Tinashe Sambiri|The MDC Alliance has denounced the persecution of political activists and human rights defenders by Mr Emmerson Mnangangwa’s administration.
In its report on the alleged role of senior party official Tendai Masotcha in the abduction of Tawanda Muchehiwa, the MDC Alliance accused Mr Mnangangwa’s administration of killing, torturing and harassing hapless citizens.
See part of the report below:
“We demand justice for Joana Mamombe, Netsai Marova and Cecilia Chimbiri.
We demand justice for Tatenda Mombeyarara.
We continue to demand that the State bring back Itai Dzamara.
We further demand an investigation into the extrajudicial killings of Mazwi Ndlovhu and Lavender Chiwaya.
The State must stop abusing the rights of citizens including journalists, lawyers and critics of the system.
We demand the release of Hopewell Chin’ono.
The MDC Alliance remains committed to the fight for freedoms, constitutionalism and the security of persons.”
Tinashe Sambiri|The MDC Alliance has denounced the persecution of political activists and human rights defenders by Mr Emmerson Mnangangwa’s administration.
In its report on the alleged role of senior party official Tendai Masotcha in the abduction of Tawanda Muchehiwa, the MDC Alliance accused Mr Mnangangwa’s administration of killing, torturing and harassing hapless citizens.
See part of the report below:
“We demand justice for Joana Mamombe, Netsai Marova and Cecilia Chimbiri.
We demand justice for Tatenda Mombeyarara.
We continue to demand that the State bring back Itai Dzamara.
We further demand an investigation into the extrajudicial killings of Mazwi Ndlovhu and Lavender Chiwaya.
The State must stop abusing the rights of citizens including journalists, lawyers and critics of the system.
We demand the release of Hopewell Chin’ono.
The MDC Alliance remains committed to the fight for freedoms, constitutionalism and the security of persons.”
The fallout from Boris Johnson’s meeting with a Tory MP who later tested positive for Covid-19 is growing — as four other Conservatives are now self-isolating.
The PM said he feels “great” on his first working day isolating in No 10.
In a video on Monday, Mr Johnson urged others to “follow the rules” if contacted by NHS Test and Trace.
On Thursday, Mr Johnson spent about 35 minutes with Tory MP Lee Anderson, who lost his sense of taste the next day.
The prime minister was contacted by a clinician at NHS Test and Trace on Sunday, who had spoken to Mr Anderson about his movements and decided their meeting counted as close enough contact to require self-isolation.
Mr Johnson, who was admitted to intensive care with coronavirus seven months ago, has maintained the pair followed all social distancing advice during the appointment.
The four other Conservative MPs self-isolating following the meeting include South Ribble MP Katherine Fletcher, Warrington South MP Andy Carter, Great Grimsby MP Lia Nici and Bassetlaw MP Brendan Clarke-Smith.
The PM’s period of isolation begins as the government prepares a policy relaunch.-Chronicle
A GANG of four machete-wielding gold panners allegedly disarmed a security guard of his service rifle, which was loaded with 10 rounds of ammunition before they fatally struck him and robbed him of cellphones, clothes and a pair of shoes.
The incident occurred at Arda Balu Estate in Umguza District in Matabeleland North.
This emerged when one of the suspects, Tobias Dube (26) of Cowdray Park suburb in Bulawayo approached the High Court seeking bail pending trial for murder.
Tobias connived with Dumisani Ngulube (34) of Pelandaba suburb, Nkosilathi Ncube (22) of Nkayi and Givemore Ngwenya (24) of Lupane to fatally attack and rob Ernest Dube (54) after disarming him of his 303 rifle.
Tobias, who is now facing a murder charge in connection with Ernest’s death, filed an application at the Bulawayo High Court citing the State as a respondent.
He sought an order for release on bail pending trial. Justice Nokuthula Moyo yesterday dismissed the application, saying there was no guarantee that if released on bail, Tobias would not abscond due to the gravity of the offence.
“It is ordered that the application be and hereby accordingly dismissed,” ruled the judge.
In papers before the court, Tobias through his lawyers Nyawo Ruzive Practice had offered to pay $5 000 bail and to report once a week at Cowdray Park Police Station as part of the bail conditions.
He had also offered to continue residing at his given address and not interfere with State witnesses until the finalisation of the matter.
In his bail statement, Tobias is denying the charge, arguing he was tortured by police to admit the charge.
He further argued that there was no evidence linking him to the offence.
“I don’t know anything about the murder of the deceased as I was not in the company of my co-accused on the night in question. There is no evidence linking me to the commission of the offence and the averment that I was found in possession of the deceased’s belongings is misleading because I am actually the one who took the police to the co-accused persons,” argued Tobias.
“After the torture we were taken to the crime scene and forced to make indications by the police.”
He also dismissed the State’s assertion that he was likely to abscond if released on bail, arguing that the State’s case was weak.
The State, which was represented by Mr Bruce Maphosa, opposed the application, arguing that there were compelling reasons warranting the accused person’s continued detention.
“The sentence that the applicant is likely to get upon conviction is a lengthy one and that on its own can tempt him to escape justice by absconding,” he said.
According to court papers, it was stated that on August 20 this year, Tobias together with his three accomplices who are also in custody, armed themselves with machetes and axes and went to Arda Balu Estate in Umguza. They found the deceased manning the premises together with his colleague Ashley Manyemba.
They allegedly confronted the two security guards and indiscriminately attacked them using machetes. They also managed to disarm Ernest of his rifle before they continued to attack him leading to his death. The deceased’s colleague lost consciousness after sustaining a serious head injury.
The gang went away with a loaded 303 rifle. Manyemba gained consciousness after a while and staggered to his colleague whom he found lifeless in a pool of blood and reported the matter to the police.
Tobias was the first to be arrested after a tip-off and upon investigations he implicated the other three.-Chronicle
Match of the Day host Gary Lineker has donated £200 to help a refugee who’s on the brink of dropping out of university after allegedly being denied a student loan.
The presenter is supporting Malcom Thawala’s crowdfunder so he can stay at university after he feared he would have to leave his course months after joining.
It comes after the former England and Leicester ace recently took in a migrant for a month after he was criticised for virtue signalling when he had publicised the plight of refugees.
The 59-year-old donated to the ‘Malcolm deserves an education’ crowdfunding page after one of Malcom’s friends tweeted the ex-England striker to ask him to support the campaign.
Cooper said: ‘Hi, Gary, could you please retweet this so it can gain more attention in aid of my friend’s housemate?
‘He was accepted into Liverpool Uni but has now been refused student loans as he came to the country as a refugee seven years ago.’
The former Spurs and England star responded: ‘Of course’ and donated £200, taking the crowdfunder’s tally closer towards its £27,750 goal.
Malcolm, 23, is originally from Zimbabwe and he came to Liverpool in 2013 as a refugee searching for his mother, who had arrived in the UK 10 years earlier.
Malcolm Thawala, 23, is originally from Zimbabwe and came to Liverpool in 2013 as a refugee. He began studying Nutrition and Sports Exercise Science at Liverpool Hope University, but claims his student loan has been rejected. He fears this was due to his visa status Malcolm Thawala, 23, is originally from Zimbabwe and came to Liverpool in 2013 as a refugee. He began studying Nutrition and Sports Exercise Science at Liverpool Hope University, but claims his student loan has been rejected. He fears this was due to his visa status After reuniting with her, Malcolm studied hard and was runner-up in the Adult Student of the Year Award in England last year.
He landed a place at Liverpool Hope University and started in September, but could now be forced to drop out after student finance allegedly denied him a loan due to his visa status.
Malcolm said: ‘Since arriving in Liverpool and reuniting with my mother I have fallen in love with the city, I feel at home here.
‘I have tried hard to better myself academically, completing an Access Allied Health course last year and receiving runner up for the Adult Student of the Year Award across England.
Fundraiser for Malcolm Thwala by Layla Rigby : Malcolm Deserves an Education ‘When Hope University offered me a place this year to study Nutrition and Sports Exercise Science, I was ecstatic.
‘I accepted the offer without hesitation and have been enjoying the course since starting in September.’
But his dream of going to university appears dashed only months after he started his course because of his immigration status and he claims he is being treated unfairly.
Malcolm added: ‘Sadly, this will all come to an abrupt end. On November 8, I received a letter from student finance refusing to loan me my tuition fees because of my visa status.
A fundraising page (pictured) has been set up for Malcom in a bid to raise funds for his education A fundraising page (pictured) has been set up for Malcom in a bid to raise funds for his education
One of Malcom’s friends tweeted the football star and asked him to raise the profile of the fundraiser, to which he replied: ‘Of course’ One of Malcom’s friends tweeted the football star and asked him to raise the profile of the fundraiser, to which he replied: ‘Of course’
The crowdfunding page shows that the BBC Match of the Day host donated £200 The crowdfunding page shows that the BBC Match of the Day host donated £200
‘When I applied to university, my status was known by both the university and the Government and I still got accepted into the course, I feel like I am being treated unfairly.
‘I am absolutely gutted that my university journey could be over in a matter of two weeks after just a short few months.
‘It is frustrating that in a City with my family, friends and my job I may be unable to pursue the future that I want.’
The crowdfunding page shows that Lineker donated £200 after the refugee’s heartfelt plea. It comes after the former footballer took in a migrant to his home in August. Migrant Rasheed penned Lineker a heartfelt letter (pictured) thanking him for the ‘hospitality, love and company’ the football pundit and his ‘lovely respectful children’ gave to him. The ex-footballer posted a picture of the note on his social media Migrant Rasheed penned Lineker a heartfelt letter (pictured) thanking him for the ‘hospitality, love and company’ the football pundit and his ‘lovely respectful children’ gave to him. The ex-footballer posted a picture of the note on his social media
Rasheed’s letter to Lineker in full ‘Dear Gary Lineker,
When I was moving to your home, I was worried that you might be unfriendly and conservative but it was all reverse what I thought.
During my stay at your beautiful home, I never felt that I am a stranger or guest but it seemed to me as if I am a member of your family.
I can never forget your hospitality, love and company that you and your lovely respectful children gave to me.
There is a saying in Balochi language, that if you give me a glass of water, I owe you in my entire life. In fact you did more.
Migrant Rasheed, from the mountainous Balochistan region which straddles Pakistan and Iran, lived with the former England and Leicester ace for 20 days while studying a law course.
He later penned Lineker a heartfelt letter thanking him for the ‘hospitality, love and company’ the football pundit and his ‘lovely respectful children’ gave to him.
Lineker, who has four sons George, Harry, Tobias and Angus, shared a snap of the letter on his social media.
After Rasheed’s stay the former footballer said: ‘It’s been fascinating and a real education for my boys as well.
‘Because obviously they’re privileged – they know they’re privileged – but then to hear this guy’s story.
‘And he was brilliant with them. I’ll definitely do it again.’
It came after Lineker was criticised for ‘virtue signalling’ over his criticism of the government’s handling of the migrant crisis.
In August Ashfield MP Lee Anderson, 53, slammed the ex-footballer for discussing the record number of migrants who have arrived in the UK on boats this year.
Lineker, who is worth an estimated £28million and is the BBC’s highest paid sports pundit, lives in a luxurious five-bedroom home in Barnes, south west London.
A spokesperson for Liverpool Hope University said: ‘The University was made aware of this student’s situation regarding student finance earlier this month.
‘At this point in time the University offered the student financial assistance.
‘The student is continuing to study at the University and is being offered full support while he is appealing the decision of the Student Loan Company.’
The Student Loans Company has been approached for comment.
Close to 90,000 sexual abuse claims have been filed against the Boy Scouts of America as the Monday deadline arrived for submitting claims in the organisation’s bankruptcy case.
The number far exceeds the initial projections of lawyers across the United States who have been signing up clients since the Boy Scouts filed for bankruptcy protection in February in the face of hundreds of lawsuits alleging decades-old sex abuse by Scout leaders.
“We are devastated by the number of lives impacted by past abuse in Scouting and moved by the bravery of those who have come forward,” the Boy Scouts said in a statement. “We are heartbroken that we cannot undo their pain.”
A few hours before the 5pm ET (22:00 GMT) deadline, the number of claims totaled 88,500, lawyers said.
Eventually, the proceedings in federal bankruptcy court will lead to the creation of a compensation fund to pay out settlements to abuse survivors whose claims are upheld.
The potential size of the fund is not yet known and will be the subject of complex negotiations.
The national organisation is expected to contribute a substantial portion of its assets, which include financial investments and real estate. The Boy Scouts’ insurers also will be contributing, as will the Boy Scouts’ roughly 260 local councils and companies that insured the organisation in the past.
Andrew Van Arsdale, a lawyer with a network called Abused in Scouting, said his group has signed up about 16,000 claimants. He said that number doubled after the Boy Scouts, under the supervision of a bankruptcy judge, launched a nationwide advertising campaign on August 31 to notify victims that they had until November 16 to seek compensation.
“They spent millions trying to encourage people to come forward,” Van Arsdale said. “Now, the question is whether they can make good on their commitment.”
The Boy Scouts said it “intentionally developed an open, accessible process to reach survivors and help them take an essential step toward receiving compensation.”
“The response we have seen from survivors has been gut-wrenching,” the organisation added. “We are deeply sorry.”
Declining institution The bankruptcy has been painful for the 110-year-old Boy Scouts, which has been a pillar of American civic life for generations.
Its finances were already strained by sex abuse settlements and declining membership – now below two million from a peak of over four million in the 1970s.
Most of the pending sex abuse claims date to the 1960s, 70s and 80s, before the Boy Scouts adopted criminal background checks, abuse prevention training for all staff and volunteers, and a rule that two or more adult leaders must be present during activities.
Among the contentious issues still to be addressed in the bankruptcy case is the extent to which the Boy Scouts’ local councils contribute to the compensation fund.
In its bankruptcy filing, the national organisation said the councils, which have extensive property holdings and other assets, are separate legal entities and should not be included as debtors in the case. An ad hoc committee representing the councils has been negotiating what they will pay in.
Under the terms of the case, no additional sex abuse claims can be filed against the Boy Scouts after Monday.
However, attorney Jason Amala, part of a legal team representing more than 1,000 claimants, said new claims still could be filed against local councils in some states that have victim-friendly statute-of-limitations laws, such as New York, New Jersey and California.
‘Mind-boggling’ Lawyer Paul Mones, who won a $19.9m sex abuse verdict against the Boy Scouts in Oregon in 2010, said painstaking work lies ahead to determine which insurers were responsible for coverage of the national organisation and the local councils over the decades in which abuse occurred. He said the eventual payments are likely to vary, depending on the severity and duration of the abuse.
“The number of claims is mind-boggling,” Mones said, noting that many abuse victims likely have not come forward. “It’s chilling in terms of the amount of horror that was experienced.”
Some of the claims may be hard to verify, if they involve abuse allegations against volunteer Scout leaders whose names don’t appear in official rosters from long ago, Mones said.
One of the official parties in the case, a group of nine sex abuse survivors representing all the victims, called the case “the largest and most tragic bankruptcy ever resulting from sexual abuse liability”.
“More sexual abuse claims will be filed in the Boy Scouts bankruptcy than all claims filed against the Catholic Church throughout the nation,” the Torts Claimants Committee said.
“Sexual abuse in scouting is unprecedented and the remedies for victims must, likewise, be unprecedented,” said the committee’s chairman, John Humphrey.
GOVERNMENT says it has put in place several mechanisms in order to guard against the second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic.
This was revealed by the Minister of Defence and War Veterans in her capacity as the Chairperson of the Ad-Hoc Inter Ministerial Task Force Oppah Muchinguri- Kashiri during the Forty-First Post Cabinet Press Briefing Held in the capital this Tuesday.
“To guard against a second wave of the COVID-19 outbreak, Government through the Ministry of Health and Child Care is strengthening surveillance and health information management in order to ensure an efficient and effective system to counter such an eventuality,” she said.
Muchinguri-Kashiri also cited community engagement as key in curtailing the spread of the pandemic.
“Furthermore, awareness campaigns will focus on community engagement using community leaders with the support from sub-national structures to foster community responsibility and enforce COVID-19 preventative and precautionary measures,” she added.
Concerning the management, prevention and control of COVID-19 positive cases, she highlighted that there were no cases in isolation and treatment facilities and all identified cases were recovering in isolation at home.
On materials production and availability, Cabinet advised that Natpharm and other private companies have adequate stocks of most medicines and drugs required for the prevention, treatment and supportive management of COVID-19.
As of the 13th of November 2020,Zimbabwe had recorded a total of 8 756 COVID-19 cases,8090 recoveries and 257 deaths with the national recovery rate standing at 92 per cent.
A fed-up man is divorcing his wife over her refusal to have sex with him because she is “pregnant by the Holy Spirit”.
The Zambian man has claimed his wife has refused to have sex with him since July because a prophet she has been consulting since 2018 told her not to as she is “pregnant by the Holy Spirit”, Zambia Daily Mail reported.
The man alleged that his wife, 38, listens to the prophet more than him, and consulted the prophet every time her husband asked for sex.
The couple have been married since 1990 and share two children.
Constance was told to return to Zimbabwe despite the fact that she fled anti-LGBT+ discrimination and is an essential worker
A healthcare worker who fled anti-LGBT+ discrimination in Zimbabwe has said her application for asylum in Ireland was rejected because she didn’t “seem bisexual”.
Constance, whose name was changed to protect her identity, told CNN that she fled Zimbabwe because of widespread anti-LGBT+ sentiment – but she was left heartbroken when Ireland’s Department of Justice denied her application for asylum, despite the fact that she is a frontline worker.
The nursing home worker was told that her reason for leaving Zimbabwe did not add up as she did not “seem bisexual”.
Constance appealed her application on humanitarian grounds after she was handed her first rejection. Through this process, she was able to provide evidence of her good character and conduct in Ireland.
She believed that her job as a healthcare worker in a nursing home would strengthen her application, particularly due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Constance also supplied a “glowing reference” from her employer, who told asylum officials that her work was essential.
Despite this, she had her hopes dashed when she received a letter on 28 October telling her that she would be deported.
Asylum seekers working on the frontline of the pandemic are being ‘chased away’ to the countries they fled.
Another woman, named only as Lily, found herself in a similar position to Constance.
Lily, who also fled Zimbabwe in 2016 due to anti-LGBT+ sentiment, works in a nursing home in Dublin. She was left heartbroken when she received a letter telling her that she no longer had “permission to remain in the state” and that she must leave voluntarily or face deportation.
Lily told CNN: “They are saying the frontline workers are the heroes… but behind closed doors they are chasing us away and kicking us back [to the counters we fled].”
Both women chose to keep their full names secret due to fears that their asylum applications could be affected if authorities discovered they had spoken out.
LGBT+ rights in Zimbabwe continue to lag far behind other countries, with gay sex still illegal, while same-sex marriage is banned under the constitution.
Queer Zimbabweans have no legal protection from discrimination, violence and harassment, while LGBT+ people are often forced to remain closeted to protect their safety.
Former President Mugabe’s fall was at its peak three years ago at this time.
Zimbabweans first believed Emmerson Mnangagwa, the man who succeeded him in the military coup that ensures three years ago, was a godsend.
The reason? Mnangagwa’s promises of jobs and democracy.
“Today, we are witnessing the beginning of a new and unfolding democracy,” Mnangagwa told local and foreign journalists after his return from brief exile on November 22, 2017, a day after Mugabe resigned under duress.
“The voice of the people is the voice of God,” he said at the Harare headquarters of ZANU-PF, the party that has governed Zimbabwe since independence from Britain in 1980. “No one is more important than the other. We are all Zimbabweans. We want to grow our economy. We want jobs.”
Weary of Mugabe and his ruinous economic policies, Zimbabweans were optimistic.
Three years down the line, what are Zimbabweans’ ascertain of the “God given President.”
"The voice of the people is the voice of God,No one is more important than the other. We are all Zimbabweans. We want to grow our economy. We want jobs.” three years on since Mugabe coup, what's your take on Mnangagwa's presidency.
Saudi Arabia Minister of State for African Countries Affairs, Mr Ahmed Kattan
THE Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has dispatched a high-powered delegation led by its Minister of State for African Countries Affairs, Mr Ahmed Kattan, to scout for opportunities in mining and agriculture in Zimbabwe.
Foreign Affairs and International Trade Minister Dr Sibusiso Moyo on Monday held talks with the Saudi delegation and briefed it on abundant investment opportunities in the country.
Speaking to journalists after his meeting with Minister Moyo, Mr Kattan said the Middle East country was keen on scaling up diplomatic relations with Zimbabwe beginning by setting up a local embassy.
Apart from immediate interest in mining and agriculture, Minister Kattan said his country was willing to help Zimbabwe in its quest to remove the yoke of the illegal sanctions imposed on the country by some Western countries.
“I see potential for our two countries to expand trade and investment relations in pursuit of mutual prosperity especially in the agriculture and mining sectors.
“It is an opportunity to enhance our relations. The most important thing is that we will have bilateral diplomatic relations very soon. We are ready to sign the agreement.
“Our policy is guided by our firm belief of non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries, advancing multilateral relations and maintaining peace and security in the region and the world,” he said.
Minister Moyo said there was urgent need for the two countries to establish diplomatic relations and declared Zimbabwe’s readiness to do so.
“I believe that Zimbabwe and the Kingdom of Saud Arabia have a lot of common interest and can cooperate at the multilateral forum to safeguard each other’s interest,” said Dr Moyo.
Saudi Arabia had an economic blueprint to achieve set targets by 2030, a time frame Dr Moyo said dovetailed with President Mnangagwa’s vision to also push the country towards the attainment of an upper middle income society by that time.
“The Government of Zimbabwe in the Second Republic has made it clear that it wants to be friends with everyone and enemy to no one.
“We look forward to the Saudi Africa International Summit and the African Arab Summit. This should drive us to a common position in seeing things the same way,” Dr Moyo said.
Dr Moyo said Zimbabwe was looking at tapping into the oil industry the Arabs are renowned for globally.
The delegation is expected meet President Mnangagwa on Tuesday to discuss more areas of cooperation between the countries.
Former Health and Child Care Minister Dr Obadiah Moyo will stand trial on January 11 next year.
Moyo appeared in court on Tuesday before regional magistrate Mr Ngoni Nduna who furnished him with the trial date.
The former minister is being charged for his alleged involvement in NatPharm’s unprocedural contract with Drax International LLC to supply medicines and surgical sundries, and is consequently facing criminal abuse of office charges.
The Zimbabwe Teachers Association, ZIMTA, has warned that teachers who will not return for duty at the instigation of other Teachers. Unions will be left alone when goverment dismisses them.
The Union which on Monday agreed to a salary offer while other unions rejected it says teachers caught “breaking the law” at the instigation of the unions they joined saying their unions will not assist them in the event that they get retrenched.
The unions have been influencing teachers to reject government salary offers which they said were insignificant given the deteriorating state of affairs.
ZIMTA wrote on Facebook:
Our Beloved Members
ZIMTA exists for many things. Mostly to promote , advance and protect the needs of teachers, and as such we will not stand by and watch as some vulnerable teachers lose their jobs, or salaries, or livelihood, due to some undue pressure from unrecognized, unorganized social media groups who continue to urge you to break the LAW.
Please be warned, these groups will be nowhere to be found in your time of need. Move with the professionals, move with US.
The Zim Dollar has continued stable against the US Dollar at the Reserve Bank Of Zimbabwe auctions this week at the foreign currency auctions conducted by the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe.
The local currency picked at $81.7102 to the US Dollar.
JOHN Tallach Secondary School’s Development Committee (SDC) has said the learning institution where 100 pupils have tested Covid-19 positive observed health guidelines but the virus could have penetrated into the school when non examination classes resumed lessons.
73 of the affected pupils are asymptomatic, while 27 have mild symptoms and more tests are being conducted.
John Tallach’s SDC representative Mr Zibusiso Ncube said the standard operating procedures put in place were observed and the majority of pupils who tested positive were asymptomatic.
He said school authorities suspect the global pandemic could have penetrated into the school when non examination classes travelled back to resume their studies.
Examination classes resumed lessons on September 28. Grade Six, Form Three and Form Five classes reopen on October 26 and the rest of the pupils reopened on November 9.
“The systems we put in place in line with the ministry guidelines implemented globally proved to be efficient as the learners who presented with the symptoms were quickly identified and they got medical attention,” he said.
“We have observed numerous posts on various media fora which has caused panic amongst the parents and guardians. We urge everyone to be responsible and ensure there is verification with the officials from the Ministry and the school on the exact number of cases as the spreading of inaccurate data is reckless, dangerous and traumatic.”
Acting Matabeleland North Provincial Medical Director (PMD) Dr Munekayi Padingani said they were first called to test five suspected cases and the results were positive.
He said by Monday, the figure had risen to 100.
“By Monday 100 pupils had tested positive with 73 have mild symptoms and 27 are asymptomatic,” he said.
FIRED opposition MDC-T national organising secretary Abednico Bhebhe yesterday rubbished the decision to expel him, saying he would remain in the race for the party presidency.
Bhebhe was shown the exit door during a national council meeting held virtually on Saturday “for grossly violating the constitution of the party by supporting political party other than the MDC-T”.
He was expelled soon after he trounced party bigwigs, interim leader Thokozani Khupe, acting secretary-general Douglas Mwonzora, acting chairperson Morgen Komichi and former Energy minister Elias Mudzuri during provincial nominations held in Bulawayo recently.
The defiant Bhebhe yesterday told NewsDay that his expulsion was not enforceable at law.
“I am not aware of any constitutional and legally enforceable expulsion except what I read in the Press,” Bhebhe said.
He, however, remained mum on whether he was going to seek legal recourse.
But Mwonzora defended the party’s decision to expel Bhebhe and dismissed allegations that he was manipulating the electoral process to get rid of candidates who posed a serious threat to his presidential bid.
“First and foremost, we have acted above board in accordance with the law. If he thinks that we acted unlawfully, he can find recourse in the courts or any other remedies,” Mwonzora said.
Khupe and Mwonzora have been accused of engineering a resolution by the MDC-T national standing committee to suspend provincial nominations during a strategic retreat held in Nyanga last week.
Initially, the pair is said to have been pushing for the nomination of only two candidates to contest for the presidency, but Mudzuri and Komichi were roped in after they protested.
Reports also say that there is a fresh plot to reshuffle the standing committee after the congress and dump Mudzuri and Komichi.
Ginimbi’s Rolls Royce on fire with collegues burning inside.
The long wait by families of Geniuos Kadungure accident collegues is finally over after the National University Of Science And Technology completed Deoxyribonucleic (DNA) tests to positively identify the bodies.
The DNA results and identification of the remains were delaying the burial of the victims who were burnt beyond recognition when Ginimbi’s Rolls Royce Wraith they were in was involved in a head-on collision with a Honda Fit along Borrowdale Road before veering off the road, hitting a tree and caught fire.
The National University of Science and Technology that was conducting the tests announced that the tests were complete which means the bodies will now be ready for collection.
Home Affairs Minister Aaron Motsoaledi went before Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Tuesday to explain how Shepherd and Mary Bushiri left the country.
The Bushiris contravened their bail conditions, fleeing the country after being charged with theft, money-laundering, and fraud.
Last week, the couple was granted bail of R200,000 each.
Chairperson of the Parliamentary Committee, Bongani Bongo, said the Bushiri matter is one of “public importance” and everybody is talking about it.
Speculation was widespread the Bushiris left the country on the Malawian presidential flight, but this was later found to be untrue.
Motsoaledi said a comprehensive report on the incident will be presented to Parliament from all the ministers in the security cluster.
He presented his own report on the Bushiris’ documented travel history in the country.
Motsoaledi said Mary Bushiri first arrived in South Africa in 1997 with a permanent residency permit, but South Africa’s electronic movement control system has no record of this arrival.
There is also no record of Shepherd Bushiri’s entry into the country in 2009. His authentic arrival date is taken as occurring in 2013.
Bushiri registered companies locally in 2014, 2015 and 2016 but did not apply for a business visa.
In 2016 the Bushiris applied for permanent residency, despite Mary Bushiri having such a permit.
The Bushiris declared under oath that they entered SA for the first time in 2015.
The minister said the Bushiris’ permanent residence status was “irregular” with “lots of anomalies”.
Home Affairs took steps in August to revoke their permanent residence and a court case on the matter is ongoing.
A High Court judgment stopped the government from withdrawing the self-proclaimed prophet’s permanent residency, a decision the department is appealing.
Judgment was reserved in the case
Motsoaledi said the government cannot hide from the fact that the country’s borders are “porous”.
The minister said he was anxious and for this reason opposed bail for the Bushiris and deemed them a flight risk. This information was communicated with the police.
Motsoaledi also described the events taken on 13 November, when Malawaian president Lazarus Chakwera and his envoy was delayed while law enforcement conducted security checks on the delegation to ensure the Bushiris were not in the company.
The Malawian team was delayed for several hours at Pretoria Waterkloof Military Airbase as authorities conducted multiple security checks on the presidential entourage and the advance team.
According to Motsoaledi, not all members of the presidential delegation left immediately — at least three of them are still in the country.
The minister said the Bushiri couple have both been issued five passports each by the Malawian government but used none of these passports at any official port of entry.
secretary in the Public Service Commission Ambassador Jonathan Wutawunashe
Government will this month start to pay civil servants their annual bonuses, which will be paid in two phases.
In a statement, the secretary in the Public Service Commission Ambassador Jonathan Wutawunashe said Government has also agreed on a cost of living adjustment effective November 1.
“The Public Service Commission is pleased to advise that Government and Government workers’ representatives, meeting in the National Joint Negotiating Council have agreed on a Cost of Living Adjustment effective November 1, 2020.
“They also agreed on payment modalities for the 2020 annual bonus which will be paid in two phases, the first in November 2020 and the second in December 2020.”
He added that Government and workers will continue to engage and improve working conditions of civil servants.
Cabinet resolved that where COVID-19 cases are suspected in schools without adequate testing facilities, these should be immediately closed in order to allow for testing of all pupils and only those who test negative return to school.
Cabinet has just finished its session for this week. Watch in the video downloading below as the Minister of Information Minister Monica Mutsvangwa presenting the post cabinet press briefing.
Journalist Hopewell Chin’ono’s bail appeal has been postponed to this Wednesday at the High Court.
Chin’ono is facing obstruction of justice and contempt of court charges for allegedly breaching bail conditions in another case in which he is charged with inciting public violence.
In his High Court appeal, Chin’ono argues that he did not breach his bail conditions as was alleged when he was denied bail at the Magistrates Court.
He added that he was not banned from using Twitter, but was ordered not to use Twitter to incite violence.
Government is in for a torrid time after rushing to force schools to open without ensuring proper Covid-19 precautions this after the number of pupils who have so far tested Covid-19 positive at John Tallach Secondary School in Ntabazinduna, Matabeleland North province rose to 100.
Acting Matabeleland North Provincial Medical Director (PMD) Dr Munekayi Padingani said they were first called to test five suspected cases and the results were positive.
He said by Monday, the figure had risen to 100.
“By Monday 100 pupils had tested positive with 73 have mild symptoms and 27 are asymptomatic,” he said.
The school initially suspended learning for two weeks after the five pupils tested positive for Coronavirus early last week.
The latest figures will certainly rile teachers’ unions who opposed the re-opening of schools for the third term, warning that the government was ill-prepared to protect both learners and teachers from the virus.
The affected pupils have been released to their parents to self-isolate at them, according to Taungana Ndoro, the director of communications in the ministry of primary and secondary education.
“Lessons have now been suspended for 14 days and movement from dormitory to dormitory has been prohibited whilst teachers have been asked to stay within their cottages,” Ndoro told journalists at the onset of the infections at the school on Friday last week.
John Tallach enrols 600 students with over two dozen teachers.
Ndoro was keen to sidestep questions about the government’s decision to reopen schools in the middle of a pandemic. Teachers’ unions say schools have no masks, sanitisers and personal protective equipment for teachers after the government forced the re-opening of schools since their closure in March when the virus was first confirmed.
“The ministry is pleased with the manner in which its standard operating procedures for the prevention of Covid-19 are taking effect. There’s screening for Covid-19 at all schools and all independent colleges,” Ndoro maintained.
Some people do not understand the criteria used to appoint the captain of a football team, particularly a national team.
There is a misconception that the best player in the team is automatically chosen as captain- not always.
Knowledge Musona took over the Warriors captain’s armband from Kaizer Chiefs midfield linchpin Willard Katsande after the AFCON 2017 finals in Gabon despite years of being skippered by ‘Salt and Vinegar’ yet he (Musona) was arguably the best player in the team regardless.
Since he inevitably took over, he has shown great leadership qualities.
On Sunday, during the Warriors’ last training session before the Algeria game, when the team was practicing set pieces, he would be heard constantly reminding his teammates to position themselves in the right areas.
He swung in three set pieces in the box but none of his teammates connected as they insisted the ball wasn’t coming in the right areas.
“Saka mukunyatsoda rakaita sei?” (What kind of delivery do you want then?), the soft spoken skipper asked his teammates.
He was so serious and focused on set pieces when his teammates seemed to take them lightly, as if he genuinely believed that goals could come from them.
To his credit, both goals in yesterday’s crucial 2-2 draw with the Desert Foxes of Algeria, came from set pieces and he was involved.
After curling an exquisite free kick which rattled the cross bar, Musona got it right minutes later, another brilliant set piece which gave Algeria goalkeeper Rais M’bolhi no chance.
That goal was the difference between the Warriors throwing in the towel and having a some sort of hope going into the half time interval.
Prince Dube’s late equalizer, which secured a crucial point for the Warriors, also came from a set piece and the skipper was involved.
He swung in a corner kick, which was flicked by Ovidy Karuru and a lurking Dube connected on the blind side to half-volley home.
On top of that, the former Kaizer Chiefs man temporarily played at right back when impressive Tendayi Darikwa was sacrificed for Prince as Zdravko Logarusic brought the Azam striker to add firepower upfront.-Soccer 24
By A orrespondent- Former Health and Child Care Minister Dr Obadiah Moyo will stand trial on January 11 next year.
Moyo appeared in court today before regional magistrate Mr Ngoni Nduna who furnished him with the trial date.
The former minister is being charged for his alleged involvement in NatPharm’s unprocedural contract with Drax International LLC to supply medicines and surgical sundries, and is consequently facing criminal abuse of office charges.
Warriors coach Zdravko Logarusic believes the team is still in control of its destiny in the Afcon Qualifiers despite dropping five points in back-to-back encounters against Algeria.
Zimbabwe lost 3-1 in the first fixture played in Algiers last week before playing to a 2-2 draw at home on Monday.
They remained in the second position in Group H on five points, one ahead of third-placed Botswana.
Logarusic’s men are now fighting for the last available spot in the pool after Algeria sealed their qualification to the Afcon finals in Cameroon.
Speaking after their draw in Harare, the gaffer said: “We were pushing for three points but, with the point we got, we are still in control of our destiny in the group.
“I think everything depends on us for our qualification. I am sure Zimbabwe can score goals against any team in Africa.’’
Zimbabwe were two goals down in the first half but managed to come back into the game and equalised. Captain Knowledge Musona scored the team’s first goal four minutes to the break to reduce the deficit before Prince Dube levelled the terms later in the game.-Soccer 24
By A Correspondent- The number of pupils who have so far tested Covid-19 positive at John Tallach Secondary School in Ntabazinduna, Matabeleland North province has risen to 100.
Acting Matabeleland North Provincial Medical Director (PMD) Dr Munekayi Padingani said they were first called to test five suspected cases and the results were positive.
He said by Monday, the figure had risen to 100.
“By Monday 100 pupils had tested positive with 73 have mild symptoms and 27 are asymptomatic,” he said.
The moment Riyad Mahrez twisted and turned, made a mockery of Adam Chicksen to slot home Algeria’s second goal, had fans been in the stadium, a majority of them would have stepped out.
It appeared as if the Warriors were down and out at that moment but captain Knowledge Kusona’s brilliant free kick on the stroke of half time provided a glimmer of hope for Zdvravko Logarusic’s charges.
That goal must have recharged the Croat’s batteries and he made four substitutions at the beginning of the second half, something you don’t often see during a football match.
By the way, the rules of the game now permit five substitutions.
Logarusic brought on Khama Billiat, Ovidy Karuru, Devine Lunga, and Kuda Mahachi, who replaced David Moyo, Tafadzwa Rusike, Adam Chicksen, and Jordan Zemura.
Those changes breathed some life into the Warriors as they played with intent as well as conference from that point onwards.
They also restricted Algeria’s passing from then on, forcing the Desert Foxes to sit back instead.
Tino Kadewere was unlucky not to restore parity for Zimbabwe when his brilliant header from close range was somehow tipped over the bar by the Algeria goalkeeper Raïs M’Bolhi.
It then took another watershed change by Logarusic, who brought on Prince Dube for Tendayi Darikwa with ten minutes to go.
The Azam striker scored with his first touch seconds after coming on to secure a much needed point for the Warriors in Group H.-Soccer 24
The moment Riyad Mahrez twisted and turned, made a mockery of Adam Chicksen to slot home Algeria’s second goal, had fans been in the stadium, a majority of them would have stepped out.
It appeared as if the Warriors were down and out at that moment but captain Knowledge Kusona’s brilliant free kick on the stroke of half time provided a glimmer of hope for Zdvravko Logarusic’s charges.
That goal must have recharged the Croat’s batteries and he made four substitutions at the beginning of the second half, something you don’t often see during a football match.
By the way, the rules of the game now permit five substitutions.
Logarusic brought on Khama Billiat, Ovidy Karuru, Devine Lunga, and Kuda Mahachi, who replaced David Moyo, Tafadzwa Rusike, Adam Chicksen, and Jordan Zemura.
Those changes breathed some life into the Warriors as they played with intent as well as conference from that point onwards.
They also restricted Algeria’s passing from then on, forcing the Desert Foxes to sit back instead.
Tino Kadewere was unlucky not to restore parity for Zimbabwe when his brilliant header from close range was somehow tipped over the bar by the Algeria goalkeeper Raïs M’Bolhi.
It then took another watershed change by Logarusic, who brought on Prince Dube for Tendayi Darikwa with ten minutes to go.
The Azam striker scored with his first touch seconds after coming on to secure a much needed point for the Warriors in Group H.-Soccer 24
Tinashe Sambiri|MDC Alliance vice president, Hon Tendai Biti has said Zimbabwe has gone to the dogs as a result of violation of human rights by Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration.
The hard-hitting MDC Alliance deputy president described Mr Mnangagwa as a heartless man.
“Mr Mnangagwa and his many children slept peacefully last night.They slept like babies .
Somewhere in lice -infested Chikurubi Hopewell struggled to sleep on a hard cold concrete floor.
The abuse of human rights and the Mnangagwa tragedy must end soon . #FreeHopwellNow #ZimbabweanLivesMatter
The denial of bail to Hopewell, his incarceration and abuse reflects the brutality , ruthlessness and incorrigibility of Mnangagwa.
Zim now finds itself in the hands of paranoid psychotic predatory renegades without shame or elasticity.
We have truly gone to the dogs,” Hon Biti wrote on Twitter.
Tinashe Sambiri|The MDC Alliance has denounced the persecution of political activists and human rights defenders by Mr Emmerson Mnangangwa’s administration.
In its report on the alleged role of senior party official Tendai Masotcha in the abduction of Tawanda Muchehiwa, the MDC Alliance accused Mr Mnangangwa’s administration of killing, torturing and harassing hapless citizens.
See part of the report below:
“We demand justice for Joana Mamombe, Netsai Marova and Cecilia Chimbiri.
We demand justice for Tatenda Mombeyarara.
We continue to demand that the State bring back Itai Dzamara.
We further demand an investigation into the extrajudicial killings of Mazwi Ndlovhu and Lavender Chiwaya.
The State must stop abusing the rights of citizens including journalists, lawyers and critics of the system.
We demand the release of Hopewell Chin’ono.
The MDC Alliance remains committed to the fight for freedoms, constitutionalism and the security of persons.”
Giving first aid to lightning strike victims while waiting for professional medical attention can save their lives.
It is safe to touch a lightning strike victim. People struck by lightning DO NOT carry a charge.
Follow these four steps immediately to help save the life of a lightning strike victim:
Call For Help immediately.
Give directions to your location and information about the strike victim(s).
Assess The Situation
How many victims are there?Where was the victim struck?Is the storm still continuing?
Safety is a priority. Be aware of the continuing lightning danger to both the victim and rescuer. If the area where the victim is located is high risk (e.g., an isolated tree or open field), the victim and rescuer could both be in danger. If necessary, move the victim to a safer location. It is unusual for a victim who survives a strike to have any major broken bones that would cause paralysis or major bleeding complications unless the person suffered a fall or was thrown a long distance. Therefore, it may be safe to move the victim to minimize possible further exposure to lightning.
Respond Lightning often causes a heart attack. Check to see if the victim is breathing and has a heartbeat. The best place to check for a pulse is the carotid artery which is found on your neck directly below your jaw, as shown in the picture.
Resuscitate If the victim is not breathing, immediately begin mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. If the victim does not have a pulse, start cardiac compressions as well (CPR).
Continue resuscitation efforts until help arrives. If the area is cold and wet, putting a protective layer between the victim and the ground may help decrease hypothermia (abnormally low body temperature).
Centres For Disease Control and Prevention
Inserted by Zimbabwe Online Health Centre
For more information follow /like our Facebook page :Zimbabwe Online Health Centre
Dear Editor – I have written this letter to express the fact that Mama Euge is a true prophetess.
Mama Euge is performing great miracles.
Mama Euge is the founder of Prophet’s Declaration Prayer Group.
She is praying for people free of charge and the sick are being healed in the name of Jesus Christ.
Mama Euge is the true prophetess of our days because she doesn’t charge any money to pray for you, so many people are testifying after seeking assistance. She is healing the sick.
Many people are coming from different areas to seek help from Mama Euge.
Tinashe Sambiri|There was a terrible accident at the mansion of the late Harare socialite and business mogul Genius “Ginimbi” Kadungure.
A motorist who was among the mourners lost control of his vehicle and it crashed into the wall at Ginimbi’s mansion.
See below an article about the accident that was published by H-Metro :
A motorist who was among mourners at Genius “Ginimbi” Kadungure’s mansion hit the late socialite’s brick wall and sped off from the scene.
The unidentified motorist hit another mourner’s parked vehicle before smashing into the mansion wall.
One of the eye witnesses told H-Metro that the unidentified motorist destroyed the precast wall while reversing to avoid security guards who were manning the place.
“It is sad that the motorist destroyed the mansion precast security wall together with another parked vehicle belonging to one of the mourners and sped off,” said the eye witness.
“I am not sure if that motorist deliberately targeted the walls but from the look of things he was reversing at a fast speed to avoid security guards after he hit one of the parked vehicles.
“A number of people who failed to find their way into the mansion because of the limited number returned to their homes refusing to follow proceedings from the tents.
“I am still wandering why the motorist decided to disappear from the scene following that mishap considering the damage he had caused,” said the eye witness.
A security guard armed with a dog was quickly deployed to the destroyed area as people were about to use the way to get inside the mansion.-H-Metro
Tinashe Sambiri|The MDC Alliance has said recalls will not disrupt the people’s struggle.
MDC Alliance deputy spokesperson, Clifford Hlatywayo told ZimEye.com on Monday the party was determined to fight for the people’s freedom from Zanu PF oppression.
Hlatywayo also “tweeted: People ask: what becomes of MDCA Cllrs and MPs illegally recalled by ZANU Cosleg + MDC rebels at the middle of their mandated 5 year term?
Ans:The party will support them to finish their respective terms fulfil the smart policies and programs. MDCA is the leading party in Zim…”
On the 30th of July 2020, Tawanda Muchehiwa, a student at Midlands State University was abducted in broad daylight in Bulawayo.
Tawanda Muchehiwa is a nephew to prominent journalist Mduduzi Mathuthu.
When he was abducted by state security agents he was sitting in a white BMW car belonging to Mduduzi Mathuthu, a prominent journalist and he was also in the company of the Bulawayo Province Chairlady, Tendai Masotcha.
The abduction of Tawanda Muchehiwa caused a stir in social media and speculation was rife that he had been abducted as a bait to get to journalist Mduduzi Mathuthu who was also wanted by the police.
Further, social media speculation emerged linking Tendai Masotcha to the alleged abduction of Tawanda Muchehiwa.The Committee was informed that Tendai Masotcha, like Tawanda was subsequently abducted after her release from the police.The MDC Alliance, (after following the due process requirements of the Constitution that govern disciplinary or investigative action against a National Council member), then established an ad hoc Committee made up of Honorable Concilia Chinanzvavana as Chairperson, Honorable Jameson Timba as Secretary and Advocate Kucaca Phulu as a Committee Member to conduct an inquiry into the allegations against Tendai Masotcha.
The Committee has since completed its work and the following are its summary findings which the party had committed would make public.
Our MethodologyIn conducting its work, the Committee examined all documents relevant to the case including media reports in print, audio and video.In addition, the Committee engaged and interviewed all stakeholders including the family and legal representatives of Tawanda Muchehiwa, Tendai Masotcha and other members of the party.
The following are the findings of the Committee:Our Summary Findings.
The committee established that other than comments made in social media, no specific complaint was made against Tendai Masotcha directly to the Party either at Provincial or national level by the aggrieved parties namely Tawanda Mucheiwa and or his family members.
It was the Committee sense that in the absence of a complainant, and in the normal conduct of business, the matter would have ended here.
Notwithstanding the fact that there was no formal complaint to the Party against our member by the family of Tawanda or anyone for that matter, the Party saw it prudent in the interest of transparency and accountability and the inalienable right of an accused person to due process, the Party resolved to investigate the matter.
The Committee was unable to independently verify the abduction of Tendai Masotcha.
The only unchallenged evidence before it was her sworn affidavit and a medical report indicating injuries sustained.
A representative and relative of Tawanda interviewed by the Committee indicated that they had no evidence to link the abduction of Tawanda to Tendai Masotcha. In their own words, they said “everything is circumstantial”The Committee reviewed an audio of a conversation between Tawanda Muchehiwa and an unnamed person who was working from the printer shop close to where both were arrested, and the unnamed gentleman indicated to Tawanda that some state agents have been aware of his movements and in particular that he was getting his materials printed at that shop. The person in the Print shop also stated there are people who came to view whatever material that where being printed and he said that he knew one of them who was his friend and that he worked for the CIO. It appears therefore on the face of it that State agents had put Tawanda under surveillance over a long period of time and before he had even met with Tendai Masotcha.
This evidence was also corroborated by the written submissions made by Tendai MasotchaIt is the sense of the Committee based on the evidence before it and on a balance of probability that Tendai Masotcha, Tawanda Muchehiwa and Mduduzi Mathuthu were victims of a well orchestrated state sponsored intelligence operation to thwart the 31st July protests by scaring off citizens from peacefully expressing themselves.
Our DeterminationAfter considering the evidence before it, the Committee concludes that there is no conclusive evidence to link Tendai Masotcha to the abduction of Tawanda Muchehiwa.
There is No Smoking Gun.Our Demand for Justice Having determined the matter, the Committee noted that it is common cause that Tawanda was abducted by agents of the State. The evidence of his abduction was captured on video. Impala Car Rentals has the evidence of those who hired the vehicles that carried out the abduction.
Tawanda’s release was only forced on the abductors by a court order. It is also common cause that Mduduzi Mathuthu, a respected and senior journalist was wrongfully hunted and haunted like a common criminal. His only crime was practising his trade. The State must live up to its obligations as set out in section 219 of the Constitution and investigate and bring to book Tawanda’s Muchehiwa’s abductors and tormentors. We also demand justice for Joana Mamombe, Netsai Marova and Cecilia Chimbiri. We demand justice for Tatenda Mombeyarara.
We continue to demand that the State bring back Itai Dzamara. We further demand an investigation into the extrajudicial killings of Mazwi Ndlovhu and Lavender Chiwaya. The State must stop abusing the rights of citizens including journalists, lawyers and critics of the system. We demand the release of Hopewell Chin’ono. The MDC Alliance remains committed to the fight for freedoms, constitutionalism and the security of persons.
Jameson Timba – Ad hoc Committee Secretary
Concillia Chinanzvavana – Ad hoc Committee Chairperson
By A Correspondent- Self proclaimed prophet of unknown white garment church Munyaradzi Mutomba (30) is accused of killing Decent Mutekeri (22) during a cleansing process which took place in Mbizo 15 on Friday.
The deceased was administered some concoction namely “blue stone” to cure some stomach problems rather it only yielded continuous vomiting.
The accused insisted it was a cleansing process and he even gave him more concoction and fled to an unknown destination.
Mutekeri’s condition did not improve leading to his admission at Kwekwe General hospital where it was established that the concoction had gave birth to renal failure, mild ascites and solid gall bladder.
Consequently, he passed on yesterday and his body is awaiting post mortem.
A laboratory scientist has been arrested on allegations of selling COVID-19 test kits believed to have been stolen from Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals.
30-year-old Kurai Charo was not asked to plead to allegations of theft when he appeared before Harare magistrate Judith Taruvinga.
Magistrate Taruvinga remanded Charo out of custody to December 10 on $5 000 bail.
Prosecuting, Lancelot Mutsokoti said on 11 November at Fife Avenue in Harare, police received information that Charo was selling COVID-19 test kits.
Police trapped Charo by posing as potential buyers. They arrested him after he tried to sell six boxes containing 10 test kits each to them.
Charo reportedly told the police that he had got the tests kit from a yet to be identified source.
The kits were positively identified as those stolen from Parirenyatwa on 5 November.
By Patrick Guramatunhu- “Mdc Alliance Namibia greatly appreciates and admires the historic innovation since the inception of the political behemoth to invade rural constituencies in preparation of the harmonised elections in 2023,” said MDC A Namibia District statement in support of party youths to target one million new rural voters in the #OneMillionCompaign.
“As a district, we are committed and dedicated to meaningfully contribute towards this noble cause since our Youths are the most vulnerable victims of Zanupf’s gross misgovernance.
We applaud our Youth Assembly led by Chairperson commander Obey Tererai Sithole and his vibrant team for the initiative to fight vote apathy especially from our youths who treat themselves as second class citizens.”
The rural people are the poorest of the poor in Zimbabwe and, given Zanu PF is responsible for the country’s economic meltdown, one would expect the opposition to have no problems getting support from the rural voters. The exact opposition is in fact the case.
Zanu PF coercive tactics of using state assistance to buy votes backed by the use of brute force has reduced the rural voters into nothing but medieval serfs beholden to the overbearing landlords.
Before the 2018 elections Mnangagwa bought each and everyone of the country’s traditional chiefs a twin cab truck; at a time when many district hospitals did not have a working ambulance service, for example. Chief Fortune Charumbira, President of the Chief’s Council, publicly proclaimed that all the chiefs will be campaigning for Zanu PF in the coming elections.
The Chiefs together with the Zanu PF operatives have harassed the rural voters forcing them to attend Zanu PF rallies and to vote for the party. This is normal practice in Zimbabwe.
Zanu PF’s 2/3 majority in parliament is from rural votes from the medieval serfs!
The prospect of holding the 2023 elections with no meaningful democratic reforms implemented is nauseating. The country must implement the democratic reforms to ensure Chief Charumbira and his fellow chiefs are forced to honour their constitutional obligations to be apolitical. The practice of politicising state aid must be stamped out.
It is not that the MDC leaders and their supporters do not know that of Zanu PF’s use of Chiefs and other blatant vote rigging political shenanigans; they do. They also know that Zanu PF vote rigging juggernaut is more ruthless in the rural areas than in the urban areas hence the reason the urban centres have remain opposition strongholds.
To give the impression Zimbabwean elections are a free, fair and credible multi-party elections Zanu PF has allowed the opposition to win a few gravy train seats, bait to entice them to participate in the flawed elections. What is worth noting here, that the opposition politicians were well aware this is a honey pot trap; one they found irresistible!
In his Book, The Struggle Continues 50 years of Tyranny in Zimbabwe, David Coltart, MDC A Senator and Treasurer General, former MDC – Ncube Senator and Minister of Education in the 2008 GNU, gave details of how Zanu PF was flouting the electoral rules in the upcoming 2013 elections. It was clear the elections would not be free, fair and credible and yet MDC leaders participated in the elections.
“The worst aspect for me about the failure to agree a coalition was that both MDCs couldn’t now do the obvious – withdraw from the elections,” wrote Senator Coltart.
“The electoral process was so flawed, so illegal, that the only logical step was to withdraw, which would compel SADC to hold Zanu PF to account. But such was the distrust between the MDC-T and MDC-N that neither could withdraw for fear that the other would remain in the elections, winning seats and giving the process credibility.”
Participating in the flawed elections not only gave the process credibility but also gave the vote rigging, per se, illegitimate Zanu PF regime some modicum of legitimacy.
After the 2013 elections, MDC-T resolved at its next party congress not to participate in future elections until reform are implemented. “No reform! No elections!” All the other MDC factions endorsed the resolution.
As the 2018 elections draw near, the smell of honey was in the air, the “No reform! No election!” resolution was abandoned without even by your leave. A number of the MDC factions did form the MDC Alliance coalition to better their chance of winning the bait seats; boycotting elections was the last thing on their minds.
After the 2018 elections, MDC A has complained of Zanu PF stealing the elections, at least the presidential race, and has once again called for “implementation of comprehensive democratic reforms” BEFORE the 2023 elections.
As the 2023 elections approach, the smell of the honey will once again become irresistible, MDC A will participate in the elections with not even token reforms implemented. The campaign to recruit one million rural party supporters will just be one excuse for participating with no reforms implemented.
Without implementing the democratic reforms the rural voters will remain a medieval serfs beholden to the overbearing traditional Chiefs and other Zanu PF operatives. The 2023 elections must be free, fair and credible in which everyone, including rural voters, exercise their right to a meaningful vote fear or coercion.
“MDC A #OneMillionCompaign will fight rural voter apathy and treat themselves as second class citizens!” It is down right foolish to expect the rural voters who have been reduced into medieval serfs to vote freely especially it is none other than the MDC A that has repeatedly failed to implement the democratic reforms to end their bondage!
MDC A is gearing to participate in the 2023 with no reforms implemented; all talk of implementing reforms is the usual hot air. Whilst we cannot stop them, we can see to it no one is left in any doubt MDC A are doing this out of greed. Mnangagwa will never implement any reforms because he knows MDC will participate regardless, they opposition cannot resist the few gravy train seats bait, the honey pot trap.
During the 2008 to 2013 Zanu PF leaders learnt that the party will not have to implement any democratic reforms as long as it can bribe the MDC leaders to participate in flawed and illegal elections. Ever since, MDC has been running with povo hare, paying lip service to reforms, whilst hunting with the Zanu PF hounds, giving legitimacy to rigged elections.
The whole world must know that MDC A and all the opposition parties who participate in Zimbabwe’s flawed and illegal elections have no politically credibility. None!
A discredited opposition cannot give credibility to the flawed and illegal election process. A discredited election process cannot give the vote rigging per se illegitimate Zanu PF regime even token legitimacy! Without reforms the 2023 elections will be null and void and, this time, Zanu PF’s illegitimacy will be beyond dispute!
What Zimbabwe needs to reset its failed political system is to implement the reforms and hold free, fair and credible elections. Ever since the 2008 GNU the greatest impediment to implementing the reforms is not Zanu PF thugs but MDC sell-outs. Stop MDC conniving with Zanu PF and the latter will have nowhere to hide and the nation will finally have the reforms implemented.
By Josiah Mucharowana in Pretoria- Annus horribilis is a Latin term that translates to ‘ horrible year’ in simple English grammar. This year, 2020 is thus.
So many things happened, a little good and more bad, terrible tragedies beyond human understanding.
I lost a brother, an in-law, Kizito Marume. Him and I married into the same family. We married sisters, look-alikes. Mine younger and a lot more daring and adventurous.
He was a Rusape boy based in Harare working for one big trucking company. I learnt a lot about shipping, freight and forwarding from him.
We would sit around his lounge sipping on beverages around family and telly. Kids mattered to him, the future he would say. Or still, we would drive out for a family braai at one of the pleasure joints around the capital.
Even more, we would visit in-laws at the plaas after Norton, almost Chegutu our women and kids in tow of course. Always, they enjoyed our companionship there, vakwasha dearly loved.
We would have live chickens, sour milk, peanut butter, green mealies and grain for pap. The trips usually were a trek down memory lane, reminiscing about childhoods in the rural areas, ‘ reserves’ rather.
The custom of running after a live chicken to slaughter for visitors was always an event for our kids- an activity always looked forward to on every next trip. Chickens would scatter on rooftops, in the field and amusing talk afterwards would sound like a Peter Drury English League football commentary. It was always a pleasure being there to witness it all. I am glad I still can tell it to the world.
Marume’s death at home in the capital from respiratory concerns, was sudden and unforseen leaving a family bewildered. An autopsy dismissed coronavirus even though it was midway through the lockdown.
I have never been gutted in my life. My spirit failed me. I cried in Pretoria, hundreds of kilometers away. But why? I recoiled. He was a good man. He loved his two daughters and twin boys.
Fate! We all die.I contended.
Marume’s mother mother followed in less than two months. Another tragedy! Elsewhere on the planet, 2020 dished out setbacks and challenges.
From the vortex of Chinese City of Wuhan came coronavirus. Whence it originated is a mystery. Some say from snakes. Others allege a human hand in the laboratory. Whichever, the world was dealt a massive blow below the belt.
People died and are still dying across the universe. Italy became ghostly. The deaths of thousands so surreal and bad that authorities struggled to keep up with the pace of decently burying the dead.
America in denial at first was buffeted with thousands dead. Coronavirus even sneaked up on former boisterous and unbelieving President Trump. In hospital, then he knew the world faced a catastrophe.
Coronavirus even described by incoming UN Special Advisor On Africa Cristina Duarte as both an ’emergency’ and a ‘tradgedy’ wrought irreparable damage on economies such that many will take decades if not lifetimes to recover.
Inevitably, there were retrenchments everywhere you look. Industries shut shop and many are on shoestring budgets.
In the thick of it all came ‘tenderprenures’ cashing in on the world demise. In most African governments, millions were looted in the name of Covid- 19 relief.
The politically connected are pushing bulging pot- bellies grown forth from looted funds. Former health Minister Obediah Moyo and the President’s son Collins were heavily fingered in a US$ 60 million tender scandal involving Drax International, a United Arab Emirates registered briefcase company that was meant to facilitate PPEs to the government. I am just sick to the stomach that greed and heartlessness is ruining innocent lives and a beautiful country’ s future.
Not even the devil with horns can be as corrupt as Zanu-PF functionaries.
Churches were conspicuous by their silence. During lockdown, some pastors truly revealed their true nature as wolves in sheepskins by flighting in the press bank details for their followers to deposit tithes. It’s the ‘Gospel’ of money to most.
Those that could heal the sick in Jesus- like miracles previously retreated and cowered into their backyards as coronavirus took its toll. Followers are having Damascene moments realising most men of God are in it for money.
2020 even shook the church with RSA-based, Malawian born Pastor Bushiri even admiting ‘ twenty twenty not a glet year’. It was the Malawian tonne over English that catapulted him to infamy this year.
More so together with his wife and an aide are facing a raft of charges in the courts of RSA including money laundering over 100 million rand- a whopping figure drawing the ire of authorities also considering the church does not pay tax. We saw a muzzling of the press in the country with the repeated arrest of firebrand and anti-graft campaigner Journalist Hopewell Chin’ ono and opposition figure Jacob Ngarivhume.
There was the abduction of female opposition figures Netsai Marova, Celia Chimbiri and Joanna Mamombe with tales of torture too grotesque for womenfolk. Allegedly, they were forced by state goons to eat their human waste, drink urine as well as having gun barrels shoved up their behinds before being dumped out of town in the middle of the night. The case is pending before the courts.
Noted too have been deaths of several opposition figures. The health sector has degenerated to unbelievable lows with deaths amongst women giving birth a daily occurrence.
Schools despite physically having open gates, have no meaningful teaching business happening as teacher’s strike for better salaries run into weeks.
And parents still have to fork out fees in the melee. There was the infamous ANC- Zanu- PF meeting in Harare meant to address the country’s challenges especially in the wake of human rights abuses by government.
Days beforehand , there was promises of fireworks by the ANC- delegation prior to coming to Harare. Underfire ANC- Secretary General Ace Magashule and a coterie of other political men from the South were expected to shoot from the hip telling their counterparts Zimbabwe had gone bananas.
It was not to be, the people’s adreline rush was a waste. Instead politicians came out taking selfies, lovey- doveying, patting one another on the back in camaraderie.
Another chance to rejuvenate hopes for Zimbabweans came to naught. A sad year. In addition, we saw Thokozani Khupe formerly an MDC-T supping with the devil. She is back in Parliament through the backdoor at the expense of genuine opposition supporters sick and tired of the maladministration and corruption happening in the country. It is just horrible!
Nonetheless came the suspension of High Court Judge Erica Ndewere from the bench on grounds she was unfit to hold office. Apparently she had excercised her autonomy in dealing with court cases to the chagrin of Chief Justice Luke Malaba.
A three-year member tribunal is to cosmetically look into her work and track record yet the conclusion is foregone. She is a goner for shrugging off political directives from her bosess. The whole affair is sordid and sad for the justice system in the country.
Not to be outdone was Mining Federation boss Henrietta Rushwaya, the Cinderella of alibis and criminal defense. She was caught with hands in the cookie jar at R.G.Mugabe International airport ready to whisk away to Dubai 6kgs of gold loot covered in lingerie in her travelling bag.
She claims she took the wrong bag upon leaving home and was unaware she had gold bars. Worryingly, it is apparent that if Zanu-PF continues surviving elections in 2023, Zimbabwe won’t.
There won’t be anything left to resuscitate going forward. The level of corruption is so blatantly obscene and the corruption net is even wider with lots of blessings from top government hawks.
In the 80’s, Malawian dictator Dr Hastings Kamuzu Banda once said Africa is doomed because it’s leaders are corrupt. Very true. Contemporary leaders trip over each other literally to prove him a prophet. Everyhwere one looks reeks of corruption, a stench stinking to the high heavens.
Even South Africa has witnessed its fair share. The Vreda dairy farm scandal, Gupta family shenanigans thenceforth known as State Capture, Steinhoff, VBS amongst other human malfeaseances.
It is sad and horrible for peasants who cannot access corruption feeding troughs. As the final weeks of 2020 drips in, I can only hope for good fortunes ahead. Marume happened giving me pain so monumental. Death has a sting so excoriating. I feel cheated.
Josiah Mucharowana is a media graduate living in Pretoria.
By A Correspondent| High Court Judge Justice Tawanda Chitapi on Tuesday 17 November 2020 postponed hearing of detained freelance journalist Hopewell Chin’ono’s bail appeal to Wednesday 18 November 2020 to allow himself ample time to go through the anti-corruption campaigner’s request to be set free.
While hearing of Chin’ono’s bail appeal had been set for Tuesday 17 November 2020, Justice Chitapi said he was overwhelmed with other cases and hence postponed the determination of the freelance journalist’s freedom bid to Wednesday 18 November 2020 at 9:AM.
Chin’ono was arrested on 3 November 2020 and charged with defeating or obstructing the course of justice as defined in section 184 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act.
The anti-corruption campaigner petitioned the High Court seeking an order to be released on bail after Harare Magistrate Marehwanazvo Gofa dismissed his bail application on Thursday 12 November 2020 alleging that the freelance journalist had a propensity to commit offences and should remain incarcerated at Chikurubi Maximum Security Prison to stop him from contravening the country’s laws.
Through his lawyers Beatrice Mtetwa, Gift Mtisi and Doug Coltart of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, Chin’ono argues that he should be released from prison on the same conditions as those imposed on his previous case, where he was charged with inciting people to revolt against President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration during some anti-government protests in July.
The freelance journalist argues that Magistrate Gofa erred and misdirected herself when she denied him bail on Thursday 12 November 2020.
At Harare Magistrates Court, prosecutors told Magistrate Gofa that the freelance journalist posted a message on his Twitter account intending to prejudice the matter in which Zimbabwe Miners Federation leader Henrietta Rushwaya was charged for allegedly smuggling gold out of Zimbabwe.
The State alleges that Chin’ono created some communication lines with some unnamed National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) officers and got confidential prosecutorial deliberations which he allegedly published on Twitter on 25 October to the effect that Rushwaya was going to be granted bail without any opposition by NPA officials. By claiming to be engaged in a relationship with the NPA, prosecutors said the freelance journalist had jeopardised the integrity of the case against himself and that of Rushwaya.
By A Correspondent- The Zimbabwe Presidential and National Scholarship Office has disowned an advertisement for educational scholarships circulating on social media.
Last week, a fake advert was circulated on social media inviting prospective applicants to apply for the presidential scholarship scheme. It had a cellphone number through which applications were required to send mobile money as processing fees.
Also attached was an email address allegedly from the fake presidential scholarship scheme. “The Zimbabwe Presidential and National Scholarship Office wishes to disown these adverts and advise the public that all genuine government scholarships are always placed in the public print media and public broadcaster and never on social media,” said Chris
Mushowe, the executive director for the Zimbabwe Presidential and National Scholarship Office in a statement yesterday. Mushowe also advised the public that the scheme does not require prospective applicants to pay.
“Furthermore, the government of Zimbabwe does not charge prospective applicants processing fees and no funds are sent through individual… lines or individual bank accounts,” he said, adding that the genuine government programme is done once at the beginning of the year soon after the release of Advanced Level results. Submissions of applications are done in person and not through the email being circulated online.
By A Correspondent- The trial of two ex-senior police officers at Chitungwiza Police Station accused of receiving a US$110 bribe failed to kick off yesterday after their lawyer failed to turn up.
The two former cops are accused of demanding a bribe to cover up investigations on junior officers.
Charles Mutabvuka, who was the officer-in-charge, and Smackmail Chikowore, a former sergeant, were caught after receiving US$110 bribe money, which they demanded from junior police officers.
Their trial, however, could not kick-off yesterday because Mutabvuka’s lawyer did not show up.
It is the State case that sometime in February 2020, Mutabvuka and Chikowore were investigating Nyasha Mupandira, Obey Muchesa and Learnmore Maburuse, who are all junior police officers over a case of criminal abuse of office.
The accused then demanded US$110 from the trio to cover up the allegations.
But the trio reported their bosses to the Police General Headquarters (PGHQ) internal investigations.
A team of police officers from PGHQ set up a trap and Chikowore was caught receiving bribe money, leading to their arrest.
Magistrate Bianca Makwande postponed trial to December 3, 2020. Tafara Chirambira appeared for the State.-Newsday
By A Correspondent- South Africa has issued an arrest warrant for controversial millionaire pastor Shepard Bushiri, who skipped bail and returned home to Malawi.
On Saturday he told his social media followers that he had left South Africa because he had received death threats.
The preacher, who was on bail and awaiting trial for money laundering and fraud, had previously said he wanted to clear his name.
It is not clear how or when Mr Bushiri left South Africa.
In an interview with the BBC, Mr Bushiri refused to reveal how he escaped.
But the BBC’s Nomsa Maseko in Malawi’s capital, Lilongwe, reports that one possibility being considered is that he and his wife Mary were smuggled out by a sophisticated syndicate which specialises in taking stolen cars from South Africa to Malawi.
There have also been suggestions in the South African press that he was smuggled out in Malawi’s presidential jet – something which has been denied by the authorities in both countries.
How has Shepherd Bushiri caused a diplomatic row?
Malawi’s President Lazarus Chakwera was in South Africa on a state visit last week, and there has been speculation in South Africa that a member of his entourage had aided Mr Bushiri’s escape.
This has been denied by officials in both Malawi and South Africa, but a diplomatic row is brewing.
Malawi’s foreign minister told the BBC that he thought the South African authorities suspected the Malawians were trying to smuggle out the controversial preacher.
“When we were coming to Malawi leaving South Africa, we were exposed to stringent checks. It is just now that we are beginning to realise that maybe there was a suspicion that we were trying to smuggle Bushiri out of South Africa,” Malawi’s foreign minister Eisenhower Mkaka told the BBC’s Nomsa Maseko on Saturday.
On Monday morning he then complained, very publicly, on Twitter about the seven-hour delay to the president’s journey, which included “vague security reasons” for thorough checks of the presidential plane.
He noted that the South African authorities had categorically stated that Mr Bushiri had not escaped on the presidential plane.
But he described South Africa’s treatment of President Chakwera as “improper”.
By A Correspondent- A security guard at a farm in Gwanda has been arrested for allegedly beating up a man to death for stealing potatoes from the farm.
Mr Trymore Dambani (32)’s body was found three days later with legs and hands missing and it is suspected that they were devoured by wild animals.
Matabeleland provincial police spokesperson, Chief Inspector Philisani Ndebele said Torevesai Zhou (42) fatally assaulted Mr Dambani on Wednesday at Drummond Farm and the body was found three days later in an advanced state of decomposition.
“I can confirm that we recorded a murder case which occurred at Drummond Farm. The now deceased Trymore Dambani was spotted in a field at the farm with his friends at night in the possession of potatoes which they are suspected to have stolen.
Torevesai Zhou who is employed as a security guard at the farm pursued them and he caught up with Dambani and struck him with an unknown object,” he said.
“Dambani’s friends checked on him and upon seeing that he was badly hurt left him in the bush and remained quiet about the incident. Three days later Dambani’s family filed a missing person’s report and they launched a search party for him.”
Chief Insp Ndebele said Dambani’s body was later found in an advanced state of decomposition with his hands and legs missing and it is suspected that they were devoured by wild animals.
By A Correspondent- A major row has erupted among relatives of the late national hero and Cabinet minister, Perrance Shiri, as they fight to benefit from his significant estate.
This comes as it has emerged that the former Lands, Agriculture, Water and Rural Resettlement minister left behind several children – with many of them who were not previously known, and whose filial links to Shiri are disputed, now coming forward to be part of the would-be beneficiaries.
Shiri, a former military commander and distinguished liberation struggle fighter, was born Bigboy Samson Chikerema before changing his name when he joined Zimbabwe’s war for independence in the 1970s. He died at the end of July after contracting the lethal coronavirus, which also killed one of his aides.
Members of his family confirmed to the Daily News at the weekend that a nasty fight had erupted among his relatives and political associates over how his estate should be administered – with some of the family members claiming that certain relatives wanted to elbow out some of Shiri’s children from the inheritance.
One of the aggrieved family members said Shiri had left behind a sizeable estate which included a host of properties – including a house in Borrowdale and a farm in Bindura that had chalets – as well as a fleet of top-of-the range vehicles, several buses and a trucking company.
Another family member also said he had interests in a thriving local tile manufacturing firm. The fight for Shiri’s wealth, the insiders said, was pitting – in the main – the late minister’s siblings against his “many children”, whose exact number could not be ascertained.
They added that the ugly battle was raging despite the fact that Shiri, who was not married, had left a will bequeathing a large chunk of his wealth to his children and a few close family members.
So serious has the family feud become that his maternal uncle – a retired lieutenant colonel only identified as Chigwedu, and who stays at the late former Air Force of Zimbabwe (AFZ) commander’s farm in Chegutu’s Pickstone area – is said to have now been roped in to try to mediate the differences.
Approached by the Daily News to shed more light on the matter, one of the late Shiri’s relatives, Benjamin Chikerema – who acted as family spokesperson when he died – was tight-lipped.
“Whoever is telling you that probably has more information. There are people who are looking into the matter of his estate and those are better placed to give you information.
“The same also goes with his memorial. There are people organising it,” was all he would say. Shiri’s brother, Peter Zimondi – who is not related to former prisons boss Paradzai – also refused to comment on the matter.
“I am only the guardian and not the family spokesperson. You can talk to uncle Chikaka regarding those issues,” Zimondi said.
Efforts by the Daily News to locate the said Chikaka were unsuccessful.
But the insiders who spoke to the Daily News also said at the weekend that some of the late Shiri’s friends and political associates had allegedly joined the fight on the side of his sisters – who were allegedly disputing the paternity of some of the late national hero’s children.
Shiri’s sisters are said to be demanding that DNA tests be done to ascertain if the children are indeed his.
“He left a will which articulated how his estate should be distributed. He allocated the majority of his wealth to his children.
“Some family members not included in the will feel they are entitled to benefit, resulting in a clash. There are also some family members calling for the dead hero’s wishes to give his children what he sweated for.
“Others are, however, disputing the contents of the will,” one of the family members told the Daily News. Another family member, who also spoke on condition of anonymity, told the Daily News that some relatives were allegedly refusing to surrender some properties that were left in their custody in a bid to freeze out the late hero’s children.
“There are eight trucks and 12 other vehicles which some are trying to conceal. We know all about it. “These things are for the children and they should benefit. Some are allocating themselves shares of the things he left behind,” this other family member said.
At the time of his death, Shiri was engaged in significant efforts to try and revamp the country’s agriculture sector to boost production through various projects and programmes – including the John Deere mechanisation programme.
Shiri died at the end of July, a few days after his driver succumbed to the lethal coronavirus that has killed millions of people around the world. The late liberation stalwart is said to have endured a difficult and lonely death in his car, as he tried in vain to drive himself to a hospital for treatment.
By A Correspondent- A teenager from a Bindura farm is on the run after he fatally struck his stepfather with an iron bar on the head.
The 15-year-old boy attacked his 37-year-old stepfather while trying to protect his mother during a domestic dispute over claims of infidelity.
According to Mashonaland Central police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Fidelis Dhewu, the stepfather went to buy some airtime and took long to come back home, prompting the wife to follow him. Said Dhewu:
She found him at the house of another woman, resulting in an altercation following accusations of infidelity.
The woman at the house where the man was, ran away. The couple went back to their home and the quarrel degenerated into a scuffle resulting in the boy striking his stepfather on the right side of the head.
The stepfather was taken to Bindura Hospital where he died the following day and a report was made to police.-statemedia
By Jane Mlambo| Government has told teachers to return to work saying the National Joint Negotiating Council conclusively settled the salary dispute that was almost threatening the ZIMSEC examinations set to kick off on the 5th of December.
In a statement today, Public Service minister, Professor Paul Mavima congratulated the NJNC for reaching an agreement with government employees to settle a dispute that had taken months on end without resolution.
Mavima implored teachers to return to work to allow learners to regain lost time due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I wish to congratulate the National Joint Negotiating Council for reaching an agreement following protracted negotiations between Government and the Apex Council. The agreement that was concluded provides for;
“An average salary increase of 41% of the total package (basic salary+ transport allowance + housing allowance + special civil service allowance + representation where applicable) effective from 1 November 2020.
“Annual bonus that is inclusive of transport and housing allowances on a staggered basis in November and December 2020.
“It is important to note that the economic outlook for the country looks promising in view of a projected better agricultural season and sustained foreign exchange stability. It is also our hope that the current price stability will prevail given our desire to retain the purchasing power of salaries and wages,” said Mavima.
Teachers and government have been engaged in a protracted wage battle that crippled schools as lessons could not proceed in the absence of teachers.
In most of the schools, only the headmaster and deputy were the only available members of staff.
By A Correspondent- Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has urged the Zimbabwean authorities to release incarcerated journalist Hopewell Chin’ono.
Chin’ono was arrested again early this month after he tweeted about the arrest of Zanu PF politician and Zimbabwe Miners Federation president Henrietta Rushwaya, who was arrested at Robert Mugabe International airport and accused of trying to smuggle over 6kgs of gold out of the country.
On 26 October, Chin’ono tweeted that sources from the National Prosecution Authority had said the prosecutors were not opposed to giving Rushwaya bail and the state arrested him on allegations of obstructing the course of justice.
He is also accused of violating the bail conditions of his previous arrest.
Said the RSF:
“Zimbabwe journalist Hopewell Chin’ono will continue to be held at Harare#s high security prison after being denied bail this morning. RSF condemns this decision in the strongest terms and calls for his immediate release. #FreeHopewell.”
#Zimbabwe : journalist Hopewell Chin'ono @daddyhope will continue to be held at #Harare's high security prison after being denied bail this morning.RSF condemns this decision in the strongest terms and calls for his immediate release. #FreeHopewellpic.twitter.com/jh7po62kCI
Reporters Without Borders (RSF) condemns the Zimbabwean judicial system’s persecution of investigative journalist Hopewell Chin’ono after a Harare court refused to release him on bail today in connection with the tweet for which he was arrested nine days ago.
The winner of CNN’s African Journalist of the Year award in 2008, Chin’ono has been held since 3 November of charges of contempt of court and obstructing justice for tweeting that he had been told that the controversial president of the Zimbabwe Miners Federation, a powerful boss under former President Robert Mugabe, would be granted bail after being arrested during an attempt to smuggle 6 kilos of gold.
Chin’ono will himself remain in a high security prison after being denied bail today. His lawyer, Doug Coltart, told RSF that the decision was clearly a “reprisal” and an attempt to silence someone who has been “at the forefront of the fight against corruption in Zimbabwe”. Coltart said he would appeal.
“This journalist, who was already held for six weeks a few months ago and who is now having to sleep alongside some of the country’s most dangerous criminals, has absolutely no case to answer and is clearly the victim of an attempt to silence him,” said Arnaud Froger, the head of RSF’s Africa desk.
“We firmly and unreservedly condemn the judicial harassment to which he is being subjected and we call for his unconditional release. His latest arrest speaks to the legacy of repression typical of the Mugabe era that the new authorities are proving slow to shake off.”
Chin’ono spent a month and a half in prison on a charge of inciting an anti-government protest following arrest on 20 July. He was arrested just weeks after helping to expose a case of overbilling for medical supplies to combat the coronavirus pandemic that resulted in the health minister’s dismissal. He was finally released on bail in that case pending trial on 7 December.
Despite the promises of change that accompanied the Mugabe’s fall in 2017, the press freedom situation is still very disturbing in Zimbabwe, which is ranked 126th out of 180 countries in RSF’s 2020 World Press Freedom Index.
REF: PROPOSAL FOR COVID-19 RISK ALLOWANCES TO AGRICULTURAL STAFF MEMBERS
Zimbabwe Agricultural Professional and Technical Association (ZAPTA) would like to express its concerns over 10% risk allowances that your Ministry has committed to offer to all government teachers. It’s a noble idea and appreciated.
ZAPTA represent members in the Ministry of Agriculture in which you join hands with in order to meet economic objectives through improvement of agricultural production and enhancement of food security.
Members in the ministry have been working since the beginning of the pandemic. Our members are the drivers of the Pfumbvunza programme since its inception and this gives us confidence in this request.
This have seen the nation progressing in its initiatives in combating hunger and starvation. This attract the need to offer COVID-19 risk allowances to agricultural staff as well.
Your good Ministry is known of striving towards uplifting its stakeholders which also include agricultural employees. So many times agricultural employees have been left out yet they are the one feeding the nation.
As ZAPTA we propose for at least 50% of risk allowance since we have been interacting with farmers since the pandemic of COVID-19 started. The salary increment announced by the government is far less our expectations.
It is just a drop in an ocean. The increase is procedural defective and grossly insufficient in quantum.
Zapta is also requesting to meet your office with immediate effect for discussion that may pave way for resolving other issues related to agricultural staff. We look forward to hear your response from our letter.
Your cooperation and consideration shall be greatly appreciated.
By A Correspondent- Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has urged the Zimbabwean authorities to release incarcerated journalist Hopewell Chin’ono.
Chin’ono was arrested again early this month after he tweeted about the arrest of Zanu PF politician and Zimbabwe Miners Federation president Henrietta Rushwaya, who was arrested at Robert Mugabe International airport and accused of trying to smuggle over 6kgs of gold out of the country.
On 26 October, Chin’ono tweeted that sources from the National Prosecution Authority had said the prosecutors were not opposed to giving Rushwaya bail and the state arrested him on allegations of obstructing the course of justice.
He is also accused of violating the bail conditions of his previous arrest.
Said the RSF:
“Zimbabwe journalist Hopewell Chin’ono will continue to be held at Harare#s high security prison after being denied bail this morning. RSF condemns this decision in the strongest terms and calls for his immediate release. #FreeHopewell.”
#Zimbabwe : journalist Hopewell Chin'ono @daddyhope will continue to be held at #Harare's high security prison after being denied bail this morning.RSF condemns this decision in the strongest terms and calls for his immediate release. #FreeHopewellpic.twitter.com/jh7po62kCI
By Jane Mlambo| National Constitutional Assembly (NCA) leader Professor Lovemore Madhuku is preparing a big legal battle against controversial business tycoon Billy Rautenbach who recently notified Chipinge villagers in Chinyamukwakwa area of his intention to once again grab their remaining piece of communal land to feed his ethanol project.
Madhuku who hails from Chipinge is also fighting for community land rights in three other areas in Chipinge East where villagers are under threat of displacement.
Addressing Chinyamukwakwa villagers last week, Madhuku vowed to make sure the desperate farmers regain their land ahead of the 2020/21 farming season.
“I will make sure that you are able to plant your crops while we work on a long term solution to this dispute,” said Madhuku.
He urged Chinyamukwakwa villagers to fight for what rightfully belongs to them, further challenging the local legislator Enock Porusingazi to show his side in this land battle.
Madhuku said politics would have settled the land battle in question if the national and local leaders were concerned.
“Politics only works to the advantage of the people if leaders side with the people, I have asked questions about Porusingazi, where is he, what is his position on this issue?
“The political route in this battle does not work because the current leadership is not even bothered by this issue, I will go to Mnangagwa but I can tell you that he knows about this issue, no development of this size can run without the knowledge of the president, that is why I said the political route will not work on this particular dispute,” said Madhuku.
The University of Zimbabwe law professor said he will be going to court to challenge Green Fuel’s continued encroachment into communal land.
Former area legislator Meki Makhuyana blasted Porusingazi for standing on the sidelines when vulnerable villagers were losing their land to Green Fuel.
“When this land dispute started, we read it from a political perspective that is why during my time as your Member of Parliament, I worked very hard and even brought top government leaders including Prime Minister Tsvangirai to meet with Chinyamukwakwa villagers, Porusingazi is not doing anything to fight for you,” said Makhuyana.
Green Fuel, the sole producer of ethanol in the country has since 2008 been engaged in a bloody land battle with Chisumbanje and Chinyamukwakwa communities.
Villagers accuse the company of unlawfully encroaching into their communal land. The company is legally entitled to the land previously occupied by ARDA but has clearly stated its intention to expand to 40 000 ha, a move that will displace thousands of villagers who rely on their communal land for survival.
TIMES LIVE: The government says fugitives from justice Shepherd Bushiri and his wife Mary did not leave SA aboard a flight carrying Malawi’s President Lazarus Chakwera and his delegation.
It also said SA has initiated a process to secure the extradition of the self-proclaimed prophet and his wife from Malawi.
The government made the statement on Sunday after reports that the couple had fled the country while they were expected to stand trial on allegations of fraud, theft, and money laundering involving R102m.
Bushiri and his wife did not report to the police station on Friday, as required in terms of their bail conditions.
There was speculation that Bushiri and his wife had left with the Malawian president on Friday. Chakwera was on an official visit to SA on Thursday and left the country on Friday.
Malawian presidency spokesperson Brian Banda dismissed suggestions that Chakwera had anything to do with the Bushiris fleeing SA.
Government communications and information systems director-general Phumla Williams said on Sunday that Chakwera and his delegation departed from Waterkloof Air Force Base in Pretoria.
She said the delegation stopped over at OR Tambo International Airport to collect additional officials who had travelled to SA earlier to prepare for the working visit.
“Department of home affairs immigration officials verified the identities of all passengers and Mr and Ms Bushiri were not on the flight,” Williams said.
She said when travellers are processed for departure, they are required to present themselves to an immigration officer who, among other checks, verifies that the passport belongs to the traveller.
“To ensure that the two fugitives face justice, SA has initiated a process to secure their extradition from Malawi in terms of the Southern African Development Community (Sadc) Protocol on Extradition and other legal instruments, to which Malawi is a signatory.
“While this process is under way, law-enforcement agencies will continue investigations into this matter,” Williams said.
Fans of internet sensation, Prophet Passion Java in Bulawayo may just be in for a rare treat as the personality who is popular for coining weird phrases and posting hilarious skits on the internet has hinted a possibility of visiting the city this week.
“I may be in Bulawayo anytime this week. Maybe Wednesday or Thursday so those in Bulawayo, be on the lookout,” Java told friends he was dining with in Harare this past weekend.
This news has been met with excitement with fans of the comic prophet, most who have never seen him physically, anticipating to meet him.
Java who is highly controversial in Zimbabwe because of his character as he at times provokes people, jetted into the country last week for Genius “Ginimbi” Kadungure’s funeral.
He is the man who coined terms like Twabam and kutsotsonya. He also likes using phrases, hauskuda, gara mumba iwe and gore regonzo which have caught on to many showing how much influence he has.
Just like the late Ginimbi, videos in which Java will be bragging about his top-of-the-range vehicles, home and private jet have done rounds on social media earning him instant fame.
Ever since his emergence on the showbiz scene last year, he has been trending with some saying he may be the ideal replacement of Ginimbi in terms of entertaining people on social media.
1/10 In a short thread I will address a common misconception that under the Government of National Unity (GNU), Zimbabwe achieved credible reforms & human rights respect. It was a illusion of reform while repression continued.
2/10 The so-called unity government, whose partners were anything but united, consisting of ZANU-PF & the two MDCs, failed to hold accountable those responsible for past human rights abuses, including during the 2008 electoral violence.
3/10 The GNU failed to reform key state institutions responsible for the administration of justice, which remained highly politicized & extremely partisan towards ZANU-PF.
4/10 The formation of the unity government left ZANU-PF – because of their control of key government ministries including defense, state security & justice – with significantly greater power than the MDC, which was used to frustrate or stop crucial reforms.
5/10 Zimbabwe’s GNU failed to ensure that qualified, non-partisan individuals are appointed to run governance institutions, including the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC), the judiciary, & the security sector.
6/10 In the GNU, the MDC called for the recruitment of new staff to ensure non-partisanship & transparency, but ZANU-PF refused; MDC called for security forces to publicly commit to respect the constitution & the rule of law – a call rejected by ZANU-PF outright.
7/10 ZANU-PF actively resisted genuine & comprehensive institutional reforms to end the pro-ZANU-PF partisanship of key state institutions such as the security forces, electoral management bodies & public broadcasters to create a environment conducive for credible elections.
8/10 The bulk of political violence & other abuses in Zimbabwe involves state security agents, & is fueled by the failure of the police & the judiciary to hold accountable the perpetrators of serious abuses and provide justice for victims.
9/10 To this day, Zimbabwe authorities have not instituted measures to prevent the security forces—particularly the military, the police, & state intelligence agents—from unduly influencing the electoral process through violence & intimidation.
10/10 A central aspect of any meaningful reform should focus on appointing to key positions in government highly qualified & politically independent individuals particularly in the army, police, prosecution, & electoral commission (ZEC). The GNU failed that.
By A Correspondent- A motorist who was among mourners at Genius “Ginimbi” Kadungure’s mansion hit the late socialite’s brick wall and sped off from the scene.
The unidentified motorist hit another mourner’s parked vehicle before smashing into the mansion wall.
One of the eye witnesses told H-Metro that the unidentified motorist destroyed the precast wall while reversing to avoid security guards who were manning the place.
“It is sad that the motorist destroyed the mansion precast security wall together with another parked vehicle belonging to one of the mourners and sped off,” said the eye witness.
“I am not sure if that motorist deliberately targeted the walls but from the look of things he was reversing at a fast speed to avoid security guards after he hit one of the parked vehicles.
“A number of people who failed to find their way into the mansion because of the limited number returned to their homes refusing to follow proceedings from the tents.
“I am still wandering why the motorist decided to disappear from the scene following that mishap considering the damage he had caused,” said the eye witness.
A security guard armed with a dog was quickly deployed to the destroyed area as people were about to use the way to get inside the mansion.-H-Metro
HARARE – The MDC Alliance says it has found no “conclusive evidence” that one of its leaders was an informer for the Central Intelligence Organisation whose agents abducted and tortured university student Tawanda Muchehiwa in July.
Tendai Masotsha, the chairperson of the MDC women’s wing in Bulawayo province faced questions after the 22-year-old Muchehiwa – a nephew of ZimLive editor Mduduzi Mathuthu – was seized from a parked car as they sat together on July 30, the eve of planned anti-government protests.
Masotsha and two other nephews of the journalist, who were inside a hardware shop at the time of the raid, were taken to the main police station but she was released after several hours of questioning. One of Mathuthu’s nephews, Advent Mathuthu, was charged with incitement of violence over Masotsha’s ’31 July Strategy’ protest flyers found in the BMW he was driving, but prosecutors surprisingly dropped the charges.
Muchehiwa was driven out of town and tortured for three days and was only released after a court gave police 72 hours to produce him, with a judge accepting that police knew who was holding him. Doctors said Muchehiwa’s kidneys were failing when he was taken to hospital.
Jameson Timba, a senior MDC Alliance official who was part of a committee probing Masotsha, said they were satisfied “on the balance of probabilities” that she had not collaborated with the state agents.
“After considering the evidence before it, the committee concludes that there is no conclusive evidence to link Tendai Masotsha to the abduction of Tawanda Muchehiwa. There is no smoking gun,” Timba told a news conference in Harare on Monday.
Timba said they “examined all documents relevant to the case including media reports in print, audio and video.”
“In addition, the committee engaged and interviewed all stakeholders including the family and legal representatives of Tawanda Muchehiwa, Tendai Masotsha and other members of the party,” he added.
Neither Muchehiwa nor his cousins Advent Mathuthu and Amandlenkosi Mathuthu who spent some time with Masotsha at the police station were interviewed, ZimLive reported Monday.
Masotsha told the committee that police officers at Bulawayo Central Police Station purported to release her just after 8PM, but she was abducted by state security agents shortly after stepping out of the station. She claimed she was driven into the bush and tortured until about 1AM when her abductors dumped her near her home.
Timba said he did not know if Masotsha filed a police report about the incident.
Kukurigo understands Masotsha had previously told party officials that she did not report her alleged abduction and torture to the police or the party because she was in shock.
Despite her being cleared of conspiring with state agents, Masotsha came under renewed scrutiny immediately after as it emerged Monday that she had also circulated her ’31 July Strategy’ flyer in party WhatsApp groups, appearing to incite the public to attack the homes of Zanu PF officials and police officers.
Party insiders said there are fears Masotsha was working to entrap opposition activists in an intelligence operation designed to create a pretext for clamping down on the July 31 protests, but the party was hesitant to admit to such high-level infiltration.
“Just look how uncomfortable Mahere was when Timba was saying those things; everyone knows this is a mistake, but the leaders insisted she be cleared,” a party official speaking on condition of anonymity said.
By Leonard Koni| For the last fourty years ZANU PF government has lept from one corruption scandal to the other. Its not a secret that graft starts from the top and cascades down to the lower rungs. Corruption has significantly retarded the infrastructural development of the country.
Everyone who wants to join politics is not doing it for people but for themselves. Some have discovered and found a niche to survive through politics.
The government of the day continue to put the blame on the Anglo-Saxon powers and accusing them of slapping the country with economic embargoes and ignore corruption which is wrecking the country apart.
When President Emmerson Mnangagwa came into power, he encouraged the people to work very hard and ignore the sanctions.
Three years later the Zanu PF led government started shouldering the blame on one of the biggest opposition party MDC- Alliance of working in cahoots with Western powers in maintaining the sanctions in place.
Ironically Thokozani Khupe who is a leader of another MDC-T faction was sworn in as the leader of opposition in President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government.
The reports from the state sponsored newspapers that Zimbabwe is on course to an unparalleled economic rebound built on the foundations of Government’s reform programme, which has stabilised the economy over the second half of the year are false and full of propaganda.
People are not excited by producing new economic blueprints. People want to see the performance of the economy to uplift their standards of living. Zimbabweans have found pride in celebrating mediocrity like commissioning skip bins and bakeries.
The state of Zimbabwe’s infrastructure currently is an eyesore. I can describe it as “embarrassing” and “pathetic”.
The country’s infrastructure is in a dire state!. Although many Zimbabweans might not agree with this, the one notably positive thing that Zimbabwe benefitted from colonial master Britain was the same infrastructure which we are seeing today.
High Glen shopping centre is now a ghost complex without any serious business taking place serve for a few shops which are operating at a slow pace. More than 90% of the shops have closed business and we hear the government claiming that it is open for business.
A very good example is in Chinhoyi, Marondera, Gweru , Bulawayo and Mutare were we see just a few buildings.
Ironically, while the British have been subject to much attack for their role in colonising the country and all that came with it, the infrastructure they left in place still makes up much of the infrastructure in present day Zimbabwe.
Commissions have siphoned and embezzled millions of dollars from ratepayers and offer themselves hefty allowances.
Only Zanu PF and their affiliates are pushing for commissions to run the councils.
Viral social media posts and articles have claimed that Zimbabwean businessman and socialite Genius “Ginimbi” Kadungure, who recently died in a car crash, bought his own coffin adorned with a green guitar a week before his death. However, this claim is false; his friends confirmed they bought him a casket engraved with Versace’s Medusa logo, which can be seen in footage showing the collection of his body from a funeral home.
Kadungure died in the early hours of November 8, 2020, along with three other people, in a car crash on Liberation Legacy Way (also known as Borrowdale Road) in Harare, Zimbabwe. He had been at a birthday party for one of his friends, who was among the fatalities.
Their vehicle collided with another car, veered off the road, and hit a tree before catching alight. Close friend Tinotenda “Dj Rimo” Marimo, who was following behind Kadungure, recounted the incident in a video interview.
Kadungure, 36, was the founder of a gas company and a nightclub owner who lived a lavish lifestyle which he showcased on Instagram. Since his death, social media users have speculated about how he acquired his wealth and whether he knew he was going to die.
This Facebook post on November 9, 2020, shared more than 120 times, reads: “Shocking reports emerge: Ginimbi had bought his coffin a week before his death.”
The posts include the picture of an extravagant casket designed with an army-green guitar atop. A screenshot of the misleading post taken on November 11, 2020
Similar claims can be seen on Facebook here and here and on websites here and here. The claim has also been shared in French on Facebook here.
An old photo
However, a reverse image search of the casket on TinEye shows that the picture has been online since at least 2019. It can be seen in this article, published on June 14, 2019, by Australia’s ABC News, about the “unique items” people are buried with. The image was captured by ABC News journalist Sophie Meixner.
AFP Fact Check contacted Ronald Muzambe, also known as Rondon (pictured here on the left in one of Kadungure’s Instagram posts), who is a Dubai-based socialite and a spokesman representing friends of Kadungure. He refuted claims that Kadungure bought his own coffin a week before he died.
“That was rhetoric, basically due to the fact that he’s such a public figure,” said Muzambe. “I think there are just people using stunts to appear to have been super close to him, so in that regard, they are using any form of channel just to communicate information in an effort to become relevant — but there was no coffin bought prior to his passing.”
In fact, he says, the coffin Kadungure was buried in was bought by his close friends after his death.
“It was a joint effort where we all decided to say we need to give him the send-off that he deserves and his favourite brand was Versace, so we decided to go for the Versace design,” said Muzambe.
Stories had circulated that Zimbabwe’s Youth, Sport, Arts, and Recreation Deputy Minister Tino Machakaire would be purchasing a “Versace coffin” for Kadungare. Muzambe said the deputy minister was indeed among the group of friends who pooled together to buy the coffin.
The custom-made coffin from South Africa was gold and silver with Versace’s Medusa design engraved on it.Images of the Versace-branded casket taken from a November 10, 2020, article by The Zimbabwe Mail
After being shared in a few closed groups, the pictures made their way into the public sphere.
“They were not supposed to be leaked; again it becomes a question of people being relevant. A friend visited the site just to confirm and make sure the design was as per our specifications,” said Muzambe.
The same Versace-themed casket can be seen in videos and pictures taken at Doves Funeral Services on November 13, 2020, where Kadungure’s body was collected by family and friends.
By A Correspondent| Freelance journalist Hopewell Chin’ono has asked the High Court to order his release on bail by filing an appeal against Harare Magistrate Marehwanazvo Gofa’s decision to dismiss his freedom bid saying she grossly erred and misdirected herself by not setting him free on charges of defeating or obstructing the course of justice.
Magistrate Gofa on Thursday 12 November 2020 dismissed Chin’ono’s bail application and ruled that the award winning freelance journalist had a propensity to commit offences and should remain caged at Chikurubi Maximum Security Prison.
But in a bail appeal filed on Friday 13 November 2020 by his lawyers Beatrice Mtetwa, Gift Mtisi and Doug Coltart of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, Chin’ono argued that he is a suitable candidate deserving to be admitted on bail on the same conditions as those imposed on his previous case where he was charged with inciting people to revolt against President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration during some anti-government protests in July.
Mtetwa, Mtisi and Coltart argued that Magistrate Gofa paid lip service to the presumption of innocence given that Naison Chirape, the Investigating Officer in Chin’ono’s case had admitted during proceedings in the lower court that he had not committed an offence through posting some tweets on 25 October.
Chin’ono was arrested on 3 November 2020 and charged with defeating or obstructing the course of justice as defined in section 184 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act.
Prosecutors allege that the freelance journalist posted a message on his Twitter account intending to prejudice the matter in which Zimbabwe Miners Federation leader Henrietta Rushwaya is currently appearing at Harare Magistrates on charges of smuggling gold out of Zimbabwe.
The State alleges that Chin’ono created some communication lines with some unnamed National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) officers and got confidential prosecutorial deliberations which he allegedly published on Twitter on 25 October to the effect that Rushwaya was going to be granted bail without any opposition by NPA officials.
By claiming to be engaged in a relationship with the NPA, prosecutors said the freelance journalist had jeopardised the integrity of the case against himself and that of Rushwaya.
Already, Chin’ono is scheduled to stand trial from 7 to 9 December before Magistrate Ngoni Nduna on charges of inciting people to revolt against President Mnangagwa’s administration.
Midlands Chiefs Council chairperson Chief Nkwananzi Zama Ngungumbane has blamed parents for the immoral activities that some pupils are engaging in within schools in the absence of teachers who are on strike over salary reviews.
Chief Ngungumbane castigated parents for failing to support teachers in shaping the characters of their children saying the guardians had relegated their responsibilities to educators.
He said parents should be responsible for the social and societal upkeep of their children and should desist from blaming teachers for all the negative social behaviours of school children.
“It is a collective responsibility of the community at large not of teachers alone to mould the behaviour of children, to give them the Ubuntu for them to be morally upright because we have a current set up where teachers are mostly absent from schools so if parents neglect their children who then will be their keeper,” he asked.
“It is not an excuse to say teachers’ absence is the result of what children are doing. We have child headed families where some parents are in the Diaspora while the children are left home without an elderly person to give them proper guidance. These children are even exposed to explicit content such as pornographic material and then become experimental.
“As society we also have to understand that every child in your community is your child hence it becomes a collective responsibility to create the future leaders that we want,” he said.
Teachers have been on strike since September when schools opened for examination classes and there have been reports that pupils were engaging in deplorable activities in their absence such as taking illegal substances and doing and recording elicit dances like the dirty ‘John Vulighedi’ dance.
Rape Accused Prophet Shepherd Bushiri who heads the Enlightened Christian Gathering Church
One of the women who opened rape cases against fugitive prophet Shepherd Bushiri says she has lost hope that the preacher will ever answer for his alleged crime after fleeing to Malawi.
*Thandi opened a rape case against Bushiri this year on an incident that happened in 2017. She said police had been giving her regular updates about the case.
According to Thandi, police recently informed her that her rape case would only follow after Bushiri’s case on money laundering had been concluded.
She told Sowetan that the news that Bushiri had fled the country had left her devastated.
“I am disappointed. I’m angry because this guy is rude. I was very close to him. I know him. I can’t explain how I feel right now. We’re still asking ourselves how did he leave the country. I have lost hope that he will face consequences for what he did. I really don’t see it happening. I know Bushiri. I was close to him…He pays everyone,” Thandi.
The mother of another victim who opened a rape case against Bushiri said she had met prosecutors in Pretoria for an update about two weeks ago.
“They [prosecutors] told us that their bosses said the case is weak. We were informed that our case is weak because Bushiri bribed my daughter. Coming from there I was so disappointed,” she said.
The mother confirmed that her daughter, who was 16 at the time of the alleged rape, had received money to change her story with the police. She said Bushiri’s departure from the country had left her daughter angry.
“It is very hurting. My daughter is also frustrated about that,” she said.
Bushiri’s lawyer, Terrence Baloyi, said he was “not aware” of the alleged bribe.
Bushiri and his wife, Mary, escaped to Malawi last week, leaving the nation angry and demanding answers from the government. Home affairs minister Aaron Motsoaledi said the couple had not used official ports of entry to flee.
He said if the couple did use official ports, they must have bribed their way through.
Bushiri and his co-accused, Mary, Landiwe Ntlokwana Zethu and Willie Mudolo, are facing charges of theft, money laundering and fraud in connection with an alleged R106m investment scheme.
The Bushiris were released on R200,000 bail each on November 4 after their arrest last month. One of their bail conditions was that they were barred from travelling outside SA and only permitted to travel in Gauteng and North West.
Yesterday, the Pretoria magistrate’s court issued a warrant of arrest for the couple after the government indicated that it would initiate extradition process for Bushiri and his wife to come and answer for their alleged crimes in SA.
Motsoaledi is expected to answer before the portfolio committee on home affairs, which is demanding answers on how the Bushiris fled the county.
ZIMBABWE recorded 21 new Covid-19 cases in the last 24 hours which brings the total number of cases in the country to 8 786.
According to Ministry of Health and Health Care, no deaths were reported during the same period and the death toll remains at 257.
Of the new cases recorded yesterday, 12 were reported in Bulawayo province, two in Midlands and other two in Masvingo.
The remainder of the cases were recorded in Manicaland and Mashonaland Central provinces.
“We conducted 580 PCR tests yesterday and 21 people tested positive. As at 14 November 2020, Zimbabwe had 8 786 confirmed cases, including 8 096 recoveries and 257 deaths,” read the report.
Later Tuesday, locals in Cape Town reported, en masse, another tremor in the region in the early hours of Tuesday morning. The so-called ‘quake’ took place just after 00:30 on 17 November, shaking the city for the third time in the past two months. Experts were able to verify these claims soon afterwards, confirming a ‘noteworthy event’ had taken place.
Another tremor felt in Cape Town on Tuesday 17 November
Two significant seismic events struck the Mother City in September and October respectively, with both registering between 2.5 – 3.0 on the Richter Scale. These were classed as ‘tremors’, as only events clocking 4.0 or more can truly be classed as earthquakes. However, this latest incident has come close to pushing that barrier.
How strong was the tremor that hit Cape Town?
On Tuesday morning, preliminary reports suggested that the tremor took place just off the West Coast, with an epicentre lying to the south-west of Cape Town. As confirmed by the EMSC, this quake was a 3.4 to 3.5 magnitude event, outmuscling the previous occasions that the ‘Earth moved’ for Capetonians in 2020. – SouthAfrican.com
A GANG of four machete-wielding gold panners allegedly disarmed a security guard of his service rifle, which was loaded with 10 rounds of ammunition before they fatally struck him and robbed him of cellphones, clothes and a pair of shoes.
The incident occurred at Arda Balu Estate in Umguza District in Matabeleland North.
This emerged when one of the suspects, Tobias Dube (26) of Cowdray Park suburb in Bulawayo approached the High Court seeking bail pending trial for murder.
Tobias connived with Dumisani Ngulube (34) of Pelandaba suburb, Nkosilathi Ncube (22) of Nkayi and Givemore Ngwenya (24) of Lupane to fatally attack and rob Ernest Dube (54) after disarming him of his 303 rifle.
Tobias, who is now facing a murder charge in connection with Ernest’s death, filed an application at the Bulawayo High Court citing the State as a respondent.
He sought an order for release on bail pending trial. Justice Nokuthula Moyo yesterday dismissed the application, saying there was no guarantee that if released on bail, Tobias would not abscond due to the gravity of the offence.
“It is ordered that the application be and hereby accordingly dismissed,” ruled the judge.
In papers before the court, Tobias through his lawyers Nyawo Ruzive Practice had offered to pay $5 000 bail and to report once a week at Cowdray Park Police Station as part of the bail conditions.
He had also offered to continue residing at his given address and not interfere with State witnesses until the finalisation of the matter.
In his bail statement, Tobias is denying the charge, arguing he was tortured by police to admit the charge.
He further argued that there was no evidence linking him to the offence.
“I don’t know anything about the murder of the deceased as I was not in the company of my co-accused on the night in question. There is no evidence linking me to the commission of the offence and the averment that I was found in possession of the deceased’s belongings is misleading because I am actually the one who took the police to the co-accused persons,” argued Tobias.
“After the torture we were taken to the crime scene and forced to make indications by the police.”
He also dismissed the State’s assertion that he was likely to abscond if released on bail, arguing that the State’s case was weak.
The State, which was represented by Mr Bruce Maphosa, opposed the application, arguing that there were compelling reasons warranting the accused person’s continued detention.
“The sentence that the applicant is likely to get upon conviction is a lengthy one and that on its own can tempt him to escape justice by absconding,” he said.
According to court papers, it was stated that on August 20 this year, Tobias together with his three accomplices who are also in custody, armed themselves with machetes and axes and went to Arda Balu Estate in Umguza. They found the deceased manning the premises together with his colleague Ashley Manyemba.
They allegedly confronted the two security guards and indiscriminately attacked them using machetes. They also managed to disarm Ernest of his rifle before they continued to attack him leading to his death. The deceased’s colleague lost consciousness after sustaining a serious head injury.
The gang went away with a loaded 303 rifle. Manyemba gained consciousness after a while and staggered to his colleague whom he found lifeless in a pool of blood and reported the matter to the police.
Tobias was the first to be arrested after a tip-off and upon investigations he implicated the other three.
Investigations led police to the other three suspects and they recovered the rifle which had four rounds of ammunition missing and they are yet to establish where these were used.
Yesterday's agreement between the gvt and it's shadow, the Apex Council is a classic example of an agreement between hostages and a hostage taker. The 2 have put a gun to the heads of teachers,PEDs,DSIs and Heads and now thank them for their "understanding".
WARRIORS coach, Zdravko Logarusic, threw in his final ace and was rewarded with a priceless goal as Zimbabwe fought a good fight to pick a big point in their 2121 AFCON qualifying campaign.
The hosts looked dead and buried, when they went down 0-2, in their battle against the African champions, at the National Sports Stadium, yesterday.
But,the Croatian coach changed his team at the break, injected pace down the left channel, and was rewarded with a late goal from substitute Prince Dube.
The in-form forward, with his first touch, forced his effort home for the equaliser in this foul-goal thriller.
The Warriors lost the reverse fixture 1-3 in Algiers last week.
The point helped Algeria to book their place at the next AFCON finals on 10 points, while the Warriors now have to battle the Zebras of Botswana and Zambia’s Chipolopolo, for the other slot.
The Warriors have five points, from four games, with both their home matches ending in draws, while Botswana are now in third place, with four points, after a 1-0 win over Zambia yesterday. The Zambians have three points, with just one win, a scrappy 2-1 victory over Botswana last week, in their four games.
Zimbabwe will host the Zambians in Harare and travel to Botswana in their final two games, while the Zebras also have an away game against the Desert Foxes.
The Zambians have a home game against Algeria and an away battle in Harare.
Yesterday, the Warriors appeared on their way to a second loss in four days,when goals from Andy Delort and Riyad Mahrez had put the visitors 2-0 up by the 38th minute.
“It’s not easy to come up against Algeria. We had expected to win (at home) but then we conceded two naive goals from individual mistakes,’’ said Loga.
“We saw our weaknesses and we had to organise our individual tactical moves as a group.
“We had to cover one another and not to create a lot of space.
“Anyway, against the champions of Africa, we were 0-2 down and we came up and I am satisfied.
“We were pushing for three points but, with the point we got, we are still in control of our destiny in the group.
“I think everything depends on us for our qualification. I am sure Zimbabwe can score goals against any team in Africa.’’
Loga, who had made some questionable changes to the starting line-up, admitted they had a poor first half.
He was forced to make four changes at the restart in frantic efforts to avoid another hiding.
His decision to leave some of Zimbabwe’s regular players like Khama Billiat, Alec Mudimu and Kuda Mahachi, was as bold as it was controversial.
Midfielder Tafadzwa Rusike, defender Jimmy Dzingai and goalkeeper Talbert Shumba, who replaced injured Elvis Chipezeze, acquitted themselves well.
But Zimbabwe’s problems in the left back position got even worse yesterday with newboy Adam Chicksen, who had come in for Divine Lunga, struggling to keep up with the pace of Mahrez.
And, after surviving three set-pieces from dangerous positions, Zimbabwe were caught flat-footed in the 34th minute when Algerian striker, Delort, was given room in the box to head home the opener.
Mahrez then added the second, four minutes later, after he expertly controlled the ball with his heel, in full flight, and turned Chicksen inside-out before firing a low shot past goalkeeper, Shumba.
But, Zimbabwe refused to throw in the towel.
Tino Kadewere won a free-kick, at the edge of the box, and skipper Musona held his head in disbelief after crashing his effort against the crossbar in the 42nd minute.
But, the hosts were awarded another free-kick, and Musona, who has become a set-piece expert for the team, took responsibility and his right curling shot gave ‘keeper Rais M’bolhi no chance.
The complexion of the game changed completely after the changes at the break and Kadewere had his header, tipped over the bar, in the 56th minute, before going wide with his shot, moments later.
Dube was introduced in the 81st minute and found himself at the right place, and tight time, to force the ball home for the equaliser.
He connected from the blind side after the ball had been flicked from a corner.
Loga explained his first team changes.
“The point is we thought Zemura and Chicksen, for example, are a bit stronger and can give us that advantage from the left but then things didn’t work out well,’’ he said.
“But, I think David Moyo had a good job. He really proved himself. In the second half we decided to organise and we took out David Moyo, a big player, and we put Khama to try and reorganise.
“And, we put in the experienced player, Ovidy (Karuru) because (Marvelous) Nakamba couldn’t do all the work alone.
“At the end, when we scored, we pushed our captain to the rightback because we started to play with three on the back when I put Prince inside.
“When I was talking with my assistants they were always insisting on Prince and I said Prince will score at the right time, in the right place and in the right minute.
“I was waiting, and juggling in my mind, Prince or (Terrence) Dzvukamanja and I said I couldn’t make a decision, let me see.
“But then, I said Prince, and he scored.’’
Teams
Zimbabwe: T. Shumba, T. Darikwa (P. Dube 82nd min), J. Dzingai, T. Hadebe, A. Chicksen (D. Lunga, 46th min), J. Zemura (K. Mahachi, 46th min), T. Rusike (O. Karuru, 46th min), M. Nakamba, K. Musona, D. Moyo (K. Billiat, 46th min), T. Kadewere.
Algeria: R. M’bolhi, A. Mandi, D. Benlamri, A. Bensebaini, M. Halaima, A. Guedioura, M. Benrahma (Y. Brahimi, 72nd min), I. Bennacer (M. Abeid (79th min), R. Mahrez (A. Ounas, 79th min), S. Feghouli (J. Belkebla (68th min), A. Delort (B. Bounedjah, 68th min)
The ZRP is appealing for information which can lead to the location and arrest of the driver and owner of a Mitsubishi Canter truck which was pirating near Simon Muzenda Street (4th) on 16/11/20 at around 1530 hours.
The motorist was picking up passengers in the middle of the road and when approached by a police officer, he ran over the police officer who died on the spot.
The driver sped off after the incident and anyone with information pertaining to this matter to report at any nearest police station. The law will take its course on this reckless driver.
A teenager from a Bindura farm fatally struck his stepfather with an iron bar on the head while trying to protect his mother during a domestic dispute over claims of infidelity.
Mashonaland Central police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Fidelis Dhewu confirmed the incident, saying the boy (15) was on the run.
He said the incident occurred after the 37-year-old stepfather had a misunderstanding with his wife over claims of infidelity.
The stepfather went to buy some airtime and took long to come back home, prompting the wife to follow him.
“She found him at the house of another woman, resulting in an altercation following accusations of infidelity,” said Asst Insp Dhewu.
The woman at the house where the man was, ran away and the couple went back to their home and continued quarrelling.
Asst Insp Dhewu said the dispute degenerated into a scuffle and the boy sided with his mother, before picking an iron bar, which he used to strike his stepfather on the right side of the head.
The stepfather was taken to Bindura Hospital where he died the following day and a report was made to police.
Asst Insp Dhewu urged people to resolve their disputes amicably.
What remained of the Mercedes Benz after the accident
IN celebrating life, people are actually losing it, as events of the past two weeks have shown.
Tragedy is striking in the euphoria of celebrating birthdays and a week after businessman Genius “Ginimbi” Kadungure died in a car crash, four people died in similar circumstances when a Mercedes Benz collided head-on with a BMW near Kariba Airport.
Police identified the deceased as Fortunate Dandajene (47), Jeremiah Matimbe (50), Charcels Mandebvu (50) and Corporal Patience Ganni (31) of the Zimbabwe National Army.
It emerged yesterday that occupants of the Merc were celebrating the birthday of a female colleague.
They are said to have bought some beers at Nyamhunga Shopping Centre before heading for Airport Bar, about four kilometres away.
According to sources close to the happenings, prior to the tragic accident in which three people were burnt beyond recognition, the birthday girl, only identified as Irene, did not join her colleagues after indicating that she wanted to attend to something else before joining them.
The other three then decided to go to the Airport Bar intending to pick up Irene later for the celebrations.
Tragedy struck along the way as the driver of the vehicle failed to negotiate a curve near the 62km peg along the Kariba-Makuti Road.
T-shirts for the birthday girl had been made to brand the event.
The driver drove for about 75 metres on the right side of the road, at least 30 metres of which were on the road verges, before being involved in a head-on collision with the oncoming BMW vehicle.
Vehicle parts were scattered at the scene, with some of them falling about 30 metres from the point of impact.
Police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said investigations into the accident were ongoing.
“We are still conducting investigations into what could have caused the accident, but preliminary findings point to speeding as the driver failed to negotiate a curve,” he said.
The injured three are reportedly in a stable condition and are admitted at Kariba District Hospital.
Civil servants yesterday accepted the 41 percent salary increase by Government, including allowances.
The latest increase will see the least- paid civil servant earning about $14 500.
In an interview yesterday after a meeting of the National Joint Negotiating Council (NJNC), Apex Council chairperson Mrs Cecilia Alexander confirmed the deal. She said Government had increased the basic salary only, but they finally settled for increments which include allowances.
“We have agreed to a cost of living adjustment to be paid as follows: an average salary increase of 41 percent of the total package that is the basic salary, transport and housing allowances plus special civil service allowance. It is going to be effective from November 1, 2020,” she said.
Mrs Alexander said the bonus for 2020, which is paid over two months, was going to be based on the basic salary plus transport and housing allowances.
While the civil servants had accepted the offer, Mrs Alexander said they trusted the Government would continue prioritising their welfare in the coming year. The Government has already made it clear that while it will not borrow or print money to pay civil servants, and so scupper the hard-won economic stability, it will continue as it has been doing this year to improve pay and benefits as tax revenues rise.
Mrs Alexander said a well defined roadmap for civil servants would be crafted in January next year.
“We have settled for the offer because we are now getting at the end of the year and Government is also going to be paying us bonuses for two months. What it means is that if we had refused the offer, civil servants were going to lose bonuses or get paid using calculations of the previous salary structure,” she said.
Mrs Alexander said while the civil servants’ proposal to be paid according to the value of salaries in October 2018 was not met, they settled for the increase in good faith hoping that next year would bring better fortunes.
Zimbabwe Nurses Association secretary-general Mr Enock Dongo, who heads the nursing union that has held out the longest, said nurses welcomed the increment awarded by the Government but still wanted a further improvement.
“It is a welcome development by Government and we really appreciate the increment they have offered. It is however, not yet enough to cater for the cost of living. We expect more. But like I said, this is a positive step and we really appreciate it,” said Mr Dongo.
However, the vast majority of nurses in the public sector had already resumed full-time duties, with hospital chief executives playing a major role in both getting staff to end industrial action while themselves pressing for improvements in conditions of service. Only a little over 1 000, around 3 percent of the total, were still holding out for limited duties.
Finance and Economic Development Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube has repeatedly assured the nation that measures put in place to insulate the local currency against erosion, are sustainable with the auction system working very well to create a stable base, so inflation recedes as a serious problem. But he has also stressed that while he wants to see civil servants properly rewarded he needs to maintain the fiscal discipline that has created the basis for the new stability and the launchpad for sustained and viable economic growth.
The Zimbabwe Teachers Association, ZIMTA, yesterday accepted the 41 percent salary increase by Government, including allowances plus an additional 10 percent risk allowance, setting itself for a collision with other teachers unions that have rejected the offer.
The latest increase will see the least- paid teacher earn a little over $18 000.
Zimta the largest and oldest teachers union, yesterday advised all its members to return to work while the association continues to press for improvements in conditions of service.
In a statement, Zimta national secretary-general Mr Tapson Nganunu Sibanda said they expected teachers who live at or near their schools, or at least in the same town or city, to be back in their classrooms this week while the association expected those that have a long way to travel to report as soon as they had received November salaries and so had the money for transport.
Teachers should contact their schools and tell them when they will be reporting for duty and why there might be a delay. The education authorities already knew about those who needed to get their salary before travelling long distances.
In its statement last night Zimta made it clear that it expected the authorities to back-peddle on disciplinary action as teachers who considered themselves to be incapacitated to work reported to their schools and that there would be no “overzealous” action. Zimta, like other unions, said it would continue to press for more improvements in pay and conditions of service.
“ZIMTA remains actively engaged in the search of improved conditions of service, salaries and allowances and is now putting together 2021 strategies, taking into cognisance 2020 setbacks,” said Mr Sibanda.
A motorist who was among mourners at Genius “Ginimbi” Kadungure’s mansion hit the late socialite’s brick wall and sped off from the scene.
The unidentified motorist hit another mourner’s parked vehicle before smashing into the mansion wall.
One of the eye witnesses told H-Metro that the unidentified motorist destroyed the precast wall while reversing to avoid security guards who were manning the place.
“It is sad that the motorist destroyed the mansion precast security wall together with another parked vehicle belonging to one of the mourners and sped off,” said the eye witness.
“I am not sure if that motorist deliberately targeted the walls but from the look of things he was reversing at a fast speed to avoid security guards after he hit one of the parked vehicles.
“A number of people who failed to find their way into the mansion because of the limited number returned to their homes refusing to follow proceedings from the tents.
“I am still wandering why the motorist decided to disappear from the scene following that mishap considering the damage he had caused,” said the eye witness.
A security guard armed with a dog was quickly deployed to the destroyed area as people were about to use the way to get inside the mansion.-H-Metro
A GANG of four machete-wielding gold panners allegedly disarmed a security guard of his service rifle, which was loaded with 10 rounds of ammunition before they fatally struck him and robbed him of cellphones, clothes and a pair of shoes.
The incident occurred at Arda Balu Estate in Umguza District in Matabeleland North.
This emerged when one of the suspects, Tobias Dube (26) of Cowdray Park suburb in Bulawayo approached the High Court seeking bail pending trial for murder.
Tobias connived with Dumisani Ngulube (34) of Pelandaba suburb, Nkosilathi Ncube (22) of Nkayi and Givemore Ngwenya (24) of Lupane to fatally attack and rob Ernest Dube (54) after disarming him of his 303 rifle.
Tobias, who is now facing a murder charge in connection with Ernest’s death, filed an application at the Bulawayo High Court citing the State as a respondent.
He sought an order for release on bail pending trial. Justice Nokuthula Moyo yesterday dismissed the application, saying there was no guarantee that if released on bail, Tobias would not abscond due to the gravity of the offence.
“It is ordered that the application be and hereby accordingly dismissed,” ruled the judge.
In papers before the court, Tobias through his lawyers Nyawo Ruzive Practice had offered to pay $5 000 bail and to report once a week at Cowdray Park Police Station as part of the bail conditions.
He had also offered to continue residing at his given address and not interfere with State witnesses until the finalisation of the matter.
In his bail statement, Tobias is denying the charge, arguing he was tortured by police to admit the charge.
He further argued that there was no evidence linking him to the offence.
“I don’t know anything about the murder of the deceased as I was not in the company of my co-accused on the night in question. There is no evidence linking me to the commission of the offence and the averment that I was found in possession of the deceased’s belongings is misleading because I am actually the one who took the police to the co-accused persons,” argued Tobias.
“After the torture we were taken to the crime scene and forced to make indications by the police.”
He also dismissed the State’s assertion that he was likely to abscond if released on bail, arguing that the State’s case was weak.
The State, which was represented by Mr Bruce Maphosa, opposed the application, arguing that there were compelling reasons warranting the accused person’s continued detention.
“The sentence that the applicant is likely to get upon conviction is a lengthy one and that on its own can tempt him to escape justice by absconding,” he said.
According to court papers, it was stated that on August 20 this year, Tobias together with his three accomplices who are also in custody, armed themselves with machetes and axes and went to Arda Balu Estate in Umguza. They found the deceased manning the premises together with his colleague Ashley Manyemba.
They allegedly confronted the two security guards and indiscriminately attacked them using machetes. They also managed to disarm Ernest of his rifle before they continued to attack him leading to his death. The deceased’s colleague lost consciousness after sustaining a serious head injury.
The gang went away with a loaded 303 rifle. Manyemba gained consciousness after a while and staggered to his colleague whom he found lifeless in a pool of blood and reported the matter to the police.
Tobias was the first to be arrested after a tip-off and upon investigations he implicated the other three.-Chronicle
The fallout from Boris Johnson’s meeting with a Tory MP who later tested positive for Covid-19 is growing — as four other Conservatives are now self-isolating.
The PM said he feels “great” on his first working day isolating in No 10.
In a video on Monday, Mr Johnson urged others to “follow the rules” if contacted by NHS Test and Trace.
On Thursday, Mr Johnson spent about 35 minutes with Tory MP Lee Anderson, who lost his sense of taste the next day.
The prime minister was contacted by a clinician at NHS Test and Trace on Sunday, who had spoken to Mr Anderson about his movements and decided their meeting counted as close enough contact to require self-isolation.
Mr Johnson, who was admitted to intensive care with coronavirus seven months ago, has maintained the pair followed all social distancing advice during the appointment.
The four other Conservative MPs self-isolating following the meeting include South Ribble MP Katherine Fletcher, Warrington South MP Andy Carter, Great Grimsby MP Lia Nici and Bassetlaw MP Brendan Clarke-Smith.
The PM’s period of isolation begins as the government prepares a policy relaunch.-Chronicle
Zimbabwe almost lost the plot in the 2021 Afcon qualifying campaign yesterday but coach Zdravko Logarusic heaved a huge sigh of relief after Prince Dube rose from the bench and rescued a point against African champions Algeria at the National Sports Stadium.
There was more sweet music for the nation when Botswana stunned Zambia in a later Group H encounter to leave all the other three teams with a chance of joining Algeria in Cameroo.
The Zebras won the match 1-0 to take their points tally to four and move to third on the table while the Warriors are second with five points and Zambia anchor with three points.
Dube, with his first touch after he was introduced towards the end of this tough encounter and a late first half goal from skipper Knowledge Musona, summed up a hectic day for the Warriors who had stared a second defeat in four days against the same opponents in the qualifiers. The Warriors lost the first leg 1-3 in Algiers last week and it appeared the script was going to duplicate after Andy Delort and Manchester City superstar Riyad Mahrez had put the visitors 2-0 up by the 38th minute.
“It’s not easy to come up against Algeria. We had expected to win (at home) but then we conceded two naive goals from individual mistakes.
“We saw our weaknesses and we had to organise our individual tactical moves as a group. We had to cover one another and not to create a lot of space.
“Anyway, against the champions of Africa we were 0-2 down and we came up and I am satisfied. But really we were pushing for three points. But with the point we got we are still in control of our destiny in the group.
“I think everything depends on us right now for our qualification. Still I am sure Zimbabwe can score goals against any team in Africa,” said Logarusic.
Warriors coach Zdravko Logarusic, who had made some questionable changes to the starting line-up, admitted they had a poor first half and had to make four changes at the restart in frantic efforts to avoid another hiding.
His bold but controversial decision of leaving some of Zimbabwe’s best players like Khama Billiat, Alec Mudimu and Kuda Mahachi on the bench was met with criticism.-Chronicle
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs wishes to inform the general public that the home-bound departure of the plane carrying His Excellency Dr Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera, President of the Republic of Malawi, and Her Excellency Madame Monica Chakwera, First Lady of the Republic of Malawi, was delayed by seven hours on Friday, 13th November 2020.
The plane was scheduled to leave South Africa at 15:30 Hrs but did not leave until 22:30 Hrs.
Chief among the causes of the delay was the South African Government’s refusal to allow Malawi’s advance delegation to travel back home together with President Chakwera and his delegation, citing unspecified security reasons.
The South African authorities inexplicably refusal to let Malawi’s President leave with his advance team came despite being informed of the arrangement in advance, in conformity to a similar arrangement made in all the countries President Chakwera has visited thus far.
Dissatisfied with the vague security reasons given for the refusal, His Excellency the President decided that he would not travel back to Malawi without his advance team.
In the impasse that followed, the Malawi delegation proposed to the South African authorities that only President Chakwera and his delegation should leave from Pretoria Waterkloof Military Airbase where their plane had landed, while the advance team should be picked up en route from OR Tambo International Airport. For no apparent reason, the South African authorities rejected this proposal as well.
The Malawi delegation then spent the next 6 hours trying to reason with the South African authorities before the proposal was accepted.
In retrospect, the Malawi delegation was justified in its dissatisfaction with the unspecified security reasons cited for the refusal.
To begin with, President Chakwera’s plane was parked at Pretoria Waterkloof Military Airbase, a highly secure facility, under guard by the South African police throughout the visit.
Secondly, at the time that Malawi’s advance team was being barred from boarding the plane, their passports and luggage were thoroughly checked by uniformed police officers instead of South Africa’s immigration officers.
Thirdly, the entire delegation’s luggage was loaded onto the flight by military personnel from the South African Defence Force.
Fourthly, at the scheduled time of departure from the military airbase, there were dozens of South African security personnel on the ground, who not only inspected the plane and its cargo but also inspected every passenger on entry.
The Malawi delegation complied with all these security measures out of deference to the vague security concerns of the South African authorities, despite the fact that the manner in which they were conducted and the delay they caused breached diplomatic protocols commensurate with the dignity of President Chakwera’s office and person.
As such, the Malawi delegation was justified to dismiss as unacceptable and unsatisfactory the South African authorities’ use of unspecified security reasons to hinder President Chakwera from leaving with his advance team.
Even after agreeing to let the advance team board the at OR Tambo International Airport, the South African authorities subjected the team to additional security checks before and after boarding the plane, again without giving any specific security reasons.
In fact, to date, those security reasons have not been communicated through formal channels.
The Government of Malawi is aware and grateful that a public statement was recently issued by the South African Government, exculpating President Chakwera from false allegations dominating the South African media that his presidential plane was used as a conduit for trafficking two Malawians wanted by South African authorities.
Notwithstanding, the Government of Malawi notes with concern that the statement falls short of acknowledging that the treatment President Chakwera was subjected to upon his departure was improper and incongruous to the warm hospitality he received upon his arrival.
In his Domboshava community, the number of widows, orphans, disadvantaged and underprivileged that he directly assisted was astounding but unheralded. His commitment towards helping children who were born and bred in circumstances similar to his to attend school more comfortably than he did was a legendary tale told by nobody because he never wanted that written about him.
Why would a man so proud of his achievements hide a side to him when he was considered an exhibitionist – one may wonder? This brings me to a word one would probably never dare use along with the name Genius in the same line and yet it paradoxically fits so well. In spite of his loud exhibition, Genius was also, incredibly, a humble man.
He wanted people to say he was vain because he bought himself the fastest cars, built beauty and opulence and lived on the lap of luxury. He was not prepared to have them say he was vain because he paraded the poor while giving them handouts. To Genius, the poor needed to be assisted away from the glare of the public because benevolence is humble and discreet.
It seems to me like a lot of people knew very little about him but judged him anyway.-Lovemore Megabyte Banda
Tinashe Sambiri|The MDC Alliance Namibia has described the #OneMillionCampaign initiative launched by the party’s Youth Assembly as a noble move set to drum up support for the vibrant movement in the rural areas.
Below is the MDC Alliance Namibia statement on the #OneMillionCampaign:
16 NOVEMBER 2020
MDC ALLIANCE NAMIBIA PLEDGES TO GIVE SOLIDARITY TO THE ORGANIC YOUTH ASSEMBLY’S INITIATIVE TO LAUNCH #OneMillionCompaign.
Mdc Alliance Namibia greatly appreciates and admires the historic innovation since the inception of the political behemoth to invade rural constituencies in preparation of the harmonised elections in 2023.
As a district, we are committed and dedicated to meaningfully contribute towards this noble cause since our Youths are the most vulnerable victims of Zanupf’s gross misgovernance. We applaud our Youth Assembly led by Chairperson commander Obey Tererai Sithole and his vibrant team for the intiative to fight vote apathy especially from our youths who treat themselves as second class citizens.
The resolute initiative from the backbone of the party (Youths) needs a serious financial and moral back up therefore as an external assembly , we shall offer our support to the fullest for a resounding victory of the People’s Party come 2023. It is quite clear that the old is already dead and the new must be born. A million youthful revolutionary voices for the change that delivers demanding freedom ,justice ,equality ,constitutionalism and solidarity should be embraced by all social democrats across the globe.
As we gear up to our fight for a People’s Government, it becomes imperative to sponsor our Youths so that they invade all villages one by one recruiting and organising towards One (1) Million New First Time voters and Card-carrying Members.
Moreover, it is quite magnificent to see our youths’ keenness to confront Zanupf regime in its purported strongholds. We are very cognisant of the need to be organised after casting our votes, Mdc Alliance Namibia would like to remind the Youths their responsibility to defend their vote. It is their obligation to defend victory in the face of perennial election fraudsters who manipulate Zec through contaminated results. As the future of the country, the youths must determine their fate and destiny by choosing a democratic alternative that guarantees employment and better livelihoods in the motherland. So far, our pragmatic Youth Assembly is in Masvingo Province spreading the doctrine of complete socio-economic transformation.
Furthermore, as an objective democratic project, we anticipate a novel face, new transformation advocates and resolute drivers of the national democratic revolution. A better Zimbabwe is the ideal home for our Youths who are compelled by shoddy social services to desert the country into the diaspora. Brick by brick , we shall construct a million votes of change. The campaign shall jealously guard against the exploitation of our suffering youths to unleash violence on social democrats. Our youths are prepared to educate, mobilise and re-energise the base for resistance against Zanupf shenanigans. No youth shall give in to be used to defend thieves and smugglers who usually manipulate hungry youths for beer or three pieces of silver.
To wind it up, Mdc Alliance Namibia is absolutely clear that it will support this project morally and financially since we are committed to the establishment of a People’s Government.
We are sick and exhausted on the incessant incarceration of the audible voices of dissent, abductions, corruption and daylight smuggling with impunity. I salute our vibrant Youths for deciding to amplify the voices of the intimidated Youths in Zimbabwe especially in those marginalised rural communities where traditional leaders are abused for political appointees from the satanic regime.
“The danger about voice notes are that they leave footprints (I.e the phone number they are sent from)…
“if she denies the voice then she has to explain who was using her phone at that particular instance…” – legal expert on torture crimes, Kennedy Masiye.
By Showbiz Reporter | The Comedian Mai Titi (Felistas Murata) who was on Monday arrested yesterday at Marlborough Police station over hiring assailants to assault an events businesswoman, had a temporary moment of relief which she took to shoot a live video smiling while outside the Harare Magistrates Court.
The case was referred back to the police for further forensics after the three men she was arrested with changed statements at the last minute. Yesterday one of the men was filmed confessing that he was truly hired on the 5th November with two others by the comedian, but early Monday morning he changed statements.
Forensics will now determine which direction the case goes.
The first of the self confessed hirings, is Mr Desire Hendeni, who is together with two others only identified as Joshua, and Brincely.
Soon after the denials, Mai Titi whose Facebook account was somewhat taken down soon after the arrest yesterday, quickly went on camera from her Instagram account, where she appeared totally unconcerned about the case.
Meanwhile, the case relates mainly to audio recordings of a voice sounds alike Mai Titi instructing the men to go “electrocute” the Harare woman.
In the recorded audios, a voice fitting Mai Titi’s communication is heard plotting her attack for Mapalo Gardens, which is at 22 Lower Hampden Road, Marlborough, Harare.
The conversation with the alleged assassin is as follows:
Agent: there is no way that they will see me, it won’t happen, they will never see me. Don’t fear a thing, rely on me, don’t fear anything.
Mai Titi: Alright, if you can do it in the morning, it’s bho zvekuti, you can then come to the airport to meet me, and I will sort you out, because this person is getting too inflated too much. They are now too inflated.
Mai Titi: But I don’t want them to see you, if they see you they will become alert.
Agent: Are you now doubting me these days? We are literally there right now where … Isn’t it the place is called Mapalo Gardens? This is where I m standing right now. But this person will be electrocuted tomorrow morning. Wait, let me do my logistics. let me do my logistics, but this person is being electrocuted in the morning. For now we are just doing negotiations. for now we shall just be negotiating, but when we get to the morning, that is when we will finish this person. But you must rely on me, you must trust me.
Mai Titi: But if there is nothing you’ve done, it helps nothing. At the offices, they just do their thing, they don’t have offices. They are at their house where they do their events. So now, how will they be caught? Will you be able to do the catch? Is there any more hope? Is there any hope? I don’t think there’s any hope? Because if there is an excuse maybe by now they are now aware. You see? I will give you fuel money no problem, because I was always landing tomorrow, I am landing but I don’t know if this hit job will work.
Fuel mogul Philip Mapfumo who runs Doczine Fuels in Masvingo is lucky to be alive after more than five armed robbers stormed his two story house in the leafy suburb of Rhodene and got away with US$5 300 and R300 at around 7pm tonight.
Mapfumo told The Mirror that the incident took about 15mins as the armed robbers got entry after gunning down part of the perimeter wall and gained entry.
“The robbers who were heavily armed gained entry after gunning down my durawall and asked my children my whereabouts as well as my wife, fortunately I was around and I was seeing all the drama from my bedroom.
I threw the money I had in the bedroom and hid in the toilet after firing a shot using my Star pistol, I quickly surrendered and they hit me on the forehead and I was injured slightly on my hip,” Mapfumo told The Mirror.
The armed robbers shot the CCTV screen but failed to gun down the recording video.
Mapfumo told The Mirror that several shots were fired until he surrendered fearing the safety of his family.
He said he called a number of neighbours including his wife who was in Harare but later surrendered his cellphone to the vicious armed robbers.
When The Mirror crew arrived at the residence which is along Cary Street there were more than 30 armed Police details.
Mapfumo said the armed robbers debated on whether to tie him up or not but as they were doing so a CID seagent Thulani Sibanda arrived and fired warning shots, sensing danger they left him and bolted away through the gunned down entrance.-The Mirror
A POLICE officer was shot and injured while 59 other passengers aboard a Smart Express bus lost money and other valuables after a raid by six armed robbers in Beitbridge yesterday.
The incident occurred 20km before Beitbridge town around 3am.
Police have launched a manhunt for the suspects while the injured cop, Sargent Desire Hombarume, is admitted at Beitbridge District Hospital where he is reported to be in a stable condition.
National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the incident, saying the bus was travelling from Mutare to Beitbridge.
He said the six suspected armed robbers and the injured police officer had all boarded the bus in Masvingo.
“We are investigating a case where 60 people including a police officer on board a Smart Express bus were robbed at gunpoint of their valuables by six yet to be known men.
“Preliminary investigations reveal that the suspects boarded the bus in Masvingo along with the police officer.
“When the bus was getting closer to Lutumba Business Centre, the driver inquired if anyone was disembarking at the point.
“He did not get any response, and suddenly four men stood up from the back and walked towards the door, where the police officer was seated”.
He said one of the suspects who had heard the policeman identifying himself to the bus crew in Masvingo shot him in the left buttock once.
Ass Comm Nyathi said the suspects then fired more warning shot and ordered everyone to lie down, forcing the driver to stop the bus.
“They took US$108 from the injured police officer. During the fracas, some passengers managed to escape through the windows. The total amount of stolen property is yet to be established.-The Sunday Mail
Tinashe Sambiri|President Nelson Chamisa has described Jairos Jiri as a great philanthropist and selfless man.
He said Jairos Jiri was a hardworking man who spent his life fighting for the empowerment of the socially disadvantaged.
“Greatness of nations is born out of the womb of active selfless citizenry and visionary leadership driven by passion to give to others anchored upon twin pillars of service and sacrifice.
Fellow Countrymen, Join me as we remember, salute and celebrate the late Jairos Jiri, a philanthropist who died on the 12th of November 1982 after building the largest and most successful indigenous charitable institution.
In a New Zimbabwe and Under our SMART GOVERNMENT, such men and great works shall receive government support, amplified national honour and special recognition.
One does not a position to positively impact nations and generations.
Jairos Jiri represents great leadership,” said President Chamisa in a statement.
I also ask why some like @ngadziore & @TeeMuchehiwa are tortured while others are left, again, I struggle to understand the way the Team Ferret operates. The CIO docs say the Ferret Team targets only selected individuals. Must MDC be forced to explain all this ferret confusion? https://t.co/VAcQlocnWi
South Africa’s Minister of Health Dr. Zweli Mkhize denied reports that the country was experiencing a second wave of Covid-19 infections.
“We cannot say we are experiencing a second wave. It now depends how we manage it. We can contain this by our behaviour, by practicing non- pharmaceutical interventions,” Mkhize said during a press briefing on Sunday.
Mkhize acknowledged that there was a sign of numbers increasing in the Eastern Cape and Western Cape provinces adding that they were areas that were now under watch.
The Eastern Cape and Western Cape provinces are two of the four regions in the country which have reported more than 100,000 cases; the others are Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal.
“We are identifying cluster outbreaks. These do not necessarily mean the whole country will go into a whole resurgence immediately,” Mkhize said.
“We can’t yet say this is a new surge. We are observing these areas and it important for us to share with our fellow South Africans,” he added.
Mkhize previously said the numbers of confirmed coronavirus cases in South Africa were reducing but warned the country was not yet out of danger yet. South Africa had been recording an average of 2,000 cases of COVID-19 every day in the previous week.
Mkhize also urged all South Africans to continue to adhere to the existing restrictions in order to prevent a potential second wave of the coronavirus.
“COVID-19 is very much with us. We need to encourage more people to wear masks, wash hands and avoid super spreading events,” he said.
“It is important to adhere to non-pharmaceutical interventions. We need sustained behavioural change.”
As of November 15, South Africa has recorded 751,024 confirmed cases, 20,241 deaths and 693,497 recoveries.
The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Nick Mangwana has dismissed as a joke, a message purporting that he announced another lockdown.
Mangwana posted on Twitter saying:
If you see this message circulating on WhatsApp, please ignore. It’s someone’s poor idea of a joke. It’s not true.
He attached a photo of the alleged message which read:
Secretary for Information Nick Mangwana has announced that ordinary Zimbabweans will not be allowed to enter the Central business District with immediate effect.
Mangwana said in an effort to mitigate the spread of the deadly Coronavirus, only essential workers will be allowed to access the CBD.
“Yesterday, 133 positive cases were registered. There are some cases of deaths which are awaiting test results on whether Covid-19 was the cause. Security is being tightened to ensure only essential services can be allowed through to CBDs. We apologise for any inconveniences.” Mangwana said
This comes as coronavirus cases in the country have been going up recently triggering fears about the second wave of the virus.
Some stakeholders have spoken in support of reimposing the lockdown on the country following an increase in the number of new cases.
Mosha Gaolaolwe scored the solo goal as Botswana beat Zambia by a solitary goal to pick their first win of the qualifiers and move to third in Group H. Gaolaolwe scored in the sixth minute, a lead that The Zebras jealously guarded to revive their hopes of qualification.
The three points picked at home after one draw and two losses sees them go to four points, one behind second placed Zimbabwe with two rounds of matches left.
They will welcome Zimbabwe at home before flying out to Algeria for their final two qualifiers and the result against Zimbabwe is now billed as a final.
Zambia have dropped bottom with three points and their final two matches at home against Algeria and away to Botswana will determine their fate.
Zimbabwe President Emmerson Mnangagwa unveiled a new five-year economic plan on Monday that he said is expected to deliver expansion of more than 5% through 2025.
The so-called “National Development Strategy 1,” replaces the Transitional Stabilisation Program, which Mnangagwa said had delivered “notable and critical successes.” While annual inflation is at 471%, it’s tapered off for three straight months and the Zimbabwean dollar has stabilized at around $82 per U.S dollar.
The new economic blueprint will also serve as a precursor to the national budget statement that Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube will present to lawmakers later this month.
The new plan, known as NDS 1, will focus on “accelerated growth,” driven by agriculture, mining, manufacturing and tourism, Mnangagwa said.
The southern African nation, which owes more than $8 billion to international financial institutions, still hopes to pursue an arrears-clearance program with the multilaterals including the World Bank, Ncube told reporters.
Other highlights:
Fiscal deficits to be kept below 3% of GDP in line with targets set by the Southern African Development Community
Annual inflation targeted at 3% to 7% by 2025
Increasing international reserves to at least six months import cover by 2025
The creation of at least 760,000 formal jobs over the five-year period
“The danger about voice notes are that they leave footprints (I.e the phone number they are sent from)…
“if she denies the voice then she has to explain who was using her phone at that particular instance…” – legal expert on torture crimes, Kennedy Masiye.
By Showbiz Reporter | The Comedian Mai Titi (Felistas Murata) who was yesterday arrested yesterday at Marlborough Police station over hiring assailants to assault an events businesswoman, had a temporary moment of relief which she took to shoot a live video smiling while outside the Harare Magistrates Court.
The case was referred back to the police for further forensics after the three men she was arrested with changed statements at the last minute. Yesterday one of the men was filmed confessing that he was truly hired on the 5th November with two others by the comedian, but early Monday morning he changed statements.
Forensics will now determine which direction the case goes.
The first of the self confessed hirings, is Mr Desire Hendeni, who is together with two others only identified as Joshua, and Brincely.
Soon after the denials, Mai Titi whose Facebook account was somewhat taken down soon after the arrest yesterday, quickly went on camera from her Instagram account, where she appeared totally unconcerned about the case.
Meanwhile, the case relates mainly to audio recordings of a voice sounds alike Mai Titi instructing the men to go “electrocute” the Harare woman.
In the recorded audios, a voice fitting Mai Titi’s communication is heard plotting her attack for Mapalo Gardens, which is at 22 Lower Hampden Road, Marlborough, Harare.
The conversation with the alleged assassin is as follows:
Agent: there is no way that they will see me, it won’t happen, they will never see me. Don’t fear a thing, rely on me, don’t fear anything.
Mai Titi: Alright, if you can do it in the morning, it’s bho zvekuti, you can then come to the airport to meet me, and I will sort you out, because this person is getting too inflated too much. They are now too inflated.
Mai Titi: But I don’t want them to see you, if they see you they will become alert.
Agent: Are you now doubting me these days? We are literally there right now where … Isn’t it the place is called Mapalo Gardens? This is where I m standing right now. But this person will be electrocuted tomorrow morning. Wait, let me do my logistics. let me do my logistics, but this person is being electrocuted in the morning. For now we are just doing negotiations. for now we shall just be negotiating, but when we get to the morning, that is when we will finish this person. But you must rely on me, you must trust me.
Mai Titi: But if there is nothing you’ve done, it helps nothing. At the offices, they just do their thing, they don’t have offices. They are at their house where they do their events. So now, how will they be caught? Will you be able to do the catch? Is there any more hope? Is there any hope? I don’t think there’s any hope? Because if there is an excuse maybe by now they are now aware. You see? I will give you fuel money no problem, because I was always landing tomorrow, I am landing but I don’t know if this hit job will work.
It was an epoch – a way of life that will never happen again!
The late flamboyant businessman Genius ‘Ginimbi’ Kadungure’s burial on Saturday proved that only Jesus can feed a multitude, as he did when he broke five loaves and two fish as stated in John 6:1-14.
Thousands thronged Ginimbi’s burial at his mansion in Nyamande village in Domboshava such that the catering crew failed to meet the demand of food for mourners.
Visibly hunger stricken mourners could be seen sitting on the lawn and a certain lady dressed in green rudely told bouncers to ‘evacuate’ mourners outside of the mansion grounds.
Some of Ginimbi’s close friends, notably Denford Jiro and Rolen ‘Uncle Rolen’ Muchegwa, were denied access into the mansion resulting in pandemonium from mourners who ordered security to grant access to the duo.
With the lifestyle he lived and the wealth he worked for versus the way his friends and family were treated at his burial, Ginimbi must be turning in his grave!
It was not clear whether it was scarcity of food or disorganised catering services, but what was clear is that mourners were starving.
To add salt insult to injury, cellphone thieves came to party and several mourners lost their phones.
This writer established that cellphone thieves were working in cahoots with rogue security personnel manning the entrance to the mansion.
At least five journalists lost their phones, with several other mourners also falling victim to the same modus operandi.
Meanwhile, Ginimbi was buried on the grounds of his mansion on the far left corner of the spacious yard.
The funeral cortege left Harare in the afternoon and arrived in Nyamande village at 18.45hr and welcomed by a slight downpour, compelling the superstitious to assert that it was a signal of a hero’s send off.
The Mercedes Benz Pilato hearse that carried Ginimbi’s lifeless body was side swiped near Mungate shopping centre in Domboshava and the incident sent tongues wagging.
Despite of the hunger, loss of phones and minor accident, Ginimbi was peacefully laid to rest.
Many remain curious on the distribution and value of his estate.
A screenshot of the misleading post taken on November 11, 2020
Images of the Versace-branded casket taken from a November 10, 2020, article by The Zimbabwe Mail
