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.

The President of the Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ), Dr Takavafira Zhou has accused the government of taking failing to prioritise the safety of learners and teachers.

He said the government is waiting for schools to be severely affected by the virus before it decides to seal them off.

He said:

The government is adamant that in spite of an acute increase of COVID-19 cases among school-age children, schools will continue to operate. Over 30 schools and over 600 pupils and teachers have been affected, and the government seems to have adopted a one-size-fits-all approach in which it waits for COVID-19 to run riot in a school and then close the school.

His remarks come at the backdrop of a surge in the number of coronavirus cases in schools.

Some learning institutions including John Tallach and Matobo High Schools and Kwekwe Polytechnic have been closed after learners and teachers had tested positive for the coronnavirus.

Although calls for the closure of schools have increased recently, the government seems determined to see the current term through.

When schools were reopened on 28 September this year, some stakeholders claimed schools were not ready but the government insisted all mechanisms to curb the spread of the coronnavirus were in place.

-newsday

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.

FULL TEXT

Notice to Zimbabweans

If there is anyone intending to travel from Harare to Masvingo or vice versa using a small car such as Honda Fit, Wish etc please use Harare Gutu Masvingo road. If you use Mvuma road the chance of you getting stuck is almost 100%. The road is impassable unless you have high wheel vehicle.

By A Correspondent- A few month after declaring that government was with immediate effect banning health tourism, Vice President Constantino Chiwenga has been flown to China for treatment.

ZimEye last night called the vice president’s mobile phone but it was not available and indicated that he was away and on roaming as the voicemail message responded in Chinese.

Watch the live video loading below…..

Chiwenga, declared that government will no longer avail foreign currency to assist cabinet ministers and other senior officials to globe trot and seek medical treatment in state-of-the-art health facilities outside Zimbabwe.

Addressing journalists in his capacity as Health Minister, Chiwenga is onrecord saying the state had stopped footing the medical bills of all senior government officials in order to maintain the national medical bill..

He said:

“We will not export our patients. We will not make referrals to our patients. It is everybody, ministers. Those who have been going out it is you and me. Is it not it? Altogether but that export bill was too high and that is what we want to do away with.”

The 64-year-old former army general has not been seen publicly for over a week.

Chiwenga, who is also the health minister, pre-recorded speeches delivered during virtual World Aids Day commemorations on December 1.

On that day, he did not attend a cabinet meeting, and higher education minister Professor Aaron Murwira took questions as the acting health minister during a post-cabinet briefing.

A government source said:

“He was very unwell at the end of November, and he cut back on his public appearances. A decision was taken to fly him out to seek treatment.”

George Charamba, the spokesman for the presidency, confirmed Chiwenga was out of the country but insisted that he was on a “state assignment.” He declined to name the country.

Chiwenga has received treatment in India, South Africa and China over the last year after going down with an undisclosed illness which manifested in loss of skin pigmentation, weight loss and an apparent skin irritation which caused him to sit animatedly whilst sweating profusely.

His estranged wife, Marry, a former model, has also been unwell for more than a year. Last week, her lawyers told a court that she needed to fly to South Africa for urgent treatment after she developed deep wounds on both her forearms.

Her doctors say she has “severe lymphoedema and spontaneous formation of abscesses whose origins have not been determined.”

After almost six months being treated in China last year, Chiwenga returned home appearing in fairly good health. He has made at least two trips to China since for review, flying in hired private jets.

Chiwenga said Zimbabwean doctors would be barred from writing referral letters for patients to foreign hospitals, even as Zimbabwe’s health facilities remain incapacitated to carry out certain operations due to years of under-investment by the Zanu PF government.

By A Correspondent- Panic has gripped the ruling Zanu-PF party after two senior party officials on Sunday tested positive for COVID-19 with confirmed cases likely to go up as results of mass tests done recently continue to pour in.

Zanu-PF secretary for administration Obert Mpofu and the party’s director for Information Tafadzwa Mugwadi are now in isolation at home together with affected members of their respective families.

The Zanu-PF COVID-19 scare comes as Zimbabwe has recorded 291 deaths with 10 of them having been recorded on Saturday only. Ministry of Health and Child Care COVID-19 statistics yesterday showed that there are 10 718 cases of the virus that have been recorded throughout the country.

However, the country has also recorded 8 880 recoveries.

The party’s secretary for Health David Parirenyatwa yesterday told NewsDay in an interview that the party was now on high alert, adding that all measures were being put in place to curb the further spread of the deadly virus at their headquarters situated in Harare, which also houses a number of party bigwigs and staff. The Zanu-PF headquarters also plays host to several party meetings.

“What we did last time was to screen people and the results are coming in batches and all those who have been found to be positive have been asked to go into sell-isolation and to come back af-ter the prescribed date,” Parirenyatwa said without confirming the actual number of those affected.

“When we started the COVID-19 tests as a party, the first batch had five cases but that was about two months ago. So we are now going symptomatically and we check on anyone who would have developed the symptoms. The first time, we did a mass test but now we are following the national policy and that is what we are doing,” he said.

Parirenyatwa said the party was putting on a lot of measures to reduce the spread of the virus that has already claimed millions of lives internationally.

“We are putting a lot of measures now; we screen people at the gate, we do temperature checks and all the normal routine. We are intensifying that and even in our lifts, we have put COVID-19 measures, and as people get into other offices we make sure prevention protocols are observed,” he said.

Mugwadi yesterday took to microblogging site Twitter to announce that he was self-isolating at home and is adhering to all medical tips to suppress the virus.

“I will adhere to every medical tip as I battle this pandemic with my family,” Mugwadi wrote on his social media account.

Acting Zanu-PF spokesperson Patrick Chinamasa was not immediately available to comment on the matter. However, workers at the ruling party headquarters who spoke on condition of anonymity said there were fears that quite a number of people at the party offices could have contracted COVID-19.

Most of the officials work from the building and were feared to have been in close contact with the infected. To make matters worse, they were currently reportedly deployed across the country for the party district co-ordinating committee (DCC) elections, whereas according to protocol, they should be in self-isolation.

Over the weekend, In-dependent Norton Mem-ber of Par-liament Tem-ba Mliswa also con-firmed that his sister, a Zanu-PF official and Mashonaland West Provincial Affairs minister Mary Mliswa-Chikoka, had been battling COV-ID-19 in self isolation. Mliswa said she was now well after receiving treatment in Ha-rare. “I can proudly declare she is a COVID-19 survivor,” he said. Government and the police re-cently warned Zimbabweans of complacency, and advised the na-tion to observe all COVID-19 reg-ulations, which include masking up and regular hand washing, as well as social distancing amid reports that there was a second wave of the pandemic that may hit the world and was deadlier.

Internationally, several countries have gone on a second lock-down period due to the second wave of COVID-19. Despite the warnings of the second deadly wave of the virus, last week, senior Zanu-PF officials set tongues wagging after pictures went viral of them feasting during Information Minister Monica Mutsvangwa’s 60th birthday party without face-masks and with no social distancing be-ing observed.

But Mutsvangwa defended the stance saying that all COVID 19 protocols were observed at the party, including testing of the participants.

The senior officials that attended Mutsvangwa’s birthday bash included ministers and government bureaucrats. Cases of COVID-19 have spiked in Zimbabwe, particularly Harare and Bulawayo.-Newsday

PANIC has gripped the ruling Zanu-PF party after two senior party officials on Sunday tested positive for COVID-19 with confirmed cases likely to go up as results of mass tests done recently continue to pour in.

Zanu-PF secretary for administration Obert Mpofu and the party’s director for Information Tafadzwa Mugwadi are now in isolation at home together with affected members of their respective families.

The Zanu-PF COVID-19 scare comes as Zimbabwe has recorded 291 deaths with 10 of them having been recorded on Saturday only. Ministry of Health and Child Care COVID-19 statistics yesterday showed that there are 10 718 cases of the virus that have been recorded throughout the country.

However, the country has also recorded 8 880 recoveries.

The party’s secretary for Health David Parirenyatwa yesterday told NewsDay in an interview that the party was now on high alert, adding that all measures were being put in place to curb the further spread of the deadly virus at their headquarters situated in Harare, which also houses a number of party bigwigs and staff. The Zanu-PF headquarters also plays host to several party meetings.

“What we did last time was to screen people and the results are coming in batches and all those who have been found to be positive have been asked to go into sell-isolation and to come back af-ter the prescribed date,” Parirenyatwa said without confirming the actual number of those affected.

“When we started the COVID-19 tests as a party, the first batch had five cases but that was about two months ago. So we are now going symptomatically and we check on anyone who would have developed the symptoms. The first time, we did a mass test but now we are following the national policy and that is what we are doing,” he said.

Parirenyatwa said the party was putting on a lot of measures to reduce the spread of the virus that has already claimed millions of lives internationally.

“We are putting a lot of measures now; we screen people at the gate, we do temperature checks and all the normal routine. We are intensifying that and even in our lifts, we have put COVID-19 measures, and as people get into other offices we make sure prevention protocols are observed,” he said.

Mugwadi yesterday took to microblogging site Twitter to announce that he was self-isolating at home and is adhering to all medical tips to suppress the virus.

“I will adhere to every medical tip as I battle this pandemic with my family,” Mugwadi wrote on his social media account.

Acting Zanu-PF spokesperson Patrick Chinamasa was not immediately available to comment on the matter. However, workers at the ruling party headquarters who spoke on condition of anonymity said there were fears that quite a number of people at the party offices could have contracted COVID-19.

Most of the officials work from the building and were feared to have been in close contact with the infected. To make matters worse, they were currently reportedly deployed across the country for the party district co-ordinating committee (DCC) elections, whereas according to protocol, they should be in self-isolation.

Over the weekend, In-dependent Norton Mem-ber of Par-liament Tem-ba Mliswa also con-firmed that his sister, a Zanu-PF official and Mashonaland West Provincial Affairs minister Mary Mliswa-Chikoka, had been battling COV-ID-19 in self isolation. Mliswa said she was now well after receiving treatment in Ha-rare. “I can proudly declare she is a COVID-19 survivor,” he said. Government and the police re-cently warned Zimbabweans of complacency, and advised the na-tion to observe all COVID-19 reg-ulations, which include masking
up and regular hand washing, as well as social distancing amid reports that there was a second wave of the pandemic that may hit the world and was deadlier.

Internationally, several countries have gone on a second lock-down period due to the second wave of COVID-19. Despite the warnings of the second deadly wave of the virus, last week, senior Zanu-PF officials set tongues wagging after pictures went viral of them feasting during Information Minister Monica Mutsvangwa’s 60th birthday party without face-masks and with no social distancing be-ing observed.

But Mutsvangwa defended the stance saying that all COVID 19 protocols were observed at the party, including testing of the participants.

The senior officials that attended Mutsvangwa’s birthday bash included ministers and government bureaucrats. Cases of COVID-19 have spiked in Zimbabwe, particularly Harare and Bulawayo.

-NEWSDAY

By A Correspondent- A few month after declaring that government was with immediate effect banning health tourism, Vice President Constantino Chiwenga has been flown to China for treatment.

Chiwenga, declared that government will no longer avail foreign currency to assist cabinet ministers and other senior officials to globe trot and seek medical treatment in state-of-the-art health facilities outside Zimbabwe.

Addressing journalists in his capacity as Health Minister, Chiwenga is onrecord saying the state had stopped footing the medical bills of all senior government officials in order to maintain the national medical bill..

He said:

“We will not export our patients. We will not make referrals to our patients. It is everybody, ministers. Those who have been going out it is you and me. Is it not it? Altogether but that export bill was too high and that is what we want to do away with.”

The 64-year-old former army general has not been seen publicly for over a week.

Chiwenga, who is also the health minister, pre-recorded speeches delivered during virtual World Aids Day commemorations on December 1.

On that day, he did not attend a cabinet meeting, and higher education minister Professor Aaron Murwira took questions as the acting health minister during a post-cabinet briefing.

A government source said:

“He was very unwell at the end of November, and he cut back on his public appearances. A decision was taken to fly him out to seek treatment.”

George Charamba, the spokesman for the presidency, confirmed Chiwenga was out of the country but insisted that he was on a “state assignment.” He declined to name the country.

Chiwenga has received treatment in India, South Africa and China over the last year after going down with an undisclosed illness which manifested in loss of skin pigmentation, weight loss and an apparent skin irritation which caused him to sit animatedly whilst sweating profusely.

His estranged wife, Marry, a former model, has also been unwell for more than a year. Last week, her lawyers told a court that she needed to fly to South Africa for urgent treatment after she developed deep wounds on both her forearms.

Her doctors say she has “severe lymphoedema and spontaneous formation of abscesses whose origins have not been determined.”

After almost six months being treated in China last year, Chiwenga returned home appearing in fairly good health. He has made at least two trips to China since for review, flying in hired private jets.

Chiwenga said Zimbabwean doctors would be barred from writing referral letters for patients to foreign hospitals, even as Zimbabwe’s health facilities remain incapacitated to carry out certain operations due to years of under-investment by the Zanu PF government.

By A Correspondent- A few month after declaring that government was with immediate effect banning health tourism, Vice President Constantino Chiwenga has been flown to China for treatment.

Chiwenga, declared that government will no longer avail foreign currency to assist cabinet ministers and other senior officials to globe trot and seek medical treatment in state-of-the-art health facilities outside Zimbabwe.

Addressing journalists in his capacity as Health Minister, Chiwenga is onrecord saying the state had stopped footing the medical bills of all senior government officials in order to maintain the national medical bill..

He said:

“We will not export our patients. We will not make referrals to our patients. It is everybody, ministers. Those who have been going out it is you and me. Is it not it? Altogether but that export bill was too high and that is what we want to do away with.”

The 64-year-old former army general has not been seen publicly for over a week.

Chiwenga, who is also the health minister, pre-recorded speeches delivered during virtual World Aids Day commemorations on December 1.

On that day, he did not attend a cabinet meeting, and higher education minister Professor Aaron Murwira took questions as the acting health minister during a post-cabinet briefing.

A government source said:

“He was very unwell at the end of November, and he cut back on his public appearances. A decision was taken to fly him out to seek treatment.”

George Charamba, the spokesman for the presidency, confirmed Chiwenga was out of the country but insisted that he was on a “state assignment.” He declined to name the country.

Chiwenga has received treatment in India, South Africa and China over the last year after going down with an undisclosed illness which manifested in loss of skin pigmentation, weight loss and an apparent skin irritation which caused him to sit animatedly whilst sweating profusely.

His estranged wife, Marry, a former model, has also been unwell for more than a year. Last week, her lawyers told a court that she needed to fly to South Africa for urgent treatment after she developed deep wounds on both her forearms.

Her doctors say she has “severe lymphoedema and spontaneous formation of abscesses whose origins have not been determined.”

After almost six months being treated in China last year, Chiwenga returned home appearing in fairly good health. He has made at least two trips to China since for review, flying in hired private jets.

Chiwenga said Zimbabwean doctors would be barred from writing referral letters for patients to foreign hospitals, even as Zimbabwe’s health facilities remain incapacitated to carry out certain operations due to years of under-investment by the Zanu PF government.

Zimbabwe’s leading mobile network operator, Econet has announced that it will review its voice, data and sms bundles effective 10 December 2020.

Since the stabilisation of the Zimbabwean dollar against the US following the introduction of the forex auction system by the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe early this year, mobile network operators have been gradually hiking their voice and data tariffs trying to catch up with prices charged during the multi-currency regime.

By A Correspondent- A few month after declaring that government was with immediate effect banning health tourism, Vice President Constantino Chiwenga has been flown to China for treatment.

Chiwenga, declared that government will no longer avail foreign currency to assist cabinet ministers and other senior officials to globe trot and seek medical treatment in state-of-the-art health facilities outside Zimbabwe.

Addressing journalists in his capacity as Health Minister, Chiwenga is onrecord saying the state had stopped footing the medical bills of all senior government officials in order to maintain the national medical bill..

He said:

“We will not export our patients. We will not make referrals to our patients. It is everybody, ministers. Those who have been going out it is you and me. Is it not it? Altogether but that export bill was too high and that is what we want to do away with.”

The 64-year-old former army general has not been seen publicly for over a week.

Chiwenga, who is also the health minister, pre-recorded speeches delivered during virtual World Aids Day commemorations on December 1.

On that day, he did not attend a cabinet meeting, and higher education minister Professor Aaron Murwira took questions as the acting health minister during a post-cabinet briefing.

A government source said:

“He was very unwell at the end of November, and he cut back on his public appearances. A decision was taken to fly him out to seek treatment.”

George Charamba, the spokesman for the presidency, confirmed Chiwenga was out of the country but insisted that he was on a “state assignment.” He declined to name the country.

Chiwenga has received treatment in India, South Africa and China over the last year after going down with an undisclosed illness which manifested in loss of skin pigmentation, weight loss and an apparent skin irritation which caused him to sit animatedly whilst sweating profusely.

His estranged wife, Marry, a former model, has also been unwell for more than a year. Last week, her lawyers told a court that she needed to fly to South Africa for urgent treatment after she developed deep wounds on both her forearms.

Her doctors say she has “severe lymphoedema and spontaneous formation of abscesses whose origins have not been determined.”

After almost six months being treated in China last year, Chiwenga returned home appearing in fairly good health. He has made at least two trips to China since for review, flying in hired private jets.

Chiwenga said Zimbabwean doctors would be barred from writing referral letters for patients to foreign hospitals, even as Zimbabwe’s health facilities remain incapacitated to carry out certain operations due to years of under-investment by the Zanu PF government.

By Jane Mlambo| Self exiled former cabinet minister and now fierce critic of President Emmerson Mnangagwa, Professor Jonathan Moyo has promised to drop another bombshell against the first family.

Posting on Twitter, Professor Moyo said he will release damning report on the involvement of the first family in gold smuggling syndicates, the information he claims is unimpeachable.

“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,” said Moyo.

Since his escape from Zimbabwe in November 2017, Moyo has used his Twitter account to expose corruption and abuse of office by the Mnangagwa administration.

He has also published a book titled Excelgate which lays bare how the 2018 Presidential elections were allegedly stolen from MDC Alliance candidate Nelson Chamisa.

By A Correspondent- Former Vice President Joice Mujuru is not sick but has been on a diet and exercise weight loss programmes for some time, social media personality Wellence Mujuru has said.

In a post on Facebook, Wellence refuted claims that the former VP was very sick after images showing that Mai Mujuru has lost significant weight, surfaced on social media. He wrote:

I would like to clarify that Joice Mujuru ( Teurai Mujuru) is very well and keeping healthy.

In response to messages and posts that she is sick which is very very untrue after photos of Mhamha with her Grandkids circulating

She has been on a diet and exercise weight loss for some time now and has been very successful, her Doctor has not found anything wrong with her.

Why l have decided to attach those two pictures that reflect her wonderful progress in keeping healthy.

Thank You for those reaching out but she is well.

Since her sacking from the ruling ZANU PF party and government on 2 April 2015, Mai Mujuru’s political fortunes have waned.

Unlike her erstwhile colleagues such as Didymus Mutasa, Mai Mujuru has hitherto avoided rejoining the ruling party

By A Correspondent- MDC-T acting national spokesperson Khaliphani Phugeni, who doubles as interim party president Thokozani Khupe’s press secretary, has been acquitted of a rape charge.

Phugeni (44) appeared before Western Commonage regional magistrate Sibongile Marondedze who absolved him saying the case lacked compelling evidence.

Prosecutors said Phugeni unlawfully had sexual intercourse with a minor, who could not be named for ethical reasons, during the period extending from June to November 2018, at Emhlangeni and in Magwegwe West, Bulawayo.

Phugeni denied the charge, saying the accusations were politically-motivated and meant to “politically soil” his image after he was nominated for Senate.

In an interview after the acquittal of Phugeni, the minor’s mother said the acquittal pained her.

She said:

It’s very painful. Words alone cannot explain my hurt, anger and disappointment.

That was an unfair judgment. How can somebody rape a 14-year-old child and say it was consensual?

I will not rest till I find justice for my daughter.

People cannot abuse their positions of authority to violate our kids and women in general.

However, Phugeni’s lawyer Kholwani Ngwenya said the evidence by the complainant and her mother was unreliable and it was discredited.

He said:

The evidence by the complainant and her mother was manifestly unreliable as it was discredited and could not prove a prima facie offence on a charge of rape that the accused person was facing.

He was thus found not guilty and acquitted.

-Newsday

By A Correspondent- Harare mayor councillor Jacob Mafume, Tuesday approached the High Court for his bail application.

Mafume is being represented by Advocate Harrison Nkomo.

The development comes after Mafume was last week denied bail on the basis that his lawyer was not truthful in the bail application and that he was likely to interfere with investigations.

Rejecting the application for bail, Deputy Chief Magistrate Mrs Bianca Makwande yesterday said:

“Although it was established that four witnesses had their statements recorded, it was also said there are other things that need to be verified from a witness, Plaxedes Koke. It will be in the best interest of justice to allow police to complete their investigations without interference.”

Prosecutor, Mr Panganayi Chiutsi, opposed the granting of bail to Mafume, saying he was likely to interfere with witnesses, who were council employees and that since the State had a strong case against him, he was likely to evade trial once freed.

This is a developing story. More to follow…..

THE Supreme Court has ended a long-standing ownership wrangle of Mashona Queen 3 Mine in Mkaradzi, Mt Darwin, after the apex court upheld the mining commissioner’s decision to cancel Royrama Mining Syndicate’s license.

Royrama Mining Syndicate had been refusing to vacate the mining area owned by Bindura South legislator Remigious Matangira (Zanu PF), resulting in several physical confrontations over the past decade.

The High Court had initially reversed the Mining Commissioner’s decision to cancel Royrama Mining Syndicate’s mining rights, which prompted Matangira to take the matter to the Supreme Court.

Chief Justice Luke Malaba, sitting with judge of appeal Justice Tendai Uchena and acting judge of appeal Justice George Chiweshe, set aside the High Court’s decision and dismissed the declaratory order with costs.

Royrama Mining Syndicate and had been at loggerheads with Matangira for over a decade while claiming to be legitimate owners of the gold mining area. The wrangle started in September 2011 when the syndicate pegged two blocks of gold claims in Mkaradzi area known as Corotin B and Corotin C on State land.

On September 6, the two gold claims were registered under the Mines and Minerals Act in the name of the Royrama Mining Syndicate – a partnership involving Adonis Marere, Roy Makumbe and Rabson Gradge.

Matangira, who had mining claims at a nearby piece of land approached Marere, Makumbe and Gradge claiming that Crotin A and B belonged to him, having registered them in 1986.

Irked by Matangira’s claim, the syndicate approached the Mining Commissioner, who indicated that the blocks were not registered when they were allocated in 2011.

Matangira defied the Mining Commissioner’s assertions and started advancing into the mining area, marking the beginning of a protracted mining wrangle. On November 8, 2011, the syndicate approached the Mt Darwin Magistrates Court seeking a peace order and an interdict barring Matangira from disturbing their mining activities.

The court ruled in favour of the syndicate on December 29 after Matangira allegedly failed to produce his mining certificates in court.

Cecilia Chimbiri and Netsai Marova after the young legislator had been declared suffering mental ailment.

It is in the state’s case that the three activists were jointly charged with publishing or communicating falsehoods prejudicial to the state and trying to defeat the course of justice by faking their abductions allegedly by state security agents.

“The Applicants intend to apply to the High Court of Zimbabwe sitting in Harare for a review of the Provincial Magistrate’s Court’s decision handed on the 23rd of November 2020.

“Wherein the court granted an application for the separation of the applicants’ trials which had been made by the state,” Mamombe said in her application.

The opposition lawmaker also bases her reason of application on the basis that the magistrate had a wrong reading of her medical reports and that the separation of trials was prejudicial of them.

“The 1st respondent reason for separation of trial was based on a wrong reading of the medical reports,” Mamombe said in the application.

“Further, the separation of trials of the applicants is prejudicial of them.”

Mamombe’s struggles with the law was ignited by a 13 May incident in which they were arrested for staging an anti-government demonstration in Harare’s high density Warren Park suburb and according to the state, this was in violation of Covid-19 lockdown rules imposed by authorities.

The activists however claim they were initially kidnapped at a police roadblock along Samora Machel avenue on their way into the city centre following the protest.

They claim they were first taken to Harare Central police station where they were whisked away by suspected state security agents who went on to subject the activists to horrendous acts of physical torture and sexual abuse.

The ZRP warns individuals and groups from committing crime through cyber-bullying of Government officials who will be performing their Constitutional and lawful obligations in terms of service delivery to Zimbabweans.

The Police is aware that a certain group of suspects who know that their arrest is imminent is fingered and issuing threats and harassing some officials.

Zimbabwe Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC) coronavirus/COVID-19 situation report as of 07 December 2020:

• New cases: 121
• Locals: 121
• Returnees: 0
• Deaths: 3
• Recoveries: 92
• PCR Tests Done: 1 270
• National Recovery Rate: 82.8%
• Active Cases: 1 573
• Total Cumulative Cases: 10 839
• Total Recoveries: 8 972
• Total Deaths: 294

Correspondent

POLICE in Beitbridge yesterday arrested two suspected armed robbers after a brief exchange of gunfire.

The suspects, Admire Songora popularly known as Pele Pele, and Brian Moto also popularly known as Bruda, were nabbed soon after they had robbed a female border jumper of R15 000 near the PaGomo Lodge.

“The two notorious robbers have been terrorising Beitbridge residents and have been robbing, assaulting and raping women, especially those illegally crossing the border,” the Beitbridge police posted on their social media Twitter page.

“They were arrested yesterday evening after robbing a woman at PaGomo Lodge of R15 000. She was on her way to South Africa,” they said.

The Beitbridge police posted the images of the robbery suspects on social media after they were nabbed.

They were later thrown into police cells.

PANIC has gripped the ruling Zanu PF party after two senior party officials on Sunday tested positive for COVID-19 with confirmed cases likely to go up as results of mass tests done recently continue to pour in.

Zanu PF secretary for administration Obert Mpofu and the party’s director for Information Tafadzwa Mugwadi are now in isolation at home together with affected members of their respective families.

The Zanu PF COVID-19 scare comes as Zimbabwe has recorded 291 deaths with 10 of them having been recorded on Saturday only. Ministry of Health and Child Care COVID-19 statistics yesterday showed that there are 10 718 cases of the virus that have been recorded throughout the country.

However, the country has also recorded 8 880 recoveries.

The party’s secretary for Health David Parirenyatwa yesterday told NewsDay in an interview that the party was now on high alert, adding that all measures were being put in place to curb the further spread of the deadly virus at their headquarters situated in Harare, which also houses a number of party bigwigs and staff. The Zanu PF headquarters also plays host to several party meetings.

“What we did last time was to screen people and the results are coming in batches and all those who have been found to be positive have been asked to go into

self-isolation and to come back after the prescribed date,” Parirenyatwa said without confirming the actual number of those affected.

“When we started the COVID-19 tests as a party, the first batch had five cases but that was about two months ago. So we are now going symptomatically and we check on anyone who would have developed the symptoms. The first time, we did a mass test but now we are following the national policy and that is what we are doing,” he said.

Parirenyatwa said the party was putting on a lot of measures to reduce the spread of the virus that has already claimed millions of lives internationally.

“We are putting a lot of measures now; we screen people at the gate, we do temperature checks and all the normal routine. We are intensifying that and even in our lifts, we have put COVID-19 measures, and as people get into other offices we make sure prevention protocols are observed,” he said.

Mugwadi yesterday took to microblogging site Twitter to announce that he was self-isolating at home and is adhering to all medical tips to suppress the virus.

“I will adhere to every medical tip as I battle this pandemic with my family,” Mugwadi wrote on his social media account.

Acting Zanu PF spokesperson Patrick Chinamasa was not immediately available to comment on the matter.

However, workers at the ruling party headquarters who spoke on condition of anonymity said there were fears that quite a number of people at the party offices could have contracted COVID-19.

Most of the officials work from the building and were feared to have been in close contact with the infected. To make matters worse, they were currently reportedly deployed across the country for the party district co-ordinating committee (DCC) elections, whereas according to protocol, they should be in self-isolation.

Over the weekend, Independent Norton Member of Parliament Temba Mliswa also confirmed that his sister, a Zanu PF official and Mashonaland West Provincial Affairs minister Mary Mliswa-Chikoka, had been battling COVID-19 in self isolation.

Mliswa said she was now well after receiving treatment in Harare.

“I can proudly declare she is a COVID-19 survivor,” he said.

Government and the police recently warned Zimbabweans of complacency, and advised the nation to observe all COVID-19 regulations, which include masking up and regular hand washing, as well as social distancing amid reports that there was a second wave of the pandemic that may hit the world and was deadlier.

Internationally, several countries have gone on a second lockdown period due to the second wave of COVID-19.

Despite the warnings of the second deadly wave of the virus, last week, senior Zanu PF officials set tongues wagging after pictures went viral of them feasting during Information Minister Monica Mutsvangwa’s 60th birthday party without facemasks and with no social distancing being observed.

But Mutsvangwa defended the stance saying that all COVID 19 protocols were observed at the party, including testing of the participants.

The senior officials that attended Mutsvangwa’s birthday bash included ministers and government bureaucrats.

Cases of COVID-19 have spiked in Zimbabwe, particularly Harare and Bulawayo.

KeYona TV chairperson, Cont Mhlanga is fuming and has threatened to sue all those who made claims on social media that their television station was awarded a licence because of his affiliation to Zanu-PF, saying they owe him 13 heifers each as these are false claims.

When the Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe (BAZ) announced that KeYona TV was among six entities that were awarded free to air national television licences last month, there was jubilation in some quarters. However, social media was awash with reports and conspiracy theories with some claiming that those who had been given the green light to operate had links to the ruling party and Government.

Other stations that were given a licence are Zimpapers Television Network, Rusununguko Media (Pvt) Ltd trading as NRTV, Jester Media trading as 3K TV, Acacia Media Group trading as Kumba TV and Channel Dzimbahwe trading as Channel D.

Mhlanga is pained by such claims and wants those who made them to come forward within the next 30 days with evidence that they are true or face a lawsuit.

“The next 30 days (starting from Sunday 6th of December, 2020) are crucial, therefore those with proof that we’re linked with Zanu-PF should come forward and present it to me and the whole nation.

“If the 30 days lapse, all those who wrote and distributed the information will be served with court papers and they will have to incur all legal costs,” said Mhlanga in a statement he issued on Sunday.

“Because of the seriousness of these unfounded claims, as a Ndebele, I expect three heifers to clear my name, five to clear the Amakhosi name and another five heifers to clear KeYona TV.”

A disappointed Mhlanga said instead of being excited about realising his dream of building a reputable television station, he is faced with mudslinging. He said those claiming their TV station was favoured clearly have no idea of the amount of work he has put into this project over the years.

“We however, haven’t received any support in content creation input, supply or funding, but only mudslinging. I was deeply pained to learn that the work, dedication, sacrifices and content I created over the past 40 years of my life is not my intellectual property, but is attributed to Zanu-PF.

“I looked to the whole of Mthwakazi to celebrate and walk this journey with us, but it’s been marred with unfounded allegations that seek to undermine my hard work.”

Explaining why they had decided to go the legal route with this matter, Mhlanga said: “This (pending lawsuit) is a decision taken to ensure that KeYona TV is credited to its rightful owners as we fight to start airing in the near future.”

The television guru went on to ask people to help identify those who were claiming that KeYona TV was awarded because of his connections to Zanu-PF and Government.

“I appeal to you Mthwakazi to help identify the peddlers of all these allegations. It’s my hope that they have tangible proof that will stand in the court of law supporting the claims spewed on social media platforms about Amakhosi, KeYona TV and my persona,” said Mhlanga.

Meanwhile, KeYona TV is set to reveal their team next year at a cocktail that will be held in Bulawayo.

“Successful presenters, scriptwriters, independent producers and the channel’s content management team will be unveiled at a luncheon to be held at Amakhosi studios on the 30th of January, 2021 from midday to 3pm. This comes after the channel successfully hosted its inaugural auditions this past week drawing in a crowd of 475 hopefuls,” the TV station said a statement.

State Media

SIX female juveniles – three below the age of 15 – who were part of the Kwekwe Junior Council were reportedly impregnated or eloped with gold panners during the Covid-19 induced lockdown.

The shocking stats were revealed during a Zimbabwe National Council for Welfare of Children (ZNCWC) annual convention recently.

Kwekwe District has a total of 56 junior councillors from Kwekwe City, Zibagwe Rural District Council and Redcliff Municipality. Zibagwe RDC, which caters for the rural part was the worst affected.

Zibagwe RDC chief executive officer, Mr Farayi Machaya, said concerted effort was needed in addressing abuse of underage girls.

“We are in the process of replacing the councillors and our officials are taking necessary steps to ensure that they are replaced. It is worrying that they are supposed to be role models themselves but the worst then happens to them,” he said.

“It is a touching development that everyone should work in trying to address.”

Ward 13 junior councillor Precious Hove said it was worrying that early marriages were not sparing anyone including her colleagues.

She said relevant authorities including officials from council, victim friendly unit, district development coordinator’s office and Childline among others, made follow ups on the six junior councillors and ascertained the sad development.

Clr Hove said most of her juvenile colleagues fell victim to gold panners who lured them with money.

“We have a huge challenge here in the district due to illegal gold panners who lure young girls with money and they end up falling pregnant or even eloping with the men as they think they might earn a living with them,” she said.

ZNCWC board chair, Dr Lamiel Phiri said the development was worrying, adding that gold panners should be educated.

“Can you imagine losing six junior councillors, this is very bad. This goes on to show how early marriages have wreaked havoc in the country. We hear stories of gold panners ‘swiping’ young girls for a certain fee, I never thought it was serious. I suggest that relevant authorities engage these gold panners and educate them against swiping young girls,” said Dr Phiri.

ZNCWC director, Dr Taylor Nyanhete, said parents should play a leading role in educating their own children on sexual reproductive issues.

“Let us engage our children as a society and not wait for teachers to do that. Let us take responsibility for sexual reproductive education for our children as parents. The home environment is always the best for such education. It takes the whole society to raise a child,” said Dr Nyanhete.

Victoria Falls becomes the City of Victoria Falls tomorrow, with President Mnangagwa expected to formally confer the new status at a ceremony where he will also be granted the Freedom of the City, the highest civic honour in recognition of his contribution to the town’s growth.

It will be the first such honour to be given to anyone by the municipality in the history of the town and the first for President Mnangagwa as Head of State.

While city status grants no extra powers not already possessed by a municipality, it is an honour, establishes precedence, and recognises that a municipality has greater national importance than being a local authority in a particular area.

Victoria Falls becomes the first city in Matabeleland North, and only the second after Bulawayo in the three western provinces in Zimbabwe.

The new status recognises its national, and global, importance as the capital and hinge of Zimbabwe’s tourism industry, as well as putting it on an equal footing with its older twin across the river, Livingstone.

The city status is a milestone and prestigious achievement for Victoria Falls, which becomes the first municipality to be upgraded by the Second Republic, gives it more name recognition for investors, and opens opportunities for twinning relationships with other cities around the world.

In line with the growing links as the whole area becomes a single international destination, the new city has invited guests from the city councils of Livingstone and Francistown in Botswana, as well as the municipal council of Kasana in Botswana, the town just up the Zambezi from the Falls.

Victoria Falls town clerk, Mr Ronnie Dube, said Victoria Falls and Livingstone, Zambia’s second largest city, share similar backgrounds not only as part of former colonial Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland, but also because people found on either side of the Zambezi River are from the same cultural backgrounds.

Victoria Falls has a twinning relationship with Botswana’s second largest city, Francistown, which dates back to about four years ago while Kasane is a key tourism town about 82km from Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe.

The city fathers and residents are excited about the development which they believe will help expand industry and create more jobs for the town, whose economy was solely dependent on tourism.

Said Mr Dube: “We have invited Livingstone, Kasane and Francistown municipalities. We have invited them as our neighbours while we have a twinning relationship with Francistown.”

Victoria Falls mayor, Somveli Dlamini, said preparations were at an advanced stage.

“We are ready for the function and a lot of preparatory work has been done including securing the venue. All logistics are being worked on and invitations have been sent out,” he said.

Two months ago, Parliament approved that Victoria Falls be granted city status after recommendation by a commission set by Local Government and Public Works Minister July Moyo, about three years ago.

This comes as Government has shown commitment to transform the province, particularly Victoria Falls, which was designated a Special Economic Zone (SEZ) with special focus on tourism.

Government wants to make Victoria Falls its conferencing capital and plans to build a multi-purpose convention centre with top-notch facilities such as five-star hotels, a medical centre, a university, a Zimbabwe Defence Forces camp and sporting facilities.

There are plans through the development plan, to improve infrastructure in the town to match world tourism destination standards as well as development the Victoria Falls-Hwange-Binga SEZ comprising Masue and Batoka satellite towns, Hwange, Mlibizi, Binga and Sijalila, along the Zambezi corridor.

Government recently launched the Victoria Falls Stock Exchange (VFEX), which is also expected to lure investors.

The 2012 census says Victoria Falls has 33 000 people, but it is widely thought that the population has grown to about 40 000.

State Media

Permanent Secretary for Information, Media and Broadcasting Services Mr Nick Mangwana has acknowledged Government’s efforts to increase the ministry’s budget from the initial cap of $851 million to $1,4 billion, but told a Parliamentary committee yesterday that more was still needed to finalise the digitisation of all television and broadcasting services to reach every home.

Appearing before the Portfolio Committee on Information, Media and Broadcasting Services he said the budget was still below the $3,7 billion the Ministry wanted next year to fulfil its mandate to disseminate information to every corner of the country.

Entities like the Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe, Transmedia, ZBC, New Ziana and the Zimbabwe Film and Television School of Southern Africa fall under the Ministry of Information, Media and Broadcasting Services.

Mr Mangwana said BAZ, which is leading the digitisation of television transmission, had been allocated $684 million from a bid of $1,6 billion, which would delay the digitisation of transmission so signals reach every homestead in the country.

The digitisation started in 2015 and BAZ has so far received US$49,2 million out of the initial US$175 budget for the project with only 18 transmitters out of 48 stations needed countrywide being digitised.

The six new televisions recently licensed would only be able to cover 38 percent of the country when they open.

On Transmedia he said the organisation had been allocated $90 million after making a bid of $542, million which would also affect its ability to capacitate the community radio stations that will be licensed soon. The company was not allocated money to construct a new headquarters despite engineers condemning the present building.

Mr Mangwana, however, thanked Government for allocating a grant to ZBC for the first time in 20 years.

“For nearly 20 years ZBC was never funded from the fiscus and for this year they got a grant and support from the fiscus,” he said.

Mr Mangwana told the committee that the public broadcaster has indicated that it would use the money to pay off its creditors that include content producers and statutory bodies like Zimra and NSSA.

Cross border traders have received a huge relief following an agreement between the Cross Border Traders Association and Kei Laboratories for them to access Covid-19 tests at a concessionary rate.

While other local laboratories charge up to US$60 for such a test, Kei Laboratories will charge US$15 for cross border traders, making it much easier for them to afford the service.

Cross border traders have been stranded since the major borders opened last week, as they could not afford the Covid-19 tests that will enable them to show border officials a positive result before they are allowed out.

The Cross Border Traders Association is working with more than 200 medical doctors across the country who will collect samples from the members and send them to Kei Laboratories in Bulawayo for testing.

Certificates will be issued before one embarks on the journey outside the country and upon return, they will be tested, and this time they will only pay US$10 since they will not get a certificate, but only their results.

Addressing the media in Harare yesterday, Cross Border Traders Association president Mr Killer Zivhu said the initiative came as a relief to cross border traders who had been struggling to raise funds for Covid-19 tests.

“The biggest challenge is that the PCR test is beyond the reach of an ordinary person, let alone a cross border trader,” he said. “To make matters worse, our people have been idle for the past nine months, they have not been operating, and most of them are bankrupt.

“Now, we have entered into an agreement with Kei Laboratories that they test every Cross Border Traders Association member at US$15 or R170 on going out of Zimbabwe, and US$10 on coming back. This comes as boost to our members.”

Mr Zivhu said the association was discouraging the setting up of laboratories at border posts, as people should only travel to the border when they know their status.

“The reason we discourage this is because one can travel from as far as Murehwa to Beitbridge not knowing that they are Covid-19 positive,” he said. “They will be spreading the virus all the way to the border.

“So we encourage that people must be tested at their places and only travel after knowing their status, and they can actually collect the certificates at the border, but having been informed of their status before travelling.”

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.

By A Correspondent | For years, many Zimbabweans have continued alleging that the husband is bitter over their breakup which led to Gen Constantino Chiwenga taking over his wife, but a Facebook account named after Marry Chiwenga’s ex hubby, Shingi Kaondera on Monday evening posted a heartfelt message praising the woman.

It announced saying she is stronger than any disease or court case, the latter which is being used to abuse her.

The development comes after Marry Mubaiwa (nee)’s wounded hands were revealed in pictures late last week, her bank account was frozen by the government, at a time when on Sunday Constantino Chiwenga through his aide speaking to ZimEye.com bullied her saying unlike her, he will never go hungry because, “inini ndinogara nekatundu kangu kanenge kakakwana”- FULL INTERVIEW ON ZIMEYE.COM

Marry Mubaiwa was injured in the White City bombing back in June 2018, an incident that got her hospitalised.

While her husband received high class medical treatment abroad in South Africa and thereafter in China, Marry neglected her own health chosing to spend time looking after her husband travelling with him and taking care of him in hospitals.

He would later after Bouncing Back having recovered begin to accuse her of trying to kill him inside a hospital in South Africa. Constantino Chiwenga opened a prosecution against Marry on baseless allegations saying the incident happened in a hospital in South Africa 4 months before in 2019.

While the case has remained hanging for more than a year to date without any admissible evidence whatsoever, her husband’s own relative, serving as a maid, has laid charges of allegedly assaulting her (the maid) at a school.

It is because of all these charges that Marry has been out on remand, only freed on bail, and her passport has been seized.

On Monday evening, Shingi Kaondera dispelled the rumour that he is bitter over the couple’s breakup which led to the military general taking over his wife.

He posted a picture of the couple while saying, ” May we all pray for Mary, may God revive her spirit, may she live to see, the wedding of our 1st dawta Destiny, I believe in u
Mai D u are stronger than any disease or any court case!! #they_cant_afford_u-Peace!!”

Meanwhile, below was the interview with vice president Constantino Chiwenga’s aide on Sunday….

VIDEO LOADING BELOW….

Tinashe Sambiri|President Nelson Chamisa has revealed how his uncle was kicked out of the Airforce.

Speaking at his mother’s memorial service in Chiwara, Gutu on Saturday, President Chamisa said his uncle- identified as Rukweza- was fired from the Airforce following his visit to Manyame Airbase.

“You cannot believe what I am saying but it’s true.My uncle was dismissed from the Airforce simply because I had visited him.

He was kicked out of Manyame Airbase following my visit to the place with Learnmore Judah Jongwe long back.

The level of intolerance in the country is shocking,” said President Chamisa.

“I salute my uncle because he is a principled man.He has never compromised his affection for the family,” added President Chamisa.

Tinashe Sambiri|MDC Alliance leader, President Nelson Chamisa, has accused Zanu PF of denigrating traditional leaders.

Speaking at his mother’s memorial service in Gutu on Saturday, President Chamisa said traditional leaders should not be used by Zanu PF to harass opposition members.

“Traditional leaders are being abused by Zanu PF. Traditional leaders deserve respect and they should be apolitical.

It is sad to note that Zanu PF is using traditional leaders to victimize opposition members.

Traditional leaders are highly esteemed people,” said President Chamisa.

On the way forward he said:

“What we know is victory is certain, it’s only a matter of time.Every struggle has its own unique characteristics.We know exactly what we are doing – please do not panic.

Zanu PF has run out of ideas – that’s an undeniable fact.

I know some people are saying we are failing to deal with Zanu PF tyranny- that’s not true.

We are marching towards total freedom.It is everyone’s duty to fight for freedom – It’s not about Chamisa alone.”

Tinashe Sambiri|Villagers in Zimuto, Masvingo have been left speechless after a local man brutally killed his eight-year-old nephew and cooked his head.

The suspect has since been arrested and police are waiting for tests to determine his mental condition.

See full story below :

A MAN here reportedly killed his eight-year-old nephew, dismembered the head and cooked it.

The 22-year-old suspect from Matova Village near Gokomere Mission under Chief Zimuto ,was found by alert neighbours stewing the boy’s head in a pot after barricading himself inside his hut.

National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said the juvenile’s torso was

found stashed in a nearby shallow pool.

“We will release the name of the suspect and the deceased tomorrow (today) but the suspect is in police custody and investigations are underway to determine his mental state,” said Asst Comm Nyathi.

“He was found cooking the boy’s head in a kitchen hut, while the remaining parts of the body were recovered in a shallow pool, wrapped in a mosquito net.

“Investigations are underway.”

According to sources, the incident occurred when the boy, who was in Grade 2 at Matova Primary School, sought shelter from the heavy rains at his uncle’s home on Friday.

The suspect is alleged to have killed the boy before cutting off his head.

A search for the boy yesterday morning led to the recovery of his head after a relative forced his

way into the suspect’s kitchen

where he had locked himself from inside.-State Media

Tinashe Sambiri|
A Mberengwa sex worker known as “Sisi Tsvigiri” has claimed she had sex with her blood brother after using love charms.

Sisi Tsvigiri, whose real name is Eugenia Chirevai Chiwara, was caught in bed with her own brother last week.

Family sources said she then drank poison in an attempt to take her own life following the incident.

Sisi Tsvigiri confessed that she was given love charms by controversial Masvingo preacher Isaac Makomichi.

“Because of poverty I went to Makomichi to seek the love charm and he gave me a substance to rub on my hands and said if I shake hands with someone then that person will automatically fall in love with me and do everything I want.

Sometimes I forget that I should not shake hands with my relatives.

I am regreting and I am willing to revisit Makomichi so that he can reverse the love charm,” said Eugenia.

Church leaders in Masvingo say Makomichi’s herb is evil because it is a tool that is being used to collect money through the back door.

A defiant Makomichi blamed Eugenia for the mistake she made.

Makomichi is under pressure to disclose the source of his love charm.

Tinashe Sambiri |Zanu PF spokesperson, Patrick Chinamasa instructed the police to arrest and detain MDC Alliance vice president, Hon Tendai Biti, it has emerged.

According to MDC Alliance spokesperson, Advocate Fadzayi Mahere, Hon Biti presented himself to be police after being informed that there was a plan to arrest him.

There are claims that Hon Biti threatened Russian national Tatiana Aleshina.

Advocate Mahere argued Chinamasa literally ordered the police to arrest Hon Biti.

“Zanu PF spokesperson Patrick Chinamasa said the police should arrest Hon Biti.

This suggests that the police received instructions from the Zanu PF spokesperson.

Mr Nick Mangwana also ordered the police to arrest Hon Biti.

When Hon Biti was in police custody, he was denied food.He was also exposed to Coronavirus because the police officers were not wearing face masks.There were no sanitizers at the police station,” said Advocate Mahere.

Hon Biti was granted $ 10 000 bail.

AllAfrica

On November 15, artisanal miners were buried alive in mine shafts by a Chinese company, which was sub-contracted by a Belarusian mining company at Premier Estates on the outskirts of Mutare.

So far, bodies of only two artisanal miners have been retrieved while an unknown number remains unaccounted for. Although the figures are disputed, artisanal miners allege that there are 10 or more bodies still buried underground. The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) says they received three reports of missing persons and investigations are in progress, although they seem to doubt that there could be any bodies remaining. The artisanal miners were suffocated to death after the pits they were working in were filled with soil by excavators during a supposedly land reclamation process.

Over 500 000 Zimbabweans, with over three million dependants, have been forced by the failing economy and climate change, among other factors, into small-scale and artisanal mining. However, the artisanal and small-scale mining sector has been characterised by high frequency of accidents resulting in loss of lives, coupled with several bouts of inherent violence.

Hundreds of artisanal miners have died in the pits as a result of criminality in the sector, weak governance, poor environmental management and cold blood murder by politically connected players. This article explores the dynamics surrounding the gold mining sector, and the Premier Estates mining investment deal in particular.

Absence of the social licence

In Zimbabwe, mining companies obtain formal licences from the central government and other regulatory bodies, which govern mining-related activities. Armed with these licences, firms have proceeded to the mining sites without any consideration of consulting local communities. The entry of large-scale miners to any community has been very intrusive to the social, economic and cultural norms of the locals.

Besides being destructive to the environment, mining exacerbates the vulnerability of local communities, especially women, youths and children, as was noted by the chairperson of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Mines and Mining Development, Edmond Mukwaratigwa, during his visit to Premier Estates on November 22. Climate change-induced droughts have caused rain-fed agriculture to be unpredictable. Consequently, there is a growing number of local men and women, who exclusively depend on gold panning for survival.

At Premier Estates, thousands of young people from surrounding villages, Mutare town and even from other provinces have swarmed what used to be farmland in search of gold in order to survive. Thus when a Belarusian company was secretly awarded a special grant to mine alluvial gold deposits at Premier Estates, where hundreds of artisanal miners had been working for a couple of years now, a standoff ensued. Attempts to displace locals were met with stiff resistance.

The mining company then claimed it was no longer interested in mining, but rather farming, in compliance with the Cabinet decision to ban mining in national parks and along rivers. Earthmoving machinery was used to fill the mining shafts despite protests from artisanal miners, who insisted there were people mining underground.

The parliamentary portfolio committee on mines and mining development visited the area on November 22, about a week after the incident, and noted the absence of a social licence for the mining company.

Committee chairperson Mukaratigwa highlighted that the Chinese company contracted by a Belarusian investor did not involve the community leadership in notifying the miners. Therefore, the company lacked the “social acceptability” and “social permission” that is a prerequisite for any business to operate.

“Our concern is that although mining activities are susceptible to accidents, our findings here are pointing to an accident as a result of negligence,” said Mukaratigwa.

“What we see is that the miners were resistant as they went ahead into the shafts despite being told not to. There is also a gap between contractors and the local community, especially in the way they circulated the information on the reclamation.

“They did not involve the local leaders, who have a way of making sure that this type of communication reaches the people more efficiently when such reclamation activities are carried out to eliminate resistance.”

The ZRP acting officer commanding Mutare rural district acknowledged the absence of a social licence and submitted that as the police force, they had to provide security because sections of the community were not happy with the coming in of the investor.

Although the Belarusian and Chinese companies are claiming that they notified the local community of the scheduled operation, which they intended to implement, locals and artisanal miners are disputing the claim.

Impunity and lack of transparency and accountability in the mining sector

Rescue efforts at Premier Estates led to the recovery of two bodies of artisanal miners. Despite that the alleged land reclamation which led to death of the two men identified to date happened in full view of the police, no one has been held accountable over the loss of the two lives. Although the company has already taken responsibility for the deaths of the two by giving their families funeral assistance, police have not preferred any charges against the company.

The attitude by the state shows that the government valorises corporates over protecting citizens’ rights, which has become the blind side of the “Zimbabwe is open for business” mantra.

The ascendancy of President Emmerson Mnangagwa to the helm of the country’s leadership was punctuated by undertones of courting international investors.

“Zimbabwe is open for business” became his mantra, which was aimed at attracting investors, particularly into the mining sector. In October 2019, government launched a mining-centred strategic plan, aimed at achieving a US$12 billion mining economy by 2023.

The strategic plan is part of the broader roadmap of having an upper middle-income economy by 2030. According to the strategic plan, gold, among other minerals, is central to Zimbabwe’s economic recovery plan and it is expected to contribute $4 billion per year by 2023.

However, dubious foreign “investors” with no proven track record in mining have taken advantage of Zimbabwe’s economic policy loopholes and the rent seeking behaviour by the country’s ruling elites to venture into various mining operations in Zimbabwe.

Correspondent

Parliamentarians have demanded that Parliament should put them on life insurance and pensions schemes as some legislators were dying and being buried like paupers as they were not insured.

The demands were made during a condolence message motion in the House of Assembly last week following the death of Kuwadzana MP Miriam Mushayi.

Mushayi died in Harare last September and was buried in Hurungwe.

“I think as Hon. Members, we should raise these issues during this period so that when one is elected into Parliament, they should be put on pension after their first term. Not only on pension, with the little knowledge that I have, we should also be given group life scheme,” Zanu PF chief whip, Pupurayi Togarepi said.

“Here in Parliament, it is us who make laws even the Insurance Act. We should look at our side as well because we need all those services. We will need them when death knocks on our doors.

“It is important that as Members of Parliament, we should not just look up to Parliament but Parliament does what we would have come up with because we are the ones who pass the budget and we are the ones who decide what goes into the budget. The Speaker cannot do that for use.

“The ball is in our court as legislators. When we are looking at the welfare of Hon. Members, we should also look at the context of the economy.”

The MDC Alliance Mbizo MP Settlement Chikwinya also demanded that families left behind by MPs who die while in office should automatically benefit from the legislator’s gratuity.

“If we do not speak for ourselves, none but ourselves will speak for us. I thought Parliamentary rules must entail that a Member of Parliament who passes away automatically benefits in terms of their children being taken care of by the pension scheme,” he said.

“A Member of Parliament who passes away before they receive their dues, they must be given to their family including their vehicle. We should have gotten these vehicles on the first day of attending Parliament but because of administrative delays, it is not our choice that other Members of Parliament still do not have their vehicles.

“So if one passes away by an act of God, why should their families be punished. Why should we all celebrate that we have saved money when this Member served for two years and serving Parliament without their vehicles on board.

“Madam Speaker, I think whilst you are seeing all these Hon. Members greeting you nicely and respecting you as you walk in this aisle, they will be actually saying in their hearts that these people are letting us down and if they could have powers, one day they are going to revenge. I am not sure how,” added Chikwinya.

The legislators have of late been making a host of demands including being accorded similar benefits received by cabinet ministers, upmarket houses in Harare, and similar perks with other legislators from the SADC region. They have also been issued with diplomatic passports.

President Mnangagwa bade farewell to the outgoing South African ambassador Pakama Mbete at State House this morning.

The South African Ambassador’s tour of duty is coming to end after serving in Zimbabwe for four and a half years.

ZESA Holdings has acquired a fleet of operational vehicles and distribution transformers aimed at improving service delivery and increasing access to power by citizens.

The state-owned entity unveiled 26 operational vehicles and 185 distribution transformers for its two subsidiaries Powertel and ZETDC.

Speaking at the handover ceremony, ZESA Executive Chairman Dr Sydney Gata bemoaned the sad state of affairs at the parastatal where only half of the required fleet of 3 000 vehicles is serving the entire nation.

“ At times we hire vehicles or use those belonging to customers to attend to faults and this is because we have antiquated equipment,” he said.

Turning to the transformers, Guest of Honour, Energy and Power Development Minister Honourable Zhemu Soda, who was represented by his Deputy Honourable Magna Mudyiwa, highlighted that the new equipment will improve power distribution.

“Zesa is undergoing robust transformation and as Government, our goal is to support these initiatives to ensure that we modernise operations,” noted Mudyiwa.

The Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company requires 4 500 distribution transformers of different capacities to operate optimally but vandalism and theft has impacted negatively on electricity supply and distribution.

The new transformers are part of an 8,8 million United States dollar contract to supply 2074 transformers to the parastatal.

ZIMBABWEAN businessman and philanthropist, Mr Strive Masiyiwa, has been named by Bloomberg among the top 50 prominent figures that have changed the global business in 2020.
The annual Bloomberg 50 recognises people who are doing notable things and the 2020 list is made up of individuals who set the bar high in business, entertainment, finance, politics, and science and technology whose accomplishments merit acknowledgment.

Labelling Mr Masiyiwa, who is also the Econet founder, as Zimbabwe’s “messenger of hope”, Bloomberg noted how the businessman’s Higher Life Foundation paid $10 million in cash and other assistance to more than 1 700 health-care workers to urge them not to strike over erosion of wages.

The country had been battling inflation in the first half of the year due to exchange rate volatility.

The Government had to respond by establishing an auction forex trading market, which has brought stability.

“Mr Masiyiwa, a billionaire who’s originally from outside of Zimbabwe’s capital, Harare, paid monthly stipends from ZW$5 000 to ZW$10 000 ($62 to $124) to health-care workers to stay on the job.

“When Covid-19 hit, he offered an additional ZW$500 a day for anyone hospitalised by the virus and ZW$50 000 for permanent disability or death. His programme ran through July,” wrote Bloomberg.

Mr Masiyiwa’s telecommunications company operates in Africa, Asia, Europe, and South America. Through EcoCash, Econet has become a champion of mobile money transactions, which have become popular in the wake of cash shortages and Covid-19 restrictions.

“Mr Masiyiwa sees his donations as giving back to his home country, even though he lives in self-imposed exile, mostly in Johannesburg and London,” wrote Bloomberg.

Correspondent

ZANU PF looks set never to end its culture of chaos whenever they hold internal elections.

In a DCC election held over the weekend, candidates in Mazowe DCC elections raised concern with the election commissioners over missing ballot boxes that went missing at Zungu business Centre, Shutu village in ward 7.

Eyewitnesses said that polling agents were chased away by Simon Steward the coordinator who is said to be the brains behind the alleged disappearing ballot boxes.

Candidates reported the issue to the election commissioners who are Ezra Chadzamira and Paradza.

Candidates are said to have argued that the ballot boxes are now poisoned chalice as their whereabouts are unknown.

“The candidates argue that these ballot boxes will create an Uzumba effect of amazing numbers in favour of certain candidates.” An eye witness said.

The commissioners are yet to take a decision on whether the missing ballot boxes will be included.

Simon Steward the coordinator was not available for comment on the issue.

Confirmed results from 30 out of 35 polling stations in Mazowe indicate that Tafadzwa Musarara was at a comfortable 1794 votes against John Mudzonga’s 723 votes out of the 2517 ballots counted by 5pm on Sunday.

Insiders allege that there is a plot to tamper with the figures at Nzvimbo, the command post, where figures are being cooked to narrow down Musarara’s margin and pave way for the disappearing ballot boxes.

Source – Byo24

ZANU PF has turned part of its Harare provincial offices into tuck-shops and booths, in a development that has not been approved by Harare city council, Zim Morning Post can reveal.

Construction of the booths is being presided over by the party’s provincial chairperson, Godwills Masimirembwa, who is believed to be pocketing part of the US$200 per stall in monthly rentals.

“The tuck-shops are going at a monthly rental fee of US$200 per stall and Masimirembwa pockets his shares there. It’s very bad how these guys are so hypocritical,” said a Zanu PF insider.

“They demolish ordinary citizens’ tuck-shops but build theirs right in the city centre.”

“I am a staunch Zanu PF supporter but this behaviour exposes us ahead of the 2023 elections,” he added.

Masimirembwa’s mobile number went unanswered until it became unreachable at the time of writing.

He also did not respond to questions sent to him. He has previously been accused of demanding a US$6 million bribe from a Ghanaian firm that wanted to dig for diamonds in Marange.

Masimirembwa was chairman for the Zimbabwe Mining Development Corporation then, but was later exonerated by the later former President Robert Mugabe.

Reached for comment Harare Provincial Development Coordinator (PDC) Tafadzwa Muguti professed ignorance over the development and referred this reporter to Masimirembwa.

“Well, I speak for government and not the party. The best person to talk to will be Cde Masimirembwa,” he said.

“However, although I am responsible for technical and administrative support, I have not received such a report, but like I said, consult the party provincial chairman,“ Muguti added.

The construction of the tuck-shops coincides with the City Fathers’ threats to raze down all illegally erected tuck-shops and booths around the city as part of its campaign to rid the capital of unwanted structures.

“The city has zero tolerance on illegal structures and settlements. We are targeting illegal extensions. All extensions on properties have to be approved by council and if they are not, then they are deemed illegal and will be removed,” city spokesperson Michael Chideme recently said.

The tuck-shops saga comes as Zanu PF bigwigs are building ‘war chests’ ahead of the 2023 elections.

Party insiders say there is a scramble to loot resources to fund the campaign trail ahead of the 2023 elections.

– Zim Morning Post

Zanu-pf Makonde District Coordinating Committee (DCC)’s aspiring Secretary for Transport and Welfare candidate, Cde Darlington Chasara fell off his motorcycle in Makonde Constituency on Sunday night and died on the spot.

Cde Chasara is said to have been coming from polling stations that saw voters casting their ballots yesterday following logistical glitches that resulted in ballot distribution delays on Saturday.

Mashonaland West police spokesperson, Assistant Inspector Ian Kohwera was still waiting for reports but some party officials confirmed the accident.

Zanu-pf provincial youth commissar, Cde Tapiwa Chitate said, “It is true, we received sad news that Cde (Darlington) Chasara fell off his motor-bike last night around Mapfungwe area and died on the spot. He was a candidate in the recently held DCC elections eyeing Secretary for Transport and Welfare for Makonde district.”

Cde Chasara was battling it out with two other male candidates.

His body is currently at Naison Dip Clinic in Makonde Constituency.

Tinashe Sambiri|MDC Alliance leader, President Nelson Chamisa, has accused Zanu PF of denigrating traditional leaders.

Speaking at his mother’s memorial service in Gutu on Saturday, President Chamisa said traditional leaders should not be used by Zanu PF to harass opposition members.

“Traditional leaders are being abused by Zanu PF. Traditional leaders deserve respect and they should be apolitical.

It is sad to note that Zanu PF is using traditional leaders to victimize opposition members.

Traditional leaders are highly esteemed people,” said President Chamisa.

On the way forward he said:

“What we know is victory is certain, it’s only a matter of time.Every struggle has its own unique characteristics.We know exactly what we are doing – please do not panic.

Zanu PF has run out of ideas – that’s an undeniable fact.

I know some people are saying we are failing to deal with Zanu PF tyranny- that’s not true.

We are marching towards total freedom.It is everyone’s duty to fight for freedom – It’s not about Chamisa alone.”

By A Correspondent| Senior ZBC Journalist Janet Munyaka who died of COVID-19 has been buried at Glen Forest this morning.

The burial was conducted in compliance with COVID-19 guidelines and did not attract multitudes as is the norm.

Below are the pictures….

Tinashe Sambiri|MDC Alliance leader, President Nelson Chamisa, has accused Zanu PF of denigrating traditional leaders.

Speaking at his mother’s memorial service in Gutu on Saturday, President Chamisa said traditional leaders should not be used by Zanu PF to harass opposition members.

“Traditional leaders are being abused by Zanu PF. Traditional leaders deserve respect and they should be apolitical.

It is sad to note that Zanu PF is using traditional leaders to victimize opposition members.

Traditional leaders are highly esteemed people,” said President Chamisa.

On the way forward he said:

“What we know is victory is certain, it’s only a matter of time.Every struggle has its own unique characteristics.We know exactly what we are doing – please do not panic.

Zanu PF has run out of ideas – that’s an undeniable fact.

I know some people are saying we are failing to deal with Zanu PF tyranny- that’s not true.

We are marching towards total freedom.It is everyone’s duty to fight for freedom – It’s not about Chamisa alone.”

Tinashe Sambiri|President Nelson Chamisa has revealed how his uncle was kicked out of the Airforce.

Speaking at his mother’s memorial service in Chiwara, Gutu on Saturday, President Chamisa said his uncle- identified as Rukweza- was fired from the Airforce following his visit to Manyame Airbase.

“You cannot believe what I am saying but it’s true.My uncle was dismissed from the Airforce simply because I had visited him.

He was kicked out of Manyame Airbase following my visit to the place with Learnmore Judah Jongwe long back.

The level of intolerance in the country is shocking,” said President Chamisa.

“I salute my uncle because he is a principled man.He has never compromised his affection for the family,” added President Chamisa.

Thank you to all citizens who amplified the voice of student teachers, their salaries were reviewed from USD 1.50 to USD 50. Now they have a new battle to fight. They are being forced to repeat in 2021 but they wont be earning the new allowance.

-ARTUZ

By Jane Mlambo| Controversial cleric Passion Java has insulted investigative journalist Hopewell Chin’ono after he questioned why Zimbabweans follow the socialite at the expense of people pushing for national interests- like Namatai Kwekweza.

Responding on Twitter, Java accused Chin’ono of seeking funds from donors through attacking politicians and the government.

He responded as follows (screenshot below):

MDC-T acting national spokesperson Khaliphani Phugeni, who doubles as interim party president Thokozani Khupe’s press secretary, has been acquitted of rape, the Zimbabwe Independent reports.

Phugeni (44) appeared before Western Commonage regional magistrate Sibongile Marondedze last month charged with contravening section 65 of the Criminal Law, Codification and Reform) Act (Chapter 9:23).

Prosecutors said Phugeni unlawfully had sexual intercourse with a woman, who could not be named for ethical reasons, during the period extending from June to November 2018, at Emhlangeni and in Magwegwe West, Bulawayo.

Phugeni denied the charge, saying the accusations were politically-motivated and meant to “politically soil” his image after he was nominated for Senate.

More to follow….

The leader of the Council of Student Teachers, Walter Muzamani and other student teachers have been arrested at Morgan Zintech in Harare. The student teachers were protesting against the decision to force them to repeat in 2021.

-ARTUZ

By A Correspondent | Zanu-PF secretary for administration Obert Mpofu and his wife Sikhanyisiwe, a Matabeleland North Senator, have tested positive for Covid-19.

Mpofu told a local online news organisation that he and his wife were “stable” when reached by phone.

They couple is self-isolating separately in Harare, Zanu-PF acting spokesman Patrick Chinamasa added.

Mpofu and his wife are the latest high-profile figures to contract the virus, which was blamed for the death of freelance journalist Zororo Makamba in March; lands and agriculture minister Perrance Shiri in July and ZBC reporter Janet Makamba on Saturday.

On Saturday, Zimbabwe reported 70 new Covid-19 cases and 10 deaths. Nine of the 10 deaths were in Harare, while one was recorded in Bulawayo.

Overall, Zimbabwe has reported 10,617 Covid-19 cases which have resulted in 291 deaths.