Chiredzi Rural District Council Ward 9 councillor Mukachana Chauke has died.

He died reportedly on his way to Harare to seek medical care after getting seriously injured in a kombi accident in Chingele, Chiredzi South, yesterday.

The accident also killed one woman on the spot.

-TellZim

By A Correspondent- Police yesterday threatened to tighten COVID-19 lockdown enforcement measures, accusing citizens of being complacent and ignoring set regulations to combat the spread of the virus as the country is experiencing the second wave of the pandemic.

National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said citizens had become “too relaxed” in the face of rising COVID-19 cases, hence the need for tighter enforcement.

“The police reminds Zimbabweans that the country is still under COVID-19 lockdown measures which include a curfew which runs from 2200hrs until 0600hrs the following day. The enforcement of these health, safety and security measures is still paramount,” Nyathi said.

“Police has noted with concern that some sections of the public no longer value wearing of face masks, observe social distancing guidelines, sanitisation and public gathering restrictions.

Nyathi added: “COVID-19 is real and the public should avoid being complacent and co-operate with law enforcement agents to curtail the spread of the pandemic.”

He said restrictions on gatherings remained in place with not more than 100 people in churches, 50 or less at funerals and only low-risk sports allowed. Weddings, birthdays, house parties, political and other social gatherings and all-night prayers remain banned, so are casinos, night clubs and bars.

“Police has intensified patrols, surveillance, checks and other measures to ensure arrests are affected and the law takes its course without fear or favour. Those found operating shebeens or selling and drinking liquor while closed inside bars, night clubs and other premises will be dealt with,” Nyathi said.

“In the same vein, kombis or private vehicles which are pirating within cities and on inter-city routes will be impounded. Besides, the drivers will be taken to the owners who are obviously not taking heed of the government call to be responsible and law-biding citizens.”

A total of 224 037 people have been arrested since the start of the COVID-19 lockdown in March while 23 180 vehicles have been impounded.

Nyathi also warned officers engaging in corruption at COVID-19 checkpoints, roadblocks and other enforcement sites that the long arm of the law would catch up with them.

-Newsday

ZANU PF will not hesitate to name and shame ministers sleeping on the job as Zimbabwe starts implementing National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1) meant to contribute towards making the country an upper middle-class economy by 2030.

President Mnangagwa recently launched a five-year economic blueprint that succeeds the Transitional Stabilisation Programme (TSP) that ran from October 2018 to the end of this year.

Addressing a special press conference that reflected on Operation Restore Legacy of November 2017, that ushered in a developed focused New Dispensation, Zanu PF acting spokesperson Cde Patrick Chinamasa said the country was in safe hands under the unifying and progressive stewardship of President Mnangagwa.

“There is a need now to effectively focus on implementation, implementation, implementation. The success of the NDS1 will depend on effective implementation.

“Zanu PF will throughout the implementation period keep a stern eye on Ministries, Government departments, parastatals and other State institutions and agencies responsible for implementation of various facets of the National Development Strategy 1 and will not hesitate to name and shame those ministers and state institutions and agencies considered to be sleeping on the job and being lax in the implementation of NDS1,” he said.

Cde Chinamasa further said; “His Excellency the President has to be applauded for coming up with this economic document which aims at creating a prosperous Zimbabwe with an economic growth of 5 percent Gross Domestic Product (GDP) rate per annum, thus joining Africa fastest growing economies.”

“Over the past few years Africa has been home to some of the fastest growing economies and we are happy that through effective implementation of this document and our concerted efforts, Zimbabwe will be counted among the top.”

-State Media

By A Correspondent- Zanu-PF says political parties that are shunning President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s dialogue overtures and preferring violent confrontations will be dealt with by the law.

This comes as MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa has constantly rejected Mnangagwa’s invitation to join the Political Actors Dialogue after the hostly-contested 2018 elections.
Polad, a platform for political parties that fielded presidential candidates in the 2018 harmonised elections to contribute to social, economic and political progress, was launched in May 2019 and 18 political parties were represented in 2019

MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa has refused to engage President Emmerson Mnangagwa under the Polad grouping where other actors command near zero political support.

Chamisa has said that the negotiations have been unable to bridge “gaps between us” and they will be resorting to mass action against Mnangagwa. He said he had tried to broker talks between Mnangagwa and himself over a political and economic crisis he said had left the country “angry and traumatised.”

“They are refusing to have this dialogue,” Chamisa said. “I have been patient with him for too long and I am considerate. I can easily mobilise a committee and call for an emergency dialogue, the Constitution allows for that.”

Chamisa once said President Emmerson Mnangagwa should step aside and allow him to lead an envisaged transitional authority that should take the country to the next elections in 2023.

He also described Mnangagwa’s opposition party partners within POLAD as “noisy puppies”.

Chamisa’s longstanding reluctance to drop Mnangagwa’s legitimacy issue as a pre-condition for opening talks has angered the hard-line faction of the ruling party.

More to follow….

RESCUE teams tasked to retrieve six miners who have been trapped for eleven days in a mineshaft in Esigodini, Matabeleland South, have abandoned their mission as the mine is flooded with water, making it too risky to proceed with the operation.

The six miners are feared dead after the mine they were working in collapsed following heavy rains that pounded Matshetshe area in Esigodini last week.

The trapped Matshetshe Mine workers have been identified as Nkosilathi Ndlovu (29), Christopher Dube (23), Ndumiso Dube (19) and Blessed Ncube (24), all members of one family from Gwanda, as well as another miner only identified as Mlilo also from Gwanda and Ndumiso Ntini (28) from Lupane.

The mine is owned by Ms Sakhile Ndlovu.

Authorities said the rescue team, drawn from the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development, Civil Protection Unit (CPU) and How Mine, could not continue with the operation as they could not risk losing more lives by trying to rescue the trapped miners.

Relatives of the victims, who initially had high expectations that the rescue mission would yield positive results, have since lost hope of seeing the remains of their loved ones as they are now feared dead.

When a Chronicle news crew yesterday visited the scene, the area had been deserted.

Makeshift structures with abandoned cooking utensils, safety shoes and empty beer bottles could be seen strewn all over the place.

The news crew spoke to villagers including Ms Patience Ncube, the mother of one of the trapped miners, Ntini.

The visibly shaken Ms Ncube, who is a widow, said her only son was the sole breadwinner who took over the responsibility of taking care of her and his siblings following the death her husband last year.

“I am really traumatised and shattered emotionally. In fact, the loss of my one-and-only son is so devastating given that he was the sole breadwinner. He left Lupane in 2016 to come here in Esigodini to do gold panning, which turned out to be his source of income,” she said.

“When my husband passed away last year, my son assumed the role of looking after us and, therefore, we have been left poorer following his untimely death. What is even more painful is that I will not be able to bid him farewell because authorities told us that it was too risky to continue with the rescue mission due to circumstances beyond their control.”

However, Mr Robert Dube from Nsindi area in Gwanda, whose son Ndumiso Dube and a nephew Christopher Dube, were among the trapped said if authorities were unable to retrieve the bodies, families should be given the greenlight to continue with the efforts to retrieve the victims.

“All we want is for the bodies of our relatives to be retrieved even if they are dead so that we can have some closure.

Experts visited the mine area to assess the situation and they told us that they couldn’t continue with rescue mission as it was dangerous to dig up the area. What pains me the most is that I don’t know whether my son and nephew are still alive or not,” he said.

“Maybe they tried hanging in there with the hope that they will be rescued only to realise that it was in vain. We, therefore, request to be assisted by having the bodies of our children retrieved so that we can give them a decent burial if need arises. If the experts are unable to help us, there are some gold panners who are used to digging in such areas and they can be given the go ahead to find people who can help us,” he said.

Mr Dube said his son and nephew had been working at the mine for the past one-and-a-half months and he last spoke to them two weeks ago.

He said the whole incident had left his family devastated and they keep hoping that their son would miraculously survive.

“My son Ndumiso has three children. The eldest are twins who are two years old while the other one is two weeks old. My son hadn’t met his youngest child which is really painful. His wife is really devastated and so is the entire family,” he said.

Mr Cecil Ndlovu, a local traditional leader, told Chronicle that the only member to escape when his colleagues were trapped had earlier warned the victims against going deeper, but they somehow ignored his advice.

He said the miners had set up camps on the banks of Thekwane River as they embarked on the gold mining activities.

Mineshaft

“These activities have been going on for several years and we had never witnessed such an incident. Gold panning is a dangerous enterprise, but sadly due to unemployment local youths have resorted to this activity. What is worrying is that we have now entered the rainy season, which makes gold panning riskier,” he said.

Another villager, who only identified herself as MaTshuma, said: “We are traumatised as a community following this unprecedented incident in our area. While gold panning has turned into a lucrative business and a source of income for locals, I believe traditional leaders should also engage the community and conscientise them on the dangers associated with it, especially during the rainy season.”

Mr Before Thambo, a gold panner, said despite the incident, they will not stop the mining activities.

“We are unemployed and therefore gold panning is the only source of livelihood for us. We also have people from other areas coming here in search of gold including the trapped miners. It is sad that some of our colleagues were trapped in the mine shaft and might not even make it alive,” he said.

National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said they were working with the district development coordinator for Umzingwane and the local CPU subcommittee in the operation. He said they have since informed affected families that it is too dangerous to carry out rescue operations.

“So far, the rescue effort has been stopped by the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development officials. They are saying the mine is flooded with water such that there was a possibility of the ground caving in due to the rains,” he said.

Ms Sakhile Ndlovu, the mine owner, refused to comment, saying she was still in shock and traumatised and needed time to recover.

“I cannot say anything right now because I am in a bad state of mind. I need some rest because I am traumatised,” she said.

THE Government has adjusted vehicle tolling and licensing fees keeping in line with the prevailing economic situation and to ensure that the Zimbabwe National Road Administration (zinara) adequately supports road authorities with meaningful disbursements for road development and rehabilitation.

The new tariffs contained in the latest Government Gazette are with effect from today.

According to the new tariffs, tolling fees for light motor vehicles that fall under class one will now pay $120 up from $45 and class two vehicles will now pay $180 reviewed from $80.

Buses, which are class three vehicles, are now paying $240 up from $90.

Heavy vehicles (class four) that were paying $115 are now required to pay $300 while haulage trucks (class five) now pay $590 up from $225.

Class seven, which is the residential discount for people living near a tollgate and who frequently pass through the facility, is now $600 up from $250.

Vehicle licensing has been adjusted from $750 to $1 800 for light motor vehicles and vehicles with a net mass of 10 750kg and above will now have to pay $30 000 up from $11,250.

zinara public relations and marketing manager, Mr Tendai Mugabe, said the adjustment of the tariffs was aimed at supporting road authorities for them to execute the duties diligently.

“This adjustment is meant to ensure that we make meaningful disbursements to our road authorities,” said Mr Mugabe.

“We believe that this will go a long way in improving our road infrastructure. We are approaching the rainy season a period where most of our roads get damaged in terms of erosion and potholes.

“This adjustment means that we will be ready to repair our roads at the shortest possible time.”

Mr Mugabe said the various road projects across the country attested to Zinara’s commitment to fund a road network that meets international standards.

“If you go to any district right now, there is a capital road project underway. Our desire and objective is to see a road network that helps Zimbabwe to meet the targets of Vision 2030.

“We want to see a road network that transforms Zimbabwe into a regional transport hub and this adjustment will go a long way in the realisation of this vision.”

Mr Mugabe said zinara was doing everything to ensure that public funds that it handled were not abused.

“We have plugged several leakages and recently we introduced a risk and loss control department in the organisation, which in our view is critical to our operations,” he said.

“We are enhancing our internal control systems and monitoring at tollgates as a way of fighting corruption.”

A well maintained national road infrastructure facilitates trade leading to economic improvement of most Zimbabweans including those living in rural areas.

Through zinara, the Government has been able to rehabilitate thousands of kilometres of road networks both in rural and urban areas countrywide.

There may be complications and delays in winding up the estate of late businessman Genius “Ginimbi” Kadungure as the will submitted this week is unsigned, with the Master’s Office at the High Court now calling a meeting of family members and other potential beneficiaries for next week to sort out the way forward and deal with administrative details such as the appointment of the executor.

It is understood, although this cannot be confirmed, that the bulk of the estate, including the businesses and Domboshava mansion are to be assigned to a trust under the unsigned will although there are individual beneficiaries, including it is said someone called “KIT KAT” who is the listed heir of Kadungure’s Lamborghini vehicle.

The will would probably make it clear who would be sharing the revenue from the proposed trust as well as who would be the trustees, or at least how these would be appointed.

Generally the wishes of a dead person expressed in a will are followed, although the law makes provision for the continued maintenance of those being looked after by the estate before the death, along with other concerns.

A Harare man, Mr Nomatter Zinyengere, claiming to be Mr Kadungure’s best friend, this week registered the deceased’s estate and unsuccessfully tried to push the Master of High Court into accepting the unsigned will.

Although Genius’s father Anderson Kadungure and sisters Juliet and Neria were listed as possible beneficiaries of the estate, Mr Zinyengere has been leading the legal process.

It was not immediately clear if Mr Zinyengere was “KIT-KAT”. An online check identified Zinyengere as the director of a South African registered company called KAT Group, which was incorporated in August 2019.

The will shows that Kadungure owned the Domboshava mansion, a company called Infinity Gas, an undisclosed fleet of vehicles and several other companies.

The custodians of the unsigned will, Ranros Estate Administrators, wrote a cover letter seeking the speedy acceptance of the unsigned document as the actual last will and testament for the distribution of the estate.

They argued that some of Kadungure’s companies in Botswana have stopped operating since that country requires an estate to be reported to the authorities before operations can resume.

“The deceased died before signing his last will and testament. We are therefore kindly asking your office to urgently convene a meeting with all beneficiaries so that you can accept the will and issue the court sealed letters of administration.

“The deceased had a running business in Botswana and it stopped operations on November 9, 2020. The laws of that country require the estate to be reported to the Master of High Court within 14 days so that operations will resume.

“The major fear of the beneficiaries is that the business partners of the deceased in Botswana might take advantage and vandalise the assets of the deceased,” reads part of the letter.

However, the Office of the Master through a letter signed by K F Chigomararwa, an Additional Master of High Court in-charge of the Deceased Estates, refused to be pushed into accepting the unsigned will.

Instead, she asked the Kadungure family members and other beneficiaries to attend a meeting on Wednesday next week.

“We are, however, not convinced by the reason, given that a company is a separate legal persona from its owner and that same is usually run by directors. Thus, in our view, the death of the shareholder or a director does not necessarily affect the day-to-day running of a company.

“We, however, we will convene the inquiry, with regards to the will on Wednesday November 25, 2020, at 11.30am at this office, before the undersigned.

“Depending on the outcome of the inquiry, the issue of executorship may also be discussed.

“Kindly notify the deceased’s family and interested parties of the said meeting in order that they may attend,” reads the response.

Efforts to get official confirmation of the developments from the Master of High Court Mr Eldard Mutasa failed. Mr Mutasa refused to comment on the issue.

Sources said the unsigned will state the Domboshava mansion, while part of the proposed trust, should be turned into a hotel to be run by the trustees.

Ginimbi died on the spot on November 8 along Liberation Legacy Way in Harare when his speeding Rolls Royce collided head-on with a Honda Fit.

It veered off the road and hit a tree before catching fire. He was with two foreigners who had come for the Saturday night party of a friend Mitchelle Amuli.

Limumba Karim from Malawi and a Mozambican, who was only identified as Alishia and the birthday girl, Mitchelle were burnt beyond recognition after the doors of the Rolls Royce jammed on impact and it took many hours for police and the Fire Brigade to retrieve their remains from the wreckage.

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

• New cases: 65
• Locals: 65
• Returnees: 0
• Deaths: 4
• Recoveries: 11
• PCR Tests Done: 1 123
• National Recovery Rate: 90.6%
• Active Cases: 586
• Total Cumulative Cases: 9 046
• Total Recoveries: 8 195
• Total Deaths: 265

ZANU PF yesterday said the party’s succession matrix would always be guided by its constitution and remained a straitjacket where the most senior party member would succeed an incumbent party leader.

Addressing a Press briefing in Harare, acting national spokesperson Patrick Chinamasa said Zanu PF remained guided by the constitution in dealing with the succession issue.

“Zanu PF has a constitution and under that constitution, we sit as a congress to elect our president,” Chinamasa said.

“In 1977, a lot of the leaders had fallen by the wayside. The most senior person in rank remaining was (the late) Cde Robert Mugabe and at the congress in Chimoio, he was elected president of Zanu then,” Chinamasa said.

“In November (2017), exactly on the basis of the precedence of 1977, exactly that is what happened when it became very clear that our constitution was being trampled upon by the G40 cabal and that they were threatening the stability of the nation, the party moved in and we elected, at our December congress, President (Emmerson) Mnangagwa as leader of Zanu PF.”

Chinamasa also said Mnangagwa had become the target of the G40 cabal as it was clear, by virtue of him being the most senior in the party, that he was going to take over as president of the party and country.

The succession issue in Zanu PF has remained a thorny issue that which at one time pitted Mugabe. Mnangagwa, former Vice-President Joice Mujuru and the G40.

Mnangagwa, in 2004 led a foiled palace coup dubbed the Tsholotsho Declaration that sought to catapult him from a distant position in the party hierarchy to the vice-presidency that could have immediately positioned him to take over from Mugabe.

Mujuru fell in 2014, but that did not herald the end of factionalism in the party, with the G40, backed by Mugabe, emerging to pose a serious threat to Mnangagwa.

The G40 cabal was, however, vanquished during a military coup that ousted Mugabe in November 2017.

Zanu PF secretary for war veterans Douglas Mahiya supported Chinamasa, saying the most senior person in the party automatically took over.

Mahiya said: “We are guided by the revolutionary fundamentals to continue with the revolution forever.

“We were very clear, we did not tell the former President to resign; we did not say he must go away.

“We simply told him (Mugabe) that when your time is up, you do not mislead the nation or do the wrong thing against what is dictated by the revolution to give the power of this country to any other, other than the people.”

Mahiya said Mnangagwa was the most senior person to take over from Mugabe.

Chinamasa said a lot of developments occurred before and during the coup period, but the party was not yet ready to disclose them at the moment.

“Behind the scenes, a lot took place, but it is too early to say. The further from November 2017, the more likely we are going to tell you.”

He said the succession in Zanu PF was a straitjacket and while it allowed everyone to manoeuvre “within the straitjacket, no one could manoeuvre outside it”.

Chinamasa described the month of November as a “sacred month” for the party and the country” as it gave birth to a “new dispensation” after years of “regrettable events”.

“We are yet to heal. These were the worst ever days in the chapter of the life of our President, Cde ED Mnangagwa, worse than the hanging sentence because then, it was the enemy he had chosen to fight against notwithstanding any consequences.”

Chinamasa said the party had “already won” the 2023 elections two years before the polls are held despite several challenges the party has faced in turning around the economy that include natural disasters.

Chinamasa did not elaborate on how the party “has won” the elections but told journalists that under Mnangagwa, the government had weathered the storm and was on the right track.

“2023 is a dead rubber election. It’s over before voting,” Chinamasa declared, adding the ruling party had faced its fair share of challenges, including COVID-19, Cyclone Idai, sanctions and violence, among other issues.

THE Government is currently the highest paying employer in the country and pay scales for public servants far outstrip what private sector players are giving their employees, Finance and Economic Development Minister Mthuli Ncube says.

The Treasury chief said he had information for remuneration levels across all sectors of the economy and challenged anyone who disputes his assertion to come forward.

Minister Ncube’s comments come after civil servants this week accepted a 41 percent salary increase by Government, including allowances, with teachers getting an additional 10 percent risk allowance, breaking an impasse that had seen the tutors refusing to return to work for several weeks, crippling efforts to resume learning and examinations following Covid-19 disruptions.

National Joint Negotiating Council (NJNC), Apex Council chairperson Mrs Cecilia Alexander, confirmed the deal saying the Government had increased the basic salary only, but they finally settled for increments that include allowances. Further, the public servants annual bonuses will be based on basic salary, transport and housing allowances.

The Treasury chief stressed the point that the latest increase will see the least — paid civil servant earning about $14 500, while the lowest-paid teacher will earn nearly $19 000.

“The lowest paid civil servant right now is on $14 500. A teacher right now will be earning close to $19 000. And the lowest paid civil servant is actually an office orderly. We are way ahead of the private sector in general,” Minister Ncube said, adding that the hard working public servants were well looked after.

Minister Ncube said this in an interview with Zimpapers Television Network (ZTN) on Tuesday evening, on the Government’s new five-year economic development blueprint, the National Development Strategy (NDS1), which runs over the period January 2021 to December 2025 and was launched by President Mnangagwa on Monday.

The Treasury chief was responding to a question on whether the Government will adopt a different approach in its remuneration of civil servants, to ensure that it gives its workers a sustainable and living wage, during the period of the new economic framework, given that under the TSP, priority appeared to be inclined towards sustaining budget surpluses.

He said Treasury was not in any way fixated on achieving surpluses when funding Government programmes through the national budget, but avoiding unsustainable budget deficits that negatively impact the country and citizens in future while making sure expenditure was keeping within distance of revenue capacity.

The Treasury chief has previously said that he expects the proportion of public employment costs to fall to about 42 percent of budget by year end and to keep trending towards deemed sustainable levels of around 30 percent of total revenues, to create provision for investment in developmental projects.

Essentially, what this means is that the proportion of public employment costs in particular and any other recurrent expenditure in general, in order to be sustainable, should tally or only have slight mismatch with the Government’s revenue inflow threshold to leave some space for other key programmes.

Notably, the Finance minister is on record saying, and more recently in his 2021 pre-budget strategy paper, that he announced last month, that the Government wage bill had risen from 48 percent of total revenues in 2009, to a peak of about 78,3 percent in 2017, before receding to around 61 percent in 2018.

Clarifying the issue of public servants’ wages this week, Minister Ncube said the Government was currently the best payer among employers in the country, doing better than the majority of private sector players with its lowest paid workers, among them the office orderly, now on a monthly salary of about $14 000.

But importantly, Minister Ncube said the national budget surpluses were not the priority, but only a positive consequence of its significant efforts aimed at ensuring that the Government lives within its means and that it does not run unsustainable budget deficits that create problems in the future.

“We will not maintain budget surpluses; in fact it was never our target. Our target is to eliminate huge budget deficits or running small budget deficits. So, we will be running small budget deficits.

“And besides… if you run large budget deficits because of wages or whatever the reason is, how are you going to finance it? Where are you going to borrow from if you have got arrears clearance?

“In terms of local borrowings, in the presence of high inflation, which is what we have now, of course it will drop, which will be excellent, but you do not want to over borrow domestically either because you have to pay very high interest rates, that citizens have to pay up in future in the form of higher taxes,” he said.

The Treasury chief stressed that

when you are going through this kind of transition for now, it was more prudent for the Government to maintain small budget deficits and this results in a surplus, the better.

During the period of the short term transitional stabilisation plan, the Government has managed to keep the budget almost balanced while current account deficits turned into surpluses.

Zimbabwe’s fiscal deficit, as a percentage of Gross Domestic Product (GDP), declined from minus 10,5 percent in 2017 to a surplus in 2019 and with an almost balanced budget in 2020.

The budget surplus resources, the finance minister said, have been used to cover obligations arising from emergencies such as natural disasters and unforeseen pandemics such as Covid-19, social protection and development of key infrastructure like roads, bridges and dams.

State Media

ZANU PF will not hesitate to name and shame ministers sleeping on the job as Zimbabwe starts implementing National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1) meant to contribute towards making the country an upper middle-class economy by 2030.

President Mnangagwa recently launched a five-year economic blueprint that succeeds the Transitional Stabilisation Programme (TSP) that ran from October 2018 to the end of this year.

Addressing a special press conference that reflected on Operation Restore Legacy of November 2017, that ushered in a developed focused New Dispensation, Zanu PF acting spokesperson Patrick Chinamasa said the country was in safe hands under the unifying and progressive stewardship of President Mnangagwa.

“There is a need now to effectively focus on implementation, implementation, implementation. The success of the NDS1 will depend on effective implementation.

“Zanu PF will throughout the implementation period keep a stern eye on Ministries, Government departments, parastatals and other State institutions and agencies responsible for implementation of various facets of the National Development Strategy 1 and will not hesitate to name and shame those ministers and state institutions and agencies considered to be sleeping on the job and being lax in the implementation of NDS1,” he said.

Chinamasa further said; “His Excellency the President has to be applauded for coming up with this economic document which aims at creating a prosperous Zimbabwe with an economic growth of 5 percent Gross Domestic Product (GDP) rate per annum, thus joining Africa fastest growing economies.”

“Over the past few years Africa has been home to some of the fastest growing economies and we are happy that through effective implementation of this document and our concerted efforts, Zimbabwe will be counted among the top.”

A Kwekwe man died after consuming a concoction given to him by a prophet in a bid to cure perennial stomach problems.

The man, Decent Mutekeri (22), died after he drank a blue coloured concoction that had been administered to him by a prophet belonging to an unnamed Apostolic sect. Police have since launched a manhunt for the prophet, Munyaradzi Mutomba (30), who reportedly fled after discovering that his healing process had gone wrong.
Midlands provincial police spokesperson, Inspector Joel Goko confirmed the incident.

“On November 16 around 1600 hours, the accused person approached the now deceased at Mbizo 16 tuck shop and informed him that the Holy Spirit had shone him that Mupeperi had stomach challenges and had been sent to treat him. The now deceased consented and they drove in his unregistered Toyota Mark X to the prophet’s house,” said Inspector Goko.

At Mutomba’s house in Mbizo 15 Mutekeri was given a blue concoction that he consumed.

After consuming the blue substance, the now deceased reportedly left for his homestead.

His friends later visited him and he was vomiting a blue like substance. Upon being quizzed, Mutekeri told his friends about the concoction and the supposed healing process.

“The friends then decided to call the prophet who went to the now deceased’s place. Upon arrival, he found the now deceased vomiting and told him that it was part of the healing process,” said Inspector Goko.

The prophet reportedly gave him the remaining concoction to drink which he did.

The following day, upon noticing that Mutekeri’s condition continued to deteriorate, they took him to a surgery in the central business district where he had a scan.

The scan revealed that Mupeperi was suffering from renal failure and referred him to Kwekwe General Hospital where he died upon admission.-Chronicle

Covid-19 infections are on the increase in schools with the number of students that have tested positive at John Tallach High School in Matabeleland North having risen to 115, while new cases have also been reported at Prince Edward High School in Harare.

Vice President Constantino Chiwenga yesterday said Government is worried about the spike in Covid-19 cases at schools.

VP Chiwenga, who is also the Minister of Health and Child Care, said at John Tallach, it is suspected that a pupil attended a funeral in South Africa and contracted Covid-19 before returning to school.

The VP said Government is still investigating the source of Covid-19 at Prince Edward but did not give the number of recorded cases.

Addressing teachers and senior Government officials at Thornhill Primary School in Gweru, where he had gone to donate Covid-19 personal protective equipment to teachers, pupils and their parents, the VP said the Inter-Ministerial Task Force on Covid-19 will go around the country holding meetings with community leaders on the need for vigilance in the fight against the pandemic.

“I could have addressed the schoolchildren but because of the spike which has visited us, we have over 100 pupils affected at John Tallach Secondary School and so far, investigations tell us that one of the pupils went to attend a funeral in South Africa and the child came back and joined other children.

“We also have another spike in Harare at Prince Edward High School and we are still investigating the source of the spike. We are going through a very difficult time, not only as a country but as the entire world because of the Covid-19 pandemic,” he said.

“You can only be productive if you are healthy. So, the Ministry of Health and Child Care officials will be going around the country spreading the gospel of following WHO rules and regulations to mitigate against the spread of Covid-19.-Chronicle

Prince Edward High School in Harare has recorded coronavirus cases amid calls by Members of Parliament for the government to immediately close schools.

Addressing teachers and senior Government officials at Thornhill Primary School in Gweru where he had gone to donate Covid-19 personal protective equipment for teachers, pupils and their parents on Wednesday, Vice President Constantino Chiwenga said the government was still investigating the source of cases in schools.

This comes after another school, John Tallach in Matebeleland North has recorded 122 cases while Kwekwe Polytechnic and Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo Polytechnic have indefinitely suspended lectures after some of their students had contracted the coronavirus.

VP Chiwenga who doubles as the Minister of Health and Child Care said:

I could have addressed the school children but because of the spike which has visited us, we have over 100 pupils affected at John Tallach Secondary School and so far, investigations tell us that one of the pupils went to attend a funeral in South Africa and the child came back and she has affected 100 other children.

We also have another spike in Harare at Prince Edward High School and we are still investigating the source of the spike. We are investigating as to find the source of that spike. We are going through a very difficult time, not only as a country but as the entire world because of the Covid-10 pandemic.-Chronicle

Tinashe Sambiri|The MDC Alliance Namibia has called for nationwide protests at the persecution of prominent journalist Hopewell Chin’ono.

The panicky Zanu PF administration is tormenting Chin’ono for exposing corruption in the so called new dispensation.

Read the MDC Alliance statement below:

18 NOVEMBER 2020

MDC ALLIANCE NAMIBIA FUMES OVER THE INCESSANT INCARCERATION OF INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALIST, HOPEWELL CHIN’ONO.

Mdc Alliance Namibia would like to express its serious disgruntlement in the way our captured police and courts are handling journalists and political activists in the motherland.

The further victimisation and incarceration of the innocent investigative journalist, Hopewell Chin’ono must be resisted with equal measure.

Social democrats must stand in solidarity with those who are unearthing senseless corruption, smuggling, human butchery and gross abuse of basic human rights. Our encouragement as a district is that all progressive Zimbabweans must pent-up their outrage demanding the immediate release of Hopewell Chin’ono and other prisoners of conscience in the names of Last Maengahama and Tungamirai Madzokere.

It is quite pathetic to see Zimbabweans in the country folding their hands neglecting the one who has sacrificed it all to confront the vicious and insensitive regime that feeds on the blood of the innocent citizenry. What mesmerises us is that Hopewell is very cognisant of the murderous legacy of these Zanupf sadists who are currently in charge of our beloved country.

Zimbabweans who are scratching their heads for a single nutritious meal per day must regain their consciousness and realise that Hopewell has absolutely no appetite for personal enrichment but he has displayed varlour , mettle and nerve to fight against Zanupf shenanigans. Those who don’t have a comfortable life should come out in their astounding numbers in solidarity with our Hero.

Moreover, the arbitrary arrest and detention of Hopewell Chin’ono should be viewed by right-minded citizens as a societal malady which demands urgent attention. Citizens must gather courage to speak audibly against the abuse of basic universal freedoms enshrined in the Constitution.

The citizens must cudgel their brains to figure out the reason why Hopewell had also courageously documented horrible experiences of the political violence during the campaign for the 2008 Presidential run-off through his film , A Violence Response. These films came at a juncture when the motherland was undergoing excruciating economic and political upheavals. Only a few managed in the political leadership to pronounce the revolutionary message he has publicly said, knowing fully well the risk that he was taking by unraveling corruption in the authoritarian Zanupf regime and their surrogates.

Furthermore, fewer social democrats have solidly stood shoulder to shoulder with the people of Zimbabwe as he has done.

Mdc Alliance Namibia Rundu Branch Secretary General Simbarashe Ndoda postulated that ,” our members of parliament, councillors and general membership must pledge their solidarity by demanding justice and freedom of Hopewell Chin’ono and other political prisoners. It is clear that he is fighting for socio-economic transformation, so why not flood the Zanupf sponsored courts displaying our zeal for his freedom as well as that of other prisoners of conscience who were arbitrarily arrested as way of breaking their revolutionary spirit? Lets stand in our numbers advocating for political liberty and Constitutionalism in the country. Social democrats must be reminded that Leadership is Activity and anyone can lead anywhere.

It is worth a glance to note that the offence for which Hopewell Chin’ono was initially arrested for has since been dropped. He was deliberately charged with contempt of court , for a tweet in which he categorically stated that Chief Justice Malaba had been seen at the Magistrates Court on the day he was unjustifiably denied bail during previous hearings.

Zimbabweans have to ponder the reason why this charge was withdrawn and why is Hopewell still jailed if the original charge was withdrawn? Mdc Alliance Namibia shall never cease to fight for a people’s government and corruption-free Zimbabwe. The law enforcement agents must desist from fulfilling Zanupf agendas.

Moreso, they are currently charging him for obstructing the course of justice, again for a tweet in which he announced that suspected gold smuggler, Henrietta Rushwaya would be granted bail by consent. Hopewell openly cited that he had received classified information from reliable sources in the National Prosecuting Authority.

Astonishingly, when Rushwaya the alleged smuggler appeared in court, the state did not oppose her bail since she was tipped to get a fine of about $90 000 RTGS before the inculcable- about turn was made the following morning.

It became visible that his report was authentic, for indeed , the prosecution had consented to bail under dubiously porous conditions.

The clueless rogue regime is piling pressure on Hopewell to name his sources in the NPA against his work ethics and he was also conceding his fundamental rights in Section 61(2) which states that, “Every person is entitled to freedom of the media , which freedom includes protection of the confidentiality of journalists’ sources of information”. Hopewell completely rejected to be cowed into submission. Lets fight together with him, we are social democrats, we are revolutionary fighters for justice.

To conclude, the national constitution of the country stipulates that justice delayed is justice denied. Lets not wait to celebrate when they release him at their own time. Bail is a right in Constitutional Democracy.

Mdc Alliance Namibia acknowledges that Hopewell sacrificed his dignity in defence of journalism and that is quite applausible but citizens must rise to compliment his revolutionary commitment and dedication.

Mdc Alliance Namibia
Rundu Branch Spokesperson
Robson Ruhanya

ZanupfMustGo

FreeHopewellChin’ono

FreeLastMaengahama

FreeTungamiraiMadzokere

SmugglersMustGo

People’sGovernment

OneMillionCampaign

CorruptionMustGo

HandsOffJusticeNdewere

ZimbabweanLivesMatter

PayOurTrsALivingWages

NoToSlaveWages

SaveOurEducation

Tinashe Sambiri|Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa and Ugandan leader, Yoweri Kaguta Museveni have perfected the art of butchering their political opponents at an alarming pace, the MDC Alliance Youth Assembly has said.

In a statement, the MDC Alliance described Museveni and Mnangagwa as the worst dictators in the world.

Read full statement below :

19-11-2020

For Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa and his partner in human slaughter, Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, human life -particularly the survival of opposition members, does not matter at all as long as power retention is part of the equation.

From Harare to Kampala, the opposition can not breath as two ruthless dictators go for the broke in pursuit of power at the expense human life.

Zimbabwe and Uganda might be thousands of miles apart, but the dictatorial tastes of the two rulers running the affairs of these two former British colonies are Siamese-like.

Clearly Mnangagwa and Museveni have gone through an apprenticeship on how to butcher opposition lives from their respective predecessors, Robert Gabriel Mugabe and Idi Dada Amin and passed with distinction.

For them, to be is to be worse than their predecessors as far as violations to basic human rights is concerned.

Just as Mnangagwa used the military to slaughter unarmed civilians on 01 August 2018, the world this week woke up to some shock images of mass murder in Kampala as Museveni employed the same script used in Harare.

For Dambudzo and Kaguta, the opposition do not have rights at all!

General elections presents a pocket to slaughter opposition members like chickens in the name of ‘safeguarding sovereignty and peace’.

If not shot with live ammunition, the opposition members are guaranteed mindless and degrading treatment in form of torture, beatings and arbitrary detention.

Just as Hon Tendai Biti was abducted at Chirundu border post under the guise of arrest, Ugandan opposition leader, Robert Kyagulanyi is currently undergoing through the same experience.

It is time progress movements and parties in Africa come together for the common good of extricating ourselves from this bondage of black skin, white masks.

Oppression anywhere is oppression everywhere!

Africa cries for new ideas, new politics and new leaders.

In solidarity with the oppressed beautiful people of Uganda.

#AfricanLivesMatter!

Stephen Sarkozy Chuma
MDC Alliance Youth Assembly National Spokesperson

Tinashe Sambiri|Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa and Ugandan leader, Yoweri Kaguta Museveni have perfected the art of butchering their political opponents at an alarming pace, the MDC Alliance Youth Assembly has said.

In a statement, the MDC Alliance described Museveni and Mnangagwa as the worst dictators in the world.

Read full statement below :

19-11-2020

For Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa and his partner in human slaughter, Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, human life -particularly the survival of opposition members, does not matter at all as long as power retention is part of the equation.

From Harare to Kampala, the opposition can not breath as two ruthless dictators go for the broke in pursuit of power at the expense human life.

Zimbabwe and Uganda might be thousands of miles apart, but the dictatorial tastes of the two rulers running the affairs of these two former British colonies are Siamese-like.

Clearly Mnangagwa and Museveni have gone through an apprenticeship on how to butcher opposition lives from their respective predecessors, Robert Gabriel Mugabe and Idi Dada Amin and passed with distinction.

For them, to be is to be worse than their predecessors as far as violations to basic human rights is concerned.

Just as Mnangagwa used the military to slaughter unarmed civilians on 01 August 2018, the world this week woke up to some shock images of mass murder in Kampala as Museveni employed the same script used in Harare.

For Dambudzo and Kaguta, the opposition do not have rights at all!

General elections presents a pocket to slaughter opposition members like chickens in the name of ‘safeguarding sovereignty and peace’.

If not shot with live ammunition, the opposition members are guaranteed mindless and degrading treatment in form of torture, beatings and arbitrary detention.

Just as Hon Tendai Biti was abducted at Chirundu border post under the guise of arrest, Ugandan opposition leader, Robert Kyagulanyi is currently undergoing through the same experience.

It is time progress movements and parties in Africa come together for the common good of extricating ourselves from this bondage of black skin, white masks.

Oppression anywhere is oppression everywhere!

Africa cries for new ideas, new politics and new leaders.

In solidarity with the oppressed beautiful people of Uganda.

#AfricanLivesMatter!

Stephen Sarkozy Chuma
MDC Alliance Youth Assembly National Spokesperson

Tinashe Sambiri|The MDC Alliance Students Council has accused Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration of exposing learners in colleges and universities to the deadly COVID-19 pandemic.

This comes after seven students at Chinhoyi University of Technology tested positive for Coronavirus.

Speaking to ZimEye.com on Thursday, MDC Alliance Students Council Secretary General, Rujeko Hither Mpambwa said the government should ensure the safety of learners in colleges and universities.

100 pupils also tested positive for Coronavirus, exposing the ineptitude of Mr Mnangagwa’s administration.

“The Zanu PF system is simply playing with our lives.They must address the situation before it gets out of hand.

I can say the Zanu PF administration is insensitive to the plight of students . Coronavirus is real so they have to put safety measures in place to avoid dire consequences,” said Mpambwa.

“There are no adequate facilities to protect students and lecturers from the deadly pandemic -everything is pathetic -no safety nets in place,” she added.

Deputy Health and Child Care Minister Dr John Mangwiro was formally questioned by the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (Zacc) on Tuesday on allegations of applying pressure that was inappropriate, although ultimately unsuccessful, on NatPharm to buy medical supplies from a company in which the Deputy Minister had a personal interest.

The company in the end lost out in a competitive tender to other companies that quoted lower prices, although the process had started with a possible intention for direct purchase without seeking other bids before a competitive tender was floated and adjudicated.

Recently Dr Mangwiro issued a statement denying interfering in the process for the supply of the materials by Young Health Care to NatPharm, saying he only convened a meeting at night in August this year to establish what was causing delays at a time when infections were surging.

Dr Mangwiro was quoted describing the allegations that he abused office by interfering in NatPharm’s dealings with Young Health Care Limited for the procurement of Covid-19 supplies as malicious, mischievous and calculated to cause alarm, despondency and sensationalise the public.

But Zacc questioned him over the matter on Tuesday when he visited its offices in the company of his two lawyers.

Zacc spokesperson Commissioner John Makamure confirmed the questioning yesterday. “We have called him in for a warned and cautioned statement. The docket is not yet complete and we are still waiting for more vital information,” he said.

Although the details were still sketchy, The Herald understands Dr Mangwiro was questioned following a report recently compiled by Zacc that he allegedly applied what was seen by some as pressure during the tender bidding process for the supply of laboratory equipment, reagents and consumables for Covid-19 to NatPharm.

The initial investigation carried out by Zacc between August 31 and September 4, was triggered by an anonymous letter dated

August 18 to Zacc alleging that NatPharm and the Ministry may not have followed procedures during the procurement.  Zacc interviewed Natpharm officials including the acting managing director and officers from National Microbiology Reference Laboratories in connection with the allegations.

“Given the extent to which the deputy minister was involved in the said tender process, indications are that he was acting on his own capacity and not on behalf of the ministry. The actions of the deputy minister signal a personal interest in the tender and this should have prompted him to declare his interest,” said the memo.

The memo recommended further investigations into the possibility that there had been criminal abuse of office and possible violation of the Public Finance Management Act through giving ministerial directives having financial implications when he allegedly demanded prepayment of undelivered goods to Young Health Care.

The memo states that initially Young Health Care was to supply the required goods under direct procurement, where there is no competitive bidding. Young Health Care quoted $5,6 million, which was coincidentally the same amount that was in the ministry coffers, suggesting that the company might have had inside information.

“When NatPharm insisted on a competitive bidding process, Young Health Care subsequently submitted a bid price of US$3,6 million for the same items. This saw a reduction of 36 percent in the price,” ZACC said.-The Herald

Self-proclaimed Prophet Shepherd Bushiri and his wife Mary handed themselves over to police in Lilongwe, Malawi on Wednesday.

Times 360 of Malawi posted on its social media channels that Bushiri and his wife had handed themselves over at Lilongwe Police Station this morning.

Bushiri and his wife left South Africa under unclear circumstances last week after they were granted R200 000 bail each.

The Enlightened Christian Gathering church leader, his wife and three others are accused of fraud involving around R102 million.

On Saturday, Bushiri said that they had fled because they believed their lives were in danger in South Africa and they would not get a fair trial.

Meanwhile, the Gauteng High Court in Pretoria on Wednesday issued warrants of arrest for the Bushiris, when it emerged they had not appeared for their Friday check-in with police.-News24

By Simba Chikanza | Last week Wednesday, State Security Minister Owen Ncube was heard telephoning one of his Personal Assistants, a Provincial Intelligence Officer, saying, bring me my Herald newspaper over to Kwekwe.

The PIO whose name was not immediately available) had to drive from Harare to Kwekwe to drop the newspaper to Kwekwe.

He then ordered the PA, “I want you here in two hours with my newspaper.”

The PA ended up rushing to go purchase a newspaper and drive down all the way to the Midlands province in a rush obeying the minister’s orders.

After that, Minister Ncube went on to say of the officer, “vafana ava vakapusa vanofunga kuti vakadzidza saka tirikuvamhanyisa nema newspaper.” 

The PA was forced to drive all the way to Kwekwe to bring a newspaper which he doesn’t even read.

The development has brought questions in the minister’s suitability for the job.

Minister Owen Ncube who doesn’t have O Level papers, responded to ZimEye.com in the following brief interview”……

QUESTIONS – Honourable Mudha makadii, …. shef, ndinonzi Simba Chikanza,

1. You appear to be more efficient on your job than all other State Security ministers since 1980, what’s your secret to success in the job?

2. Considering your predecessors had degrees, does education matter for the top job?

3. Ndirikuda ku clarifier a story over your announcement on sending your PIO last Wednesday from Harare to Kwekwe to bring a newspaper all the way from capital city. Was that not a waste of public funds?

Minister Mudha answered with a brief chuckle, “haaa, I am not allowed to speak to the press,” he said.

But we have interviewed previous state security ministers with no problems, why now?, he was asked. To which he replied with the same,

“I am not allowed to speak to the Press. ” He said before quickly putting the phone down

FATHER to the late Mitchel Moana Amuli differed with his wife on the way he wanted their daughter buried.

Ishmael Amuli stopped his wife Yolanda Kuvawonga from taking the body of Moana to lie in state at her house in Highfield before burial arguing that it was against their culture and religion.

One of the Amuli’s family members, Sala Saidi said their culture does not allow the burial of Moana in a coffin. Instead, they just wrap the body and take it straight to the grave.

“Moana is our daughter and we expect to bury her in accordance with our custom and religion,” said Saidi.

Scenes at Doves

“Doves has undertakers who are ready to meet each and every religion and cultural belief so this is what the family wants.

“We do not want the body of Moana be taken to Highfield overnight since there will be no body viewing due to its condition.

“The body was expected to be taken to Domboshava not Highfield but for progress’ sake we agreed that the body will pass through Highfield from the parlour and taken straight for burial at Zororo Cemetery along Seke Road.

“Saka zvekuti body irare mumba tazvimisa,” said Saidi.

The Kuvawonga family spokesperson concurred with Saidi saying the body is expected to be collected from Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals’ mortuary this morning where it will be taken to the parlour.

“Tomorrow (today) we are to collect the body at Parirenyatwa by 9am and take it to Doves for a burial service,” he said.

“Today’s programme has been delayed and we failed to collect the burial order and connect with Zororo cemetery officials.

“The body is expected to pass through Highfield before burial, which we expect to be conducted at around 3pm but the final program will be announced by 11am when everyone will be expected at Doves Funeral Services Chapel,” he said.

Opposition MDC-T interim leadership is considering holding the Supreme Court-sanctioned Extraordinary congress online due to the coronavirus.

About 4000 delegates are expected to attend the congress scheduled to take place between December 12 and 20 this year.

The congress is meant to elect the substantive successor to the party’s founding leader, the late former Prime Minister, Morgan Tsvangirai.

The party’s interim Secretary-General, Senator Douglas Mwonzora, confirmed the report adding that a virtual meeting was a possibility. He said:

It is an option that we are considering. However, there are other options, including decentralisation of the congress.

The congress is premised at bringing to an end the prolonged leadership crisis that has caused divisions in the biggest opposition party in the country.

The party’s national council last week held a virtual meeting which nominated four presidential candidates, the interim leader, Thokozani Khupe, Mwonzora, acting chair Morgen Komichi and Elias Mudzuri.

A 27-year-old suspect was arrested at the Beitbridge border post at around 1am on Thursday by members of the Limpopo police and the Musina Bomb Disposal Unit.

He allegedly attempted to smuggle explosives into the country. After having been directed to the searching bay, a total of 115 units of blasting cartridges and 100 units of explosives accessories were discovered in the truck.

Police spokesperson Colonel Moatshe Ngoepe said he was arrested immediately. The suspect was reportedly travelling from Zimbabwe to Alberton, Gauteng.

The explosives were carried in packaged boxes and had been loaded inside the truck’s trailer.

The origin of the explosives and motive are not yet known, but police investigations are continuing.

The man is set to appear in the Musina Magistrate’s Court soon on charges of the possession of explosive materials.

In Polokwane, Limpopo, on November 9, three men and a woman were arrested for transporting explosive materials

The explosives were believed to be the same used to blast open ATMs and all three suspects were immediately arrested.

They have since appeared in the Polokwane Magistrate’s Court on a charge of possession of explosive materials.

Albert Gumbo, a 40-year-old Zimbabwean truck driver, was sentenced to 10 years in jail following his conviction and sentencing at the Musina Magistrate’s Court last month.

In July, the Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Investigation received a tip-off about a truck that was transporting explosives from Zimbabwe into South Africa.

Upon searching the truck, 75 explosive fuse caps and 145 rolls of detonators were found and seized.

IOL

Local power utility, ZESA, has reviewed electricity prices and powerbands for the month of November. The changes were revealed to TechZim who contacted ZETDC to make an inquiry on the prices after the power utility had hinted on reviewing them. These tariffs took effect on the 14th of November. Below are new prices and powerbands as revealed to TechZim:

Consumption Bands Price (ZWL$) Est Price including 6% REA
First 50 units 1.63 1.7278
Next 50 units 3.27 3.4662
Next 100 units 5.73 6.0738
Next 100 units 8.17 8.6602
300 units and above 10.28 10.8968
Prices for first time purchases:

50 units $86.30
100 units $259.70
200 units $ 866.02
300 units $1732.00

Below are the old tariffs and powerbands for comparison.

Consumption Bands kWh Price (ZWL$) Estimated Price incl. 6% REA
1 – 50kWh 1.67 1.7702
51 – 200kWh 3.65 3.869
201 – 300kWh 9.92 10.5152
Above 300kWh 15.57 19.5042
The new ZESA tariffs and powerbands show that the upper and lower powerbands are a little bit cheaper at ZWL$1.63 (from ZWL$1.67) and ZWL$10.28 (from ZWL$15.57). But the bands in the middle are where the prices have increased.

With the old prices you bought 51 – 200 units at a static ZWL$3.65, but now the next 50 units are priced at ZWL$3.27 while the next 100 units are at ZWL$ 5.37.

All of those units were under one charge but are now separately charged at a more expensive price.

More: Techzim

THE Kadungure family were reportedly handed a US$5000 bill to cover expenses related to Michelle “Moana” Amuli’s funeral.

Moana was burnt beyond recognition as Genius “Ginimbi” Kadungure’s Rolls Royce caught fire after hitting a tree last week on Sunday.

Scenes at Parirenyatwa where Moana’s parents clashed

Kadungure family members were among the mourners who spent the better part of yesterday at Doves Funeral Parlour while Moana’s families were holed in a closed-door meeting over the collection of the body.

Kadungure family spokesperson, Darlington Kadungure, said they received a list from Moana’s mother.

“We are here to represent the Kadungure family and we have a list of what they expect us to settle for the burial of Moana,” said Kadungure.

– H-Metro

By A Correspondent- The Zimbabwe anti-corruption commission (ZACC) interrogated depute Health and Child Health Care minister John Mangwiro pending the finalisation of his corruption allegations docket relating to a coronavirus tender.

Mangwiro is alleged to have arm twisted executives of the national Pharmaceutical Company to award a US$5.6 million COVID 19tender to a firm Young Health care which authorities claim was not registered to participate in Government tenders at the time.

More to follow……

-dailynews

THE MINISTRY of Health and Child care has dismissed as false social media reports claiming that a pupil at John Tallach has succumbed to Covid-19.

This follows 100 confirmed cases recorded at the school earlier this week.

ACTING Matabeleland North Provincial Medical Director (PMD) Dr Munekayi Padingani has dismissed as false rumors that John Tallach High School urged members of the public to practice Ubuntu as false messages being sent on social media platforms are distressing and causing untold harm to the affected school and families with pupils at the school.

“I heard that rumor. I called people on the ground and they told me that it is not true. That is why as a country we are updating our Covid-19 statistics every day so that people are aware of what is happening to avoid these falsehoods. If there is a death, people will be informed through our daily ministry report. We are not going to hide anything,” said Dr Padingani

Yesterday, the school’s Development Committee (SDC) representative Mr Zibusiso Ncube appealed to members of the public to desist from sending unverified information which is causing panic to pupils, teachers and parents.

“People are putting the head under unnecessary pressure. The affected kids have parents and some of the information is causing panic. The situation is under control and we are working closely with the Government officials to manage the outbreak. Members of the public should desist from spreading falsehoods regarding the situation at the school,” he said. Mr Ncube said the outbreak is receiving the highest attention from Government and as the SDC would meet today to play their part in assisting the affected pupils and teachers. He also said the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland which runs the school has also been very supportive.

“As the SDC we are meeting today. We want to look after our kids and teachers. We are concerned about their welfare. Food has to be provided because the school is in isolation for 14 days. We will connect virtually with the head who is on the ground so that he updates us on what is needed,” he said.

By A Correspondent- Suspended Zimbabwe Miners Federation leader Henrieta Rushwaya insists she will not interfere with witnesses and is not a flight risk after applying for bail at the high court in a six kg gold smuggling case.

This comes as she has spent 18 days in remand prison after Harare Regional Magistrate Ngoni Nduna denied her bail in the matter.

More to follow…..

By A Correspondent- An MDC youth official Tendai Muchekahanzu yesterday appeared in court accused of trying to rape a party employee at the Morgan Richard Tsvangirai house headquarters popularly known as Harvest house.

The 46-year-old was not asked to plead to the allegations when he appeared before Harare Magistrate Judith Taruvinga who reminded him out of custody on $2 000 bail.

More to follow…

-Bulawayo24

The family of the late fitness trainer, Michelle Moana Amuli, has said the deceased will be buried on Friday (tomorrow).

There was confusion as to when she would be buried after her paternal and maternal parents were disagreeing over how to bury their daughter.

Moana’s father Mr Ishmael Amuli wanted her to be buried in a Muslim way since he himself was a Muslim while her mother was against the idea saying the deceased had a sower relationship with her father, therefore, Mr Amuli should have nothing to do with her funeral.

The family spokesperson told NewZimbabwe that both families had settled their differences. Speaking at Parirenyatwa hospital in Harare a family member in the company of Moana’s father, the spokesperson said:

We talked as both families and agreed.

We will bury Michelle tomorrow (Friday) but we are not yet sure where her remains will be buried since as we haven’t completed the burial process.

Moana died in a fatal car accident along with businessman, Genius ‘Ginimbi’ Kadungure, Limumba Karim and Alichia Adams last week Sunday on their way from celebrating her 26th birthday.

Ginimbi’s Rolls Royce Wraith they were in was involved in a head-on collision with a Honda Fit before veering off the road, hitting a tree and catching fire.

Witnesses who first arrived at the scene said they retrieved Ginimbi, who was still alive, from the vehicle which exploded a few minutes later burning the three passengers beyond recognition.

DNA tests which were to be conducted to establish who was who also delayed the burial of the fitness bunny.

Mnangagwa suspended Justice Ndewere early this month and set up a tribunal to investigate her over conduct deemed as inconsistent with that of a judicial officer.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa has reinstated suspended High Court judge Justice Erica Ndewere’s salary and benefits “after further considerations to the provisions of section 187(10) and 188(4) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe, and receiving expert advice”.

This was after the judge was accused of setting aside a jail term imposed on a convicted thief, Kenneth Majecha, and referred the case back to the magistrates court for resentencing, recommending that the convict should be considered for community service on the basis that he was a youthful first offender.

Mnangagwa yesterday swore in a three-member tribunal consisting of retired judge Justice Simbi Mubako, lawyer Charles Warara and Yvonne Masora to investigate Justice Ndewere.

The President reinstated her salary and benefits after she wrote to the Chief Secretary in the Office of the President and Cabinet, Misheck Sibanda, saying Mnangagwa had no legal standing to dock her salary.

Mnangagwa admitted he had jumped the gun and caved into Justice Ndewere’s demands.

“At the end of the said letter, I indicated that His Excellency, the President had suspended Ms Justice Ndewere without pay and benefits. After further considerations to the provisions of section 187(10) and 188(4) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe, and receiving expert advice, thereon, His Excellency the President has revoked the reference of the said suspension ‘being without pay and benefits’,” part of a letter by Sibanda read.

“Accordingly, she will be on suspension with full pay and benefits reckoned from the date of the original suspension.”

Through her lawyer Beatrice Mtetwa, Justice Ndewere on November 5, 2020 wrote to Sibanda advising that Mnangagwa did not have a legal standing to dock her salary and benefits.

“… We also opine that if the President, in Proclamation 7 of 2020, intended, albeit erroneously, to suspend the judge without salary and benefits, the Proclamation would, in fact, say so,” Mtetwa wrote to Sibanda.

“Your office cannot, therefore, go outside provisions of the proclamation and add its own conditions to same. In short, your superfluous confirmation of the constitutional suspension cannot import into the proclamation what it does not state.”

In another letter dated November 9, 2020 to Sibanda and copied to the Judicial Service Commission, Mtetwa urged Mnangagwa to immediately order the restoration of Justice Ndewere’s salary and benefits.

According to Mtetwa, Justice Ndewere is still hoping that her application to have the tribunal set aside will be heard.

State Media

GOVERNMENT is worried about the spike in Covid-19 cases at schools following new cases that have been recorded at Prince Edward High School in Harare, Vice President Constantino Chiwenga has said.

Addressing teachers and senior Government officials at Thornhill Primary School in Gweru where he had gone to donate Covid-19 personal protective equipment for teachers, pupils and their parents yesterday, VP Chiwenga said the country was going through a difficult time.

VP Chiwenga who is also the Minister of Health and Child Care said Government was still investigating the source of the Covid- 19 cases at the Harare school.

The VP also said after 100 Covid-19 cases were recorded at John Tallach High School in Matabeleland North province, investigations established that one pupil visited South Africa for a funeral and contracted the virus in the neighbouring country.

Covid-19 then spread at John Tallach High school when the pupil returned to school.

“I could have addressed the school children but because of the spike which has visited us, we have over 100 pupils affected at John Tallach Secondary School and so far, investigations tell us that one of the pupils went to attend a funeral in South Africa and the child came back and she has affected 100 other children. We also have another spike in Harare at Prince Edward High School and we are still investigating the source of the spike. We are investigating as to find the source of that spike. We are going through a very difficult time, not only as a country but as the entire world because of the Covid-10 pandemic,” he said.

By Simba Chikanza | Last week Wednesday, State Security Minister Owen Ncube was heard telephoning one of his Personal Assistants, a Provincial Intelligence Officer, saying, bring me my Herald newspaper over to Kwekwe.

The PIO who’s name was not immediately available) had to drive from Harare to Kwekwe to drop the newspaper to Kwekwe.

He then ordered the PA, “I want you here in two hours with my newspaper.”

The PA ended up rushing to go purchase a newspaper and drive down all the way to the Midlands province in a rush obeying the minister’s orders.

After that, Minister Ncube then said of the officer, “vafana ava vakapusa vanofunga kuti vakadzidza saka tirikuvamhanyisa nema newspaper.”

The PA was forced to drive all the way to Kwekwe to bring a newspaper which he doesn’t even read.

The development has brought questions in the minister’s suitability for the job.

Minister Owen Ncube who doesn’t have O Level papers, responded to ZimEye.com in the following brief interview”……

QUESTIONS – Honourable Mudha makadii, …. shef, ndinonzi Simba Chikanza,

1. You appear to be more efficient on your job than all other State Security ministers since 1980, what’s your secret to success in the job?

2. Considering your predecessors had degrees, does education matter for the top job?

3. Ndirikuda ku clarifier a story over your announcement on sending your PIO last Wednesday from Harare to Kwekwe to bring a newspaper all the way from capital city. Was that not a waste of public funds?

Minister Mudha answered with a brief chuckle, “haaa, I am not allowed to speak to the press,” he said.

But we have interviewed previous state security ministers with no problems, why now?, he was asked. To which he replied with the same,

“I am not allowed to speak to the Press. ” He said before quickly putting the phone down

PRESIDENT Mnangagwa has sent a message of condolence to the Banana family following the death of Mr Michael Banana who passed away on Tuesday.

He was 56.

Mr Banana, who was the eldest son of the late first President of Zimbabwe Cde Canaan Sodindo Banana died in the United Kingdom.

Michael Banana reportedly collapsed and died on Tuesday

“I received with great shock and sadness news of the sudden death of Michael Banana, on Tuesday in the United Kingdom. Michael was the eldest son of our late first President Cde Canaan Sodindo Banana. What makes Michael’s end so sad and painful is that he was already scheduled for a minor procedure to correct a heart ailment.

“We remember the young Michael then for the commitment and faithful service he rendered to his country among the pioneering crop of officers of the Air Force of Zimbabwe. As a pilot, he served in Mozambique Campaign.

“On behalf of ZANU PF, Government, my family, and indeed on my own behalf, I wish to express my sincere condolences to the Banana family especially to his mother, Mama Janet Banana, our inaugural First Lady. May they be consoled by our collective prayers and grief as a nation. May his dear soul rest in eternal peace,” the President said.

By A Correspondent| A local apparel designer and manufacturer, Perfect Design, has gifted   Olympic Lyon striker, Tino Kadewere with some of its brands including a regalia jersey.

 In a statement on behalf of Perfect Designs, Friends of the Warriors secretary general Zivanai Muwashu described the gesture as an appreciation of the rapport between the lanky striker and the national men’s football team supporters.

“We have always enjoyed a cordial relationship with Tino as Supporters hence we hope this small gesture will further cement his relationship with his legion of fans back home,” Muwashu said.

“As friends of Warriors players we all treat all Warriors players the same and we appreciate the effort shown by all foreign-based players led by Captain Knowledge Musona but obviously we have ambassadors and Tino is one of them,” he said.

Friends of the Warriors and Perfect Designs officials handed Tino the gifts at the Robert Mugabe International airport as he left for France after starring for the Warriors in the 2:2 draw with African football giant, Algeria at the National Sports stadium on Monday.

 Recently, Perfect Designs unveiled the Warrior’s replica jersey that is available to fans at relatively low prices 

Tinashe Sambiri|Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa and Ugandan leader, Yoweri Kaguta Museveni have perfected the art of butchering their political opponents at an alarming pace, the MDC Alliance Youth Assembly has said.

In a statement, the MDC Alliance described Museveni and Mnangagwa as the worst dictators in the world.

Read full statement below :

19-11-2020

For Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa and his partner in human slaughter, Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, human life -particularly the survival of opposition members, does not matter at all as long as power retention is part of the equation.

From Harare to Kampala, the opposition can not breath as two ruthless dictators go for the broke in pursuit of power at the expense human life.

Zimbabwe and Uganda might be thousands of miles apart, but the dictatorial tastes of the two rulers running the affairs of these two former British colonies are Siamese-like.

Clearly Mnangagwa and Museveni have gone through an apprenticeship on how to butcher opposition lives from their respective predecessors, Robert Gabriel Mugabe and Idi Dada Amin and passed with distinction.

For them, to be is to be worse than their predecessors as far as violations to basic human rights is concerned.

Just as Mnangagwa used the military to slaughter unarmed civilians on 01 August 2018, the world this week woke up to some shock images of mass murder in Kampala as Museveni employed the same script used in Harare.

For Dambudzo and Kaguta, the opposition do not have rights at all!

General elections presents a pocket to slaughter opposition members like chickens in the name of ‘safeguarding sovereignty and peace’.

If not shot with live ammunition, the opposition members are guaranteed mindless and degrading treatment in form of torture, beatings and arbitrary detention.

Just as Hon Tendai Biti was abducted at Chirundu border post under the guise of arrest, Ugandan opposition leader, Robert Kyagulanyi is currently undergoing through the same experience.

It is time progress movements and parties in Africa come together for the common good of extricating ourselves from this bondage of black skin, white masks.

Oppression anywhere is oppression everywhere!

Africa cries for new ideas, new politics and new leaders.

In solidarity with the oppressed beautiful people of Uganda.

#AfricanLivesMatter!

Stephen Sarkozy Chuma
MDC Alliance Youth Assembly National Spokesperson

Tinashe Sambiri|The MDC Alliance Students Council has accused Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration of exposing learners in colleges and universities to the deadly COVID-19 pandemic.

This comes after seven students at Chinhoyi University of Technology tested positive for Coronavirus.

Speaking to ZimEye.com on Thursday, MDC Alliance Students Council Secretary General, Rujeko Hither Mpambwa said the government should ensure the safety of learners in colleges and universities.

100 pupils also tested positive for Coronavirus, exposing the ineptitude of Mr Mnangagwa’s administration.

“The Zanu PF system is simply playing with our lives.They must address the situation before it gets out of hand.

I can say the Zanu PF administration is insensitive to the plight of students . Coronavirus is real so they have to put safety measures in place to avoid dire consequences,” said Mpambwa.

“There are no adequate facilities to protect students and lecturers from the deadly pandemic -everything is pathetic -no safety nets in place,” she added.

By A Correspondent- In a suspected love triangle which nearly turned fatal, a Bulawayo man was allegedly hacked with a machete twice on the head, and once on the back and knee by a man who was reportedly accusing him of snatching his girlfriend.

According to information gathered by B-Metro on 8 November this year and at around 1am and at Maryland Farm in Umguza, Mkhululi Mpofu who stays in Sauerstown suburb got into a fierce argument with Arther Chikoyi (23) who stays at the farm in question after his girlfriend reportedly jumped into his car.

Although the identity of the woman at the centre of the wrangle was not disclosed, it is reported that Chikoyi who apparently feared that he had been outfoxed took away Mpofu’s car keys and went to his house.

Mpofu, in a bid to recover his car keys, followed Chikoyi to his house. When he arrived, Chikoyi came out armed with a machete which he used to strike him and left him for dead.

He gruesomely struck him twice in the head and once in the back and knee.

After the brutal attack, Mpofu who reportedly bled profusely fell unconscious. He regained his consciousness after some time and reported the matter to Sauerstown police leading to Chikoyi’s arrest.

For the offence Chikoyi appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Shepherd Mjanja facing a charge of attempted murder.

He was, however, not asked to plead and was remanded in custody to November 24.

By A Correspondent- The Ministry of Health and Child Care has dismissed as false reports which say a learner at John Tallach High School in Matebeleland North died of Coronavirus.

Reports were made after it had emerged that 118 students and four teachers at the school tested positive for the coronavirus.

Commenting on death reports, the acting Matabeleland North Provincial Medical Director (PMD) Dr Munekayi Padingani urged members of the public to desist from spreading falsehoods.

Padingani said:

I heard that rumour.  I called people on the ground and they told me that it is not true. That is why as a country we are updating our Covid-19 statistics every day so that people are aware of what is happening to avoid these falsehoods. If there is a death, people will be informed through our daily ministry report. We are not going to hide anything.

Padingani’s remarks come after the school’s Development Committee (SDC) representative Mr Zibusiso Ncube yesterday appealed to members of the public to desist from sending unverified information which is causing panic to pupils, teachers and parents. Ncube said:

People are putting the head under unnecessary pressure. The affected kids have parents and some of the information is causing panic. The situation is under control and we are working closely with the Government officials to manage the outbreak. Members of the public should desist from spreading falsehoods regarding the situation at the school.

Meanwhile, Norton legislator, Temba Mliswa, on Wednesday called for the closure of schools saying they should not have been re-opened in the first place as the government was clearly not prepared to make learning institutions safe for both learners and teachers.

Responding to Mliswa, Justice Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi said Zimbabwe needed to adapt to the new normal as it is not known when the virus is going to end.

He underscored the need to adhere to preventive measures such as wearing masks and maintaining social distancing.

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PARLIAMENTARIANS yesterday accused government of rashly reopening schools when it was ill-prepared to deal with COVID-19 outbreaks at institutions of learning after a number of students tested positive for the contagion virus at several schools across the country.

Schools opened for the final phase a fortnight ago with all pupils now set to attend classes after teachers called off their strike following a 41% pay hike.

However, rising COVID-19 cases appear to be the new threat to learning, a few weeks before some pupils sit for examinations.

John Tallach Secondary School in Ntabazinduna, Matabeleland North province, recorded 100 cases and Herentals College is reported to have recorded four cases, among other schools across the country.

At Chinhoyi University of Technology, seven students reportedly tested positive yesterday.

Unimpressed MPs yesterday questioned government’s preparedness to handle the pandemic in schools and why it decided to reopen the schools when it was ill-prepared to manage the outbreaks.

“The chairperson of the COVID-19 taskforce, Oppah Muchinguri, said there are enough resources to deal with the pandemic, but it is my submission that we cannot continue, and government cannot risk people’s lives because after school, those children will go and play with other kids,” Norton MP Temba Mliswa (Independent) said.

“Why have you gone on to open schools when we do not have enough resources? Why risk when we do not have enough resources?”

But Justice minister Ziyambi Ziyambi, who is leader of government business in Parliament, responded: “Resources cannot be enough and that is a fact, but government has channelled resources to the Ministry of Health and designated NatPharm to produce COVID-19 materials.

“We cannot then say that we cannot open schools because we do not know when the pandemic will stop. So we put in place procedures so that we continue learning in the new normal. We had to adapt and whatever resources we have, we have channelled them to this pandemic.”

Mbizo MP Settlement Chikwinya (MDC Alliance) then asked Ziyambi to explain if schools had COVID-19 testing facilities.

This was after Ziyambi had told the House that government would not insist on schoolchildren sitting for examination where there was a danger of loss of life due to the pandemic.

“Where schools do not have testing facilities, then they must close because I do not know which school in particular has testing facilities for COVID-19,” Chikwinya said.

“Today (yesterday), Herentals College had four students that tested positive for the coronavirus and they were turned back and told to come back to school if they got COVID-19 certificates.”

Chikwinya asked: “With the failure by government to equip schools with COVID-19 testing kits, is it not prudent that government should just declare that all schools should be closed? Does government have the capacity to equip all schools with testing kits?”

Ziyambi, however, responded: “We have rapid response teams across COVID-19 centres. Where schools can make the necessary arrangements, then PCR [polymerase chain reaction] tests can be done for that particular school and the learners that test negative can continue and those positive can be isolated.

“Where it is impractical to do so, then the school should close so that we contain the pandemic and so that the virus does not spread to other learners.”

He said when government ordered the opening of schools, protocols had been put in place by the Primary and Secondary Education ministry to ensure the COVID-19 regulations were complied with.

“But where there is an outbreak like the school in Bulawayo, measures will be put in place to ensure the safety of learners,” Ziyambi said.

MPs pressed the minister to reveal at whose expense the tests would be done in schools considering the high cost of conducting the tests, but Ziyambi said schools were working in collaboration with the Health ministry, with government footing the bill.

“The schools are working in collaboration with the Ministry of Health to take care of the costs, which are being assumed by the government through the Ministry of Health.”

Government on Tuesday announced that it would move swiftly to close any school that recorded COVID-19 cases as part of measures to curb the spread of the virulent pandemic amid reports that the country was under a second wave of the highly infectious disease.

This came as John Tallach, a Presbyterian Church-run boarding school in Matabeleland North province, recorded 100 COVID-19 cases, forcing authorities to shut down the institution.

Other schools dotted around the country have come up with timetables for different grades as part of measures to decongest schools to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

MPs expressed concern that there were teachers that were now charging students United States dollars for extra lessons.

Ziyambi responded: “I am not aware that there are teachers charging in US dollars because government policy is that we should use our own currency for transactions. MPs should know that teachers doing that should be reported to the Ministry of Labour which is the employer of civil servants so that they were investigated.”

By A Correspondent- A man and his wife from Pumula South suburb escaped death by luck after armed robbers pounced at their house during the night and hit them several times with an unspecified object before making off with their property.

The incident happened recently when two unidentified men armed with a machete, axe and a log descended on Weston Govera (32)’s home and attacked him with a log all over the body. They left him wailing in pain.

A source close to investigations said the robbers tied him to a bed.

“They tied him to a bed with a rope and went for his wife Levin Chiyangwa. They took turns to attack her with open hands while demanding cash. Fearing for her life Chiyangwa led them to a wardrobe and took USD$110-00 and $300-00 which she surrendered to them,” said the source.

The source went to say they sternly warned her not to scream after that they stuffed a cloth into her mouth.

The accused persons went on to ransack the house and got away with a 32-inch plasma television, four cell phones, Samsung A10, G-Tel MX4 and Mobicel R6, a television remote control and two adaptors.

Chiyangwa untied her hubby before they headed to a police station where they made a report. Govera was rushed to hospital where he has since been discharged.

Police confirmed the incident and noted that investigations were under way to bring the robbers to book.

By A Correspondent| The MDC Alliance Youth Assembly has defended party Secretary General Charlton Hwende following a Twitter war in which he is being accused of defending an Ad Hoc committee report that exonerated Bulawayo Women’s Assembly chairperson Tendai Masotsha of any wrongdoing in the abduction of Tawanda Muchehiwa by state security agents.

Hwende has come under fire from among others ZimLive Editor Mduduzi Mathuthu and Professor Jonathan Moyo who felt he was defending the party Ad Hoc committee which they said failed the nation by exonerating Masotsha.

Posting on his official Facebook page, MDC Alliance Youth Assembly Secretary General, Gift Ostallos Siziba defended Hwende saying, “Thank you Secretary General Charlton Hwende for the support you have given the youth assembly…”

Reached for a comment, Ostallos said as the vanguard of the party, they had a primary role to defend party leaders from unnecessary attacks which he said only served to derail the struggle for change in the country.

“What ever the case, we have the primary role to defend our leadership as they are a vital cog of the National Democratic Revolution, of which we are a vanguard to.”

“Our forces must remain focused, until victory,” said Ostallos.

Masotsha was exonerated of any wrong doing in the abduction of Muchehiwa by suspected state security agents in the run-up to 31 July anti-corruption protests.

The internal inquiry committee made up of Concilia Chinanzvavana, Jameson Timba and Kucaca Phulu concluded that there was no evidence that pointed to Masotsha’s involvement in Muchehiwa’s alleged abduction besides social media claims.

By A Correspondent- A Bulawayo man who was facing charges of assaulting his ex-lover stunned a court when he defended himself saying he committed the crime after he suspected her of having a sexual relationship with his father-in-law.

Tatu Sibanda (45), a widower from Sidojiwe Flats located in the Donnington Industrial area made the claims before Bulawayo magistrate Amanda Ndlovu where he was charged with physical abuse as read with section 3 (1) (a) of the Domestic Violence Act Chapter 5:16.

Sibanda who pleaded guilty to assaulting his ex-lover Sylvia Ncube (52) was convicted and fined of $5 000(or three months in prison).

In addition, three months imprisonment were suspended for five years on condition of good behaviour.

In passing the sentence the magistrate took into consideration the fact that the accused didn’t waste the court’s time when he quickly pleaded guilty to the offence.

It was proved that on 1 November 2020, Ncube who also stays at Sidojiwe Flats went to her friend’s house where she met Sibanda. The court heard that when they met an argument ensued between the two parties over an undisclosed reason. At the height of the argument Sibanda lost his temper and assaulted Ncube with fists and a stick several times on the face.

The matter was reported to the police leading to Sibanda’s arrest and his subsequent appearance in court.

Sibanda, however, caused a rumpus in court when he defended his violent actions saying he committed the offence after he suspected that his former lover was bedding his father-in-law.

-statemedia

By A Correspondent- A 54 year old man who was reportedly troubled by the mysterious deaths of his cattle has been arrested for allegedly raping his seven-year -old niece on the advice of a sangoma to supposedly end the problem.

The man from Dandanda area in Lupane, Matabeleland North province, sought help from a sangoma after his four cows strangely died within a week.

The incident, a source close to investigations said, raised eyebrows within the family prompting the elderly man to enlist the services of a sangoma.

The source said the sangoma told him that he had to sleep with a minor between the ages of five and 10 years so that the spell would end forthwith.

Believing what he was told by the healer he did not think twice.

“Seeing that his wife had gone to fetch firewood and the minor girl was left alone, he lured her into his bedroom hut and gave her some sweets. After that he asked her to sleep with him on the bed. The unsuspecting minor girl didn’t refuse. He played with her till she fell asleep,” said the source.

He exploited the opportunity and allegedly raped her once, said the source.

After the act the elderly man warned the minor girl not to tell anyone about the incident.

However, his luck ran out when the minor girl experienced difficulties in walking.

“The minor tried to keep the matter to herself but pain in her private parts forced her to reveal the ordeal to her mother,” said the source.

The mother reported the matter to the police leading to the alleged rapist’s arrest.

The man appeared before Lupane resident magistrate Ndumo Masuku facing a rape charge.

He was remanded in custody for routine remand.

The magistrate also advised him to apply for bail at the High Court in Bulawayo.

-statemedia

By A Correspondent- A pack of six hyenas killed Mr Tendai Maseka (46) in his hut on Monday night and ate his torso.

Only his arms, legs and head were found the next day in Bangure Village in the Holy Cross area under Chief Chirumanzu.

The remains were buried yesterday. Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks) is now hunting down the pack, which has also killed more than a dozen goats and calves.

Chirumanzu District Development Coordinator Mr Vafias Hlabati, who confirmed the attack, said Mr Maseka’s remains were found by a passer-by the following morning.

“Fellow villagers say the now late Mr Tendai Maseko was last seen on Monday night leaving a business centre at Holy Cross where he was drinking beer,” said Mr Hlabati. “He left alone and is said to have walked home and went into his bedroom before falling asleep and being attacked by the hyenas.”

Police and ZimParks officers visited the homestead and found tracks indicating that Mr Maseka battled the hyenas in his bedroom before they dragged him outside.

“There is a belief that there is a pack of six hyenas and so far, they have claimed killed one person and over a dozen of livestock which include goats and some calves,” he said.

Headman Bangure said the community of Chirumanzu was still shocked by the incident.

“We have just buried the remains of the late Maseka, but this is the first time we have witnessed such an incident in the area,” he said.

“Everyone is in shock and wondering how the pack of hyenas managed to get into the bedroom,” he said.

At a Community meeting facilitated by CHRA in Kambuzuma, it emerged that residents are living with raw sewage bursts due to the failure by the City of Harare to repair them.

Engineer Musikavanhu, the head of waste water in Harare Water cited fuel challenges as an impediment to the sewer repairs.

“The challenge that we are facing as council is fuel to attend to sewer bursts timeously, we normally receive fuel on Mondays but it has not been consistent to enable us to deliver our responsibilities effectively.” Said Engineer Musikavanhu.

Residents lamented that council employees are not attending to sewer bursts exposing them to waterborne diseases.

Some City plumbers are demanding payment in United States dollars for them to attend to the bursts.

The situation has been compounded by lack of political representation.

“Our councilor has been recalled and there is no one who can represent our issues to the council. We are stuck,” said an angry old woman.

The ponds of unrepaired sewer bursts have become playing places for children. Kambuzuma section 1, 2, 4 and 6 are the most affected areas by the bursts.

This development comes at a time when council clinics have been closed.

CHRA, implores the council to take action to resolve sewer bursts and open clinics in Kambuzuma.

By A Correspondent- A pack of six hyenas killed Mr Tendai Maseka (46) in his hut on Monday night and ate his torso.

Only his arms, legs and head were found the next day in Bangure Village in the Holy Cross area under Chief Chirumanzu.

The remains were buried yesterday. Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks) is now hunting down the pack, which has also killed more than a dozen goats and calves.

Chirumanzu District Development Coordinator Mr Vafias Hlabati, who confirmed the attack, said Mr Maseka’s remains were found by a passer-by the following morning.

“Fellow villagers say the now late Mr Tendai Maseko was last seen on Monday night leaving a business centre at Holy Cross where he was drinking beer,” said Mr Hlabati. “He left alone and is said to have walked home and went into his bedroom before falling asleep and being attacked by the hyenas.”

Police and ZimParks officers visited the homestead and found tracks indicating that Mr Maseka battled the hyenas in his bedroom before they dragged him outside.

“There is a belief that there is a pack of six hyenas and so far, they have claimed killed one person and over a dozen of livestock which include goats and some calves,” he said.

Headman Bangure said the community of Chirumanzu was still shocked by the incident.

“We have just buried the remains of the late Maseka, but this is the first time we have witnessed such an incident in the area,” he said.

“Everyone is in shock and wondering how the pack of hyenas managed to get into the bedroom,” he said.