Hon Temba Mliswa: Thank you Madam Speaker, I think we have to take seriously the COVID -19 pandemic. I say so because on behalf of many Members, our condolences to ZBC Reporter, the late Janet Munyaka.
I say so because she was quite dedicated to her duty and was a professional. What really pains me is she definitely got infected while at work. What are we doing to ensure that these people who are dedicating their time to serve this country are protected?
What has ZBC done to ensure that there is some tracing in terms of everybody at ZBC. We have not read about that.
The fear is that as Parliament, through our role of oversight, we must be able to encourage institutions to be protected. It is quite sad that we allow our dedicated men and women to work without taking cognisance of the fact that from a health point of view, they have to be protected.
The same as this Parliament, why can we not have a situation where we are tested monthly or twice a week because we do not know who is positive here. I say so because my own sister and Hon Member for Hurungwe West and Provincial Minister of State, Hon. Mary Chikoka was infected.
It is through the grace of God that she survived. It was acute and in no time she was in ICU under incubation. It is a miracle for her to survive. I have learnt that only until it happens to somebody close to you, can you appreciate it. I am hoping that it does not happen to anybody close to you so that we protect ourselves.
The staff and the Ministry of Health must be commended. Our health professionals must be commended because they have gotten into that point understanding covid and as a result they are able to treat it. In that ICU unit, three people died. May we not be reckless with life to get to hospital? Let us not try to get to hospital because we are now more or less under people with a profession which we are not sure of. I say so Madam Speaker because we must take it seriously.
I see Ministers sitting close to each other and yet in the dedication of duty they are exposed– all of us as Members of Parliament are exposed with people. What assurance can we get in this institution that we are all safe?
That is the reason why I am imploring your good office that as of tomorrow – because we do not want to go back home and infect our families, may we get tested so that we know our status and take the necessary remedies that ensure that we are okay and we do not spread it. COVID-19 is real.
Once again condolences to the Munyaka family. She was dedicated to duty and other people in that profession too, want some assurance. How then are they going to be protected and so forth? COVID is real – unless and until somebody close to you gets it can you really understand it is there.
By A Correspondent- SABC News tonight will give an update on Marry Mubaiwa Chiwenga’s health.
This was revealed in a Twitter post by an SABC firebrand journalist Sophie Mokoena who said in a tweet:
Today we will bring you the update on health condition Marry Chiwenga. Watch #sabcnews channel 404 at 8pm tonight.
This came after Marry’s health issues headlined after photos of her wounded hands circulated on social media. Marry’s health condition drew sympathy from many people including her ex-husband Shingi Kaondera who rallied the nation to pray for her in a post that said:
May we all pray for Mary (sic), may God revive her spirit, may she live to see the wedding of our first daughter Destiny. I believe in you Mai D you are stronger than any disease or any court case they can’t afford your peace.
Marry as of last week was also unable to seek medical treatment in South Africa because CBZ Bank froze her bank accounts a move that according to her lawyer Beatrice Mtetwa the bank was not supposed to initiate because they have no legal basis to do so.
A senior Zanu-PF official from Chirumanzu District in the Midlands province drowned after he tried to cross a flooded river to cast his vote during the party’s District Coordinating Committee (DCC) elections.
Cde Muchato Masvinu – the District Chairperson for Chirumanzu – was allegedly swept away while his wife watched in horror as he tried to cross Shashe River to reach a polling station on Sunday.
Because of the heavy rains that have been pounding the country, the ruling party abandoned elections at some polling stations in Gokwe North and Shurugwi North as they had become inaccessible.
The decision to abandon the elections was taken to protect the lives of party members.
Zanu-PF acting national spokesperson, Cde Patrick Chinamasa confirmed the incident in Gweru while addressing a Press conference on Tuesday.
Cde Chinamasa is leading a supervisory team overseeing the Zanu-PF DCC elections in the Midlands province.
“We have received some bad news to the effect that one of our senior party members, Cde Muchato Masvinu, who was the District Chairperson for Chirumanzu drowned after he was swept away as he tried to cross flooded Shashe River. Cde Masvinu wanted to cross the river to get to a polling station that was across to cast his vote during the DCC elections. It is on a sad note that we announce his passing on,” he said.
Cde Chinamasa said Mrs Masvinu rushed to call other villagers who conducted a search which started on Sunday when Cde Masvinu was swept away. They found his body yesterday afternoon downstream.
“Mrs Masvinu who was accompanying her husband to the polling station watched helplessly as he was being swept away. His body was recovered today around 12 midday following a search by fellow villagers,” he said.
Cde Chinamasa said burial arrangements were underway.
“Our deepest condolences are with the Masvinu family and the whole province at large,” he said.
Cde Chinamasa said heavy rains that continued to pound the province had negatively affected the election process.
“The rains have adversely affected the smooth running of our elections and after losing one of our comrades who was swept away by the floods, we were also forced to call off elections at some polling stations in two districts namely Gokwe North and Shurugwi North as the areas were deemed inaccessible.
“With respect to Gokwe North, we also decided to authorise the voting to continue today after the process was disrupted by heavy rains and the polling agents only being able to access some of these polling stations today. We have abandoned voting at two polling stations in Gokwe North that is Gumunyu and Budiriro Schools.
“The areas can only be accessed by a helicopter. In Shurugwi we have only one polling station, Pombe Mine where voters could not access the station to exercise their vote due to incessant rains,” he said.
Cde Chinamasa said the elections were complete in five districts, and were expecting to have received all the results from the other districts by last night.
“We now have election results for Chirumanzu, Kwekwe, Shurugwi and Zvishavane. They are ready and we have since forwarded them to the national command center where the results will be officially announced. We will have received all the results by midnight today and by tomorrow we expect to wrap up our mission in the province,” he said.
Cde Chinamasa said there were a lot of complaints and appeals from various districts which they managed to resolve.
“We resolved all appeals and made recommendations but those who feel they need to appeal to the national command are free to do so and we will not be offended,” he said.
TWO Zimbabwean men aged 24 and 27 have been jailed for 15 years by a Polokwane High Court in South Africa after they were hired by a local woman to kill her 53-year-old mother to settle a family dispute.
Brian Ndlovu (24) and Wilmington Shumbayaonda (27) were allegedly paid R100 000 by Violet Mabhina to kill her mother, Nancy Mabhina. She was jailed for an effective 23 years by the same court.
Limpopo police spokesperson, Brigadier Motlafela Mojapelo, said the trio has been languishing in remand prison since committing the crime on 15 April this year.
“The two accused Ndlovu and Shumbayaonda arrived at the house at Zone 01, Seshego outside Polokwane City on 15 April 2020 at about 02:00 hours in the morning, where the deceased’s daughter opened and let them into the house, making it appear as burglary,” he said.
“She then pointed them to where her mother was sleeping before she went to her own bedroom.”
Brig Mojapelo said the duo then attacked the deceased, stabbed her several times with a knife, robbed her of cell-phone and fled the scene. The deceased’s elderly mother then called for help and the police were notified. The woman was certified dead on the scene.
“Police opened a case of murder and investigations commenced, which involved manhunt for the suspects.
On the same day, the police managed to arrest the two accused.
“The deceased’s cell-phone was also recovered and subsequently, the deceased’s daughter (Violet) was arrested,” said Brig Mojapelo.
Limpopo Police Commander Lieutenant General Nneke Ledwaba applauded the members of the community for continuously providing the police with positive and valuable information that assisted them to conduct timeous investigations.
MDC Alliance President Nelson Chamisa has told the City of Harare to stop demolishing people’s houses saying the whole operations is a violation of human rights, dignity and security of persons.
Posting on Twitter today, Chamisa urged those responsible to stop it.
The heartless and cruel demolition of citizens’ homes is a violation of human rights and a violation of the dignity & security of persons.This command politics based on iron-fisted governance style must be resisted by us all!Those responsible, Stop it!,” said Chamisa.
Demolitions have continued in Harare with over 4 areas demolished so far while City of Harare have been granted an order by the High Court to demolish over 20 areas which were under the development of cooperatives.
The MDC Alliance has also expressed concern over the demolitions while clearing their name from the operation which has left hundreds of people homeless during this rain season.
My Position Let me get straight to the point before going into the details of why I am writing this EOC countdown opinion piece. I support Douglas T. Mwonzora for President of the MDC-T because I believe in his vision for the party and the country.
Why I support Senator Douglas Mwonzora
Whilst Douglas Mwonzora has shared relations with my late father Morgan Tsvangirai from 1991, I first got to know about him after the 2011 congress were he won the election of the Spokesperson for MDC-T. I found it rather fascinating that a man who had been released from prison (for political reasons) four days before the congress could go on to convince 4,500 people in one day to make him the mouth piece of the party and Morgan Tsvangirai. He would go on to be an amazing Spokesperson and would comically be known as the Studio 7 Spokesperson as the message of the party would reach every corner of Zimbabwe with the still popular Studio 7.
In 2014 he did what everyone including my late father thought was impossible. After defeating Nelson Chamisa with 800 votes at what will always be the famous 2014 Congress, with only 1 nomination to his campaign, he would dub his campaign as the 1 nomination 1000 votes in 1 day campaign 1-1000-1. Long story short, that was the congress were Chamisa was defeated and Mwonzora became the Secretary General of the MDC-T. Tsvangirai always had a way to aptly describe Mwonzora. He would say “zvinhu zvaDougie zvinoita semanga-manga but before you know it, he has you in a checkmate.” Consequently, l interpreted this as a great sign of Tsvangirai’s respect for Secretary General Mwonzora.
Mwonzora is a politician who reminds me a lot of some of my late father’s attributes; • He is Strategic in his planning • He is not selfish • He is seen as as both a brotherly and fatherly figure by supporters (famously known as Mukoma Dougie) • He is kind but firm • He is principled • He is not corrupt
Why I don’t support other candidates
Khupe Thokozani
Now, while she may have her good qualities here and there, her reputation in the last 6-7 years has undoubtedly become unbecoming of someone who wants to become the president of a democratic party. She rebelled against Tsvangirai and showed no sign of respect to her president, going as far as to point her finger in his face and shouting at him using his first name. The lie that she peddles saying she shared a nice relationship with Tsvangirai even to his death always leaves a bitter taste in my mouth and reminds me why politicians are always viewed in bad light. • She dose not listen to people • She makes bad decisions • Can not motivate support even in her own region • Quickly moving away from MDC-T opposition principles
Morgan Komichi
The Senator has a number of good attributes but struggles to motivate the base to support him. • Suffers from a bad reputation of 2018 candidates selection that has left many disgruntled.
Ellias Mudzuri
Like Chamisa, Mudzuri peddels the lie that Tsvangirai left him the MDC-T. he forgets that MDC is a democratic party were leadership position is not left to a particular person but is democratically elected. He likes to call himself a unifier but exposes himself as a hypocrite when he and his people conduct smear campaigns against other candidates and those who support them. • Sleeps at meetings yet wants to energize the base for 2023 • Can not motivate the base • Always found missing in action when needed • Quick to point out the mistakes of others in the most unconstructive manner.
Your vote is your secret and so is your right to choose who you want. As for me, I believe in Mwonzora and everything he stands for and I know your vote will not be wasted on him. He will get the party back on course to defeat Zanu PF and he will bring democracy back in the MDC. All these malicious allegations against Mwonzora are signs of people getting butterflies before the main fight. If candidates cannot build support at the base, if they cannot handle the heat they must stay out of the kitchen.
LATE MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai’s son, Vincent has revealed he was behind MDC-T secretary general Douglas Mwonzora’s bid to land the MDC-T presidency, while dismissing the ambitious politician’s challengers as liars.
In a letter shared Wednesday, the youth legislator labels presidential contenders Elias Mudzuri and acting leader Thokozani Khupe as liars for what he perceived as fake love for his late father.
The MDC-T is set to hold its Extraordinary Congress (EOC) this month for purposes of electing a substantive leader to replace Tsvangirai, just over two years after his sad passing from colon cancer.
The defiant Glen View South lawmaker had no kind remarks for Mudzuri whom he said had a tendency of sleeping during party meetings yet promising to re-energise party structures.
He bases his support for Mwonzora on his principles and similar traits to his father who led the original MDC in 1999 upon formation.
“I support Douglas Mwonzora for President of the MDC-T because I believe in his vision for the party and the country.
“DM is a politician who reminds me a lot of some of my late father’s attributes; he is strategic in his planning, he is not selfish, he is seen as both a brotherly and fatherly figure by supporters (famously known as Mukoma Dhagi), he is kind but firm, he is principled, he is not corrupt,” he said.
Tsvangirai added he was disgusted by Khupe’s continued claims she was in good books with his late father while her reputation has been dented beyond repair for someone vying for opposition leader.
Said Tsvangirai: “Now while she (Khupe) may have her good qualities here and there, her reputation the last 6-7 years has undoubtedly become unbecoming of someone who wants to become the president of a democratic party.
“She rebelled against MT and showed no sign of respect to her president going as far as to point her finger in his face and shouting at him using his first, the lie that she peddles saying she shared a nice relationship with MT even to his death always leave a bitter taste in my mouth and reminds me why politicians are always viewed in bad light.”
Tsvangirai dumped the Nelson Chamisa led MDC Alliance which won him his parliamentary seat following the death of Vimbai, another Tsvangirai sibling who died in a car crash.
The Supreme Court in March this year nullified Chamisa’s leadership of the main opposition declaring the politician used unconstitutional means to land the top opposition job.
The court ordered MDC to revert back to the party’s 2014 structures to choose a substantive leader to the late former Prime Minister.
In his letter, Vincent goes on to dismiss Mudzuri’s claims Tsvangirai left the party in his hands before Chamisa’s palace coup.
“Like Chamisa, Mudzuri peddles the lie that Tsvangirai left him the MDC-T, he forgets that MDC is a democratic party where a leadership position is not left to a particular person but is democratically elected.
“He likes to call himself a unifier but exposes himself as a hypocrite when he and his people conduct smear campaigns against other candidates and those who support them,” he said.
“Mudzuri sleeps at meetings yet wants to energise the base for 2023.”
However, Vincent spares Komichi of the vitriol, only saying the Senator struggles to convince people to vote for him and has a tainted image from 2018 when he imposed candidates for the MDC Alliance, their electoral vehicle then.
THE National Social Security Authority (NSSA) has dismissed claims of corruption ignited by the recent disposal of the organisation’s shares held by ZB Bank shares to controversial business tycoon, Kuda Tagwireyi.
NSSA says the deal was procedural and above board.
Reports last week indicated some 57 million NSSA shares, worth over $1 billion, were traded on the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange (ZSE) same day and transferred to a Tagwirei linked company.
Key stakeholders like the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) which has a board member representing workers’ interests in NSSA, have expressed unhappiness with the deal and the unclear circumstances under which it was sealed.
However, in a press statement this week, NSSA acting chief executive officer Arthur Manase dismissed the allegations clarifying that the transaction was carried out legally and without prejudice.
“As part of the due diligence process, NSSA enlisted a reputable financial advisor to do an independent valuation to ensure NSSA had derived the correct value from the transaction.
“The valuators concluded that the deal where the parties agreed to calculate share swap ratio based on a 30 trading day volume weighted average price (VWAP) to September 30 2020 after including a 70 % premium was favorable,” he said.
Manase said based on the formula, VWAP prices for both ZB (11.3183) and CBZ ($43.2858) using 30 trading information from the 20th of August, authorities came up with a fair share swap ratio of 2.25 ZB shares for 1 CBZ share after including the 70 % premium.
“Therefore, for the 50 % NSSA received US$11.6 million which was equivalent to $948 million after factoring transaction costs. This money was invested in an asset that yields foreign currency,” he said.
NSSA said the decision to dispose of the bank shares was reached by the board in May 2020 through resolution 135/39 /08/06/2020 which approved the disposal of the authority’s entire 37.79 % shareholding in ZB Financial Holdings (ZBFH).
This was done in accordance with NSSA’s Investment Strategy guided by the NSSA Investment Policy, The Public Finance Management Act and the NSSA Act with respect to investments classified as significant.
Manase said the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe’s directive which indexed minimum capital requirements for Tier1 and Tier2 banks at the equivalent of US$30 million and US$20 million respectively also made it impossible for the already overwhelmed NSSA to meet the capital requirements.
Reims midfielder Marshall Munetsi seems to place more value in giving back to his community in Zimbabwe than hobnobbing with the likes of Neymar.
Stade de Reims’ Marshall Nyasha Munetsi plays his football 12,000km away from his hometown in Zimbabwe, but his mind, and money, are fully invested in the futures of children in Mabvuku, where he pays the school fees for 60 scholars.
Despite a starring role in last season’s 2-0 win against Paris Saint-Germain, the Reims midfielder has taken much of this season to cement his place in the side, but with a difficult year for everyone around the globe, his eyes have been focused homewards as well.
Munetsi’s foundation recently paid the school fees of 30 children at Zimbabwe’s Mabvuku Primary and has done the same for 30 more at Donnybrook Primary.
For Munetsi, who grew up in the Mabvuku area and attended Donnybrook Primary, this gesture was deeply personal. The 24-year-old has often spoken about a childhood spent in tough conditions and his concern over drug use in Mabvuku.
In his eyes, offering children a holistic education is the best way to shield them from such hardships. The bonus for him is that it helps him remember the lessons he learned on his gruelling journey from relative poverty to a life of luxury in Ligue 1.
He told ESPN that he was well aware that his career did not grant immunity to life’s potential pitfalls.
“You always see stories about footballers spending their money on other things… These are the stories that we grow up listening to,” the versatile Zimbabwe midfielder said.
“It [the Marshall Munetsi Foundation] keeps reminding me of the job that still needs to be done. Obviously, we live a life where we don’t have many years to live, but you can always leave a good legacy — especially for my fellow brothers and sisters, the young ones who are coming up.
“Most of them, when I go back home — you see the enthusiasm that they have. They want to make it one day as football players… I have also been helped by lots of different people who gave me a lot, for which I can never pay them back.”
As far as football goes, Munetsi has always repaid the clubs who signed him by improving steadily and refusing to buckle in the face of adversity.
FC Cape Town brought him to South Africa in 2015 after spotting him in Harare, and a year later, he was snapped up by Soweto giants Orlando Pirates.
Life did not start off smoothly for Munetsi at Pirates, and he spent the 2016-17 season on loan at Baroka. On the other hand, it was his first campaign in South Africa’s top flight and he played in nearly every match.
The following season saw him earn his Buccaneers breakthrough, but he only played a bit-part role. Nevertheless, Pirates played their best football when he was in the team. That trend continued in 2018-19 and Munetsi’s minutes increased, but he was also sent off in a shock League Cup final defeat to the very same Baroka.
Nevertheless, shining at centre-back as well as in midfield, Munetsi did enough to catch the eye of Stade de Reims, who signed him ahead of the 2019-20 campaign.
This was no surprise to Luvuyo Memela, who played alongside him at Pirates and told ESPN that Munetsi was a player of immense discipline and character who was destined to overcome his Soweto setbacks.
Marshall Munetsi made his Zimbabwe senior debut in 2018, and played in the Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt in 2019, seen here against the hosts. JAVIER SORIANO/AFP via Getty Images Memela, now at AmaZulu, said: “I knew Nyasha was going to play overseas because he was too good [not to], even though at Pirates at some point, he was not playing his position. Whichever position we put him in, he excelled — centre-back or anchor.
“In life, at some point, we all go through things to make us strong, or it’s a way God tests how strong we are. Whatever outcome you might face in your life, the important thing is: do you stop or do you continue? Do you cry and sit at home? Nyasha is not one of those players.
“I’m so happy for him. Hopefully, one day, we will see him playing for one of the biggest teams in Europe. I know he can get there, because he’s still got legs on him and he’s still got age on his side.”
Upon signing, Munetsi was described by Reims director general Mathieu Lacour as “part of a logic of the future”. He earned his first Ligue 1 start against PSG on 25 September 2019 and provided the assist for Hassane Kamara’s opener.
Nevertheless, he still struggled to cement a regular starting berth throughout the rest of 2019-20. This battle, according to Munetsi, did not derail his mental state and actually helped him ease into life in France.
“Honestly, when I came in, the team was already doing well the previous season — they finished in eighth position. Me coming here was only to adjust for my first season.
“It [being benched regularly] helps you as a player to adjust. At that time, I felt I still needed time to adjust to the league and to learn a couple of things.”
Grounded as he is, Munetsi was over the moon following the win over PSG at the Parc des Princes — so much so that he was unable to recall any interactions with his household name opponents after the final whistle.
He said: “It was a great achievement for me personally. Growing up, you always want to play in those big games, so even if they would have tried to come to see me, I would not even have noticed. I was still celebrating after the win.”
Perhaps this offers some insight into who Munetsi is as a person. Games against the likes of Neymar and Angel Di María matter deeply to him, as they would to any football lover. However, he is unconcerned about whether the stars of the game offer him validation.
After all, long after his race is run in football, Munetsi will hope that the contribution he has made to the lives of at least 60 children in Zimbabwe will lead to something far greater than anything he could achieve on the field of play.
TWO prisoners at Mutare Remand Prison are in trouble after they were arrested on Tuesday for sodomy.
The pair, Moses Mabhure from Mutare and Carlos Mafuke from Machipanda in Mozambique appeared before regional magistrate Lucie Mungwari facing aggravated indecent assault charges (sodomy).
They were not asked to plead and were remanded in custody to December 18.
It is the State’s case that sometime in November, Mafuke was bathing at Mutare Remand Prison when he was approached by Mabhure.
Mabhure demanded to have sexual intercourse with Mafuke, who refused.
Mabhure, however, “forcibly” had sexual intercourse with Mafuke.
The matter came to light on November 29 when Mafuke was found caressing Mabhure’s private parts by fellow prisoners who reported the matter to jail guards.
National Peace and Reconciliation Commission (NPRC) commissioner Geoffrey Chada says the commission would look into the issue of the Gukurahundi genocide next year during public hearings.
Evans Mathanda
Chada said this on Tuesday during an NPRC capacity-building workshop in Harare which discussed the commission’s activities to be rolled out next year, including the public hearings.
He, however, said the commission was facing challenges in that there was lack of dialogue between the NPRC and citizens, adding that people also did not understand its role.
Chada said lack of knowledge on the terms of reference of the NPRC, had hindered progress because people were not presenting complaints to the commission.
“Issues like Gukurahundi are actually things that we expect to be raised during our public hearings, however, Gukurahundi is not the only crisis that the commission is going to be dealing with next year,” Chada said.
“There are a lot of crisis situations in the country like the issue of resettling of the people in Chiyadzwa and other areas like Chimanimani that have been affected by natural disasters. All these issues of need to be well addressed in order to foster national healing”, he said.
Chada said the NPRC was in the process of identifying issues of paramount importance that affected people, including those of electoral violence.
“People are also allowed to come before the NPRC and ask whether the reports on the 2018 electoral violence were properly implemented so that they put forward their complaints before the commission.
“There is nothing that we will leave behind in dealing with the issues.
“We are not going to be challenged by anyone, we will work in accordance with the NPRC Act which empowers us to deal with issues of peace and reconciliation,” he said.
Chada said there were a lot of sensitive things that would be exposed next year when the NPRC public hearings began, adding that some of the issues would be new to the media and the people of Zimbabwe.
COVID-19 positive pupils and those suspected to be infected in Bulawayo are writing 2020 public examinations in isolation in line with standard operating procedures which have been effective in curbing the spread of the global pandemic in schools.
A teacher at one of the schools said affected pupils were writing in seclusion in separate rooms from the rest of the candidates, under Ministry of Health and Child Care guidelines.
He said the isolation rooms were created to afford the pupils a chance to write their exams without the fear of exposing their invigilators and fellow pupils to infection.
Statistics show that since the phased opening of schools, about 332 pupils have contracted Covid-19 countrywide and they are stable.
Under the SOP, hugs, handshakes and sharing of desks are not permitted.
In a case where a pupil tests positive or is suspected to be positive, he or she can continue with examinations in isolation from the rest of the pupils sitting for the examination.
Break and lunch time must be staggered to prevent crowding by learners while sporting activities are banned.
A classroom should only accommodate a maximum of 35 pupils to allow for social distancing.
This follows reports that two teachers tested positive at the Bulawayo Adventist High School (BAHS).
Authorities say the SOPs are in place and the school has been in liaison with the rapid response team to ensure both teachers and pupils are safe.
The director for education at BAHS Dr Christopher Thebe said SOPs are still in place and the rapid response team had already conducted contact tracing.
“The situation is under control at BAHS and all our pupils are in good health as we speak.
“We also have one pupil suspected to be Covid-19 positive writing Grade Seven examinations in isolation at Fairview Adventist Primary School,” said Dr Thebe.
He said despite calls by parents to let non-examination classes stop attending school, there was nothing to be worried about as pupils are safe.
“We will continue to implement the SOPs and ensure that our pupils are protected. We still await results for our Grade Seven pupil which will come after a few days.”
MDC-T president Thokozani Khupe has recalled the mayors of Chinhoyi, Chegutu and Bindura and several councillors for refusing to cross over to her party after they continued to align themselves to the MDC Alliance led by Nelson Chamisa.
The recalls were announced through a letter which was written by MDC-T secretary-general Douglas Mwonzora to Local Government minister July Moyo.
Bindura mayor Carlos Tokyo was recalled yesterday and immediately an election was held which replaced him with Brian Kembo, another Chamisa loyalist.
Chinhoyi mayor Dyke Makumbi was recalled together with councillors Patricia Chibaya (ward 2), Richard Vhitirinyu (ward 3), Brighton Mhizha (ward 4), and Chipotle Mlotshwa (ward 14).
Chegutu mayor Mukudzei Chigumbura was also recalled together with three councillors Alice Kudhlande (ward 11), Edward Dzeka (ward nine) and Rhydes Machekera (ward 2).
Mashonaland West MDC Alliance spokesperson Blessing Mandava yesterday confirmed the recall of his party’s councillors.
“Mwonzora the embattled and conflicted MDC-T secretary-general has recalled three Chegutu West and six Chinhoyi councillors after failing to arm-twist them to dump the MDC Alliance and join his band of praise singers. The councillors chose to stand with the people who voted for them as they are not in politics for money or positions but to serve and save the people,” Mandava said.
He said Khupe’s MDC-T had been using the carrot and stick approach to lure legislators and city fathers to their party, as well as punish those who were not dancing to their tune.
“The recalled councillors chose to stand with the people than to bask in the MDC-T’s short honeymoon. As a province, we are quite aware of the Zanu PF shenanigans to destabilise not only our councils but also the MDC Alliance through its proxies. We will not lose sleep over these recalls neither shall we retreat nor surrender,” he said.
The party also recalled four councillors in Masvingo namely, Tarusenga Vhembo (ward 3), Godfrey Kurauone (ward 4), Daniel Mberikunashe (ward 5) and Richard Musekiwa (ward 7) for siding with Chamisa in the on-going fight for control of the opposition party. The dismissal of the four means by-elections will have to be held and the MDC Alliance majority in council reduced from seven to three. Zanu PF has three councillors in Masvingo City Council.
The suspension of body recoveries at Task Mining Syndicate in Chegutu and Matshetshe Mine in Esigodini on safety grounds will be re-examined next week to see how the need to avoid more casualties can be balanced against the desire of families to give a proper burial to victims in collapsed tunnels.
Mines and Mining Development Minister Winston Chitando yesterday told Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Mines and Mining Development chaired by Shurugwi South MP Cde Edmond Mkaratigwa (Zanu PF) that he will soon meet officials, including Chief Mining Engineer Michael Munodawafa and other stakeholders and would make a decision by Monday.
Minister Chitando was giving oral evidence before the committee on what his ministry was doing to curb rising cases of trapped miners.
Legislators felt that the ministry might be hurriedly taking a decision to stop recovery operations before exhausting other interventions.
Bikita West MP Cde Elias Musakwa (Zanu PF) gave an example of Task Mining Syndicate in Chegutu where members from the community retrieved one body of the five trapped by defying a directive that had been issued by Eng Munodawafa banning all recovery operations.
He said efforts to recover the remaining four bodies were stopped after police intervention who were acting on a certificate issued by the Government Chief Mining Engineer stopping all rescue operations.
In the case of the Esigodini mine, Cde Mkaratigwa said legislators got to the vicinity of Matshetshe Mine where there were six miners trapped.
He said the legislators got to the collapsed mine despite the fact that Eng Munodawafa had issued a certificate banning people from getting within two kilometres, saying doing so was risky as the ground was shacky.
In his response, Minister Chitando outlined immediate and medium term solutions his Ministry would undertake.
“On short term, I will consider all the issues that you have raised regarding the Chegutu and Esigodini incidents to see what short term measures can be done,” he said. “We need to go and caucus with my officials to see what intervention measures can be taken at the two mines and we will come back here on Monday with a feedback because these are immediate measures.”
Minister Chitando said he will also explore medium term measures at the beginning of next year on measures to be taken to mitigate the accidents.
The ANC’s September flight to Zimbabwe might have caused consternation on the southern side of the border, but was beneficial to both countries.
This is according to outgoing South African ambassador to Zimbabwe Mphakama Mbete, who is winding up his time in Harare with “hope for the future” of the countries’ bilateral relations.
Mbete, who arrived in Zimbabwe in 2016, bade farewell to Zimbabwe’s president, Emmerson Mnangagwa, at State House on Monday. He told journalists the important part of his mission was to strengthen economic ties between the neighbours.
Part of this mission, he said, was his involvement in meetings between the ruling parties of both nations. These included the controversial one-day September meeting which left the ANC with a R105,000 bill because its delegation hitched a ride on a South African government jet with defence minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula.
As SA’s ruling party dispatched a team to Harare on a fact-finding mission, Mbete was part of some exchanges with its members. He told journalists that the engagements between the ANC and Zimbabwe’s ruling Zanu-PF led to agreement that trade and economic relations between the countries should take centre stage.
“This is in line with the pronouncements of the presidents of the two countries as they started their terms of service, when they said they want to focus on economic development of the two countries,” he said.
There have been a few investors that came from South Africa during my period here. I have a lot of hope for the future. Mphakama Mbete, outgoing SA ambassador to Zimbabwe
During his tenure as ambassador, Mbete witnessed diplomatic strains between SA and Zimbabwe because of human rights violations and a crackdown on the opposition at the hands of the Zimbabwean government. Mbete said each country had its fair share of political dynamics.
SA is Zimbabwe’s most important trading partner, with the latter importing 40% of its goods from the former and exporting 75% of its products to SA.
But because of Zimbabwe’s economic and political issues, SA maintains a trade surplus with its neighbour. According to the UN’s International Trade Centre, in 2016 SA’s exports to Zimbabwe were worth $2bn (about R30bn), while imports were a mere US$388m (about R5,8bn). That figure has since risen in favour of SA.
ADVERTISEMENT
Mbete said: “The intensification by my mission on the area of economic relations involved engaging South African companies working in Zimbabwe, engaging economic organisations in Zimbabwe, to try [to] understand the key priorities that will be there between the two countries. I think there has been a lot of progress in that. There have been a few investors that came from South Africa during my period here. I have a lot of hope for the future,” he said.
On the investors’ front, the most high-profile South African to arrive in Harare during Mbete’s tenure was Robert Gumede, of the Guma Group, in January 2018. He intended to invest $1.2bn (about R18bn) in tourism, information technology and infrastructure because he believed the “good times were back in Zimbabwe”. However, nothing has come out of it.
The heartless and cruel demolition of citizens’ homes is a violation of human rights and a violation of the dignity & security of persons.This command politics based on iron-fisted governance style must be resisted by us all!Those responsible, Stop it!#EndtheDemolitionspic.twitter.com/s9JlbulWIl
Councillor Brian Kembo who was recently acquitted on charges of undermining the authority of President Emmerson Mnangagwa has been elected the new Mayor of Bindura.
His deputy is Tongai Jack.
Their election comes following the recalling of former mayor Carlos Tokyo and his deputy Nobert Dokotera by the MDC-T party.
Mr Tokyo was the councillor for Ward 5 while Mr Dokotera represented Ward 10.
The vacancies were declared by the Minister of Local Government and Public Works July Moyo through a letter to Bindura Municipality.
The minister stated that following a letter from MDC-T indicating that the pair were expelled from the party and in terms of section 278 (1) of the Constitution as read with section 129 (1) (K) the two wards are vacant.
Acting town clerk Mr Kelton said acting on the letter, they called for a special council meeting to have election for the two posts.
“The election process went well and it was fair. We invited the district development coordinator Mr Richard Chipfuva to preside over the elections,” he said.
“Subsequently the structure of the organisation changes as the new mayor and his deputy were in various committees of council and we now have to look at the committees and restructure.”
Cllr Kembo beat Councillor Oliver Mukombwe after garnering six votes compared to four for Cllr Mukombwe.
“My first priority is to fight corruption in our local authority. I want to make sure there is improved service delivery in Bindura,” he said.
“Refuse collection, sewer and roads are our mandate. There are divisions along political lines, but we want to make sure that we work together and have a good working relationship for the betterment of our community and country. I look forward to a better working relationship with our management. We cannot run away from conflicts, but we must resolve them amicably. Gender-based violence is another area that we will look into and find ways to contribute to elimination of GBV. People with disabilities are also our priority.”
Kembo was recently acquitted after being charged with disorderly conduct for criticising President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s rule.
Kembo “allegedly stated that Mnangagwa is liable for causing the suffering that citizens are currently enduring”, the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights said.
Bindura magistrate Maria Musika acquitted Kembo at the close of the prosecution case after his lawyer Idirashe Chikomba applied for discharge.
More than US$5 million worth of corruptly-acquired property, including 501 vehicles, have been seized by the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission in the past 18 months as Zimbabwean authorities intensify efforts to hunt down the proceeds of corruption for eventual seizure as well as prosecute the corrupt.
Authorities are hunting down foreign assets suspected to have been corruptly acquired by Zimbabweans in South Africa, Britain, the United Arab Emirates, Malaysia, Mauritius and Kenya and have already submitted to the Hight Court eight applications for unexplained wealth orders as efforts intensify to eventually seize all proceeds of corruption.
So far this year the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission has submitted 87 dockets to the National Prosecuting Authority for criminal trials and secured 10 criminal convictions countrywide in the last 18 months.
In the twin-pronged attack to try the corrupt and ensure they cannot benefit financially from corruption, eight more vehicles worth US$160 000 were also confiscated and forfeited to the State while a total of US$330 000 and $8 million in local currency was also recovered in unpaid customs and excise duties after a joint operation with the Zimra.
Zacc chair Justice Loice Matanda-Moyo told the International Anti-Corruption Day commemoration in Harare yesterday that: “Among its high profile matters, the commission arrested two sitting Government ministers on allegations of corruption and money-laundering involving US$95 million.
“These arrests followed information received from the Auditor General and from the compliance department of Zacc on the abuse of Covid-19 funds. The commission has also seized 27 vehicles and three properties from suspects under investigation.
“We understand that the NPA has been on a recruitment drive and we look forward to corruption cases being given top priority next year,” she said.
The Judicial Service Commission (JSC) had also established specialised courts for handling cases of corruption and economic crimes.
Justice Matanda-Moyo said the commission conducted compliance checks in the procurement processes for the purchase of Covid-19 drugs and equipment and the exercise led to the arrest of senior officials in the Ministry of Health and Child Care and at Natpharm.
Zacc was also assessing systems of 92 local authorities to end corruption and fraud, particularly in procurement and that has already led to the arrest of several senior officials in local authorities.
The commission had already started working with local authorities to establish integrity committees and ensure their systems and
procedures were watertight.
Government had also amended legislation to ensure a more comprehensive legal framework for asset recovery, combating money laundering and regularisation of lifestyle audits of public officials whose assets were supposed to be commensurate with their level of income.
“The 2021 National Budget is in full support of the fight against corruption as Government set aside $3,6 billion for operations and capital requirements for all the institutions in the fight against corruption. In its 2021 National Budget, the Government has allocated $317 million to the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission to amplify the fight against corruption.
“The Government has also committed to funding Zacc’s Electronic Case Management System and purchase an office for Zacc in all provinces in support of the devolution agenda.
“Zimbabwe was however, encouraged to expand the definition of ‘agent’ to include foreign public officials and officials in international organisations such as the United Nations so that they do not hide behind diplomatic immunity whilst committing acts of corruption,” Justice Matanda-Moyo said.
The United Nations estimates that the world loses about US$3,6 trillion annually from corruption of which developing countries lose about US$1,26 trillion.
In an interview on the sidelines of the commemoration, Justice Matanda-Moyo conceded that the commission had been finding it difficult to bring finality to corruption cases but said they were in the process of putting in place adequate measures to ensure suspects were not just arrested as a window dressing measure.
The “catch and release” syndrome, where corruption suspects were arrested only to be released by the courts on bail with trials continually postponed, was being ended.
“If we want to win against corruption, we really have to go all the way so what we are doing right now is that the Judicial Service Commission has actually set up Anti-Corruption Courts throughout the country and we expect the NPA to provide the prosecutors in all those courts.
“However, the biggest risk that we have is corruption itself in fighting corruption. Our institutions are not free from corruption. Be it the Zacc, police, NPA, the judiciary, we are also struggling with corruption and we want to deal with this corruption under those pillars that we have established.”
Corruption cases were by nature, very complex but the commission would continue fighting until the end.
“Corruption matters must be dealt with swiftly. Once there has been an investigation, prosecution must be swift. They must be dealt with within a short period of time because if you give these people time, they will start offering bribes (to investigators and prosecutors) and those cases will die a natural death,” she said.
Justice Matanda-Moyo said Zimbabwe had continuously evaluated progress in fighting corruption since the ratification and adoption of the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) by participating in review mechanisms provided by the Convention.
“The review also noted the lack of a whistleblower protection legislative framework. As Zacc, we are pleased to note that the lay Bill is before the Attorney General’s office. We have been assured by the Minister of Justice that the Bill will be prioritised in 2021,” she said.
State institutions combating corruption and crime were now required to publish reports once every quarter giving statistics on the number of arrests, successful prosecutions or convictions and value of money or property recovered.
The father of a 9-year-old boy who was murdered and his head cooked by his uncle on Friday, 4 December 2020 in Matova Village under Chief Zimuto in Masvingo Province has spoken about the hair raising incident.
Trevor Mapxashike (also known as Mapwashike) was killed by his uncle Clever Chitiga (22) who then shaved his head before cooking it.
Chitiga in a cousin to Henry Mapwashike (48), Trevor’s father. Chitiga and Henry’s homesteads are a few metres apart.
Henry had five children and Trevor (9) was his third child and was doing Grade 2 at Matova Primary School. Speaking to The Herald on Tuesday, Henry said:
I almost collapsed, after forcing the door to one of his rooms, open. A trail of blood, which we believed to be my son’s, led us to his head which was being stewed in a big pot.
The door had been locked from inside and I had to gain entry through the window and opened it from inside.
My mother, who accompanied me to Clever’s homestead, used a stick to shove the head so that we could properly see what was in the pot and to our shock, it was my son’s head which was being stewed.
He had shaved it using a broken beer bottle and pounded it with a pestle and mortar.
… [Trevor] was an intelligent and obedient boy. He was left by his mother when he was only eight months old and was staying with my father since I had remarried.
Henry told the publication that he harboured no hard feelings towards his brother [cousin] for murdering his son. He said:
My only appeal and prayer are for the family to unite and get to the bottom of this because I think there is something behind this.
We need to sit down and cleanse our family because this is strange and bizarre. It’s unheard of.
When I got to Clever’s homestead, he had already fled from the scene after I had asked him if he had seen my son.
I believe there was juju at play because from what I know, Clever never had a history of mental illness.
In fact, his discreetness and the way he tried to conceal evidence of his diabolic act smacks of someone who is mentally stable.
He (Clever) was dull at school and had a history of violence. He once bit off his younger brother’s finger for restraining him from assaulting his nephew and also torched a car that had been left in the custody of his father for safekeeping by a friend.
… I can not eat food, I am still unable to look at cooked meat after what I saw. I am relieved that we were able to bury my son today (yesterday) at Gokomere Mission cemetery.
The pot, which he was using to cook my son’s head, was taken by the police together with the pestle and mortar, which will be used in court.-The Herald
THE Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education has opened online applications for 2021 Form One boarding places.
The Electronic Ministry’s Application Platform (Emap) for Form One boarding enrolment opened on Monday and will run up to January 31.
Parents can now start applying online for their children.
According to the ministry, there are 262 boarding schools with a total capacity to accommodate 320 students. The Emap platform has had its share of headaches and like most platforms which experience huge traffic once a year. The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education director of communication Mr Taungana Ndoro confirmed that Emap had been opened.
“The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education has opened the electronic platform for enrolling Form 1 boarding places for 2021. Parents and guardians who wish to send their children to boarding schools are advised to start applying through the platform www.emap.co.zw with effect from Monday 7 December 2020 to January 31, 2021,” he said.
“An applicant who has been offered a place at one school will not be eligible to apply or be considered for a place at any other school unless the offer is declined.
“Successful applicants will be notified through a short message service (SMS) by the respective school heads. Parents and guardians are however advised that there are limited boarding places.”
Meanwhile, the Zimbabwe Teachers Association (Zimta) said they were looking ahead to 2021 for new negotiations with their employer.
In a statement, Zimta president Mr Richard Gundani said it took both diplomatic persuasion and appeal to “political institutional power” to unlock the last round of talks under the National Joint Negotiating Council (NJNC).
“True, it was a prolonged campaign which at one time was on the brink of closing the 2020 campaign without any betterment of the levels of remuneration and stalled at ZWL $3500.
“Although the outcomes were not the best from our original demand, we achieved results that had just a palliative effect, allowing for normalcy to prevail in schools,” he said.
Mr Gundani said the last round of talks in November secured for entry level D1 grade teachers a total package of $19 975 from a target of $42 432, representing 47 percent of the targeted income.
“In USD equivalent terms the targeted amount was October 2018 level of USD $520. At interbank rate the entry level award in equivalent is US$245 at the reigning auction rate of 81,6. Government agreed that the next negotiations will move towards the US$520 envisaged target,” he said.
Mr Gundani said current allowances will be built into the future awards, technically meaning they will mataphosise into the salary.
“The 2020 bonus will be inclusive of housing and transport allowances. Work in progress now and way forward. Zimta has continued to do diligent research on 2021 salary demands using available economic data and membership expectations, anchored on 2020 experiences.
“Sector specific allowances are being actively followed given that the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education endorsed previously submitted demands and were awaiting treasury concurrence,” he said.-Chronicle
THE bribery trial of ZIFA president Felton Kamambo is likely to attract the wide interest of the football community, including the world governing body FIFA, as the Zimbabwe football leader battles to clear his name on accusations of vote-buying during the 2018 elections.
The ZIFA elections, for a long time, have been marred by such allegations. But this is the first time that a case of this nature has been prosecuted in Zimbabwe.
Interestingly, former president of the association, Phillip Chiyangwa, who lost to Kamambo in the December 2018 ballot, is the complainant and one of the two main witnesses. The other witness is Kamambo’s former campaign manager, Robert Matoka, who played the middleman’s role in the alleged bribery case.
According to Article 27.1 of the FIFA Code of Ethics, which deals with issues to do with bribery, both the giver and receiver of the bribe are equally liable for the offence.
FIFA, a body that has also been tainted by allegations of corruption over the years, are clear in their statutes that they do not condone such practices.
“Persons bound by this code shall not accept, give, offer, promise, receive, request or solicit any personal or undue pecuniary or other advantage in order to obtain or retain business or any other improper advantage to or from anyone within or outside FIFA,” reads Article 27.1 of the FIFA statutes.
“Such acts are prohibited regardless of whether carried out directly or indirectly through, or in conjunction with, third parties.
“In particular, persons bound by this Code shall not accept, give, offer, promise, receive, request or solicit any personal or undue pecuniary or other advantage for the execution or omission of an act that is related to their official activities and is contrary to their duties or falls within their discretion.”
Kamambo, who has always maintained his innocence, is accused of bribing about 32 councillors to vote for him at the last election that ushered him into office two years ago. He got 35 votes to Chiyangwa’s 24.
The COSAFA boss withdrew from a possible second round, handing Kamambo victory, after the first round had failed to settle the contest.
Kamambo had won more votes in the first round but failed to secure enough backing, according to the ZIFA constitution, to win the contest without the need for a second round.
Bribery charges were brought up by Kamambo’s estranged election manager Matoka earlier this year and the Police Commercial Crimes Unit acted swiftly.
The duo fell out after the elections and Matoka claimed Kamambo could have used unorthodox means, including bribing the electorate, to win the watershed elections.-The Herald
Suspended MDC-T spokesperson Khaliphani Phugeni may have another day in court after the family of a minor he allegedly raped announced that it will appeal his acquittal at the High Court.
Phugeni was acquitted at the Western Commonage Court in Bulawayo by magistrate Sibongile Msipa-Marondeze on Monday.
On Tuesday, Phugeni celebrated his acquittal of rape charges saying he is a good man and the charges were fabricated.
He said: The charges were fabricated, and that is what the magistrate said. It’s a great day for the Judiciary.
As a country, we must hang our heads in shame for allowing a good man to be charged based on false claims, with clear impunity and without any shred of evidence provided.
This was meant to tarnish my image, vandalise my political career beyond resuscitation but the people of Zimbabwe kept coming to my inbox to tell me how much they loved me.
There are rapists out there going for our children, and I hope that no child will be disbelieved when they report a genuine rape because of this sham accusation.
The mother of the alleged victim told NewsDay that the family met and resolved to appeal at the ruling at High Court.
She said she holds no beef against Phugeni, who she said has been a family friend for years.
She added that people are trivialising rape by claiming that the family wants to tarnish Phugeni’s political image.-NewsDay
The father of a 9-year-old boy who was murdered and his head cooked by his uncle on Friday, 4 December 2020 in Matova Village under Chief Zimuto in Masvingo Province has spoken about the hair raising incident.
Trevor Mapxashike (also known as Mapwashike) was killed by his uncle Clever Chitiga (22) who then shaved his head before cooking it.
Chitiga in a cousin to Henry Mapwashike (48), Trevor’s father. Chitiga and Henry’s homesteads are a few metres apart.
Henry had five children and Trevor (9) was his third child and was doing Grade 2 at Matova Primary School. Speaking to The Herald on Tuesday, Henry said:
I almost collapsed, after forcing the door to one of his rooms, open. A trail of blood, which we believed to be my son’s, led us to his head which was being stewed in a big pot.
The door had been locked from inside and I had to gain entry through the window and opened it from inside.
My mother, who accompanied me to Clever’s homestead, used a stick to shove the head so that we could properly see what was in the pot and to our shock, it was my son’s head which was being stewed.
He had shaved it using a broken beer bottle and pounded it with a pestle and mortar.
… [Trevor] was an intelligent and obedient boy. He was left by his mother when he was only eight months old and was staying with my father since I had remarried.
Henry told the publication that he harboured no hard feelings towards his brother [cousin] for murdering his son. He said:
My only appeal and prayer are for the family to unite and get to the bottom of this because I think there is something behind this.
We need to sit down and cleanse our family because this is strange and bizarre. It’s unheard of.
When I got to Clever’s homestead, he had already fled from the scene after I had asked him if he had seen my son.
I believe there was juju at play because from what I know, Clever never had a history of mental illness.
In fact, his discreetness and the way he tried to conceal evidence of his diabolic act smacks of someone who is mentally stable.
He (Clever) was dull at school and had a history of violence. He once bit off his younger brother’s finger for restraining him from assaulting his nephew and also torched a car that had been left in the custody of his father for safekeeping by a friend.
… I can not eat food, I am still unable to look at cooked meat after what I saw. I am relieved that we were able to bury my son today (yesterday) at Gokomere Mission cemetery.
The pot, which he was using to cook my son’s head, was taken by the police together with the pestle and mortar, which will be used in court.-The Herald
Tinashe Sambiri|MDC Alliance Namibia has described Constantino Chiwenga as a political hypocrite.
The party also accused Chiwenga of abandoning local health facilities to seek medical services out of the country.
Read full statement below :
09 DECEMBER 2020
VICE PRESIDENT CONSTANTINO GUVHEYA CHIWENGA’S POLITICAL HYPOCRISY AND SELFISHNESS UNEARTHED, MDC ALLIANCE NAMIBIA NOTED WITH FURY.
Mdc Alliance Namibia is greatly transfixed by the political hypocrisy and selfishness exhibited in the clueless Zanupf regime.
Barely some few some months after publicly banning health tourism , ailing Chiwenga has been flown out to China for his routine medical check up. After pretending to be objective and sensitive to the financial implications of relying on foreign hospitals for medical services, the desperate Zanupf Vice President and Health Minister declared that government will no longer provide foreign currency to assist cabinet ministers to globe trot hunting medical treatment in sophisticated health facilities in the diaspora.
As an external Mdc Alliance district, we want to castigate this futile attempt to hoodwink the unsuspecting masses by paddling political lies. The nation has to know that Zanupf will never transform its corrupt tendencies.
Moreso, it is quite pathetic and illogical for our Health Minister to abandon his own hospitals which are dilapidated in favour of those in the diaspora because they are well taken care of by the host governments. We would like to urge Zanupf morons to revamp the health fraternity to benefit the general citizenry.
The Health Minister must learn to walk his talk, he must realise that it’s no longer time for political rhetoric but real delivery of his intentions to change the ugly face of our health sector. It is imperative to point out that the sorry state of our hospitals and clinics emanate from the stinking corruption and nepotism practised with impunity. Former Health Minister Obadiah Moyo looted US$60 million Covid-19 funds but he was not even detained only to be given 50 000 RTGS as his bail.
The amount could have gone a long way in assisting our people.
Moreover, Moyo Obadiah is walking free as we speak right now. Zanupf leaders must respect the basic human rights which includes basic health care and right to life. They must commence to pay more attention to the sanctity of human life by investing more on renovating the torn and tattered health fraternity to avert unnecessary expenditure by the government through careless financing of hospital bills to Zanupf officials.
Addressing journalists in his capacity as Health Minister, he reluctantly uttered that the state had halted footing the medical bills of all senior government officials in order to maintain the national medical bill. To quote him verbatim he said, “We will not export our patients . We will not make referrals to our patients. Altogether, the export bill was too high and that is what we want to do away with”. This is a clear reflection that some animals are more equal than others and this makes Zimbabwe epitomise “a new Animal Farm” owned by insensitive Zanupf morons where inequality has become a national religion.
To wind up, Mdc Alliance Namibia condemns this selective application of the law with all its organs. Zanupf must begin to respect our national coffers.
Our hospitals are being plundered by greedy and the insatiable appetite for personal egos in a frustrated regime that does not want to ensure the existence of equal health facilities for all. We demand that Chiwenga and his cronies should make sure that the basic health facilities are gotten in the country.
Tinashe Sambiri|MDC-T aspiring presidential candidate Mr Douglas Mwonzora left the city of Masvingo an embarrassed figure after failing to make an impact in the province.
Mr Mwonzora’s provincial meeting was attended by only 37 people out the 26 constituencies in the province.
Mr was on a lobbying mission in the province.
“Mr Mwonzora who was hoping to address hundreds of people in Masvingo was frustrated after finding himself in front of only 37 people.
Mwonzora addressed the paltry gathering at the MDC provincial offices in Rhodene, Masvingo,” a source told ZimEye.com.
“Mr Mwonzora was not happy with the attendance and he felt his foot soldiers failed to mobilize people to attend the meeting,” added the source.
A man, his wife and son died on the spot after a vehicle they were travelling in collided with a truck in Mbalabala along the Bulawayo-Beitbridge Road.
The wreckage
Matabeleland South acting provincial police spokesperson, Inspector Loveness Mangena confirmed the accident which occurred on Saturday at around 3PM at the 66-kilometre peg along the Bulawayo-Beitbridge Road.
She said Mbuso Moyo (55) was travelling with his wife Patience Ncube (40) and 13-year-old son Mpumuzi when he lost control of his vehicle and it encroached onto the lane of oncoming traffic.
“I can confirm a fatal road accident which occurred at Mbalabala area along the Bulawayo-Beitbridge Road where three people died on the spot. Mbuso Moyo was driving a Toyota twin cab along the said road headed towards Gwanda.
“When he got to the 66-kilometre peg, he lost control of the vehicle and encroached onto the oncoming traffic lane where a Hodo Sino Truck was approaching headed for Bulawayo.
“The driver of the truck moved to the extreme left side of his lane in order to avoid the vehicle but without luck, which resulted in a head on collision. Moyo, his wife and child died on the spot and their bodies were taken to Filabusi District Hospital mortuary,” she said.
Insp Mangena said preliminary investigations had shown that the cause of the accident was speeding. She urged motorists to adhere to road regulations and exercise extreme caution when travelling along roads especially during the rainy season.
“We urge motorists to observe road regulations and exercise extreme caution in order to avoid loss of life. Especially now that we are in the rainy season where roads will be slippery and vision will be blurred, drivers have to be very cautious and where necessary they would rather park their vehicles until it’s conducive for them to drive,” she said.
Meanwhile, police in Bulawayo are investigating a traffic accident which occurred on Monday where a pedestrian died on the spot. The accident occurred in North End opposite house number 15 Queens Road at 8.30AM.
Bulawayo police spokesperson Inspector Abednico Ncube who confirmed the incident yesterday said the victim, whose name has been withheld because her next of kin is yet to be informed, sustained severe head injuries.
“Kudzaishe Blessing Chinyakuza, a male adult aged 24 years, was driving a Nissan Bluebird along Queens Road due north with no passengers on board. A female adult aged 49 years residing in North End Bulawayo was walking along the road due north,” said Insp Ncube.
“Circumstances are that Chinyakuza hit the woman when he lost control of the motor vehicle, which veered off to the left side of the road and hit a precast wall at House Number 13 Heany Road North End, Bulawayo.”
Insp Ncube said the woman’s body was taken to United Bulawayo Hospitals (UBH) mortuary for post-mortem.
“The cause of the accident was due to excessive speeding and investigations are in progress under Bulawayo Central Traffic department.
“We appeal to motorists to be considerate while behind the steering, roads are slippery during this period and there are high chances of one losing control of the vehicle and putting lives of other road users at risk,” said Insp Ncube. -Chronicle
Tinashe Sambiri|MDC Alliance vice president, Hon Lynette Karenyi-Kore, has implored the nation to remain patient and resolute as the struggle for freedom from Zanu PF oppression continues.
VP Karenyi-Kore took a swipe at Thokhozani Khupe and Douglas Mwonzora for betraying the people’s struggle.
She made the remarks at the memorial service for Mbuya Chamisa in Chiwara, Gutu on Saturday.
“The journey to the promised land is tough but let us remain patient and resolute.
There is no doubt that President Nelson Chamisa is our new vision bearer after the sad demise of our founding President Morgan Richard Tsvangirai.
Let us support our vision bearer.This man has the calling to lead.
Ignore those who have been overtaken by events.Khupe and Mwonzora have betrayed the struggle.
They opted for a path of doom so just ignore them,” said VP Karenyi-Kore.
“I know that the journey to the promised land is not a stroll in the park but you have to understand that the completion of a revolution is not an overnight process,” she added.
COVID-19 positive pupils and those suspected to be infected in Bulawayo are writing 2020 public examinations in isolation in line with standard operating procedures which have been effective in curbing the spread of the global pandemic in schools.
A teacher at one of the schools said affected pupils were writing in seclusion in separate rooms from the rest of the candidates, under Ministry of Health and Child Care guidelines.
He said the isolation rooms were created to afford the pupils a chance to write their exams without the fear of exposing their invigilators and fellow pupils to infection.
Statistics show that since the phased opening of schools, about 332 pupils have contracted Covid-19 countrywide and they are stable. Under the SOP, hugs, handshakes and sharing of desks are not permitted.
In a case where a pupil tests positive or is suspected to be positive, he or she can continue with examinations in isolation from the rest of the pupils sitting for the examination.
Break and lunch time must be staggered to prevent crowding by learners while sporting activities are banned. A classroom should only accommodate a maximum of 35 pupils to allow for social distancing.
This follows reports that two teachers tested positive at the Bulawayo Adventist High School (BAHS). Authorities say the SOPs are in place and the school has been in liaison with the rapid response team to ensure both teachers and pupils are safe.
The director for education at BAHS Dr Christopher Thebe said SOPs are still in place and the rapid response team had already conducted contact tracing.
“The situation is under control at BAHS and all our pupils are in good health as we speak. We also have one pupil suspected to be Covid-19 positive writing Grade Seven examinations in isolation at Fairview Adventist Primary School,” said Dr Thebe.
He said despite calls by parents to let non-examination classes stop attending school, there was nothing to be worried about as pupils are safe.
“We will continue to implement the SOPs and ensure that our pupils are protected. We still await results for our Grade Seven pupil which will come after a few days.” -Chronicle
Tinashe Sambiri|MDC Alliance vice president, Hon Lynette Karenyi-Kore, has implored the nation to remain patient and resolute as the struggle for freedom from Zanu PF oppression continues.
VP Karenyi-Kore took a swipe at Thokhozani Khupe and Douglas Mwonzora for betraying the people’s struggle.
She made the remarks at the memorial service for Mbuya Chamisa in Chiwara, Gutu on Saturday.
“The journey to the promised land is tough but let us remain patient and resolute.
There is no doubt that President Nelson Chamisa is our new vision bearer after the sad demise of our founding President Morgan Richard Tsvangirai.
Let us support our vision bearer.This man has the calling to lead.
Ignore those who have been overtaken by events.Khupe and Mwonzora have betrayed the struggle.
They opted for a path of doom so just ignore them,” said VP Karenyi-Kore.
“I know that the journey to the promised land is not a stroll in the park but you have to understand that the completion of a revolution is not an overnight process,” she added.
NewsDay correspondent Kenneth Nyangani was on 8 December 2020 reportedly manhandled at the Zanu PF provincial headquarters in the eastern border town of Mutare while covering demonstrations by some disgruntled party supporters.
The Zanu PF supporters were reportedly demonstrating over the handling of the party’s district co-ordinating committee (DCC) elections.
His phone was briefly confiscated and the battery removed.
Nyangani, was, however, rescued by other party supporters, resulting in his phone being returned to him.
Nyangani confirmed the incident: “While I was covering the event, they took my phone and asked me to delete pictures. They then took away the phone saying they wanted to make sure the pictures are deleted. They removed the phone battery,” he said
MISA Zimbabwe Position
Journalists have a right to do their work as guaranteed by the constitution and without any unlawful hindrances. MISA Zimbabwe, therefore, urges political parties to educate their supporters on media rights as provided for in the Constitution.
Journalists should also exercise extreme caution when covering potentially hostile situations for their own safety and security.-MISA Zimbabwe
NewsDay correspondent Kenneth Nyangani was on 8 December 2020 reportedly manhandled at the Zanu PF provincial headquarters in the eastern border town of Mutare while covering demonstrations by some disgruntled party supporters.
The Zanu PF supporters were reportedly demonstrating over the handling of the party’s district co-ordinating committee (DCC) elections.
His phone was briefly confiscated and the battery removed.
Nyangani, was, however, rescued by other party supporters, resulting in his phone being returned to him.
Nyangani confirmed the incident: “While I was covering the event, they took my phone and asked me to delete pictures. They then took away the phone saying they wanted to make sure the pictures are deleted. They removed the phone battery,” he said
MISA Zimbabwe Position
Journalists have a right to do their work as guaranteed by the constitution and without any unlawful hindrances. MISA Zimbabwe, therefore, urges political parties to educate their supporters on media rights as provided for in the Constitution.
Journalists should also exercise extreme caution when covering potentially hostile situations for their own safety and security.-MISA Zimbabwe
Melody Mashonga (25), from Victoria Ranch in Masvingo, was slapped with a wholly suspended three-year jail sentence after she poured hot cooking oil on her boyfriend, Emmanuel Cheure (35).
Mashonga was handed the sentence recently at Masvingo Magistrates Court by Magistrate Bishard Chineka.
She told the court that she poured hot cooking oil on Cheure because they were having problems in their relationship and she was frustrated by Cheure’s responses.
The incident occurred in Victoria Ranch at Mashonga’s house after Cheure refused to eat a meal she had offered him saying the food was rotten and was producing a pungent smell. Appearing for the State, Nixon Chamisa said:
The accused then went outside the house, took a pot filled with hot cooking oil and poured it on Cheure who sustained severe burns on the neck, chest, abdomen and private parts.
Cheure then ran outside the house asking for help and was rushed to Masvingo General Hospital by well-wishers. A Police report was made leading to Mashonga’s arrest.-Masvingo Mirror
Melody Mashonga (25), from Victoria Ranch in Masvingo, was slapped with a wholly suspended three-year jail sentence after she poured hot cooking oil on her boyfriend, Emmanuel Cheure (35).
Mashonga was handed the sentence recently at Masvingo Magistrates Court by Magistrate Bishard Chineka.
She told the court that she poured hot cooking oil on Cheure because they were having problems in their relationship and she was frustrated by Cheure’s responses.
The incident occurred in Victoria Ranch at Mashonga’s house after Cheure refused to eat a meal she had offered him saying the food was rotten and was producing a pungent smell. Appearing for the State, Nixon Chamisa said:
The accused then went outside the house, took a pot filled with hot cooking oil and poured it on Cheure who sustained severe burns on the neck, chest, abdomen and private parts.
Cheure then ran outside the house asking for help and was rushed to Masvingo General Hospital by well-wishers. A Police report was made leading to Mashonga’s arrest.-Masvingo Mirror
The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) have declared that should alleged voter fraud happening in various wards – specifically ward 15 in Mpumalanga – not be urgently addressed, and corruption rooted out of the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC), they are prepared to forgo electoral process and overthrow the ANC government.
The stunning remarks were made in a statement by the party on Wednesday 9 December after IEC officials were arrested in connection with allegations made by the EFF that their “party agents” had caught the officials tampering with the municipal elections held in November.
The EFF said that they would have “no other choice but to conduct a militant struggle to overthrow a despotic and corrupt regime of criminals” should the IEC not be drained of corruption.
They further alleged that the individuals had been commissioned by the African National Congress (ANC) to carry out the fraud.
The EFF said in a statement that the arrest of three people caught tampering with votes in fraudulently voting in ward 15, Nkomazi municipality, was welcomed.
“These individuals, who do not reside in ward 15, were part of the contingent that has been bussed in by the ANC to steal electoral power,” they charged. The allegations made by the party have been referred to the South African Police Service (SAPS), and The South African will update this article when confirmation of the claims is forthcoming.
“It is a common trend that the EFF has long pointed out, and places the ANC in a generation of failed liberation movements that undermine democracy in power,” the party said.
They said that the arrests included the detaining of presiding officer, a zip-zip scanner controller and a voters roll station controller, and added that they suspect that fraud has been happening since the opening of the station, “effectively meaning that the election process in Nkomazi has been compromised”.
The EFF said that they have long believed that the IEC is captured by “corrupt and partisan individuals” and said that they are working with the ANC to rig elections.
“This incident revealed that the Local Government Elections in 2021 must be closely monitored as the ruling party is willing to do anything to retain power,” they said, also demanding a full explanation of what exactly happened in Nkomazi.
they then said that should the IEC not do its utmost to ensure free and fair elections, that they would pursue other, more militant, avenues through which to contest the ruling party.
“It must be noted that we took a resolution to contest political power by any means necessary, and the electoral process is one such avenue. However, if the IEC does not conduct free and fair elections, the EFF will have no other choice but to conduct a militant struggle to overthrow a despotic and corrupt regime of criminals.”
A recent report by the Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (ZIMSTAT) has indicated that the country’s month on month inflation rose from where it was in October. The statistics agency posted on its social media pages: The month on month inflation rate in November 2020 was 2.25% gaining 0.82 percentage points on the October 2020 rate of 1.43% based on a Blended Consumer Price Index. The year on year inflation rate (annual percentage change) for the month of November 2020 as measured by the all items #BCPI stood at 214.99 %. The #BCPI for the month ending November 2020 stood at 104.67 compared to 102.37 in October 2020 and 33.23 in November 2019.
The month on month inflation rate in November 2020 was 3.15 % shedding 1.22 percentage points on the October 2020 rate of 4.37%. This rate was based on a general Consumer Price Index.
The year on year inflation rate (annual percentage change) for the month of November 2020 as measured by the all items #CPI stood at 401.66 %. The #CPI for the month ending November 2020 stood at 2, 374.24 compared to 2, 301.67 in October 2020 and 473.28 in November 2019.
The blended CPI is used because of the dual pricing system we have in the economy where the country has USD and ZWL$ prices. The general CPI is based on the ZWL$ pricing system.
The provincial data for gross domestic product (GDP) show glaring inequalities in the distribution of the country’s wealth with Harare alone accounting for 39,55 percent of the total while the other nine provinces share the remaining 60,44 percent.
The data puts into perspective the New Dispensation’s vigorous push for devolution and decentralisation which is meant to expedite development in provinces lagging behind.
GDP is the final value of goods and services produced within the geographic boundaries of a given area during a year and it is widely viewed as a key indicator of the economic performance of that given area.
Information and Publicity Minister Senator Monica Mutsvangwa said after yesterday’s Cabinet meeting that Finance and Economic Development Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube told Cabinet that predominately rural provinces made the lowest contribution to the national GDP.
The lowest contributors, according to the 2012-2018 data compiled by ZimStat were Mashonaland Central, Matabeleland North, Manicaland, Matabeleland South and Masvingo.
Joining Harare as the better contributors are the more urban provinces of Bulawayo, Mashonaland East, Mashonaland West and Midlands.
“Cabinet noted with satisfaction that this is the first such compilation since Independence, which shows the disaggregated figures per province depicting contributions to national economic performance.
“Compilation and publication of the provincial GDPs buttresses implementation of the devolution and decentralisation programme, which brings with it increasing demand for sub-national socio-economic statistics,” she said.
The provincial GDPs in 2018 were: Bulawayo US$2.26 billion, Harare US$9.56 billion, Manicaland US$1.46 billion, Mashonaland Central US$1.08 billion, Mashonaland East US$2.22 billion, Mashonaland West US$2.14 billion, Masvingo US$1.41 billion, Matabeleland North US$1.16 billion, Matabeleland South US$940 million, and Midlands US$1.94 billion.
Since populations vary, per capita statistics give a clearer result and while the rural-urban divide is strong, big mining and tourism centres can make a difference.
The per capita provincial GDPs for 2018 were: Bulawayo US$3 048, Harare US$3 614, Manicaland US$743, Mashonaland Central US$784, Mashonaland East US$1 408, Mashonaland West US$1 206, Masvingo US$820, Matabeleland North US$1 333, Matabeleland South US$1 186, and Midlands US$1 026.
Minister Mutsvangwa said: “Government reiterates that, going forward, collecting and
analysing statistical data disaggregated by province and subsector economic activities will continue to form ZimStat’s core functions.
“The data will be key in guiding the economic reform agenda of the Second Republic in order to guarantee equitable development as we move towards Vision 2030.
“Ministers of State for Provincial Affairs will make use of the data in coming up with provincial development plans. The data will henceforth be published for the information of the general citizenry.”
Despite the spirited attempts for decentralisation, it does not negate the fact that Zimbabwe remains a unitary State with one centre of power but with a deliberate plan to drive the devolution agenda aimed at taking development to every corner of the country with major inputs from the local communities.
On the issue of salaries, Professor Ncube said the wages will keep on improving as the economy grows and Government has been clear that all expenditure must be tied to revenue, with no borrowing for recurrent expenditure.
The High Court in Polokwane has sentenced a South Africa woman Violet Mabina to 23 years in prison for orchestrating her mother’s murder in April this year.
Violet, 27, was found guilty of orchestrating the murder of her 53-year-old mother Nancy Mabina, with the help of two Zimbabwean men – Brian Ndlovu, 24, and Wilmington Shumbayaonda, 27.
According to Brigadier Motlafela Mojapelo, Violet hired Ndlovu and Shumbayaonda to kill her mother over a family conflict and promised to pay them R100,000.
The two men arrived at Violet’s house in Seshego, outside Polokwane, at about 2am where she let them into the house, but made it to appear as a burglary.
She then pointed them to where her mother was sleeping before she went to her own bedroom.
The duo then attacked the deceased, stabbed her several times with a knife, robbed her of a cellphone and fled the scene. Violet’s grandmother then called for help and the police were notified. Her mother was certified dead on the scene.4
“Police opened a case of murder and investigations commenced which involved a manhunt for the suspects. On the same day, police managed to arrest the two accused. The deceased’s cellphone was also recovered and subsequently, the deceased’s daughter was arrested. The trio remained in custody until their ultimate sentencing on Monday,” said Mojapelo.
Violet was sentenced to 23 years’ imprisonment, while Ndlovu and Shumbayaonda were each sentenced to 15 years’ imprisonment.
Ledwaba further commended the community members for continuously providing the police with positive and valuable information that assist in speeding up the investigations.
By A Correspondent- The Combined Harare Residents Association handed over a petition requesting parliament to enact legislation that reigns in local authorities from overspending.
Said the Deputy speaker of parliament Tuesday:
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: I have to inform the House that on Friday, 6th November, 2020, Parliament of Zimbabwe received a petition from the Combined Harare Residents Association requesting Parliament to enact legislation that provides for the detection of irresponsible expenditure, disciplinary action against irresponsible persons and recovery of assets from such persons. The petition has since been referred to the Portfolio Committee on Local Government, Public Works and National Housing.
I also have to inform the House that on Wednesday 18th November 2020, Parliament of Zimbabwe received another petition from B. C. Kundlande requesting Parliament to, among other issues, investigate the alleged breach of Section 297 of the Constitution by the Gwanda Lands Commission. The petition has since been referred to the Portfolio Committee on Lands, Agriculture, Water and Rural Resettlement.
Commission say they will continue to assess the situation on the ground and remain guided by the health officials.
Speaking during the meet-the-media indaba on Monday, the Sports Commission board member responsible for development, Colleen de Jong, said so far 32 associations have been approved to resume their activities under the Covid-19 regulations.
“There are 32 national associations that have been approved to date and basically it comes from the low risk and medium risk categories, which were defined right at the beginning of Covid-19,” she said.
Some of the associations that have been approved are Zimbabwe Motorsport Federation, National Anglers Union of Zimbabwe, National Athletics Association of Zimbabwe, Polo Association of Zimbabwe, Polocrosse Association of Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe Aquatic Union, Cycling Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe Cricket and Zimbabwe Football Association.
“Not everyone has been approved to return to sport, some haven’t,” said de Jong.
However, the former Zimbabwe Rugby Union chief executive warned that if cases of the coronavirus continue to rise, associations that had resumed games might be forced to go on lockdown again.
Zimbabwe have recorded a total of 10 718 Covid-19 cases with 8 880 recoveries while 291 people have succumbed to the virus.
“We have a spike even those that have already been approved we might have to think about it again, but we will be guided by the Ministry of Health and essentially our role is just to make recommendations based on the situation in front of us and the guidelines that will be passed by the Government,” said de Jong.
Close
SIGN UP FOR FREE ALLAFRICA NEWSLETTERS Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox
Top HeadlinesZimbabweSport [email protected] By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy.
Although a substantial number of associations have been cleared to return after they applied to be considered for resumption, quite a number have not started their sporting activities.
Approved associations
Zimbabwe Motorsport Federation, National Anglers Union of Zimbabwe, National Athletics Association of Zimbabwe, Polo Association of Zimbabwe, Polocrosse Association of Zimbabwe, Cycling Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe Cricket, Zimbabwe Football Association, Motorsport Zimbabwe, National Anglers Union of Zimbabwe, Polocrosse Association of Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe Aquatic Union, Cycling Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe Equestrian Federation, Zimbabwe Bass Federation, Bowls Zimbabwe, Triathlon Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe Table Tennis Union, Zimbabwe Golf Association, Tennis Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe Archery Association, Rowing Association of Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe Shooting Sport Federation, Zimbabwe Rugby Union, Zimbabwe Netball Association, Badminton Association of Zimbabwe, National Federation of Zimbabwe Body Building and Fitness, Hockey Association of Zimbabwe, Handball Association of Zimbabwe, Gymnastics Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe Draughts Federation, Zimbabwe National Boxing and Wrestling Control Board, Squash Rackets Association of Zimbabwe, National Darts Association of Zimbabwe.
Mnangagwa signs his name into Freedom of the city registeregistet
THE newly born city of Victoria Falls has handed Freedom of the City honour to President Mnangagwa in recognition of his contribution to the liberation of the country and development of the resort town.
Victoria Falls Mayor Councillor Somvelo Dhlamini made the proclamation this morning at a ceremony where the President is also set to officially declare the city status.
Cllr Dhlamini made the announcement following a motion moved by Victoria Falls ward 3 councillor Lungile Nyoni for the special full council to give Freedom of the city to the President.
“The conferment is a humble token from the city of Victoria Falls and its people,” said Cllr Dhlamini.
It makes President Mnangagwa to be an honorary free man in the city of Victoria Falls. After the proclamation, President Mnangagwa signed the free man roll to show his acceptance of the Freedom of the city.
He has been handed a warrant/cascade and key marking the significance of the freedom of the city.
PRESIDENT Mnangagwa has just ordered Local Government and Public Works Minister July Moyo to direct the Zimbabwe National Water Authority (Zinwa) to hand over water management rights to the new Victoria Falls City.
This puts to rest a long-standing battle for control of water supply between the water authority and Victoria Falls council over management of water.
Victoria Falls City has been blaming the perennial water challenges in the resort town to lack of capacity by Zinwa whose equipment reportedly constantly breaks down at the pump station.
The council a few years ago applied to the Government seeking to be allowed to run its own water management and a commission was sent to assess the town’s capacity.
Officiating at the conferment of the city status to Victoria Falls this morning, President Mnangagwa said Minister Moyo should start a process of making sure that the council takes over water rights from Zinwa as water is critical to development of the new city hence it should manage and control its own supply.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa on Tuesday 8 December 2020 proclaimed Victoria Falls a city through Statutory Instrument 285 of 2020 whose substance is to upgrade the municipality into a city in terms of the Urban Councils Act.
Through a Statutory instrument (SI), the president said:
Whereas in terms of Section 141 of the Urban Councils Act Chapter 29:15 it is provided that a growth point, unincorporated urban area, local board or council may apply to the Minister in the form and manner prescribed for a change of its status.
Whereas by section 14(2) of the said Act the Minister took necessary steps under the Act to effect the changes applied for and whereas Section 5 and 6 of the said Act have been complied with, I consider it desirable to make this proclamation by virtue of powers vested in the President, I do by this proclamation alter the name Victoria Falls Municipality to Victoria Falls City, and also assign the name Victoria Falls to City Council.
Suspended MDC-T spokesperson Khaliphani Phugeni may have another day in court after the family of a minor he allegedly raped announced that it will appeal his acquittal at the High Court.
Phugeni was acquitted at the Western Commonage Court in Bulawayo by magistrate Sibongile Msipa-Marondeze on Monday.
On Tuesday, Phugeni celebrated his acquittal for rape charges saying he is a good man and the charges were fabricated. He said:
The charges were fabricated, and that is what the magistrate said. It’s a great day for the Judiciary.
As a country, we must hang our heads in shame for allowing a good man to be charged based on false claims, with clear impunity and without any shred of evidence provided.
This was meant to tarnish my image, vandalise my political career beyond resuscitation but the people of Zimbabwe kept coming to my inbox to tell me how much they loved me.
There are rapists out there going for our children, and I hope that no child will be disbelieved when they report a genuine rape because of this sham accusation.
The mother of the alleged victim told NewsDay that the family met and resolved to appeal at the ruling at High Court.
She said she holds no beef against Phugeni, who she said has been a family friend for years.
She added that people are trivialising rape by claiming that the family wants to tarnish Phugeni’s political image.
Nine (9) Morgan Zintec Teachers’ College students who were arrested and charged with gathering with the intention of promoting public violence have been granted bail.
The students were arrested after they allegedly met to draft a petition challenging a decision that forces them to repeat their training in 2021.
By gathering, the nine student teachers reportedly violated section 37 of the Criminal Law (Codification&Reform) Act which bars meeting with the intention to promote public violence.
The students were being represented by the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights’ Kossan Ncube.
The students appeared before Harare magistrate Mrs Vongai Guwuriro charged with participating in a public gathering with intent to cause public violence.
The nine are Walter Muzamani, Steven Mashal Mariwo, Enock Masasu,Chipo Ngirandi, Sarudzai Nkezana, Fortunate Mukondo, Monica Mutegude, Charity Chakona and Lucia Mafara.
They were all freed on $2000 bail each and are expected in court on January 19 next year.
Mrs Idah Maromo, prosecuting, had it that on December 4 Morgan Zintec College received a memorandum from the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education on the 2021 learning calendar.
The State also had it that on the same day, the letter was sent to school heads saying the teaching practices for Intake 50 and ECD period had been extended to January and February next year.
On December 7 at around 7am, the students drawn from various primary schools in Harare gathered at the college with an intention to stage a demonstration.
Police intervened and managed to arrest the nine while others escaped.
Their arrest attracted criticism from human rights defenders, students unions and the opposition.
Some learning institutions suspended this year’s calendar over the coronavirus pandemic and this does not sit well with some students.
Norton legislator, Temba Mliswa, this Thursday fumed over reports that the Ordinary Level Geography paper that was written countrywide on Tuesday had no Maps.
The paper usually has a Map attached to it for the benefit of the candidates.
Mliswa demanded that the Minister of Primary and Secondary Education explain why a Geography paper was written without Maps.
The Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly Tsitsi Gezi responded saying that was a specific question that needed that the responsible minister has to investigate.
Gezi added that the minister will have to give feedback on the matter next week when Parliament sits again.
This comes after some stakeholders had called upon the government to call off this year’s academic calendar citing that schools and the examinations body, ZIMSEC, were not adequately prepared to run examinations.
A few weeks before the examinations, teachers threatened to boycott invigilation if the government had not paid them their allowances.
PARIRENYATWA Group of Hospitals has suspended all hospital visits with effect from today (December 9) as COVID-19 positive cases continue to soar.
“Please be advised that we have suspended all the visiting times due to the surge in the number of COVID-19 local infections and increase in reported case within our institution. This measure has been necessitated by the need to protect inpatients, staff members and visitors.
“To ensure continued patient support from relatives, only the recorded next of kin shall be allowed in the ward day space for updates on patient’s progress and any other requirements needed for the proper management of the admitted patient. This notice is going to be implemented with effect from 9 December 2020 and may be revoked anytime depending on the circumstances on the ground,” reads a statement issued by the group of hospitals.
Recently, Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals and Wilkins Hospital received personal protective equipment (PPE) from Lions International for use in the fight against Covid-19.
The two hospitals received sanitisers, face masks, latex hand gloves and thermometers worth US$10 000.
Following claims by Paul Pogba’s agent Mino Raiola that the midfielder wants to leave Manchester United, speculation about his next destination has been rife.
Pogba still has 18 months to run on his Man Utd contract but could be sold in January should the club fails to convince him to stay. The player is said to be unhappy after being essentially replaced by Bruno Fernandes.
Coach Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has been using Fernandes in the attacking midfield role, which according to The Telegraph has left Pogba frustrated, as he wants to occupy that position.
And should United decide to sell him, Real Madrid and Juventus are ready to snap him up with the former being his first preference, according to reports.
Other European giants PSG and Inter Milan were, previously, linked with the player but nothing has been said about their interest following the latest claims.-Soccer 24
Real Madrid’s hopes of progressing to the knockout stage of the 2020/21 Champions League have been boosted by the return from injury of inspirational skipper Sergio Ramos.
The Spain captain has been out of action for the last few weeks but makes a timely return as Los Blancos prepare to face Borussia Monchengladbach in the decisive last Group B game on Wednesday.
Two shocking defeats to Shakhtar Donetsk have left the 13-time champions on the brink of elimination from Europe’s premier club competition, making tomorrow’s game a must- win.
Zidane also welcomes defender Dani Carvajal, who just like Ramos, has been sidelined by injury.
Madrid are third on the table with seven points behind Shaktar and Monchengladbach, who have seven and eight respectively.
A win for Zidane’s charges, depending on the margin, can also see them top the group but a defeat will relegate them to the Europa League.-Soccer 24
Warriors coach Zdravko Logarusic is excited about the team’s preparations for the CHAN tournament scheduled for next month in Cameroon.
A 34-member selection of locally-based players started the camp on Monday in Harare. The national side is using Division One side Golden Eagles’ home venue – Eagles Nest.
In an update posted by ZIFA, Logarusic has seen some improvements in the boys in the past two days of training. Most players in the camp have been inactive for almost a year after football in the country was suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Preparations will continue until the 20th of December when the team will go for a festive break before resuming on the 28th till the team departs for Cameroon.
The tournament will be played from 16 January to 7 February and Zimbabwe face the hosts in the opening match.-Soccer 24
BY DR MASIMBA MAVAZA | There are two primary causes for voter apathy: alienation and voter fatigue. Alienation is defined as the sense that voters feel that the political system does not work for them and any attempt to influence it will be a fruitless exercise.” This could be due to many factors. Political apathy can lead to low voter turnout and stagnation in a state’s government. Political apathy can lead to a loss of democracy and respondents mentioned it can also have social and psychological damage due to lack of personal political interaction.
The just ended DCCs brought serious voter alienation? In political science, political alienation refers to an individual voter’s relatively enduring sense of estrangement from, or rejection of, the prevailing political system. voter apathy is a lack of interest among voters in the elections of representative democracies.Voter apathy or lack of interest is often cited as a cause of low turnout among eligible voters in jurisdictions where voting is optional, and the donkey vote where voting is compulsory. This phenomenon occurs to some extent across all party’s or entities where citizens are able to vote. Voter apathy has led to increased concerns regarding representative democracies because election results do not encompass the entire population who are eligible to vote. Voter fatigue describes a possible cause of voter apathy, which are elections that are held too frequently.
Political alienation may be confused with voter apathy. Sometimes, alienated voters do care about an election, but feel “estranged or disaffected from the system or somehow left out of the political process.”
The ZANU (PF) DCC elections in most districts started on 05 December 2020 and were concluded on 06 December 2020. The elections were presided over by Politburo members, selected by the Commissariat. The elections country wide exposed the different camps. Most were the camps belonging to the party ZANU PFZ AND the other showed some individuals who have formed their own power bases. They have ideas of using the DCCs to create their power bases. These individuals caused a lot of confusion. The other group was a group which simply wanted to prove that nothing will work. It means that there are individuals within the party who are fighting the NPC Cde Matemadanda.
We had some clear divisions in Chipinge were two camps competing came out. There was a faction led MABIKA this faction is known as Mabika camp which is led by the ZANU (PF) Provincial Vice Chairperson, Dorothy MABIKA and the other faction came to be known as PORUSINGAZI camp which is led by the Chipinge South legislator, Enock PORUSINGAZI who was the right hand man of the former NPC Saviour Kasukuwere. Porusingazi again has now switched his allegience to the ZANU PF chairperson Chairman Kashiri. Manicaland has skeletons which must be removed in order to unite the party. The happenings in Manicaland and the failure to call it to order will cost us as a party. This is a no bare article and many will be offended.
Chipinge District saw over thirty six polling officers in Chipinge
VOTING PROCESS
The voting process begun on 05 December 2020 with the arrival of the presiding officers from Zimunya/Marange and Chimanimani districts. The deployment of polling officers and the dispatching of voting material to their respective polling centres across the district began on 05 December 2020 at 1200hrs.
Ugly scenes were seen when a group of people in Chipinge South and Musikavanhu constituencies failed to vote on the first day as the PORUSINGAZI faction boycotted the elections citing the existence of parallel structures aligned to the MABIKA faction. They publicly denounced Matemadanda the NPC. The situation was served by the hard hitting leadership of the politburo member and the former NPC Major General Rugeje retired. After Rugeje put his foot down the voting started the following day. If the behaviour of Porusingazi is not checked ZANU PF will lose voters in 2023. The repeat of Chipinge North were ZANU PF members openly campaigned for MDC thus making cde Win Mlambo lose the City to an MDC STOOGE. So that the district must be called to order it is not a secret that cde Chipo Museredza openly campaigned against Win Mlambo in 2018 Mlambo losing to Mlambo by 33 votes.
Back to the DCC Voting only took place on 06 December 2020 after the intervention of CHAKANYUKA who claimed to have received instructions from His Excellency President Emmerson MNANGAGWA that elections be conducted with the individualsAs a result elections continued with only members of the MABIKA faction participating in Chipinge South. This left a division which the party must mend.
Some members did not cast their votes citing irregularities on names which did not correspond to identification documents numbers and some members not appearing in the Party structures.
It emerged that the staff was in some districts working so hard while others deliberately slowed dow in order to sabotage the NPC.
Some factions in the party do not like Matemadanda and they de campaigned the whole process in order to heap the blame on Matemadanda. The DCCs have shown that Matemadanda’s position is eyed by many big wigs. We just thank God for the president and his choice and trust on Matemadanda to be NPC.
We must note without bias that The election were marred by a lot of challenges that affected the smooth running of the elections. It emerged during elections that some big wigs bulldozed and used manipulated Party registers
There were challenges throughout the districts whereby the registers that were availed by the polling officers were different from those that were in possession of the local Party district executive members. This resulted in some members failing to vote while in other areas some people ended up protesting to vote. In Chipinge there were widespread allegations of the use of parallel structures by the MABIKA camp.
The party has been warned several times to resolve issue of parallel structures this pointed to the failures by the ZANU (PF) Party to carry out verification exercise of the structures before the elections. This led to the failure to vote by Party members who could not find their names in the manipulated Party registers.
In some areas there were Missing Party registers.
The missing of the Party registers raised suspicion among the members of the camps who believed to have an upper hand in the area. In some areas there was a very direct involvement of local ZANU (PF) Provincial members in the election process despite the fact that they were interested parties.
For example the ZANU (PF) Provincial vice Secretary for Legal Affairs, Adam CHIMWAMUROMBE, was in charge of distribution of ballot papers for Chipinge West while his wife, Juliet MHLANGA, was a candidate for the position of Secretary for Transport and Social Welfare. This brings confusion in the minds of many party members. Shortage of ballot papers was seen in many areas through out the country.
In some wards, ballot papers dispatched to the polling centres were insufficient. This was difficult to know if it was deliberate or clear sabotage.
Many areas saw delays in despatching polling officers and elections started very late.
What has become clear is that most party leaders lie to the president with a straight face. They so not wish to tell the President the truth. In their reporting to the president they cast a very smooth efficient election process. This is shooting ourselves in the foot. The politics of lying should be discarded. This is the time to carry on a postmortem with a view of making right what os wrong.
There are big wigs who believe that the president should only be fed with lies. The reports which reach the president are massaged controlled an surely cooked. But the cooking is not complete. We mist correct this lying spirit and do the right thing.
The other disappointing feature in the whole election process was the Shortage of Resources and Manpower.
The Party failed to avail adequate material and human resources for the smooth running of the elections. There were no vehicles to ferry polling officers and ballot papers while the deployed polling officers were inadequate and too young and inexperienced. This office observed that the shortage of vehicles resulted in interested parties donating their personal vehicles to carry ballot papers and polling officers to their respective polling stations. Further, the deployment of young and inexperienced polling officers led to inefficiency in the electoral process as well as decision making. In view of this, the election results were compromised leading to contestation by the losing complaints and protests.
If this is not corrected now we will have people who don’t vote this not only because they are not interested.
If the bigwigs care for winning we must do something now because voter turnout has decreased and remained low. This decrease coincides with the rise of the internet. Nowadays, more and more people consume information through ‘social media echo chambers’, rather than reading daily newspaper headlines or tuning in to the 10 o’clock news.
This means that what individuals see is dictated by algorithms, showing them stories relevant to them, according to what their friends and people they follow share. This has many consequences, but the significant one here is that those that don’t want to engage with politics (even with political parties’ sophisticated social media targeting) don’t have.
This disinterest in politics is changing, however. Having an efficient poll will encourage many to come and vote.
Many people who don’t vote believe they don’t understand enough about the government, the election process or individual party & policies.
This is largely down to the Our education system, which does not equip students with relevant political knowledge. This when the Chitepo School of ideology should start doing its job.
Without the right political education, young people don’t feel able to engage with politics, a fact which has previously impacted young voter turnout.
It’s clear a large proportion of the Zimbabwean public have had enough of the ‘political elite’, who they neither trust nor relate to.
Many people who don’t vote are nonetheless interested in politics and even support a political party, but don’t vote because they feel their vote would be wasted.
These are people who live within parliamentary constituencies with safe seats. If these seats have a strong majority for a party they do not support, they may see little point voting Conservative in 2015; there’s little chance this seat would swing drastically any other way any time soon.
Finally, some people don’t vote because they simply are not allowed to. Groups of people who are not eligible to vote include members of the House of Lords, most prisoners, and foreign citizens from outside the UK, Ireland, or the Commonwealth.
Perhaps the most important disenfranchised group, however, are those under 18.
While people lied to the president we must remember that in one province there is a chairperson who is married but he has a side chick who is his Deputy chair. This destroys the confidence in the party.
Zanu PF is a revolutionary party which has policies and principles. We must stand up and fight for our party. The trams which are using the DCCs to settle their scores with the NPC are cowards and must indeed get a life.
Things must be sorted now and all those trying to be Demi gods must be shaken to reality.
We can not afford another mess up and lie to the president that all went well. No it was not well. It was hijacked by enemies who are creating their power house.
2023 we need efficiency truth and reality. ZANU PF is our party which we can call ours in the whole world.
Juventus superstar Cristiano Ronaldo has reacted to his side’s win over Lionel Messi’s Barcelona in the Champions League last night.
Ronaldo and company cruised past an out of sorts Barcelona 3-0 in a clash billed as the ‘Battle of the GOATs’ by football fans, who were excited to see the two renew their rivalry by facing each other for the first time in over two years.
The 35-year-old, who scored two penalties on either side of the half time break, took to Twitter after the game to share his thoughts on it.
“Always great to return to Spain and to Catalunya, always hard to play in Camp Nou against one of the best teams I ever faced. Today we were a team of Champions! A true, strong and united family! Playing like this, we have nothing to fear until the end of the season… Let’s go, guys! Let’s go, Juve! Fino Alla Fine!” he wrote.
Quizzed on the renewal of his rivalry with Messi after the game, Ronaldo said: “I have always had a cordial relationship with Messi.As I have said before, for 12, 13, 14 years [I have been] sharing prizes with him.
“I never saw him as a rival. He always tried the best for his team and I tried the best for mine. I always got on well with him. I am sure he will say the same if you ask him.
“But we know in football people always look for a rivalry to create more excitement,” he added.
Get immediate help from those present.Make sure that the area is clear for the lifeguard.Take the drowning person out of the water immediately if they are nearby, but if they are far you must not swim to them unless you are a skilled lifeguard.
First Aid Measures:
Place the drowning person on their back on a flat surface, and be careful when handling them as they may be unconscious after bumping their head against something.Try to call the drowning person and shake their shoulders to make sure they are responding.If the person does not respond, check their breathing.Ask someone to call the Red Crescent (997).If the person is breathing: Place them in the recovery position and warm them up with clothes or blankets. Change their wet clothes while waiting for the ambulance.
If the person is not breathing:
Elevate the head by placing a hand on the forehead and another hand down the chin and lifting it gently to clear the airway.Check their pulse by placing two fingers on the windpipe (Adam’s apple).Start artificial respiration (mouth-to-mouth resuscitation) straight away by slowly blowing into the mouth of the person 5 times (for 1.5 to 2 seconds) while observing their chest as it rises with each blow. Wait until the chest drops back before you blow into their mouth again.Start cardiopulmonary resuscitation CPR (30 chest compressions).Repeat mouth-to-mouth resuscitation twice then do CPR once, until the person wakes up or until the ambulance arrives.If the drowning person starts breathing again before the ambulance arrives, they must be warmed up with clothes or blankets and their wet clothes must be changed.Monitor the patient and keep checking their pulse and breathing until the ambulance arrives.
Source :Saudi Arabia Health Ministry
Inserted by Zimbabwe Online Health Centre
For more information follow /like our Facebook page :Zimbabwe Online Health Centre
Tinashe Sambiri|MDC Alliance Namibia has described Constantino Chiwenga as a political hypocrite.
The party also accused Chiwenga of abandoning local health facilities to seek medical services out of the country.
Read full statement below :
09 DECEMBER 2020
VICE PRESIDENT CONSTANTINO GUVHEYA CHIWENGA’S POLITICAL HYPOCRISY AND SELFISHNESS UNEARTHED, MDC ALLIANCE NAMIBIA NOTED WITH FURY.
Mdc Alliance Namibia is greatly transfixed by the political hypocrisy and selfishness exhibited in the clueless Zanupf regime.
Barely some few some months after publicly banning health tourism , ailing Chiwenga has been flown out to China for his routine medical check up. After pretending to be objective and sensitive to the financial implications of relying on foreign hospitals for medical services, the desperate Zanupf Vice President and Health Minister declared that government will no longer provide foreign currency to assist cabinet ministers to globe trot hunting medical treatment in sophisticated health facilities in the diaspora.
As an external Mdc Alliance district, we want to castigate this futile attempt to hoodwink the unsuspecting masses by paddling political lies. The nation has to know that Zanupf will never transform its corrupt tendencies.
Moreso, it is quite pathetic and illogical for our Health Minister to abandon his own hospitals which are dilapidated in favour of those in the diaspora because they are well taken care of by the host governments. We would like to urge Zanupf morons to revamp the health fraternity to benefit the general citizenry.
The Health Minister must learn to walk his talk, he must realise that it’s no longer time for political rhetoric but real delivery of his intentions to change the ugly face of our health sector. It is imperative to point out that the sorry state of our hospitals and clinics emanate from the stinking corruption and nepotism practised with impunity. Former Health Minister Obadiah Moyo looted US$60 million Covid-19 funds but he was not even detained only to be given 50 000 RTGS as his bail.
The amount could have gone a long way in assisting our people.
Moreover, Moyo Obadiah is walking free as we speak right now. Zanupf leaders must respect the basic human rights which includes basic health care and right to life. They must commence to pay more attention to the sanctity of human life by investing more on renovating the torn and tattered health fraternity to avert unnecessary expenditure by the government through careless financing of hospital bills to Zanupf officials.
Addressing journalists in his capacity as Health Minister, he reluctantly uttered that the state had halted footing the medical bills of all senior government officials in order to maintain the national medical bill. To quote him verbatim he said, “We will not export our patients . We will not make referrals to our patients. Altogether, the export bill was too high and that is what we want to do away with”. This is a clear reflection that some animals are more equal than others and this makes Zimbabwe epitomise “a new Animal Farm” owned by insensitive Zanupf morons where inequality has become a national religion.
To wind up, Mdc Alliance Namibia condemns this selective application of the law with all its organs. Zanupf must begin to respect our national coffers.
Our hospitals are being plundered by greedy and the insatiable appetite for personal egos in a frustrated regime that does not want to ensure the existence of equal health facilities for all. We demand that Chiwenga and his cronies should make sure that the basic health facilities are gotten in the country.
Tinashe Sambiri|MDC-T aspiring presidential candidate Mr Douglas Mwonzora left the city of Masvingo an embarrassed figure after failing to make an impact in the province.
Mr Mwonzora’s provincial meeting was attended by only 37 people out the 26 constituencies in the province.
Mr was on a lobbying mission in the province.
“Mr Mwonzora who was hoping to address hundreds of people in Masvingo was frustrated after finding himself in front of only 37 people.
Mwonzora addressed the paltry gathering at the MDC provincial offices in Rhodene, Masvingo,” a source told ZimEye.com.
“Mr Mwonzora was not happy with the attendance and he felt his foot soldiers failed to mobilize people to attend the meeting,” added the source.
Harare West MP Joanna Mamombe has petitioned the High Court challenging a decision by a Harare magistrate to separate her trial from that of two other activists.
Mamombe, Netsai Marova and Cecilia Chimbiri face charges of faking their abduction and torture by state security agents in May, when they disappeared after attending a rally in Harare.
They deny the charges, and accuse the state of mounting a spirited cover-up.
Magistrate Bianca Makwande separated the trio for trial purposes after doctors said Mamombe was not mentally fit to stand trial.
Mamombe is seeking a review of the magistrate’s ruling and has filed an urgent chamber application with the High Court. She accuses Makwande of bias and malice.
She said the magistrate failed to interpret her medical report.
“The basis of the application is that there was no proper application by the state upon which the application was granted,” Mamombe’s lawyers are arguing.
“Makwande’s reasons for ordering the separation of trials was based on a wrong reading of the medical reports. Makwande had no legal or other basis for granting the application. The magistrate also grossly erred in exceeding her discretion when she ordered the separation of trials.”
Mamombe was being treated by Dr Fungisai Mazhandu when she failed to attend court. Makwande was not convinced she was unwell, and ordered her locked up for two weeks at the notorious Chikurubi Maximum Prison where she was examined by three doctors.
“My remand in custody for purposes of medical examination was calculated make me suffer for reasons best known to her,” Mamombe says in an affidavit. “I must also advise the court that because of the treatment and help that I am getting from the doctors, I am getting much better.
“However, because of the nature of the problem and from a medical point of view, I need to remain under treatment and constant monitoring until I am fully healed.”
Mamombe said she cannot be tried separately because their defence is the same.
“Our defences are interrelated and intertwined. With respect, I cannot find any proper reason for Makwande’s findings other than that she was motivated by malice and bias. Her decision to separate the trials was also capriciously arbitrary and illogical,” she added.
She prayed for an order setting aside the magistrate’s ruling and for an order directing that their trials will be conducted at the same time before a magistrate other than Makwande.
The three women were returning from a demonstration in Harare’s Warren Park suburb when they say they were arrested at a police roadblock for breaching Covid-19 lockdown regulations.
After being taken to Harare Central Police Station, they say they were taken that night by several men who blindfolded them and drove them into the bush. The women claim they were thrown in a pit and tortured, including having pistols inserted in their privates.
They were found dumped near Bindura after two days.
The prosecution however accuses the women of falsifying their arrest, abduction and torture to sully Zimbabwe’s human rights record internationally.
NewsDay correspondent Kenneth Nyangani was on 8 December 2020 reportedly manhandled at the Zanu PF provincial headquarters in the eastern border town of Mutare while covering demonstrations by some disgruntled party supporters.
The Zanu PF supporters were reportedly demonstrating over the handling of the party’s district co-ordinating committee (DCC) elections.
His phone was briefly confiscated and the battery removed.
Nyangani, was, however, rescued by other party supporters, resulting in his phone being returned to him.
Nyangani confirmed the incident: “While I was covering the event, they took my phone and asked me to delete pictures. They then took away the phone saying they wanted to make sure the pictures are deleted. They removed the phone battery,” he said
MISA Zimbabwe Position
Journalists have a right to do their work as guaranteed by the constitution and without any unlawful hindrances. MISA Zimbabwe, therefore, urges political parties to educate their supporters on media rights as provided for in the Constitution.
Journalists should also exercise extreme caution when covering potentially hostile situations for their own safety and security.-MISA Zimbabwe
Get immediate help from those present.Make sure that the area is clear for the lifeguard.Take the drowning person out of the water immediately if they are nearby, but if they are far you must not swim to them unless you are a skilled lifeguard.
First Aid Measures:
Place the drowning person on their back on a flat surface, and be careful when handling them as they may be unconscious after bumping their head against something.Try to call the drowning person and shake their shoulders to make sure they are responding.If the person does not respond, check their breathing.Ask someone to call the Red Crescent (997).If the person is breathing: Place them in the recovery position and warm them up with clothes or blankets. Change their wet clothes while waiting for the ambulance.
If the person is not breathing:
Elevate the head by placing a hand on the forehead and another hand down the chin and lifting it gently to clear the airway.Check their pulse by placing two fingers on the windpipe (Adam’s apple).Start artificial respiration (mouth-to-mouth resuscitation) straight away by slowly blowing into the mouth of the person 5 times (for 1.5 to 2 seconds) while observing their chest as it rises with each blow. Wait until the chest drops back before you blow into their mouth again.Start cardiopulmonary resuscitation CPR (30 chest compressions).Repeat mouth-to-mouth resuscitation twice then do CPR once, until the person wakes up or until the ambulance arrives.If the drowning person starts breathing again before the ambulance arrives, they must be warmed up with clothes or blankets and their wet clothes must be changed.Monitor the patient and keep checking their pulse and breathing until the ambulance arrives.
Source :Saudi Arabia Health Ministry
Inserted by Zimbabwe Online Health Centre
For more information follow /like our Facebook page :Zimbabwe Online Health Centre
Tinashe Sambiri|MDC-T aspiring presidential candidate Mr Douglas Mwonzora left the city of Masvingo an embarrassed figure after failing to make an impact in the province.
Mr Mwonzora’s provincial meeting was attended by only 37 people out the 26 constituencies in the province.
Mr was on a lobbying mission in the province.
“Mr Mwonzora who was hoping to address hundreds of people in Masvingo was frustrated after finding himself in front of only 37 people.
Mwonzora addressed the paltry gathering at the MDC provincial offices in Rhodene, Masvingo,” a source told ZimEye.com.
“Mr Mwonzora was not happy with the attendance and he felt his foot soldiers failed to mobilize people to attend the meeting,” added the source.
Tinashe Sambiri|MDC Alliance vice president, Hon Lynette Karenyi-Kore, has implored the nation to remain patient and resolute as the struggle for freedom from Zanu PF oppression continues.
VP Karenyi-Kore took a swipe at Thokhozani Khupe and Douglas Mwonzora for betraying the people’s struggle.
She made the remarks at the memorial service for Mbuya Chamisa in Chiwara, Gutu on Saturday.
“The journey to the promised land is tough but let us remain patient and resolute.
There is no doubt that President Nelson Chamisa is our new vision bearer after the sad demise of our founding President Morgan Richard Tsvangirai.
Let us support our vision bearer.This man has the calling to lead.
Ignore those who have been overtaken by events.Khupe and Mwonzora have betrayed the struggle.
They opted for a path of doom so just ignore them,” said VP Karenyi-Kore.
“I know that the journey to the promised land is not a stroll in the park but you have to understand that the completion of a revolution is not an overnight process,” she added.
VICE PRESIDENT CONSTANTINO GUVHEYA CHIWENGA’S POLITICAL HYPOCRISY AND SELFISHNESS UNEARTHED, MDC ALLIANCE NAMIBIA NOTED WITH FURY.
Mdc Alliance Namibia is greatly transfixed by the political hypocrisy and selfishness exhibited in the clueless Zanupf regime.
Barely some few some months after publicly banning health tourism , ailing Chiwenga has been flown out to China for his routine medical check up. After pretending to be objective and sensitive to the financial implications of relying on foreign hospitals for medical services, the desperate Zanupf Vice President and Health Minister declared that government will no longer provide foreign currency to assist cabinet ministers to globe trot hunting medical treatment in sophisticated health facilities in the diaspora.
As an external Mdc Alliance district, we want to castigate this futile attempt to hoodwink the unsuspecting masses by paddling political lies. The nation has to know that Zanupf will never transform its corrupt tendencies.
Moreso, it is quite pathetic and illogical for our Health Minister to abandon his own hospitals which are dilapidated in favour of those in the diaspora because they are well taken care of by the host governments. We would like to urge Zanupf morons to revamp the health fraternity to benefit the general citizenry.
The Health Minister must learn to walk his talk, he must realise that it’s no longer time for political rhetoric but real delivery of his intentions to change the ugly face of our health sector. It is imperative to point out that the sorry state of our hospitals and clinics emanate from the stinking corruption and nepotism practised with impunity. Former Health Minister Obadiah Moyo looted US$60 million Covid-19 funds but he was not even detained only to be given 50 000 RTGS as his bail.
The amount could have gone a long way in assisting our people.
Moreover, Moyo Obadiah is walking free as we speak right now. Zanupf leaders must respect the basic human rights which includes basic health care and right to life. They must commence to pay more attention to the sanctity of human life by investing more on renovating the torn and tattered health fraternity to avert unnecessary expenditure by the government through careless financing of hospital bills to Zanupf officials.
Addressing journalists in his capacity as Health Minister, he reluctantly uttered that the state had halted footing the medical bills of all senior government officials in order to maintain the national medical bill. To quote him verbatim he said, “We will not export our patients . We will not make referrals to our patients. Altogether, the export bill was too high and that is what we want to do away with”. This is a clear reflection that some animals are more equal than others and this makes Zimbabwe epitomise “a new Animal Farm” owned by insensitive Zanupf morons where inequality has become a national religion.
To wind up, Mdc Alliance Namibia condemns this selective application of the law with all its organs. Zanupf must begin to respect our national coffers. Our hospitals are being plundered by greedy and the insatiable appetite for personal egos in a frustrated regime that does not want to ensure the existence of equal health facilities for all. We demand that Chiwenga and his cronies should make sure that the basic health facilities are gotten in the country.
#MnangagwaAndAuxilliaExposed 1/21 I'm uploading herewith raw evidence which exposes Mnangagwa & his wife Auxillia as the barons & beneficiaries of money laundering & gold smuggling by one Mohamed Zakariya Patel. The evidence covers the period from 24 May 2018 to 14 January 2019! pic.twitter.com/ChGFvO3Tf5
2/21 As is often the case in such matters, the main enabler tends to vary either their name by use of different spellings or even use of different names. So, here you get Mohamed Zakariya Patel, or Mohamed Zakaraya Patel or Mohammed Zackaraya Patel commonly known as "Zaks Patel"! pic.twitter.com/SnaunfMHX5
3/21 The raw evidence consists of WhatsApp chats between Mohamed Zakariya Patel & Ishamaiel Mossa Lunat; along with key documents that backup the content of the chats. The chats specifically refer to "Number 1" (Mnangagwa), "first lady" (Auxillia) & "Pres (President's) Office"!
4/21 The evidence is uploaded here as raw data to enable citizens, especially the media, civil society, churches, political parties & academia to do their own investigations to draw their own conclusions to inform their own interventions & praxis to tackle the crisis. Study it!
5/21 The complete WhatsApp chats are uploaded; but highlighted here are Mohamed Zakariya Patel's clear & unambiguous mentions of money laundering transactions for "Number 1" (Mnangagwa) & a "fuming first lady" (Auxillia); as well as visits to "Pres Office" ( President's Office)! pic.twitter.com/NplTkGZfBJ
6/21 Mohamed Zakariya Patel's WhatsApp chats with Ishmaiel Moosa Lunat have attachments, like this confidential memo from @ReserveBankZIM to #CID, which show Patel's intimate connections within law enforcement agencies in the system; arising from his links with the Mnangagwas! pic.twitter.com/01W9T44cXI
7/21 As the evidence in the documents shows, thanks to his barons, Mnangagwa & Auxillia, Mohamed Zakariya Patel has deep Police & CID contacts; whom he bribes to cover his money laundering & gold smuggling crimes, one is Michell Nyabadza, at CID, Harare Central Police Station! pic.twitter.com/3gUWmUDzgO
8/21 Attached is the verbatim record of WhatsApp chats from 24 May 2018 to 14 January 2019 between Mohamed Zakariya Patel & Ishmaiel Moosa Lunat; implicating Mnangagwa (Number 1) & his wife (first lady) Auxillia, in money laundering and gold smuggling!https://t.co/9h37tfM7Aj
9/21 Here is a link to the full 148-page Dossier of confirmed WhatsApp chats, and their supporting documents, between Mohamed Zakariya Patel & Ishmaiel Moosa Lunat disclosing serious crimes & implicating Mnangagwa & Auxillia. The NPA, SACU & ZRP have it!https://t.co/dpiIK86kXw
10/21 The key law enforcement agencies, NPA, SACU & ZRP's Law & Order have been sitting on Zaks Patel Dossier for months without taking action as required by the law, to protect Mnangagwa & Auxillia. And @matandamoyo's @ZACConline has literally been running away from the Dossier!
11/21 Some weeks ago, the evidence of the involvement of Mnangagwa & his wife Auxillia, as barons in Mohamed Zakariya Patel's money laundering & gold smuggling, was led by Ishmaiel Moosa Lunat in Case No. R635-7/19 before the Magistrates Court; and was not impeached by the NPA!
12/21 After Lunat implicated Mnangagwa & Auxillia in money laundering & gold smuggling without being rebutted or impeached by the NPA in court, @elias_mambo, a Mnangagwa ally, tried a hatchet job to smear Lunat to sanitize the Mnangagwas. Lunat's lawyers have taken the matter up! pic.twitter.com/vLtxCI8T4d
13/21 Mohamed Zakariya Patel uses his Mnangagwa ties to access gold from Fidelity Printers & Refinery, as did Henrietta Rushwaya; smuggles it out to sell it in hard currency & to buy rtgs from parallel market to pay 45% to #RBZ & to share hard currency with his VVIP gold barons!
14/21 From a forensic reading of his Dossier, it is clear that Mohamed Zakariya Patel runs "Toppers Uniforms", more as a money laundering vehicle than anything else. Zaks Patel is a pilot who regularly flies to SA, Zambia & Dubai on money laundering & gold smuggling missions!
15/21 The Dossier shows that there is a criminal capture of the presidency, especially State House, through Mnangagwa & Auxillia, by syndicates like the one run by Mohamed Zakariya Patel; who is deeply networked within the criminal justice system, the financial & mining sectors!
16/21 The Mohamed Zakariya Patel Dossier shows how Mnangagwa and his wife Auxillia make big bucks through systematic looting of a key national resource: gold. To recap: they use the likes of Mohamed Zakariya Patel to access gold from Fidelity Printers & Refineries for nothing!
17/21 After the gold is accessed from Fidelity Printers & Refineries, it is smuggled out of Zim by Mohamed Zakariya Patel, the pilot, to be sold in hard currency for the Mnangagwas; some of the forex is used to buy the local currency to pay #RBZ 45% of the value of the gold!
18/21 From Mohamed Zakariya Patel's money laundering plunder, captured in his Dossier, it is clear that his syndicate "burns" forex to multiply it, before paying the Mnangagwas (and the 45% to the @ReserveBankZIM); hence the calls Mohamed would get from a "fuming first lady"!
18/21 From Mohamed Zakariya Patel's money laundering plunder, captured in his Dossier, it is clear that his syndicate "burns" forex to multiply it, before paying the Mnangagwas (and the 45% to the @ReserveBankZIM); hence the calls Mohamed would get from a "fuming first lady"!
19/21 It's also clear from Mohamed Zakariya Patel's Dossier that the biggest loser in the scam is Fidelity Printers & Refineries, meaning the people of Zimbabwe, who only get paid 45% of the value of the gold in rtgs local currency. It's an untold story of shocking grand looting!
20/21 What emerges is that Mnangagwa's so-called anti-corruption campaign is fake. Mnangagwa has weaponized corruption, not to fight it but to criminalize his opponents and has used that criminalization to cover up his & his family's corruption as captured in the "Zaks Dossier"!
21/21 The facts & the implications of the WhatsApp chats between Mohamed Zakariya Patel & Ishmaiel Moosa Lunat speak for themselves; exposing serious crimes. The people must hold Mnangagwa & his wife Auxillia to account, without fear or favour. State House is now a looting haven! pic.twitter.com/EVkxifOD8H
Melody Mashonga (25), from Victoria Ranch in Masvingo, was slapped with a wholly suspended three-year jail sentence after she poured hot cooking oil on her boyfriend, Emmanuel Cheure (35).
Mashonga was handed the sentence recently at Masvingo Magistrates Court by Magistrate Bishard Chineka.
She told the court that she poured hot cooking oil on Cheure because they were having problems in their relationship and she was frustrated by Cheure’s responses.
The incident occurred in Victoria Ranch at Mashonga’s house after Cheure refused to eat a meal she had offered him saying the food was rotten and was producing a pungent smell. Appearing for the State, Nixon Chamisa said:
The accused then went outside the house, took a pot filled with hot cooking oil and poured it on Cheure who sustained severe burns on the neck, chest, abdomen and private parts.
Cheure then ran outside the house asking for help and was rushed to Masvingo General Hospital by well-wishers. A Police report was made leading to Mashonga’s arrest.-Masvingo Mirror
#MnangagwaAndAuxilliaExposed 1/21 I'm uploading herewith raw evidence which exposes Mnangagwa & his wife Auxillia as the barons & beneficiaries of money laundering & gold smuggling by one Mohamed Zakariya Patel. The evidence covers the period from 24 May 2018 to 14 January 2019! pic.twitter.com/ChGFvO3Tf5
2/21 As is often the case in such matters, the main enabler tends to vary either their name by use of different spellings or even use of different names. So, here you get Mohamed Zakariya Patel, or Mohamed Zakaraya Patel or Mohammed Zackaraya Patel commonly known as "Zaks Patel"! pic.twitter.com/SnaunfMHX5
3/21 The raw evidence consists of WhatsApp chats between Mohamed Zakariya Patel & Ishamaiel Mossa Lunat; along with key documents that backup the content of the chats. The chats specifically refer to "Number 1" (Mnangagwa), "first lady" (Auxillia) & "Pres (President's) Office"!
4/21 The evidence is uploaded here as raw data to enable citizens, especially the media, civil society, churches, political parties & academia to do their own investigations to draw their own conclusions to inform their own interventions & praxis to tackle the crisis. Study it!
5/21 The complete WhatsApp chats are uploaded; but highlighted here are Mohamed Zakariya Patel's clear & unambiguous mentions of money laundering transactions for "Number 1" (Mnangagwa) & a "fuming first lady" (Auxillia); as well as visits to "Pres Office" ( President's Office)! pic.twitter.com/NplTkGZfBJ
6/21 Mohamed Zakariya Patel's WhatsApp chats with Ishmaiel Moosa Lunat have attachments, like this confidential memo from @ReserveBankZIM to #CID, which show Patel's intimate connections within law enforcement agencies in the system; arising from his links with the Mnangagwas! pic.twitter.com/01W9T44cXI
7/21 As the evidence in the documents shows, thanks to his barons, Mnangagwa & Auxillia, Mohamed Zakariya Patel has deep Police & CID contacts; whom he bribes to cover his money laundering & gold smuggling crimes, one is Michell Nyabadza, at CID, Harare Central Police Station! pic.twitter.com/3gUWmUDzgO
8/21 Attached is the verbatim record of WhatsApp chats from 24 May 2018 to 14 January 2019 between Mohamed Zakariya Patel & Ishmaiel Moosa Lunat; implicating Mnangagwa (Number 1) & his wife (first lady) Auxillia, in money laundering and gold smuggling!https://t.co/9h37tfM7Aj
9/21 Here is a link to the full 148-page Dossier of confirmed WhatsApp chats, and their supporting documents, between Mohamed Zakariya Patel & Ishmaiel Moosa Lunat disclosing serious crimes & implicating Mnangagwa & Auxillia. The NPA, SACU & ZRP have it!https://t.co/dpiIK86kXw
10/21 The key law enforcement agencies, NPA, SACU & ZRP's Law & Order have been sitting on Zaks Patel Dossier for months without taking action as required by the law, to protect Mnangagwa & Auxillia. And @matandamoyo's @ZACConline has literally been running away from the Dossier!
11/21 Some weeks ago, the evidence of the involvement of Mnangagwa & his wife Auxillia, as barons in Mohamed Zakariya Patel's money laundering & gold smuggling, was led by Ishmaiel Moosa Lunat in Case No. R635-7/19 before the Magistrates Court; and was not impeached by the NPA!
12/21 After Lunat implicated Mnangagwa & Auxillia in money laundering & gold smuggling without being rebutted or impeached by the NPA in court, @elias_mambo, a Mnangagwa ally, tried a hatchet job to smear Lunat to sanitize the Mnangagwas. Lunat's lawyers have taken the matter up! pic.twitter.com/vLtxCI8T4d
13/21 Mohamed Zakariya Patel uses his Mnangagwa ties to access gold from Fidelity Printers & Refinery, as did Henrietta Rushwaya; smuggles it out to sell it in hard currency & to buy rtgs from parallel market to pay 45% to #RBZ & to share hard currency with his VVIP gold barons!
14/21 From a forensic reading of his Dossier, it is clear that Mohamed Zakariya Patel runs "Toppers Uniforms", more as a money laundering vehicle than anything else. Zaks Patel is a pilot who regularly flies to SA, Zambia & Dubai on money laundering & gold smuggling missions!
15/21 The Dossier shows that there is a criminal capture of the presidency, especially State House, through Mnangagwa & Auxillia, by syndicates like the one run by Mohamed Zakariya Patel; who is deeply networked within the criminal justice system, the financial & mining sectors!
16/21 The Mohamed Zakariya Patel Dossier shows how Mnangagwa and his wife Auxillia make big bucks through systematic looting of a key national resource: gold. To recap: they use the likes of Mohamed Zakariya Patel to access gold from Fidelity Printers & Refineries for nothing!
17/21 After the gold is accessed from Fidelity Printers & Refineries, it is smuggled out of Zim by Mohamed Zakariya Patel, the pilot, to be sold in hard currency for the Mnangagwas; some of the forex is used to buy the local currency to pay #RBZ 45% of the value of the gold!
18/21 From Mohamed Zakariya Patel's money laundering plunder, captured in his Dossier, it is clear that his syndicate "burns" forex to multiply it, before paying the Mnangagwas (and the 45% to the @ReserveBankZIM); hence the calls Mohamed would get from a "fuming first lady"!
18/21 From Mohamed Zakariya Patel's money laundering plunder, captured in his Dossier, it is clear that his syndicate "burns" forex to multiply it, before paying the Mnangagwas (and the 45% to the @ReserveBankZIM); hence the calls Mohamed would get from a "fuming first lady"!
19/21 It's also clear from Mohamed Zakariya Patel's Dossier that the biggest loser in the scam is Fidelity Printers & Refineries, meaning the people of Zimbabwe, who only get paid 45% of the value of the gold in rtgs local currency. It's an untold story of shocking grand looting!
20/21 What emerges is that Mnangagwa's so-called anti-corruption campaign is fake. Mnangagwa has weaponized corruption, not to fight it but to criminalize his opponents and has used that criminalization to cover up his & his family's corruption as captured in the "Zaks Dossier"!
21/21 The facts & the implications of the WhatsApp chats between Mohamed Zakariya Patel & Ishmaiel Moosa Lunat speak for themselves; exposing serious crimes. The people must hold Mnangagwa & his wife Auxillia to account, without fear or favour. State House is now a looting haven! pic.twitter.com/EVkxifOD8H
Former ZANU PF member Professor Jonathan Moyo has thrown into the public several documents and records showing that President Emmerson Mnangagwa and his wife are smuggling gold out of the country and also involved in huge money laundering with some business people within and outside the country.
One of the people exposed in the scheme is Bulawayo top businessman Mohammed Zakariya Patel who owns popular outlet Toppers and Zaks Place Lodge.
Click the link below to follow WhatsApp messages showing Mnangagwa and Patel’s money laundering deals.
In a tragic development, a Grade 7 pupil, from Gweru died on the spot after she was allegedly struck by a mental patient with a stone on the left ear while on her way from school.
12-year-old girl, Natasha Manunure, was struck with a big stone on her left ear by a well-known mental patient called Derick just a few meters away from her home in Section 3, Maliwa Road also in Mtapa suburb.
She was returning home from Sandara Primary School just after finishing her exam and was walking along Nyonizonke Road while concentrating on an Agriculture Paper 1 question paper she was holding when the tragic incident happened.
According to an eyewitness, Sydlen Chimalizeni, who resides at a house close to where the incident occurred, he said he heard a noise that sounded like a firecracker followed by a sharp scream before he went out to investigate.
He said he saw Natasha lying on the ground groaning and writhing in pain and the accused fleeing from the scene. Chimalizeni revealed that he tried to perform first aid on her but it was already too late.
“I knelt down intending to perform first aid on the girl but before I knew it, some white foam started coming out of her mouth. There was a lot of blood all over the scene.”
“So, word was sent to Natasha’s parents and they attended the scene together with the police before her body was ferried to Gweru Provincial Hospital mortuary. Derick was also caught by members of the community and was handed over to the police,” he said.
Chimalizeni revealed that Derick is a mental patient who is notorious for assaulting and pelting stones at girls, and women in Mtapa and Mambo suburbs.
Natasha’s grandmother, Mrs. Sophia Zivanai who spoke to a local publication The Chronicle said that it was a dark day for the family as they are yet to come to terms with the sad death of Natasha. She said her granddaughter who had a bright future died while preparing for examinations.
“Natasha was holding some papers; she was revising for her exams. I’m so hurt and am in pain. How could this happen to her. It’s not the first time that Derick has been on the wrong side of the law and it’s unfortunate that this has happened to my granddaughter, we have lost an intelligent child. Funeral arrangements are underway,” she said
This week @kimjayde speaks to the famous series entrepreneur @williamsachiti, the CEO and Founder of driverless Car Kar-go Watch it live on ZimEye Thursday 8pm CAT brought to you by @worldRemit
Using the @WorldRemit app is quick and easy, you can send money from the comfort of your home to any of the over 150 countries that have WorldRemit branches. Send a minimum of £50 or equivalent and stand a chance to choose an entrepreneur of your choice who will receive an entrepreneur pack from WorldRemit to boost their business. Learn more about this promotion here: https://wrm.app.link/KimJayde
Melody Mashonga (25), from Victoria Ranch in Masvingo, was slapped with a wholly suspended three-year jail sentence after she poured hot cooking oil on her boyfriend, Emmanuel Cheure (35).
Mashonga was handed the sentence recently at Masvingo Magistrates Court by Magistrate Bishard Chineka.
She told the court that she poured hot cooking oil on Cheure because they were having problems in their relationship and she was frustrated by Cheure’s responses.
The incident occurred in Victoria Ranch at Mashonga’s house after Cheure refused to eat a meal she had offered him saying the food was rotten and was producing a pungent smell. Appearing for the State, Nixon Chamisa said:
The accused then went outside the house, took a pot filled with hot cooking oil and poured it on Cheure who sustained severe burns on the neck, chest, abdomen and private parts.
Cheure then ran outside the house asking for help and was rushed to Masvingo General Hospital by well-wishers. A Police report was made leading to Mashonga’s arrest.-Masvingo Mirror
A Kwekwe man says his In-laws are threatening to burn him alive because his son has refused to get back together with their (In-laws) daughter.
Mr Ellmon Munedzimwe has since approached the Kwekwe magistrate’s court seeking a protection order from his in-laws.
According to H-Metro, Mr Munedzimwe claims that Mr Michael Mangachena is forcing his granddaughter to get back together with his son.
Appearing before Kwekwe magistrate Samukeliso Gumbo, Mr Munedzimwe said he wanted a protection order from Mr Mangachena who has threatened to end his life. Your Worship, Mangachena has been sending a go-between and forcing his granddaughter to come to my house without my consent.
He also threatened to burn me alive for not complying with his demands and l do not wish to entertain him since l fear for my life and l, therefore, wish to be protected.
I am pleading with the court to be granted protection order as l cannot stay with his granddaughter because l do not know why she was chased away from where she was staying with my son and also for my own safety as a man.
I do not want them to involve me in their quarrels because they are grown-ups who can make decisions for themselves, he said.
However, Mr Mangachena disputed the allegations brought against him saying all he wanted was to solve the problems in the two families according to the local culture. I have been asking him to call his son so that he can come and do things properly according to culture if he no longer wants my granddaughter.
I am the one responsible for her so l have to make things right according to how they started, he said
Mr Mangachena labelled Mr Munedzimwe a coward saying the reason behind the protection order was that the two families can not meet and talk things through like adults. He wishes to get a protection order just so that he can wipe us away from talking things through like grown-ups.
I am also insisting on talking like adults because they took my granddaughter’s two minor kids whom she is worried about and cannot stay in the dark about their whereabouts.
I also have a witness who can testify as to how l was handling issues but they are unfortunately not feeling okay, said Mangachena.
Magistrate Gumbo told Mangachena to bring his witness to testify in court on the 15 of December.
By A Correspondent- Chaos and confusion rocked the ZimSec examinations in Manicaland, Mashonaland Central and South after the examinations body failed to avail adequate geography ordinary level question papers for candidates at several schools including Ndhlabiso, Nhedziwa, Chitakatira and Betera secondary schools.
According to a reliable source who is privy to the development, geography papers allegedly exchanged hands after the examinations body availed inadequate examination papers and students had to wait for other pupils from the nearest schools to finish writing for the same paper to be collected and given to them before they started their exam.
Said the source:
“Ndhlabiso school was given Ordinary level geography papers that belonged to Mukomniwana secondary school. These papers were half the number of students.
The same happened at Nhedziwa secondary School where there was a shortage. Because of this, students did not sit for their examinations at same time. The examination had to be delayed because they were waiting for geography papers from the nearest school which is Mutambara mission school.
Our greatest fear is that with this covid-19 scourge, it is not advisable that exam papers circulate and exchange hands.
The paper arrived way after the other learners had written their examinations. Scanner sheets were also mixed up. There is chaos.”
In another related development, 2 students were registered for commerce but they were not on the register list on the exam day.
“The same was also true for several English students, some of whom tested covid-19 positive and they had to be quarantined.”
ZimEye also has it on good authority that in mashonaland central and south, most of the schools there were given geography paper 1 examinations but there were no maps.
Said a source:
“They wrote their geography examinations without any maps hence learners could not attempt map work. This is a new low for ZimSec and government. Even big schools like Kutama college were affected”
Chitakatira secondary school was also affected and the learners only wrote after the neighbouring school finished conducting the examinations. The same question papers which had been used by the learners was collected and given to the other pupils.
Added the source:
“Ordinary level candidates at Betera secondary school wrote their examination at night and learners had to share the question papers because their school had not received any examination question paper. They got nothing. Nothing at all.
The school only managed to get the paper from their neighbouring Chiurwi secondary school after 3:15pm.”
Efforts to get a comment from ZimSec was work in progress by the time of publishing.
Watch the live video loading below…….(please be patient as it uploads)
https://youtu.be/u_pP3utn_t4
Harare City Council demolishing the houses.
At least 190 illegal houses were demolished by Harare City Council in Budiriro 5 yesterday with police arresting Caleb Kadye on charges of parcelling out stands on Tembwe Housing Cooperative land about 2km from Budiriro 5 Current shopping centre.
Yesterday affected families were counting losses, while battling the rains, with women and children crying and men battling to find safe and secure places for their property.
Furniture was scattered in the mud, with only a few people having managed to ferry it to safer places.
A handful of defiant householders were seen trying to stand in front of a council bulldozer in an attempt to block it from demolishing their properties, but to no avail.
The alleged land baron Kadye who was at the back of the police truck during the demolitions, could be heard shouting trying to block the exercise.
Critics have repeatedly said the local authority should have stopped construction at foundation level, but for two decades the council has allowed unplanned settlements to mushroom, only moving in when buildings are up and occupied.
The land scams have led to the arrests of the city’s top officials including successive mayors Herbert Gomba, Jacob Mafume, town clerk Hosiah Chisango, housing director Addmore Nhekairo and principal housing officer Edgar Dzehonye.
A council official who declined to be named, said the teams had been tasked to demolish nearly 200 illegal houses.
“According to the instruction at hand we have been tasked to demolish between 180 to 190 houses built illegally here,” said the official.
In an interview, acting Harare City Council spokesperson Mr Innocent Ruwende said the houses were on stands illegally parcelled out.
An affected person, Mrs Erica Chikuse blamed the council for being insensitive.
“I bought the stand for US$2 500 sometime in 2010 from Tembwe Housing Cooperative although there were challenges with the council papers, but we were in the process to regularise this,” she said.
“Later there were tussles within the leadership resulting in one of the members forming a new cooperative by the name Events which ordered us to vacate the area.”
Mrs Chikuse said they were taken aback to see their houses demolished at a time the cooperative’s leadership was processing council papers for regularisation.
“Without any formal notice today we just received a phone call from council officials saying they were going to demolish our houses, but we thought it was their usual talk.
“I have nowhere to go and I was actually prepared to pay the fines, but I am heartbroken to see my house being demolished,” she said.
Another affected beneficiary, Mrs Netsai Jaketi, said she bought the stand in 2012.
“I paid a joining fee of US$250 to Tembwe Housing Cooperative and did not expect that it will end in such a tragic manner. This is actually a thorn in the flesh for me, imagine it is raining and I was actually beaten by security details while trying to remove my property inside the house,” she said.
By A Correspondent- Zanu-PF communications director Tafadzwa Mugwadi has tested positive for Covid-19.
Mugwadi is one of more than a dozen Zanu-PF employees and their family members who have caught the virus at the party’s Harare headquarters.
The party’s secretary for administration Obert Mpofu and his wife Sikhanyisiwe have gone into isolation after also testing positive for the respiratory illness, although they are reported to be stable.
Mugwadi told ZimLive he was informed of his positive test last Friday.
“I’m home self-isolating and recovering well,” he said.
Zanu-PF has been hosting party meetings at his HQ including a cocktail for journalists last week. The 15-story building was temporarily sealed off to allow for disinfection processes.
The party is currently conducting internal elections at district level, although the government has banned by-elections citing public health concerns.
On Tuesday night, Zimbabwe declared 73 new cases including nine deaths in Harare. In total, the country has seen 10,912 Covid-19 cases which have resulted in 303 deaths. At least 9,062 have recovered.
President Mnangagwa explains how he was deported to Zambia after being found guilty of blowing up a train in Rhodesia. After unveiling the plaque, Cde Mnangagwa revisited the scene of the deportation at the Victoria falls bridge, where he narrated what happened that day pic.twitter.com/vcBqEAjByj
President Emmerson Mnangagwa is in Victoria Falls where he is set to officiate at the awarding of City status to the resort town.
The ceremony will also be attended by MDC-T Acting President Thokozani Khupe who according to Information Secretary Nick Mangwana was invited the town Mayor who belongs to her faction of the MDC.
“The first mayor of Victoria Falls City, His Worship Councillor S. Dhlamini also made sure he invited his party leader and Official Leader of the Opposition who is also a daughter of Mat North, Hon @DrThoko_Khupe to this momentous occassion for both province and country,” said Mangwana.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa greets Thokozani Khupe the leader of MDC-TVic Falls councilors line up to meet President Emmerson Mnangagwa
By A Correspondent- The father of a 9-year-old boy who was murdered and his head cooked by his uncle on Friday, 4 December 2020 in Matova Village under Chief Zimuto in Masvingo Province has spoken about the hair raising incident.
Trevor Mapxashike (also known as Mapwashike) was killed by his uncle Clever Chitiga (22) who then shaved his head before cooking it.
Chitiga in a cousin to Henry Mapwashike (48), Trevor’s father. Chitiga and Henry’s homesteads are a few metres apart.
Henry had five children and Trevor (9) was his third child and was doing Grade 2 at Matova Primary School.
Speaking to The Herald on Tuesday, Henry said:
I almost collapsed, after forcing the door to one of his rooms, open. A trail of blood, which we believed to be my son’s, led us to his head which was being stewed in a big pot.
The door had been locked from inside and I had to gain entry through the window and opened it from inside.
My mother, who accompanied me to Clever’s homestead, used a stick to shove the head so that we could properly see what was in the pot and to our shock, it was my son’s head which was being stewed.
He had shaved it using a broken beer bottle and pounded it with a pestle and mortar.
… [Trevor] was an intelligent and obedient boy. He was left by his mother when he was only eight months old and was staying with my father since I had remarried.
Henry told the publication that he harboured no hard feelings towards his brother [cousin] for murdering his son.
He said:
My only appeal and prayer are for the family to unite and get to the bottom of this because I think there is something behind this.
We need to sit down and cleanse our family because this is strange and bizarre. It’s unheard of.
When I got to Clever’s homestead, he had already fled from the scene after I had asked him if he had seen my son.
I believe there was juju at play because from what I know, Clever never had a history of mental illness.
In fact, his discreetness and the way he tried to conceal evidence of his diabolic act smacks of someone who is mentally stable.
He (Clever) was dull at school and had a history of violence. He once bit off his younger brother’s finger for restraining him from assaulting his nephew and also torched a car that had been left in the custody of his father for safekeeping by a friend.
… I can not eat food, I am still unable to look at cooked meat after what I saw. I am relieved that we were able to bury my son today (yesterday) at Gokomere Mission cemetery.
The pot, which he was using to cook my son’s head, was taken by the police together with the pestle and mortar, which will be used in court.
By A Correspondent- A Customs and Excise official in Beitbridge was nabbed for attempting to illegally move out of a State warehouse goods worth $6 million or US$8 483.
Nelson Chinguwa, 31, faces a charge of criminal abuse of office.
Chinguwa was arraigned before Beitbridge magistrate Annia Chiweta and was released on $30 000 bail. He is denying the charge.
According to State papers, on December 3, Chinguwa, of 103 Limpopo View went to Manica Transit Shed, which houses a State warehouse in contravention of his assigned duties.
He then tried to remove the goods in question, which had been seized on June 30 pending payment of $2, 7 million or US$4 241, 56 duty equivalent to a level seven fine for importing goods without a licence.
Chinguwa had taken the goods but was intercepted at the Malala Tollgate on the Beitbridge- Bulawayo Highway.
He is expected again in court on December 21 this year. Lawyer Jabulani Mzinyathi appeared for Chinguwa.
By A Correspondent- The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) yesterday threatened to clamp down on social media users who “cyber-bully” government officials, which critics say is meant to muzzle critics of President Emmerson Mnangagwa on social media.
Media experts also accused the government of trying to close media space. This came as Harare’s provincial development co-ordinator Tafadzwa Muguti claimed he was being targeted on social media, while Zanu PF last week also claimed that Mnangagwa was a victim of online cyber-bullying.
“The ZRP warns individuals and groups from committing crimes through cyber-bullying of government officials who will be performing their constitutional and lawful obligations in terms of service delivery to Zimbabweans,” the police said in a terse statement.
They further said the cyber-bullying of government officials was perpetrated by “certain groups of suspects who know their arrest is imminent”.
Police tagged Information secretary Ndavaningi Mangwana and Muguti in their statement on Twitter.
By A Correspondent- 332 COVID-19 cases with the majority of them being asymptomatic, have been reported in both primary and secondary schools in Zimbabwe since schools were reopened on 28 September.
This was said by Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister, Senator Monica Mutsvangwa while briefing the media during a post-cabinet briefing in Harare on Tuesday.
She said:
In the learning institutions, a total of 332 COVID-19 cases were reported and the majority of these are asymptomatic, isolated and being monitored by Rapid Response teams in the respective provinces.
Cabinet also wishes to reassure the public that the total number of infected learners and teachers out of a population of 4,5 million and 121 272 respectively, is very low.
The environment at schools will continue to be monitored as previously undertaken. We continue to urge the need for responsible reporting in this regard.
Some stakeholders in the education sector have called for the immediate closure of schools saying pupils and teachers are being made guinea pigs as coronavirus cases have spiked in recent weeks.
However, speaking over the weekend, Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education spokesperson, Taungana Ndoro said there is no chance that non-examination classes could close early unless there is an incredibly explosive rise of COVID-19 cases in schools
By Nomusa Garikai- ”Today (8 December 2020) I will upload unimpeachable evidence that Mnangagwa, and his wife Auxillia, are the real barons of money laundering and gold smuggling in Zimbabwe. Don’t miss it!” twittered Professor Jonathan Moyo
Professor Jonathan Moyo, corruption has been institutionalised in Zimbabwe, the wholesale looting of diamonds that has been taking place in Marange and Chiadzwa for decades was approved by the Zanu PF/GNU cabinets and parliaments dating back to 2006!
It was the Zimbabwe government’s cabinet that granted the diamond mining concessions to all the operators.
The late Edward Chindori-Chininga 2012 report to parliament revealed the details of the mining concessions: the holders do not keep any records of the quantity and quality of diamonds, no record of where the diamonds are sold and for how much, no record of who the partners are and how much each is earning, etc., etc. This is all done for the purpose avoiding cooperate or individual tax liabilities!
Similar mining concessions have been granted in other areas such as gold, platinum and lithium and in other areas.
Since the wholesale looting has cabinet and parliament approval, other state institutions such as the Auditor General, tax collecting bodies, ZACC, the Police, etc. have all been told to stay out of all these ring-fenced areas.
It is no secret that Mnangagwa and many of his cabinet members are the Godfathers of corruption; corruption has been legalised and institutionalised; this is why it is impossible to uprooted corruption as long as Zanu PF remains in power!
Of course, Professor Moyo would know all the juicy details of who the Godfathers of corruption are, their holdings, how they amassed their wealth, etc., etc. Professor Moyo was a Zanu PF insider for decades and was shrewd enough to know the dirty details of what was going on in the party and to keep a record. He is now willing to share some of the record with us.
It was just a matter of time before the truth about the corruption and rot in Zimbabwe came out. Mnangagwa, Mugabe, etc. they all knew the truth cannot be hidden forever. “Rinemanyanga hariputirwi!” as one would say in Shona!
A manhunt and an internal investigation have been launched after the escape of two criminals from the Kgosi Mampuru Correctional Centre in Tshwane.
“The two are still at large and members of the Emergency Support Team from Correctional Services, working closely with the SA Police Service are hot on their heels,” the department of correctional services said on Wednesday.
“These escapees shall be brought back behind bars.”
They are Thabo Zacharia Muyambo from Mozambique, who is serving a life sentence for 21 counts of various crimes, including rape, robbery and kidnapping; and Johannes Chauke from Zimbabwe, who is serving 20 years for house breaking offences.
The department said it has initiated an internal investigation into their escape.
The public is urged to contact the nearest police station should they come into contact with the men.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa is in Victoria Falls where he is set to officiate at the awarding of City status to the resort town.
The ceremony will also be attended by MDC-T Acting President Thokozani Khupe who according to Information Secretary Nick Mangwana was invited the town Mayor who belongs to her faction of the MDC.
“The first mayor of Victoria Falls City, His Worship Councillor S. Dhlamini also made sure he invited his party leader and Official Leader of the Opposition who is also a daughter of Mat North, Hon @DrThoko_Khupe to this momentous occassion for both province and country,” said Mangwana.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa greets Thokozani Khupe the leader of MDC-TVic Falls councilors line up to meet President Emmerson Mnangagwa
I took my time to read 148 page "dossier" being used by @ProfJNMoyo to attack the President & his family and took time to consult the family who have absolutely no clue who these people are or what they are being purported to be talking about. Ndochiiko ichochi nhai Prof?
Tragedy struck a couple in Mtapa, Gweru, when their daughter, a Grade 7 pupil, died on the spot after she was allegedly struck by a mental patient with a stone on the left ear while on her way from school.
The 12-year-old girl, Natasha Manunure, eye witnesses said, was struck with a big stone just a few metres away from her home in Section 3, Maliwa Road also in Mtapa suburb.
She was returning home from Sandara Primary School and was walking along Nyonizonke Road while concentrating on an Agriculture Paper 1 question paper she was holding. Grade 7 pupils are writing that paper today.
The person who allegedly struck her with a stone is a well-known mental patient called Derick who stays at Mtapa Cemetery.
When a news crew arrived at the scene at around 3PM, residents had thronged the area with the police and Natasha’s parents working on removing her body from the road before taking it to Gweru Provincial Hospital mortuary.
An eyewitness, Mr Sydlen Chimalizeni, who resides at a house close to where the incident occured, said he heard a noise which sounded like a firecracker followed by a sharp scream before he went out to investigate. He said he saw Natasha lying on the ground groaning in pain.
Mr Chimalizeni said from a distance, he saw Derick running from the scene.
“I knelt down intending to perform first aid on the girl but before I knew it, some white foam started coming out of her mouth. There was a lot of blood all over the scene,” he said.
Mr Chimalizeni said Derick was allegedly a mental patient who was notorious for assaulting and pelting with stones, girls and women in Mtapa and Mambo suburbs.
“So, word was sent to Natasha’s parents and they attended the scene together with the police before her body was ferried to Gweru Provincial Hospital mortuary. Derick was also caught by members of the community and was handed over to the police,” he said.
Natasha’s grandmother, Mrs Sophia Zivanai said her granddaughter who had a bright future died while preparing for her examinations.
“Natasha was holding some papers; she was revising for her exams. I’m so hurt and am in pain. How could this happen to her. It’s not the first time that Derick has been on the wrong side of the law and it’s unfortunate that this has happened to my granddaughter, we have lost an intelligent child. Funeral arrangements are underway,” she said.
Mrs Lyza Mushonga who stays in Mambo said Derick allegedly struck her son with a stone on the face leaving him with 10 stitches. She said they allegedly reported him to the police but no action was taken.
“I stay in Mambo and when I heard that there was a child who had died after being struck by Derick with a stone, I quickly rushed here and it’s unfortunate that I know this family. I know this girl. This Derick is a nuisance and we have been living in fear of him,” said Mrs Mushonga.
Another resident, Mrs Shaylee Jambayo, said two weeks ago, her grandchild was struck on the right shoulder with a stone allegedly by Derick.
“Derick struck my granddaughter who coincidentally was in the same class with Natasha and she is still in pain. Her hand is not functioning and is having difficulties writing her Grade 7 exams. As residents we are sick and tired of Derick but no action is being taken. He should have been in a mental institution and not on the streets harassing and killing innocent children. May the law take its course,” she said.
Natasha’s brother, Marvelous, said it was a dark day for him and his family after losing his sister who had a bright future. He said Natasha died a few metres from home.
“People came and told us that she had been struck with a stone and I quickly rushed here and found Derick gone. So, I ran towards Mambo Shops and caught him there with the assistance of fellow villagers and handed him over to the police. We were four siblings and with Natasha gone we are now three and it’s a bitter pill to swallow,” said Marvelous.
Suspended Gweru City Council town clerk Ms Elizabeth Gwatipedza has been fired after being found guilty of two counts of willful disobedience of a lawful order and gross inefficiency by a disciplinary committee.
Ms Gwatipedza was suspended on October 14 last year. Following her suspension, the city of Gweru appointed Mr Melusi Moyo of Dube-Banda, Nzarayapera legal practitioners to preside over her disciplinary hearing which took over eight months to be completed. Mr Moyo’s committee recommended the dismissal of Ms Gwatipedza.
It also recommended that council notify Ms Gwatipedza of her dismissal from council employment and that council notifies the Local Government Board about the dismissal. She stood accused of refusing to follow orders from the mayor Councillor Josiah Makombe among other charges.
Ms Gwatipedza confirmed that she had been fired.
“It’s true that I have been fired but will comment later,” she said.
After the hearing, Mr Moyo released the guilty verdict with recommendations to fire Ms Gwatipedza which were adopted by council last Friday. Parties filed written submissions in mitigation and aggravation to enable me to consider the appropriate penalty following conviction of the town clerk on 18 November 2020 on the charge of willful disobedience to a lawful order and of gross inefficiency in the performance of her duties.
Gweru City council takes a serious view of the offences. It has thus prayed for dismissal of the town clerk. The town clerk on the other hand prays for lenience and educational sentence.
“Willful disobedience to a lawful order justifying dismissal of an employee must be such disobedience as to be likely to undermine the relationship between the employer and the employee, going to the root of the contract employment. The test whether the employee’s willful disobedience is a breach going to the root of the contract is an objective one,” reads the judgement.
The judgment notes that during the hearing Ms Gwatipedza argued that there is no specific provision in the Urban Councils Act which obliges her to take orders from the mayor and as a matter of law and practice, she acts through council resolutions and as a lay person, she didn’t believe she had to comply with the mayor’s instruction but she nevertheless complied.
She further argued that in the context of contracts of employment for heads of departments, there was no evidence led as to why such contracts were being requested.
“I have already found that all the elements of this charge were met and the question that arises is whether the disobedience is such that it is likely to undermine the employment relationship between the parties. In other words, is it serious to such an extent that it goes to the root of the contract?
“The factors that should be weighed against the mitigating factors submitted by Gwatipedza include the fact that the contracts of employment had been requested by the mayor who heads a council composed of new councillors. These councillors were not part of Gweru City Council when she was employed and they were thus entitled to know her conditions of service,” reads the judgment.
With regards to the charge of gross inefficiency, the judgment noted that evidence showed that the heads of departments were incompetent in some cases and it emerged that Ms Gwatipedza did not play her part to the level expected under Section 136 of the Urban Councils Act.
The judgment noted that the town clerk’s duties include supervising and controlling the activities of council employees, managing the operations and property of council and proper administration of council, among others.
“What is also concerning is that the gross inefficiency manifests itself on several occasions and the first case in point is on failure to take steps to comply with the audit cycle,” reads the judgment.
Mr Moyo recommended to council that findings of the disciplinary authority in their entirety without any amendments and dismissal of Gwatipedza from the employment of City of Gweru be adopted by Council with immediate effect.
He also recommended that council notifies Ms Gwatipedza of her dismissal from council employment and that council notifies the Local Government Board about her dismissal also.
A TOTAL of 790 police officers stationed in Matabeleland South and North Provinces have been conferred with new ranks.
In Matabeleland South, 87 officers were promoted from Sergeants to Assistant Inspector, 11 were promoted from Sergeants to Sergeant Majors while 275 were promoted from Constables to Sergeants.
In a speech read on his behalf by Assistant Commissioner responsible for crime in Matabeleland South Province John Simon during the conferment ceremony yesterday, Police Commissioner-General Godwin Matanga urged the promoted officers to serve faithfully and diligently.
“This promotion did not come on a silver platter but it came as a result of a range of considerations among them merit, consistent dutifulness, hard work, loyalty, discipline, selflessness and patriotism. During this promotion exercise the elevation of female officers has continued to be a distinguishing feature.
“I implore you to take your new posts with dexterity and confidence as your subordinates will inevitably look up to you for guidance. Be fair in judgement in order to retain their respect and trust hence I urge you to serve faithfully and diligently,” he said.
Comm-Gen Matanga urged police officers to shun corruption and uphold the law in line with the Constitution of Zimbabwe.
The officer-in-charge of crime and operations in Matabeleland North, Assistant Commissioner Francis Phiri, presiding on the promotion of 417 officers in the province said: “A functional police force is key to the Government’s development mantra and ultimate attainment of an Upper Middle-income economy by 2030.”
Asst Comm Phiri was standing in for the officer commanding Matabeleland North, Commissioner Erasmus Makodza yesterday at the provincial 2020 ZRP conferment parade held at the ZRP Matabeleland North Provincial Police Headquarters in Hwange.
The 417 comprise 307 males and 110 females of which 299 were promoted from Constable to Sergeant, eight to Sergeant Majors and 110 to Assistant Inspector.
The promotions are in line with the Second Republic’s vision to rebrand the police.
“The promotions are meant to replenish gaps that naturally emerge within the ranks as well as enlarge the pool of first-line supervisors in line with the Second Republic vision of rebranding the police.
“ZRP has a role to play in enabling a conducive environment for the realisation of Government vision of attaining an empowered and prosperous upper middle-income society by 2030 through the implementation of the National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1.) The vision can only be realised if we support Government programmes by ensuring a crime free society where citizens go about their business and investors are not at risk to put their funds into our economy, “ said Asst Comm Phiri.
He said the ZRP will always promote officers who exhibit the right decorum, patriotism, shunning corruption and upholding the law in tandem with the constitution of Zimbabwe.
Countrywide, a total of 3 945 Sergeants, 173 Sergeant Majors and 1 511 Assistant Inspectors were promoted. Asst Comm Phiri encouraged those that did not make it in the qualification stages to continue working hard.
He urged police officers to treat each other with respect and cultivate team spirit which also helps in building trust from the general populace.
The newly promoted officers were discouraged from using the promotion as an opportunity to abuse power for personal aggrandisement in place of public good.
An armed gang masquerading as President Mnangagwa’s nephews grabbing claims around Mazowe have been ordered by the High Court to vacate a mine.
The successful legal action is likely to see a flood of similar urgent suits.
The gang led by a person just called Mboma in the application and Kuda Kambarami and anyone acting under their instructions were ordered by the High Court to vacate mining claims legally held by Gauteng Mining Syndicate in Reserve Area No 1566 Tataguru Cluster, Mbedzi Farm in Mazowe.
Justice Chikowero, granting the urgent application to restore possession to Gauteng, ordered Mboma, Kambarami and any followers off the land within 48 hours with the police required to get them off.
On August 20 this year Gauteng Mining Syndicate occupied the claims after being granted a Special Mining Grant by the Ministry of Mines Bindura office for Mashonaland Central.
The Minister of Defence and War Veterans Affairs, as chairperson of the Covid-19 Ad-Hoc Inter-Ministerial Task Force, presented an update report on the country’s response to the Covid-19 outbreak, which was adopted by Cabinet.
Cabinet was advised that the country now has 10 547 confirmed Covid-19 cases compared to the 9 714 reported last week. A total of 8 698 people had recovered from the disease. The national recovery rate stands at 82 percent while 9 018 of the Covid-19 positive cases are attributable to local transmissions. It is regrettable that some 281 lives were lost to the pandemic. Of concern, however, is the increase in the number of new cases detected, from 594 recorded in week 47 to 833 in week 48.
In the learning institutions, a total of 332 Covid-19 cases were reported and the majority of these are asymptomatic, isolated and being monitored by rapid response teams in the respective provinces. Cabinet also wishes to reassure the public that the total number of infected learners and teachers out of a population of 4,5 million and 121 272 respectively, is very low. The environment at schools will continue to be monitored as previously undertaken. We continue to urge the need for responsible reporting in this regard. The nation is further assured that the Ministries of Primary and Secondary Education and Health and Child Care will continue to strengthen the implementation of standard operating procedures at schools and public transport spaces in order to curb the increase in new infections.
The nation is called upon to continue exercising extreme caution, and complying with Covid-19 protective and preventative guidelines, protocols and measures in order to arrest the surge in confirmed Covid-19 cases.
PROVINCIAL GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCTS
The Minister of Finance and Economic Development presented provincial Gross Domestic Product statistics for the period 2012 to 2018, which were compiled by the Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (ZIMSTAT). Cabinet noted with satisfaction that this is the first such compilation since Independence, which shows the disaggregated figures per province depicting contributions to national economic performance.
Compilation and publication of the provincial GDPs buttresses implementation of the Devolution and Decentralisation programme, which brings with it increasing demand for sub-national socio-economic statistics. The data used in the compilation of the regional GDPs was obtained from 15 sectors, including the following: agriculture, forestry, hunting and fishing; mining and quarrying; manufacturing; construction; water supply, sewerage, waste management and remedial activities; wholesale, retail trade and repair of motor vehicles and motor cycles; and education.
The data shows that provinces that are predominantly rural had low percentage contributions to the national GDP and the concerned provinces are Mashonaland Central, Matabeleland North, Manicaland, Matabeleland South and Masvingo. Provinces with more urban areas, namely: Bulawayo, Mashonaland East, Mashonaland West, Midlands and Harare, had higher per capita GDP. Interestingly, Matabeleland South which had low GDP had higher per capita GDP, suggesting there is higher factor productivity in the province. Generally, it was found that the manufacturing and wholesale, retail trade, repair of motor vehicles and cycles industries dominated other industries in most provinces.
More specifically, provincial GDPs in 2018 were as follows: Bulawayo, US$2.26 billion; Harare, US$9.56 billion; Manicaland, US$1.46 billion; Mashonaland Central, US$1.08 billion; Mashonaland East, US$2.22 billion; Mashonaland West, US$2.14 billion; Masvingo, US$1.41 billion; Matabeleland North, US$1.16 billion; Matabeleland South, US$940 million; and Midlands, US$1.94 billion.
On the other hand, the per capita nominal provincial GDPs for 2018 were as follows: Bulawayo, US$3 048; Harare, US$3 614; Manicaland, US$743; Mashonaland Central, US$784; Mashonaland East, US$1 408; Mashonaland West, US$1 206; Masvingo, US$820; Matabeleland North, US$1 333; Matabeleland South, US$1 186; and Midlands, US$1 026 billion.
Government reiterates that, going forward, collecting and analysing statistical data disaggregated by province and sub-sector economic activities will continue to form ZIMSTAT’s core functions. The data will be key in guiding the economic reform agenda of the Second Republic in order to guarantee equitable development as we move towards Vision 2030. Ministers of State for Provincial Affairs will make use of the data in coming up with provincial development plans. The data will henceforth be published for the information of the general citizenry.
IMPLEMENTATION, MONITORING AND EVALUATION ROADMAP FOR THE NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY 2021-2025 (NDS 1)
In fulfilment of the undertaking made at the launch of the National Development Strategy 1, the Minister of Finance and Economic Development updated Cabinet on the formulation of an NDS1 implementation roadmap with clear benchmarks to show the attainment of set goals for purposes of effectively monitoring and evaluating progress made.
Cabinet stresses that monitoring and evaluation of the NDS1 targets will commence from the outset of the strategy period and will be done through an e-enabled information management system.
Government ministries, departments and agencies have already undertaken strategic planning workshops to come up with annual plans for the year 2021 which are based on an initial 3-year macro-economic framework. The annual plans form the basis upon which performance contracts of permanent secretaries will be signed later this month.
The nation is advised that the NDS1 monitoring and evaluation framework is drawn from the national and sectoral development results frameworks, which outline national priorities, key result areas, outcomes, key performance indicators, baselines and targets. The Results-Based Monitoring and evaluation of NDS1 will place greater emphasis on the measurement of economic and livelihoods transformation results. In order to ensure effective and efficient implementation of NDS1, bi-annual reviews coupled with mid-term and terminal evaluation will be undertaken.
At the policy level, coordination of the NDS1 implementation, monitoring and evaluation will be done by Cabinet. Ministers, accounting officers/permanent secretaries and programme managers will be held accountable for the delivery of identified outcomes and outputs.
A high-level NDS1 national steering committee chaired by the Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet and comprising members from the Office of the President and Cabinet, Public Service Commission and the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development will produce periodic reports on Results-Based Monitoring and Evaluation of NDS1 for consideration by the ministerial committee chaired by the Minister of Finance and Economic Development.
At the implementation level, the National Monitoring and Evaluation Joint Review Committee, chaired by a Deputy Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet, and consisting of all NDS1 thematic working group chairs and co-chairs will coordinate the work of NDS1 thematic working groups; engage all key stakeholders; ensure that implementation of NDS 1 remains consistent with the country’s strategic policy direction as outlined by the national steering committee; and produce periodic progress reports for consideration by the national steering committee. Thematic working groups monitoring and evaluation committees, chaired by lead Ministry Permanent Secretaries and comprising membership from Ministries under the relevant thematic working group will ensure that priorities as outlined in national sector results frameworks are implemented timeously, effectively and efficiently. Ministry, Department or Agency (MDA) Management Committees will report on their respective programme outputs and outcomes which will in turn contribute to the achievement of the development results at the national, sector or sub-sector levels. In terms of devolution and decentralisation results, Provincial Councils and Chiefs Councils will be critical in the monitoring of associated NDS 1 outputs and outcomes.
Furthermore, planning, financing and implementation capacities at provincial and district levels will be strengthened to support devolved activities in lower level tiers of Government.
INITIATIVES TOWARDS ACHIEVEMENT OF A US$12 BILLION MINING INDUSTRY BY 2023
The Minister of Mines and Mining Development presented a paper on initiatives towards achievement of a US$12 billion Mining Industry by 2023. The initiative include : – 1) plans to fast track exploration, evaluation and digitalisation of selected reserved areas under the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development as well as other high level targets; 2)plans to stop issuance of special grants in the reserved areas under the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development until the exploration and evaluation is completed; 3) value addition programme for diamonds; 4) and the issuance and renewal of special grants for energy should be based on the following considerations, amongst others : – (a) for coal the- financial and technical capacity to value add all the types of coal in the respective areas and for coal the ideal exploration of : – (b) for Coal Bed Methane (CBM) — the ideal exploration of Coal Bed Methane (CBM); and (c) for renewal of Special Grants — consideration should take into account the period the Special Grant has been held as well as plans with milestones for value addition of the Special Grant.
AFRICAN UNION SUMMIT ON SMART AFRICA
The Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade informed Cabinet that His Excellency the President had attended an African Union Summit on Smart Africa. The Smart Africa Programme is a bold and innovative commitment by African Heads of State and Governments to provide leadership in accelerating socio-economic development through ICTs.
Zimbabwe recently joined the Smart Africa Alliance and has since been mandated to spearhead the SMART Agriculture Programme. Various countries are responsible for other programmes.
Zimbabwe’s largest mobile network operator, Econet Wireless, has revised its voice, data, and SMS bundle prices upwards by an average of 20 percent, in an effort to recover value reportedly eroded due to currency devaluation and other rising costs of key network inputs.
The mobile operator incurred exchange losses of $10,3 billion in the half-year to August 2020 as a result of the exposure in foreign currency-denominated obligations.
“The business continuously reviews its pricing in line with changes in the operating environment to ensure it remains viable while retaining a good quality of service and offering affordable products,” Econet said.
The listed telecommunications company earlier said it was transforming itself into a digital service provider, and remained “committed to innovative approaches to deliver these (digital) services and ensure our customers get the best quality voice, data and SMS-based products”.
Econet last adjusted its voice and data tariffs in September, but since that time, the price of many goods and services that constitute critical costs to the business, have sky-rocketed, putting pressure on the company’s bottom line. In particular, the price of electricity has doubled (gone up 100 percent) while diesel has gone up by 32 percent since September. Econet and other telecommunication companies rely on electricity and diesel-generated power to keep their network services up and running.
According to the latest schedule, Econet has reviewed its Bundle of Joy voice bundles from $4,04 to $4,25 per two minutes, while a 20 megabyte (MB) daily data bundle now costs $17, up from $13. A monthly 100MB data bundle has been reviewed upwards from $67 to $84, while the 8GB private wi-fi bundle has been adjusted from $960 to $1 500.
At the same time, subscribers are now required to pay $0,36 to send an SMS, up from $0,32.
Although Econet service delivery has been affected by electricity load shedding like many Zimbabwean companies, stemming its revenue generation capacity, the group has, however, devised methods of continuing to provide quality services to its subscribers.
“We maintained the quality of service despite the numerous challenges facing businesses in Zimbabwe. In particular, limited foreign currency and disruptions in power supply continue to put a significant strain on our ability to provide uninterrupted excellent service,” said the company Chairman James Myers in a statement accompanying Econet’s half-year results to August 2020.
“Our mitigation strategies, which include moving to remote monitoring and operation of our network, as well as reducing our reliance on power from the grid through DPA, were critical to our success,” he said, adding that the company expected at least an additional 18 MW of power to be availed by DPA (an Econet group Solar power company) by the end of the financial year.
Forex auction results for 08 December 2020 are in and the Zimbabwe dollar has made a rebound against the greenback.
The weighted average this week has made a small improvement from ZWL$81.8767 last week to ZWL$81.8572 this week.
US$30.27 million was allotted this week compared to US$33.34m last week, with the bulk of the allotment (US$13.09 million) going to raw materials.
202 bids were received on the Small to Medium enterprises forex auction, with 188 accepted and 14 disqualified. On the main forex auction, a total of 265 bids were received, 236 were accepted while 29 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.
