Another "Jaji" Scandal Haunts ED Govt. Will ZACC Act? #corruption @MakomboreroH @DrNkuSibanda @schikanza pic.twitter.com/ubHtq9PSRp

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) November 24, 2020

By A Correspondent- The Zimbabwe Anti Corruption Commission has taken the corruption fight to the private sector calling on whistleblowers to contact the anti graft body on its whatsapp number.

Said the ZACC in a tweet: We must as a country stand up against corruption in the private sector. Whistle blow corruption in the private sector using our WhatsApp platform 0719 529 483. We need to stamp out corruption in our country!

We must as a country stand up against corruption in the private sector. Whistle blow corruption in the private sector using our WhatsApp platform 0719 529 483. We need to stamp out corruption in our country! pic.twitter.com/qvQw2IsVsz

— Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (@ZACConline) November 24, 2020

By A Correspondent- Divisions rocked teachers unions recently over salary negotiations with government following a workers’ strike which lasted for about two months.

Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ) secretary-general Raymond Majongwe says the 41% salary offer by government, which will see teachers now earn $19 000, is not a negotiated offer, but is a salary imposed by government on teachers.

He said teachers could not be blamed for the bad behaviour of pupils during the teachers’ strike.

The following are excerpts of an interview between NewsDay senior reporter Miriam Mangwaya (ND) and Majongwe (RM) on different issues pertaining to the education sector in the country. ND: As a teachers’ representative body, what is your role in promoting access to education in the country?

RM: Our role is simply to serve the interests of the teachers in promoting their rights and welfare. We also fight to ensure that the education sector continues to survive in this harsh economic environment. Trade unionism is a necessary evil in every country, but in Zimbabwe, we have been labelled enemies of the State, an appendage of the opposition party, the MDC, which is not true. PTUZ was formed in 1997, while the MDC was formed in 1999, but government has maliciously politicised activism by our union. This has reduced teachers to low class citizens, a common phenomenon in the (late former President Robert) Mugabe regime, which is continuing in this so-called new dispensation. Zimbabwe celebrates a high literacy rate of above 90% which was made possible by the underpaid teachers, nevertheless. Teachers’ union leaders are beaten, threatened and prosecuted on arbitrary arrests. Teachers are not pursuing political agendas but are patriots, dedicated to foster education among learners.

ND: What is your reaction to the latest salary offer by the government?

RM: The new salary offer is not a product of dialogue. The Cabinet decided and imposed its offer. There was no collective bargaining in reaching the salary increase, which is unconstitutional. But this has resulted in us as teachers’ unions creating a united front. This is the important thing that has happened in the history of trade unionism. We are pushing for a teacher sector federation where all teachers’ unions are going to come under one body and fight for one good cause. We would be able to challenge the Public Service Commission to engage the Education minister and take legal positions as one body. We are going to approach the courts soon so that they don’t allow the Apex Council to continue existing illegally because its term expired 18 months ago. As it is right now, wrong people are making unfavourable decisions on behalf of the civil servants, which is to the workers’ disadvantage.

ND: What is the situation at schools, and the authorities’ preparedness in dealing with the likely second wave of COVID-19?

RM: Zimbabwean schools, save for those that are privately-owned, do not have the capacity to deal with this pandemic. They don’t have the necessary resources such as sanitisers, personal protective equipment and thermometers. Most schools do not even have running water. Pupils in poverty-stricken rural areas are going to school without masks. Of much concern is that the teachers have not been trained to deal with the disease. Social distancing is difficult to observe at most over-enrolled government schools. I conducted a survey in high-density suburb schools recently and found out that most schools have an average enrolment of 46 pupils in one class, which is against the World Health Organisation guidelines. The situation at John Tallach Secondary School should be an eye-opener for the government, but it appears the authorities are not even fazed. In short, schools opening amid the coronavirus pandemic is just a ticking time bomb.

ND: Are the candidates confident enough to sit for the Zimbabwe School Examinations Council (Zimsec) end of year examinations after learning was disrupted by the lockdown and teachers’ strike?

RM: The candidates have made it very clear that they are not prepared because they have not met the minimum threshold of syllabi coverage for them to be able to sit for their examinations. Government is also not considering the plight of children living with disabilities, particularly those with visual and hearing impairments who could not access radio lessons that were being offered during the lockdown. Rural pupils were also affected by the digital divide in accessing radio lessons. Most rural parents have no smart phones, radios and other gadgets that could enable their children to participate in the radio or online lessons. Basically, the radio and online lessons were accessible to the children of the elite. Therefore, it is not fair for Zimsec to treat all candidates equally given those circumstances.

ND: How has the teachers’ strike impacted learning at schools?

RM: For the record, teachers were not on strike. They were incapacitated. Government claimed that it had provided the Zupco buses to relieve teachers of transport challenges, but buses did not cater for all their needs and workers could not go to work while facing a number of problems that had to be addressed financially. Parents continued to send their children to school when they knew very well that teachers were incapacitated and were at their homes. That led to immorality among pupils at schools, you are aware of the sex orgies and drug abuse videos that went viral on social media. Teachers cannot be blamed for that. What do you want a teacher to do when the law now permits the child to get pregnant and be the readmitted at school? Pupils can drink beer, take drugs as much as they want but the law states they can’t be expelled and a lowly paid teacher is expected to instil morality on such children. Government should know that bad macro socio-economic policies impact more on education rather than reactive measures by teachers.

ND: What were the teachers’ surviving tactics during the time they were incapacitated?

RM: Government has turned teachers into criminals. Because of the meagre salaries they get they have ventured into illegal mining, vending, cross-border trading and all other forms of side businesses because they have families to take care of. Some have gone to the extent of running makeshift schools which is against the law. As a result, their focus has been divided between hustling and their profession, which has impacted on the quality of learning in schools. The government should ensure that the teachers’ demands are met. We expect the 2021 budget to improve the teachers’ working environment in terms of infrastructure and above all, their salaries which should be at least above the poverty datum line.

ND: Finance minister Mthuli Ncube recently said the government was the best paying employer, what do you say about that?

RM: When someone has a tendency of speaking the opposite of the truth, they start believing in their lies. Government can’t declare that it is the best payer when its employees are the poorest. It’s actually an insult. Even a street vendor is surviving better than a civil servant. How can he (Ncube) say a salary of US$190 is the best in this country? Mthuli Ncube needs to be reminded that austerity will never lead to prosperity. It’s as good as believing that one can walk to heaven on foot. Teachers are flooding masowe (apostolic church shrines) and traditional healers to seek medical attention because they can’t afford hospital bills and government brags about being the best employer. Policymakers are deliberately detaching themselves from reality.

-newsday

By A Correspondent- The Zimbabwe National Road Administration (Zinara) allegedly lost US$21 000 ($2 million) to a syndicate of employees working in its cash office through misrepresentation of money paid for fuel levies.

The levy is only payable in US dollars. According to sources, the rogue employees are said to be linked to either Grace Mugabe or Robert Mugabe era Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Development, Nicholas Goche.

The matter came to light on November 7 when Zinara finance director Mr Adam Zvandasara requested Mr Chenjerayi Chibatamoto who is a financial controller to verify purported fuel levy receipts submitted by a company called PurOil Private Limited.

Following the checks, Mr Chibatamoto noticed anomalies in the manner the transactions were captured in its Sage Pastel Accounting system.

“Preliminary internal investigations revealed that on October 21, 2020 Mr Marlon Chikomo the finance executive of PurOil visited Zinara head office and paid US$15 840 being fuel levy for 264 000 litres of petrol.

Mr Chikomo said he was served by a male cashier who gave him an electronic receipt number REC33816 which he was supposed to use to obtain a Direct Fuel Import Licence.

“A check in the Zinara Pastel Accounting System revealed that the receipt submitted by PurOil was not recorded in the system. Instead the receipt number reflects in the system as belonging to Westemead Pvt Limited which allegedly paid US$80 for fuel levy.

“However, a further search for the transactions in the accounting system revealed that both the US$15 840 and US$80 were not recorded as fuel levy collections for October 21, 2020, and could not be traced to the Zinara bank statements,” reads part of Zinara’s statement to police.

The investigations also noted that the office bank record of October 21, which was supposed to be signed by five employees in the cash office (names supplied) and attached to the daily transactional report was missing.

Further investigations showed that PurOil paid US$5 280 on November 12 for the fuel levy for importation of 88 000 litres but the transaction was not recorded in the accounting system. Investigations showed that receipts issued to the company belonged to one Zenda valued at $20 and was for prepaid tolling cards.

The transaction was also not captured in the daily cash office banking records for the day. National ZRP spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed investigations into the matter.

“The ZRP can confirm receiving a report on the alleged fraud at the Zinara cash office,” he said.

Meanwhile, Zinara also reported Mr Jeremia Singende, who also works in the cash office, to the police for allegedly using fake sick leave notes fraudulently obtained from Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals to absent himself from duty.

A letter from Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals signed by its acting clinical director Dr Tapiwa Magure on November 12, 2020, confirmed that a sick note presented by Mr Singende was fake and corruptly obtained.

-statemedia

By Jane Mlambo| The MDC Alliance has come under increasing pressure following a leaked audio in which MDC Alliance Bulawayo provincial Women’s Assembly Chairperson Tendai Masotsha was heard saying ZimLive editor, Mduduzi Mathuthu’s nephew Tawanda Muchehiwa told her that there was a serious plot to bomb government buildings.

This comes on the back of an MDC Alliance internal inquiry which exonerated Masotsha of any wrongdoings in the abduction and torture of Muchehiwa.

The report was heavily opposed by Mathuthu, Muchehiwa and Professor Jonathan Moyo who felt the MDC Alliance had failed the nation by not doing justice on an issue of infiltration.

Following the leaked audio, in which Masotsha threatens to spill the beans on what she says were plans by Muchehiwa to cause mayhem in the country, the noise has peaked again with the party being accused of protecting an infiltrator.

Below are reactions from social media users over the leaked audio:

Elias Mambo

Dear @nelsonchamisa This Cheyahumani is something else… @hwendec nyaya ngaidziriswe iyo… I said it here and I will not hesitate to say it..This is one classical example of infiltration.. @JamesonTimba did you listen to the audio

Professor Jonathan Moyo

TENDAI MASOTSHA’S audio is a confession by a senior MDC-A official that she conspired with Mnangagwa’s Ferret Force; as an informant cum agent provocateur to get Tawanda abducted & tortured for ALLEGEDLY planning with 20 people, some foreigners with guns to burn public buildings!

Tawanda Muchehiwa

Tendai Masotsha sounds exactly like my abductors when they were torturing me. That she claims I told her of these plots further suggests she was source of that fake intel. That conversation never happened. Only sit-down was in a car with @DrNyashaForMP. Did he overhear this?

Chambii

If Ms Masotcha was rescued from Police cells by CIOs and then later defended by Mr Hwende what does this tell us? This tells us a story and goes back to same Integrity Committee needed in the party, the SG needs to clear his name. Those who attacked me where are you?

Zanu PF national commissar Victor Matemadanda, who was allegedly poisoned during a party meeting a fortnight ago, yesterday claimed that there were people in the ruling Zanu-PF party that wanted him dead.

Matemadanda has revealed exclusive details of the poisoning to ZimEye.com in a wide ranging interview over the incident. He says he was attacked shortly ‘after the president had finished his address.’

NewsDay in an interview that the people celebrated his sudden illness with the hope that he was dying, but insisted that this was “part of the game” which would not deter him from working “for the good of the party”.

Reports of Matemadanda’s poisoning come as the ruling party is in a tense moment as it is set to hold internal elections to choose district co-ordinating committee (DCC) members as it moves to galvanise grassroot structures.

Some Zanu-PF bigwigs were said to be already canvassing for support to stand as candidates in the 2023 general elections, while others were allegedly unhappy with the party’s restructuring exercise which the Defence and War Veterans deputy minister is spearheading.

“Don’t expect people to love you,” Matemadanda said.

“Whatever happened will not deter me from my assignment. Even if I were to die, many precious lives have been lost for this country and I am not special, for as long as I am serving as per my appointment and I am doing something right in the party,” he said.

He said there were some in the party whom he thought were working together with him, only to realise they were saying bad things behind his back which revealed that they had their own issues.

“Even if it is my assignment that people would hate me for, I will do what I was assigned to do. No one kicks a dead dog, and if you then see people taking up stones when they approach your home, it means there is a vicious dog, and so it means I am biting them,” he said.

He refused to either confirm or deny that he was indeed poisoned, but referred questions pertaining to those allegations to the Zanu-PF acting party spokesperson Patrick Chinamasa.

“That is for comrade Chinamasa to say. He is the person qualified to speak for the party, I am not the party. I am just a drop (of water) in the party, but what I can say is that I am at work, I have my energy and I am raring to go,” Matemadanda said.

“It doesn’t matter where I fell sick. There are mortuaries in those hospitals and it doesn’t matter where I fell sick and how. What is important is that I am fine and I am back.”

Chinamasa issued a statement on Saturday that Matemadanda fell ill a week ago and had been rushed to hospital.

His illness, Chinamasa said, included itchiness of the eyes, sweating profusely, swelling of the body and vomiting badly.

He fell ill during a Zanu-PF provincial co-ordinating committee meeting in Marondera last week and was rushed to hospital.

Matemadanda said after his illness, he was now aware of how much he was hated and loved in equal measure and alleged that there were some people who celebrated his illness and wished him dead.

“I now know people’s perceptions about me. Some were posting saying ‘you should have died’. I wish them well because they have exposed themselves. I had my obituaries and messages before I died, so it gave me a picture of what people would say if I were to die.

“What makes me happy is that the number of those who were sympathising (with me) is more than those who wished me dead.”

He added: “My mother would hide sugar from us as I was good at stealing, and so when I grew up, I was diagnosed with diabetes and the doctor said I should not take sugar as it was dangerous for my health. I said to myself, if sweet things like sugar can kill, who am I to be liked by everybody when sweet things can also kill.

“Some people should be free to hate me and others should love and like me, but you would want to understand why would people hate you that much?”

Matemadanda alleged that some people hated him despite that he was merely a representative of the party, Zanu-PF, adding: “I cannot wish those to love me, but their hate obviously tells me of my effectiveness. So I will keep on working for the good of my party because it shows that I am doing something good.”

The Zanu-PF political commissar said he was committed to the party and country to the extent that he had to walk around the city one day to listen to people’s concerns and to assist the party with a strategy to address their concerns.

“I walked around Harare to listen to people’s concerns and to help my party and my President (Emmerson Mnangagwa) to solve the problems in the country. Zanu-PF has a manifesto that is people-centred and I am at the centre of that as the national commissar, and so I went and spoke to the people about their needs.”

Speculation was rife that Matemadanda was actually targeted by rivals in Zanu-PF after several names were dropped from the list of potential candidates for DCC elections expected to be held soon.

-Newsday

GOVERNMENT is working on a law that will guide the process of exhumations of the remains of Gukurahundi victims in Matabeleland and the Midlands with the National University of Science and Technology (Nust) expected to conduct the genetic studies.

Last month President Mnangagwa held a consultative meeting with traditional leaders from Matabeleland provinces at State House in Bulawayo.

During the meeting it was resolved that traditional leaders will now take over the exhumation and reburial of victims of Gukurahundi in Matabeleland and Midlands, while Government will fund the process as part of initiatives to bring closure to the emotive issue and promote national healing.

The Second Republic has made a commitment to confront the country’s past by resolving outstanding issues associated with the disturbances that took place soon after Independence.

Government is also set to start issuing civic documents to children of the victims of the disturbances, including death certificates for those who died.

Speaking during a stakeholders’ meeting with tertiary institutions in Matabeleland at Nust yesterday, the Speaker of Parliament Advocate Jacob Mudenda said Government is in the process of working on a law that will be used as a guideline when the process of exhumations of Gukurahundi victims starts.

“Genetic studies will assist us in a big way as we exhume a number of our fallen heroes in various parts of this country and outside whose relatives want their bodies exhumed. The same will apply to the victims of the Gukurahundi incident,” he said.

“It is important that the remains of those that are to be exhumed are properly identified and Nust will play a critical role in this exercise. We need a law to guide us and Government is putting in place that law to guide us in terms of how these exhumations should be conducted with the greatest dignity of human remains.”

The director of Nust Applied Genetic Testing Centre (AGTC), Mr Zephaniah Dhlamini said they were prepared to conduct the genetic studies once there is a law to guide them.

“There are mass graves of Gukurahundi victims in Matabeleland and if we are asked to do the genetic studies, we can do it, but we need a law to guide us. That law has many databases, you can have a criminal database of habitual criminals then there is a missing persons database and in that missing database it will cover whether you were missing from the liberation war or Gukurahundi era, the law will be there to provide for that,” he said.

“If a mother comes forward and says she is missing a child under those circumstances then her DNA is taken and put in the database. Should a mass grave be found in the area or vicinity where she suspects the child was when those bones were profiled, then we go to that database and compare the bones. We need that law in place and political will to bring this to closure using science not speculation.”

Adv Mudenda also commended Nust’s AGTC for partnering Mpilo Central Hospital in conducting Covid-19 PCR tests. Nust is also assisting Mpilo and United Bulawayo Hospitals (UBH) in repairing broken down ventilators as well as producing hand sanitisers and masks.

“In the same vein, I am also acutely aware that Nust has been in the process decentralising testing from Bulawayo and producing face masks and 2000 litres of hand sanitizers per week with plans to expand this productive capacity,” he said.

“I must also commend Nust’s Applied Genetic Testing Centre for partnering Mpilo Central Hospital in conducting Covid-19 PCR tests in line with the principle of devolution.”

Adv Mudenda challenged the country’s tertiary institutions to be proactively innovative in an effort to be transformative of Zimbabwe’s socio-economic environment through the Fourth Industrial Revolution template anchored on Education 5.0

“The Education Model 5.0 resonates profusely with the constitutional dictate on national development as espoused in Section 13 of our Constitution. However, in order for tertiary institutions and the academia to fully conceptualise the tenet of Education 5.0, cognisance must be taken of the historical antecedents pronounced by our regional Sadc leaders in their ‘Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan’ as read together with the ‘SADC Protocol on Science, Technology and Innovation,’” he said.

“The crux of these two seminal documents is that the development matrix must be science and technology-driven at all times.”

Expanding gold mining in Zimbabwe is key to President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s plans to revitalise the country’s economy, especially at a time when the price of the metal is soaring on world markets.

But violence and turmoil are disrupting the sector and the government’s centralised selling system is leading to lost tax revenue and foreign exchange.

Joining calls for reforms coming from within Zimbabwe is a new report published by the Brussels-based International Crisis Group (ICG), which summarises the challenges and outlines steps which the government, mining companies, civil society and international actors could take to meet them.

Issues highlighted by the report:

• Artisanal and small-scale miners who dig with little or no machinery and often without licences – and who produce 63 percent of reported gold production – are attacked and killed by armed “machete gangs” intent on taking over their diggings or simply robbing them.
•  Ruling party politicians have been accused of backing illegally encroaching artisanal miners or even machete gangs. There is also tension between artisanal miners and the industrial mining companies that hold most exploration rights.
•  Adding to the sector’s woes, miners are forced to sell through a subsidiary of the country’s central bank, which often pays late and at rates substantially below the world gold price. This encourages smuggling and it is estimated that more than $1.5 billion worth of gold leaves Zimbabwe illegally each year, often for Dubai.

Among the ICG’s recommendations for action:

•  The government should include give artisanal mining cooperatives legal standing, pay gold producers at world prices to reduce smuggling and strengthening mining dispute resolution mechanisms;
•  Mining companies should cooperate with artisanal miners;
•  Bodies representing artisanal miners should professionalised;
•  Multiultilateral organisations such as the International Monetary Fund – and South Africa – should include metrics on mining when assessing Zimbabwe’s reform efforts.

Read the executive summary of the report.

Read the full report.

Harare City Council officials yesterday spent the better part of day clamping vehicles not displaying parking discs in the city centre, in direct defiance of a recent Supreme Court ruling that found the practice to be “illegal”.

The Supreme Court ruled that the council can fine offenders under its 1983 regulations and if the motorist does not pay within four days, they should be prosecuted.

A municipal officer who spoke on condition of anonymity said: “Clamping is continuing as we are yet to get a directive from our bosses to stop.”

However, Harare City Council spokesperson Mr Michael Chideme told The Herald that they stand guided by the court ruling, unless they decide to appeal.

Our news crew yesterday observed council officials clamping vehicles across the town.

In the Supreme Court, ruling Justices Elizabeth Gwaunza, Tendai Uchena and Lavender Makoni, ruled that it was illegal for municipal police to clamp and tow away cars in the CBD.

The ruling followed a challenge by a Harare motorist, Ms Melody Muza, whose car had been clamped and towed away for not displaying a parking disc in May last year.

Heavy storms coupled with localised heavy downpours, strong winds and lightning are expected across the country until Saturday, following the storms across the southern, western and central areas yesterday.

The Meteorological Services Department (MSD), in conjunction with the Department of Civil Protection, has put out an alert with motorists in particular advised to be cautious on the roads as flash flooding may occur.

Yesterday, widespread thunderstorms were experienced, with heavy falls in excess of 30mm in 24 hours being noted. Only Mashonaland East and Central, and Harare, remained sunny.

Zvishavane recorded 16mm, Plumtree 9mm and Nkayi 5mm.

The MSD said more moisture was drifting into the country from the north-western parts of the country, the Victoria Falls area, right through to Gonarezhou in the south-eastern parts of the country.

Today, the storms are expected to start off in Matabeleland North, Matabeleland South, Midlands, Masvingo and Bulawayo Metropolitan as moisture drifts in from a cloud system over Botswana.

They will be accompanied by “strong winds as well as lightning and possibly hail”, said the MSD in an alert issued yesterday at 4pm.

“Similar conditions should spread north-eastward to affect all Mashonaland provinces as well as Harare Metropolitan from Thursday into Friday, and slightly ease off on Saturday 28 November.

“The Meteorological Services Department will continue monitoring and issue updates as the system progresses.”

Citizens have been urged to stay indoors during thunderstorms, but if caught outdoors, should not seek shelter under isolated trees or small sheds.

If no shelter is available, people are advised to try to couch as low as possible, with only their feet touching the ground.

But when it is not raining, the summer sun will be hot and the MSD advises drinking adequate amounts of water and keeping our of the sun between 11am and 3pm when it is hottest.

“Wear sunscreen when engaged in outdoor activities if possible,” said the MSD.

All citizens, especially motorists, are discouraged from crossing flooded rivers as they risk being swept away.

A former top police officer, Senior Assistant Commissioner Edmore Veterai, who was now a leading sugar cane farmer in Chiredzi, has died.

Snr Asst Comm Veterai (Retired) died yesterday afternoon at his house in the sugarcane growing town with reports indicating he had been unwell with an undisclosed ailment.

National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi yesterday confirmed the death.

“That is true, but we are waiting for more details,” said Asst Comm Nyathi.

Fellow cane farmers and other members of the Chiredzi community expressed shock over his death.

Commercial Sugar Cane Farmers Association of Zimbabwe (CSFAZ) chair Retired Major Admore Hwarare said he was gutted by Veterai’s death.

“It is unbelievable that he is no more. I just received the news of his passing on a few minutes ago and I am at loss of words. We are shocked by his death,” he said.

He will fondly be remembered in the sugar cane industry for founding and becoming the inaugural chair of the Zimbabwe Sugar Development Association (ZSDA). Veterai retired from the police force in 2013 and served as ZSDA chair for more than a decade.

ZSDA spokesperson Mr Saul Chin’anga yesterday said Veterai will be remembered for his unparalleled determination to achieve set goals for farmers.

During his time as Officer Commanding for Matabeleland North, like his then boss, Commissioner General, Augustine Chihuri, Veterai also publicly declared his political allegiance to Zanu PF.

During Veterai’s era Matabeleland North had became a mine field for human rights activists, journalists and politicians from the MDC.

It was joy to the people of the region when he was transferred from the province.

“We welcome the transfer of Veterai from the province. In fact the transfer was long overdue because this man was a Zanu (PF) activist masquerading as a police officer. It was virtually impossible to hold meetings in the province under Veterai,” said Tabitha Khumalo, the MDC –T then deputy spokesperson.

President Mnangagwa yesterday promoted 54 Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) officers to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel effective November 10.

The changes reflect Mnangagwa’s continued coup-proofing strategy and search for stability in the military forces which brought him to power through a coup in November 2017.

Conferring new ranks on the team, 48 men and six women at Army Headquarters in Harare yesterday, ZNA Brigadier Administration Staff, Brigadier-General Milton Vudzijena challenged the officers to continue working hard.

“Your promotion today is a true reflection of the confidence that the ZDF has in your ability to perform at a higher level,” he said.

“This is a reward for your hard work and steadfastness towards serving our country, Zimbabwe. This translates to more workload and greater responsibility.

“I solemnly urge you to take your leadership roles with dexterity and confidence as your subordinates will inevitably look up to you for guidance. Further, you are expected to be fair in judgment in order to retain the respect and trust of your subordinates. I urge you to reinforce the values of integrity, patriotism, professionalism and teamwork.”

Brig-Gen Vudzijena said promotion was earned by men and women of integrity.

“Promotions are the means through which the ZNA identifies men and women of integrity, who are relevantly qualified and experienced to satisfy its efficiency needs and professional aspirations,” he said.

Brig-Gen Vudzijena called on the officers to continue supporting Government initiatives to turn around the economic fortunes of the country.

“Our nation is undergoing a progressive socio-economic transformation, which we are directly part of,” he said.

“Let us all arise and employ our respective initiatives and innovativeness in the various posts that you have been assigned to, in complementing and supporting Government’s developmental programmes.”

One of the promoted, Lieutenant-Colonel Tichadini Masanganise thanked the President for the promotion saying they will continue to work for the improvement of the ZNA and the nation at large.

“As newly-promoted Lieutenant-Colonels, we thank His Excellency for this entrusting us with responsibility through this promotion has re-energised us, we will continue working hard for the betterment of the ZNA and nation at large,” he said.

“It is common knowledge that this elevation in rank and status is associated with an increase in duties and responsibilities on our shoulders.”

State Media

THE family of Michelle “Moana” Amuli will have to wait a little longer to know how and when the socialite will be buried after the High Court reserved judgment in an application by her mother Ms Yolanda Kuvaoga to cancel the burial order issued to her estranged husband Mr Ishmael Amuli.

Moana died in the accident that claimed the lives of Genius “Ginimbi” Kadungure, Limumba Karim from Malawi and Alichia Adams from Mozambique more than two weeks ago.

Kadungure has since been buried while the remains of the other two have been repatriated to their home countries.

Ever since the crash, Moana’s mother Ms Kuvaoga and Mr Amuli have been haggling over how to bury her, with the mother favouring a Christian burial while the father wants to bury his daughter with Islamic rites. The different types of funeral would take place at different cemeteries.

Yesterday, High Court Judge Justice Pisirai Kwenda heard oral evidence from the estranged couple over the burial dispute and reserved judgment to tomorrow, saying he wanted time to make an informed decision on the matter. Giving oral evidence before the court Kuvaoga said they had initially agreed to bury Moana the Christian way, but the father suddenly changed his mind after he got the burial order.

“My plea is that let us do what we have agreed on the first time. Initially, we had agreed that the deceased will be taken to Doves, spend the night there and will be taken to my house for about two to three hours, then proceed to Zororo Cemetery for burial,” she said.

Mr Amuli told the court that they were not objecting to what Kuvaoga wanted, but they were following the Islamic culture. “We are not objecting to what she wants but according to our culture a deceased person does not sleep in the house,” he said.

“We agreed that the body will be taken to Doves then to her place before burial. According to our culture we do not bury the deceased in a coffin, we bury them the Islamic way. In all those processes the applicant (Kuvaoga) is allowed to be present.

Kuvaoga, represented by her lawyer Mr Jerome Madondo, last week approached the High Court on an urgent basis seeking an interim interdict to stop the burial until the finalisation of the matter, but Amuli’s lawyer Arshiel Mugiya dismissed the application arguing that the court cannot nullify a burial order that was lawfully obtained.

State Media

The owners of four houses in a close in Unit N, Chitungwiza, no longer have access to a road after land barons allocated a stand in the midst of the road leading up to the houses.

The person, who was allocated the stand is already constructing a house, which is now at window level.

Two of the homeowners that were affected by the development Messrs Suspicion Kubandikira and Trust Mashekere, who bought stands in the close in 2010 said they were now forced to park their cars elsewhere since they can no longer drive up to their homes.

Even our news crew had to park its vehicle six houses away from the affected houses as the road is practically impassable.

The two showed this paper offer letters dated February 2010 issued by former Chitungwiza housing director Jemina Gumbo proving that the affected people were indeed the real beneficiaries of the stands.

“Allocation of infill residential stand offer letter stand number 3099 Unit N your application to be allocated a residential stand in Chitungwiza Municipality Area has been successful,” read part of the offer letter.

Interestingly, the cost of servicing the stand was valued at $200.

Messrs Kubandikira and Mashekere said the problem started last year after Bernadate Square and Brighton Garura who sold them the stands started demanding extra payment.

“We bought the 200 square metre stands in 2010 from Bernadate and Garura at a cost of US$3 000 each.

“They then facilitated our paperwork at council, including offer letters, site plans and lease agreements,” said Mr Kubandikira.

“The problem came last year when they approached us saying we need an extra US$1 500 of which we declined.

“To our surprise violent youths came and assaulted us before pegging the road. Four houses including mine no longer have access to the road.”

Mr Mashekere chipped in saying they had lost hope as the suspected land barons boast of having close links to Chitungwiza Municipality, the Judiciary and security forces.

“The paperwork is from the local authority, but surprisingly Bernadate and Garura came and showed us new papers dated 2019 indicating that we had actually invaded their new stand situated in the road,” he said.

The parties are now fighting each other in the courts. Concerted efforts to get in touch with Square and Garura were fruitless as they were not answering their mobile phones the whole of yesterday.

Chitungwiza Residents Trust director Ms Alice Kuveya recently lambasted council officials for conniving in corrupt activities.

“Honestly, as residents we are tired of corrupt council officials. We are asking the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC), and the Minister of Local Government and Public Works to take action now.

“As residents we will continue to fight for our properties.

“There is not going to be a stand in the middle of the road. The owner should go and get back his money,” she said.

This is just a tip of an iceberg with Chitungwiza Municipality officials recently having allegedly altered a stand layout plan in Unit N Extension before allocating a residential stand in the middle of a road that has been in existence since 2006.

The below is an exclusive interview with Deputy Defence Minister Victor Matemadanda on Sunday.

• I was forcing myself to be normal,
• It was not an allergy
• It was a gas
• there is no one whose hand I shook.
• President had finished addressing

ZimEye: vaMatemadanda

ZimEye: How are you feeling today?

ZimEye: Did you manage to get that (other) doctor?

Matemadanda: I am still to contact him I was still trying to reach him.

ZimEye: Are you sure this was poison and was not an allergic reaction?

Matemadanda: Aaah, other tests indicate to that [effect].
ZimEye: They indicate to an allergy?

Matemadanda: No, to some poison.

ZimEye: Is there a name for the poison?

Matemadanda: Aaah, it’s a gas they said they will confirm for me by about Tuesday, I don’t know after analysing.
ZimEye: By Tuesday?
Matemadanda: It’s a gas which they are saying entered my body.

ZimEye: And you suppose that gas was released from the assailant’s palm?
Matemandanda: I did not see…it was so swift the person came saying they want to remove something from my cap. Upon that moment that is when I inhaled. At one time I thought they were removing an insect and it was the insect that was smelling, but I later realised that it something else when it began reacting.

ZimEye: And you smelt something strong upon that moment?

Matemadanda: Yes, yes, yes, right there. Not strong to the point of realising what it was.
Do you know these green insects [ zvipembenene]? So I thought that because we are now in November, ~I thought it was that insect.

ZimEye: It was a chipembenene on top of the cap?
Matemandanda: No, I did not see it. The man just said there is something on top of your cap, so I just assumed when I smelt the strong scent, as the man indicated.

ZimEye: And have you ever reacted to a chipembenene?

Matemadanda: Aah, no.

ZimEye: I am just assuming it was.

Matemadanda: Aaah, no. I think it was…It’s just that when it happened it was unexpected, I only realised upon recollection that on top of the cap there was nothing because I had just come out of the hall where the president was addressing. I did not go elsewhere. So I had only escorted him to the car.

ZimEye: So you had gone back to sit down?

Matemadanda: I did not even go back to sit down, I was now going to my own car, when I started feeling funny, I rushed to go sit inside the car. I felt a dizziness, what was like a flue, or something so I thought it was a reaction to the smell; I rushed to go into the car and said to my boys let’s go into the car. But it just continued getting worse, because there developed an element of hunger, so I told them go buy me some sadza at OK Supermarket there, but when I began eating that is when I started vomiting, so ….

ZimEye: But when this person came to touch you were sat down?

Matemandanda: No, President had finished addressing. That is when I escorted him to his car, to see him off, so when I left to go to my own car, that is when this man came saying: Cde there is something on top of your cap, so he opened his palm saying he is removing something; He was enlarging the veranda (of my cap), that is when I inhaled that gas, and I felt it was something unusual, there is an odour which I did not understand, but I was not quick to realise it could be something dangerous, that is when I thought ‘it is a chipembenene, I don’t know.’ But the reaction just developed gradually.

ZimEye: Do you think we could get video footage?

Matemadanda: Aaaah, because president had already left, and the camera people usually only focus on the president, I don’t know but I asked for them . I don’t know if we will find the footage.

ZimEye: Then suddenly you were now hungry; when was the last time you had had some food?

Matemadanda: I had breakfast, when I got to the meeting I had told myself I would not eat in public, but I drank water which I had carried with me to the meeting. And I did not eat anything, and there is no one whose hand I shook, and I did not drink any water there.

ZimEye: But this hunger you insist it came from that smell, that powder?

Matemadanda: I wouldn’t, me I am diabetic, but I am not (sic)…but when I became hungry, I never thought it was something abnormal, because hunger was not as extensive to the point where I would scream for food to be bought, normally I would ask to drive home to eat there.

But I actually bought sadza at OK, but I don’t know how it is connected, for to say what, I don’t know.

ZimEye: Suddenly you are confused?

Matemadanda: Yes, there was some lapsing like as if I want to sleep, or some confusion that is mild, such that if you force to gather strength it could come back, but some laziness suddenly became the order of the day.

ZimEye: And that came from that very moment just after the person had touched your cap, that is when you became confused?

Matemadanda: Aaaaah, I … it was sort of a gradual thing that was happening as I was moving and responding to this thing, but in the final analysis, I could see while walking it’s like I want to forget this and that. I could not make up how that was now happening. So I was forcing myself to be normal, but knowing that there is a dizziness, a confusion, what what what.

ZimEye: If ZBC had published or broadcast especially this statement on poison, do you feel that there would be a more diligent search to establish who did this?

Matemadanda: I had never…in fact I had never because what I know is that these things end up in some hands where a lot of speculation emerges. It might end up creating enemies for me because what happens is people start following scenarios and going …

Even vaChinamasa paya pavakataura (when he said) … I was saying it shouldn’t be a thing that is trying to confirm the speculation that is around. Because what I know is the narratives that will be drawn, will end up creating enmity with people unnecessarily. So even as it is now I was going to respond today, but I would not give them a statement, I don’t want.

ZimEye: You want to wait for the tests on Tuesday?

Matemadanda: I want to see, but all the same I am getting myself treated, so, I don’t see the need and use, otherwise it is just a learning curve where I should try and be more cautious; But otherwise I don’t want to be all hyper about it and the speculative reporting that is accompanying it because in the end there is nothing that it gives me, apart from people creating their narratives; if I once quarelled with someone and so forth.

FULL INTERVIEW AUDIO STREAMED ON ZIMEYE.COM

THE World Health Organisation (WHO) has raised concern over the surge of Covid-19 cases in Zimbabwe in the past few weeks, with the country recording 88 new cases and five deaths yesterday alone.

The 88 cases, all of which were local transmissions were recorded after 555 PCR tests were conducted.

Of the deaths, four were reported in Bulawayo and one in Masvingo.

Presently, Zimbabwe has 747 cases, with Bulawayo leading with 216 cases followed by Matabeleland North 195, Harare 84, Matabeleland South 75 and Mashonaland West 60.

Other provinces have considerably lower numbers.

WHO country representative Dr Alex Gasasira yesterday told ZBC News that: “We know the virus spreads when we give it the opportunity to spread, when we don’t comply with the preventive measures, when we gather in groups.

“These are the factors that help the virus to spread.

“As we all know, the Government has been easing some of the restrictions that are in place to control the transmission. And the reason this was done is to show that the economy and other aspects of the livelihoods can be restored.

“We should continue to comply with the preventive measures.”

Dr Gasasira said as Zimbabwe is set to reopen borders in phases beginning with private passenger vehicles and pedestrians from December 1, citizens must comply with preventive measures.

Last Friday, Health and Child Care Deputy Minister Dr John Mangwiro told reporters in Kadoma after launching the Covid-19 community health workers’ programme that it was a myth that the coronavirus does not thrive in warm temperatures.

“I urge people to continue complying with the preventive methods.

“It is not true that the virus does not thrive in hot environments.

“If people don’t comply, they will die,” he said.

State Media

MDC-Alliance member Joana Mamombe will have to face trial separately from her two co-accused Cecelia Chimbiri and Netsai Marova — after she was declared mentally unfit to comprehend court proceedings.

Mamombe will stand trial on her own on charges of faking her abduction in May, while Chimbiri and Marova now face the start of their trial on December 7.

The trial of the three has been postponed several times as a result of Mamombe’s illness.

Deputy Chief Magistrate Mrs Bianca Makwande yesterday ruled that since there were conflicting medical assessments of when Mamombe would be fit for trial, with one doctor predicting nine months, the rights of the other two accused meant that the trials now had to be split.

In her ruling on the State’s application for separation of trial, Mrs Makwande said one doctor indicated that Mamombe required nine months to heal while another doctor, only identified as Dr Mavunganidze, said she would recover within a month.

The conflicting reports left the court clueless on when she would heal.

“In my view, the separation of trial will not prejudice the accused.

“Reports from the doctors are conflicting and at the end of the day, it is unclear whether she will be able to stand trial before six months or not,” she said.

Although the deputy chief magistrate considered that the separation of trials would be cumbersome as two courts had to sit for the same matter, she noted that it would be in the best interests of Chimbiri and Marova to be tried within a reasonable time.

The State, led by Mr Michael Reza, applied for separation of the trials arguing that Mamombe was not mentally fit to stand trial, hence it was prudent to prosecute her co-accused while she took her medication.

Mamombe was declared not mentally fit to comprehend trial proceedings after she underwent medical examinations by three different doctors.

But Mamombe, through her lawyer Mr Alec Muchadehama, who is also appearing for Chimbiri and Marova, told the court that she wanted to approach the High Court for review of Mrs Makwande’s decision.

Chimbiri and Marova are expected back in court on December 7 for trial.

Paul Nyathi

Zanu PF national political commissar Victor Matemadanda yesterday went out in the streets of Harare to show off that he had survived death by a whisker after he was poisoned by his party collegues in Marondera a fortnight ago.

In his mini “roadshow,” Matemadanda interacted with the business community, vendors, illegal money-changers, students and the general public as he walked through the streets.

The highly colourful dressed Matemadanda said the forces behind his poisoning will never deter him from carrying out his duties in the party where in recent years all national political commissars have left the seat he is occupying slain or fleeing.

Matemadanda survived the poisoning after being admitted in hospital for two weeks with a swollen face and itching eyes.

He was accompanied in his tour of the city by Zanu PF Harare provincial interim executive members led by chairperson Godwills Masimirembwa, Godfrey Gomwe (vice chairman), Ephraim Fundukwa (Secretary for Administration), Kudakwashe Damson (Political Commissar), Hardlife Maposa (Secretary for Security), and Betty Kaseke (Women’s League chairperson), among others.

Matemadanda told journalists and members of the public that he had recovered and was raring to go. He hinted that he was possibly poisoned because his assailants took advantage of him never wanting to be guarded.

“I am alive. I am moving around. I am not a ghost. It’s the normal Matemadanda on the move. I don’t think I should waste my time on that. They have talked about me being poisoned. I have never wanted to be an over-protected commissar.

“I want to meet the people, but it’s up to people. There is nothing I can do. My job demands that I must meet the people and I am not going to be deterred. I will be with the people. I will live with the people,” said Matemadanda.

He said Zanu PF was geared to transform citizens’ livelihoods by implementing the Zanu-PF 2018 general elections’ manifesto.

Matemadanda said he was determined to ensure that everything pledged by President Mnangagwa and Zanu PF would be delivered.

“So essentially, I want to support the President’s programmes and here I am looking at how things are being done. I want to see the movement of people. How they are doing their business including the level of morale in Harare and elsewhere,” he said.

“I have been impressed by the fact that people are happy that the exchange rate is now stable.

“They can plan their business and they are saying their business are picking up. I think this is very important.”

Zanu-PF Harare province chair, Masimirembwa, commended Matemadanda for the interactive meeting with the people.

“We expect him to visit all the six zones in Harare and get to understand the challenges facing the people. He showed that he is indeed the Commissar of the people and is exercising the servant leadership that His Excellency President Mnangagwa pronounces on a daily basis.

“He is a foot soldier of President Mnangagwa. As Harare Province we are very happy,” said Masimirembwa.

THREE Covid-19 deaths and 48 new infections were recorded in Zimbabwe in the past 24 hours with reports that the national recovery rate is now at 85.9 percent.

Two of the deaths were reported in Bulawayo province while one was from Masvingo.

According to the Ministry of Health and Child Care, 28 of the new cases were recorded in Matabeleland North province whose cases recently shot up following the outbreak of the global pandemic at John Tallach High School in Ntabazinduna.

The report shows that 11 of the cases were recorded in Bulawayo, three from Masvingo, four in Mashonaland West and one case in Manicaland.

“We recorded three deaths and 48 new cases after carrying out 1 404 PCR tests in the last 24 hours. Of the 48, only one is a returnee from Zambia and the rest are locals,” read the statement from the Ministry.

“As at 22 November 2020, Zimbabwe had 9 220 confirmed cases, including 8 250 recoveries and 268 deaths.”-Chronicle

ZIMBABWE continues to record an increase in Covid-19 cases with 39 more pupils testing positive at John Tallach High School in Ntabazinduna, Matabeleland North Province.

The new cases bring the total number of pupils who have tested Covid-19 positive at the school to 184.

Three Covid-19 deaths and 48 new infections were recorded in the country on Sunday with the national recovery rate now at 85.9 percent. Two of the deaths were reported in Bulawayo province while one was from Masvingo.

According to the Ministry of Health and Child Care, a majority of the new cases were recorded in Matabeleland North Province following the John Tallach outbreak. The school with an enrollment of 623 pupils had 145 pupils testing positive last week. After another round of testing over the weekend 39 more tested positive.

Despite the rising Covid-19 cases at learning institutions, the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education says schools are strictly following regulations put in place to curb the spread of Covid-19 which has killed 268 Zimbabweans so far.

Under the Standard Operating Procedures (SOP), hugs, handshakes and sharing of desks are not permitted in schools.

Break and lunch time must be staggered to prevent crowding by learners while sporting activities are banned. A classroom should only accommodate a maximum of 35 pupils to allow for social distancing.

Acting Matabeleland North Provincial Medical Director Dr Munekayi Padingani said yesterday:

“At John Tallach, the figure is now at 184 who have tested positive after testing the whole school.

Those who are positive are going to be isolated, and discharged based on the national guidelines. And the rest have to be retested and we shall do it the same day. There are 400 who are negative, and we shall retest this coming Sunday. So, all the learners are at school, with the positive ones in isolation and those who tested negative in quarantine.”

He said at George Silundika High School, two health workers at the clinic tested positive for Covid-19.-Chronicle

Five people were struck by lightning last night at Hippo Valley Mill in Chiredzi while they were on their way to work.

A police report says one of the five died on the spot, while four others were taken to Hippo Valley Medical Centre for treatment.

Police say the deceased, Herbert Mukwetura aged 21 of Chishamiso Village, was on his way to work at Tongaat Hullets Hippo Valley Mill with four of his workmates.

The report further says upon reaching flyover point at the mill, the five were struck by a bolt of lightning and fell down.

They were taken to Hippo Valley Medical Centre where Mukwetura was pronounced dead.

The tragedy happens when the Meteorological Services Department (MSD) is warning members of the public about weather-related hazards including floods, hailstorm, lightning among others as the rain season has started.

Some schools have since been destroyed by hailstorm across the country, including in Chipinge and Chimanimani Districts in Manicaland Province, risking refreshing memories of tropical Cyclone Idai which swept the Eastern and Southern parts of Zimbabwe.

Victims are yet to fully recover from the disaster that has seen the international community and the government disbursing funds to cushion them from the impact.
-ZBC News

Tinashe Sambiri|MDC Alliance vice president, Hon Tendai Biti has said the granting of television licences is a gimmick meant to appease Emmerson Mnangagwa’s bootlickers.

Biti added Zimbabweans should not expect much from the new television stations.

“It is an indictment of the regime that 40 years after independence the country has one Television Station.

Purported licensing of other players is a sham process of liberalization of airwaves. Army and ZANU acolytes have been granted licenses.

This is gross abuse. Thank God for
@DStv,” Hon Biti wrote on Twitter.

Tinashe Sambiri|Emmerson Mnangagwa has reportedly ordered the immediate suspension of five Zanu PF officials who snubbed the Provincial Coordinating Committee meeting he chaired in Mashonaland East Province.

Mnangagwa addressed the Mashonaland East PCC members at Marondera High School, but five of the six Chikomba district members namely Moses Mataruse, Clifford Ngirazi, Phillip Songore, Bester Jokonya and Mike Mamire snubbed the meeting.

Party stalwarts accused them of being aligned to the G40 faction.

“They have let down other party members by failing to attend such an important meeting. They are leaders of the party at district level so they should have heard what the President was saying and give feedback to the party supporters in the grassroots. They should come out in the open and state the side they are aligned to so that we select new leaders if need be,” a party official said.

Own Correspondent|Controversial Masvingo cleric Isaac Makomichi has finally spoken about claims that Michelle Moana Amuli was a beneficiary of his love charms.

Different sources have alleged that Moana was a beneficiary the controversial preacher’s love charms.

Makomichi has been evading questions related to the issue.

Makomichi was booed by an angry mob at Majange Shopping Centre in Masvingo on Sunday.

“Saka mushonga werudo wawakamupa uchaiswepi, benzi remunhu kuswera kupedzesa varume vedu nemiti yako,” shouted one vendor.

Makomichi then responded: ” Her mother must inherit the charm and make money through attracting rich guys -you will remain poor and single if you don’t do that.”

Makomichi then drove off at high speed.

Tinashe Sambiri|MDC Alliance Secretary General and MP for Kuwadzana East, Hon Charlton Hwende has embraced the One Million Voices Campaign.

The One Million Voices Campaign is the initiative of the MDC Alliance Youth Assembly.

In a statement Hon Hwende said:
Today( Sunday)
we launched the 1 million voices campaign in Kuwadzana East.

This is an
Initiative of the MDC Alliance Youth Assembly which seeks to recruit youths aged between 16-35 register them to vote and recruit them to be card carrying mdc alliance Members.

We are now going to be doing a door to door Campaign.”

Tinashe Sambiri|MDC Alliance Secretary General and MP for Kuwadzana East, Hon Charlton Hwende has embraced the One Million Voices Campaign.

The One Million Voices Campaign is the initiative of the MDC Alliance Youth Assembly.

In a statement Hon Hwende said:
Today( Sunday)
we launched the 1 million voices campaign in Kuwadzana East.

This is an
Initiative of the MDC Alliance Youth Assembly which seeks to recruit youths aged between 16-35 register them to vote and recruit them to be card carrying mdc alliance Members.

We are now going to be doing a door to door Campaign.”

Stakeholders have been challenged to work together and retrieve the bodies of six Esigodini gold panners who are feared dead after a mine shaft collapsed two weeks ago.

It’s been two weeks of misery and despair for the families of the six gold panners who are feared dead following a mine accident that occurred at Patridge Mine in Esigodini, as rescue efforts have since been abandoned.

The Chairperson of the Umzingwane Civil Protection Committee, Mr Peter Mahlathini told the Parliamentary portfolio committee on Mines and Mining Development this Monday that experts are against undertaking any rescue operation at the mine as it is considered too risky.

“We did make engage experts from How Mine, as well as engineers from the Ministry of Mines and there was consensus that it was too risky to search for the miners as the ground is unstable.”

The families of the victims of the mine accident four of whom are from one family say all they want is closure.

” As families of these children, we are not satisfied with the rescue mission efforts or at least efforts to retrieve the bodies from the time this incident happened to now. All we want is closure as we have waited 13 days for any kind of news but nothing has materialised.”

The Chairperson of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Mines and Mining development Honourable Edmond Mukaratirwa called on stakeholders to mobilise resources for the rescue operation to resume.

“We were here on a fact-finding mission to establish what transpired and to come up with recommendations to deal with this sad situation. But one thing for certain we don’t believe enough was done to search for the victims, and we are calling on government and the private sector to do whatever it takes to retrieve the bodies from the shaft so that families here can find closure.” said Honourable Mukaratirwa.

The committee further recommended the speedy formalisation of artisanal miners and the need to draw up a model to minimise mining accidents in the country.

Five people were struck by lightning last night at Hippo Valley Mill in Chiredzi while they were on their way to work.

A police report says one of the five died on the spot, while four others were taken to Hippo Valley Medical Centre for treatment.

Police say the deceased, Herbert Mukwetura aged 21 of Chishamiso Village, was on his way to work at Tongaat Hullets Hippo Valley Mill with four of his workmates.

The report further says upon reaching flyover point at the mill, the five were struck by a bolt of lightning and fell down.

They were taken to Hippo Valley Medical Centre where Mukwetura was pronounced dead.

The tragedy happens when the Meteorological Services Department (MSD) is warning members of the public about weather-related hazards including floods, hailstorm, lightning among others as the rain season has started.

Some schools have since been destroyed by hailstorm across the country, including in Chipinge and Chimanimani Districts in Manicaland Province, risking refreshing memories of tropical Cyclone Idai which swept the Eastern and Southern parts of Zimbabwe.

Victims are yet to fully recover from the disaster that has seen the international community and the government disbursing funds to cushion them from the impact.

ZBC News

Paul Nyathi

Vice President Constantino Chiwenga who doubles as the Minister of Health and Child Care has made a huge embarrassment of himself by failing to explain the photosynthesis process.

The former army boss claimed that humans breathe carbon while they get oxide from trees.

Through photosynthesis, leaves pull in carbon dioxide and water and use the energy of the sun to convert this into chemical compounds such as sugars that feed the tree.

As a by-product of that chemical reaction, oxygen is produced and released by the tree. Humans and other living organisms then take in that oxygen and exhale carbon dioxide which is again absorbed by trees.

Watch the video below for more.https://t792ae.c2.acecdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/OXIDE-CHIWENGA.mp4

ABEDNICO BHEBHE slaps @DrThoko_Khupe with
legal ultimatum over expulsion from party reported widely of pic.twitter.com/SOZqgpZ0QY

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) November 23, 2020

THE Covid-19 cases in schools are rising following reported cases in schools in Matabeleland region and Matopo High School in Matabeleland South is the latest school to be quarantined after 10 Covid-19 cases were recorded.

The number of cases at John Tallach High School in Ntabazinduna, Matabeleland North has since risen while Emakhandeni Primary school in Bulawayo has also recorded some cases.

Two weeks ago, Vice President Dr Constantino Chiwenga who is also the Minister of Health and Child Care warned of the possibility of the country being hit by a second wave of Covid-19 saying ignorance, denial and wishful thinking could lead to more deaths.

Schools have become the latest institutions to be hit by the virus after their phased reopening which started on September 28.

In the latest case, Matopo High school has been turned into a quarantine centre to prevent the further spreading of the virus after 10 cases were recorded.

Matabeleland South Provincial Medical Director, Dr Rudo Chikodzore said they were yet to establish the number of schools that have recorded positive cases in Matobo District as results were still coming in.

She said samples had been collected from a number of schools. “We collected a number of samples from various schools in Matobo District as part of the rapid response to check on the situation in schools. Some of the results came out positive in some of the schools but we are still to compile a final report as we are still receiving results. We don’t have the conclusive number of schools because the results are still coming in,” she said.

Dr Chikodzore said Covid-19 rapid response teams follow up on suspicious cases or cases that come through the Covid-19 hotline.

“All our districts have been on high alert since the outbreak in March and our teams have been monitoring the situation at schools since the re-opening,” she said.

Matobo District Development Coordinator who is also the chairperson of the district taskforce committee on Covid-19, Mr Obey Chaputsira said Matopo High School had been placed under quarantine following the recording of the 10 cases.

Acting Matabeleland North Provincial Medical Director Dr Munekayi Padingani said the number of pupils and teachers that had tested Covid-19 positive at John Tallach had risen to 145.

Dr Padingani said the school was yesterday waiting for results of other samples.

The Ntabazinduna-based school has since been closed and turned into an isolation and quarantine centre in an effort to contain the spread of the virus.

“The number of positive cases has risen to 145 including pupils and teachers and we are waiting for other results which we expect today. What we did was that after we were invited by the school, we went there and tested the first five and removed them from the school to isolate at home. One is in Hwange while the other four are in Bulawayo. When their results came out positive, we went back to school and tested 86 others and 41 of the tests came out positive. That’s when we established an isolation and quarantine centre within the school where testing is taking place,” said Dr Padingani.

He said the school was turned into a quarantine and isolation centre because pupils could not be sent to isolate at their homes as that would have exposed their families to the virus.

No other school has reported any Covid-19 cases in Matabeleland North, Dr Padingani said.

Despite the rising Covid-19 cases at learning institutions, Primary and Secondary Education communication and advocacy director Mr Taungana Ndoro told Chronicle that schools are strictly following regulations.

Under the schools Standard Operating Procedures (SOP), hugs, handshakes and sharing of desks are not permitted in schools.

Break and lunch time must be staggered to prevent crowding by learners while sporting activities are banned.

A classroom should only accommodate a maximum of 35 pupils and to allow for social distancing.

ZIMBABWEAN businessman Adam Molai, who is married to former Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe’s niece Sandra Mugabe, has dispelled rumours that his businesses grew because of his relationship to the former First Family.

Molai is a Zimbabwean industrialist and founder of TRT Investments which manages a diversified sector portfolio and operations in Nigeria, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Mozambique and Botswana, and whose latest interests have seen a foray into the US and European markets.

He has also been involved in Zimbabwe’s tobacco sector and says all his businesses are start-ups and he would still have been where he is if he was not Mugabe’s nephew-in-law.

Speaking to a Nigerian publication over the weekend, Molai narrated how he grew his businesses at a time virtually everyone with access to the Mugabe family used the relationship to make money through any means fair or foul.

“My entrepreneurship did not start in Zimbabwe. My entrepreneurship started even when I was on my educational journey in the United Kingdom, even when I was on my educational journey in Canada. By the time I came home to Zimbabwe, I was investing funds which I made from these entrepreneurial exploits during my days living in the Diaspora.

“So, I didn’t get any bank loans in Zimbabwe, there’s no bank that can say they gave me a loan when I got back to Zimbabwe. I came back with capital that I deployed into the businesses that I established when I got back to Zimbabwe,” he said.

Molai added: “And that was way before I got married. I only got married years after I was already in business, and, unless we were able to do some miracle business, within a year of my having gotten married, I had already been given the title of Zimbabwe’s National Business Person of the Year.

“This was for businesses that had been developed pre-my getting married. This was from businesses that had been developed pre my getting married. I’ve always said to people if there was an albatross that was actually a big hindrance to an ability to drive business to the level and scale you want to, it was that political expectation.

“If you look at all the businesses we’ve embarked on, we’ve never had one tender in any country in the world and we don’t do government business. We’ve never been tenderpreneurs – doing tenders I call tenderpreneurship; it’s like hunting in a zoo. Where’s the fun? The animal is caged, right? And you say I went hunting. The animals already caged. So, for me, the hunt is what we enjoy.”

Molai, who was with the late former strongman during his last days in Singapore, said if his businesses were founded on his relationship to Mugabe, they would have crumbled when the former Zimbabwean strongman passed on last year in September.

“If that had been the case the growth of our businesses post ‘his’ departure from the political scene could have meant our business would have crumbled. But instead they’ve grown.

FORMER Air Zimbabwe chief operations officer and the late former President Mugabe’s son-in-law Simba Chikore has been summoned back in court to answer to allegations of hiring security services from Safeguard Security company in 2017 without following proper tender procedures.

Chikore was expected to appear at the Harare Magistrates’ Court for trial on criminal abuse of duty as a public officer.

He is alleged to have hired the security services for US$16 445 instead of the recommended US$10 000.

This is the second time that Bona Mugabe’s husband is being arrested in as many years.

He was arrested at Robert Mugabe International airport in October 2018 on kidnapping charges before being acquitted.

He was being charged with kidnapping and unlawfully detaining Bertha Zakeyo, a former Zimbabwe Airways legal officer, against her will.

Paul Nyathi

ZANU PF Political Commissar and Deputy Minister for Defence and War Veterans Affairs Victor Matemadanda has paraded himself in the city of Harare to show that he is out of danger after a health scare.

Matemadanda who was last week hospitalised following a poisoning scare is said to have already returned to work at the ZANU PF headquarters.

Matemadanda toured the Central Business District on foot, interacting with Hararians as he tried to allay fears over his health, which was first exposed by ZimEye.com.

He was accompanied by ZANU PF provincial chairman Goodwills Masimirembwa.

DEPUTY Chief Magistrate Mrs Bianca Makwande today ruled that MDC-ALLIANCE member Joana Mamombe stands on her own on allegations of faking abductions sometime in May this year while her co-accused Cecelia Chimbiri and Netsai Marova jointly appear on the same charges.

Mrs Makwande, in her ruling on the State application for separation of trial, said there were conflicting doctors’ reports on when Mamombe will heal from mental ailments she is suffering from, leaving the court with no clue on whether she will heal or not.

She said one doctor indicated that Mamombe will heal in nine months while another noted that she will be fine within a month.

“In my view, the separation of trial will not prejudice the accused. Reports of the doctors are conflicting and at the end of the day, it is unclear whether she will be able to stand trial before six months. Justice requires that each accused stands trial within reasonable time,” said Mrs Makwande in her ruling.

Chimbiri and Marova are expected to return to court on December 7 for trial.

Mr Michael Reza appeared for the State while lawyer Mr Alec Muchadehama represented Mamombe, Chimbiri and Marova.

Tinashe Sambiri|MDC Alliance vice president, Hon Tendai Biti has said the granting of television licences is a gimmick meant to appease Emmerson Mnangagwa’s bootlickers.

Biti added Zimbabweans should not expect much from the new television stations.

“It is an indictment of the regime that 40 years after independence the country has one Television Station.

Purported licensing of other players is a sham process of liberalization of airwaves. Army and ZANU acolytes have been granted licenses.

This is gross abuse. Thank God for
@DStv,” Hon Biti wrote on Twitter.

By A Correspondent- Deputy Chief Magistrate Mrs Bianca Makwande today ruled that MDC Alliance MP Joana Mamombe stands on her own on allegations of faking abductions sometime in May this year while her co-accused Cecilia Chimbiri and Netsai Marova jointly appear on the same charges.

Mrs Makwande, in her ruling on the State application for separation of trial, said there were conflicting doctors’ reports on when Mamombe will heal from mental ailments she is suffering from, leaving the court with no clue on whether she will heal or not.

She said one doctor indicated that Mamombe will heal in nine months while another noted that she will be fine within a month.

“In my view, the separation of trial will not prejudice the accused. Reports of the doctors are conflicting and at the end of the day, it is unclear whether she will be able to stand trial before six months. Justice requires that each accused stands trial within reasonable time,” said Mrs Makwande in her ruling.

Chimbiri and Marova are expected to return to court on December 7 for trial.

Mr Michael Reza appeared for the State while lawyer Mr Alec Muchadehama represented Mamombe, Chimbiri and Marova.

Vice President and Health minister Constantino Chiwenga has vowed to bring to book people who are selling fake Covid-19 certificates.

Zimbabweans intending to travel out of the country are required to get tested about 48 hours before leaving while some companies also demand that their workers produce Covid-19 certificates before they return to work as part of efforts to curb the spread of the deadly virus.

More to follow……

A Mazowe sex worker who stole a client’s mobile phone on the pretext of charging it was fined $3000 last week at Concession magistrates courts

Portia Maramba of Stories mine, Mazowe pleaded guilty to the charge.

In her own plea of guilty Maramba who confirmed to be a sex worker said the phone acted as leverage since the complainant had refused to pay for two rounds they had together.

“Your worship l admit the charge but l took the phone as compensation to the two rounds l gave him since he did not pay me,” said Maramba.

Prosecutor Moses Kuimba told the court that sometime in October Morgan Bimha hooked Maramba and went to her house.

Upon arriving, Bimha gave Maramba his mobile phone to charge whilst enjoying the pleasantries of the night and he slept over her house.

When he was about to leave he asked for his charged phone but Maramba refused to give him.

He left and filed a police report leading to the recovery of his mobile phone and the arrest of the accused.

By A Correspondent- Former Air Zimbabwe chief operations officer and the late former President Mugabe’s son-in-law Simba Chikore has been summoned back in court to answer to allegations of hiring security services from Safeguard Security company in 2017 without following proper tender procedures.

Chikore is today expected to appear at the Harare Magistrates’ Court for trial on criminal abuse of duty as a public officer.

He is alleged to have hired the security services for US$16 445 instead of the recommended US$10 000.

World Toilet Day on Friday made a bigger splash than this month’s third anniversary of the overthrow of Mugabe.

Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights called on the Mnangagwa government to ensure that everyone has access to a clean and safe toilet by 2030. It seems as likely to happen as the government’s promise that we will by then be an ‘upper middle income country’.

A recent government report said the majority of urban suburbs were exposed to drinking sewage – contaminated because of poor sanitation management by local authorities.

The situation is particularly bad in Bulawayo, where taps have been dry for months and people in poor suburbs face a daily struggle to get water. Diarrhoea outbreaks are a particular threat to young children – with or without toilets.

Bulawayo used to be an important industrial centre but it has been laid low over the last 20 years. Latest government figures show that now only 9% of Zimbabwe’s exports are manufactured goods.

We in the diaspora are glad that, despite the Covid crisis, remittances sent back home have risen sharply and now contribute some US$658 million a year to the economy.

An small contribution in the form of a bribe would have been made by the Malawian millionaire Propheteer Shepherd Bushiri, who abandoned his gullible flock in South Africa to escape fraud charges he was facing there. He appears to have passed through Zimbabwe back to Malawi without a problem.

The MDC Alliance said this showed how easily border management could be manipulated by corruption and bribery. The Profit said he and his wife had fled South Africa for their lives. ‘My wife and I strongly believe in our innocence but this cannot be proved if our lives are not preserved’, he said.

Under the Mnangagwa regime, there’s been no let up in corruption. The latest scandal involves the Red Cross whose acting secretary-general has been charged with firing subordinates who had reported corruption to the Anti-Corruption Commission.

You couldn’t invent it if you spent the whole day sitting on your brand new toilet – even if it was connected to a water supply . . .

By A Correspondent- The MDC Alliance trio Joana Mamombe, Cecilia Chimbiri and Netsai Marova have been hauled back to court and are appearing at Rotten Row magistrates court ZimEye has learnt.

Said a source privy to the development:

The trio are appearing in court 14 Rotten Row today on continuation of their trial. This is nothing but psychological warfare against their liberty .

The Magistrate last week on Thursday 19 November 2020 further remanded them for the 104th time since 13 May 2020. Today, it is expected that the magistrate will give a ruling on whether to split the case into two or leave it as one case.

We are not sure what they want parrellel trials for unknown ulterior motives. There is a lot of misdirection of the due process.

The State’s Regional court has not been challenged so far. Zimbabweans now know of the gross abuse of state institutions by the powers that be. Time and resources are being wasted.

We pray that the trio are unchained and they start breathing normally.”

A Rushinga spirit medium aid Kingston Kazasi 81 was allegedly murdered by two unknown Mozambicans in Rushinga last week.

The two suspects claimed to have come from Zenga village in Mozambique.

Mashonaland Central province acting police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Fedelis Dhewu confirmed the case.

“I can confirm a murder case in Rushinga where an 81-year-old man was killed with machetes,” Dhewu said.

Allegations are that the two suspects dressed in black arrived at Kazasi’s homestead pretending to pay for services they got from the late spirit medium Everisto Meki popular Hokoto.

The unsuspecting Kazasi who was sleeping in his room.was called by his wife Esteri Kazasi(62).

Upon getting out they requested for cigarettes from the now deceased and were given.

They further asked for a room to sleep claiming that their motorbike had a tyre puncture.

They were given a room to sleep but instead, they turned violent and pulled machetes which they used to assault Kazasi.

He died on the spot and the duo fled in the dark.

Police are investigating the matter and appealed to anyone with information to the effect of the murder to report at any police station.

By A Correspondent- The Supreme Court upheld a US$168 000 claim last week while reserving another claim on technical grounds. 

Nhari filed the Supreme Court appeal after losing the case to the Mugabe’s at the High Court which judged that it had no jurisdiction to determine cases pertaining to employment and labour law.

While upholding other claims, the upper court referred back to the High Court Nhari’s US$588 000 “delictual damages” claim, saying it could not be determined under the Labour Act.

-dailynews

“Wadhumira uchiti twabam?,” Panganayi Java is asked by an unnamed man soon after the preacher paying out a lump-sum to the victim of the accident he is accused of causing..

By A Correspondent- Authorities are launching a nationwide probe into donated coronavirus funds and other materials, amid fears that significant portions of these gifts were looted by politically connected individuals.

This emerged in Harare at the weekend when Auditor General Mildred Chiri spoke to legislators, where she revealed that she would be carrying out a thorough national audit into all the donated Covid-19 funds and materials.

It also comes after the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission interrogated deputy Health and Child Care minister John Mangwiro last week, pending the finalization of his corruption allegations docket relating to a coronavirus tender.

-dailynews

By A Correspondent- 5 ruling party top officials from Mashonaland East landed themselves in hot soup after they reportedly boycotted President Mnangagwa’s visit to the province last week.

The 5 provincial co-ordinating committees (PCC) members namely Moses Mataruse, Clifford Ngirazi, Phillip Songore, Bester Jokonya, and Mike Mamire ‘s absence were notable when President Mnangagwa addressed the provinces’ leadership.

Sources that spoke to the publication said the members were absent from President Mnangagwa’s meeting but were seen earlier that day campaigning for candidates contesting in the DCC Polls:

They have let down other party members by failing to attend such an important meeting. They are leaders of the party at district level so they should have heard what the President was saying and give feedback to the party supporters in the grassroots. They should come out in the open and state the side they are aligned to so that we select new leaders if need be

When contacted for comment on of the PCCs Moses Mataruse said he had a headache:

These are works of aggrieved party members who lost their posts in the previous elections. So they want to take their revenge on us. Our loyalty to President Mnangagwa is still as strong as ever.

I did not attend the meeting because I had a terrible headache. Surely, people cannot make a fuss about me being absent on that one party meeting. These are baseless accusations aimed at tarnishing our image.

Another PCC Clifford Ngirazi said he was attending a funeral when the meeting took place. The absence of the PCCs has fueled widespread speculation that there is intraparty infighting in Zanu PF.

-newsday

By A Correspondent| Philanthropic traditional healer Sekuru Banda has intervened in the ongoing dispute between the late socialite, Moana’s parents over the funeral programme saying both the mother and father should work to have their daughter buried peacefully.

Yesterday, Sekuru Banda visited Moana’s father Ishmael Amuli in Domboshawa where he donated groceries to the family while committing to continue helping until the burial of their video vixen daughter.

He pleaded with Moana’s Father to keep the family issues away from social media and to map a way forward so that Moana may be buried as soon as possible.

Speaking to ZimEye after meeting Amuli, Sekuru Banda said he felt the need to intervene as the dispute was only giving media people stories while widening the rift between the parents.

“Washing dirty linen in public on such a serious issue defies our ubuntu as Africans, society should not watch while people fight, so i felt should not be a spectator yet i can help reconcile the families,” said Sekuru Banda.

He also committed to assist the family until the burial of their daughter.

Moana’s body is still at a mortuary at Parirenyatwa with all burial now in limbo as the parents fight over control of the funeral programme.

On Friday, Moana’s mother approached the High Court seeking cancellation of the burial order, which stipulates that the body of the late socialite would only be collected in the presence of both parties.

Moana born Mitchelle Amuli died in a car crash that also claimed the life of controversial businessman Genius Kadungure and two other foreigners from Malawi and Mozambique.

The High Court in Harare will today have to pass a decision on the burial of socialite and fitness trainer Michelle “Moana” Amuli to settle the dispute between her parents over her burial.

This comes after the deceased’s mother Ms Yolander Kuvaoga, represented by her lawyer Mr Jerome Madondo, made an urgent chamber application at the High Court to nullify the burial order issued on November 18.

The application is meant to prevent her estranged husband Mr Ishmael Amuli from abnegating their prior agreement that Moana be buried at Zororo Cemetery.

She wants the court to grant an interim interdict to stop the burial until the finalisation of the matter.

High Court Judge Justice Pisirai Kwenda last week deferred the matter to today by consent of both parties’ lawyers.

The judge wants to hear the two parties’ oral evidence before making an informed decision on the dispute.

He also wants Mr Amuli’s lawyer Mr Marcus Zvirahwa to file his opposing papers.

“This matter be deferred to Monday 23rd of November 2020 at 3pm which shall be the return date for this matter,” Justice Kwenda said.

“The first respondent(Amuli) shall file his notice of opposition by 9am on Monday 23rd November 2020. The applicant and first respondent shall attend the hearing on Monday 23rd November 2020 to give oral evidence.”

In her founding affidavit, Moana’s mother said she made an agreement with Mr Amuli that their daughter be buried at Zororo Cemetery in the presence of the deceased’s relatives and friends.

She said Mr Amuli later told her that Moana would be buried according to the rights of Islam in her absence, contrary to what they had agreed earlier on.

“I have a reasonable apprehension that I, together with other female sisters, colleagues and relations would be excluded from the funeral rites which would be unconscionable,” Kuvaoga argued.

She said Mr Amuli stated that she would be excluded from the funeral gathering which in her opinion would be unacceptable as she is Moana’s mother.

Ms Kuvaoga told the court that Moana had remote ties to Islam as evidenced by her lifestyle.

“I do not wish or desire that anyone be excluded from the occasion on the basis of gender or creed as this goes against not only my sense of community according to custom but of the general persona of my deceased daughter who embraced everyone. The deceased was a popular personality with a huge following. Apparently, it would be unfair not only to me, but to other people and relations who knew her personality,” she said.

Mr Kuvaoga said Mr Amuli had not seen Moana for over a year. Ms Kuvaoga said Mr Amuli had changed the burial place from Zororo Cemetery to Warren Hills to exclude from the funeral gathering.

“I aver that this matter is urgent on the reasons that the burial is on 20 November 2020 and belated hearing would prejudice me. There would be nothing to motivate in that matter since the object of the lawsuit would become dead.

“I therefore submit that there would be no remedy for a cause rendered academic,” she said.

Ms Kuvaoga said once Moana was buried, the position becomes irreversible and it would be unfair for her and other mourners to be denied an opportunity to bid her farewell.

Thanks Makore (56) who is facing charges of masterminding the murder of his seven-year-old nephew, Tapiwa Makore, approached the High Court seeking bail.

The bail appeal was heard by Justice Tawanda Chitapi who reserved the ruling to November 24.

Police arrested Mr Makore last week and they believe he is the mastermind behind Tapiwa’s murder that occurred in September in Murewa. Investigating Officer (IO) told the High Court that Thanks Makore commissioned his twin brother Tapiwa Makore Snr and Tafadzwa Shamba to commit the heinous crime.The accused is the one who employed or gave the contract to these two accused or his accomplices. He promised to pay them US$1 500 to his accomplices who killed Tapiwa Makore.

After the commission of the offence, the accused is said to have received the head and the arms of the deceased,” the IO told the court.

In opposing bail it was the state’s argument that police are yet to conclude their investigations and if Mr Makore was to be freed he might interfere with witnesses, and that he might seek assistance to skip bail from his employer, the American Embassy.

The applicant is likely to interfere with witnesses if granted bail. So far, we are done at Damofalls where his first wife resides. We are left with Warren Park where his second wife resides,” the police officer told the court.

We are still doing investigations and we are yet to finish searching. One of the main witnesses is related to the applicant. In fact, he is the son of the applicant’s young brother so the accused might interfere with the witness. American Embassy employs the applicant, so if granted bail he might seek transfer and relocate from Zimbabwe and abscond.

The IO argued that considering the nature of the offence Thanks Makore is facing that carries a capital sentence upon conviction, he would abscond if granted bail. Another issue the IO raised was that Thanks Makore had a target on his back and if released his safety would be compromised.

Another issue is when we were carrying out searches at his Damofalls residence, there was a mob who were looking for the applicant. In fact, they were throwing stones at his house so if granted bail he might be attacked by the mob.

Makore said he wanted to be released on bail so he can continue taking care of his family and raise legal fees for the murder trial.

Makore’s lawyer questioned how the police arrived at the conclusion that his client was the mastermind of the murder when it took them two months after the crime had been committed to arrest him