Tinashe Sambiri|Zanu PF, through Gutu Rural District Council has blocked a proposal by President Nelson Chamisa to construct a hospital in his home area.

Zanu PF officials in the council, acting on Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa’s instructions, reportedly blocked the noble project.

See statement below :

ZANU PF Stone Age Mentality Drags The Country Backwards

29-11-2020

Disturbing reports that the ZANU PF run Gutu Rural District Council shot down a noble proposal by MDC Alliance President, Nelson Chamisa to build a state of the art boarding school and a hospital in his rural home must be condemned in strongest terms by all rightful thinking citizens.

In this 4th Industrial Revolution era when other countries are bridging the gap between rural and urban areas, it will be folly for us to allow the barren ZANU PF Stone Age mentality to take centre stage at the expense of development of our rural areas.

Honestly how in this modern age can a local government board turn down such a rare opportunity to uplift people’s lives when the same Rural District Council has failed to build even a single pit latrine.

It’s a pity that the very same regime that has reduced rural areas into burials areas are allergic to rural development.

It is time we question and confront this ZANU PF abnormal normal!

Remember this is the very same regime that is encouraging our people on archaic and arduous farming methods like Pfumvudza at a time when smart agriculture is the way to go.

The barbaric approach to developmental issues by the Gutu Rural District Council also better sums up ruralization agenda of our urban areas by Emmerson Mnangagwa’s regime.

Urbanization of our rural areas as summed up in our DURA document is the way to go.

Rural dwellers matter too!

Stephen Sarkozy Chuma
MDC Alliance Youth Assembly National Spokesperson

Tinashe Sambiri|Two senior MDC Alliance officials were involved in a terrible accident near Mutimurefu Prison in Masvingo on Sunday.

The two, MDC Alliance provincial chairperson(Masvingo) Senator Misheck Marava and Hon Muchirairwa Mugidho had just attended the party’s management committee meeting and they were travelling back to Zaka and Chiredzi respectively .Hon Mugidho’s husband was also in the vehicle.

“Senator Marava sustained serious head injuries while Hon Mugidho is yet to be examined by doctors.

The vehicle they were travelling in was hit by an oncoming car.

There is need to beef up the security of our officials.

During the meeting, Senator Marava emphasized the need for unity in Masvingo Province,” the MDC Alliance said in a brief statement.

Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Minister, Paul Mavima has attempted to allay education stakeholders’ fears emanating from a ballooning number of coronavirus cases in schools, saying the government is on top of the situation.

Speaking in an interview before commissioning a new service delivery vehicle fleet bought by Gokwe town council over the weekend, Mavima asserted that the government will not hesitate to shut down schools if the situation threatens to spiral out of control.

He said:

If there is a serious problem, the Government will not hesitate to take measures to protect pupils and their teachers because their lives come first. We have had a few worrying cases and we hope the situation remains under control.

Several schools across the country have recorded worrying numbers of COVID-19 cases at a time when Grade Seven, Ordinary and Advanced Level candidates commence examinations this week.

John Tallach High School in Ntabazinduna has recorded over 100 coronavirus cases, Chinhoyi High Schools 88 and Mtshabezi High School in Matabeleland South Province has registered 15 cases.-statemedia

Tinashe Sambiri|Two senior MDC Alliance officials were involved in a terrible accident near Mutimurefu Prison in Masvingo on Sunday.

The two, MDC Alliance provincial chairperson(Masvingo) Senator Misheck Marava and Hon Muchirairwa Mugidho had just attended the party’s management committee meeting and they were travelling back to Zaka and Chiredzi respectively .Hon Mugidho’s husband was also in the vehicle.

“Senator Marava sustained serious head injuries while Hon Mugidho is yet to be examined by doctors.

The vehicle they were travelling in was hit by an oncoming car.

There is need to beef up the security of our officials.

During the meeting, Senator Marava emphasized the need for unity in Masvingo Province,” the MDC Alliance said in a brief statement.

Harare Mayor Jacob Mafume’s lawyer speaks on the denial of bail.

Watch video below:

Tinashe Sambiri|The MDC Alliance Youth Assembly elected its provincial leadership in Masvingo at the weekend.

Although police violently disrupted the programme, the elective congress was eventually held.

“Through consensus the following are the substantive MDC Alliance provincial youth leaders in Masvingo:

Bernard Chimwango is the new provincial youth Chairperson.

Gilbert Mutubuki is the new provincial youth Secretary General

Maxwell Madhuna is the new provincial Organising Secretary,” an MDC Alliance official told ZimEye.com.

The new leadership has pledged to work tirelessly to defeat Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa and Zanu PF in the 2023 polls.

“United we stand, divided we fall,” said one member of the MDC Alliance Youth Assembly.

By A Correspondent- A 33 year old Mt Darwin man who lured a 9-year-old girl with zap nax before raping her was sentenced to 14 years behind bars by Bindura regional magistrate Amos Mbobo.

Austine Kapiri of Makaza village, Mt Darwin will, however, spend 12 years in jail after the magistrate suspended 2 years on condition of good behaviour.

Prosecutor Ngoni Kaseke told the court that on September 8 around 7 pm the convict visited the complainant’s homestead with his friend where they found the victim playing at the backyard with her friends.

Kapiri lured the complainant in the bush with 40bond and promised to buy her zap nax after the rape.

The victim followed the rapist in the bush where he raped her once and never gave her the 40 bond and zap nax as he had promised.

A brother to the victim noticed that she was missing and followed in the bush where he saw the rapist and the victim walking back home.

The brother quizzed his sister who divulged everything leading to the arrest of Kapiri

Tinashe Sambiri|Popular contemporary musician Tocky Vibes, whose real name is Obey Makamure is now 27.

See below a congratulatory message posted by Legendary Family :

Happy Birthday Shout To Tocky Vibes

Tocky Vibes was born Obey Makamure on 29 November 1993 in Rugare Suburb, Harare.

He began singing at a very young age where it all seemed like a joke until he released a single called “Tirikumhanya”.

He was moved to rural Masvingo where he had to make a living, as things were difficult for him.

He returned to Harare in December 2012 and picked up where he left off, only to find that things were not so easy.

Tocky Vibes then moved to Rusape where he found a job as a herd boy, and would later find that the amount of signing gigs increased for him in Harare and he’d travel frequently.

Tinashe Sambiri|Popular contemporary musician Tocky Vibes, whose real name is Obey Makamure is now 27.

See below a congratulatory message posted by Legendary Family :

Happy Birthday Shout To Tocky Vibes

Tocky Vibes was born Obey Makamure on 29 November 1993 in Rugare Suburb, Harare.

He began singing at a very young age where it all seemed like a joke until he released a single called “Tirikumhanya”.

He was moved to rural Masvingo where he had to make a living, as things were difficult for him.

He returned to Harare in December 2012 and picked up where he left off, only to find that things were not so easy.

Tocky Vibes then moved to Rusape where he found a job as a herd boy, and would later find that the amount of signing gigs increased for him in Harare and he’d travel frequently.

Three years ago it was President Robert Mugabe who the nation’s citizens hoped would step down. Tonight Zimbabweans have written saying they hope the ZANU PF usurpist Emmerson Mnangagwa will resign when he addresses the nation on live ZTV broadcast.

Mnagagwa is expected to address the nation this evening on ZTV after the Main News, the state broadcaster said in a statement.

This was followed by requests and wishes for him to resign.

“Hopeful he resigns,” said Tendai Zinyama.

Another only identified as Twoboy, said: The only good news to come from his address will be his resignation. The rest Sleeping accommodation. Sleeping accommodation.

“Sleeping accommodation.

“Sleeping accommodation nebhutsu.”

Others however such as Isiah Mataruka, said the address is still crucial for the nation. Said Mataruka: People want this address.

“Those who feel otherwise may just turn off their TVs. But haikona kuzonetsa muchiti zvanzii or waking up makapfeka wrong color muchiti we did not know.

“Stock markets respond to these important broadcasts.”

Hopeful he resigns

— Mfencane?? (@Tendayizinyama) November 30, 2020

By A Correspondent- Diaspora remittances increased by 48 percent to reach US$760 million in the 10 months to October 2020 compared to the same period last year, according to the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ).

The apex attributes this to the switch to formal channels amid Covid-19 restrictions. Diaspora remittances are a critical source of forex in the country together with exports.

The World Bank had predicted that remittance inflows to Sub Saharan African countries will drop by 23,1 percent from $48 billion in 2019 to $37 billion in 2020 in the wake of the Covid-19 economic crisis.

Zimbabwe is among the leading recipients of remittances in the Comesa region alongside Egypt, Kenya, Tunisia and DR Congo.

The country also leads in terms of contribution of remittances to Gross Domestic Product at 13,5 percent, according to the Comesa secretariat.-statemedia

By A Correspondent- Zimbabwe will not consider using the US dollar as its default tender again, saying it won’t repeat its past mistake of abandoning the local currency.

“One of the biggest mistakes was dollarising and removing your own currency,” Secretary for Finance George Guvamatanga told business leaders Monday in the capital, Harare. “We will build this economy on the basis of the Zimbabwe dollar. The local currency will anchor this budget.”

Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube last week presented a budget that targets spending of 421.6 billion Zimbabwean dollars ($5.2 billion) next year, with a deficit of 4.9 billion Zimbabwean dollars. The government sees the economy rebounding to expand 7.4% in 2021 after contracting 4.1% this year.

Zimbabwe reintroduced its own currency last year, after a 10-year hiatus caused by the scrapping of the Zimbabwe dollar in 2009 following a bout of hyperinflation. The country used multiple foreign currencies during this period, with the greenback as the main unit of reference.

The central bank announced in June that it will introduce a foreign-exchange auction trading system, abandoning a peg of 25 to the US dollar that was introduced three months before. The currency slumped about 70% before stabilizing at just more than 80 the greenback from September.

Inflation peaked at 837.5% in July and slowed to 471.3% last month. Price growth could ease to 9% by the end of 2021 due to exchange-rate stabilization measures adopted by the central bank, Governor John Mangudya said earlier this month.

-CGTN

By A Correspondent- Businessman Fidelis Chuma on Saturday appeared in court on allegations of money laundering involving $300 million.

Chuma, who runs a floor polish company King Cobra, is being accused of using a mobile money transfer platform to allegedly mop up foreign currency on the black market.

Harare magistrate Vongai Muchuchuti-Guuriro will make a ruling on his bail application today. The State led by Constance Ngombengombe opposed bail, with the investigating officer Munyaradzi Shanga saying money laundering is a serious offence with ripple effects on the economy.

He said Chuma was a flight risk and with the amounts involved he had the capacity to start a new life elsewhere. The State also said there is risk of interference with over 100 witnesses, some of whom have admitted giving him foreign currency.

On Friday, the police announced the arrest of Chuma on the money laundering allegations. “The ZRP is investigating a money laundering case involving $361 632 498 where a suspect…Chuma, has been arrested and is being charged for … (contravening the) Money Laundering and Proceeds of Crime Act,” the police said.

Through his lawyer Zivanai Makwanya, Chuma stated that he is a proper candidate for bail and all the alleged transactions were legit as he was a registered and authorised mobile money agent.

He said he is a bulk supplier of floor polish in the country through his company King Cobra and he was bound to have huge amounts.

Makwanya said the alleged money was frozen following direction by the central bank and suggestions that he would survive from that were far fetched.

He added that he was not personally dealing with the alleged witnesses and does not even know them as he has employees who operate on his behalf.

-Dailynews

Banned commuter omnibus operators in Harare are reportedly giving police officers US$1 per trip to avoid arrest at roadblocks.

The police officers are said to be working with vendors who receive money from kombi conductors on their behalf as they fear arrest for accepting bribes. A kombi driver ferrying passengers along Domboshawa route said:

We pay them money, a USD$1 per trip is not really much since we are charging the same amount per person.

Sometimes they act rough on us and we are forced to increase the amount but, at the end of the day, we go home with something.

The government banned private commuter omnibuses in March as part of measures to curb the spread of SARS-CoV-2, the new coronavirus which causes the disease called COVID-19 but after more than six months of inactivity, drivers and conductors are feeling the pinch.

Kombi operators are expected to register under the Zimbabwe United Passenger Company (ZUPCO) franchise for them to operate but most of them are either unwilling or unable to do so

President Emmerson Mnangagwa has promoted 24 members of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces to the rank of Colonel.

The 24 members of the Zimbabwe Defence Force (ZDF) including three females were promoted to the rank of colonel in line with section 15, Sub 1B, Chapter 11.02 of the constitution.

On behalf of Commander Zimbabwe National Army Lieutenant General, Edzayi Chimonyo, the ZDF Chief of Staff Administration Staff Major General Paul Chima conferred the ranks to the 24 newly promoted colonels at a ceremony held in Harare this Monday.

“For the first time in your career, your dress code now comprises of georgettes and scarlet stripes. However, these are not entirely meant to adorn you as decorated senior officers in the ZNA but are also meant to portray a particular symbolism. These red ribbons must serve as constant reflectors and hallmarks of the magnificent responsibilities that have been bequeathed to you by virtue of your elevation to this rank and status.”

Major General Chima reminded the newly promoted colonels that the nation has enjoyed peace and tranquillity over the past decades which they should guard jealously at all cost.

“We have witnessed a heightened and coordinated attack on our sovereignty by some surrogate political entities as well as some elements in the civil society. The defence and security of our nation is a sacrosanct call which cannot and should never be mortgaged or compromised under whatever guise or pretext. Let all those who cherish and thrive on fomenting chaos in this nation be warned.”

The newly-promoted colonels pledged their loyalty and allegiance to safeguard the gains of the country’s hard-won independence by protecting the legacy of the liberation struggle.-statemedia

Police have no legal right to question citizens over their customs clearance documents, Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) commissioner general Faith Mazani has said.

Speaking during the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators in Zimbabwe annual conference in Nyanga last week, Mazani urged Zimbabweans to stand up to police as they have no locus standi in dealing with customs matters.

There are many instances when people have cleared their imported goods with customs officials at ports of entry, however, police would later stop them to check the clearance documents.

It is alleged this practice by the law enforcement agents is meant to solicit for bribes from citizens.

“They should stand up to such police officers. Unless people are bold enough to stand up against corruption, nothing will change,” she said.

She also implored Zimbabweans to report corrupt activities by her staff.

“Let’s fight corruption together. This nation is being driven by domestic resources. Therefore, your role in accounting and administering taxes is critically important to building Zimbabwe,” she said.

-DailyNews

watch the video loading below….

By A Correspondent- In an exclusive interview with ZimEye, incarcerated Harare Mayor Jacob Mafume’s lawyer revealed the real reason why his client was denied bail after spending the weekend in custody.

Mafume was arrested last week over alleged corruption where he reportedly corruptly parcelled out residential plots of land, including to his sister, when he was a city councillor in 2010.

Said Mafume’s lawyer:

“… he has been denied bail. Basically the court was of the view that if released on bail, Mr Mafume is likely to interfere with the evidence and the state witnesses who are people who are still working within council. So that is the long and short of it. So I have received instructions from my client to file for an appeal at the High Court. So we are working on the conscription of the court record so that we can file our appeal.as soon as possible. Basically that is the only reason that the court has used.”

Watch the video loading below…..

Police in Murehwa have recovered some bones and parts of a skull in a toilet at the homestead of Tapiwa Makore Senior, who is one of the accused in the murder case of seven-year-old Tapiwa junior who was killed in September.

Zimbabwe Republic Police National Spokesperson, Assistant Commissioner, Paul Nyathi said acting on a tip-off, police sought the services of Murehwa Rural District Council, which provided a grader and a front end loader that destroyed the toilet where some bones were picked and taken for forensic examination.

Assistant Commissioner Nyathi, however, said they cannot link the bones to those of Tapiwa Makore Junior until they get forensic examination results.

The police also found a bloodstained tail of an unidentified animal in the accused’s bedroom and have since taken it for forensic examination.

In another development, police are investigating the cause of a fire which burnt down Tapiwa Makore Senior’s kitchen this Saturday.

A local villager, who is the informant in the matter, is said to have noticed the inferno while on his way to the garden before alerting fellow villagers who tried to put off the fire without success.- state media

Tinashe Sambiri|Zanu PF, through Gutu Rural District Council has blocked a proposal by President Nelson Chamisa to construct a hospital in his home area.

Zanu PF officials in the council, acting on Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa’s instructions, reportedly blocked the noble project.

See statement below :

ZANU PF Stone Age Mentality Drags The Country Backwards

29-11-2020

Disturbing reports that the ZANU PF run Gutu Rural District Council shot down a noble proposal by MDC Alliance President, Nelson Chamisa to build a state of the art boarding school and a hospital in his rural home must be condemned in strongest terms by all rightful thinking citizens.

In this 4th Industrial Revolution era when other countries are bridging the gap between rural and urban areas, it will be folly for us to allow the barren ZANU PF Stone Age mentality to take centre stage at the expense of development of our rural areas.

Honestly how in this modern age can a local government board turn down such a rare opportunity to uplift people’s lives when the same Rural District Council has failed to build even a single pit latrine.

It’s a pity that the very same regime that has reduced rural areas into burials areas are allergic to rural development.

It is time we question and confront this ZANU PF abnormal normal!

Remember this is the very same regime that is encouraging our people on archaic and arduous farming methods like Pfumvudza at a time when smart agriculture is the way to go.

The barbaric approach to developmental issues by the Gutu Rural District Council also better sums up ruralization agenda of our urban areas by Emmerson Mnangagwa’s regime.

Urbanization of our rural areas as summed up in our DURA document is the way to go.

Rural dwellers matter too!

Stephen Sarkozy Chuma
MDC Alliance Youth Assembly National Spokesperson

The Mayor of the city of Harare, Jacob Mafume has been denied bail.

Information received indicates he has been denied bail because” he is likely interfere with witnesses.”

More to follow. ..

Tinashe Sambiri|Zanu PF, through Gutu Rural District Council has blocked a proposal by President Nelson Chamisa to construct a hospital in his home area.

Zanu PF officials in the council, acting on Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa’s instructions, reportedly blocked the noble project.

See statement below :

ZANU PF Stone Age Mentality Drags The Country Backwards

29-11-2020

Disturbing reports that the ZANU PF run Gutu Rural District Council shot down a noble proposal by MDC Alliance President, Nelson Chamisa to build a state of the art boarding school and a hospital in his rural home must be condemned in strongest terms by all rightful thinking citizens.

In this 4th Industrial Revolution era when other countries are bridging the gap between rural and urban areas, it will be folly for us to allow the barren ZANU PF Stone Age mentality to take centre stage at the expense of development of our rural areas.

Honestly how in this modern age can a local government board turn down such a rare opportunity to uplift people’s lives when the same Rural District Council has failed to build even a single pit latrine.

It’s a pity that the very same regime that has reduced rural areas into burials areas are allergic to rural development.

It is time we question and confront this ZANU PF abnormal normal!

Remember this is the very same regime that is encouraging our people on archaic and arduous farming methods like Pfumvudza at a time when smart agriculture is the way to go.

The barbaric approach to developmental issues by the Gutu Rural District Council also better sums up ruralization agenda of our urban areas by Emmerson Mnangagwa’s regime.

Urbanization of our rural areas as summed up in our DURA document is the way to go.

Rural dwellers matter too!

Stephen Sarkozy Chuma
MDC Alliance Youth Assembly National Spokesperson

By Jane Mlambo| Government has assisted towards the burial of a volunteer rescuer who fell into the open pit while attempting to retrieve over 20 miners who were trapped at Ran Mine.

The victim Wellington House fell into the the tunnel around 6pm on Saturday while assisting in the rescue mission that has not yielded results to this day.

According to Information Secretary Nick Mangwana, a coffin has already been supplied as well as food items for feeding mourners.

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

“The Hero Rescuer who fell into Ran Mine tunnel, Mr Wellington House, will be buried with Govt assistance. A coffin has been supplied, as well as various food items for feeding mourners. Nyaradzo has donated tents and mobile toilets for use,” said Mangwana.

Asked if government is relying on unskilled volunteers during the rescue mission, Mangwana said professionals were on the site adding that equipment and expertise had been sourced from all over the province.

“There are professionals on site. We also have equipment and experts from different mines within the province who have come to help including Chinese companies and their workers. Some of these professionals who are volunteering their skill and equipment are called “volunteers,” added Mangwana.

By A Correspondent- The trial of former MDC-T national spokesperson Khaliphani Phugeni who faces rape charges failed to start last Wednesday and was postponed to today.

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

The MDC T senator, who is out of custody, has denied the charges.

The court was told that in the period extending from June to November 2018 and at Emhlangeni and Magwegwe West in Bulawayo, Phugeni unlawfully had sexual intercourse with a woman (name withheld) without her consent.

The aggrieved woman later made a report to the police leading to Phugeni’s arrest.

Following his arrest and appearance in court Phugeni stepped down from his position as MDC T spokesperson.

In a letter to MDC-T president Thokozani Khupe dated November 13, Phugeni requested for leave of absence from his position until his case, which he described as false and politically influenced, is finalised.

“As you know I am defending myself in court against malicious, politically motivated charges. I am, therefore, requesting a leave of absence from November 13, to the conclusion of the aforementioned court process. I will be back at my desk with my full attention to the information and publicity department as always,” Phugeni said in the letter seen by NewsDay.

Hatfield legislator Tapiwa Mashakada who is the deputy spokesperson has since taken over the spokesperson position.

-statemedia

By A Correspondent- Speaker of the National Assembly Jacob Mudenda has urged citizens to take their MPs to task to ensure they are vocal and articulate issues affecting their constituencies during debates in Parliament.

Mudeda made the remarks last week in Bulawayo while addressing members of civic society organisations (CSOs).

“You need to question your MPs on why they remain silent as if they are not there when they are there in body. Citizens cannot hope to influence Parliament unless they are fully informed about what they are doing. Neither will they be able to hold their representatives to account,” Mudenda said.

“CSOs and the church should make sure they engage Parliament.”

Mudenda also urged citizens to follow parliamentary debates so that they are aware of the performance of their

MPs. He said some MPs were absentee legislators who looked for people during voting time.

“What I am trying to say is that after you have sent your MPs to Parliament, and if they do not come back to you with feedback, go back to them again and ask where the feedback is,” he said.

The Speaker said some citizens did not even know their MPs.

By A Correspondent- Ousted MDC presidential hopeful Abednico Bhebhe has described acting party leader Thokozani Khupe as “a failed politician who has divorced herself from the people’s project”.

He said this last Saturday during a ward meeting in Nkayi South, Matabeleland North province, where he dismissed his expulsion as null and void.

Bhebhe was expelled from the opposition party on a charge that he was an MDC Alliance proxy. He denies the allegation.

The former MDC organising secretary under the 2014 structures was expelled from the party after he trounced Khupe and other presidential hopefuls such as secretary-general Douglas Mwonzora, national chairperson Morgen Komichi and Elias Mudzuri in nominations for the presidency in Bulawayo structures. Bhebhe recently filed a court application seeking the reversal of his suspension.

“One cardinal rule of a leader of a people’s project is to consult with structures, with the people you lead before making any decision. You cannot run away from that. You must not be selfish and dare think that the decisions you make resonate with what people want without consulting them,” Bhebhe said.

“In all our engagements with the people and party structures, the message is very clear. People want unity.

“They are pleading with us to unite. However, we have some among us, such as Khupe, who have decided to go the opposite direction and try to wish away the people’s calls for unity. A leader, who refuses to unite people in the party, is not only bogus, but a failed selfish person. It won’t work as the people will simply divorce you from the party as is the case.”

Khupe faces allegations of being a Zanu-PF protégé, which she denies.

The MDC is holding provincial nominations to select candidates to replace the late Morgan Tsvangirai at an extraordinary congress set for December.

Khupe, Mwonzora, Komichi and Mudzuri are eyeing the party presidency.

The ruling on the bail application by Harare Mayor Jacob Mafume, who allegedly corruptly allocated Westlea stands to his sister and his law firm’s secretary, has been set for 2.15pm today.

The ruling will be made by deputy chief magistrate Mrs Bianca Makwande.

Mafume is being charged with criminal abuse of office.
Mrs Makwande was set to deliver the ruling on Saturday but a fellow magistrate Mrs Vongai Guwuriro deferred the matter to today after she failed to attend court for the ruling because of other commitments.

The State led by Mr Panganayi Chiutsi opposed granting of bail to Mafume saying he was likely to interfere with witnesses, who are council employees.

Mr Chiutsi also argued that since the State had a strong case, Mafume was likely to evade trial once freed on bail.

To support the argument for refusal of bail, the State called the investigating officer, Superintendent Joseph Sirimhindi, to testify.

The senior police officer told the court that Mafume “holds the highest office at City of Harare and he is likely to interfere with witnesses there”.

-State Media

By Jane Mlambo| Opposition leader and convenor of the July 31 anti-corruption protest Jacob Ngarivhume has vowed to continue fighting corruption despite being arrested and having to stand endless court appearances.

Posting on Twitter soon after appearing at the Harare Magistrates Court Monday morning, Ngarivhume who was in the company of MDC Alliance Deputy Chairperson Job Sikhala said corruption should end in the Zimbabwe.

“I am undeterred by what is happening to us for challenging a corrupt system that needs to end. The hope I carry is for a better Zimbabwe. Today we live oppression, we see oppression and we feel oppression but God will set this nation free,” said Ngarivhume.

Ngarivhume was arrested in the run up to the foiled 31 July anti-corruption protests together with journalist Hopewell Chin’ono and had to endure over 40 days at Chikuurubi maximum prison.

By A Correspondent- The daughter of a Zimbabwean witchdoctor has been declined refugee status in New Zealand, despite her fears she’ll be forced to take his place in the tribe if she returns home.

The woman said if she returned to Zimbabwe her late father’s tribe could use sorcery against her to force her to become the next witchdoctor.

She would then have to undergo female genital mutilation and be made to carry it out on other young girls in the tribe as part of her duties.

But the New Zealand Immigration and Protection Tribunal has rejected her bid to stay in Aotearoa, saying there was no evidence witchcraft could be used against her if she went back to her home village.

The details were laid out in a recently-released tribunal decision.

The witchdoctor’s child

The woman’s mother fell pregnant at 17 to the witchdoctor of another tribe – members of the VaRemba culture – who lived about 250km away.

When her parents found out about the pregnancy, they took her to the man’s tribe and demanded he take care of her, as custom dictated.

But the mother was unhappy there, as he and his family were abusive to her and she was made to do chores for the man’s witchcraft practice – including slaughtering animals and accompanying young children to circumcision ceremonies.

She saw young girls with serious post-circumcision infections and other young girls being forced into marriage at a young age, the tribunal decision said.

She eventually fled back to her home village and remained there, giving birth to her child in 1992.

In February 2016, the mother heard the witchdoctor had died, and decided she and her daughter should attend the funeral.

“Villagers who were gathered for the funerary events were surprised and confused to see them, until one woman recognised [the mother] and introduced them to everyone.

“The gathering seemed happy to see them and there was ululating and singing.”

The pair spent the night at the village, and were told the next morning that the spirit of the woman’s father was now “upon her”. They did not think much of the comments and departed a short time later.

That same month, the daughter, then in her 20s, married a trader she had met in the capital city of Harare. By May, the pair and their son had travelled to New Zealand on false South African passports, and sought refugee or protected person status.

The woman gave birth to another son in August that year, while detained in community accommodation.

Their initial appeals for refugee status pointed to political troubles for the husband, and were dismissed as not credible.

Her husband’s application has now been severed from the rest of the family’s and focuses on other factors such as debt he owes back in Zimbabwe.

Tribe: She must be the next witchdoctor

The trouble began in 2017 when members of the tribe approached the woman’s mother at her home and told her that as the witchdoctor’s eldest child, the woman must return home and take his place.

They said many people had died since his death, and that a spirit had possessed one of their members and announced the woman must be the village’s next witchdoctor.

The mother gave evidence to the tribunal by video link and telephone, saying the tribe members had visited her multiple times demanding her daughter return to the village, and at one point had become aggressive and broken her fence.

She had not reported the incident to police because she knew police would not involve themselves in matters related to witchcraft.

The daughter fears returning home as she believes the tribe will forcibly bring her back to the village and use sorcery to make her become the next witch doctor.

“She would be forced to abandon her Christian faith, would suffer [female genital mutilation] and would have to practise it on other women and girls. She would have to take a vow of celibacy and undergo humiliating and invasive ceremonial rituals. Her children would be forced to be circumcised,” the decision said.

She has applied for refugee or protected person status for herself and her two sons on these grounds.

The decision

The tribunal found there was “simply no scientific principle underlying any claim of the efficacy or power of sorcery”.

“Absent any testable, verifiable and falsifiable, and independent evidence of witchcraft powers which would otherwise seem to defy the laws of physics and/or chemistry, the tribunal is satisfied that claims of harm arising from acts of witchcraft do not suffice for the purposes of establishing the well-foundedness element of the refugee inquiry.”

It had not been established that the tribe would be able to use sorcery to force the woman to take up the mantle of witchdoctor, the decision said.

“She may be subjectively fearful that they can do so but the objective reality is that they cannot.”

There was also no evidence of any real risk she would suffer serious harm or that she would be physically forced into the role, the decision said.

The appeals for refugee and protected person status were dismissed.

-star

By A Correspondent- Several ministers and guests gathered in Harare on Saturday to celebrate the 60th birthday of information minister Monica Mutsvangwa with no mask in sight.

Zimbabweans reacted with anger after pictures emerged showing ministers Mutsvangwa, Joel Biggie Matiza, Ziyambi Ziyambi and Kazembe Kazembe at the birthday celebrations which went on late into the night.

The pictures were shared on social media by government spokesman Ndavaningi Mangwana.

Former information minister Jonathan Moyo blasted Mangwana for having “no qualms about parading this Covid-19 superspreader birthday party.”

Last week, police issued a statement reminding Zimbabweans that “weddings, birthdays, house parties, political and other social gatherings which include musical concerts are still banned.

By A Correspondent- Zanu-PF secretary for administration, Obert Mpofu announced that district coordinating committee (DCC) elections will be held on December 5 and 6.

He also said the party’s voters roll would be used for the elections.

The party has come up with a raft of measures to ensure that the DCC polls will not descend into chaos.

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

The electoral college will consist of district executive committee members. The deployment of supervisory teams to provinces will be on December 3.

By A Correspondent- Eureka gold mine supervisor Ruben Mangure (50) was bashed by an employee Benedict Manyika (45) who failed to stomach the termination of his employment contract.

The matter came to light at Guruve magistrates courts on Friday where Manyika was fined $500 by Rumbidzai Mugwagwa.

Prosecutor Carson Kundiona told the court that on November 24 Manyika was told by his supervisor that his contract had been terminated and he could not accept that.

Manyika grabbed the supervisor by the collar and assaulted him with open hands.

By A Correspondent- The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission is also now going after the assets of the deceased criminals whose source of wealth cannot be explained.

This comes as the anti-graft body is intensifying its campaign to combat sleaze in the country, which has seen it arresting many people on corruption charges, including Cabinet ministers over the past few months.

More to follow…..

By A Correspondent- Mysterious bones and traditional regalia were this weekend retrieved from murder accused Tapiwa Makore senior’s kitchen in Murehwa.

The bones and traditional regalia were retrieved by the police on Saturday and they were buried in Tapiwa’s kitchen which was mysteriously razed down by fire the following morning.

The latest development was revealed by Gogo Beaulah in an inteview with Tildah Moyo.

Said Gogo Beaulah:

“The police came and they retrieved the mysterious bones which were buried in his (Tapiwa Makore senior)’s kitchen.

We were shocked the following morning when we woke up and found out that the same kitchen which the items had been retrieved from had been burnt. We do not even know who burnt it or why. We only woke up to a burnt kitchen. There is no-one at the homestead as we speak so we are clueless regards what really happened.”

This is a developing story. Refresh this page for latest updates.

By A Correspondent- Mysterious bones and traditional regalia were this weekend retrieved from murder accused Tapiwa Makore senior’s kitchen in Murehwa.

The bones and traditional regalia were retrieved by the police on Saturday and they were buried in Tapiwa’s kitchen which was mysteriously razed down the following morning.

The latest development was revealed by Gogo Beaulah in an inteview with Tildah Moyo.

Said Gogo Beaulah:

“The police came and they retrieved the mysterious bones which were buried in his (Tapiwa Makore senior)’s kitchen.

We were shocked the following morning when we woke up and found out that the same kitchen which the items had been retrieved from had been burnt. We do not even know who burnt it or why. We only woke up to a burnt kitchen. There is no-one at the homestead as we speak so we are clueless regards what really happened.”

This is a developing story. Refresh this page for latest updates.

A DIARRHOEA outbreak has hit Harare Central Prison, which houses an estimated 100 inmates at a time holding cells have no running water.

Clean water has reportedly been scarce at the prison, a development that is believed to have caused the outbreak.

The prison was designed to hold 1 470 inmates but now it is overcrowded and often holds up to 2 000 inmates.

The diarrhoea outbreak reportedly hit the correctional facility last week.

Efforts are being made to contain its spread with doctors and nurses having been placed on high alert.

Insiders, who spoke on condition of anonymity, yesterday claimed that the diarrhoea outbreak that affected prisoners was put under wraps due to a court application by an inmate at Chikurubi Maximum Security Prison who recently called for an inquest into the country’s prison conditions which he said were a death trap.

“A number of inmates contracted the disease at the Harare Central Prison. The issue has been put under wraps since the court application by one of the inmates from Chikurubi who sued after an outbreak of diarrhoea. It’s true that inmates suffered from diarrhoea. Maybe what they (Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services) can dispute is the number of inmates affected, not the diarrhoea cases.

“It is really a time bomb. One of these days we will wake up counting dead bodies. It is unfortunate that the authorities tend to hide facts.

“You remember there was a time when inmates died of pellagra countrywide with Khami Prison being the epicentre where a number of inmates died and some had to be released and dumped onto the streets gravely ill. They shouldn’t hide such information so that they get help from well-wishers since the government budget can’t cater for all the needs of inmates and working conditions of prison officials,” the source said.

ZPCS spokesperson Meya Khanyezi yesterday denied reports of the diarrhoea outbreak.

“That is a lie. Who told you such? I was there at Harare Central Prison on another programme. There is nothing like that.

“Do not listen to people who are telling you that. We have prison doctors and nurses who are on high alert to prevent such outbreaks and we have not received such a report.” Khanyezi said.

She also said an outbreak of diarrhoea could not affect inmates alone, without affecting prison officers when they are always at the same stations with prisoners.

“We work together with prisoners as part of our rehabilitation process. In that vein, how can inmates alone contract the disease leaving prison officers outside?

“I think next time you should come and see for yourself, do not listen to people they tend to lie,” she said.

Last week an inmate at Chikurubi Maximum Security Prison Taurai Dodzo represented by the Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum filed a lawsuit against ZPCS following his unfortunate experience after an outbreak of diarrhoea at the prison.

Dodzo said the prison was hit by a diarrhoea, hepatitis B and tuberculosis outbreaks.

His application is now before the High Court and lawyers that went to tour Chikurubi last week said the prison was overcrowded.

By Leonard Koni- This regime that looked democratic in appearance but grounded in authoritarian rule is a time bomb and waiting for the right time to explode.

The country also looked like a civilian regime where everything was run by civilians in which democratic institutions exist in form but not in substance, because the electoral, legislative, judicial, media, and other institutions are so heavily skewed in favor of current military power holders. To be precise we have what we call a captured state.

The country’s political, social and economic stature is burning and in a catastrophic inferno.
The operation restore legacy was a masquarade and a farce. It was a power struggle within the two warring camps called G40 and Team Lacoste.

Zanu PF government is a power monger. The Operation Restore Legacy was all about satisfying their self ego and consolidating their appetite for power not national development as expected.

Since President Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa took over from the late Robert Mugabe through a coup, things started getting worse and even Zanu PF supporters have admitted that Mugabe the dictator was far much better than what they are experiencing right now.

People are struggling to survive with an inflation rate of 746.75%/year. Life has become so unbearable in Zimbabwe. The ruling party tried the introduction of #POLAD in order to lure the international community to appear as if there is unity between the ruling party and the opposition but all went up in the smoke. Something is missing within this leadership.

The November 2017 was aptly designed to shift political power from one factional group to the other and it was not meant to restore legacy as expoused by Zanu PF led government.
It was a factional war between Team Lacoste and G40 and had nothing to do with the welfare of ordinary suffering Zimbabweans who are living in abject poverty.

It is so sad to learn that the army through Constantino Guvheya Chiwengwa was used to fight the other faction which has gained ground and traction to take over from the aging octagenarian Robert Mugabe. 

There were no contigent plans designed or put in place soon after the taking over hence this government is struggling to connect the dots.

To show that there was nothing like restoration of legacy , Zimbabweans continue to wallow in poverty and with a number of young people braving the crocodile infested Limpopo river jumping the borders to seek for greener pastures as hunger and unemployment strike in the country. 

Things have only got worse and it looks like the current so called new republic does not have any clue on how to fix this country’s ailing economy. All hope has been lost and the same applies to the foreign investors who celebrated thinking that time was now ripe to do business with Zimbabwe under the new leadership but alas that was a false start.

In this operation restore legacy Zimbabweans were sold a dummy or in other street lingo the people kicked a flat ball without pressure and did not go anywhere. 

The Zanu PF leadership resembles of an engine which has worn out rings and needs a complete overhaul. The country is sinking deep into economic quagmire.

What kind of legacy was restored by this new republic when members of the opposition continue to be harassed,  arrested and jailed for demonstrating against poor governance, looting and corruption?

There is no restoration of legacy when the whole government awards licenses to six national free-to air commercial television without even awarding a single television license to the opposition. Such face powder media reforms are just an embarrassment to the nation.

During Mugabe’ era we did not see the army shooting civilians like what the people noticed in 2018 and 2019. Then what legacy was restored?
Zimbabweans must unite and put to task and interrogate this government for selling them a dummy.

Facebook – Leonard Koni

Twitter – @Leokoni

WhatsApp- +27616868508

Email  – [email protected]

By A Correspondent- Interim MDC secretary general Douglas Mwonzora says he is willing to work with both President Emmerson Mnangagwa and his former ally-turned rival, Nelson Chamisa, to help end Zimbabwe’s myriad and decades long challenges.

Launching his presidential bid for the country’s main opposition party last week, Mwonzora also said if he wins the elections in the next month’s extra-ordinary congress, he would work hard to end Zimbabwe’s deep-seated polarisation.

Below is the full speech by Douglas Togaraseyi Mwonzora at launch of his campaign for Presidency of the MDC-T.

MY loving spouse and long time friend Muchaneta Mwonzora, Members of the National Executive Committee and National Council of the Party.

Members of the Provincial and district Executive Committees here present.
The Chairman of the Harare Provincial Executive, Hon. Hove and your leadership.
Members of the Mwonzora Campaign Team, the Donkeys.

All democracy loving Zimbabweans within and outside Zimbabwe.

On the 11th of September, 1999 our forbearers heeded the national call and founded this great Movement. Its leadership was drawn from the Labour, Constitution and Student Movements and its mandate was to deliver Zimbabwe from the political, social and economic morass and quagmire that it had been consigned following long periods of national irresponsibility.

The long cherished ideals of the liberation struggle, for which thousands of our gallant brothers and sisters paid the ultimate price had long been forgotten. In place thereof totalitarianism, tyranny, pestilent corruption, inequality, deprivation, paternalism, clientism, regionalism, tribalism and sexism had taken root in our national body politic.

The projected economic development was substituted by mass poverty and want. Instead of long cherished peace was great strife and violence pitting kith against kin.

We therefore, state it without equivocation that the Movement for Democratic Change was formed to complete the unfinished business of the Liberation Struggle.

The great Movement was predicated upon timeless and indelible values of freedom, justice, equality, constitutionalism and the respect for the rule of law. The leadership of this movement was conferred on merit and not on the basis of rank favouritism and friendship. It was not attained for personal glory or self-aggrandisement but on the basis of the need for service and sacrifice. To our founding fathers and mothers, it was the attainment of the common good that was paramount.

Germaine to our struggle was the best interests of the Zimbabwean masses and not individual leaders.

The initial stages of the democratic struggle saw us posting impressive and historic victories against our opponents. These include the historic NO vote in the 2000 referendum, the great parliamentary election campaign of 2000, the great presidential campaign of 2002 and the total electoral annihilation of Zanu-PF in the historic 2008 Harmonised Elections. In that 2008 election we won the presidential, parliamentary and local government elections.

Out of the love of the Zimbabwean masses above himself, our iconic leader, Morgan Tsvangirai signed the Global Political Agreement that ushered in the Government of National Unity. That development saw the lives of the common Zimbabwean change for the better. This selflessness on the part of our leaders spoke of the centrality of our timeless founding values.

Unfortunately, as the people of Zimbabwe were beginning to warm up to the possibility of a future MDC government disaster struck. Greed, avarice, impatience and political corruption saw our party needlessly split in 2014. In February, 2018 our founding president Morgan Tsvangirai breathed his last.

The party was immediately treated to an embarrassing power grab and violence. Democracy and constitutionalism were sacrificed on the altar of convenience and opportunism. Once again favouritism, avarice, hate, propaganda and criminalisation of competition took centre stage thus consigned our great movement to a new low.

However, through the legal victory by Elias Mashavira in the Supreme Court our party was given a chance to retrace its steps and go back to constitutionalism and our founding values.

We cannot afford to squander this historic opportunity. We now have another chance of positing the Party as a credible change agent once more. For that reason, immediately our party must go back to the practice where all leaders at all levels are democratically elected by the people.

It is the membership of the party and not the leadership who must rank supreme in our party. Secondly, at all times the party must always exercise collective leadership and democratic decision making. In other words, decision making power must lie in the organs of the party and not with individual leaders.

Any major decision must be made after consultation with the grassroots. It is these who must instruct the leadership and not the other way round.

Third, candidates must be selected following a democratic process. This means credible free and fair primary elections must be a new way of life for the MDC. Regarding all party candidates to be chosen under proportional representation, these must be chosen using an objective and fair process.

We should practice the 50:50 gender representation principle as contained in both our party constitution and the national constitution without fail. We need more women in decision making positions.

It is wrong to say that the youth are leaders of tomorrow. No! They are leaders of today. We therefore have to make sure that we implement the agreed Youth Quota without fail.

In line with our principle of Zero Tolerance to corruption we will deal decisively with any of our officials who are involved in corruption.

Violence as a means of resolving both external and internal disputes can never be tolerated and those who practice this barbarism have no place in our great Movement.

Sexism, regionalism, tribalism, favouritism have no place in our movement. They are anathema to our founding values.
Our party must be prepared to play its part in the economic, social and political development of Zimbabwe.

We will play our part in ensuring that there is love, peace and harmony in our great nation. To that end we will work hard to change the politics of Zimbabwe. We have to throw away the politics of intolerance, hate, rancour, acrimony and violence and substitute it with the politics of rational disputation and tolerance.

Zimbabweans must be free to make political choice without fear of any form of reprisals.
Our belief and commitment to dialogue is total. We believe that all dialogue should be genuine, inclusive and unconditional. We will therefore pursue dialogue as a principal means of resolving the national question

Further, we will play our role in trying to end Zimbabwe’s international isolation. The present state of affairs is hurting the common man and woman. We will play our part in fighting corruption at all levels.

Our party will continue to fight for equality and equal access to national resources on the party of all Zimbabweans. We will press for full compensation of all victims of political violence including the victims of Gukurahukndi and the 2008 violence.

Most importantly our party will work hard to achieve the unity of the opposition following periods of acrimony within the opposition. This unity should be predicated upon clear values and principles.

I believe that we are operating in a period where the party is faced with many challenges which include the growing scepticism from the Zimbabwean people following long periods of unproductive bickering within the opposition. For that reason, we need a new leadership.

The new leader must have proven knowledge of the politics of Zimbabwe and the world. He or she must have proven strategic thinking skills. He or she must have proven skills in negotiating and dialogue with political opponents.

Our party is on the rise. This is the time to reclaim our party and win Zimbabwe. Victory is certain.

-DailyNews

Chivhu – A man from Chikomba District nearly succeeded in raping a neighbour’s wife (21) had the woman not felt the heavy weight of the intruder compared to her husband.

Taurai Tambidzai (37) of Mukandatsama Village in Hokonya in Chikomba sneaked into his neighbour’s bedroom at around 3am. He undressed, got into bed and caressed the complainant who co-operated believing that the man was her husband.

Bouncing ball
It was only after he went on top of the complainant to start the act that the woman realised that the man weighed far more than her husband and pushed him away.

The incident happened on October 30, 2020 at Magamba Village 8.

Tambudzai was sentenced to 10 years in jail by Chivhu regional magistrate Fadzai Mutombeni on Friday for attempted rape and four years were suspended for five years.

The State said Tambudzai made sure the husband was away after buying him some beers and leaving him behind at a local business centre before rushing to his neighbour’s house.

He entered the bedroom and undressed while the complainant lay in bed naked believing that it was her husband. Tambudzai sneaked into the blankets and caressed the neighbour’s wife who responded.

However, the cat came out of the bag when Tambidzai went on top of the woman.

There was a scuffle as Tambudzai tried to continue to force himself on the complainant. The complainant escaped and ran outside naked while calling out for help. Tambudzai ran away with his shoes in his hands.

Mutombeni said the rape case was premeditated considering that Tambudzai planned the husband’s absence from home. She also noted that the accused was violent as he tried to rape the complainant and he even throttled her neck.

Tambudzai’s wife caused a scene outside the courtroom when she wailed out loudly soon after her husband’s heavy sentence.

The Mirror

NewsDay

OUSTED MDC presidential hopeful Abednico Bhebhe has described acting party leader Thokozani Khupe as “a failed politician who has divorced herself from the people’s project”.

He said this last Saturday during a ward meeting in Nkayi South, Matabeleland North province, where he dismissed his expulsion as null and void.

Bhebhe was expelled from the opposition party on a charge that he was an MDC Alliance proxy. He denies the allegation.

The former MDC organising secretary under the 2014 structures was expelled from the party after he trounced Khupe and other presidential hopefuls such as secretary-general Douglas Mwonzora, national chairperson Morgen Komichi and Elias Mudzuri in nominations for the presidency in Bulawayo structures. Bhebhe recently filed a court application seeking the reversal of his suspension.

“One cardinal rule of a leader of a people’s project is to consult with structures, with the people you lead before making any decision. You cannot run away from that. You must not be selfish and dare think that the decisions you make resonate with what people want without consulting them,” Bhebhe said.

“In all our engagements with the people and party structures, the message is very clear. People want unity.

“They are pleading with us to unite. However, we have some among us, such as Khupe, who have decided to go the opposite direction and try to wish away the people’s calls for unity. A leader, who refuses to unite people in the party, is not only bogus, but a failed selfish person. It won’t work as the people will simply divorce you from the party as is the case.”

Khupe faces allegations of being a Zanu PF protégé, which she denies.

The MDC is holding provincial nominations to select candidates to replace the late Morgan Tsvangirai at an extra-ordinary congress set for December.

Khupe, Mwonzora, Komichi and Mudzuri are eyeing the party presidency.

Paul Nyathi

At least 13 Beitbridge Border Post officials have tested positive to COVID-19.

Of the 13 cases, eight are said to be from the Vehicle Inspection Department (VID) and three from the Customs and Excise Department.

Beitbridge district medical officer Linos Samhere could neither deny nor confirm the development. “Those statistics should be given by Harare. I am not allowed to speak to the Press,” Samhere said.

The Beitbridge Border Post was closed on March 1 and will reopen on December 1.

The COVID-19 scare at the border post also comes at a time scores of people are reportedly using undesignated crossing points which might worsen the spread of the virus.

Paul Nyathi

The number of pupils testing Covid-19 positive at Chinhoyi High School has shot up after THIRTY-ONE more pupils tested positive.

Mashonaland West provincial medical director Gift Masoja confirmed that the number of learners that tested positive to the virus increased from 57 to 88 in the last three days.

He said the Health ministry would continue to test learners, but was equally worried about complacency of citizens in observing COVID-19 regulations.

“Let’s maintain social distancing, let’s sanitise and put on our masks because people have now relaxed. We are appealing to the business community to encourage their customers to put on masks” Masoja said.

He said the police should tighten the COVID-19 enforcement measures to curb the spread of the virus.

Preparations have been made for private motorists and pedestrians to safely use the land border posts from tomorrow with the deployment of more staff and equipment and strict health safety measures in place.

Zimbabwe has five major border posts at Beitbridge, Plumtree, Chirundu, Victoria Falls and Forbes.

Officials from the Ministry of Health and Child Care have been testing officials at the border posts for Covid-19 to ensure all workers are fit for duty and a new standard operating procedure has been drawn up to guide the handling of travellers under the new normal.

The preparations comes after Home Affairs Minister, Kazembe Kazembe met his South African counterpart, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi in Beitbridge on Friday last week to ensure procedures on both sides of Zimbabwe’s busiest border post were harmonised before the re-opening of the post tomorrow to pedestrian passenger traffic and private cars.

Buses follow in the first quarter of next year after assessments and in light of required Covid-19 preventative measures.

Beitbridge used to clear seven million travellers a year before the Covid-19 restrictions.

When The Herald visited the border post yesterday, workmen were busy placing signs to direct visitors on how they are supposed to move around the border post and hand basins for sanitisation had also been placed at strategic places around the immigration halls.

Cabinet recently approved the re-opening of the land borders to people traffic starting with private motorists and pedestrians and with public transport at some stage in the first quarter of next year.

Department of Immigration’s spokesperson Mrs Memory Mugwagwa said the department was hard at work to ensure a seamless passage of travellers at Beitbridge.

“We have recalled to work all those immigration officers who had been exempted from duty to curb the spread of Covid-19,” she said.

“Team building and re-orientation to Covid-19 preventative measures recommended by the World Health Organisation is being effected.”

Adequate protective clothing and equipment for immigration officers to cover the anticipated traffic had been acquired. All immigration officers will be on duty from Tuesday and all leave days and off days have been cancelled until the peak period is over.

“In addition, the Immigration (computerised) system has been serviced in preparation for the re-opening of the border. Compliance teams who will be executing enforcement duties involving close contact with travellers have been adequately oriented on social distancing and case handling,” said Mrs Mugwagwa.

The installation of multiple test sites to decongest the single Covid-19 checkpoint on the bridge and construction of wheel baths, she said, is pending.

Mrs Mugwagwa said port’s health teams were implementing separate screening points for ease of doing business at the border.

It is also understood that those in security services have since been deployed to prevent touts, bogus agents and vendors from entering the border arena.

Zimra spokesperson Mr Francis Chimanda said the authority had pitched a tent in the holding bay and addressed network connectivity to allow processing of ETIPs. More receipting points for payments and the provision of additional computers, and the deployment of relief staff, had been done.

A holding area to clear private vehicles through an established and dedicated route for ease of movement has been created.

“The continuous disinfections at serving points in the yard for travelling clients and Zimra staff is very critical,” he said. “Currently we are implementing a regulated model for the movement of cross-border buses as agreed between transporters and the Zimbabwe Consular-General in South Africa.

“Further, there are new scales of fines imposed on errant bus operators, clearing agents and transporters to deter would-be offenders.

Elsewhere, the Head of Immigration at Plumtree, Mr Blessing Marwa, said they had mobilised more manpower to boost their staff and procured the requisite Covid-19 protective wear.

“We are being pro-active and tying all loose ends to ensure that we are not found wanting. The deployment of a standby ambulance, setting up of a holding bay, allocation of escort vehicles is pending,” said Mr Marwa.

He said they were finalising the procedure to escort and quarantine those who will present Covid-19-related symptoms upon arrival at the border post.

In Chirundu, regional immigration officer Mr Joshua Chibundu said they were ready to open the border.

“We are ready in terms of Government’s position that borders open on December 1 for vehicular and pedestrian traffic,” said Mr Chibundu.

“We can safely say that in the absence of some unforeseen circumstances we are ready to handle traffic.”

– Herald

Zimbabwe Mineral Development Corporation (ZMDC) acting general manager Luke Akino was yesterday jailed for effective two years for corruptly awarding a $168 000 consultancy services contract to his acquaintance

Harare regional magistrate Mr Hosea Mujaya initially sentenced Akino to three years’ imprisonment before suspending one year on condition of good behaviour.

In mitigation Akino’s defence Mr Muyengwa Motsi told the court that his client was a first offender and a family man.

Mr Motsi pleaded for a non-custodial sentence. During aggravation prosecutor Mr Michael Reza called for a custodial sentence arguing that a non-custodial one would trivialise the matter.

He said the accused was facing a serious offence and that cases of criminal abuse of office were on the increase.

“The court must send a clear message that corruption does not pay. The State prays for a seven-year jail term of which two years should be suspended on condition of good behaviour and the accused serve five years effective in prison, “said Mr Reza.

In passing sentence Mr Mujaya concurred that the accused person was a first offender and a family man but he was quick to point out that Akino was facing a serious offence, which calls for a custodial sentence.

The State led by Mr Reza told the court that sometime in July 2017, ZMDC received $7 million from Fidelity Printers through its then acting general manager Mr Garikai Chimhina for the resuscitation of Jena Mine, a wholly-owned subsidiary of ZMDC, which was facing operational challenges.

He said sometime in August 2017, the ZMDC board chaired by the late David Murangari appointed Akino as acting general manager and he influenced ZMDC to engage Thomas Mushungupa’s company called Mushungupa and Muhita Engineering Projects (Pvt) Ltd to resuscitate Jena Mine.

The court heard that his actions favoured his acquaintance and former Bindura Nickel Corporation workmate Mushungupa.

On September 28 the same year, Akino, acting on instructions from Murangari, invited Mushungupa to discuss the scope of work that was to be undertaken at Jena Mine.

The court heard that a meeting was convened on October 19 by the legal, audit and risk committee where Akino indicated that he was considering enlisting the services of an independent mining contractor to address the mining challenges at Jena Mine through an informal tender.

The court had that sometime in October of the same year, Akino and Murangari engaged the service of Mushungupa and Muhita Engineering Projects to carry out the project at a cost of $168 126 without following tender procedures as stipulated in the Procurement Act.

On November 20, Murangari ordered Jena Mine to pay Mushungupa and Muhita Engineering $25 252 before signing the project management agreement contract and on the next day, the company started work without a contract.

The court heard that on March 22 last year, Akino signed a contract on behalf of Jena Mine when Mushungupa had already begun work four months prior to the signing date.

Investigations revealed that Mushungupa had worked with Akino at Bindura Nickel Mine in 1995 and with Murangari at the same mine from 2007 2016.

Akino and Murangari’s engagement of Mushungupa’s company, in the absence of competition and evidence of due diligence on costs contrary to sections of Procurement Act, violated tender procedures.

ZANU-PF Midlands provincial youth executive member, Tapiwa Muto was on Thursday arrested in connection with violence that rocked the party’s primary elections early last month.

Muto (36) who is secretary for education in the provincial youth league, is accused of orchestrating the violence that caused the abrupt suspension of the primary elections pitying Cdes Energy “Dhala” Ncube and Kandros Mugabe.

Muto has since been arraigned before Kwekwe Magistrate Mrs Samukelisiwe Gumbo facing charges of public violence, one count of murder and two counts of assault.

Mrs Gumbo granted Muto $2 000 bail on assault charges to 11 December and urged him to approach the High Court for the bail on other cases.

The High Court granted him $2 000 bail on murder and public violence cases and remanded him to the same date.

Magistrate, Mrs Florence Nago delivered the bail ruling and ordered Muto to report once every fortnight at Mbizo Police Station and continue residing at his given address among other bail conditions.

The State led by Ms Ethel Bhumure has it that on 4 October this year, at around 1pm, Muto in company of others who have since been arrested and some who are still at large, hit people with stones, slapped and punched them as well as damaged vehicles.

The accused also allegedly deflated four vehicles by removing stick valves and further damaged windscreens of other vehicles during the melee.

The accused also reportedly stole property from and manhandled police officers in the process.

In the second offence of murder, on 11 December 2019, around 4PM, Muto together with Tafadzwa Rodgers, Wiseman Ngwenya, Raymond Chinouya and one Petros and others who are still at large, took Andrew Moyo to the Zanu-PF Kwekwe Headquarters where they took turns to assault whim with switches, slaps and a log.

Moyo later died from the wounds.

On assault charges, on June 2018, around 6:30PM, Muto was with others who are still at large at Mbizo 4 shopping Centre.

Muto and company had a misunderstanding with Kennedy Tumwe over political issues.

Tumwe was allegedly assaulted punched and slapped several times on the face.

On the second count, the complainant is not mentioned in court papers but is an alleged MDC-T supporter.

The unknown male had a misunderstanding over political issues and they again assaulted him.

The two made police reports.

Charles Chigomere of Mutatu and Associates Legal Practioners represented the accused.

Zimbabwe Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC) coronavirus/COVID-19 situation report as of 29 November 2020:

New cases: 128
Locals: 128
Returnees: 0
Deaths: 1 Matebeleland South
Recoveries: 10
PCR Tests Done: 965
National Recovery Rate: 85.2%
Active Cases: 1192
Total Cumulative Cases: 9 950
Total Recoveries: 8 482
Total Deaths: 276

State Media

A volunteer in the rescue mission at Ran Mine in Bindura died after he was hit by a boulder and fell into a waterlogged tunnel.

The body of Wellington House (34) was retrieved yesterday in the afternoon and was taken to Bindura Hospital mortuary.

Mashonaland Central police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Fidelis Dhewu confirmed the incident, which happened on Saturday at around 6pm.

House’s friend, Adrime Kapfidzaruva (35) said they were assisting in the rescue operation when the incident occurred.

“Two employees of a Chinese company that provided machinery for the rescue mission asked for assistance in moving a water pump closer to the water to aid the de-watering process,” said Kapfidzaruva.

“The pump is heavy and a number of us volunteered to assist. Only four of us went down to the entrance of the tunnel. The other two went back to adjust the light. Wellington and I remained close to the tunnel entrance.

“Suddenly, a boulder fell from above and I moved out of its way. Wellington, who was holding the pump panicked and ran to the other side and the rock fell on him. It pushed him under water.

“The rescue process is taking long and we offered to help to expedite the process. We are appealing for more machinery and security at the scene so that there are no casualties.”

Wellington’s brother Admire said they were still in disbelief that his young brother was dead.

“We spent the day together talking and it is sad that he died while offering a helping hand,” he said.

“Family members are still gathering and we don’t know where to start due to lack of resources. When the incident happened, we had hope that he will be found alive. We heard that a rock fell on his back and pushed him under water. We were awake all night hoping for a miracle, but nothing came up. We are appealing for assistance to give him a decent burial.”

Wellington was divorced and is survived by two children aged six and four.

Meanwhile, de-watering of the tunnel is going on in a bid to reach the trapped miners.

The Provincial Development Coordinator Mr Timothy Maregere said there was progress and the water level was going down.

On Wednesday, a number of artisanal miners were trapped inside the tunnel after a pillar collapsed.

The Ministry of Mines and Mining Development, Bindura Nickel Corporation, Teamsite Milling Mine and Chinese mining companies are among the rescue team.

PRESIDENT Mnangagwa has posthumously conferred National Hero status on revered military tactician, General Mtshana Khumalo ahead of the unveiling of a monument at the site where the commander won his most famous battle.

The unveiling of Pupu National Monument in Lupane in Matabeleland North is set for this week but the exact date is yet to be confirmed.

Gen Khumalo was the commander of King Lobengula’s Imbizo Regiment that defeated the colonialist Allan Wilson Patrol at the Battle of Pupu on December 4 in 1893 as the first shots of resistance against colonialism were fired.

Wilson, the loser, was honoured by the settler regime and the legacy is there for all to see but, Gen Khumalo, the victor had not. Now, the Government has honoured Gen Khumalo for his role in fighting colonialism.

During this year’s Heroes Day virtual address, President Mnangagwa announced that Gen Khumalo would be honoured alongside Queen Lozikeyi, Mgandani Dlodlo and Mbuya Nehanda whose statue is being erected in Harare.

Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Minister Kazembe Kazembe yesterday visited the Khumalo family to officially notify them of the conferment, which the President did in terms of Section 3 of the National Heroes Act.

In a letter dated November 20, 2020, President Mnangagwa directed Minister Kazembe to make the necessary arrangements for the conferment of National Hero status on Gen Khumalo ahead of the unveiling of Pupu National Monument.

“In his speech during the Heroes Day commemorations on August 10, 2020, President Mnangagwa indicated that General Mtshana Khumalo would be declared a National Hero. Pursuant to this statement by His Excellency, the President, I am privileged to advise you Honourable Senator Mtshana Khumalo, that His Excellency, the President Cde ED Mnangagwa, has in terms of Section 3 of the National Heroes Act, conferred a National Hero status on the revered military leader General Mtshana Khumalo,” Minister Kazembe said in a letter to the Khumalo family.

“It is indeed an honour that His Excellency the President has entrusted me with this important task of conveying this message.”

President Mnangagwa stated in his own letter to the Khumalos that the granting of honours and awards to commemorate particular campaigns or battles is an internationally acclaimed practice.

“Accordingly, during my 40th Independence and Defence Forces Day and indeed in the 2nd edition of the Honours and Awards Booklet, I undertook to embark on a programme to grant special recognition to the legacy of the heroic luminaries of Zimbabwe’s first liberation struggle (The First Chimurenga/Umvukela liberation struggle),” he said.

“It is in that vein that I undertook to award the National Hero status and erect appropriate commemorative statue in honour of the revered military leader General Mtshana Khumalo, who was the commander of the Imbizo Regiment that led the onslaught to defeat and eliminate the Allan Wilson Patrol at the famous battle of Pupu on the banks of Shangani River where there was no settler survivor.”

In 1893, Cecil John Rhodes decided to quicken the subjugation of the land by destroying the Ndebele Kingdom and leader, King Lobengula.

The Anglo-Ndebele War of 1893 triggered by Rhodes specifically targeted King Lobengula who was seen as a stumbling block in the total colonialism of western Zimbabwe. Having noted that the whites had superior firepower especially in the Maxim machine gun, King Lobengula opted to move away from his capital, Bulawayo for some place in the north as the settlers wanted to capture and humiliate him.

Gen Khumalo, the commander of the elite group of fighters was tasked to protect King Lobengula’s life and dignity as he trekked north. The Wilson patrol that had crossed the Shangani River was wiped out at what has now come to be remembered as Pupu.

Khumalo family spokesperson Mr David Siwela thanked President Mnangagwa for the recognition to Gen Khumalo as a National Hero.

Matabeleland North Provincial Affairs Minister Richard Moyo said: “Matabeleland North is an important flame that ignited the liberation struggle. We feel greatly honoured as a province to play host to such a history.”

Government is also seized with the erection of Mbuya Nehanda`s statue in Harare at the intersection of Samora Machel and Julius Nyerere, where it is believed, she occasionally stopped to rest and drink water from a river that flowed through the site.

President Mnangagwa said in the USA they have statues for Abraham Lincoln and George Washington. In France they have statues of their heroes while in the UK they have those of Winston Churchill and Oliver Cromwell who are their heroes.

President Mnangagwa said a road leading to King Mzilikazi’s grave would be constructed. At Cecil John Rhodes’ grave, there is a tarred road but there is no tarred road leading to King Mzilikazi’s grave.

The ruling on the bail application by Harare Mayor Jacob Mafume, who allegedly corruptly allocated Westlea stands to his sister and his law firm’s secretary, is likely to be given today by deputy chief magistrate Mrs Bianca Makwande.

Mafume is being charged with criminal abuse of office.

Mrs Makwande was set to deliver the ruling on Saturday but a fellow magistrate Mrs Vongai Guwuriro deferred the matter to today after she failed to attend court for the ruling because of other commitments.

The State led by Mr Panganayi Chiutsi opposed granting of bail to Mafume saying he was likely to interfere with witnesses, who are council employees.

Mr Chiutsi also argued that since the State had a strong case, Mafume was likely to evade trial once freed on bail.

To support the argument for refusal of bail, the State called the investigating officer, Superintendent Joseph Sirimhindi, to testify.

The senior police officer told the court that Mafume “holds the highest office at City of Harare and he is likely to interfere with witnesses there”.

“We have four witnesses whose statements are yet to be recorded including those of Edgar Dzehonye, Admore Nhekairo and Ms Koke. Since he has influence he is likely to interfere with witnesses.

“There is also overwhelming evidence against him which may cause him to abscond,” said Supt Sirimhindi.

Mafume, who was being represented by Mr Tonderai Batasara in his bail application, told the court that he had no access with the witnesses as most of them were suspended and in any case none reported to him.

“Some of the people whom he is saying will be interfered with have been suspended from council and are appearing in court,” said Mr Batasara.

“Those people have been barred from visiting their offices and there is no way they could be interfered with.

“The accused is a ceremonial mayor who does not work from Town House on a daily basis. He is actually a councillor and those people do not report to him.”

In March this year Mafume allegedly called housing director Admore Nhekairo asking him to allocate residential stands to his sister Rotina Mafume and to a secretary at his law firm, Rutendo Muvuti.

Mafume allegedly told Nhekairo that his sister had not benefited from any council stand but the court heard that when Mafume approached Nhekairo, council had closed interviews for prospective homeseekers.

Further allegations are that Mafume used his influence as a councillor to push other employees to allocate the stands.

According to the State, it was later discovered that Rotina and Muvuti were not on the waiting list despite each having been allocated stands with intrinsic value of an $219 938 and that the numbers on the waiting list used for them belonged to other people.

State Media

The Ministry of Health and Child Care, which ordered the closure of Chinhoyi High School to non-examination day scholars, has started contact tracing after 57 students tested positive for Covid-19 on Monday last week.

A resolution was also passed for Covid-19 positive and negative examination candidates to sit for their papers from separate rooms.

Examination candidates will be allowed to enter the school’s premises, but under strict and rigorous monitoring from health officials.

Of the total number that tested positive, only one is a day scholar, while majority of the remaining are boarding students doing Form Four.

A female student was taken to Mzari Clinic for isolation at the weekend where four Chinhoyi University of Technology (CUT) students, who recently tested positive, are being housed.

The 57 students who are asymptomatic are being isolated at the school.

Mashonaland West acting provincial medical director, Dr Gift Masoja, said effective contact tracing was being carried out.

“Contact tracings are continuing until we are sure that the children and the community are safe,” he said. “I don’t have the figures of those that were traced and tested, but our team is working hard.

“On Wednesday, we resolved to cut off the school from day scholars, although examination candidates will be allowed. This, however, meant that we had to intensify our response. More nurses and environmental health officials have since been deployed at the school to effect response and monitoring.

“We have 57 students who tested positive and they are being isolated at the school’s dormitories.”

Dr Masoja said positive students were going to write examinations in separate rooms from Covid-19 negative students.

“We have noticed that the school is facing serious water challenges, especially in first floor dormitories,” he said. “A team has been assigned to engage the municipality of Chinhoyi to address the problem.

Mashonaland West provincial education director, Mr Gabriel Mhumha, said although it was worrisome that Chinhoyi High School had recorded positive cases, government and the private sector had earlier provided schools with infrared thermometers, while production of sanitisers and face masks at most schools, including Chinhoyi and Chikangwe High Schools, had provided cushioning strategies to the education sector.

Tinashe Sambiri|In a powerful and precise speech, President Nelson Chamisa roasted Zanu PF leader, Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa and Zanu PF for misleading the nation.

President Chamisa taunted Mr Mnangagwa and Zanu PF bigwigs over the so called Vision 2020.

President Chamisa revealed how Zanu PF lied to the nation.

“Instead of giving us health for all you are giving us deaths for all.

You say in 2030 you will be in power, that’s not relevant.

We want jobs and sound health, not your mere presence in office, hatinei nekuvako kwako muoffice,” said President Chamisa

Tinashe Sambiri|In a powerful and precise speech, President Nelson Chamisa roasted Zanu PF leader, Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa and Zanu PF for misleading the nation.

President Chamisa taunted Mr Mnangagwa and Zanu PF bigwigs over the so called Vision 2020.

President Chamisa revealed how Zanu PF lied to the nation.

“Instead of giving us health for all you are giving us deaths for all.

You say in 2030 you will be in power, that’s not relevant.

We want jobs and sound health, not your mere presence in office, hatinei nekuvako kwako muoffice,” said President Chamisa

Tinashe Sambiri|Popular contemporary musician Tocky Vibes, whose real name is Obey Makamure is now 27.

See below a congratulatory message posted by Legendary Family :

Happy Birthday Shout To Tocky Vibes

Tocky Vibes was born Obey Makamure on 29 November 1993 in Rugare Suburb, Harare.

He began singing at a very young age where it all seemed like a joke until he released a single called “Tirikumhanya”.

He was moved to rural Masvingo where he had to make a living, as things were difficult for him.

He returned to Harare in December 2012 and picked up where he left off, only to find that things were not so easy.

Tocky Vibes then moved to Rusape where he found a job as a herd boy, and would later find that the amount of signing gigs increased for him in Harare and he’d travel frequently.