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 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.

More: ZIMSTAT Twitter

Watch live video in the link below.

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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, 6^th 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 18^th 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.

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.

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.

-ZimLive

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 Chiwenga’s voicemail is now reporting a Zimbabwe Geolocation 3 days after a packet tracing session on Sunday when it was proven to be China based. Chiwenga traveled to the Asian country for medicals.

VIDEO LOADING BELOW…. (if video doesn’t load, click the following link to watch…)

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

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.

More details to follow….

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

https://youtu.be/u_pP3utn_t4

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.

Court Update!!!

Was in Court 1 this morning. The State Prosecutor is not aware that I was summoned to appear before the court.

Don’t know why the Law and Order section continue to summon me when the State is not ready for trial.

Nevertheless like in July 2017 , I am prepared for trial and to see justice delivered.

I am innocent and I maintain.T

his persecution Must Stop!

Justice delayed remains justice denied!

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.

By A Correspondent- President Emmerson Mnangagwa has officially declared and accorded Victoria Falls city status.

Said Mnangagwa in a facebook post:

“After spending 10 years in prison for fighting in support of independence, the Victoria Falls bridge was where I took my first steps as a free man.

Almost 45 years later, I now have the great honour to declare Victoria Falls as an official city of Zimbabwe.”

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.

-statemedia

 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.

-Newsday

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.

Nine people died of COVID-19 yesterday, the second time in under a week that the country has recorded a high number of deaths.

The nine deaths were from 73 new cases that were reported across the country.

This takes the cumulative total number of cases to 10912 with 9062 recoveries and 303 deaths.

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

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.

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.

Zimbabwe Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC) coronavirus/COVID-19 situation report as of 08 December 2020:

• New cases: 73
• Locals: 73
• Returnees: 0
• Deaths: 9
• Recoveries: 90
• PCR Tests Done: 1 965
• National Recovery Rate: 83%
• Active Cases: 1 547
• Total Cumulative Cases: 10 912
• Total Recoveries: 9 062
• Total Deaths: 303

Paul Nyathi

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.

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.

Paul Nyathi

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.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1EoVGvW7S-imlc9p6zMfxj9RGAASmhuQn/view?usp=sharing

Rights campaigners in Zimbabwe have decried a police statement warning social media users against engaging in what it described as “cyberbullying” of government officials, calling it an attempt to muzzle freedom of expression in the country.

In its statement on Monday, the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) said arrests were “imminent” for unnamed “suspects” who have been “issuing threats and harassing government officials” on social media.

“The ZRP warns individuals and groups from committing crime through cyberbullying of government officials who will be performing their constitutional and lawful obligations in terms of service delivery to Zimbabweans,” the statement said.

Zimbabweans are currently bearing the brunt of an economic crisis characterised by hyperinflation that has eroded the value of their earnings and unemployment that has reached an estimated 90 percent.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa blames Western sanctions, among others, for the country’s problems, saying the punitive measures have “crippled” the country’s development.

But Mnangagwa, who has Facebook and Twitter accounts, is often at the receiving end of uncomplimentary comments from dissatisfied Zimbabweans whenever he posts on the social networks.

Government officials have also not been spared from criticism over how the 78-year-old has run the country’s economy since taking over in a military coup in November 2017.

The police statements came a few days after Patrick Chinamasa, acting spokesperson of ZANU-PF, the party that has governed the country since independence from Britain in 1980, alleged Zimbabwe’s colonial masters were using social media to “discredit icons like Mnangagwa”.

“Sanctions against Zimbabwe and the orchestrated social media attacks against our president and first family are the modern-day equivalents of public beheading and lynching in colonial times,” Chinamasa said at a weekly news briefing.

He equated social media attacks on Mnangagwa and his family to attacks faced by heroes of anti-colonial wars,

Political analyst and commentator Rejoice Ngwenya criticised the statement by the police, saying the move trampled fundamental rights such as freedom of expression.

“This is part of the extension of the paranoia of this government. The plan to arrest what they are calling cyberbullying must be resisted. It’s totally illegal,” Ngwenya told Al Jazeera. “We are a constitutional democracy.”

Ngwenya argued the police warning was designed to silence Mnangagwa’s critics on social media such as award-winning documentary filmmaker Hopewell Chin’ono, an anti-corruption campaigner who faces trial on charges of inciting violent anti-government protests, and pro-democracy activist Pedzisai Ruhanya.

“It’s subjective to say that when you comment and share your view about Collins Mnangagwa (Mnangagwa’s son) or Emmerson Mnangagwa … on social media, it amounts to trolling or harassment,” Ngwenya said. “Who judges that this is cyberbullying and what are the criteria?”

Human rights campaigners and rights groups in recent months have decried an “unprecedented” clampdown on dissent that has resulted in the arrests of dozens of activists and opposition officials. The government has denied stifling opposing voices.

Tabani Moyo, director at the Media Institute of Southern Africa Zimbabwe, also decried the police statement as an attack on freedom of expression.

“It’s very unfortunate that in this polarised environment that the police have taken the stand to protect the ruling elites. They must not be seen to be ringfencing public officials from scrutiny,” Moyo told Al Jazeera.

“They must understand that there is a difference between cyberbullying and free speech and holding public officials to account. As a people, we have a right to express ourselves freely.”

Additional reporting: Al Jazeera

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.

Tinashe Sambiri|MDC Alliance leader, President Nelson Chamisa says he is humbled by the support he received from party members, friends and relatives before and during his mother’s memorial service.

The memorial service was held at the Chamisa homestead in Chiwara, Gutu on Saturday.

“Friends and family…Thanking you all for your love and support during Gogo Chamisa’s memorial weekend.

I was so humbled by all your kindness and determination…even against all odds.

Not even the heavy rains and unkind roads could stop you!Forever grateful. God bless you all,” said President Chamisa in a brief statement.

Tinashe Sambiri|MDC Alliance leader, President Nelson Chamisa says he is humbled by the support he received from party members, friends and relatives before and during his mother’s memorial service.

The memorial service was held at the Chamisa homestead in Chiwara, Gutu on Saturday.

“Friends and family…Thanking you all for your love and support during Gogo Chamisa’s memorial weekend.

I was so humbled by all your kindness and determination…even against all odds.

Not even the heavy rains and unkind roads could stop you!Forever grateful. God bless you all,” said President Chamisa in a brief statement.

Tinashe Sambiri|A school head in Mwenezi District has landed a top Zanu PF post, comprising the security of both teachers and pupils in the process.

Zanu PF insiders told ZimEye.com on Tuesday Master Makope, the head of Avhunga Secondary School won the Commissariat post during the DCC elections.

While civil servants have been terrorized by Zanu PF agents for “sympathizing with the opposition” it remains to be seen whether Makope, who is also a civil servant, will be persecuted for actively participating in politics.

Makope is yet to resign from his job.

“School head Master Makope won the Commissariat post in Mwenezi.

A schoolteacher, Mukondo, won the post of Sec for Science and Technology.
Makope is also an aspiring MP,” a source told ZimEye.com.

Tinashe Sambiri|MDC Alliance councillor for ward 18, Chiredzi West, Gilbert Mutubuki is being persecuted for speaking on behalf of landless citizens.

Councillor Mutubuki appeared in court on Tuesday morning for allegedly inciting public violence.

However, it has emerged he is being persecuted for challenging the seizure of land by Zanu PF supporters and war veterans.

See statement below :

Court Update

Triangle Magistrate Court (Cncllr Mutubuki ‘s case)

08 nov 2020

Our MDCA Masvingo Youth Assembly Secretary and Councillor for Chiredzi Town Council Gilbert Mutubuki appeared before triangle magistrate this midmorning and his trial is set to continue on 17 December. Adv Mureri was representing Councillor Mutubuki as his lawyer. Its very unfortunate that the state is keeping the case hanged since last year. Justice delayed is justice denied , peace of mind and curiousity are matters of concern to the Councillor and the people he represents in the ward. Councillor Mutubuki is being charged with inciting violence in a case where he confronted the greedy war veterans over land grab at the hands of landless poor Zimbabweans.

Background
Some war veterans have gone on a grabbing spree of land in Chiredzi and Triangle . Councillor Mutubuki has on many occassions rebuked the land grabs and the politicization of state land distribution.

On another note
Recently councillor Mutubuki initiated a fair land destributuon among local people in his ward irregardless of diverse political homes.

The case caused a storm when the war veterans eager to grab the land violently attacked Mutubuki and threatened him with a gun. It is a matter of concern to the MDCA YA since our youth leaders are being persecuted for defending the poor. The Land grabs and politicization of state resource should be resisted forthwith across the province.

LandIsForThePeople

SimbaRevanhuMuchariona

Timoth Muswere
Masvingo YA information Dept

RE: Petition on teacher re-grading and COVID 19 allowance.

We the teachers of Zimbabwe, categorized as grade C by the employer and organizing under the Amalgamated Rural Teachers’ Union of Zimbabwe, ARTUZ;

Aggrieved by the employers’ failure to re-grade the majority of us who have acquired higher qualifications including diplomas, undergraduate Degrees and Masters Degrees;

Angered by the move to exclude us from the 10% COVID 19 allowance meant for teachers;

Realising that we are exposed to the COVID19 risk like other teachers;

Noting that Section 56 of Zimbabwe’s constitution outlaws discrimination;

Do hereby petition your esteemed office to;

Re-grade all Grade C teachers who have attained higher qualifications;Disburse 10% COVID19 allowance to all teachers since they are confronted by the same risk.

We are giving your esteemed office 7 days to respond to our humble petition.

HIV prevalence in Zimbabwe has gone down in all provinces in the last four years owing to good programming and adherence to antiretroviral therapy, amid reports that the country records approximately 31 000 new cases annually.

The latest Zimbabwe Population-based HIV Impact Assessment (ZIMPHIA) shows that compared to the last study conducted in 2016, all provinces have recorded a decline in HIV prevalence.

The ZIMPHIA study is a population household survey led by the Health and Child Care Ministry working in collaboration with the Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (ZIMSTAT), National Aids Council (NAC), and ICAP at the Columbia University.

Matabeleland South still accounts for the majority of HIV cases in Zimbabwe with 17,6 percent prevalence down from 21,7 percent in 2016.

According to the survey, Matabeleland North and Bulawayo still have the highest prevalence as well at 14,9 and 14 percent respectively. Both provinces had recorded 19,5 percent and 17,9 percent previously.

Midlands has a HIV prevalence of 13,4 down from 13,5, Masvingo has 13 percent down from 14,5 percent while Harare’s prevalence now stands at 12,6 from 13,7 in 2016. Manicaland still has the lowest prevalence rate in the country at 10,2 percent down from 11 while Mashonaland Central has maintained 13 percent in both surveys.

Mashonaland East on the other hand has a 12,4 percent prevalence down from 13,5 while Mashonaland West stands at 12,8 from 12,3 percent in 2016.

“Prevalence of HIV among adults in Zimbabwe was 12,9 percent, which corresponds to approximately 1 225 000 adults living with HIV. The HIV prevalence was 15,3 percent among women and 10,2 percent among men,” read the ZIMPHIA report.

“The annual incidence of HIV among adults aged 15 years and older in Zimbabwe was 0,38 percent, which corresponds to approximately 31 000 new cases of HIV per year among adults. HIV incidence was 0,54 percent among women and 0,20 percent among men.”

According to ZIMPHIA, the country had achieved milestones in meeting the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/Aids (UNAIDS) 90-90-90 targets with the aim that by 2020, 90 percent of all people living with HIV would know their HIV status; 90 percent of all people with diagnosed HIV infection would receive sustained ART; and 90 percent of all people receiving ART would have viral load suppression.

Just like other heavily burdened countries, Zimbabwe, which has the fifth highest HIV prevalence at 12,9 percent in Africa, is working towards reaching the 2020 goals.

“About 86,8 percent of all adults living with HIV aged 15 years and older are aware of their HIV status. Individuals are classified as aware if they reported their HIV-positive status or had a detectable antiretroviral (ARV) in their blood,” read the statement. Of the adults diagnosed with HIV in Zimbabwe 97 percent are on ART.

“Among adults who were on ART, 90,3 percent have suppressed viral loads.”

Zimbabwe has one of the highest HIV prevalence and unprotected heterosexual sex continues to be the main transmission route for new infections.-Chronicle

The Zimbabwean government has through Statutory Instrument (SI) 287 of 2020 amended measures of the coronavirus-induced lockdown.

We present the SI below.

IT is hereby notified that the Minister of Health and Child Care has, in terms of section 8(1) of the Public Health (COVID-19 Prevention, Containment and Treatment) Regulations, 2020 (published in Statutory Instrument 77 of 2020), made the following order:—

1. This Order may be cited as the Public Health (COVID-19 Prevention, Containment and Treatment) (National Lockdown) (No. 2) (Amendment) Order, 2020 (No. 7).
2. The Public Health (COVID-19 Prevention, Containment and Treatment) (National Lockdown) (No. 2) Order, 2020, published in Statutory Instrument 200 of 2020 (hereinafter called “the principal order”), is amended in section 2 (“Interpretation”) in paragraph (b)(vi) of the definition of “public place” by the deletion of “do not exceed fifty (50) persons at a time” and the substitution of “do not exceed one hundred (100) persons at a time”.
3. Section 5 (“Public gatherings”) of the principal order is amended in subsection (1)—

(a) in paragraph (a) by the deletion of “not more than fifty (50) persons at a time” and the substitution of “not more than one hundred (100) persons at a time”;

(b) in paragraph (b) by the deletion of “not more than fifty (50) persons at a time” and the substitution of “not more than one hundred (100) persons at a time”;

(c) in paragraph (i) by the deletion of “not more than fifty (50) adult individuals” and the substitution of “not more than one hundred (100) adult individuals”;

(d) in paragraph (k) by the deletion of “not more than fifty (50) adult individuals” and the substitution of “not more than one hundred (100) adult individuals”.

4. Section 18 (“Additional Part V exempted persons: low-risk sportspersons”) (4)(b) of the principal order is amended by the deletion of “in excess of fifty (50) spectators” and the substitution of “in excess of one hundred (100) spectators”.
5. Section 25 (“Curfew: limitation of business hours and other measures affecting businesses”) of the principal order is amended in subsection (6) by the repeal of paragraph (a) and the substitution of the following paragraphs—

“(a) every supermarket, food retail store, fuel outlet, hunting safari operator, professional hunter and non-essential business shall open not earlier than 0800 and close no later than 1830 hours on every business day; and

(a1) every restaurant shall open not earlier than 0800 and close no later than 2000 hours on every business day; and”.

Correspondent

Two Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) a cop and their colleague allegedly assaulted mine workers, threw them in a shaft before robbing them their gold ore in Mazowe.

The matter came to light at Bindura magistrates courts yesterday where the soldiers Collen Mukozho (31) and Ngonidzashe Chinaganaga (27), the cop Douglas Ushe (36) and their accomplice Wellington Nerupiri (28) appeared before magistrate Memory Chifamba.

The quartet was granted $1500 each to December 17.

The state-led by prosecutor Edward Katsvairo alleges that on October 5 the suspects proceeded to El Shadayi mine, Mazowe with two cars a Toyota Wish registration number AFF 2894 and a Nissan Caravan registration number AFF 7099 which they parked in the bush and walked to the mine.

Upon arrival, they saw the mineworkers sleeping and assaulted them, those who tried to resist were pushed in a shaft.

The quartet demanded gold ore from the miners and was shown before packing bit in sacks.

The sacks were loaded in the Caravan.

After loading they ran away in their cars, mineworkers regrouped and gave a Chase.

The Caravan’s rear tire burst and the miners tried to approach the suspects who got out the caravan armed with unknown weapons.

The miners made a U-turn and filed a police report.

Police officers acted swiftly and arrested the suspects.

The Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) Zimbabwe has reported that a NewsDay reporter, Kenneth Nyangani was harassed by ZANU PF supporters this Tuesday, 8 December 2020 while covering demonstrations by disgruntled party supporters in Mutare. We present MISA Zimbabwe’s statement below.

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.

The MDC-T led by Dr Thokozani Khupe has expelled MDC-A Chinhoyi Mayor, Councillor Dyke Makumbi (Ward 12), four Chinhoyi and three Chegutu councillors.

The party has so far expelled more than 160 councillors and more than 30 Members of Parliament whose positions are yet to be filled.

Makumbe who was on his way to Victoria Falls today for the annual councils meeting said he did not receive any letter of expulsion although high placed sources from MDC-T confirmed the dismissal.

“There is no official communication yet,” he said.

The other recalled councillors are Deputy Mayor and Ward 14 Cllr Chipo Mlotshwa, Ward 4 Cllr Brighton Mhizha, Ward 2 Cllr, Patricia Chibaya and Cllr Mukudzei Zambuko Chigumbura of Ward 8.

Three Chegutu Municipality MDC-A aligned Councillors including Chegutu Municipality (Ward 9), Cllr Edward Dzeka, Cllr Alice Kundhlane (Ward 11) and Cllr Rydes Machekera (Ward 2) were also expelled yesterday.

Cllr Dzeka confirmed receipt of the expulsion letter.

Official letters addressed to Chegutu and Chinhoyi town clerks written by Local Government and Public Works Minister, Honourable July Moyo declared the eight positions vacant in terms of Section 278 (1) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe, as read by section 129 (1) (k).

The letters also directed the councils to inform Zimbabwe Electoral Commission about the vacancies.

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Tinashe Sambiri|MDC Alliance leader, President Nelson Chamisa says he is humbled by the support he received from party members, friends and relatives before and during his mother’s memorial service.

The memorial service was held at the Chamisa homestead in Chiwara, Gutu on Saturday.

“Friends and family…Thanking you all for your love and support during Gogo Chamisa’s memorial weekend.

I was so humbled by all your kindness and determination…even against all odds.

Not even the heavy rains and unkind roads could stop you!Forever grateful. God bless you all,” said President Chamisa in a brief statement.

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