricks.

To conceal her act she dragged Zhuwaki’s body and hang it on a tree.

The police investigated the matter and found blood stained clothes in the house and bricks used in commiting the offense.

By A Correspondent- Stranded members of Tembwe Housing Cooperative in Budiriro where 190 houses were demolished by Harare City Council last week, are demanding alternative accommodation after it emerged that the wrong structures were destroyed.

The houses were demolished on the strength of a purported 2017 court order.

The cooperative has now gone to court seeking an order for Harare to provide alternative accommodation for its members.

The court order used during the demolitions is said to have been issued against Events Housing Cooperative, not Tembwe.

The matter is yet to be set for hearing.

Harare mayor Jacob Mafume, who is on bail for allegedly corruptly allocating residential stands to his sister and colleague, was yesterday arrested on charges of trying to interfere with a state witness.

Mafume is said to have been picked up at Strathaven Shopping Centre by the Special Anti-Corruption Unit for attempting to bribe a chief witness in the stands case.

Mafume’s lawyer, Tonderai Bhatasara, last night confirmed the arrest, but said that the mayor was yet to be formally charged.

He was held by SACU at Morris Depot Police Station.

-dailynews

THE Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) is likely to fail to run the 2023 harmonised elections due to gross underfunding, Parliament has disclosed.

This came out in a report on the 2021 National Budget by the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Justice chaired by Makoni South MP, Misheck Mataranyika (Zanu-PF).

The country is set to hold harmonised elections in 2023. Zec was also supposed to hold by elections this month after the MDC-T led by Thokozani Khupe recalled more than 32 MPs and several councillors countrywide aligned to the MDC Alliance led by Nelson Chamisa. However, Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga barred by-elections citing COVID-19 regulations.

The committee report said Zec submitted a bid of $12,4 billion for 2021, but Treasury only allocated the electoral body a paltry $2,3 billion, leaving a variance of 81%.

MPs also warned that if the 2023 elections were postponed, it would seriously damage the image of the country and set back economic and political progress.

They said new voters were also likely to be disenfranchised if Zec failed to upgrade its technology at a time when it expects to register around seven million new voters.

“Adequate financing of electoral management bodies is of paramount importance in thriving democracies. The very existence of legislators and senators is a direct outcome of this crucial process,” the report said.

“Financing of Zec may seem costly and competes for scarce financial resources with critical sectors such as education, health and defence. The funding requirements of Zec are a function of the electoral cycle and will vary hugely between election and non-election time. As 2023 approaches, the need for the adequate financing of Zec is beyond any reasonable doubt,” reads part of the report.

MPs said Zec needed $8,6 billion to carry out and conclude the delimitation exercise six months before the 2023 elections as stipulated by the law.

“The current appropriation of $1,744 billion is as good as seed money for the delimitation exercise that needs to be undertaken. The government has tabled amendments of the Census and Statistics Act so that the next census is conducted by July 31, 2021, and every ten years thereafter.

“Taking an average (US$15 per voter) and multiplying it by the voter population (7 million) as well as the auction exchange rate (US$1:$80) will yield a figure of $8,4 billion.”

The report also said that the outstanding 2020 by-elections had not been adequately funded and no provision had been made for 2021 by-elections.

By A Correspondent- The true spread of the coronavirus in schools is shrouded in secrecy as the government is sensitive to having its decision to re-open schools questioned, human rights doctors have said.

The Zimbabwe Association of Doctors for Human Rights (ZADHR) says only increased testing will give a true picture of the virus spread in the country, and lead to a marshalling of an appropriate national response.

On Monday, the ministry of health reported 112 new cases including two deaths. In all, 11,358 cases have been declared, of which 9,554 have recovered.

The government re-opened schools in a phased approach starting in September, after they closed prematurely in March when the respiratory illness landed.

Information minister Monica Mutsvangwa last week said 332 pupils had tested positive for the coronavirus since September, but unions say the figures are fudged as the government tiptoes around a potential backlash from parents.

The latest school to be the focus of the fast-spreading virus is Dadaya Mission in Masvingo which reported that 32 pupils had tested positive last week. Even before the rest of the pupils got their results, some parents reportedly stormed the school and took away their children.

At John Tallach in Matabeleland North, 184 pupils and teachers were found to have caught the virus. Over a dozen other schools have reported outbreaks, including Matopo (10 cases) and Mtshabezi (11) in Matabeleland South; Chinhoyi High in Mashonaland West (88) and Anderson High School in the Midlands (20).

The ZADHR said:

“Recent data points to widespread community transmission of Covid-19 in the country and worrying foci of cases in schools. The Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ) leadership further asserted that secrecy, fear, and mistrust are also complicating the true assessment of the extent of Covid-19 in schools.

“ZADHR calls for an urgent review of the country’s response to Covid-19. Testing rates must be urgently upscaled and made proportionate to the threat posed by a second wave of Covid-19, intensive care capacity for handling complicated cases assessed and where possible increased.”

PTUZ secretary general Raymond Majongwe last week said teachers were being sworn to secrecy by the ministry of primary and secondary education which is obsessed with painting a sunshine picture of the situation in schools.

Ministers “trust officials reporting from their offices instead of unions that have personnel on the ground,” the PTUZ said.

“Zimbabwe is not and was never ready for Covid-19 at schools. It has neither the professional nor technical competence to deal with the virus,” the union added.

The ZADHR proposed that the government rolls out a targeted vaccination campaign which initially prioritises high risk groups and the vulnerable.

“Furthermore, a new policy thrust that enhances safety and protection of groups at higher risk of mortality and morbidity from Covid-19 must be considered,” the doctors added in a statement,

-zimlive

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By A Correspondent- A bolt of lightning yesterday struck a kitchen hut in Mahusekwa in which three social soccer team players were taking refuge from the rains and killed one of them on the spot.

Ian Mashinge (19) of Sadza village under Chief Nenguwo had his body retrieved by fellow villagers from a burning hut while his colleagues were taken to Mahusekwa District Hospital for treatment for burns.

According to witnesses, about 10 youths were in the company of the deceased while playing soccer at an open space in the area when disaster struck.

Some of the injured youths have since been discharged while others were reportedly referred to Harare Central Hospital.

Mashonaland East provincial police spokesperson Inspector Tendai Mwanza confirmed the incident yesterday.

“On December 10, at around 6pm, the deceased was playing soccer with his friends aged 21 and 31 at an open space at Kundishora village. It started raining and the trio took refuge in a kitchen hut. It is reported that the hut was struck by a bolt of lightning, caught fire and Ian Mashinge got burnt in the process. The other two escaped unhurt. Some villagers tried to rescue Mashinge but their efforts were in vain,” Mwanza said.

-newsday

ZLHR BREAKINGNEWS: Justice Zhou sets aside Magistrate Nduna’s ruling disqualifying human rights lawyer Beatrice Mtetwa & instead disqualifies Nduna from presiding over Hopewell Chin’ono’s trial

By A Correspondent- The MDC-T owes US$100 000 to its lawyers who include constitutional expert Lovemore Madhuku, Kholwani Ngwenya, Nomatter Kadoko, and another lawyer only named as Mtungura, it has emerged.

This was disclosed by the beleaguered party secretary-general (SG) Douglas Mwonzora yesterday during a Press briefing in Bulawayo where he tried to come clean over accusations that he raided a party account and diverted $300 000 for private use.

The party funds had been allegedly transferred to one of the party lawyers, Sarudzayi Chitsanga’s account following a family bereavement. MDC-T received $161 million from government under the Political Parties Finance Act.

A party member, Leonard Chisvo has already reported the fraud case to the police at Highlands Police Station under case number RRB4586626.

During the Press conference, Mwonzora claimed that he never had access to party funds and never distributed the $300 000 to anyone.

“I have read about that and I am told that somebody has already made a police report to that effect. It is not true. I never withdrew any money from the MDC-T account and I challenge my accusers to give the public proof of the withdrawal by myself,” Mwonzora said.

“Chitsanga has been one of our lawyers since March 31, we had five lawyers who were helping the MDC-T, and we have a lawyer here in Bulawayo — Ngwenya, Mtungura in Mutare, Madhuku, Chitsanga, and Kadoko all in Harare. These are the lawyers who have been handling MDC-T cases including all the 20 court challenges that were brought by the MDC-T.

“We owe these lawyers some money, and legal fees running to over US$100 000 and we have to pay them, so yes we do owe Chitsanga more money than what people are talking about.”

He said where a lawyer has bereavement, it would be reasonable for the party to assist him, adding that Chitsanga was actually owed over US$12 000 by the party. He did not explain why the payment made to Chitsanga did not follow normal procedure or was made without other party leaders being made aware.

“I never had access to that money at all and I challenge my accusers to show that I had access to it. The MDC-T has an accounting system which is very elaborate and this is an accounting system that I have been presiding over for years since 2014 as the SG and its accounting system is provided for in the constitution and finance and administrative rules.”

He claimed that the reports that he looted party funds were clear mudslinging ahead of the party congress slated for December 19 at the Harare International Conference Centre (HICC).

“So this is false, this is malicious, this is calculated to affect my chances at congress and I was told that some people wanted me arrested because they do not want an opponent like me to contest them. But I challenge them to prove their allegations and make that proof public, “he said.

The MDC-T senator said during his campaign trail, he was using funds donated by friends.

“But if the money was paid to a lawyer who is owed money by the organisation and who has a problem and the money is there, how does it become looting by Mwonzora?”

He then bragged that he had the highest chances of winning the MDCT presidency to succeed the late party leader Morgan Tsvangirai.

Meanwhile, Mwonzora said that all expelled and recalled party members would not be eligible to attend the MDC-T congress.

“Our officers are currently engaging with the Ministry of Health and Child Care. Those people who have been expelled from the party or those that have been recalled will not be eligible for the congress,” he said.

Mwonzora also dismissed reports that the congress will be virtual, saying that it would be a physical one where delegates from across the country would attend.

“We have made security arrangements to deal with the possible disturbances of our congress by certain elements that we suspect are likely to disrupt our congress. The independent electoral commission is going to be given the voters role on Wednesday,” he said, adding that 20 COVID-19 compliance officers had been trained.

Mwonzora will contest against the acting MDC-T president Thokozani Khupe, chairperson Morgan Komichi and deputy national chairperson Elias Mudzuri for the presidency.-newsday

By A Correspondent- A director with a local butchery and meat supplier is claiming that his social media account was hacked after the account inadvertently exposed that his butchery buys very sick cattle including those about to die from diseases.

Kudzanayi Fortune Kadzimu who is a director at Million Meats went viral on social media for all the wrong reasons after cyber sleuths revealed that he is allegedly in the business of buying sick cattle. Even ones that are so sick that they are at the point of death.

This was after Kadzimu allegedly posted in a Facebook group called Cattle Farmers Zimbabwe that he buys sick cattle.

Kadzimu wrote:

Tinotengawo mombe dzinorwara even dzakuda kufa. (We buy sick cattle, even ones at the point of death) Call or app 0771 775 556.

Quick thinking cyber detectives went through Kadzimu’s account and discovered that he is a director at Million Meats. This was further confirmed by a poster for Million Meats which lists Kadzimu’s number among the contact numbers for customers who want to place orders. Furthermore, the number can be easily verified as Kadzimu’s through a simple EcoCash transaction.

Given some of the horror stories about some of the unsavoury practises that butcheries and other meat supplies are doing, Kadzimu’s post, unsurprisingly, did not sit well with most people. The posts went viral on social media and many people counselled each other to only buy meat whose provenance is known.

They also advised each other to avoid cheap sources of meat. Many also called on the relevant authorities to come down hard on unscrupulous characters such as Kadzimu, who expose the public to all manner of health hazards in their desire for a quick buck.

After initially keeping quiet over the matter, Kadzimu took to social media to do some damage control and claimed that his Facebook account had been hacked. He categorically denied making the post about buying sick cattle. Said Kadzimu:

Good day everyone, hope I find you well. I would like to make this announcement to the General public and our customers that my account was hacked, in relation to the post that is trending and circulating on social, about me and my business empire! I wouldn’t be that dump (sic) to post such stuff. Any damages caused and the hearts, I would like to extend my apologies to everyone. Thank you good day.

However, most people who interacted with the post seemed not to buy his explanation and evidence and details about the alleged hack.

A few minutes later Kadzimu posted that he was going to share evidence of how his account had been hacked. The intrepid meat supplier wrote,

In some few minutes will be dropping the evidence of why and how the account was hacked.

Within a minute he made another post in which he claimed to have regained full control of his Facebook account.

My account is back now,

Despite his earlier claim that he was going to share evidence of how his account had been hacked Kadzimu never did so.

Two and half hours later he made another Facebook post in which he claimed that “reasonable people” understood and believed his explanation that he was the victim of a “genuine hack”. The meat supplier went on to thank everyone who is supporting and encouraging him during this trying period.

However, he made no mention of the evidence that he had previously promised to share. Despite the fact that, the post trending is unacceptable in the human society, I would like to thank everyone who is accepting and understanding that this was a GENUINE HACK. I have been receiving calls from all over the world, London, America, South Africa, Australia, Zim, etc. Reasonable people are seeing clearly that, I can’t found posting such stuff. Someone sent me:- great destinies attract great enemies and great challenges ” thank you for the encouragement.

Thank you for the calls, thank you for the messages, I might not be able to respond to every but thank you.

It seems that most people who responded to the post are sceptical about the Million Meats director’s claims that he was hacked.

By A Correspondent- 24-year-old Tadiwa Mangwende of Chinhamora appeared in court on allegations of aggravated indecent assault for sodomising his employer’s four-year-old son in a dog kennel.

Harare magistrate Mrs Judith Taruvinga remanded the 24-year-old in custody to 11 January next year.

Magistrate Taruving advised him to apply for bail at the High Court.

The court heard that between November and part of December this year, Mr Mangwende was left in charge of the toddler by his employers.

Mangwende is believed to have committed the despicable act during this brief period.

It is alleged that he lured the four-year-old to a dog kennel located somewhere in the yard.

When the boy arrived Mangwende overpowered him, removed his clothes and proceeded to sodomise him whilst covering his mouth with his palm.

The boy then started soiling himself and when his mother asked what was wrong with him he told her about the incident.

The incident was reported to the police leading to Mangwende’s arrest.

statemedia

By Nomusa Garikai| “Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) commander Lieutenant General Edzai Absolom Chanyuka Chimonyo is in India for medical treatment, local media has reported.

“Lt. Gen. Chimonyo is said to be suffering from lung complications and was airlifted to the Asian country recently.”

The report reminded the reader of VP Chiwenga’s now infamous decree banning Zimbabweans from seeking health care service outside the country.

“We will not export our patients. We will not make referrals (to foreign medical facilities) for our patients. It’s everybody,” said Chiwenga in September after taking on the Minister of Health Portfolio.

“Ministers are only about 20 but those who have been going out it’s you, you, me, altogether.

“That export bill was too high and that’s what we want to curtail. We want to do away with that, and it requires us to carry out restructuring from the village health worker right up to the quaternary hospital.”

VP Chiwenga is in China right now, his second health care trip this year alone. VP Chiwenga’s promise to stop “exporting our patients” was just hot air. 

Just as President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s repeated “zero tolerance on corruption”! is another blast of hot air. 

VP Chiwenga lives in the C&M mansion (before that it was C&J before he divorce his first wife and the mansion will have a new name because he is divorcing Marry, the second wife) and in the garage is a fleet of 6 posh cars. 

He has 45 golden watches. Whilst Grace Mugabe was obsessed about designer goods especially Gucci shoes – beside all the other luxuries like the sprawling Blue Roof mansion. For Chiwenga it is the very, very expensive watches that turns him on. 

Chiwenga has nearly US$ 250 000, all in USD, in just one bank account in Zimbabwe, according to the Court records in the ongoing divorce case with Marry. It is almost certain, he has other bank accounts in Zimbabwe and outside with cash, gold watches and other treasures.

No doubt Lt. Gen. Chimonyo, as a senior ZNA commander, has too amassed a respectable fortune, from the same source as VP Chiwenga and other ZNA top brass have amassed their fortunes. Chimonyo’s fortune may not be as large as that VP Chiwenga; he is playing catch-up!

It is one thing issuing a decree that no one should seek health care services outside Zimbabwe but quite another to enforce it; especially when the country cannot provide even the most basic health case services let alone the specialist services. And, most significant of all, when the individual seeking the services has the wherewithal to pay for it! 

VP Chiwenga defied his own decree not to seek health care services outside Zimbabwe precisely because he has the wherewithal to pay for it! The man is loaded and his obsession with very expensive watches; of course it down right stupid to buy 45 gold watches; is just a manifestation of one who has so much money and has run out of ideas of what to do with it!

If anyone is serious about stopping the VP Chiwenga, the Lt. Gen. Chimonyo, etc.; Zimbabwe’s filthy rich who are squandering billions of dollars on sprawling mansions, posh cars, luxury goods galore, health care services outside the country even for minor ailments, etc. etc.; we must first find the sources of their fabulous wealth. 

If the source of one wealth is legal and there are all the supporting documents including the tax returns to prove it; then, why not, let the individual spend their earned wealth as they please. 

However, if the lifestyle audit showed that the fabulous riches were not earned legally; then every dollar of the ill-got wealth must be taken away. And all those guilty of the illegal activities must be hunted down, tried in a court of law and duly punished. 

It is an open secret that VP Chiwenga, Lt. Gen. Chimonyo and all the other top brass in the Army have amassed their wealth from the ZNA’s diamond mining concession in Marange and Chiadzwa. Similar concession were granted to the other security services sectors like the Police and CIO and to a select Zanu PF leaders. The first concession were granted back in 2006 and there are still valid to this day.

Indeed, the diamond mining concessions have been ruled a great success, as far as this Zanu PF government is concerned, the idea has since been replicated in other areas.

It was the late Zanu PF MP, Edward Chindori-Chininga who, in a parliamentary report in 2012, shed some light on the very nature of these diamond mining concessions. The report showed the miners kept no record of the quantity and quality of the diamonds mined, where the diamonds are sold and for how much, who the beneficiaries were and how the spoils were shared, etc. With no records, there are no cooperate or individual tax obligations. 

The 2012 GNU parliament read and all other parliaments since have known of Chindori-Chininga’s report and have all done nothing about it. Silence, in this case, is consent. 

The wholesale looting of diamonds and other resources in Zimbabwe has all been approved by both the Zimbabwe cabinet and parliament. Corruption is institutionalised! 

People like VP Chiwenga know they will never get away with naming the ZNA mining concession as the source of they wealth when there are no records to prove he receive a single dollar from the activity. He knows the reason for keeping no records was to hide the truth, to hide the institutionalised corruption. 

Of course, every one knows that what is going on in Marange and Chiadzwa is illegal, no democratic and competent government in the world would ever grant a blank cheque to anyone to loot and plunder. And it is for this reason that the top brass in ZNA and all the other beneficiaries of the institutionalised corrupt in Zimbabwe will never allow any democratic reforms and regime change in Zimbabwe. They fear a lifestyle audit will reveal the corruption and rot in the country. 

If VP Chiwenga was serious about ending health care travellers and Mnangagwa was serious about stamping out corruption then they must demand a lifestyle audit for all citizens. 

Both President Mnangagwa and VP Chiwenga will never lift a finger to end institutionalised corruption because they are the Godfathers of corruption. 

As long as Zanu PF remains in power, Zimbabwe will never ever stamp out corruption. Never!

By A Correspondent- The Commissioner-General of Police, Godwin Matanga yesterday announced the death of retired police commissioner Adolf Moyo, who passed away on December 11 at Westend Hospital in Harare.

In a statement yesterday, police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said Moyo, who is a war veteran retired from the police service on December 8.

Meanwhile, Nyathi said the police were concerned over the increase in drowning cases, mostly involving minors that have occurred in the country since the onset of the rainy season. He said a 36-yearold man drowned while trying to cross Mbembesi River which was flooded.

“In Hwange, on December 11 2020, it is alleged that Mafume allocated residential stands to his sister Rotina Mafume and to a secretary at his law firm Rutendo Muvuti without following due process.

He allegedly used his influence as a councillor to push responsible council employees to allocate the stands to the two.

Rotina and Muvuti were allocated the stands valued at $219 938 although they were not on the waiting list.

Yesterday Mafume was remanded to January 28, 2021.

A male juvenile aged seven drowned in Sianyama One community dam, Siabuwa after he fell off a floating log and his body was retrieved and taken to hospital for post-mortem. In Victoria Falls, on the same date, a male juvenile (10) drowned while swimming in Malata River,” Nyathi said.

-newsday

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By A Correspondent- MDC-T is set to hold its contentious Extra-Ordinary Congress this Saturday and is expecting 3 000 delegates drawn from across the country despite the risk of Covid-19.

The party said it had discussed with police in Harare, who had verbally indicated the congress could go on subject to them engaging the Ministry of Health and Child Care for guidance.

MDC-T added that 20 Covid-19 compliance enforcement officers were trained to monitor the 3 000 delegates.

Four candidates – Dr Thokozani Khupe, Senators Morgan Komichi, Elias Mudzuri and Douglas Mwonzora are vying for the presidency, as according to the Supreme Court ruling in March that ordered a fresh congress to replace the late leader, Morgan Tsvangirai.

Responding to questions from the press at the Media Centre in Bulawayo on Monday, MDC-T secretary-general, Mwonzora said preparations for the congress were at an advanced stage.

“We are expecting 3 000 delegates on December 19, 2020, at the Sheraton (Rainbow Towers) Hotel. This is going to be a physical congress and delegates are going to be ferried across the country to the venue. This congress’ single issue is to vote for the president and no conventional address would take place after voting. Delegates would be addressed Friday night virtually,” he said.

The election is going to be conducted by an Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) headed by the Deputy Secretary-General of the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU), made up of members of the civic society, trade union movements and some people from the church, Mwonzora said.

He added MDC-T had made a lot of security arrangements to deal with suspected elements who may cause possible disturbances.

“The congress is for MDC-T members, not those who have joined other political parties such as people who were expelled and recalled from the party. Hopefully, after voting for a president, we will have a candidate for the 2023 election, so we don’t want opponents there ,” he said.

“Provinces are to prepare and verify the voters roll then hand them over to the IEC who will oversee printing of the ballot papers. We want this election to be as free, fair and conventional as possible so the ballot papers will be informed by size of the voters roll but we will print extra to deal with mistakes a voter may make.”

The secretary-general insisted that MDC-T had taken measures to prevent a potential spread of Covid-19 and the delegates would enter the auditorium in batches of 100, accompanied by one compliance official.  

“We looked at a number of options to prevent spread so the first option was having it centralised where people would come, vote and it is something they are used to anyway. We discussed decentralisation but since we have to be big on security, it was going to be very difficult and we felt stretched administratively as well,” he said.

“We thought of having a virtual conference but we condemned it because the secrecy of the vote would be lost, voting online meant people would know who voted for who and not. The other issue was tied to connectivity, which is a big issue in our country especially with the rainy season and technologically we are not prepared to deal with challenges that come with voting online such as hacking.”

Mwonzora claimed the delegates would not congregate as 3 000 at once but each province would be allocated intervals to enter the venue.

“At the venue, people would occupy the western and southern grounds. Social distancing would be observed and enforced by the marshals. The delegates will enter the auditorium at the Harare International Conference Centre in batches of 100,” he said.

MDC-T would supply the buses to ferry delegates and Mwonzora said people would wear face masks while sanitisation will be done upon entry and exit.

“Temperature testing and sanitisation would be done at the premises and wearing of masks would be enforced. Provincial delegates will wait for their turn to vote at the grounds and they will be in a group of 300 in average. The Ministry of Health and Department of Health from Harare City have been invited to make sure we are complying and can advise on any intervention. I think we have dealt very well with the issue of the Covid-19 menace,” said the secretary-general.

Mwonzora was in the company of Deputy Chairman of the Guardian Council of the MDC Senator Cephas Makuyana, also a founder member the MDC and former trade unionist with the Food and Allied Workers Union and member of the General council of the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions.-cite.org

watch the live video loading below…. (please be patient as it uploads)

By A Correspondent- Former Cabinet minister Jonathan Moyo has published names of more than a dozen alleged intelligence operatives who he said took part in the abduction and torture of 22-year-old journalism student, Tawanda Muchehiwa in July.

Moyo, now living in exile in Kenya, previously released some of the names on Twitter in October, prompting the government to announce plans for law reforms to penalise “the act of publication of the identity of members of the security services.”

Muchehiwa, a nephew of ZimLive editor Mduduzi Mathuthu and second-year journalism student at the Midlands State University was grabbed by armed men in daylight outside a hardware shop in Bulawayo on July 30, the eve of anti-government protests that had been planned by activists.

The abduction, captured on CCTV and involving at least six vehicles, was followed by a raid on Mathuthu’s home by members of the same team claiming to be looking for “subversive materials”.

As Muchehiwa was driven away to be tortured for three days at an unknown location, two other nephews of the journalist and a female activist from the MDC Alliance were booked at the main police station, Moyo says not by police officers but at least four operatives from the Central Intelligence Organisation – Frank Muzembe, Innocent Chigona, Joshua Zingwe and Ronald Musarurwa.

Others implicated by Moyo are Brian “Beeman” Maguya, Samson Munyaradzi Chikadaya, Abraham Pasi, Anyway Sithole, Mungate Mungate, Fidel Murume and Tawonga Nyemba, who is also known as Togarepi Ringisai.

Moyo claims to have obtained the names from intelligence sources, which, if confirmed, would represent a major breakthrough for human rights groups and opposition activists whose reports of State-sanctioned abductions have been dismissed as “stage managed” and “fake” by President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s regime.

Three female MDC activists including the Harare West MP Joanah Mamombe reported that they were abducted and sexually abused for two days in May, but police charged them with faking the abduction to sully Zimbabwe’s human rights record.

Muchehiwa was released after three days suffering life threatening kidney injuries.

He told police investigators that his abductors, who were five, drove him well out of town and kept him at a farmhouse where there was evidence of past small-scale poultry farming.

Moyo now says he has been handed names of the five CIO operatives who carried out the torture: Mqondisi Ncube of Gwanda, William Manzunzu from Bikita, Assistant Intelligence Officer Joseph “Wasu” Ndlovu from Chipinge, Benson Mupamhadzi and Tonderai Chiguya, the alleged driver of the hired Ford Ranger in which Muchehiwa was driven.
A High Court judge ordered Impala Car Rental from which the Ford Ranger was hired to share with Muchehiwa’s lawyers vital information about the individual who was issued the car, and also tracking data.

Impala Car Rental refused to co-operate with the legal team, instead claiming that police took all the records.

The vehicle had no tracker at the time, the company also said.

Muchehiwa’s lawyer Nqobani Sithole told ZimLive that three police investigation officers, who had been assigned the Muchehiwa abduction case, were transfered without explanation.

Last month, police Commissioner General Godwin Matanga assembled a new team of half-a-dozen CID detectives from Harare and Gweru to begin a fresh investigation, but Sithole says they hold no hopes the probe will go anywhere.

“We are determined to get justice for Muchehiwa. Our prayer is that the police wrap-up their investigation so that we take our next steps,” the lawyer said, hinting at a possible private prosecution.

Sithole said Muchehiwa’s abductors were working with the operatives who took the two nephews and MDC Alliance activist Tendai Masotsha to the police station, and it should be easy from a review of police records to establish who they were.

Moyo claims most of the operatives, who worked at the Magnet House CIO headquarters in Bulawayo, have been transferred out of Bulawayo province after their names were exposed.

Muzembe has been allegedly redeployed to Mashonaland West, Chigona to Mashonaland Central and Zingwe to Masvingo.

Police say the investigation into Muchehiwa’s abduction continues.

-zimlive

ZimEye will be going live shortly at a press conference where the man who exposed MDC T aspiring presidential hopeful Douglas Mwonzora is set to address the media.

The man only identified as one Chisvo is set to reveal more details regarding the court appointed MDC T Secretary General’s alleged divertion and theft of party funds.

Refresh this page for latest details…

By A Correspondent- The court yesterday granted permission for the temporary release of renowned Zimbabwean author Tsitsi Dangarembga’s passport so that she could travel for a fellowship event in Germany.

Dangarembga is jointly charged with Julie Gabriel Barnes on allegations of participating in a public gathering with an intention to promote public violence during the July 31 nationwide demonstrations.

The duo had surrendered their passports as part of their bail conditions for the offence. Barnes had submitted before the court that she intends to travel abroad for business issues.

In passing her ruling, magistrate Estere Chivasa said Dangarembga had been nominated for a lifetime opportunity hence it would be inhumane if the court withheld her passport, leading to her missing the event.

She also said the duo had religiously attended court since they were arrested and had never violated their bail reporting conditions and, therefore, there was no justification to deny them relaxation.

The duo, through their lawyer Chris Mhike of Atherstone and Cook, had offered to surrender their motor vehicles as surety for bail relaxation, but Chivasa said it was not necessary.

They were remanded to January 5, 2021.

Dangarembga was arrested a few days after she was nominated for the £50 000 Booker Prize with her latest novel, This Mournable Body.

Tinashe Makiya appeared for the State.

-Newsday

By A Correspondent- The accident reportedly occured in Kandava village, Seke along the Harare Hwedza road.

It could however not be immediately established how the two vehicles in the picture ended up the way they are.

By A Correspondent- The MDC-T party has fired more than 60 party members in Mashonaland East province accusing them of being loyal to MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa.

The expulsions saw top and fierce opposition party members in all the nine districts of the province being dismissed as the Thokozani Khupe-led MDC-T is preparing for its annual congress.

A list of the persons fired gleaned by this paper showed that notables who have been shown the exit door include former Marondera mayor Chengetai Murowa, provincial boss Anthony Mutodza, youth leader Charles Ngwena and Wonder Siriya among many others.

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

MDC Alliance provincial spokesperson Chengetai Murova scoffed at the move by Khupe saying that the MDC-T cannot sack members that 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.

The MDC-T, armed with the Supreme Court order, has been on overdrive purging members who were perceived to be loyal to Chamisa.

The courts reinstated Khupe as the acting MDC-T leader using the 2014 structures, a move that was perceived as a ploy to neutralise Chamisa.

Meanwhile, the Local Governance ministry has recalled Marondera deputy mayor Bornface Tagwireyi after recommendations from the MDC-T.

Tagwireyi becomes the sixth councillor to be recalled after his colleagues experienced the same fate recently.

-Newsday

Video loading below …

Yesterday we spoke while in a rush as you explaining that you had entered court when it was said that the file for Thanks Makore is (was not found)…

The lawyer replies saying: Yes it is true that his file was not there when we got there; so we were told to come back on the 18th of December,

I went to see the clerk for justice Chitapi who said that the file will be taken to his house because he is on vacation.

On the issue of DNA checks, we are going back today, we were told that they are going to check the report…

We are going to PGHQ, the office of the police commissioner general, the DNA records are in the hands of the police right now the company does not have anything with them.

There is a head (skull) that was found and it was commented that the head cannot be that of a 7 year old child.

Own Correspondent

An MDC-T party member, Leonard Chisvo has reported a fraud case against Secretary General Douglas Mwonzora to the police at Highlands Police Station under case number RRB4586626.

This comes at a time when Mwonzora is busy trying to come clean over accusations that he raided a party account and diverted $300 000 for private use.

The party funds had been allegedly transferred to one of the party lawyers, Sarudzayi Chitsanga’s account following a family bereavement. MDC-T received $161 million from government under the Political Parties Finance Act.

Mwonzora claims that he never had access to party funds and never distributed the $300 000 to anyone.

“I have read about that and I am told that somebody has already made a police report to that effect. It is not true. I never withdrew any money from the MDC-T account and I challenge my accusers to give the public proof of the withdrawal by myself,” Mwonzora said.

“Chitsanga has been one of our lawyers since March 31, we had five lawyers who were helping the MDC-T, and we have a lawyer here in Bulawayo — Ngwenya, Mtungura in Mutare, Madhuku, Chitsanga, and Kadoko all in Harare. These are the lawyers who have been handling MDC-T cases including all the 20 court challenges that were brought by the MDC-T.

“We owe these lawyers some money, and legal fees running to over US$100 000 and we have to pay them, so yes we do owe Chitsanga more money than what people are talking about.”

He said where a lawyer has bereavement, it would be reasonable for the party to assist him, adding that Chitsanga was actually owed over US$12 000 by the party. He did not explain why the payment made to Chitsaanga did not follow normal procedure or was made without other party leaders being made aware.

“I never had access to that money at all and I challenge my accusers to show that I had access to it. The MDC-T has an accounting system which is very elaborate and this is an accounting system that I have been presiding over for years since 2014 as the SG and its accounting system is provided for in the constitution and finance and administrative rules.”

He claimed that the reports that he looted party funds were clear mudslinging ahead of the party congress slated for December 19 at the Harare International Conference Centre (HICC).

“So this is false, this is malicious, this is calculated to affect my chances at congress and I was told that some people wanted me arrested because they do not want an opponent like me to contest them. But I challenge them to prove their allegations and make that proof public, “he said.

The MDC-T senator said during his campaign trail, he was using funds donated by friends.

“But if the money was paid to a lawyer who is owed money by the organisation and who has a problem and the money is there, how does it become looting by Mwonzora?”

He then bragged that he had the highest chances of winning the MDC-T presidency to succeed the late party leader Morgan Tsvangirai.

Meanwhile, Mwonzora said that all expelled and recalled party members would not be eligible to attend the MDC-T congress.

“Our officers are currently engaging with the Ministry of Health and Child Care. Those people who have been expelled from the party or those that have been recalled will not be eligible for the congress,” he said.

Mwonzora also dismissed reports that the congress will be virtual, saying that it would be a physical one where delegates from across the country would attend.

“We have made security arrangements to deal with the possible disturbances of our congress by certain elements that we suspect are likely to disrupt our congress. The independent electoral commission is going to be given the voters role on Wednesday,” he said, adding that 20 COVID-19 compliance officers had been trained.

Mwonzora will contest against the acting MDC-T president Thokozani Khupe, chairperson Morgan Komichi and deputy national chairperson Elias Mudzuri for the presidency.

Additional reporting by NewsDay

NewsDay

THE Progressive Teachers Union in Zimbabwe (PTUZ) yesterday claimed that more than 10 000 teachers around the country resigned from the profession in the months of September to December 2020.

PTUZ president Takavafira Zhou in a statement said that the number of resignations was expected to double by January 2021.

Currently, Zimbabwe has around 136 000 teachers and around 4,6 million learners.

Zhou said the mass exodus of teachers was due to government’s failure to address their salary issues after they demanded to be paid US$520 per month or the equivalent.

He said some of the teachers that resigned preferred to work as artisanal miners, while others preferred to be vendors or to work in neighbouring countries.

“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,” Zhou said.

“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,” he said.

The PTUZ said teachers were unable to send their own children to school and cannot trust the salary negotiations by government and the Apex Council which they viewed as “treacherous”.

“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,” the PTUZ said.

Primary and Secondary education minister Cain Mathema refuted the statistics by the PTUZ saying he does not have such information.

“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,” Mathema said.

In the wake of a rise in statue erections across the country, ZANU PF coupist Emmerson Mnangagwa is getting an own plaque built for him in the ancestral Vic Falls town lands.

It will be built at the Zambezi bridge’s “No man’s land” between Zimbabwe and Zambia border for tourist attraction purposes.

The development could anger the local people of the area seeing that Mnangagwa is the same who once desecrated the ancestral properties by trying to corruptly hand them to the racist US President Donald Trump.

The decision follows the erection of a similar plaque by the Victoria Falls Municipality last week when it granted Emmerson Mnangagwa the Freedom of the City.

The local authority erected its plaque at the council offices last Wednesday in honour of President Mnangagwa’s contribution to the country’s liberation and development of the resort town to a city.

The plaque symbolises the Freedom of the City granted to the President by the council.

It is located at the council offices’ main gate and reads: “In remembrance of the sacrifices and sufferings endured by many cadres of our liberation struggle, Victoria Falls City Council celebrates the Freedom of the City to one luminary, Cde ED Mnangagwa, who was incarcerated by the white supremist regime of the Rhodesian government and notably, freed into Zambia in 1972 at the Victoria Falls Bridge.

Significantly, he is the first freeman of the city of Victoria Falls.” President Mnangagwa was handed a casket made of teak wood from Lupane with the city’s court of arms and a key, which symbolises the freedom.

Freedom of the City is a highest civic honour a council can bestow on some prominent man or woman for meritorious service either of a national or local character.

Renowned for its majestic Falls, the new city holds a special place for Mnangagwa who was condemned to death after bombing a locomotive at Fort Victoria Falls town railway station, now Masvingo.

Emmerson Mnangagwa had served 10 years in detention at Khami, Grey (Bulawayo) and Hwange prisons when he was released in 1972 before being deported into Zambia through Victoria Falls.

Now plans are underway to erect a similar plaque at the bridge’s “no man’s land” where President Mnangagwa visited last Wednesday as he relived his experiences when he was set free by the Rhodesian authorities.

Local Government and Public Works Minister, July Moyo, said the Freedom of the City plaque, coupled with numerous developments around Victoria Falls was good for tourism.

“This has been a busy schedule for President Mnangagwa. He went to the new city council and signed the visitors’ book as the first visitor for the city.

He then went to unveil a remembrance plaque, which symbolises liberation fighters’ sacrifice before visiting the Victoria Falls Bridge where he relived his experiences when he was set free by the Rhodesian authorities before being deported to Zambia.

After that he went to officiate at the council meeting where he took over the Mayor’s chair,” said Minister Moyo.

“The City of Victoria Falls erected the plaque and the tourism industry has said it cannot be outdone by the council. They have said they will put a plaque at the ‘no man’s land’ on the bridge for all visitors into the country and those visiting the bridge to see the rich history and sacrifices. With or without Covid-19, Victoria Falls is now open.”

Mr Moyo was speaking during an interface between President Mnangagwa and Zimbabwe Local Government Association (Zilga) meeting of over 300 female councillors and local authorities’ executives who are members of the Women in Local Government Forum (WILGF in Victoria Falls).

The Victoria Falls Bridge is one of the tourism attractions in the resort town and a majority of visitors do not leave the resort without touring the bridge to enjoy a view of the majestic Falls and gorges while others go there for bungee jumping and gorge swing activities. – state media/additional reporting

Pindula

The High Court has blocked the Thokozani Khupe-led MDC-T from holding the Supreme Court-ordered extraordinary congress which was due on 19 December 2020 and also set aside the expulsion from the party of national organising secretary Abednico Bhebhe.

This followed an urgent chamber application by Bhebhe who was seeking the postponement of the extraordinary congress until his challenge against expulsion from the party is determined.

Acting party president Thokozani Khupe and national chairman Morgen Komichi were cited as 1st and 2nd respondents respectively. The High Court ruled:

The Applicant’s suspension and expulsion from the office of National Organising Secretary and membership of the 3rd respondent having been reviewed and set aside in HC 1973/20 and HC 2119/20.

Applicant be and is hereby reinstated to his membership and office of National Organising Secretary of the 3rd Respondent.

Pending the determination of Applicant’s for review filed under cover of case numbers HC 1973/20 and HC 2119/20. 1st, 2nd and 3rd Respondents be and are hereby interdicted from convening a Congress to elect the 3rd Respondent’s President.

As a consequence of the order in (1) above, the 3rd Respondent’s Congress to elect the 3rd Respondent’s President scheduled for the 19th of December 2020, be and is hereby held in abeyance, till applications for review filed under covers of case numbers HC 1973/20 and HC 2119/20 are determined.

Bhebhe was expelled from the party last month on allegations of “grossly violating the constitution of the party by supporting another political party other than the MDC-T”.

The former Nkayi legislator was considered a threat by the other presidential aspirants after garnering 170 votes to acting president Khupe’s 39 votes and secretary-general Douglas Mwonzora’s 7 votes during the Bulawayo province nomination process.

TWO bribe demanding cops were arrested after allegedly conducting unauthorised traffic duties where they arrested and demanded money from a motorist on flimsy charges.

Osivinda Maphosa, 25, and Prisca Nyadongo, 43, were arrested on charges of criminal abuse of duty while another officer escaped.

They were not asked to plead to the allegations when they appeared before Harare magistrate Judith Taruvinga.

They were remanded out of custody to January 26 on
$2 000 bail each.

Allegations are that on December 9 the officers were at the corner of Nelson Mandela Avenue and Leopold Takawira in Harare enforcing traffic laws on an unsanctioned deployment.

They arrested a motorist but did not explicitly reveal the offence he had committed.

The State alleges the motorist had not committed an offence when he was arrested by the three cops.

It is alleged that after the arrest, the officers allegedly demanded US$30 from the motorist.

However, their luck ran out in the middle of the alleged transaction as the trio was being monitored by a police anti-corruption team who then approached them and found that an offence was being committed, the court heard.

This led to the arrest of two of the officers while their accomplice fled and is still at large.

Several police officers have been arrested this year on corruption-related allegations and have appeared before the courts.

Source – dailynews

A 45-YEAR-OLD Guruve woman allegedly killed her husband after hitting him with an unknown object on the head.

After committing the offense she dragged the body and tied it on a tree to conceal the alleged crime.

The matter came to light at Guruve magistrates courts yesterday where Tabeth Mutungwa appeared before Rumbidzai Mugwagwa.

She was not asked to plead to a murder charge and advised to apply for bail at high court.

The state led by prosecutor Carson Kundiona alleged on December 8 the accused had an altercation with her husband Webster Zhuwaka after accusing him of having an extra marital affair.

Mutungwa became violent and fatally assaulted the now deceased Zhuwaki with bricks.

To conceal her act she dragged Zhuwaki’s body and hang it on a tree.

The police investigated the matter and found blood stained clothes in the house and bricks used in commiting the offense.

Source – Byo24news