By A Correspondent- Aisha Tsimba who was once a Sports and Recreation Commission board member has died, The Herald reports.

This was revealed in a statement by the Zimbabwe Rugby Union( ZRU) on the death of Tsimba who is the sister of Kennedy Tsimba who is a Zimbabwe rugby legend.

The ZRU said in a statement on Friday:

The president of the Zimbabwe Rugby Union, Mr Aaron Jani, the ZRU exco and board would like to extend their sincere condolences to the Tsimba family on the passing of the former Zimbabwe Rugby Union vice-president and former Sports and Recreation Commissioner Aisha Tsimba,’’ the ZRU said in a statement.

She was an astute and principled administrator who worked tirelessly to improve the image of rugby and sports in the country.

She worked tirelessly to set up structures and development of women’s rugby in the country and championed the girl child’s participation in sports.

She played for Old Hararians’ Women’s Rugby Club and also turned out for Cameo Women’s Basketball team before she took over the reins of being Women’s Rugby president in the country.

She was a champion of good corporate governance systems that ensured the viability of sports in the country and the development of sports as an industry to sustain livelihoods and as a vehicle for social justice and development.

She will be fondly remembered for her tireless work ethic and discipline.

Tsimba who was an athlete and an administrator died of an undisclosed illness. We will update this article if burial arrangements are announced.

Paul Nyathi

Reports just received indicate that CBZ Bank has arbitrarily frozen estranged wife to Vice President Constantino Chiwenga, Marry Chiwenga’s five bank accounts without a court order.

The move comes at a time when Marry is extremely ill and needing money desperately.

Marry Mubaiwa recently claimed she is living in fear as unknown people want to kill her.

Marry and Chiwenga are going through a nasty divorce which is playing out in public, with the Vice-President alleging that the former model tried to kill him in July last year when he was bedridden in a South African hospital.

A visibly sick Mubaiwa was on Monday forced to attend court from an ambulance stretcher to cancel two warrants of arrest that were issued after she had failed to attend court due to

ill-health to answer to allegations of money-laundering and attempting to kill Chiwenga.

Marry is battling lymphoedema, a chronic condition that causes swelling in the body’s tissues.

CBZ, according to her lawyer Beatrice Mtetwa, had no legal basis to freeze the accounts as there was no order from the court.

“Regrettably, this behaviour is not limited to your branch as all her attempts at transacting on all accounts she previously used with ease have met a similar fate. The only conclusion she has come to is that the decision not to process transactions is synchronised and has been taken by the bank. We advise that your conduct is unlawful and should cease forthwith as there has been no form of due legal process to bar our client from transacting on the account.”

Impala Car Rental CEO Mr. Thompson Dondo sat down and spoke about the storm that was brewed by the abduction of a young man Tawanda Muchehiwa who was abducted by suspected state agents using an Impala car rental vehicle, All Africa News reports.

Since the abduction storm, Impala car rental has become infamous as people associate it with abductors, and investigative journalists have revealed that the company is alegedly owned by law enforcement agents and the CEO is allegedly a wanted man in the UK.

Speaking about the issue of him possibly being a wanted fugitive and why Impala Car rental did not disloce the name of the people who hired the vehicle that was used to abduct Tawanda Muchehiwa, Dondo said:

Before I answer your question, let me tell you this – I am generally a very quiet person. I don’t like the limelight. I don’t want everyone to know that I am the owner of Impala Car Rental. And I don’t even want talking to the media, but the attacks on my person and on my business have left me with no choice but to speak out. I can’t let the nonsense go on and on as if I have something to hide or something to be afraid of.

Now back to your question. From the onset, I need you to know and understand that the majority of the people who are attacking me and my business are struggling political activists. One of our cars was hired by some individual and we have already supplied the name of this individual to police. After hiring our car, allegations are that this individual went and committed a crime. We were then challenged to provide details of this person because the vehicle that was used in committing this crime was hired from us. We didn’t try to hide anything. We accepted that indeed this was our vehicle but we couldn’t disclose the name of the person who had hired the vehicle to people on Twitter and Facebook.

Dondo said in not disclosing the name of their customers who hired the vehicle they were not hiding anything:

We don’t run our business like that and I don’t think there is any business out there that is run like that. These people wanted us to divulge the name of the person who had hired the car on Twitter and Facebook. Business law and ethics don’t allow us to do that. We are a professionally run business and we don’t dance to the tune of faceless people on social media platforms.

When we were asked to facilitate investigations into the matter, we handed all the required documents pertaining to this matter to police. I am not Paul Nyathi, the police spokesperson. I can’t speak on behalf of police. Anyone who wants any information regarding this issue should go to the police and not Impala Car Rental. We respect the country’s laws and we did what we were supposed to do according to the law.

Dondo said they did not delay to hand over the information to the authorities either:

Took long according to who? Twitter? Facebook? No, that’s not how we operate. Can you imagine you as a journalists you start revealing names of your sources to every Tom, Dick and Harry? Or a doctor who rushes to reveal names of his or her clients just because Twitter or Facebook has pushed him or her? Is that ethical? Who will take you serious?

For your own information, we didn’t take long to look into the matter. The story started circulating online on a Friday and the next Monday I went to police. I personally went to police and told them that I had not yet received any complain regarding the issue. I reported that there was this issue because I wanted to be in the clear as police is the one that has the mandate to investigate such issues. The police then came and took all the documents pertaining to the matter so as to investigate the issue.

Dondo took a jab at Mduduzi Mathuthu whose nephew is in the midst of the abduction storm and said he could have handled the issue differently:

I know Mathuthu from long back. When this incident happened he phoned me and I gave him the information of the person who had hired the car. I gave him the name and he has the information.

Mathuthu wanted me to say the person who did this is so and so. I couldn’t do that. That’s why he is angry with me. He thinks I know another person besides the name I gave him. He thinks I should have said something else

I have a 22 year old son and I do feel pity for the young lad but well what do you expect if you have an elder like Mathuthu? Mathuthu could have handled this issue in a sober way away from the social media. I really feel sorry for Muchehiwa and I hope this matter is dealt with in such a way that he continues with his normal life. He deserves better than being used and abused on Twitter and Facebook for selfish gains. It’s pathetic.

Muchehiwa’s lawyers brought summons here and we responded. When my lawyer went to court, he was then told by Muchehiwa’s lawyer that the young man was no longer in the country and so the matter has collapsed. I don’t know what that means as far as investigations are concerned by as for the case between Impala and Muchehiwa, hapasisina nyaya apa. Muchehiwa’s lawyer actually said let’s close this case.

Dondo said he chose to speak now because the negativity is too much:

The negativity is just too much. The nonsense against us is just too much. We are fed up. I am sure you saw the story about us that came out in The News Hawks. Utter rubbish! Lies upon lies by people with no shame at all.

They lied that this company is owned by CIO and so on yet its public record that this is a family business that has two directors – my wife and my sister. They went on the lie even about my national identity number. What for exactly? Why go to such lengths to cook stories, cook facts and cook figures? Kuti zviite sei?

I felt this bullshit has to stop. I can’t continue keeping quite as if ndiri kuvatya or as if I have anything to hide. I am an honest businessman trying to make a living, why fabricate stories against me?

What is even more sickening is that recently these political activists took aerial pictures of my company using a drone. The lengths at which they are doing all this shows shocking desperation. You never know what else such desperate people are capable of doing. This is now a threat to my life, family and my company.

They got into my premises without my consent. What is it that they will do next? We reported this matter to police and investigations are already underway.

Speaking about the story that was published by The News Hawks about Impala Car Rental being owned by the CIO, Dondo said the story was not true:

I know that the people behind The News Hawk – that is Dumisani Muleya and Malaba are close friends with Mathuthu. So it’s Mathuthu who is feeding them with all those lies. He has been overdoing it and this is just one of his several strategies. Just the tone of the story and the lies in the story can tell you it’s the same old story sold to this publication.

We have reported the matter to police because these journalists forged so many things in that story. Can you imagine they forged our CR14? It’s criminal what they did. We are also suing them. Impala is not a punch bag for disgruntled political activists hiding in newsrooms. We won’t allow that.

Lastly Dondo addressed the story of him possibly being a fugitive in the UK and said:

This isn’t news anymore and I haven’t hidden anything about this story. Way back, Malaba and others wrote this story and I wonder why some journalists still think this is the kind of story that can freak me out.

While in the UK, I had a business where I would employ Zimbabweans. Some of them later got arrested because they didn’t have proper documentation. It was discovered that they were illegal workers. These people went to court and agreed that indeed they were in the UK illegally.

As their employer I was blamed for employing illegal workers. The authorities thought I was bringing these people from Zimbabwe to the UK, yet I would employ them while they were in the UK already. The authorities didn’t understand how things work and they said this was human trafficking. It’s not like I facilitated these people’s departure from Zimbabwe – they went to the UK using whatever means and I only employed them while they were in the UK.

Of course, I knew some of these people didn’t have proper documents and it’s not a secret that quite a number of them don’t have proper documentation, but I thought I could help my brothers and sisters from home as they sorted their papers in the UK.

Source: All Africa News

Mazowe Central Legislator Sydney Chidamba has been placed under disciplinary action for undermining President Emmerson Mnangagwa who was scheduled to visit his constituency for National Tree planting day in Mazowe this Saturday .
Chidamba is reported to have walked out of President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s preparatory meeting held on Wednesday in his constituency.

A highly placed source in Zanu PF Provincial Coordinating Committee (PCC) told this publication that Chidamba was grilled during the meeting over his actions and awaits disciplinary hearing.

“Chidamba is on a disciplinary course because We were planning about HE’s visit which was to be in his constituency. He walked out of the meeting and went to address three districts when the entire Mazowe and Provincial Leadership, PB member Cde Machacha, chiefs , headmen, war vetarans leadership, were in a crucial meeting to plan for HE’s visit showing clearly that he did not value the visit . Evidence show that he preferred to go and campaign for his preferred DCC candidate where he donated flour, balls and paint instead of planning for the visit,” said the source.

Meanwhile, Chidamba who is campaigning for Tafadzwa Musarara who is eying the Mazowe district coordinating committee chairman ahead of the election over the weekend is also fingered in a gold rush fiasco at Rosa.
Contacted for comment he said he was aware of the gold rush but is not involved since he does not own a claim there.

Two other provincial members Patience Tapomwa secretary for administration for women’s league and Patricia Zhurunawo who is a typist at the provincial offices and second wife to committee member Walter Gatsi were also disciplined for tempering with cell registers in favour of Musarara.

Reports say Mnangagwa cancelled his visit to Mazowe after indicating that he has a busy schedule

Source – Byo24

Zimbabwe recorded three more Covid-19 deaths yesterday, while a staggering 181 new cases were reported.

Of the deaths, two were in Bulawayo and the other in Manicaland, taking the overall death toll to 280 since the pandemic broke out in Zimbabwe in March.

Yesterday, 1 294 PCR tests done, with 181 coming out positive.

Of the new cases, 178 were community transmissions while three were returnees from Algeria.

As of yesterday, Zimbabwe has 1 390 active cases.

Bulawayo has 564 active cases followed by Harare on 219, with eight other provinces contributing the remainder.

Since March, Zimbabwe has recorded 10 424 cases 8 754 recoveries

and 280 deaths.

Across the continent 2 230 391 cases have been recorded as at yesterday.

This represents about 3,4 percent of the global infections that are now over 65,5 million.

Over 1,51 million deaths have been reported with about 45,4 million recovered registered.

In Africa, South Africa is the hardest hit with over 800 000 infections and over 21 000 deaths.

Paul Nyathi

Opposition Movement for Democratic Change vice president, Tendai Biti, has been arrested.

In a tweet, the MDC Alliance led by Nelson Chamisa said, “BitiTendai is detained at CID Law & Order on a spurious charge of assault. His crime is unearthing a corruption scandal concerning the Harare Airport land deal involving complainant, Russian Tatiana Aleshina & businessmen linked to @edmnangagwa. Biti didn’t assault her.”

Biti said in a tweet yesterday, the Harare Airport Road construction saga represents the biggest land heist in post colonial Zimbabwe.

“More than 200 hectares of prime Harare land were parceled to a notorious land baron .No amount of intimidation ,lies or abuse will stop justice & the return of this land to Harare”

More details to follow …

Source: MDC Tweet

Tinashe Sambiri|Zanu PF leader, Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa has stunned the entire nation after eqauting Mbuya Nehanda to Jesus Christ.

Church leaders across the country have described Mnangagwa’s remarks as blasphemous.

Mr Mnangagwa made the remarks after visiting Nyati Gallery near Snake Park, where the statue of Mbuya Nehanda is being made by sculptor David Mutasa.

“The bible instructs us to honour our parents and that is what we are doing.

Christ died for the sins of the world and Mbuya Nehanda sacrificed her life for the freedom of the country.

Christ died for the people and Mbuya Nehanda also died for the people.

Those who not respect her will not go to heaven.We are simply giving her the respect she deserves,” said Mr Mnangagwa.

However, an association of church leaders based in Masvingo described Mr Mnangagwa’s utterances as blasphemous.

“This is unacceptable, how can Mr Mnangagwa equate Mbuya Nehanda to the Saviour.Such comments are unfortunate.

This is why our nation is always grappling with endless problems.We urge Mr Mnangagwa to withdraw his remarks as soon as possible,” the association said in a statement seen by ZimEye.com.

By A Correspondent- Bindura communities have blasted government over failure to offer support to families of victims who perished in the Ran Mine disaster.

Families of the estimated 30 men who are feared dead when the mine collapsed last week have been camped at the site for over a week now.

Ran gold mine, which is situated 70 kilometres north of Harare collapsed in Bindura last Wednesday, trapping an estimated 40 illegal gold panners.

It is reported that only six men emerged alive from the disaster while leaving an estimated 30 others trapped and unaccounted for, according to officials. Rescue efforts delayed to start off and only started 3 days later after the tragedy.

The generator used to drain the 100-metre-deep mine shaft jammed and another one had to be sourced, a development that delayed the rescue effort.

Said a local villager only identified as Moyo:

“These women, men and children are traumatised. From day one when news filtered in that their relatives had been trapped underground, these people had hope that government would move in swiftly and rescue the trapped miners alive. That hope is now gone and we have a people in anguish.

Nyaradzo Funeral Services donated a tent which is being used by families of the victims of the mine disaster.

Added another community member:

“Government officials who are supposed to be bringing good news of how government will rescue the trapped miners or retrieve their dead bodies come here in their lavish cars, wearing their expensive suits and holding tablets. They just walk around as if they are showing off to us. They come here to ask questions and nod their heads without offering any solution to the problem.”

Farirai Dube, who resides near the abandoned Ren mine accused the government of neglecting families of the victims of the tragedy.

She said:

“As you can see, there are two tents here one for the police and one for the families of the victims. When the police officers are getting their food, these families will just be watching. Besides food supplies, these families need social workers for psychological support and counselling services but they are getting nothing. There is a crisis here and the communities are becoming agitated because of the poor co-ordination by government to retrieve these trapped miners.”

Last week, one man died while offering rescue services.

The victim Wellington House fell into the tunnel around 6pm on Saturday and he was buried with government assistance.

Information ministry permanent Secretary Nick Mangwana revealed that government provided a coffin as well as food items to the grieving family.

Nyaradzo Funeral services also donated tents and mobile toilets for use during the funeral.

Tinashe Sambiri|A senior MDC Alliance official, Antony Taruvinga, has said President Nelson Chamisa remains the nation’s hope despite relentless efforts by Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa and Zanu PF to bring him down.

He implored Zimbabweans to remain optimistic in spite of Mr Mnangagwa’s attempt to thwart the people’s struggle.

“I would like to thank Pres. Nelson Chamisa for standing strong in the wake of monumental electoral theft.

Not only the President but all Comrades who remained glued to the struggle even in the face of incessant challenges.

Following the 2018 elections, the going has been sadly torturous. We were robbed of everything including Parliamentary and council victories. Like i always say, let’s eye focus on 2023.

Prepare not only to vote but vote, win, secure and defend, at all costs, our victories.

Lawyers are advised to think about the name challenges that the party has faced.

While it is clear that the Judiciary is 100% captured, lawyers must close any loophole that might be exploited. MDC CHAMISA! The struggle continues,” Taruvinga posted on Facebook.

By A Correspondent- Churchill Boys High School headmaster Patson Mugwanda downplayed reports claiming that cyberbullying is rife at the school.

Police were called to the school for investigations after reports of a case of cyberbullying at the school on Tuesday and involving Form 4 and U6 pupils.

Mugwanda claimed that there was nothing in the allegations as it is normal for outgoing pupils to misbehave at the end of the year.

He said:

We received a report of a Form 3 student who had a misunderstanding with another student and one of the three students involved recorded one of the pupils saying he was after the other student’s blood.

The audio, upon reaching his parents, disturbed them and they took the matter to Rhodesville police station and two officers came and we discussed the matter. Upon thorough investigations, it turned out to be a hoax.

Mugwanda added that the rumour started when the alleged victim, a big-bodied Taekwondo player, was making fun of challenging his seniors.

He said:

One of the alleged victim’s friend was the one who recorded the audio following a challenging statement reported to have been uttered by the alleged cyberbullying victim to a Form 4 student.

The alleged victim is big-bodied and is a Taekwondo player so he was making fun of challenging his seniors and this is how it started.

We involved our school disciplinary members and the alleged victim apologised for breaking rule number seven of the school rules that guide our students

By A Correspondent- Harare lawyer, Advocate Thabani Mpofu will stand trial at the Harare Magistrates Court on charges of obstructing the course of justice charges on February 10, next year.

Mpofu, who is out on bail, yesterday appeared before magistrate Trynos Wutawashe where he was given the trial date.

The State is alleging that Mpofu falsified information by submitting an affidavit of a non-existent person to the Constitutional Court (ConCourt) in January 2019 while challenging the appointment of Prosecutor-General Kumbirai Hodzi.

It is alleged that he invented one Simbarashe Zuze, who signed an affidavit in the ConCourt challenge.

But in his application for bail earlier this year, Mpofu, through his lawyer Beatrice Mtetwa said Zuze had been to the police several times to prove that he was a real person and that the police had collected 15 samples of his signature.

Mpofu is also facing another charge of concealing a transaction in a 2017 case.

Teddy Kamuriwo appeared for the State.

-newsday

Tinashe Sambiri|
In what many believe to be sings of the end of time, a Masvingo man impregnated his son’s wife…

The daughter-in-law, Nomatter Mariona reportedly confessed that she got the love charm from controversial preacher, “Prophet”
Isaac Makomichi.

She claimed the prophet instructed her to put the charm in her husband’s plate.

She then put the charm in her father- in -law’s plate by mistake.

She was then dismissed from the family house as her father-in-law began to spoil her with gifts and money.

It has since emerged that Nomatter was impregnated by her father-in-law who has also left the family house to stay with her.

“I was in the process of bringing my wife back home when I was informed that Nomatter could not be located.

I called her asking her to return home and she told me that it was too late because she was already pregnant.

She has moved to Bulawayo with my father.

I blame Makomichi for giving my wife the love charm.

That charm destroyed my family, my mother is in pain now,” said a bitter Tichaona.

Contacted for a comment, Makomichi said:

“Leave me alone, Tichaona is the one who took the wrong plate because he likes meat.”

Tinashe Sambiri|Zanu PF leader, Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa has stunned the entire nation after eqauting Mbuya Nehanda to Jesus Christ.

Church leaders across the country have described Mnangagwa’s remarks as blasphemous.

Mr Mnangagwa made the remarks after visiting Nyati Gallery near Snake Park, where the statue of Mbuya Nehanda is being made by sculptor David Mutasa.

“The bible instructs us to honour our parents and that is what we are doing.

Christ died for the sins of the world and Mbuya Nehanda sacrificed her life for the freedom of the country.

Christ died for the people and Mbuya Nehanda also died for the people.

Those who not respect her will not go to heaven.We are simply giving her the respect she deserves,” said Mr Mnangagwa.

However, an association of church leaders based in Masvingo described Mr Mnangagwa’s utterances as blasphemous.

“This is unacceptable, how can Mr Mnangagwa equate Mbuya Nehanda to the Saviour.Such comments are unfortunate.

This is why our nation is always grappling with endless problems.We urge Mr Mnangagwa to withdraw his remarks as soon as possible,” the association said in a statement seen by ZimEye.com.

By A Correspondent- Sanyati Baptist High School has been put under lockdown after nine learners tested positive for coronavirus.

As a result, government officials resolved to have examination candidates write examinations in separate rooms to limit exposure to the disease.

Mashonaland West acting medical director, Gift Masoja, confirmed the development saying non-examination boarding students who test negative will go home anytime soon. Said Masoja:

It’s true we have nine students who tested positive for COVID-19 at Sanyati Baptist High School.

Efforts to trace and test their contacts are underway, and we have since applied the same measures that applied at Chinhoyi High School.

No one is allowed in or out except for examination candidates.

In addition, examinations will be written separately to protect negative students from contracting the virus. The students will be quarantined at the school.

Meanwhile, St Rupert’s Secondary School in Makonde district recorded three positive coronavirus cases.

On Wednesday, Waddilove and Goromonzi High Schools recorded a combined 52 cases, resulting in the schools being declared closed communities.-statemedia

Police on Thursday swooped on Chitungwiza Town House and rounded up all councillors and management as well as journalists attending an alleged illegal full council meeting.

The Herald reported a source saying there is serious infighting among councillors and management so they connived an “illegal” meeting to pass a resolution to replace the acting town clerk Evangelista Machona with town engineer David Duma.

The meeting was being chaired by Clr Peter Matiringe as both the mayor Lovemore Maiko and his deputy Musa Makweza have pending criminal abuse of office charges that restrict them from interfering with witnesses at the council offices.

The councillors were first detained at St Mary’s Police Station in Chitungwiza before being transferred to commercial crimes unit in Harare.

National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed yesterday evening that 33 councillors had ben picked up.

He said:

I can confirm that we have picked up 33 councillors following a report by Harare provincial development coordinator Mr Tafadzwa Muguti that they were convening a meeting to suspend the town clerk and replacing him with a suspended official with pending cases, in violation of the Urban Councils Act.

The 33 are currently undergoing a screening exercise to see those who should be charged.

The majority of Chitungwiza councillors belong to the MDC Alliance, and in a post on its social media channels on Thursday night, the party said all, except two, of the councillors and council staff, were released.

The statement read:

All, except two, of the councillors and council staff who were unlawfully arrested in a dragnet operation today while conducting council business, have been released without charge.

Councillors Chamutsa and Nyagondo are currently at St. Mary’s Police Station but with no charges yet.-

,

CHIPINGE – It is ironic that people of a host country can be employed by refugees to do piece jobs.

This is exactly what is happening at Tongogara Refugee Camp in the Zimbabwe border district of Chipinge.

People from nearby villages are from time to time engaged by the refugees as couriers of food rations brought by donors.

They ferry the rations on their heads and wheel barrows to the different houses of the refugees and in return, they are given a cup of rice, meal mealie or cooking oil, various Parliamentary Committees that visited Tongogara were told last week.

Wilfred Mapiko of Terres des hommes (Tdh), told the Parliamentarians that it is an unhealthy situation for the host community to be less food secure than refugees because this has the potential to create serious conflict.

Terres des hommes (Tdh) is an international children’s rights charitable humanitarian umbrella organisation.

Defense, Home Affairs and Security Services Committee chairperson Retired Brigadier General Levi Mayihlome said the situation needed urgent redress.

United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Representative Abdoulaye Barry described the situation as embarrassing and told delegates that the matter was raised with the relevant Minister.

There are 14 643 refugees at Tongogara, Chipinge Times was told during the tour.

“There is an issue of concern involving the host community. I am sure you have seen wheelbarrows outside, these people are from the host community that are transporting rations to refugees’ places and they in turn get a cup of meal-mealie beans or cooking oil.

“It appears the refugees are better off than the host community and this is not a pleasant situation,” said Mapiko.
Refugees get 13,5kg mealie-meal, 2kg beans or peas, 750g cooking oil and 150 salt monthly.

Those who are chronically ill get 3kg super cereal and children between the age of 6 to 23 months, pregnant women and those who are breast feeding get 6kg.

In terms of non-food rations, refugees get a blanket each, laundry and hygiene soaps whilst new arrivals get blankets, kitchen set, water containers and mosquito nets.

Foreign Affairs and International Trade committee chairperson and Makonde MP Kindness Paradza acknowledged the untenable situation. He said that some refugees have even become business people operating restraunts and bars and they are no longer willing to go back to their countries.

Defense, Home Affairs and Security Services committee chairperson Retired Brigadier General Levi Mayihlome said in an interview with Chipinge Times that there is an urgent need to address the economic status of the host community.

“We mustn’t have a situation where the local community is poorer than refugees. This creates unnecessary conflict and it needs to be addressed as a matter of urgency. The host community must be equal or better than refugees,” said Mayihlome.
He added that they will take the matter to the relevant minister so that their situation is addressed.
The Zimbabwe Commissioner for Refugees Totamirepi Tirivavi said the matter is being looked into to make sure that the host community also get assistance.

The committees had visited Tongogara to assess the state of the camp, to find out how the laws of Zimbabwe and the International Convention affect the stay of refugees, to find out if there are any areas where there is need for amendment of legislations or ratification and challenges in terms of the local laws.

“WFP is in charge of food for the refugees and during the visit of the Minister here this issue was raised because it is really embarrassing. WFP country director was here with me and the issue is being looked into. We have taken good note of the point and hopefully a solution will be found,” said Barry.

-Masvingo Mirror

By A Correspondent- A transaction in which the National Social Security Authority (NSSA) disposed of its 37,79% ZB Financial Holdings (ZBFH) shareholding was a swap deal that saw the authority clinching CBZ shares worth ZW$640 million (Us$7,8 million), it has emerged.

Information exclusively obtained by the Zimbabwe Independent shows that the deal was concluded by Exodus Makumbe’s Platinum investment Managers and the shares are now being held by Datvest nominees (Pvt) Limited.

TThere has been widespread speculation that this transaction is linked to business tycoon Kuda Tagwirei.

For the 50% consideration, nssa received 14,341 million new shares, valued at ZW$640,041,800 in cBZ representing 2,15% stake, while for the 50% cash transaction, NSSA received Us$11,646,889 after factoring transaction costs.

Datvest, which now holds 34% of the total ZBFH shareholding, is the asset management division of cBZ Holdings, in which Tagwirei is reportedly a major shareholder.

The deal saw NSSA, which also has investments in FBC (35%) and nBs 100%, increasing its shareholding by 2,15% in CBZ where it already has 16% shareholding.

Details of the agreement show that the parties agreed to calculate the swap ratio on the basis of 30-trading day volume weighted price to September 30 2020.

Based on this formula, the Volume Weighted Average Prices (VWAP) for both were ZB (ZW$11,3183) and cBZ (ZW$43,2858) using 30-trading day information from August 20, with a swap ratio of 2,25 ZB shares for one cBZ share after including the 70% premium.

NSSA communications manager Tendai Mutseyekwa told the Independent that of the bids that were submitted, this was the best.

“We even went to the extent of engaging a third party, a financial advisor, to look into the transaction and advise NSSA whether we were obtaining value for the investment.

“Essentially we negotiated for a 70% premium to the prevailing share price. so over and above the selling price we got almost double the consideration which is 70%. so how then it was structured was to say as NSSA we do not want to receive RTGS in exchange for a real asset. We are an investment company and would want to preserve value for pensioners. We believe cBZ is a better value stock,” he said.

Why ZB?

Mutseyekwa says the decision to dispose ZB shareholding was reached based on various considerations, including inconsistent dividends and an unattractive share price, with ZB shares currently trading at ZW$23,9179.

At that time NSSA was invested in five banks, including First capital bank in which it disposed its stake (less than 1%) in June this year.

Nssa noted that the banks it has shareholding in needed US$70 million to fulfil capitalisation requirements.

“All these banking institutions require capital. So at the time we did our initial analysis, they required capital of about US$30 million each, NbS US$20 million, Barclays another US$30 million for compliance purposes. Nssa’s share of that capitalisation was supposed to be US$$70 million of the banks combined. So it was efficient on the part of Nssa to be invested in all those banks. of these banks, we had to keep those that were performing well. So we said let’s exit Zb completely because the dividends were not consistent and also the share price was not favourable to Nssa,” he said.

Unravelling Tagwirei’s links

The complex nature of the structure, multiple vehicles, and offshore companies used by Tagwirei linked companies to buy shares was uncovered following an investigation by the Independent in collaboration with the organised crime and corruption reporting Project (OCCRP).

Investigative reporters from the two organisations worked for months across regional and international borders to follow the paper trail, uncovering the web of Tagwirei’s business networks used to acquire multiple stakes in various entities.

OCCRP is an international investigative reporting platform comprising a worldwide network of independent media centres and journalists which undertakes investigative journalism.

As part of the investigation, information was obtained using official sources, which included company registrars, and paid third-party services abroad. The investigations also reveal the existence of a South African registered company, Takutata (Pvt) Limited.

The following are listed as directors in Takutata: Tagwirei, his wife Sandra Mpunga, Jozef Clifford Behr and Christopher Fourie. Three of the directors in Takutata, Brown, Behr and Fourie, are also directors in Sotic International, which owns Landela mining Venture Limited and Landela Investments.

Our investigations show that there are three

Sotic companies, one is registered in Mauritius, others in Singapore and South Africa.

Landela mining Venture is part of a large multinational commodity trading group, Sotic International Ltd, and has business interests in minerals and the oil trade across the Southern African Development community region, including Zimbabwe.

Tagwirei also holds shares in Zimbabwe’s largest chrome miner, African chrome Fields.

Brown is the CE of Sotic International, a company registered in Mauritius. He is also the CE of Landela mining Venture Limited, which has been on a spree buying of local mining assets since 2019. These include Freda Rebecca, Jena, Shamva and Elvington gold mines, Mbungu coal bed methane concession, Lupane Gas and Bindura Nickel corporation (BNC).

Fourie is a director at Sotic International and Sotic Pte, registered in Singapore. He is also a board member at bNc. He worked as head of mergers and acquisitions at Puma energy, which was owned by Tagwirei and Trafigura. Behr is a non-executive director and a board member at bNc. He is also a director at Sotic South Africa and Sotic International.

Bobat is a director at African chrome Fields Pte (Singapore) and African resource chrome Fields (Zimbabwe).

Mpunga is a director at Sakunda, Liberty Lane trading and Fert-map.

Through Landela mining Venture, Tagwirei last year reportedly acquired a 50% stake in the US$4 billion Great Dyke Investments (GDI) platinum project following the departure of the Zimbabwe National Army from the company.

Tagwirei also reportedly bought a major stake in bNc after the departure of ASA through the Mauritius-based Sotic International Ltd, which owns Zimbabwe’s Landela mining Venture Limited. He is also a board member at BNC.

In 2019, Tagwirei emerged as the largest shareholder in CBZ after he acquired a 30% stake. In the CBZ transaction, he snapped up majority shareholding using Akribos capital Inc, indicating a common thread with the way Zb stake was acquired.

A local stock broker, who asked not to be named, said: “When an investor doesn’t want his name to be known, he has the option of using nominee accounts. A nominee account is more of a secret account which does not bring out the name of the owner and it is housed within that nominee. “

The Independent also understands that ZW$100 million (US$1,2 million) worth of shares exchanged hands for 2,38% shares of LHG malta Holdings shares in ZbFH. Indications are that it might have been Datvest that snapped up those shares using their nominee accounts.

By A Correspondent- Government is plotting a major shakeup of telecommunications company, Telecel, with the restructuring of both the board and management now on the cards.

The company is in the middle of a major operational crisis and workers frequently engage in sit-in protests over poor working conditions and low salaries.

Government is the major shareholder having acquired the 60% Vimpel Com shareholding in Telecel in 2015, with plans to eventually purchase the remaining 40% shareholding.

Information Communication Technology, Postal and Courier Services minister Jenfan Muswere told the Zimbabwe Independent in an interview this week that major changes are in the offing at the mobile operator.

“There is going to be restructuring of the board and management at Telecel and we are also replacing old equipment. We want Telecel to be profitable,” Muswere said.

He, however, did not indicate the timeline under which the restructuring would be completed.

The ICT minister said there is going to be ministerial representation on all entities that fall under his purview to ensure efficiency and profitability. He said the board and management at these companies will be assessed on profitability and warned that those that fail to meet set targets will be booted out.

“We will be assessing numerically. If you do not deliver, you are out,” he declared.

According to the 2020 first quarter report by the Postal Telecommunications Regulation Authority of Zimbabwe (Potraz), Telecel’s subscriber base fell by 9,4% from 910 677 to 825 478 subscribers. In comparison Econet’s and Netone’s subscriber bases grew by 5% and 4,9% respectively during the same period. This represents a major slump for Telecel which in 2014 had a subscriber base of 2,23 million people.

Workers at Telecel raised a red flag over the state of affairs at the company in January this year, saying it faces imminent collapse unless the government urgently intervenes to rescue the entity.

In a letter written by Communication and Allied Services Workers’ Union of Zimbabwe general secretary David Mhambare on behalf of Telecel workers to Muswere, the agitated employees painted a grim picture.

“Honourable, we write to you as both the minister of ICT and the representative of the major shareholder who happens to be the government of Zimbabwe. We want to draw your attention to the situation at Telecel, which has deteriorated to unimaginable proportions,” Mhambare wrote in the letter dated January 15 and also signed by the union’s president, Lazarus Kafesu.

“Without mentioning the issue of salaries and wages which have continued to be very low and uncompetitive in the industry, the workers are more concerned with the viability of the business. The business is now technically insolvent and failing to pay creditors; in fact the liabilities now outstrip assets by far.”

They also said Telecel’s network coverage is retreating at an alarming rate and, currently, only a limited number of subscribers in selected towns and cities can access the network’s signal. As a result, the workers said, subscribers are abandoning the service provider en masse.

“The network availability has been cut by more than 65% with only a few towns and cities having network available in the CBD (central business district) or when electricity is available which is during odd night hours,” Mhambare revealed in the letter.

-newsday

By A Correspondent- The ruling party Zanu-PF said it would not hesitate to deal with senior party officials who interfere with its eagerly awaited District Co-ordinating Committee elections to be held this week.

This comes as war veterans leader and former Cabinet minister, Christopher Mutsvangwa, this week called for the party to deal ruthlessly with troublemakers fomenting chaos in the ruling party.

More to follow….

By A Correspondent- Hundreds of Zimbabweans have been blocked from crossing the country’s borders with South Africa and Botswana, with immigration officials questioning the validity of their COVID-19 test certificates and various documents.

Two footballers, Agrippa Murimba (Triangle United Football Club), and Raymond Uchena (Harare City Football Club), who are planning to join Morupule Wanderers, are among the people that have been stranded at Botswana’s Ramokgwebana border post for almost two days.

Denis Juru, president of the International Cross Border Traders Association of Zimbabwe, told VOA that on Tuesday alone, about 622 of the 6 338 Zimbabweans intending to cross the Beitbridge Border Post were turned away due to lack of proper documentation, including COVID-19 test certificates.

Juru said at least 230 people faced the same problem at Plumtree Border Post where 2 148 locals wanted to return home or visit Botswana.

At Forbes Border Post 531 people failed to produce proper documentation while 314 Zimbabweans were also stranded at Chirundu Border Post.

Nyamapanda and Victoria Falls border posts recorded 38 and 41 such cases, respectively.

Criminal cases against politicians Job Sikhala, Jacob Ngarivhume and Godfrey Tsenengamu, who are accused of inciting public violence ahead of the foiled July 31 demonstration, will spill into 2021.

Sikhala and Ngarivhume were remanded to January 11 and 15 respectively, with the state saying it would avail them trial dates when they appear in court next year.

More to follow….

By A Correspondent- Former secretary of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Ngoni Masoka (70) was yesterday removed from remand on criminal abuse of office charges when he appeared before magistrate Trynos Wutawashe.

Masoka was being jointly charged with former minister Priscah Mupfumira in another case in which they allegedly secured US$90 000 from the National Social Security Authority (Nssa) and purchased personal vehicles.

Wutawashe said Masoka had been on remand for 15 months without being provided with a trial date.

He said Masoka was remanded by another court on the same charges.

During trial on a case in which he is jointly charged with Mupfumira, Masoka denied the charges and told the court that he could not have abused his powers for Mupfumira’s sake.

He insisted that he performed his duties under government recommended procedures.

A government official, who testified in court early this week, said Mupfumira and Masoka did not get permission from Treasury to borrow money from Nssa.-Newsday

By A Correspondent| The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) is headed for a big fight with opposition parties following its warning that by-elections could be suspended in the absence of a ZWL$12 Billion funding request to the national treasury.

The recall of tens of legislators and hundreds of councilors by an MDC faction fronted by Thokozani Khupe has created hundreds of vacant seats in parliament and local authorities, with the gaps only filled through by-elections.

The by-elections could not be held this year due to COVID-19 pandemic induced lockdown which restricted large gatherings.

ZEC chief elections officer Utoile Silaigwana made the remarks Thursday while appearing before a post-budget consultative meeting with the Parliamentary Committee on Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs.

ZEC told the committee it was financially crippled to meet its electoral obligations and pleaded with Parliament to persuade Treasury to adjust the commission’s 2021 budget allocation otherwise the much awaited by-elections will not see the light of the day.

“We are very truthful when we say we need $12 billion instead of the $2 billion which is just a drop of our budget. It does not help us much,” Silaigwana said.

“We also highlighted that the allocation was not adequate to support our programmes that encompasses delimitation and the by-elections for the coming year and beyond.

“What was allocated against the bid is only a total of 19% hence our cry for the committee to assist the commission so that it will be able to realise it’s obligations.” added Silaigwana.

ZEC chief inspector Jane Pamhidzirai Chigidji weighed in saying the commission’s capacity to conduct credible electoral activities will be questionable if it was poorly resourced.

“It’s a drop in the ocean when we have to have a credible election. So we are just appealing to Parliament to discuss this issue so that at the end of the day we are able to carry out our duties and bring up a credible election.

“There are delimitation issues that have to be dealt with before we have an election. Can we then have a credible election if we don’t consult stakeholders?” said Pamhidzai.

By A Correspondent- A gold rush involving some powerful political figures in the country has erupted in Chiweshe, Mashonaland Central province, prompting the Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) to deploy state security agents to protect claims believed to belong to “very senior people”, it has emerged.

The mining claims, according to some artisanal miners who spoke to the Zimbabwe Independent, are owned by known Zanu-PF figures with strong links to syndicates notorious for smuggling the precious mineral outside the country, mainly to or via the Middle East.

The frenzied gold rush comes at a time the International Crisis Group (ICG) last week released a report that fingered President Emmerson Mnangagwa, his deputy Constantino Chiwenga and Foreign Affairs minister Sibusiso Moyo as the main characters leading factions angling to control the lucrative gold sector.

Police national spokesperson Paul Nyathi last night told the Independent that there had been an outcry over the gold issue in Rosa caused by the gold rush with indications that people were mining everywhere, including around homesteads, roads and agricultural fields.

“As a result there are people who went to the provincial director to register claims on other people’s fields and there are those that did not go but are just mining. There is chaos in that area.

“Police then had to move in and they are working with the provincial mining director to bring sanity. But what is important is that the Ministry of Mines should make sure that the existing problems are solved once and for all,” he said.

“As police, we do not condone any criminal acts by any officer deployed there and we have urged people to make reports on such acts, but so far we are yet to receive a complaint.”

Nyathi said to date 56 663 people around the country have been arrested since the machete gangs broke out.

Zimbabwe, according to ICG, loses US$1,5 billion in potential revenue through gold smuggling, which is mostly spirited out of the country.

Information obtained by the Independent suggests that small-scale miners who have been operating in the gold-rich area for a long time have not had peace as they are being harassed by state security agents on a daily basis since reports of the involvement of top politicians surfaced a few months ago.

The CIO agents have reportedly unleashed a reign of terror on artisanal miners who have been trying to eke out a living in the Rosa area.

Miners who have been operating there for years were told about two months ago that there were new owners of the claims and that unless they wanted to work under these new owners, they were free to leave. During its visit to Chiweshe this week, the Independent witnessed numerous artisanal miners on their work routines with most of them reportedly working on behalf of top Zanu-PF officials.

There are fears among the miners that the political syndicates are manoeuvring to grab the whole mining area for themselves.

Mazowe South legislator Sydney Chidamba (Zanu-PF), MP for the area, distanced himself from the mining activities, but highlighted that he was trying to restore order.

“I am not involved in illegal gold mining activities taking place there. Personally, I am just supporting the concept that the miners should be constituted in well defined groups to conduct legal mining,” Chidamba said.

“I know of the Mazowe syndicate (which also operates in Rosa in Chiweshe), but I am not involved. I do not hold any claim in the area.”

Some of the miners shared their experiences at the hands of state security agents on covert operations in the area.

“Whenever gold is discovered at a pit, the next day you see strange people who invade those pits and sometimes take away money from these owners. We cannot do anything because they have guns and claim to be acting on behalf of very senior and powerful people from Harare,” one artisanal miner said.

“Those people you see in nice work suits, not all of them are miners,” the visibly frightened miner said as he pointed out three men walking at a distance.

“They are here on a mission. We hear they have been deployed for that purpose. In the past, they would come here only when they heard that there was a new productive unit, but they have increased their frequency for the past two months or so. They now visit every two weeks,” the miner said.

Police have also moved in and set up a base and pitched tents at the nearby Rosa Clinic, but miners said their presence has not helped the situation as they are being bribed by the powerful and the rich.

“These police officers have been harassing people demanding bribes, taking away our equipment and even gold under the guise of demanding licenses,” one miner said.

“People have lost a lot of money to these officers. We are now living in fear. We hear some top government politicians want to take over this mining area. That’s why they have been sending their people,” another informal miner said.

Police details are also accused of letting the illegal miners extract the precious metal in exchange for a fee, based on the amount of gold mined.-

By A Correspondent- A man from Gokwe was left heartbroken when he discovered that his wife was still connected to her former high school sweetheart who is alleged to have deflowered her when he allegedly caught them red-handed having sex in their matrimonial bedroom.

According to reports, Special Matsika from Mavhura Village’s special world crashed when he walked in on his wife Sinikiwe Kasiya having sex with her ex-high school lover Green Zeve from Karigwe Village on their matrimonial bed. Kasiya was reportedly moaning like she never does with him.

Shockingly, after being busted an unapologetic Kasiya is reported to have boasted about her infidelity saying it was hard to forget a man who took her virginity.

Circumstances are that on the day in question, Matsika and his wife went to his in-laws where there was a traditional beer-drinking gathering. It is reported that when it was getting dark Kasiya left her husband drinking beer and went back home.

Thinking that her husband who was drinking beer excessively was not going to come back home, Kasiya is alleged to have invited her ex-high school lover Zeve for a sleepover at her house.

At around midnight, the two lovebirds who were enjoying each other were, however, interrupted when Matsika appeared on the doorway of the bedroom hut.

“What happened is that when Matsika realised that his wife had left him at her parents’ home without notifying him, at around midnight he became suspicious and decided to go home. His suspicions were confirmed when he found her and Zeve in bed,” said the source from the area who preferred anonymity.

The source said a bloody fight ensued between Matsika and a half-naked Zeve but the latter was overpowered and ran away.

“Before Zeve ran away sounds of their struggle with Matsika attracted the attention of neighbours who came and found him on the receiving end of the fight. Fearing that neighbours would join the fight on the side of Matsika, he ran away leaving behind his umbrella and clothes,” the source said.

Kasiya reportedly bolted out of the bedroom at the start of the melee, heading back to her parents’ home. It is reported that, Matsika, on the following day followed his wife to her parents’ home where he narrated what had happened.

When questioned by her parents, Kasiya who had initially lied to them later opened up on what had happened leading her husband to approach Chief Nemangwe’s traditional court demanding five beasts from Zeve as punishment for bedding his wife.

Chief Nemangwe whose jurisdiction the two men’s areas fall under, confirmed the incident. He said he ordered Zeve to pay three beasts to Matsika as damages for sleeping with his wife.

This was also after Zeve who had initially filed a complaint with the police had it dismissed after he and Kasiya gave conflicting statements.

-statemedia

By A Correspondent- There are fears among MDC stakeholders that the forthcoming congress will be manipulated because the opposition party has to alter the structure and format of the meeting due to Covid-19 regulations.

The Thokozani Khupe led MDC is set to hold their congress between December 17 and 20 as ordered by the Supreme Court.

More to follow….

By A Correspondent- A Bulawayo man is living a “hellish” life at the hands of his abusive wife who is said to be a shebeen queen and allegedly takes pleasure in beating him up.

Raphael Dube from Mzilikazi claimed his alcoholic wife Tapiwa Mhlanga challenges his authority when drunk by frequently beating him up.

Dube, who was seeking a protection order at the Bulawayo Civil Court said whenever he tried to reprimand his wife over her drinking habits and conduct of entertaining a lot of men at home, she turned violent.

Narrating his ordeal, he cited frequent battery and threat to his life as reasons for his prayers for a protection order.

“I am applying for a protection order against my wife Tapiwa Mhlanga and we got married in 2016. She physically abuses me. She also consumes alcohol and unlawfully sells it at our house.

“Whenever I reprimand her about her drinking habits and her conduct of entertaining a lot of men at our house, she becomes violent and insults me. She also tears off my clothes. This happened on several occasions and I have made several reports at Barbourfields Police Station to no avail,” complained Dube.

Dube, who was seemingly sick of living in an abusive marriage, said his wife was also economically abusing him.

“She is also economically abusive as she has been with my bank card for over three years and she doesn’t buy food in the house. I no longer feel safe at home,” he grumbled.

Mhlanga, who was not opposed to her husband’s application instead submitted that he was the one who was the source of their marital disputes because of his infidelity.

“I am not opposed to his application for a protection order but he is the one who is behind the source of our problems. The other time he was working at Turk Mine, he was in the habit of going out with his friends and would switch off his phones. I later discovered that he was having an affair with a neighbour and I saw their pictures in the phone.

“As if that is not enough, I also caught him red-handed naked at Siphiwe Moyo’s house. When I tried to make a report at the police station, they made a counter-one that I had stolen their money amounting to $30. After busting him he approached my parents and asked for forgiveness. I however, forgave him in a bid to save my marriage,” said Mhlanga.

In the interest of peace and order the presiding magistrate Nomasiko Ndlovu granted a reciprocal order which compels the couple to keep peace by not verbally and physically abusing each other.

The magistrate also ordered Mhlanga to return her husband’s bank card.

-statemedia

By A Correspondent- As Zimbabwe joined the rest of the world in marking the annual 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence campaign, which is meant to raise awareness on gender-based violence and its effects on women, it is worth noting that men are also victims who often suffer silently because of widely held social norms and perceptions of gender, which makes it difficult for them to come forward.

The campaign which starts on November 25 runs up to 10 December every year. Moreover, when men do speak, service providers frequently fail to listen to or believe them.

Nevertheless, the story of a Bulawayo man, Carlton Woodend, who was beaten by his abusive wife Prudence Ndebele and decided to break his silence in a bid to save a lifeline service will apparently inspire thousands of men who live in silence and pain.

Woodend, from Cowdray Park suburb, and who has since separated from his wife, turned to court when he eventually felt he was “better off dead”.

He said before they separated his wife who would be nasty to him for days at one time, struck him with a hammer on the head.

Woodend’s story which will supposedly encourage a growing number of other male victims of domestic abuse not to leave it so late, was heard at the Bulawayo Civil Court where he was seeking a protection order against his estranged wife.

“I reported a case of assault against my wife Prudence Ndebele. She used a hammer to hit me on the head and before that she also tried to stab me with a knife. I, however, managed to escape unhurt.

“She is very violent and she also uses vulgar language to insult me. Her two younger sisters have also threatened to kill me and as a result I am now living in fear and want the court to intervene by granting me a protection order against her,” begged Woodend.

He said his estranged wife also destroyed his cellphone adding that she was also denying him access to his child.

Ndebele defended her alleged violent conduct saying when she assaulted her estranged husband she was acting in self-defence.

“He was the first to assault me, so I was defending myself that’s why he didn’t report me to the police. We are no longer staying together after we separated on 21 October and from that time, we never had a misunderstanding but he comes to my home,” she responded.

Woodend, who apparently felt that he needed help to get to the root of his feelings, insisted that Ndebele was abusing him.

He maintained that before they separated, he was trapped in a violent marriage and was silently terrified that he might die at the hands of his wife.

Woodend’s prayers were, however, not answered when the presiding magistrate Marygold Ndlovu dismissed his application saying the court was not satisfied that he was under danger to warrant a protection order.

“There is no basis for applicant to seek a protection order. It is clear that the parties have marital problems and they have separated. From the time of separation, they have been seeing each other well and applicant seems to be bitter about the issue of the child.

“It also appears he is seeking to enforce a marriage through this court as well as access or guardianship. The court is not satisfied that he is under danger to warrant a protection order since parties are living separately and peacefully, application is hereby dismissed,” charged the magistrate.

Meanwhile, gender activist and counsellor Duduzile Mhlanga said there were numerous reasons why domestic violence and abuse was not reported by men including a fear of retaliation or a lack of trust or confidence in the courts and police.

“We know that domestic violence against men is a seriously under-reported crime, and we know men, feel ashamed if women are beating them. They fear being ridiculed if they report the matter to the police.

“Surprisingly, when a man beats his wife, he will be judged severely and when a woman does that to her husband, people always blame the man as the perpetrator. This is now the time that abused men should open up by bearing in mind that domestic abuse is not a gender issue but a violence issue,” urged Mhlanga.

She said it was also important to note that while the number of women victims eclipses men, the proportion of males reporting domestic abuse increases with age.

-statemedia

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BULAWAYO City Council (BCC) is disconnecting water supplies to government departments over outstanding bills running into several millions of dollars.

Recently, the local authority switched off water supplies at Tredgold Building which houses the magistrates court, Labour Court, Department of Surveyor General, Social Services, Registrar-General’s Office, Local Government ministry and Umguza district co-ordinator’s office.

As of October, the local authority was owed $477 million by residents, government departments, industry and commerce.

In the past, residents would bear the brunt of water cuts over unpaid bills with council sparing government departments.

A latest report of the finance and development committee showed that an arrangement that saw council sparing government departments the inconvenience of water cuts had since been revoked.

“Councillor Rodney Jele enquired about water disconnections for non-payments. There was rumour that council had disconnected water supplies in most government institutions which include Tredgold Building,” the council report read in part.

“In response, councillor Silas Chigora confirmed that council was disconnecting water supplies at government institutions with outstanding amounts. Previously, council had a set-off arrangement with the central government, but this arrangement had since been stopped. Each ministry was paying its council bills directly.”

Council argues that failure by its debtors to clear their outstanding bills was affecting its ability to provide services and owner its obligations.

At one time, council having been frustrated by failure of ratepayers to pay bills, opted to name and shame defaulters.

The council compiled a list of 29 wards, detailing payment patterns by residents.

The local authority is also planning to introduce flow-limiter devices restricting households who fail to pay rates to five kilolitres of water per day as opposed to water disconnection to avoid litigation.

In February, council unveiled a credit control and debt collection policy that sought to maintain predictable cashflows and allow for improved management of debts, among others.

The policy provides for procedures and mechanisms for credit control and debt collection.

It does not spare even BCC staff and councillors as the policy insists on forced deductions on their salaries if they have outstanding bills.

Paul Nyathi

The ruling ZANU PF party appears to be a law on themselves as the party is set to go ahead with its District Coordinating Committee elections throughout the country this week.

The party is set to stand against the country’s Covid-19 regulations and the Health Ministry guidelines as it is set to gather thousands of people at each centre.

The party acting spokesperson Patrick Chinamasa declared that all is set for the Zanu PF District Coordinating Committee (DCC) elections this weekend.

Speaking at the weekly press briefing in Harare on Thursday, Chinamasa said preparations for the successful holding of the DCC elections to be held over the weekend in the remaining eight provinces are well on course.

The two metropolitan provinces of Harare and Bulawayo have already completed setting up their respective DCC structures.

A total of 1 248 polling stations in the eight provinces have been set, but they might be some additional deployments especially in bigger provinces, Chinamasa said.

“Let me hasten to say that by the end of day tomorrow (today) we might see a marginal increase in the number of polling stations, particularly in those provinces with more party districts. Satellite polling stations will be created. The satellite polling stations would be arrived at by the supervisory teams in consultation with their election commissioners. This should be done no later than the end of day tomorrow. Manicaland which has 260 polling stations has established 27 more satellite stations bringing the number to 287,” said Chinamasa.

The party will use the voters roll as it was in 2017 with subsequent updates.

“The voting will take place at polling stations. There is no mailing of votes in our case. All the results will be displayed outside each and every polling station as the party continues to entrench and expand the democratic space,” he said.

The printing of the ballot papers has been completed and the process of distribution to the provinces has already commenced.

“I want to emphasize that voting will take place on Saturday only. Collection of those results will take place on Sunday on the 6th of December and official announcement on the 7th of December on Monday by the national Command Centre”.

Chinamasa said provinces would be running the show with each polling station having a maximum of 120 voters, which constitutes the electoral college.

“We assure all peace loving, Zanu PF members and Zimbabweans at large who would be going about their business to do so freely as the elections would be conducted in a peaceful manner with the party having mobilised adequate security measures to deal with malcontents who might want to disrupt the process,” said Chinamasa.

The national elections command centre would be located at the party headquarters in Harare presided by the national chairperson Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri, national security secretary Lovemore Matuke and the national political commissar Victor Matemadanda.

Voting will be done from 8am to 4pm at the respective designated ward centres across all the eight provinces and only candidates vetted and approved by the security department and commissariat will participate in the elections.

Vice President Constantino Chiwenga who is also the Minister of Health and Child Care recently banned all elections in the country due to Covid-19 restrictions. It is shocking then how ZANU PF is being allowed to proceed with its elections.

A male ‘relative’ of the 1896 tax rebel, Nehanda Nyakasikana is set to stop the erection of her statue as he says government has bypassed traditional rites by not engaging her family.

Mr Felix Elijah Shamuyarira, who says he is a maternal relative of Mbuya Charwe, the spirit medium of Mbuya Nehanda, said in court papers the government was making a grave mistake by going ahead with the statue before a cleansing ceremony is conducted in the “dirty” city of Harare.

He said the city had to be cleansed of the spirits of a lot of innocent lives that have been lost in recent years.

Work on erecting the statue started in Harare this month and is expected to be completed in two months.

Shamuyarira cites Home Affairs minister Kazembe Kazembe, his Local Government counterpart July Moyo, National Archives of Zimbabwe director Ivan Murambiwa, National Museums and Monuments director Godfrey Mahachi and National Assembly Speaker Jacob Mudenda as respondents in the court case.

Shamuyarira wants Kazembe, Moyo, Murambiwa and Mahachi interdicted from erecting the statue of Mbuya Charwe, also known as Nyakasikana, the spirit medium of Mbuya Nehanda, at the intersection of Julius Nyerere Way and Samora Machel Avenue.

He said the project must be declared unlawful in the absence of a consent document signed by her four “blood” family members, two representatives of the spirit medium of Mbuya Nehanda, chiefs Chiweshe and Hwata and two other individuals.

Shamuyarira questioned why chiefs Hwata and Chiweshe were not engaged or informed about the statue yet they were responsible for preserving the traditions of the areas they govern where Charwe originated from.

He said since independence in 1980, the government did not bother to meet with or appreciate Charwe’s family for the work she had done as a spirit medium during the liberation struggle.

Shamuyarira said a meeting was called on July 3 in Mazowe where representatives of Charwe’s maternal and paternal families agreed that the government had made a mistake by not engaging them, adding “it adds more injury to a broken heart”.

“The family members and Chief Hwata, together with their spirit mediums maintain that the government of Zimbabwe and its leadership made a grave mistake in announcing their mission to the world without first engaging them on such important, national and historical matters that directly affect them,” Shamuyarira said.

“The erection of the statue is of great importance as it is clearly apparent that Charwe did not die a natural death as she was murdered by the colonial regime of the settler British colonialists.

“As a matter of fact, the Hwata people have since independence remained secretive as the execution of Charwe traumatises them to this present day, hence the need of a healing process for them at national level. According a special day in our calendar to be declared a national holiday and in her name as already directed and pleaded to our authorities with due respect, remains necessary,” Shamuyarira added.

He also said sacred mountains where spirit mediums were buried have been vandalised by illegal miners.

ZANU PF Acting Spokesperson Patrick Chinamasa yesterday likened his boss Emmerson Mnangagwa to Rhodesia’s first tax rebel, Nehanda Nyakasikana, saying he is the new Mbuya Nehanda. (Video)

CHINAMASA ADDRESSES BRITISH GOVT https://t.co/KA4xZy5GeA

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) December 3, 2020

He said this as he announced that ZANU PF is demanding the return of heads of the country’s heroes and heroines who were beheaded during the First Chimurenga for decent burials from Britain.

This comes as the country is presently erecting a statue for First Chimurenga war heroine Mbuya Nehanda in Harare’s central business district (CBD) as part of the Second Republic’s thrust to honour and immortalise the memory of its national heroes and heroines.

Addressing a Press conference yesterday, Chinamasa said the “continuing retention in British museums of the heads of heroes and heroines of the First Chimurenga remains for Zimbabwe an act of shame and indignation and humiliation which can only be mitigated through immediate repatriation of the heads to Zimbabwe so that they are properly laid to rest and are united in spirit with their kith and kin”.

“Zanu PF is therefore demanding the immediate repatriation of the human heads to Zimbabwe. We call upon the British people to do one decent thing in their long colonial history by heeding this call for repatriation,” said Chinamasa.

During the First Chimurenga, the British colonialist beheaded some of the country’s foremost freedom fighters who had challenged colonialism through an armed uprising.

The heads of the likes of Mbuya Nehanda, Sekuru Kaguvi, Chief Mashayamombe Chinengundu, Chief Makoni Chingaira, Mapondera, Mashonaganyika, Mutekedza Chiwashira and 25 others were taken to Britain as war trophies.

Chinamasa added that illegal sanctions that have been imposed on the country by Britain and her allies as well as the continued maligning of the President and the First Family on social media platforms are the equivalent of the beheading of the First Chimurenga heroes as the country’s erstwhile colonisers still aspire to loot the country’s resources.

“The enemy goes after the scalp of our leader first and they hope that once he has fallen and is discredited, the country’s resources will be ready for the picking and neo-colonial exploitation.

“Sanctions against Zimbabwe and the orchestrated social media onslaught against our President and the First Family are the modern equivalents of public beheading and lynching in colonial times,” he said.

Chinamasa urged Zimbabweans to remain steadfast and continue marching solidly behind his boss Emmerson Mnangagwa towards the attainment of Vision 2030 of becoming an upper middle class economy.

The unresolved issue of the heads of the country’s heroes and heroines, said Chinamasa, should be an eye opener to so-called human rights activists and those in the opposition who view the West as doyens of democracy and human rights as those countries have blood of innocent people on their hands.

“Zimbabweans should never have short memories and permit a situation where cap in hand they go to imperialists, colonialists and neo-colonialists for lessons on human rights. As do any black persons who live in their countries. They will tell you frankly that they are not accorded any basic human rights nor are they given any respect as human beings. As Zimbabweans, as Africans, as human beings we should not be too forgiving, readily forgetful of the wrongs and evils perpetrated against us as a people”

Gweru – A self-styled spiritual healer was charged with indecent assault after he shaved off hair from a 17-year-old girl’s private parts and the armpits in order to deliver her from spiritual husbands.

On the second day the accused tied the complainant’s legs together with a piece of white cloth, spread lotion in her armpits before inserting his fingers into her private parts.

Lingani Ncube (42) was convicted by Zvishavane Magistrate Charity Tonongera on two counts of indecent assault for the act.
He was sentenced to three months in jail or $2 000 fine, eight months were wholly suspended for five years.

Prosecutor Tinashe Maponde said on September 23, 2020 the complainant and her mother went to Ncube’s house for spiritual deliverance.

While at Ncube’s place the mother was delivered first.

After delivering the complainant’s mother Ncube called the complainant to his bedroom for deliverance.

The court heard that while in the bedroom Ncube pushed the complainant to the floor, removed her pant and started shaving her.

When the complainant tried to stop Ncube, he told her that it was his way of delivering people and the same had just been done to the teen’s mother.

After shaving the complainant was ordered to take a bath and she later left with her mother.

The following day the complainant and her mother came back again and she went straight to Ncube’s bedroom.

The accused tied the complainant’s legs together with a piece of white cloth and spread lotion on her armpit while inserting his fingers into her private part.

The complainant screamed for help and went to report the incident to her mother.
A Police report was filed leading to Ncube’s arrest. -Masvingo Mirror

Tinashe Sambiri|Hard-hitting MDC Alliance deputy national chairperson, Hon Job Sikhala, has accused Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa of personalizing State resources.

Hon Sikhala said Zimbabweans should not be cowed into submission by Mr Mnangagwa’s administration.

“Fighting for justice and happiness requires tenacity and never to accept to be cowed by anyone.

This country belongs to Zimbabweans. The fight against poverty and political cannibalism is a calling to some of us. It’s in the blood. This country does not belong to ED and his cabal,” Hon Sikhala wrote on Twitter.

A male ‘relative’ of the 1896 tax rebel, Nehanda Nyakasikana is set to stop the erection of her statue as he says government has bypassed traditional rites by not engaging her family.

Mr Felix Elijah Shamuyarira, who says he is a maternal relative of Mbuya Charwe, the spirit medium of Mbuya Nehanda, said in court papers the government was making a grave mistake by going ahead with the statue before a cleansing ceremony is conducted in the “dirty” city of Harare.

He said the city had to be cleansed of the spirits of a lot of innocent lives that have been lost in recent years.

Work on erecting the statue started in Harare this month and is expected to be completed in two months.

Shamuyarira cites Home Affairs minister Kazembe Kazembe, his Local Government counterpart July Moyo, National Archives of Zimbabwe director Ivan Murambiwa, National Museums and Monuments director Godfrey Mahachi and National Assembly Speaker Jacob Mudenda as respondents in the court case.

Shamuyarira wants Kazembe, Moyo, Murambiwa and Mahachi interdicted from erecting the statue of Mbuya Charwe, also known as Nyakasikana, the spirit medium of Mbuya Nehanda, at the intersection of Julius Nyerere Way and Samora Machel Avenue.

He said the project must be declared unlawful in the absence of a consent document signed by her four “blood” family members, two representatives of the spirit medium of Mbuya Nehanda, chiefs Chiweshe and Hwata and two other individuals.

Shamuyarira questioned why chiefs Hwata and Chiweshe were not engaged or informed about the statue yet they were responsible for preserving the traditions of the areas they govern where Charwe originated from.

He said since independence in 1980, the government did not bother to meet with or appreciate Charwe’s family for the work she had done as a spirit medium during the liberation struggle.

Shamuyarira said a meeting was called on July 3 in Mazowe where representatives of Charwe’s maternal and paternal families agreed that the government had made a mistake by not engaging them, adding “it adds more injury to a broken heart”.

“The family members and Chief Hwata, together with their spirit mediums maintain that the government of Zimbabwe and its leadership made a grave mistake in announcing their mission to the world without first engaging them on such important, national and historical matters that directly affect them,” Shamuyarira said.

“The erection of the statue is of great importance as it is clearly apparent that Charwe did not die a natural death as she was murdered by the colonial regime of the settler British colonialists.

“As a matter of fact, the Hwata people have since independence remained secretive as the execution of Charwe traumatises them to this present day, hence the need of a healing process for them at national level. According a special day in our calendar to be declared a national holiday and in her name as already directed and pleaded to our authorities with due respect, remains necessary,” Shamuyarira added.

He also said sacred mountains where spirit mediums were buried have been vandalised by illegal miners.

Tinashe Sambiri|MDC Alliance national deputy chairperson, Hon Job Sikhala, has dismissed claims that he called for unity talks with Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa.

Hon Sikhala says he does not have a grain of respect for Mr Mnangagwa and Zanu PF.

A daily paper has claimed Hon Sikhala is pushing for dialogue with Mr Mnangagwa.

Below is part of Hon Sikhala’s statement:

In desperate, attempts to bid for whoever they work for, they claim that I am now of changed heart that I urge people to engage with Emmerson Mnangagwa. My foot!!

This is the rubbish of the century. I have got no grain of respect for Emmerson Mnangagwa for their record and will never wish a right thinking person to even talk to him.

Blessing Mushava met me at Parliament and asked me about my Tweet calling upon Zimbabweans to unite. In his mind he thought my Tweet meant unity with Mnangagwa.

Shame. I have no aota of respect for Emmerson Mnangagwa yesterday, today and tomorrow…

For clarity the unity that I was referring to in my Tweet was the unity to confront Mnangagwa and not the self serving wishes as portrayed by the Daily News.

I told Blessing Mushava that I was not interested to talk to the press but he insisted on a comment on my Tweet.

For engagement in the future the Daily News should retract its leading story about me which has enraged myself and has far reaching consequences on my beliefs, reputation and standing in the public eye…

Tinashe Sambiri|MDC Alliance national deputy chairperson, Hon Job Sikhala, has dismissed claims that he called for unity talks with Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa.

Hon Sikhala says he does not have a grain of respect for Mr Mnangagwa and Zanu PF.

A daily paper has claimed Hon Sikhala is pushing for dialogue with Mr Mnangagwa.

Below is part of Hon Sikhala’s statement:

In desperate, attempts to bid for whoever they work for, they claim that I am now of changed heart that I urge people to engage with Emmerson Mnangagwa. My foot!!

This is the rubbish of the century. I have got no grain of respect for Emmerson Mnangagwa for their record and will never wish a right thinking person to even talk to him.

Blessing Mushava met me at Parliament and asked me about my Tweet calling upon Zimbabweans to unite. In his mind he thought my Tweet meant unity with Mnangagwa.

Shame. I have no aota of respect for Emmerson Mnangagwa yesterday, today and tomorrow…

For clarity the unity that I was referring to in my Tweet was the unity to confront Mnangagwa and not the self serving wishes as portrayed by the Daily News.

I told Blessing Mushava that I was not interested to talk to the press but he insisted on comment on my Tweet.

For engagement in the future the Daily News should retract its leading story about me which has enraged myself and has far reaching consequences on my beliefs, reputation and standing in the public eye…

Tinashe Sambiri|The memorial service for the late Gogo Alice Chamisa will be held on Saturday in Gutu.

Gogo Chamisa is the mother of President Nelson Chamisa.

According to MDC Alliance, the main purpose of the memorial service is to remember Gogo Chamisa’s illustrious life.

“On Saturday 05 December, the Chamisa family will be hosting a memorial service to remember the life of #AmbuyaChamisa.

We extend this invitation to all who would like to join in this celebration of a life well lived.

The memorial will be held in #Chiwara Village, #Gutu,” MDC Alliance said in a statement.

The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has confirmed that two people were killed in separate accidents that happened in Bulawayo on Monday.

Police provincial police spokesperson, Inspector Abednico Ncube, said in the first accident, a conductor who is from Budiriro suburb in Harare was killed by a reversing Harare-bound bus.

Ncube said:

The first incident occurred around 8:15 AM along Bulawayo-Harare road near corner Simon Parirenyatwa and First Avenue. A learner driver who was driving a Harare- bound Rimbi Zhong Tong Bus killed the bus conductor on the spot while reversing. The conductor was standing behind the bus.

Insp Ncube said the conductor suffered head injuries and fractures and his body was taken to United Bulawayo Hospitals (UBH) for post-mortem.

He added that the accident could have been avoided had the bus crew loaded passengers at designated points.

Insp Ncube indicated that the second accident occurred at around 9 PM along Matopos Road when a pedestrian was knocked down by a speeding driver in a Nissan NP300. He said:

The pedestrian is a male aged around 37 years, who was wearing blue jeans and a yellow T-shirt.

The pedestrian was trying to cross the road when he was hit by the car and fell by the side of the road. He sustained severe head injuries and died on the spot. His body was taken to United Bulawayo Hospitals for post-mortem.

He said the driver failed to exercise caution in the wet conditions while the deceased also did not take a proper look before crossing the road.

Insp Ncube urged both drivers and pedestrians to be very cautious and practice great care, especially during the festive seasons to avoid loss of life.

There is usually a surge in the number of road accidents during the festive season with some attributed to overspeeding and or the sorry state of the roads.

A Grade 7 pupil at Mwacheta Primary School in Chipinge was stabbed to death with a knife by his classmate on their way from school.

The boy was confirmed dead upon admission at the Chipinge District Hospital this Tuesday.

The pupil from Macheta community under Chief Musikavanhu reportedly is said to have died due to excessive bleeding after he was stabbed once on the heart.

The tragedy was confirmed by Chipinge District Schools Inspector, Mr Richard Gabaza, who said details that led to the incident are still sketchy.

Mr Gabaza also indicated that the police had picked up suspects for questioning.

The incident comes amid reports of wayward behaviour among learners particularly since the reopening of schools on the 28th of September.

Some observers attribute the behaviour to teachers’ absence in school saying there is no one to monitor and control learners.

Teachers embarked on industrial action when schools reopened demanding the restoration of their 2018 salaries which were around USD500.- ZBC News

By Hon Job Wiwa | The Daily News today the 3rd of December 2020, really shocked me by leading their paper with lies intending to blackmail my person by a lying headline that I suggested on my Twit which I called the people of Zimbabwe to unite to confront our mirage of governance challenges on the problems authored by Emmerson Mnangagwa.

In desperate, attempts to bid for whomever they work for, they claim that I am now of changed heart that I urge people to engage with Emmerson Mnangagwa.

My foot!!. This is the rubbish of the century. I have got no grain of respect for Emmerson Mnangagwa for their record and will never wish a right thinking person to even talk to him.

Blessing Mushava met me at Parliament and asked me about my  Twit calling upon Zimbabweans to unite. In his mind he thought for the sake of bidding my Twit meant unity with Mnangagwa. Shame. I have no aota of respect for Emmerson Mnangagwa yesterday, today and tomorrow for me to suggest any form of talk with him.

For clarity the unity by my Twit was unity to confront Mnangagwa and not the self serving wishes as spoken by the Daily News. I told Blessing Mushava that I was not interested to talk to any press at the moment but he insisted on comment on my Twit which I politely and intelligently avoided.

For engagement in the future, the Daily News should retract its leading story about me which has enraged myself and has far reaching consequences on my beliefs, reputation and standing in the public eye.