By A Correspondent- The maximum limit at any gathering, regardless of what it is for, has now been set at 100, and restaurants can now stay open until 8pm, as Government continues to open society and the economy while maintaining the guard against the Covid-19 threat.

Announcing the changes after yesterday’s Cabinet meeting, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Monica Mutsvangwa said there had been confusion among the public over just how many people were allowed to attend gatherings, with different maximums set for different types.

To simplify the system Cabinet had agreed to set the maximum at 100, regardless of what the gathering was for. This was the maximum for some types of gathering, while others had been kept at a lower limit. Other existing public health regulations make it clear that public health regulations have to be followed at all gatherings, regardless of how many people attend.

The new limits should help people avoid violations at weddings and church services in particular.

Restaurants had to close at 6.30pm until the latest easing.-statemedia

By A Correspondent- Harare City Council (HCC) director of Human Capital Development Cainos Chingombe has been arrested by police working with the Special Anti-corruption Unit (SACU).

In a statement on Tuesday, Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) national spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said Chingombe was arrested in connection with criminal abuse of office and fraud allegations at HCC.

Said Nyathi:

The ZRP Special investigations team and SACU have arrested Harare City Council’s Dr Cainos Chingombe in connection with criminal abuse of office and fraud allegations at Harare City Council. He is expected to appear in court soon.

Chingombe was reinstated to his position during a full council meeting held at the council chambers on 22 November this year.

He had been on suspension for the past three years on suspicion of misconduct.

The reinstatement of Chingombe ironically came after Government had warned the local authority against reinstating officials with pending court cases.

By A Correspondent- Controversial businessman Delish Nguwaya was on Tuesday removed from remand by Harare magistrate Ngoni Nduna.

In his ruling, Nduna pointed out the fact that Nguwaya has been remanded 10 times without trial, the State was seeking for another postponement.

Said Nduna:

The State alleged that the case involved extraterritorial investigations and as for now nothing has been done.

The State had cited the COVID-19 pandemic as a restriction for them to conduct extra-territorial investigations.

… It seems the State has no idea why it needs further remand for.

Magistrate Nduna further ruled that the State proceeds by way of summons.

Nguwaya was arrested in June this year after he allegedly misled government into believing that his company Drax International, also known as Drax Consult SAGL, was a medical firm and could supply COVID-19 equipment to the Health ministry.

Meanwhile, investigative journalist Hopewell Chin’ono said the removal of Nguwaya from remand is the end of the case as he predicted on 15 June.

He posted on Facebook:

Surprise surprise, Delish Nguwaya has been removed from remand today. I am not a prophet, but it was clear that Delish was only a front for powerful people!

I languished in jail for 62 days, the looters are walking! Yatofa nyaya yeDrax!!!! These are the real issues that affect your lives, citizens!

This is where your discussions should be not comedy and gossip! It is your money that is being stolen.

In June Chin’ono wrote on Twitter:

The court against Delish Nguwaya will collapse because the charges are built on lies. The court case is deliberately meant to collapse in order to protect Obadiah Moyo and the real owners of the looting. Nguwaya doesn’t have the power to order the State to use Drax. Who did?

By A Correspondent- Impala Car Rental, a car hire company whose vehicle was used in the abduction of university student Tawanda Muchehiwa by suspected State agents in July this year has refuted a report that it is owned by the Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO).

In a letter to The NewsHawks, the online publication that published the story linking the company to the CIO, Impala’s lawyers, Mudimu Law Chambers, cited twelve allegations carried by the story which they refuted, calling them lies.

The lawyers insisted that Impala Car Rental is a family business whose directors are Matirasa Francisca Dondo and Clara Dondo and not the CIO.

Further, Impala’s lawyers gave The NewsHawks 48 hours to retract the story, which they described as defamatory, frivolous and vexatious, or face litigation. They wrote:

We are advised by our client of a fictitious story written by Owen Garare Bridget Mananavire who operate under News Hawks.

Their story’s net effect was that the company in question is owned by the State security service Central intelligence Organisation (CIO).

… it’s clear that your story is actuated by malice and evil intention, the allegations in your story are not only defamatory but also frivolous and vexatious.

We do hereby demand that you kindly retract your story in its entirety, using the same mode of platform and giving it the same due weight as it was published, find hereto attached the CR14 of the company.

It is also of great concern that you used a Drone to take pictures and videos at our client’s premises without their consent.

We give you 48 hours to retract your story, the failure we will approach the courts for recourse and you will bear the costs of litigation.

By A Correspondent| Hopewell Chin’ono has been included on a list of journalists who are victims of press freedom abuses around the word, following his recent arrest on charges of inciting public violence.

Chin’ono was arrested on the 18th of July and charged with incitement and spend over 40 days at Chikurubi Maximum prison.

He was to be arrested again on charges of interference, spending 17 days in remand prison before his release on bail.

Chin’ono joins nine other journalists from Turkey, Egypt, Iran, China, Russia and Malysia among other countries.

GOKWE mayor Never Gwanzura, Kadoma deputy mayor Tendai Kokera and four Gokwe councillors as well as three Kwekwe councillors have officially crossed the floor from MDC Alliance led by Nelson Chamisa to the Thokozani Khupe-led MDC-T.

The four Gokwe councillors are Machinda Mtembedzi, Darlington Mudondo, Tichaona Muhora and Charity Mungwani.

Kwekwe councillors, who also ditched the Chamisa-led party, include Eric Rukavairo (ward 11), Silas Mukaro (ward 1) and Joshua Tinago (ward 11).

They made the announcement at a meeting held at Gokwe centre over the weekend.

The nine councillors said that they had decided to join MDC-T as a way of continuing the people’s mandate since they were elected in 2018. The nine councillors pledged to honour the leadership of MDC-T.

The MDC-T Midlands north 2014 provincial structures met in Gokwe to brief each other on the progress made in the preparation for the extraordinary congress which is set elect a replacement of the late founding leader Morgan Tsvangirai.

It was at this meeting that the councillors declared their allegiance to MDC-T.

The meeting was chaired and facilitated by 2014 provincial chairperson Sedwel Bhebhe, who highlighted the importance of the delegates to participate in the extraordinary congress processes.

Kwekwe Urban ward 11 councillor Joshua Tinago told NewsDay that he and two other councillors were fully behind Khupe.

“I am happy that my other comrades, Eric Rukavano and Silas Mukaro, openly revealed that they belonged to the MDC-T,” he said.

Kokera, who was the MDC-T deputy provincial chairperson in 2014, said he was going back to MDC-T as it was the party that seconded him during the 2018 general election where he was elected councillor and subsequently voted deputy mayor.

Mtembedzi, popularly known as Comrade Evergreen in Gokwe, who was Midlands North provincial deputy chairperson for the youth in the 2014 structures and currently the acting provincial chairperson, said: “It is not like I am rejoining MDC-T, but the fact of the matter is that I have simply did what the Supreme Court judgment ordered me to do.

“I want to uphold the Supreme Court judgment, hence, my decision to ditch MDC Alliance and move to MDC-T. All we want is to respect our party constitution, nothing else.

He added: “All the councillors in Gokwe belong to MDC-T which is led by Thokozani Khupe as the acting president and Chamisa does not have any councillor who is aligned to him.”

Presidential aspirants Douglas Mwonzora and Khupe attended the meeting and took time to present their manifesto to the province.

Mwonzora said: “I am a constitutionalist and always want to uphold the party constitution. As you know, I was seconded to Copac (Constitution Parliamentary Committee) by the late president Morgan Tsvangirai to represent the party in the Constitution-making process and the results speak volumes about my capabilities.”

Khupe chronicled her history and how she worked with Tsvangirai and her achievements as the deputy Prime Minister.

A 47-YEAR-OLD man was arrested on Saturday night after he accidentally shot his three children at his home in Bulawayo.

The man (name withheld) who is from Hope Fountain on the outskirts of Bulawayo, had earlier on fired the same gun to disperse a rowdy crowd at a party he had hosted at his dealership.

National Police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said the man brandished his weapon and fired a 9MM CZ pistol during the party.

He did not disclose the injuries suffered by the three children but said they were hit by a ricocheting bullet.

“The incident occurred on 28 November where a certain man was holding a party for about 35 people. This was around 11.30PM during a lockdown and people who were partying started fighting,” said Asst Com Nyathi.

He said the man then fired some shots in the air to disperse the crowd and people fled in different directions.

Asst Comm Nyathi said after dispersing the people, the man went to his house and that is where tragedy struck.

“After dispersing the crowd he went home where his children aged four, 12 and 13 stay and he is said to have accidentally pulled the trigger and the bullet ricocheted off the floor thereby injuring the children. The children were rushed to United Bulawayo Hospitals (UBH) and he was arrested,” said Asst Comm Nyathi.

He said the man is facing charges of firing a gun and violating Covid-19 regulations.

“This was during and after a party that was being held at 11.30PM, way after curfew time. People are breaking Covid-19 regulations, the issue of social distancing the issue of masks and partying. When police move in people start complaining. It seems that people are not taking the issue of Covid-19 seriously,” said Asst Comm Nyathi.

MOTORISTS using the Victoria Falls-Bulawayo highway have been urged to be vigilant amid reports of suspected highway robbers who are allegedly smashing windscreens of moving cars.

This is reportedly happening between Insuza shops and the 120km peg towards Mbembesi River.

A number of motorists have reportedly fallen prey in the past week where their vehicles were smashed by stones coming from unknown sources.

No formal report of robbery has been made so far to the police.

None of the victims saw the source of the suspected stones which reportedly target the windscreen.

The Chronicle got to know about the matter after a Victoria Falls resident posted on a WhatsApp group narrating his ordeal.

Five responded saying they had also fallen victim to the suspected stone throwers with three of them posting pictures of shattered windscreens.

The smash and attack trend is prevalent along highways in South Africa where thugs wait by the traffic lights where they smash the windscreen and grab valuables.

Previously, similar reports were once reported in Zimbabwe where stones or old tyres would be thrown onto the road in front of oncoming vehicles and robbers would then pounce on the driver once he or she stops to avoid hitting the boulders.

Motorists suspect a group of illegal fuel dealers who used to operate between Insuza and Mbembesi River are behind the attacks.

“I was going to Bulawayo and approaching Insuza when suddenly there was a loud band on the side of the car. I almost panicked but something told me that I shouldn’t stop. I kept driving until I got to where I felt I could stop and upon checking I found that it could have been a stone that hit the side door,” said Mr Chris Moyo from Bulawayo.

A lady who was driving to Bulawayo with her husband and preferred to remain anonymous said she was scared of driving back along the same road.

“We were attacked as well but initially we didn’t suspect anything. It was around midday and I was the one driving when I heard a loud bang that sounded like a gunshot on the windscreen on the passenger side. I slowed down and eventually stopped to make a U-turn so that we could check. We got to the place where we were hit but we could not find anything or see anyone around.

“The windscreen was shattered. We got out of the car to take pictures as we didn’t suspect anything. We only realised that it was a mischievous attack when we heard several other people talking about the same experience. I am still in Bulawayo and am scared to drive back,” she said.

Another Victoria Falls resident said his workmate’s car was smashed a few days ago while driving from Bulawayo to Victoria Falls.

Matabeleland North police spokesperson Chief Inspector Siphiwe Makonese said police will investigate the issue although no formal report had been made.

“We haven’t received a formal report but we are looking into it. We want to urge motorists not to speed but exercise extreme caution when driving along the roads. People should be vigilant and avoid any unnecessary distraction and we encourage motorists not to stop whenever such things happen or stop for strangers.

If your car is hit you rather continue driving and only stop when you get to where there are people and it’s safe to do so,” she said.

State Media

BUSINESSMAN Delish Nguwaya, who has been out on bail on charges of misrepresentation in a deal over the supply of Covid-19 medical supplies and sundries, was yesterday removed from remand and the State will proceed by way of summons when it is ready to go to trial.

Nguwaya, connected to Drax International, has been seeking his trial date for some months at his routine remand hearings, saying he wants a trial to clear his name and to prove he has no connections with the First Family, as social media false reports alleged at the time of his arrest.

The removal from remand came after the court noted that the State was failing to show seriousness in investigating and prosecuting the charges and failing to justify delays in giving a trial date.

Harare regional magistrate Mr Ngoni Nduna said it was almost six months since Nguwaya was arrested, with the State promising to complete investigations and give him a trial date on July 28.

Nguwaya had been remanded 10 times, and he had been religiously attending court with the State failing to give cogent reasons for further postponing any trial.

He then ordered the State to proceed by way of summons once it has put its house in order.

“State was to give general reasons and nothing has been done save to say there are extra-territorial investigations to be done.

“They did not give the nature of investigations and where they want to carry out the investigations. State does not at all appear to be meaningfully interested in the case and want to simply remand the accused without trial.

“We expect the State to be serious and show that they are seized with the matter and ready to prosecute. The State had no idea why they want further remand. There is no reason given. The State has demonstrated that they are not in a hurry to prosecute.”

In the application for refusal of further remand, Nguwaya’s lawyer, Mr Admire Rubaya, told the court that Nguwaya had been demanding his day in court to clear his name and prove that the Drax International deal had nothing to do with the President and his family.

He accused the State of not taking the matter seriously considering the amount of vilification that the First Family, Government and Nguwaya suffered on social media because of the State’s allegations.

“Accused has been indicating that he needs to be tried and demanded a trial date. State has been changing explanations day in day out. It seems as if the State is not taking these proceedings seriously; they believe that a remand is there if they ask, yet there ought to be a cogent reason to juxtapose with the interests of the accused. It is important for the court to take note of the allegations accused facing.

“It is not a secret that when he was arrested, the social media went crazy with conspiracy theories saying accused was close to the First Family and the deal was for the (First) Family. The detractors went on an overdrive to soil his (President Mnangagwa’s) otherwise good name and seems as if the State, which is seized with the mandate to deal with these matters, has applied brakes.

“The accused wants to be tried and anticipate for that chance to tell the world that he is a businessman with no connection with First Family and there was no reason why the First Family was vilified,” he said.

Mr Rubaya said once the accused was continuously remanded, it was giving opposition political parties an opportunity to denigrate his persona and that of the Government.

He added that the continued postponement of the matter without trying Nguwaya would work against the vision of President Mnangagwa’s new administration and give an advantage to his detractors.

“The accused person asserts with respect that the moment this matter gets postponed to another date, the political opponents of the current Government will start to conduct themselves in a manner which is detrimental to the political narrative of the current Government.

“If the matter was to be dealt with, the public will see that there was nothing to write home about,” he said

Mr Charles Muchemwa, appearing for the State, had applied for further remand of the matter to January 18 saying the docket had been referred to the Prosecutor General.

He said there were extra-territorial investigations which needed to be conducted with a few things needed to be confirmed with the Ministry of Health and Child Care and NatPharm.

Mr Muchemwa said the State expected to have completed investigations by January 10 next year.

NATIONAL Peace and Reconciliation Commission (NPRC) has urged stakeholders to unite in the formulation of progressive strategies to resolve the contentious Gukurahundi issue.

NPRC representative Johnson Mkandla made the remarks on Monday in Bulawayo during a public lecture organised by Ibhetshu Likazulu for Njini Ntutha, the late Zipra cadre.

Ntutha was murdered in cold-blood by suspected State security operatives masquerading as dissidents during the Gukurahundi disturbances of the 1980s when the late former President Robert Mugabe deployed North Korea-trained Fifth-Brigade in Matabeleland and Midlands regions “to deal with an insurgency.”

Non-governmental organisations place the number of people killed during the raids at about 20 000.

Mnkandla said all the groups or parties that were dealing with Gukurahundi should unite to bring finality to the issue.

“It needs us all as victims, who come from Matabeleland region, together and stop forming other groups,” Mnkandla said.

“We should come together and stop forming new groups that purport to be also dealing with Gukurahundi because we are in this together.”

Mnkandla said it was important for the NPRC to talk to the people in the rural areas and hear what they have to say before taking matters to high offices.

“When the time comes for us to go on outreach, let us find out from the people what they want, let them tell us what it is that they really want to be done for them.

“They should be the ones to tell us how they want the burials to be done when the time for exhumation comes,” he said.

He said different regions had different approaches towards Gukurahundi and, therefore, the need for working together and achieve unity of purpose and come up with a strategy among the different stakeholders.

Mnkandla urged war veterans to work as a united front in their quest for justice for the slain Gukurahundi victims.

“We do not need to be a divided force. We do not need to go in different ways, we need to know that the perpetrator is not divided,” he said.

Paul Nyathi

President Emmerson Mnangagwa says that Zimbabwe is on the cusp of greatness with the construction of a new Parliament building and erection of a highly criticised statue of Mbuya Nehanda.

This follows his tour on Monday of the new Parliament building which is nearing completion in Mt Hampden, as well as his visit to the site where the memorial statue of Mbuya Nehanda will be hoisted in Harare’s central business district.

Posting on micro-blogging platform Twitter yesterday, the President said Zimbabweans must take pride in the country’s institutions and assured the nation that in the march forward no one will be left behind.

On the construction of the statue for the iconic First Chimurenga war heroine Mbuya Nehanda, Mnangagwa said it was important to tell the Zimbabwean story for the benefit of both present and future generations.

“The construction of the monument in honour of Mbuya Nehanda is nearing completion. It is vital that we show to our children and grandchildren that Zimbabwe has a rich history of heroes that fought for our freedom,” he said.

“Zimbabwe is on the brink of greatness, but we can only achieve it if we fight for it together.”

POLICE are investigating a case of assault involving MDC Alliance vice president Tendai Biti who allegedly manhandled a white lady at the Magistrate Courts in Harare during a heated exchange.

Biti allegedly assaulted Ms Tatiana Aleshina who is involved in a property wrangle with one of his clients.

Police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the fracas that took place on Monday.

“A 54-year-old lady Tatiana Aleshina has reported a case of assault at the Harare Central Police Station against Tendai Biti.

“Police are investigating charges of assault that were filed against Biti. We are conducting investigations with a view of finding out what happened. We understand that there was a mob which witnessed the whole incident,” he said.

Paul Nyathi

Government has limited the number of people permitted at any public gathering to 100 to avoid confusion and violation of COVID-19 restrictions.

The government had specified different numbers for various types of public gatherings as a way to control the spread of the pandemic.

But addressing a post-cabinet media briefing Tuesday, Information Minister Monica Mutsvangwa said the different numbers were causing confusion and violation of COVID-19 restrictions.

“Accordingly, henceforth, the number of people permitted at any gathering is restricted to 100, irrespective of what the gathering is being convened for,” she said.

At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the government had imposed a limit of 100 people or less for church gatherings and 50 people or less at funerals but this was later relaxed as the rate of new infections declined around September.

Mutsvangwa said in view of the need to promote the tourism sector, closing hours for restaurants have been extended from the current 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. and for the operators to continue strictly observing COVID-19 prevention guidelines.

“Cabinet takes this opportunity to call upon all citizens to strictly adhere to COVID-19 protective and preventive guidelines in order to arrest the surge in confirmed cases,” Mutsvangwa said.

As of Monday, Zimbabwe had recorded 10,034 COVID-19 cases, 8,489 recoveries and 277 deaths.

Meanwhile, the country reopened a number of its busiest land borders on Tuesday to private motorists and pedestrians under a phased reopening of ports of entry and exit.

POLICE have launched a manhunt for a man who fatally stabbed a fellow imbiber following a misunderstanding over parking space in Kwekwe.

Mr Alison Stambuli (43) was stabbed to death by a fellow patron at a shebeen in Mbizo Section 17 after the two argued over parking space.

Midlands police confirmed that they had since launched a manhunt for a man identified only as Magwangu for allegedly fatally stabbing Mr Stambuli.

Magwangu fled and left his vehicle, a Toyota Runx, on the scene after discovering that Mr Stambuli had died.

Midlands provincial police spokesman, Inspector Joel Goko said on Saturday at around 8.30PM, Mr Stambuli parked his vehicle, a Honda Fit, at a shebeen in Mbizo 17 where he was drinking beer.

The accused person also came and parked his vehicle, a Toyota Runx in front of the gate thereby blocking the entrance.

Mr Stambuli later approached the accused person asking him to move his vehicle as he wanted to leave.

“The accused refused resulting in a misunderstanding between the two. Mr Stambuli then slapped the accused person twice on the face. The accused went to his car and came back armed with a knife and stabbed Mr Stambuli once on the chest,” said Insp Goko.

Magwangu fled leaving his vehicle behind.

Mr Stambuli’s son, Alois received a call that his father had been stabbed and was bleeding profusely.

Alois, with the help of other residents, rushed his father to Kwekwe General Hospital where he was pronounced dead on admission.-Chronicle

FIVE armed robbers ambushed a cash-in-transit vehicle at Chivi Growth Point, Masvingo province, disarmed three security guards and got away with US$35 000, R350 000 and $2 000.

The Safeguard Security vehicle was delivering the cash to Mukuru branch at the Growth Point when the robbers struck on Monday at 9.34AM.

According to police, the robbers pounced on the cash in transit vehicle as the guards were about to deliver the cash to the branch.

“The robbers pointed guns at the security guards as they were disembarking from the vehicle and disarmed them before taking away a cash box containing US$35 000, R350 000 and $2 000.

“They then jumped into an unregistered blue Toyota Revo twin cab and sped off towards Mandamabwe Business Centre.

“The gang also robbed the guards of their three pistols,” said national police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi in a statement.

He said police are concerned about the increasing cases of armed robbers targeting cash in transit vehicles.

“The Police are disturbed by robbery incidents which are targeting cash-in-transit vehicles. We implore security companies to strengthen their security measures in consultation with clients.-Chronicle

TAPIWA Makore (senior), who is in remand prison for allegedly killing his seven-year-old nephew for suspected ritual purposes, is counting losses after his hut was on Sunday morning gutted by fire.

The fire occurred a few hours after police had demolished Makore’s pit latrine and recovered skulls and some bones.

On Saturday morning, Makore led a team of detectives to the recovery of the body parts at his homestead.

The following morning, villagers woke up to find the thatched kitchen in flames before a police report was made.

The cause of fire is still a mystery considering no one stays at that homestead. Officer Commanding Murehwa District Chief Superintendent George Mugonda confirmed receiving the fire report, saying investigations were still underway to ascertain the cause.

“We received the report on Sunday morning and some officers attended the scene in the company of Makore, who assisted in assessing the loss.

“The motive and cause of fire is yet to be established. We are still investigating,” he said.

When The Herald arrived at the homestead, only the cracked walls had remained.

Ashes covered the floor while burnt pots, plates and cups were all over the structures.

Rubble of the demolished toilet were scattered in the yard while some animal skulls and other remains left behind by the detectives on Saturday were visible on the ground.-The Herald

Vice President was filmed boogying at the the Fungisayi Zvakavapano gig which went into the late hours last night.

The do was a World Aids Day Virtual Commemoration.

VIDEO LOADING BELOW…

https://fb.watch/26FAlqGBEu/

Fifteen coronavirus cases have been recorded at Mtshabezi High School in Matabeleland South Province, with 11 pupils, 2 teachers, and 2 workers among the confirmed cases.

In a statement, Mtshabezi High head Morgan Moyo said necessary precautions have been taken. He said:

On behalf of the school family, Brethren in Christ Church and the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, I would like to confirm 15 cases of Covid-19 wherein 11 learners, two teachers and two workers affected.

Tests for Covid-19 were administered on 26-11-2020 and results thereof delivered to the school on 29-11-20.

All necessary precautions have been taken in line with Covid-19 protocols.

In a related development, a teacher at Christian Brothers College (CBC) in Bulawayo recently tested positive for coronavirus and is currently in isolation.

This comes as a number of COVID-19 cases have been reported in schools across the country, with some education stakeholders calling for schools to be closed. However, the government has resisted the calls, saying schools should accept the “new normal”.-State media

Tinashe Sambiri|MDC Alliance, Namibia has described the level of police ineptitude as shocking.

On Saturday, overzealous police details violently disrupted the MDC Alliance provincial Youth Assembly Congress in Masvingo.

Below is the MDC Alliance Namibia statement on the harassment of party youths in Masvingo.

30 NOVEMBER 2020

MDC ALLIANCE NAMIBIA IS STRONGLY INFURIATED BY THE SILLY, ANTI-DEMOCRATIC ANTICS OF THE POLICE IN MASVINGO.

Mdc Alliance Namibia bears the comprehension that all industrial societies use police to control crime and contribute to public order manifesting in mediating and arbitrating disputes as well regulating traffic and helping in times of emergencies. Astonishingly, the wild and authoritarian manner that was exhibited by non-democratic pro-Zanupf police against Mdc Alliance Youth Assembly members at their party offices in Masvingo is characteristic of a hybrid dictatorship in the Motherland.

We are very frustrated in the partisan approach of all our securocrats in Zimbabwe. As an external district in the national democratic revolution, we insist that law enforcement requires a delicate balancing act.

Whilst Zanupf party is busy with its District Coordinating Committee (DCC) meetings, our political dynamo (Mdc Alliance) was denied the chance to undertake the much awaited Provincial Congress to elect each other on Saturday. The police must be reminded that Zimbabwe is not a private property of the Zanupf regime and all citizens are at par before the law. Section 2 as enshrined in the supreme law of the country stipulates that the constitution is the superior law of the land and anything generated must be consistent with the national law therefore our police must desist from from manipulating their legal mandate to use force to advance Zanupf political scores.

Moreover, as social democrats in Namibia, we are cognisant of the democratic role of our police. We demand that the police must be a central element in constitutional democracy.

Our captured police should surely subject itself to the rule of law not the rule of Zanupf fat cows. The police must be publicly accountable to any abuse of authority by political leaders and the general citizenry not excluding themselves. They should hastily undress their Zanupf political jackets to ensure that state power must be used in a restrained fashion. The police force is expected to resist being subject to a greater degree of direct political control by Zanupf belly politicians of rhetoric.

Moreso, Mdc Alliance Namibia emphasises that police are trained to see themselves as exemplars of moral behaviour. They must give a cold shoulder to individuals who want to be protected at the expense of our unemployed Youths who are degreed but wallowing in excruciating poverty. Police need to protect democratic liberties while maintaining effectiveness against crime and pandemonium as provided in the 2013 constitution. With a concoction of a One-party state, military, personalist and hybrid dictatorships it becomes apparent that when the policing of crime and politics merge, political dissent automatically generates spurious charges. We urge our vibrant Youths to resist this with equal measure.

Mdc Alliance Namibia advocates for democratic policing. The police in Zimbabwe must respect our constitutional democratic rights to join,assemble, support and express our feelings and thoughts in a purported free country. We are clamouring for an objective police who are allergic to using police power and covert surveillance to advance a dictatorial regime and its rotten, stinking political and social practises. Social democrats in Namibia seriously demand democratic policing that seeks to avert the extremes of either anarchy and gross crackdown on the voices of dissent. We are absolutely exhausted to see our democratic space shrinking every now and then. It’s time for our Youths to embrace participatory democracy through dangerous freedom because it’s the only panacea to socio-economic transformation.

Unless our police consider the existence of an open democratic society which values the dignity of our beleaguered Youths and the general populace , they shall remain an anomaly in the motherland. Lets remain focused on our #OneMillionCompaign. After the ugly and horrible Saturday in Masvingo, we shall remain convinced that our police resembles a police state which is desperately punctuated by the rule anchored on professionalised and captured police as a Zanupf institution.

In a nutshell, Mdc Alliance Namibia encourages all social democrats led by vibrant Youth Assembly to use all their organs to resist this extreme form of dictatorship composed of atomised , isolated and greedy belly politicians. We shall continue saying NO TOLERANCE to any form dictatorship in Zimbabwe. Activists in the national democratic revolution should subscribe to such governance where the supremacy belongs to the population and rulers are freely , fairly and credibly elected through tightly contested elections.

We shall soldier on with our fight against absolute power that is concentrated in the dirty hands of rapacious dictators, a small clique which aims to abolish political pluralism and civilian mobilisation backed by the compromised police force. Our youths shall lead us in confronting the maintenance of ill-gotten power by Zanupf Satanists.

FreeOurMayor

JacobMafumeIsInnocent

CorruptionMustGo

NoToOnePartyState

People’sGovernment

ZanupfMustGo

PoliceMustBehave

Mdc Alliance Namibia
Rundu Branch Spokesperson
Robson Ruhanya

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.

Tinashe Sambiri|The MDC Alliance has challenged Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa to concentrate on reviving the economy instead of telling Zimbabweans about Mbuya Nehanda’s history which is now “a public record.”

According to the MDC Alliance, everyone is aware of the role that was played by Mbuya Nehanda in fighting against colonial rule.

Speaking during a tour of Nyati Gallery near Snake Park, where the statue of Mbuya Nehanda is being made by sculptor David Mutasa, Mnangagwa said Government decided to honour her for the heroic rebellion against colonialism.

The statue is being erected at the intersection of Samora Machel Avenue and Julius Nyerere Way in the capital.

“Mbuya Nehanda led the war during the First Chimurenga and she led us when we fought during the Second Chimurenga that is why we are recognising her so that the young generation will know who led the war against the colonial regime,”said Mnangagwa.

“This has nothing to do with rituals as some of you think,” added Mnangagwa.

Responding to Mnangagwa’s remarks, MDC Alliance Namibia said in a statement:

“Everyone knows that Mbuya Nehanda played a key role in the battle for freedom.Even schoolchildren know that Mbuya Nehanda was a brave woman who inspired black people to fight for freedom.

Mnangagwa should simply focus on reviving the economy.”

Tinashe Sambiri|
A 25-year-old Masvingo woman has been ordered to pack her bags after putting love charm charm in her her father-in-law’s plate.

ZimEye.com learnt that
Nomatter Mariona was forced to return to her parents’ home after placing love charm in her father-in-law’s plate. Her father-in-law began to shower her with gifts and calling her during the night.

Nomatter’s husband, Tichaona said her wife mistakenly charmed his father.

“My relationship with my father was very good until I started noticing some strange moves.

My father has been calling my wife more than five times a day and he even gave her some money.

I then confronted my wife and she confessed that she got the love charm from Pastor Isaac Makomichi.

She said she put the charm in the wrong plate,” said Tichaona.

“As a family we decided to send her back to her parents’ house.

Makomichi called us saying he can reverse the charm if I take my wife back.

I’m now afraid that my wife might use the charm on me if I take her back,” added Tichaona.

Makomichi denied giving Nomatter the love charm.

Tinashe Sambiri|
A 25-year-old Masvingo woman has been ordered to pack her bags after putting love charm charm in her her father-in-law’s plate.

ZimEye.com learnt that
Nomatter Mariona was forced to return to her parents’ home after placing love charm in her father-in-law’s plate. Her father-in-law began to shower her with gifts and calling her during the night.

Nomatter’s husband, Tichaona said her wife mistakenly charmed his father.

“My relationship with my father was very good until I started noticing some strange moves.

My father has been calling my wife more than five times a day and he even gave her some money.

I then confronted my wife and she confessed that she got the love charm from Pastor Isaac Makomichi.

She said she put the charm in the wrong plate,” said Tichaona.

“As a family we decided to send her back to her parents’ house.

Makomichi called us saying he can reverse the charm if I take my wife back.

I’m now afraid that my wife might use the charm on me if I take her back,” added Tichaona.

Makomichi denied giving Nomatter the love charm.

Emmerson Mnangagwa yesterday toured the new Parliament building under construction in Mt Hampden on a busy day for the Head of State during which he also toured the site where the Mbuya Nehanda memorial statue will be erected in the city centre and an art gallery on the western outskirts of the capital where the statue is being carved.

Mnangagwa said the erection of a memorial statue for Zimbabwe’s First Chimurenga war icon, Mbuya Nehanda, in Harare was part of efforts to document the country’s history, especially the fight against colonial rule.

Speaking during a tour of Nyati Gallery near Snake Park, where the statue of the icon is being made by sculptor David Mutasa, Mnangagwa said Government decided to honour Mbuya Nehanda for the heroic rebellion against colonialism in which she paid the ultimate price by being hanged on April 27, 1902.

The memorial statue is being erected at the intersection of Samora Machel Avenue and Julius Nyerere Way in the capital.

Mnangagwa said the onus was on those who took part in the fight against colonial rule to record the country’s history.

“The issue is that0 if us, former freedom fighters don’t document our history and where we came from, the young generation will not know where we came from. So we should depart after making sure that we have recorded our history.

“Mbuya Nehanda led the war during the First Chimurenga and she led us when we fought during the Second Chimurenga that is why we are recognising her so that the young generation will know who led the war against the colonial regime,” he said.

Mnangagwa scoffed at critics in some quarters claiming that the erection of statues of liberation war icons was idolatry.-State Media

ZIMBABWE has recorded one more Covid-19 death with reports that 128 people tested positive to the global pandemic yesterday.

The death was recorded in Matabeleland South.

With new cases continuously on the rise countrywide especially in Matabeleland region, the country now has a total of 1 92 active cases and the national recovery rate has dropped to 85.2 percent.

According to the Ministry of health and Child care 965 PCR tests were conducted in the last 24 hours and the weekly positivity average now stands at 104 up from 93.

“We recorded 128 new cases and one death in the last 24 hours.  All 128 are local cases and the death was reported by Matabeleland South province,” read the statement.

“Of the 123 cases, 63 were recorded in Bulawayo, 25 in Harare, 25 in Matabeleland South and 14 in Midlands provinces. As of 29 November 2020, Zimbabwe had recorded 9950 Cases 8482 recoveries and 276 Deaths”-Chronicle

A Grade One pupil at Helen McGhee Primary School was apprehended by alert staff at OK Supermarket on Monday after he stole a packet of condoms that he had mistaken for sweets.

According to Masvingo Mirror, the boy’s mother noticed that her son was holding something in his hand as she got to the security checkpoint at the point of exit.

Security guards who searched the boy found more condom packets in his pockets and when asked, the boy said he mistook the condoms for sweets.

The boy and his mother were taken to the back of the supermarket where he was cautioned and let go. Masvingo Mirror quoted a source as having said:

A boy who was accompanied by his mother took packets of Durex condoms and put some in his pockets. The mother realised after she had paid for her goods at the till that her child was holding something.

Masvingo Mirror

Six Mhangura men narrowly escaped death last Friday after hailstorm uprooted a huge tree before falling on a gazebo and a car trapping the driver and beer lovers.

Simbarashe Chirau from Sikona in Upper-Doma under Mhangura constituency is a lucky man who has failed to explain how he survived the recent incident which happened at Mhangura Bazaars shopping.

Chirau’s Nissan hardbody truck was extensively damaged.

The big tree also destroyed a gazebo in which some five imbibers were having a drinking spree before trapping one who was rescued more than 30 minutes later.

“I don’t even know how I survived the mishap. I survived the accident by the grace of God and while my vehicle is partly right off, I can’t seem to find how I escaped that life threatening incident,” he said.

Mr Chirau was seated in the front of his open truck vehicle when the incident happened but escaped with only a ripped T-shirt while some men who were having beer in the thatched gazebo sustained minor injuries.

“At first we thought the driver of the vehicle had died from the impact of the tree but miraculously, he came out of the vehicle some twenty minutes later. We had engaged police and ZESA officials to help with the incident,” said one witness Cosmas Musoya.

According to residents, the eucalyptus trees were planted in the 1970s and were now a threat to people particularly beer lovers and shoppers.

Meanwhile, two local farmers in the same area lost farming inputs and grains after hailstorm ripped off roofs of sheds and storerooms.

The hailstorm left a trail of destruction as it ripped off galvanised sheets off trusses, exposing 18 tonnes of ammonium nitrate, 12 tonnes of Compound D, and 20 tonnes of lime.

More than 20 tonnes of maize, wheat and other crops were also exposed to heavy rains that fell in the area and are expected to continue until Sunday.

In an interview, Victory Farm Plot 5 holder, Lieutenant Colonel Usher Cakana (Retired) said strong winds blew off the roof of his storerooms.

“The whole roof was blown away destroying some fertilisers, lime and grains,” he said. “The estimated cost of the damage of the inputs is about \300 000. I am still calculating the tonnes of grain that I lost.”

Former Zimbabwe Farmers Union first vice president, Mr Berean Mukwende, whose farm was also affected by the hailstorm, said more than 100 of his pigs were now living in the open after several pigsties were destroyed in the hailstorm.

At least 50 cases of destructions caused by the recent hailstorm were recorded by the provincial Civil Protection Unit.

Among the infrastructure include schools and homesteads.

A Grade One pupil at Helen McGhee Primary School was apprehended by alert staff at OK Supermarket on Monday after he stole a packet of condoms that he had mistaken for sweets.

According to Masvingo Mirror, the boy’s mother noticed that her son was holding something in his hand as she got to the security checkpoint at the point of exit.

Security guards who searched the boy found more condom packets in his pockets and when asked, the boy said he mistook the condoms for sweets.

The boy and his mother were taken to the back of the supermarket where he was cautioned and let go. Masvingo Mirror quoted a source as having said:

A boy who was accompanied by his mother took packets of Durex condoms and put some in his pockets. The mother realised after she had paid for her goods at the till that her child was holding something.

Masvingo Mirror

A gang of five unidentified armed men yesterday morning pounced on a Safeguard cash-in-transit vehicle at Chivi Growth Point and got away with $US35 000, 350 000 rand and $ZW2000 cash.

The suspects, who were in an unmarked Toyota GD6 sky blue in colour, hit at the Safeguard crew at around 10 am at N Richards Wholesale where the later was about to deliver money to a Mukuru Send Money shop.

Police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said investigations are underway.

“We are investigating an armed robbery incident that occurred at Chivi Growth Point where five armed man attacked a Safeguard crew and got away with $US35 000, 350 000 rand and $ZW2000 cash,” he said.

Asst Comm Nyathi said police were concerned with the spike in armed robberies in the country.

Unconfirmed reports suggest that the suspects were later spotted around the Mhandamabwe area in Chivi after the attack.

Forex auction results for 01 December 2020 are in and the Zimbabwe dollar has continued it’s “downward” trend against the greenback.

The weighted average this week has moved further south from ZWL$81.8151 last week to ZWL$81.8767 this week.

US$33.34 million was allotted today compared to US$32.95m last week, with the bulk of the allotment (US$14.45 million) going to raw materials.

23 bids on the Small to Medium enterprises forex auction were disqualified while 34 bids were also disqualified on the main forex auction.

The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) said bids which were disqualified were not eligible in terms of the Priority List.

Bids with overdue CDIs, outstanding Bills of Entry (BOEs) and those with sufficient FCA balances were also disqualified.

Some bids were allotted on a pro-rata basis to conform with the Import Priority List, the RBZ said.

Paul Nyathi

Police have confirmed the arrest of recently reinstated Harare City Council director of Human Capital Development Dr Cainos Chingombe, who had been on suspension for the past three years on suspicion of misconduct.

The decision to reinstate Dr Chingombe was made during a full council meeting held at the council chambers just over a week ago.

However, his reinstatement caused rifts with the deputy mayor councillor Luckson Mukunguma distancing himself from the decision.

ELEVEN pupils and two teachers at Mtshabezi High School in Matabeleland South have tested positive for Covid-19 while a case has been reported at Christian Brothers College (CBC) in Bulawayo, Sunday News has learnt.

In a statement, Mtshabezi High head Mr Morgan Moyo said necessary precautions have been taken.

“On behalf of the school family, Brethren in Christ Church and the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, I would like to confirm 15 cases of Covid-19 wherein 11 learners, two teachers and two workers affected. Tests for Covid-19 were administered on 26-11-2020 and results thereof delivered to the school on 29-11-20. All necessary precautions have been taken in line with Covid-19 protocols,” he said.

In a statement concerning CBC, the school confirmed that a teacher has tested positive for Covid-19.

“One of our teachers has informed us that the Covid-19 Taskforce recently advised them that the tested positive for Covid-19, as a secondary case, following contact tracing activities by the Surveillance Pillar of the Emergency Preparedness and Response Team of Bulawayo Metropolitan Province.

“The teacher is currently in isolation and the task force have advised us that they are continuing with tracing activities,” said the school in a statement.

A number of Covid-19 cases have been reported in schools across the country.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health and Child Care reported that one person died on Covid-19 in Manicaland on Monday.

The Ministry said 84 cases were reported with 61 being local cases while 23 are returnees from South Africa and 22 from Botswana.

Seven new recoveries have also been reported and the National Recovery Rate stands at 84.6 percent and active cases go up to 1268.

Harare magistrate Mr Ngoni Nduna has removed businessman Delish Nguwaya from remand.

Nguwaya was facing fraud charges.

In his ruling Mr Nduna said: “The accused has been remanded 10 times without trial and today the State has sought another postponement.”

He ruled that it was now six months since the accused was placed on remand but the State was failing to kick start trial despite the accused demanding it.

“The State alleged that the case involved extra territorial investigations and as for now nothing has been done. The State had cited the Covid 19 pandemic as a restriction for them to conduct extra territorial investigations,’’ said Mr Nduna.

He further said on the initial remand the State had submitted that it would have completed its investigations by 28 July.

“It seems the State has no idea why it needs further remand for.”

Mr Nduna ordered the State to proceed by way of summons.

The country’s southern borders with Botswana (Plumtree) and South Africa (Beitbridge) re-opened as planned at 6am today with low activity under a new set up where passenger traffic including motorists and pedestrians is now allowed passage through the port of entries.

Strict and safe covid-19 screening methods are being carried on all those leaving or entering the country.

Before the reopening of the borders to more traffic, today, Plumtree and Beitbridge were handling 5000 and 15 000 people daily.

Zimbabwe suspended passenger traffic through its borders from March to control the spread of the pandemic.

Until today, only commercial cargo, returning residents, bodies for burial and diplomatic on Government business were allowed to pass through the borders.

When our news crew arrived at the Beitbridge around 5am, there were very few people and security had been beefed up at all entry and exit points of the border parameter.

Those travellers without valid travel documents were being turned away.

In addition, the use of foot baths, automated thermometers, the use of hand washing water basins , the directing of traffic into light motor vehicles, buses, light commercial and heavy-duty trucks were being strictly enforced by immigration guards and a private security company engaged by Zimra.

According to one border official a total of 93 travellers left the country between 6am and 8am while 116 entered the country from South Africa.

“Activity is still low. Our understanding is that most travellers could have adopted a wait and see attitude considering the rigorous screening processes relating to covid-19 protocols,” said the source.

The Assistant Immigration Officer in charge of Beitbridge, Mr Nqobile Ncube was not readily available for comment.

One of those who were turned away for having an invalid passport, Mr Obey Makwara said; “I am stranded, I have a valid permit to be in South Africa but unfortunately, my passport expired last month, so I was not allowed to leave the country.

“I will have to wait for a new passport since I have made an application”.

Another traveller who preferred not to be named said the Government should intervene on the testing fees being charged by most laboratories which are beyond the reach of ordinary people.

“US$60 is too much considering the state of the affairs at the household level. Our view as ordinary people are that these tests should be done for between US$5 and US$10,” he said.

Mr Panashe Nkosi said the border clearing processes had greatly improved as compared to the last six years.

“It’s pleasing to note that the South African and Zimbabwean governments are taking the pandemic seriously judging by the level of preparedness on the ground.

“The border processes are excellent and seamless. It’s a great experience for me, I haven’t come home by road for the past six years,” he said.

Ms Lucia Chidenga said she was happy to be home after almost two years to reunite with her family. Several cross border drivers said they were impressed with the clearance processes and the separation of traffic.

“We haven’t had unnecessary delays, we are always engaging with authorities where they are challenges and hope to maintain that relationship,” said Mr Tawanda Takezawa who chairs the association for Beitbridge cross border drivers.

It was also all systems go at Plumtree, where officials said traffic was very low and that 15 people had crossed the border between 6 am and 8 am.

“It’s all systems out, but we have a low traffic, we will keep monitoring,” said the source.

Tinashe Sambiri|The MDC Alliance has challenged Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa to concentrate on reviving the economy instead of telling Zimbabweans about Mbuya Nehanda’s history which is now “a public record.”

According to the MDC Alliance, everyone is aware of the role that was played by Mbuya Nehanda in fighting against colonial rule.

Speaking during a tour of Nyati Gallery near Snake Park, where the statue of Mbuya Nehanda is being made by sculptor David Mutasa, Mnangagwa said Government decided to honour her for the heroic rebellion against colonialism.

The statue is being erected at the intersection of Samora Machel Avenue and Julius Nyerere Way in the capital.

“Mbuya Nehanda led the war during the First Chimurenga and she led us when we fought during the Second Chimurenga that is why we are recognising her so that the young generation will know who led the war against the colonial regime,”said Mnangagwa.

Responding to Mnangagwa’s remarks, MDC Alliance Namibia said in a statement:

“Everyone knows that Mbuya Nehanda played a key role in the battle for freedom.Even schoolchildren know that Mbuya Nehanda was a brave woman who inspired black people to fight for freedom.

Mnangagwa should simply focus on reviving the economy.”

ARMED ROBBERY AT CHIVI MUKURU.COM COMPLEX

The Zimbabwe Republic Police is investigating an armed robbery case which occurred at N. Richards, Chivi on 30 November 2020 at about 0934 hours when five (5) unknown suspects armed with pistols ambushed a Safe-Guard cash- in – transit vehicle delivering cash at Mukuru.com and attacked them.

The robbers pointed firearms at the security guards as they were disembarking from the vehicle and disarmed them before stealing a cash box containing USD$35 000.00, ZAR 350 000.00 and zw$2000.00 from the vault.

They jumped into an unregistered blue Toyota Revo twin cab which was used as a getaway car and sped off towards Mandamabwe Business Centre. The suspects also robbed three Star pistols from the guards.

The Police are disturbed by robbery incidents which are targeting cash – in – transit vehicles.

We implore security companies to strengthen their security measures in consultation with clients.

This robbery comes hardly a few weeks after the Bulawayo one where ZUPCO lost over zw$2 million.

Meanwhile, Police are appealing for information which may lead to the arrest of these suspects.

Anyone with information should report to the nearest police station or call the following numbers: – Harare Operations 0242 748836, National Complaints Desk 0242 703631 or Whatsapp 0712800197.

NYATHI.P) Assistant Commissioner
Senior Staff Officer (Press, Public and International Relations]
To the Commissioner-General of Police
Police General Headquarters

The National University of Science and Technology Educators Association (NUSTEDA) has served the University Council a notice of intention to embark on a strike against gross mismanagement and lack of accountability by the NUST management.

The notice of intention to strike is with effect from 30 November 2020.

Following a NUSTEDA General Meeting that was held on Wednesday 25 November 2020, it was resolved that all NUST lecturers had to stand up against the NUST management lest NUST is totally destroyed, with the future of all NUST workers and students being jeopardised.

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

Senator Tambudzayi Mohadi says a lot of people are failing to get justice when they report cases of gender-based violence due to corruption.

Honourable Mohadi who is a former wife to Vice President Kembo Mohadi has been a victim of gender-based violence.

At one time, Senator Mohadi was threatened with an axe by the Vice President.

Speaking in the Senate, Mohadi said some cases of gender-based violence are being swept under the carpet by police officers and yet abuse has resulted in the death of some people.

“The other problem is that there is a lot of corruption. There are some people who after reporting their cases, do not get the justice that they want. At times, officers of the law are found disadvantaging victims and at the end of the day, such crimes are swept under the carpet. These cases at times, just die a natural death even after being reported.

“Mr President Sir, we know that when we talk about Gender-Based Violence, it is important to also talk about its effects like trauma and diseases. Some people become stressed and some end up getting injured; some with permanent injuries and disabilities,” she said.

Mohadi added that “Mr President Sir, at times we may see that people lose their lives as a result of Gender-Based Violence.

Some die as a result of being abused. We need to take stern measures and we need to be serious as a government.

When people are affected in their lives, they end up losing their sanity and their mental stability because of the trauma that they have failed to handle.

“At the end of the day, this affects their psychological well-being.

As we talk about Gender-Based Violence, it is important that we understand its severity which at times leads to death. People end up suffering because of that. It is important that after experiencing violence, we report these cases,” she said.

Honourable Mohadi also highlighted that there was a need to engage Chiefs, adding that they were not taking issues of gender-based violence as criminal cases.

“Mr. President Sir, forgive me because I am talking about a very emotional issue. Let me end by saying our chiefs and our traditional leadership have ways of containing and ending Gender-Based Violence because we need to understand that sometimes people might not take it as a criminal case.

“It is not right that they should be sidelined but they should be engaged and involved in fighting Gender Based Violence. Some issues might be dealt with within that system without going to the courts.

-Open Parly

By A Correspondent- There was a bomb scare in Harare central business district near parliament building Monday afternoon.

MDC Alliance vice president Tendai Biti, who had just come out of a Public Accounts committee meeting at parliament said “a strange silver box was discovered at a pavement along Nkwame Nkurumah avenue” adding that he was praying for safety and peace.

He tweeted:

By A Correspondent- A director in the Finance ministry Fidelis Ngorora yesterday told chief magistrate Munamato Mutevedzi that Treasury did not approve former Public Service minister Priscah Mupfumira’s request to secure a loan from the National Social Security Authority (NSSA) to purchase personal motor vehicles.

Ngorora said government was supposed to go through the formal procurement and that the request was unlawfully done.

Mupfumira is jointly charged for graft with former permanent secretary Ngoni Masoka, on two counts of criminal abuse of office.

She claimed that she got approval from Cabinet to secure a loan from NSSA to purchase the motor vehicles, but Ngorora told the court that it is only the Finance ministry which deals with financial matters. Ngorora said Masoka wrote a letter to the Finance ministry seeking approval to secure a loan from NSSA for the procurement of the motor vehicles, but it was not approved since the government, through Treasury, was in the process of availing funds for the procurement of newly appointed ministers.

Government later purchased two motor vehicles for Mupfumira in March and August 2015 respectively.

“We only got to know that the duo had proceeded to acquire funds from NSSA when they requested funds to liquidate the debt. The request was not granted since it was inappropriate for them to borrow money from NSSA which was under their ministry as there was a possibility of a conflict of interest,” he said.

The State, led by prosecutor Tendai Shonhiwa, alleges that Mupfumira and Masoka secured US$90 000 from the National Social Security Authority (NSSA) and purchased personal vehicles.

The State also alleges that on another account, Mupfumira used State funds for air tickets and upkeep of her personal aides to attend her daughter’s wedding in South Africa.

The court has also set January 25, 2021 as trial date for Mupfumira on another case of criminal abuse of office in which she is jointly charged with Barnabas Matongere, former NSSA contribution and collections officer.

It is alleged that the duo paid US$3, 5 million to Drawcard Enterprises, a local land developing company towards the construction of low housing units in Gweru, in a project spearheaded by Mupfumira.-newsday

Theresa Ndambakuwa, a local businesswoman who signed a Deed of Agreement with Ezekiel Mtapuri, a prodigal, has bounced back to court, it has emerged.

Theresa Ndambakuwa has managed to resuscitate a 2014 criminal /fraud case, to which she is the complainant, at the Harare Magistrate’s Court. The case had failed to take off the ground way back in 2014 due to lack of evidence. The case is expected to be heard on 12/10/ 2020 in Court 4.

The agreement that Theresa Ndambakuwa signed with Ezekiel Mtapuri on 28 May 2014 was to enable Theresa Ndambakuwa to purchase an unclear sizable piece of land along Amalinda Rd, Waterfalls, Harare from Ezekiel Mtapuri. The land is owned by Ezekiel Mtapuri who is under curatorship.

Theresa Ndambakuwa heads a co-operative called Perfect Hope Society Ltd which manages acquired land for and on behalf of its membership.

Rangarirai Mtapuri, brother to Ezekiel Mtapuri, happens to be the curator to Ezekiel Mtapuri since 2004.

On signing a Deed of Agreement with Ezekiel Mtapuri on 28 May 2014, Ndambakuwa purportedly proceeded to pay Ezekiel Mtapuri USD35 000,00. This money was purportedly paid to Ezekiel Mtapuri before a Commissioner of Oaths at Machipisa Shoping Centre in Highfield . Ndambakuwa et al, then, moved in and sought to change ownership of the land she purportedly had purchased from Ezekiel Mtapuri.

Rangarirai Mtapuri, the curator to Ezekiel moved to stop the deal signed between Ndambakuwa and Ezekiel. This did not go down well with Ndambakuwa who implicated Rangarirai Mtapuri, curator to Ezekiel, by alleging that Rangarirai Mtapuri was working in cahoots with Ezekiel to defraud her of her hard earned USD35 000. Further USD107 000 she allergies, she was prejudiced on developing the property. The case was reported to police and investigated under case 8937/14 and 10723/14, CR 1666/8/14. The cases never took off the ground.

Fast forward to 2019, Theresa Ndambakuwa resuscitated the very criminal/fraud case under case 3716/19 and 3717/19 CR 1666/9/14 after reporting the case to Anti Corruption. An Anti Corruption Unit (ICU) is now working with police on a 2014 resuscitated case. However the case could not take off on 12 October 2020 as the State was not ready. The Deed of agreement and payment voucher (Affidavit) are as below.  The story is still unfolding.

Rescue efforts for six trapped miners at Mandlovhukazi mine in Esigodini have been disrupted by heavy rains that occurred during the weekend leaving family members of the miners devastated.

Speaking to Great Dyke News 24, Zimbabwe Diamond and Allied Mineral Workers Union (ZIDAMWU) Matabeleland South Coordinator Chrispen Zingwena said they suspect that the miners who were trapped last week are dead hence rescue efforts are focusing on retrieving their bodies for a proper burial.

“We are receiving heavy downpours here in Esigodini and we are fearing that must be a hindering factor for the rescue of our six comrades who were trapped underground at Mandlovhukazi mine in Esigodini.

“There are so many rains which are making the roads slippery, but villagers, friends, and families of the comrades are putting more effort to make sure that they retrieve the bodies from the mine for proper burial,” he said.

Meanwhile, dozens are feared dead after being trapped underground after an abandoned gold mine collapsed in Bindura last Thursday.

Six men emerged alive after the collapse while the body of one man has been retrieved and one person died in the rescue attempt.

Rescue efforts failed to start until Friday after the generator used to drain the 100-meter deep mine shaft jammed and another had to be found, authorities say.

The accidents expose lack of adequate implementation of disaster and emergency preparedness measures in the mining sector.

It appears no one in the mining sector, including Government and the mining industry is learning anything from past mistakes, experiences and disasters. 

In February 2019 another disaster happened at Battlefields which killed 24 miners. However, during that disaster there were combined efforts from different actors and stakeholders to rescue those who were trapped,and this took a record four days.

The efforts were complimented by corporate social efforts from large scale mining companies who included ZIMPLATS, RioZim and Afrochine smelting company.

Mining is a leading source of foreign currency for Zimbabwe, where gold accounts for 60% of exports.

The gold sector provides work for nearly 10% of the country’s population, according to the International Crisis Group (ICG).

-Online

By A Correspondent- Binga South legislator Joel Gabbuza (MDC Alliance) has slammed government for its failure to assist flood victims in Binga amid revelations that the affected communities are in desperate need of assistance.

The floods hit Binga last Sunday following a storm that resulted in several villagers being displaced.

Reports say that over 200 villagers were left homeless after the heavy downpour that hit Lusulu area under Chief Sinamagonde.

The heavy downpour lasted for only 15 minutes.

Gabbuza told the Southern Eye in an interview that the government had not yet come in to assist the affected families.

He said the homeless villagers were still in desperate need for help.

“The government has not assisted the flood victims, and the situation is very bad.

“With the rains falling, people are struggling and they are desperate for help as they do not have shelter,” Gabbuza said.

However, Binga district development coordinator Farai Marinyane said that the government was doing all it could to assist the victims.

He dismissed Gabbuza’s claims that nothing had been done so far.

“It is our mandate as government to respond very quickly to disasters.

“We went to the scene just after the floods.

The MP is over exaggerating in his statements. We responded to the situation very quickly.

“It is only roof trusses that were blown off the buildings,” he said.

Binga district was also hit by floods in February this year, which killed one person and displaced nearly 200 families who are yet to be resettled.

The most affected area by the February floods was Nsungulwe village.-newsday

A stepson based in Mvurwi axed his father once on the head with whom he accused of abusing his mother.

The matter came to light at Bindura magistrates courts yesterday where Mighty Tembo was sentenced to 6 years in prison for attempted murder by regional magistrate Amos Mbobo.

The court heard that on October 15, this year, Tembo approached Johane Tobias (44) who was in the garden and accused him of abusing his mother Mavis Mbirimi.

During the confrontation, Tembo picked an axe before striking Tobias on the head.

Blood gushed out from a deep cut he sustained and his wife Mbirimi rendered first aid before taking him to the hospital for treatment.

Tembo was subsequently arrested.

By A Correspondent- A Beitbridge man, who attacked his landlord with an axe because he had attempted to stop him from feeding his dogs with chicken eggs, has been slapped with an effective four-year jail term.

Solomon Sigauke (31) denied an attempted murder charge when he appeared before Beitbridge magistrate Stanley Mambanje, but he was convicted and sentenced to five years in jail, with one year suspended on condition of good behaviour.

Prosecutor Munyonga Kuvarega told the court that the complainant in the matter, Samuel Moyo Chijekere (52), who owns a house in Dulibadzimu suburb in Beitbridge, was assaulted by Sigauke with an axe after he (Sigauke) fed the landlord’s dogs with eggs.

Kuvarega said Chijekere attempted to stop Sigauke but he went on to feed the dogs and this did not go down well with Chijekere, and, resultantly a quarrel ensured. He then struck Chijekere with an axe on the head and arms several times, which resulted in the landlord sustaining serious injuries and was subsequently hospitalised.

Sigauke was then arrested and charged with attempted murder. The State said Sigauke’s actions could have led to the death of Chijekere.-Newsday

Health And Child Care Deputy Minister John Mangwiro has told Parliament that the country is fully prepared to deal with the second wave of COVID-19.

The assurance by the deputy minister comes at a time when cases are on an increase in Zimbabwe.Most Zimbabweans are worried about the possibility of the second wave, due to the manner in which the government handled the first wave.

Countries in Europe such as the United Kingdom are currently experiencing the second wave due to winter.

Since the first case was detected in Zimbabwe in March this year, about 168 386 PCR and 110 591 tests have been done countrywide.

Of the total tests done about 9950 came positive with 8482 recovering.

Speaking in the National Assembly, the deputy minister said the country was upscaling its testing in response to the upsurge of infections, adding that Zimbabwe is now better pre-paid for the second wave.

“We are prepared much more than at the first wave of the virus. The advantage is that most of the PPEs, last time when it came, we were importing them. Right now things are being manufactured and produced locally almost 95%.

“So it is much easier for us. That is positive on our side that we have got these. So we are continuing to make sure we are prepared and we are really ready this time much more than the last time,” he said.

Mangwiro emphasised that the best solution to deal with COVID-19 was not to get the virus and by ensuring people continue to protect themselves, especially in schools by putting on masks, practising social distancing and also staying at home where necessary to avoid much physical contact.

Currently, Zimbabwe has 1192 active COVID-19 cases with Bulawayo taking the lead in the number of active cases.

-Open Parly

By A Correspondent- Stanbic Bank Zimbabwe is facing its toughest moments in many years, after a key union approached the financial institution’s South African headquartered parent, Standard Bank Group, raising a stink over ‘wage theft’ and ‘slave wages’ at the Harare operation.

NewDay Business can reveal that so deep has been the standoff that multiple letters have been dispatched to the South Africa Society of Bank Officials and the International Labour Union’s Sadc office by the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions to complain about the state of affairs at Stanbic.

The dispute highlights the growing pressure on companies to pay staff living wages, as inflation, at 471% in October, eats into the earnings of Zimbabwe’s hard-pressed workers.

Most employees earn far below the poverty datum line, which was estimated at over $20 000 at the end of October.

Zimbabwe’s year-on-year inflation has been underpinned by an extensive depreciation of the domestic currency in the past year, although the rage has been tapering off since the second half of 2020.

In his frank letter to Standard Bank chief executive officer Simphiwe Tshabalala dated November 24, Zimbabwe Banks and Allied Workers Union (Zibawu) acting general secretary-Shepard Ngandu said Stanbic management had failed to consider the deteriorating crisis and respond to workers plight.

He said Stanbic could not claim inability to improve salaries given its healthy profits during the year ended December 31, 2019.

He said Stanbic had also made a profit during the half year ended June 30, 2020, and was recently voted as the country’s best bank.

Ngandu told Stanbic management that they were placing the bank at the risk of fraud by hard pressed staff.

“Workers in your Zimbabwe subsidiary are thus seriously impoverished and require your urgent intervention to address their salaries and benefits,” Ngandu said in the letter to Tshabalala titled ‘Deplorable and Unmitigated Working Conditions for Stanbic Zimbabwe Staff ‘.

“Workers are borrowing to augment their meagre salaries, which is unsustainable and thus exposing them and the bank to potential risk of frauds and thefts.

“While many other banks pay for their employees’ school fees, Stanbic employees do not enjoy this benefit, leaving them worse off in comparison to their peers.

“Other financial institutions of comparable size have come up with better packages to cushion employees against the vagaries of inflation and currency volatility. There is no doubt that these workers are exposed to decent work deficits in your Zimbabwean subsidiary and susceptible to wage theft by local management.

“The obtaining situation, clearly in our view, is against Standard Bank Group values and ethos of sound corporate governance and responsible corporate citizenry.

“We demand that you urgently intervene so that the welfare of Standard Bank Zimbabwe non-managerial salaries is addressed without any further delay.

“We are advised that your organisation has the capacity to address workers’ issues but local management seems to pursue personal objectives at the expense of other stakeholders, particularly workers,” Zibawu said.

“We are advised that the bank and its workers had a reasonable salary arrangement which expired in February 2020.

“Social dialogue efforts were pursued between the workers’ committee and local management without success since the expiry of the previous arrangement to date.

“It is common cause that the Zimbabwe dollar continues to lose value both on the formal and informal markets currently at 81,8 and 110 against the United States dollar respectively.

“Inflation was recently reported at 471% while goods and services are pegged in United States dollars they track unofficial USD exchange rates.”

On Sunday, NewsDay Business emailed the Zibawu letter to Stanbic, which turned down a request for comment.

But Zabawu insisted that Stanbic had the capacity to improve workers’ salaries.

“The Zimbabwe poverty datum ZWL$17 956 as at September 2020 against average net salaries of less than ZWL$10 000 for most Stanbic Zimbabwe nonmanagerial workers,” Ngandu said.

“In 2019 and half year 2020, Stanbic Bank posted in historical terms a profit of ZWL$477 million and ZWL$1, 401million respectively.

“Stanbic Bank Zimbabwe was named “the best bank” of the year in 2019 by the Banker magazine. These accolades surely don’t befit a bank paying slave wages as is currently obtaining,” Zibawu said.

-Newsday