By A Correspondent- Rescue operations for the six miners trapped in a mineshaft at Matshetshe Mine in Esigodini last week are yet to commence because such an undertaking would be dangerous, police have said.

National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi on Tuesday said police were working with the local authority and the Department of Civil Protection to try and rescue the miners.

Said Nyathi:

We are working with various stakeholders including the Umzingwane Rural District Council, the district development co-ordinator and the Ministry of Mines to try and retrieve the trapped miners.

So far, the Ministry of Mines has highlighted that the mine is flooded and the ground is wet. This risks the further collapse of the mine.

So the Department of Civil Protection (DCP) will issue a report on the rescue, but as it stands, there are no rescue operations which have been conducted.

The trapped mineworkers have been identified as Nkosilathi Ndlovu (29), Blessed Ncube (24), Christopher Dube (23), Ndumiso Dube (age not known), Ndumiso Ntini from Lupane and one only identified as Mlilo from Gwanda.

This Wednesday marks the eighth day since the miners were trapped in a mineshaft collapse.

newsday

Gweru – A jealous man from Mberengwa has been jailed for 10 years after he chopped off his lover’s ring finger in a bid to ensure that she will not wear any other suitor’s ring.

Promise Moyo (27) swore to Linnet Chihora (25) that she was not going to put on any man’s ring after the latter announced her intention to quit the relationship. He took a machete and chopped off Chihora’s finger to make sure there will be no place to put a wedding ring.

Moyo was charged with attempted murder and he appeared before Regional Magistrate Phathekile Msipa. It also emerged in court that after chopping off the finger, Moyo attempted to chop off the palm of the hand.

Prosecutor Talent Tadenyika said on February 10, 2020 Moyo, Chihora and a neighbour Sibusisiwe Nyoni went to see the village head to discuss issues concerning the strained relationship.

They came back from the village head’s place and arrived at the complainant’s home at around midnight. On arrival the complainant went to her room but Moyo followed and pulled her out.

He then took a machete from his waist and struck the complainant several times on the hands, head and face with it.
Nyoni managed to stop Moyo from further assaulting the complainant and took her to the hospital.
A report was made leading to Moyo’s arrest.

Msipa suspended three years of the sentence on condition of good behavior.

-Masvingo Mirror

VIDEO LOADING BELOW…

“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.

AUDIO LOADING BELOW….

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.

By A Correspondent- The Zimbabwe Teachers Association (ZIMTA) has slammed other unions representing teachers, saying they have no idea of what transpires during the meetings with government officials because they are “forever” absent.

ZIMTA has recently come under fire particularly from the Raymond Majongwe-led Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ) and the Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (ARTUZ) led by Obert Masaraure.

The two unions have accused ZIMTA officials of hobnobbing with the government and abandoning teachers.

But in a statement this Wednesday, ZIMTA defended its actions and urged teachers to remain focused.

The statement read:

ZIMTA is the most professional teachers’ union in Zimbabwe, with a mandate to advocate for better salaries for teachers, to ensure that teachers keep their professional jobs and to continuously lobby for better conditions of service.

It is regrettable that a cautionary word urging teachers to act within the confines of the regulations is mistaken for threats by the enemies of this union.

We really are doing our best in ensuring that teachers’ conditions of service improve. However, it is sad that some teachers choose to be negative and side with rival unions who only speak on WhatsApp groups but are forever absent in the negotiating meetings.

It is such a sad scenario and really it is up to us teachers to choose between genuine representation and fake propaganda.

ZIMTA attends meetings, advocates, and negotiates in good faith.

Others wait for ZIMTA to return from Meetings, then wait for their circulars, because they have no idea of what transpires during the meetings.

When they copy ZIMTA’s feedback and distribute it on WhatsApp groups and critique it others believe them, BUT we all know, this is not representation, all that they do is mislead.

They have no clue of how the systems work, yet they want to Teachers to lose focus and believe in them. This is SAD.

We urge you to remain focused, ZIMTA is behind you all the WAY. We are here to Represent TEACHERS every day.

The struggle Continues.

Zimbabwe Teachers Association (ZIMTA)

The suspended Harare City Council Human Capital Director Dr Cainos Chingombe who is reportedly poised to return to work is now facing a litany of sexual abuse allegations, this publication can reveal.

The revelations of Dr Chingombe’s sexual abuses are in a letter written by a former student attaché to the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission(ZACC) to institute investigations against her former boss.

“In 2010 through a relative, Mrs Priscilla Charumbira who was a senior employee at Cleveland House, I got the opportunity to do my attachment at the council’s finance department housed at Rowan Martin building.

“It was not long before I was mysteriously transferred to Town House were Mr Chingombe turned me into his sex slave,” she narrated.

“I travelled with him to almost all workshops ,while many saw it as a favour so I earn extra income through allowances and make ends meet, Chingombe saw it as an opportunity to violate me, and violate me he did ,using intimidating tactics that came with job, as he portrayed himself as someone who could hire or fire at will,(sic),”added the former attaché.

She says after hearing of Dr Chingombe ’s sexual escapades with other female employees , she reported him to the police but could not pursue the matter because her relatives were against it .

“After learning that his office was the bedroom of many female employees, both students and the seniors I gathered enough nerve and reported him to Harare Central Police station as I was nearing the end of my attachment.

“He caused a public fight with his secretary and another Harare employee by the name Dorothy Hombarume as he was sleeping with both of them, both are still at council and can verify when contacted as they later realised they are both victims.

“My relatives were highly critical of this move which led me to abandon my Finance degree and relocate to South Africa,” she cites.

The former Chingombe subordinate believes that her boss did possess ‘political and financial power’ which made her case be swept under the carpet hence seeking ZACC to intervene.

“Having knowledge of his political and financial power, and being neglected by relatives because of the report I made ,I had no choice but to flee. As a lady I feel I was humiliated and abused through the help of South African women’s organisation I wrote several complaints to Harare Council, Police General Headquarters, former First Lady Grace among many other institutions and persons highlighting Chingombe’s abuses.

“It is against this background that as a private citizen entitled to all the rights enshrined in the constitution and having faith in your institution that I call upon the anti-corruption commission urgently Chingombe and his associates,”.

The victim claims that what prompted her to open up on these sexual abuses after hearing of the imminent return of Chingombe.

-BUSTOP TV

By A Correspondent- Zimbabwe records 70 000 illegal abortions per year and a third of girls get married before they reach the age of 18.

This was said by Senator Morgan Femayi, the chairperson of the HIV and Aids thematic committee in the Senate during a public meeting held at Mkoba Hall in Mkoba Village Two suburb in Gweru recently.

The HIV and Aids thematic committee and other committees wanted to get the views of members of the public on the issue of allowing children aged 12 years and above access to contraceptives.

Senator Femayi said:

One in every three girls marries before the age of 18. We have 70 000 illegal abortions per year in the country and high school drop out. Girls below the age of 19 account for 15 per cent of the maternal mortality rate.

Therefore, the petitioner’s plea to Parliament is that there should be no restrictions in accessing health care by persons from the age of 12 or those below the age of 18 and that includes access to contraceptives and other health care matters.

Munyaradzi Chingwara, a counsellor, said parents or guardians should not bury their heads in the sand and pretend that children from the age of 12 were not having sex, because they are.

Chingwara said in 2016 alone, 4 500 girls failed to proceed to secondary education after falling pregnant.

He implored authorities to remove age restrictions to accessing health care services, saying reproductive health shouldn’t have restrictions so that there is universal access to health care services for all including children.-statemedia

Block of flats near Belvedere shops has been razed down by fire which is believed to have started at another block nearby.

Below are pictures of the fire shot by citizen journalists from Belvedere.

By A Correspondent- Government yesterday called on teachers and civil servants to be realistic in their salary demands, saying any unreasonable demands would push them into printing money to fund employment costs, which would, in turn, trigger a new wave of inflation.

This was revealed by Labour minister Paul Mavima during a post-Cabinet media briefing in Harare, where he said teachers must also consider the economic fundamentals in the country instead of making irrational demands.

Mavima’s statement comes as three teachers’ unions the Zimbabwe Teachers Association (Zimta), the Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ) and the Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (Artuz) refused to accept the 41% salary hike offered by government, insisting the deadlock be taken for arbitration.

They were, however, outvoted by other civil servants unions who accepted the 41% salary hike which government offered after the National Joint Negotiating Council (NJNC) sat on Tuesday.

The offer, effective from November 1, will see the lowest paid teacher getting $19 000 and the lowest paid civil servant getting $14 000.

While Zimta ordered its members to go back to school, other teachers’ unions have vowed that their members would not go back to work until the employer has acceded to their demand for a US$520 salary.

“The alternative is to make demands that are unrealistic and then force government to print money and then bring back inflation and take us back to the yesteryear of 2008 which is not productive to anybody,” Mavima said.

“We have achieved stability. Let’s be realistic in our demands, let’s move our economy upwards together so that we can have decent salaries.”

He continued: “The Apex Council represents all civil service associations, including the teachers unions and, therefore, when the NJNC, which is the formal platform for negotiations, agrees on salary negations, individual unions cannot, therefore, come back and say we don’t agree, when their leadership has agreed and signed onto the salary negotiations.”

Mavima said government had been genuine in engaging with civil servants and was slowly moving them from the equivalent of US$30, to where they are now earning more than US$200.

“They have asked for a plough back to 2018 levels, that’s the US$520 they have been talking about, but we have already moved almost halfway to there and we are saying we are going to be realistic, we need to look at our fiscal space. We need to look at our economic conditions and realistically demand things that leave us as a country with the stability that we have achieved,” he said.

Mavima said hopefully with a good 2021 agricultural season, the economy would grow to the extent that government would be able to pay decent salaries.

However, Artuz president Obert Masaraure insisted that: “Teachers are not going back to school. Those who signed the document are sellouts. They are not teachers. Just signing a document does not capacitate teachers.”-newsday

By A Correspondent- The trial of two Beitbridge policemen Carrotnos Wafawanaka and Hardlife Shoko, who are accused of brutally assaulting a resident for allegedly breaking COVID-19 regulations, kicked off yesterday.

Wafawanaka and Shoko’s lawyer Tatenda Razemba challenged the State’s production of the complainant Tafadzwa Mukutiri’s medical affidavit saying the document was not properly prepared.

Razemba further argued that it had two similar stamps, but with two different doctor’s signatures.

But prosecutor Ronald Mugwagwa said the document was authentic.

Beitbridge magistrate Toyindepi Zhou ruled that there was need for a qualified medical doctor to do a medical examination on the complainant.

Mukutiri told the court how he was handcuffed and assaulted by Wafawanaka while Shoko held his deadlocked hair.

He said he was repeatedly hit by a thick switch at a bushy area in Dulivhadzimo.

Mukutiri said he did not resist arrest because police blocked his car.

In their defence, Wafawanaka and Shoko claimed that Mukutiri was injured when he tried to resist arrest and hit his head on the edge of a police van.

Mukutiri said he did not know Wafawanaka and Shoko prior to the incident, but admitted having heard about “a notorious policeman called Wafawanaka”.

“The whole of Beitbridge knows his name and that he is notorious for taking bribes and harassing people,” claimed Mukutiri.

It is alleged that Mukutiri sustained injuries which required nine stitches. The images of the injuries were exhibited in court.

The two are denying the charges and the trial continues today.-Newsday

A 33-YEAR-OLD Murewa man, Japhet Shamba, who is an uncle of confessed ritual murderer Tafadzwa Shamba who was nabbed for allegedly killing seven-year-old Tapiwa Makore, committed suicide yesterday morning.

The deceased’s body was found hanging on a tree a few metres from his homestead in Chinyani village under Chief Mangwende.

According to police sources, the late Shamba went missing from the homestead since last Thursday.

The deceased is said to have left a suicidal note stating that he regretted exhausting all the maize and peanut seeds from his grandmother’s granary.

He used to stay with his mother and wife at the same homestead.

The death of Shamba left villagers in Murewa concluding that the late Tapiwa’s spirit was now avenging after Tafadzwa confessed to the gruesome murder of the boy.

Tapiwa is yet to be buried as his head and hands are still missing.

Paul Nyathi

Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Professor Paul Mavima has urged all teachers to report for duty and deliver services to learners and regain time lost due to the Covid0-19 lockdowns.

Minister Mavima said yesterday in a statement that the cost of living adjustment made by the National Joint Negotiations Council (NJNC) should now motivate striking teachers to go back to work.

“As Government, we appreciate the noble profession and will always attempt to provide better working conditions. Yours is a noble profession because you carry the future of the nation.

Responding to journalists at the post-Cabinet briefin on Tuesday, Minister Mavima said he did not expect any teachers’ union to reject the agreed position as their leaders had agreed and signed for salary negotiations.

“The Apex Council represents all civil service associations and unions including teachers’ unions and therefore when the National Joint Negotiating Council, which is a formal platform for negotiations that we have at the moment, agrees on salary negotiations, individual unions cannot come back and say they do not agree when their leadership has agreed and signed onto the salary negotiations.

“I have seen a letter from Zimta, which is the largest teachers’ union, suggesting a roadmap for teachers to go back to their stations. If there are other unions that are saying they do not agree, I will have to understand their basis for not agreeing,” he said.

Minister Mavima said Government had between February and November moved from where teachers were complaining of earning the equivalent of US$30 and US$40 to where now they are earning more than US$200.

“We need to be realistic, we need to look to our fiscal space, economic conditions and realistically demand things that leave us as a country with the stability that we have achieved and also saying how do we move from here to where we want to go.

“We want to give our teachers a status they deserve but it has to be a realistic process. All genuine unions who do not have other agendas than the welfare of teachers are going to agree to this roadmap and the country will move forward,” he said.

MDC-T Acting President Thokozani Khupe has turned 57 years today.

The former Deputy Prime Minister and MDC founding leader Morgan Tsvangirai’s deputy has fallen out of favour with democratic forces following the Supreme Court ruling which handed her the leadership of MDC-T.

She together with now MDC-T Secretary General Douglas Mwonzora, now MDC National Chairperson Morgan Komichi and Elias Mudzuri have regained ownership of the party headquarters Harvest House.

She was born on 18 November 1963.

Posting about her birthday on social media, Khupe said;

‘On the 18th of November 1963, my beloved late parents Catherine & Fanelo gave birth to a lovely girl whom they named Thokozani, which means happiness. This girl has grown up & today she turns 57. I am very grateful to my parents for bringing me up to be the woman that I am today,”

Paul Nyathi

Prominent Masvingo businessman Ali Lambert of Ali&Co has died.

He died at 3am at Masvingo 24 Hour Medical Center on Wednesday after succumbing to pneumonia.

Lambat owned Ali and Company with his son Zubair, Zimbabweans of Indian origin. The family is one of the oldest Indian families in the city.

Soon after the start of the 20th century, Ali’s grandfather, Ebrahim Lambat, left his village of Chasa in Gujarat, some 230 km north of Bombay (the present-day Mumbai), in search of new opportunities in Africa.

Ebrahim landed in Portuguese East Africa (now Mozambique) and then trekked inland, making his way to the British territories of Southern Rhodesia (present-day Zimbabwe), Northern Rhodesia (Zambia) and Nyasaland (Malawi).

Like most Indians in these parts of Africa, the Lambat family initially made a living as merchants in rural communities, the larger towns and cities being effectively off-limits to non-White business owners.

Masvingo, Zimbabwe’s oldest town, was founded (as Fort Victoria) in 1890. From its early years, Hindu and Muslim Indians have been a small, but economically significant, presence; like the Lambat family, most members of the community were Gujaratis. It was here where Ebrahim’s son, Ismail, opened a general store. Ismail died in 1968 and in the same year Ali started up Ali & Co.

Zimbabwe Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC) coronavirus/COVID-19 situation report as of 17 November October 2020:

• New cases: 48
• Locals: 47
• Returnees: 1 from Tanzania
• Deaths: 2
• Recoveries: 49
• PCR Tests Done: 875
• National Recovery Rate: 91.3%
• Active Cases: 521
• Total Cumulative Cases: 8 945
• Total Recoveries: 8 164
• Total Deaths: 260

A 33-YEAR-OLD Murewa man, Japhet Shamba, who is an uncle of confessed ritual murderer Tafadzwa Shamba who was nabbed for allegedly killing seven-year-old Tapiwa Makore, committed suicide yesterday morning.

The deceased’s body was found hanging on a tree a few metres from his homestead in Chinyani village under Chief Mangwende.

According to police sources, the late Shamba went missing from the homestead since last Thursday.

The deceased is said to have left a suicidal note stating that he regretted exhausting all the maize and peanut seeds from his grandmother’s granary.

He used to stay with his mother and wife at the same homestead.

The death of Shamba left villagers in Murewa concluding that the late Tapiwa’s spirit was now avenging after Tafadzwa confessed to the gruesome murder of the boy.

Tapiwa is yet to be buried as his head and hands are still missing.

State Media

The economy is expected to grow by an average 5 percent over the five-year tenure of the newly-announced economic policy — the National Development Strategy (NDS1 2021-2025) — in order to achieve its goal of transforming the economy to an upper middle income status by 2030.

NDS1 is premised on the adoption and swift implementation of bold strategies, policies and programmes aimed at achieving economic transformation.

The blueprint is themed; “Towards a Prosperous and Empowered Upper Middle Income Society by 2030”.

President Mnangagwa launched the blueprint on Monday and said his administration will continue to implement robust, innovative and responsive strategies while the NDS1 will entrench the prevailing strong pillars of democracy, constitutionalism and respect for the rule of law.

Zimbabwe has previously implemented several brilliant economic policies to drive growth and reduce poverty, however, the results were suboptimal due to both “exogenous and endogenous factors” and the new policy thrust is to rekindle the economy’s unrealised potential.

“This will be done through the creation of a thriving private sector led competitive economy, implementation of sound macroeconomic policies anchored on fiscal discipline, monetary and financial sector stability, including an open business friendly environment, which promotes both foreign and domestic investment.

“The specific macro-economic objectives for the five-year period of NDS1 are achieving an average annual real GDP growth rate of at least five percent, maintain fiscal deficits averaging not more than three percent of GDP or below in line with SADC target, achieve and maintain lower single digit inflation, increase international reserves to at least six months import cover by 2023 . . .” excerpts from the policy document say.

Further, other key objectives of the policy framework include maintaining public and publicly guaranteed debt of below 70 percent of GDP, maintain current account balance of not more than -3 percent of GDP, create at least 760 000 new jobs during the period of NDS1, improve key infrastructure and investment in energy, water, sanitation, roads and housing.

University of Zimbabwe economics lecturer, Professor Ashok Chakravati, who is also a member of the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) Monetary Policy Committee said in an interview that NDS1 was poised for success as it is building on a firm foundation laid by the TSP.

Through the NDS1, Prof Chakravarti said the Government will be able to release the energy of the private sector to inject much needed capital into the economy and thus stimulate economic activity and growth.

“The first thing to note is that the NDS1 is almost entirely based on domestic resources and it’s based on the concept of self-reliance,” said Prof Chakravati.

“Of course if re-engagement is successful and we get additional resources from the international community that will be positive and it will bring a major boost.

“But the growth rates that have been put in for NDS1 are feasible and achievable, and we believe this is one of the most realistic strategies and development plans since independence.

“The fundamental pillars that NDS1 will stand on from TSP are the liberalisation of the economy, control of Government expenditure and releasing the energies of the private sector. The idea is to focus on private sector investment, which will be either domestic or foreign and let people make money, there is nothing wrong with that,” Prof Chakravati said.

Growth projections are underpinned by gradual economic recovery, estimated at over 7,4 percent next year, anchored in stable, predictable macro and policy environment, ensuing projected economic decline of 4,5 percent this year due to the negative impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, which extensively disrupted global trade and value chains.

To unlock investment, which is key in driving sustainable inclusive economic growth during the NDS1 period, Government will prioritise swift implementation of the ongoing ease of doing business reforms, enhance respect for property rights, ensure adherence to rule of law, combat corruption and drive investment in key infrastructure enablers.

The blueprint is premised on key pillars of macro-economic stability and financial re-engagement, inclusive growth, good governance, provision and expansion of key infrastructure and utilities as well as social development in line with the Vision 2030 agenda.

Targeted sustained economic growth of five percent per annum will be driven by agriculture, mining, electricity and manufacturing coupled with structural reforms aimed at collapsing all bottlenecks and improving economic efficiency. Specific interventions will entail improving food security by driving production across sectors and resolving security of land tenure issues, moving the economy up the value chains through increased domestic production and productivity, efficient infrastructure delivery, improving access to and usage of ICTs, improved housing delivery and governance, better public service, justice delivery (rule of law) and social protection (reducing extreme poverty).

Additionally, the policy priorities will focus on image building, international cooperation and re-engagement, climate change strategies, youth sport and culture, health and well-being, human capital development and local authority and community-centred development (devolution).

But the Government intends to get things right on key elements of macroeconomic stability namely fiscal, monetary and external sectors. Fiscal measures will seek to control and reduce public debt to below 70 percent of GDP while expenditure should track the national budget.

On the monetary front, Government will continue to implement the monetary targeting framework to stabilise the exchange rate while interventions on the external sector will cover measures to keep the current account deficit below minus three percent of the budget.

As such, Government has worked on strategies for agriculture, mining sector, tourism and manufacturing, which seek to drive production and productivity as well as drive domestic value chains to reduce dependence on imports and enhance creation of new jobs in the economy.

For instance, strategies for the anchor sector of agriculture will include resolving outstanding issues around land tenure to attract investment, creating conditions for bankability of agricultural projects, restructuring Agribank into a land bank and expanding contract farming to include other crops and livestock.

“Further, the Government will incentivise banks to lend to agriculture, and persuade them to move away from the current practice where most banks are investing in non-productive short-term instruments,” the NDS1 policy document says.

In order to climate-proof agriculture, irrigation rehabilitation and expansion, promotion and adoption of research that improves productivity of seed and animal varieties, up scaling of climate smart agriculture and capacitation of extension service workers will be prioritised.

In mining, Government intends to formulate a rare earths policy, under its thrust to expedite implementation of mineral specific policies, issue more exclusive prospecting orders to increase exploration and push on with efforts to formalise and capacitate small scale miners.

During NDS1, Government will also accelerate long planned operationalisation of the automated mining Cadastre information management system to increase efficiency and transparency in mining title management.

In addition, programmes will be undertaken to enhance exploration through use of carrot and stick measures under the use or lose it policy, with investors given reasonable time first to productively work on their claims.

“Regarding mineral beneficiation, the NDS1 priority is to strengthen gold processing, diamond cutting and polishing, platinum base metal refining and ferrochrome processing,” the blueprint says.

Measures will be undertaken to achieve sustained growth through improved performance and contribution of the manufacturing sector, which will be reoriented towards higher value added production by strengthening the existing value chains and mineral beneficiation.

THE Gwanda Civil Protection Unit (CPU) has tightened enforcement of regulations to contain cases of Covid-19 which are on the increase in the mining town.

The town has recorded 15 positive cases over the past week. Six of the people are admitted to Gwanda Provincial Hospital isolation centre while the other nine are in self isolation.

The Joshua Mqabuko Polytechnic College has suspended face-to-face lectures indefinitely after six cases were reported at the institution.

Speaking during a CPU meeting held on Monday, Gwanda Disrict Environmental Health Officer, Mr Kgositsile Mtlokwa said there was a need for a monitoring team to be deployed within the town to enforce regulations.

“As a district we have recorded 15 positive cases over the past week and all these are local transmissions within Gwanda Urban. As the Emergency Preparedness Response Committee we recommend tightening of measures in order to contain the situation.

“Lack of compliance to Covid-19 regulations has been identified as one of the causes of this spike in cases. A monitoring committee comprising of officials from Ministry of Health, ZRP and Local Government should also be set up in order conduct inspections to ensure that people adhere to regulations. The community of Gwanda also needs to be reminded through a hailer of the importance of observing Covid-19 regulations,” he said.

Gwanda acting District Development Co-ordinator, Mr Thulani Moyo said it was alarming how people within the town were disregarding Covid-19 regulations. He said some people were moving around without masks, some shops were no longer sanitising people or exercising social distancing, transport operators were not enforcing regulations and some public offices such as the passport office and banks were not enforcing social distancing.

Mr Moyo called on various partners to come on board and assist the district with resources. He said they have informed the provincial office of their exercise.

“15 cases within seven days isn’t a joke and we should take this matter seriously. We are going to be reactivating all thematic committees that were already operational and we want to ensure that we fully enforce regulations that are in place in order to contain the situation.

“What we want to do as a district is to work flat out to enforce the regulations which have been set under the Level 1 stage of the lockdown that we are at now,” he said.

Officer-in-Charge of Gwanda Urban Inspector John Mabhungu said there was a need to engage the business community as some were breaking regulations. He said at food outlets and supermarkets some workers were serving people without wearing masks and bottle stores were operating throughout the night.

Gwanda Provincial Hospital acting Medical Superintendent, Dr Blessing Gwarimbo said the positive cases which have been recorded in the town were all symptomatic which meant that they were highly contagious and likely to spread the virus.

State Media

BULAWAYO City Council (BCC) workers are threatening to down tools citing incapacitation and delays in salary payments, a development that is likely to affect the city’s service delivery system.

On Monday, workers under the banner Zimbabwe Urban Councils Workers Union (ZUCWU) convened outside the Bulawayo City Hall to express their concerns over failure by BCC management to address their grievances over poor salaries among other demands.

The least paid BCC worker earns a basic salary of $1 900. According to the Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (Zimstat), the latest Poverty Datum Line (PDL) for an average family of five stands at $17 244,07.

In July, the Town Clerk Mr Christopher Dube admitted that council was struggling to pay its workers and delivering effective service to its residents.

Council’s revenue declined by 80 percent in the past four months.

According to a council report, in March, the local authority managed to collect $15 million but after the declaration of the lockdown, revenue inflows tumbled to $3 million in April.

The chairperson of ZUCWU Bulawayo branch, Mr Ambrose Sibindi said they gave council management a petition expressing their grievances around poor salaries and non-payment of Covid-19 allowances.

He said workers were now incapacitated due to poor salaries.

“As workers we are saying we are now incapacitated because the money that we are getting as workers is now peanuts with the lowest getting $1 900 basic salary. What can you do with $1 900? We wrote our position paper to council on the 28th of August 2020 so that we negotiate and that process is still outstanding,” said Mr Sibindi.

“Council is taking too long because in that position paper we were clear that we were supposed to have salaries reviewed effective September and now we are in mid-November we haven’t agreed on anything and as workers we are fed up and enough is enough.”

Mr Sibindi said workers were also demanding clarity on the issue of their annual bonuses.

“Our employer is not clear on when we are getting our bonuses because naturally, we get bonuses in November and we are just three or four days away from bonus payment date and council hasn’t communicated and we are worried because there is no response,” he said.

Mr Sibindi said council is also failing to honour pay dates with some workers yet to receive their October salaries.

“We demand that council must pay us on the stipulated pay dates which is the 23rd of each month. There is also an issue of staggering and we are saying all workers must be paid on the same day because this is dividing workers, and council is talking advantage of that because there won’t be a collective decision,” he said.

Mr Sibindi said they wrote to council in March demanding Covid-190 allowances and up to now the issue hasn’t been resolved.

“We are aware that the world over and even here in Zimbabwe some organisations are paying their workers Covid-19 allowances. As council workers we are very much exposed to Covid-19. Our argument is that most of our services we deal with the community,” he said.

“We gave the management our petition on Monday and they haven’t responded. We are saying the least paid workers should get at least $18 000. Most of the people in that category are due for retirement and that basic salary will be considered in terms of pension, which means those people will be affected even after work.”

Mr Sibindi said top management enjoys huge perks while the majority of workers were struggling. He said if council delays in addressing their issues, they will be forced to declare incapacitation, affecting service delivery.

Mr Dube, the town clerk, yesterday confirmed having received the petition.

He said low revenue inflows made it difficult for council to meet some of the workers’ demands.

“We received the workers’ petition and we are going to act on those demands that are within our reach, but most of them are beyond capacity of council. We are however, going to have negotiations with all stakeholders until a solution is found,” he said.

“Year 2020 was a very difficult year for council for both employees and residents who are struggling to pay their council dues. We will have no option but to opt for vigorous and tougher ways to force residents to honour their obligations otherwise we sink.”

Revenue inflows into council coffers have been erratic since the country went into lockdown on 30 March.

In a recent report, BCC indicated that it was considering billing residents in foreign currency and has re-adopted selling of residential stands in US dollars. The council said it was no longer sustainable to use local currency as it was losing value and affecting service delivery.

Last month BCC proposed a supplementary budget of $550 792 328 and a 2021 annual budget of $16 billion.

Residents are however, accusing BCC of directing a huge chunk of its resources towards salaries and administration costs at the expense of service delivery.

Civil servants will start getting their annual bonuses this month with the last groups being paid out next month.

The payments are based on the 41 percent salary rise and new allowance agreed on Monday, with those increases with effect from this month, Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Professor Paul Mavima said yesterday in a statement on the cost of living adjustment made by the National Joint Negotiations Council (NJNC).

Teachers are now included in the groups getting the 10 percent risk allowance.

In line with previous statements, the minister made it clear that while the Government had to operate within its revenues, it wanted to improve the pay of its employees as fast as its tax revenues rose and had agreed to formalise this process.

Minister Mavima said the council agreed to come up with a roadmap by end of January next year, informed by the National Budget, to continuously review conditions of service with a view to maintaining the value of salaries.

“The agreement that was concluded provides for; an average salary increase of 41 percent of the total package (basic salary, transport, housing, special civil service allowances, representation where applicable), effective from November 1, 2020.

“It also provides for the annual bonus that is inclusive of transport and housing allowances on a staggered basis in November and December 2020. Government prioritises the health and safety of workers in the public sector. It is in this regard that Government awarded a 10 percent Special Covid-19 Risk Allowance to those in the teaching fraternity given the predisposition to Covid-19 in their work environment. Teachers join other frontline staff who were already receiving the Covid-19 Risk Allowance,” Prof Mavima said.

All outstanding issues will be addressed, as negotiations between the employer and employees continue.

“I also note with firm hope that there is an agreement to continue with negotiations with a view to continuously improve conditions of service. As Government, we look forward to the roadmap, which parties to the NJNC are expected to conclude by end of January, 2021.

“I am aware that there are outstanding issues which still need to be finalised and that the parties have agreed to defer them to future negotiations. This is the spirit of negotiations as we must allow public service workers to enjoy some relief whilst parties to the NJNC continue to find convergence on all outstanding issues.”

Prof Mavima said issues like housing are long-term programmes which Government is determined to implement.

Rising gospel artiste Fortunate Siziba has released a tribute song to the murdered for Murewa murdered boy Tapiwa Makore featuring Trevor Dongo.

Simply titled Zvipo, the inspirational song was recorded at Eternity Records, a Macdonald Macdee Chidavaenzi stable in partnership with Dongo and various artistes.

In an interview, Siziba said the song is dedicated to child abuse victims and ritual killings of minors in Zimbabwe and beyond.

“We have seen a number of kids losing their lives and this song talks about this.

“The message has to go out and sink in people’s minds that children are indeed a gift from God, so there is a need to take good care of them than harm them.

“The ritual murder of Tapiwa Makore is something which could have been avoided if people really appreciate how precious these kids are.

“There are a lot of people out there trying to have children but they cannot.”-State media

Ousted MDC-T 2014 Organising Secretary, Abednico Bhebhe, has rubbished his dismissal from the party saying the move was not constitutionally enforceable.

The opposition party’s National Council resolved to expel Bhebhe over allegations of gross violation of the MDC-T’s constitution by supporting another political party other than the MDC T.

His expulsion came after he had attacked 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.

Speaking to NewsDay,  Bhebhe said that his expulsion was not enforceable at law. He said:

I am not aware of any constitutional and legally enforceable expulsion except what I read in the Press.

Bhebhe was expelled ahead of the party’s Supreme Court-sanctioned Extraordinary Congress scheduled for December.

Meanwhile, Mwonzora has since defended Bhebhe’s expulsion saying the National Council acted above board in accordance with the law.
-NewsDay

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.

Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration is in talks to sell off mining property rights to Saudi Arabia in exchange for promises to remove western sanctions.

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.

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|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…”

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.”

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

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 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.

Source: CNN/Pinknews Ireland

Paul Nyathi

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 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.

Paul Nyathi

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.

Below are the auction results.

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.

NewsDay

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.

Paul Nyathi

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.

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 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.

Please be patient while the video downloads.

https://www.facebook.com/2648197815405968/videos/725055831698159/

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.

Paul Nyathi

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.

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.

-online

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.”

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.

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.

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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