Correspondent

Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa on Sunday thanked China and Russia for standing by Zimbabwe in its consistent call for the unconditional removal of Western sanctions.

In a speech to mark the Southern African Development Community (SADC) anti-sanctions day, Mnangagwa paid tribute to the two countries, SADC, the African Union, and other countries around the globe for their support.

“The People’s Republic of China and the Russian Federation, among other nations, have been our dependable pillars for many years,” said the president.

“These nations not only assisted us in our fight for independence, but equally assisted us to defend our sovereignty against the sustained onslaught by our detractors,” Mnangagwa said.

He also thanked United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet for adding their voice on sanctions removal.

Mnangagwa commended the European Union (EU) for taking some positive steps towards normalizing relations with Zimbabwe.

Last year, the SADC declared October 25 as the regional anti-sanctions day, on which SADC member states would collectively call for unconditional lifting of illegal sanctions on Zimbabwe.

Mnangagwa said the Zimbabwe Democracy and Economic Recovery Act and Executive Orders by the U.S. government have constrained development in Zimbabwe for nearly 20 years.

“The cumulative effect of these illegal sanctions has been devastating in every sector of our economy. Furthermore, sanctions have limited Zimbabwe’s capacity to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic,” Mnangagwa said.

“We are grateful to those nations and organizations who have stood by us and supported us in fighting the pandemic,” he added.

Earlier this month, China’s envoy to the UN criticized the U.S. and Western countries for violating human rights and called for the complete and immediate lifting of unilateral sanctions at the General Debate of the Third Committee of the UN General Assembly.

Zhang Jun, China’s permanent representative to the UN, made the statement on behalf of 26 countries, including Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Belarus, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, China, Cuba, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Iran, Laos, Myanmar, Namibia, Nicaragua, Pakistan, Palestine, Russia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, South Sudan, Sudan, Suriname, Syria, Venezuela and Zimbabwe.

Paul Nyathi

THE Ministry of Health and Child Care says that a Form Four pupil from Matopo High School who died over the weekend did not succumbed to the Covid-19.

The girl who presented Covid-19 like symptoms at school was rushed to Bulawayo on Friday and died on Saturday afternoon at her Nketa home.

Despite rumours that the girl had succumbed to the global pandemic, the ministry said the girl tested Covid-19 negative posthumously.

The development forced the school authorities to postpone the return of Form Three and Five pupils who were supposed to return to the school yesterday ahead of the reopening today.

Bulawayo acting provincial medical director Dr Welcome Mlilo said the girl did not die of a Covid-19 related illness.

“I can confirm that the pupil from Matopo High School in question did not die from a Covid-19 related illness. The Bulawayo City Rapid Response Team collaborating with physicians from United Bulawayo Hospitals have investigated this death and the Covid-19 test is negative.”

Meanwhile, highly placed sources have told ZimEye.com that an elderly member of the family also died with Covid-19 symptoms late on Saturday.

The family member reportedly lived in the same family home with the deceased student.

More details on the latest death in the family to follow.

Farai Dziva|The MDC Alliance is appealing for donations to assist jailed activist Terrence Manjengwa’s family.

Manjengwa was arrested for standing in solidarity with MDC Alliance vice chairperson Job Sikhala.

See the MDC Alliance statement below :

While Terrence Manjengwa is being incarcerated for a crime he didn’t commit ,we as his extended family must ensure that his wife and young daughter are taken care of.

Terrence’s daughter was born on the same day that his father was arrested, meaning everyday he is incarcerated is a day she gets older without seeing her father.

We all know the hardships that we Zimbabweans are going through day in day out , but it is even more difficult when the sole breadwinner is in prison.

With that in mind it is our duty to see to it that our incarcerated cadres family is well looked after .Lets be that big family that we are and see to it that Mother and Daughter are taken care of.

Below is the contact information of Terrence Manjengwa’s Wife Choice Mukwesha including Ecocash

Choice Mukwesha
+263771395548

Please lets help in any way we can be it in cash or in kind. Together we can do it as we have always done.

Thank you

FreeTerrenceManjengwa

ZimbabweanLivesMatter

MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa has refuted allegations by the ruling ZANU PF party that he campaigned for sanctions to be imposed on Zimbabwe.

Chamisa told The Standard in an interview that he is neither a god nor does he have powers to control the United States of America’s foreign policy. He said:

Chamisa is not a god, he is not a state that rapes people, abducts people. Chamisa is not billions of dollars that disappear.

Chamisa is also not the one who manipulates the institutions of the state.

Don’t give me the powers that I don’t have. I don’t control Washington. I don’t have such powers.

The youthful opposition leader hit out at President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government, saying its rule is based on lies and deceptions.

That is why we have a senior government official holding a press conference to announce that Chamisa is training soldiers in (Moldova).

We have officialised lies in order to elevate foolish claims to the level of policy.-The Standard

The Emmerson Mnangagwa controlled Judicial Service Commission (JSC) has recommended a tribunal to investigate the High Court judge who granted Zengeza MP Job Sikhala bail, Justice Erica Ndewere’s fitness for holding office.

In recently days, JSC has said its move is not motivated by political angers over the Sikhala judgement.

The organisation said this was after discovering she was not clearing her workload in reasonable time and that she had not properly studied the file on a thief’s conviction and sentence when she set aside a jail term.

There is no suggestion of improper conduct in the commission’s recommendation, just that the judge is not up to the standard expected by not reading files properly and delaying matters way beyond permitted limits.

In the case of setting aside the jail term of a thief, Justice Ndewere reviewed the decision of a Marondera magistrate to lock up Kenneth Majecha (21) for theft and referred the case back to the lower court for re-sentencing, recommending community service for Majecha, whom she referred to as a youth and a first offender.

But she was wrong about the Majecha being a first offender. He had three previous convictions and the court record showed this and included copies of the required certificates.

In fact, in giving reasons for the jail term, the magistrate highlighted Majecha’s three previous convictions together with their case numbers.

According to the trial record, which was also brought before the High Court for review, Majecha was convicted for housebreaking and sentenced to eight months in prison in 2016. In 2017, Majecha was sentenced to a wholly suspended two-year prison term but the same year was back in court, convicted of robbery and jailed for an effective 26 months.

The JSC contends the judge decided on the case without fully reading the record of proceedings, the trial magistrate’s reasons for sentence and the attached certificates of previous convictions.

“Had she done so, these would have dissuaded her from making the order she did,” reads JSC’s first complaint against the judge.

But the quashing of the sentence did not affect the prisoner. He had already served his full sentences by the time the judge made her review.

“Despite receiving the record for review on May 9 2019, the judge failed to action the file until October 22 2019 when the review minute was issued. A period of five months lapsed without the proceedings being reviewed. The accused had already served the full term of imprisonment by the time the review minute was released,” reads the second complaint.

“The judge’s performance has failed to meet the expected standard of a judge,” reads JSC’s third complaint.

By June 30 last year, Justice Ndewere reportedly had 12 reserved judgments which had gone for at least two years without a determination. Failure to deliver a reserved judgment within a period of 90 days is a breach of the JSC (Code of Ethics) Regulations of 2012.

By May 18 this year, Justice Ndewere had 28 pending cases with judgments having been reserved for periods stretching from nine to 24 months.

Meanwhile, Justice Ndewere is battling to stop President Mnangagwa from constituting the tribunal the JSC desires.

Through Sawyer & Mkushi Legal Practitioners, Justice Ndewere seeks an order stopping the set up of the tribunal on the basis that if the tribunal is set up she will be automatically suspended, causing her irreparable damage, as well as he belief that “the setting up a tribunal is wrong factually, procedurally and on points of law”.

Justice Ndewere believes she is being victimised. “In my view, (Chief Justice Luke Malaba) is victimising me for refusing to follow his unlawful instruction which he issued in August 2019 in connection with the bail matter I handled that month. This is why even before I had explained the Kenneth Majecha review in June 2020, the (Chief Justice) told the (Judge President George Chiweshe) to tell me that he wanted to take me to the tribunal.”

She said her application for a court order preventing President Mnangagwa from setting up the tribunal was the only course of action open to her to keep her job. -originally published in the Herald

MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa said his erstwhile colleagues, MDC-T interim president Thokozani Khupe and secretary-general Douglas Mwonzora are now in the political dustbin following their concerted efforts to decimate Zimbabwe’s largest opposition party by recalling its legislators and councillors.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa last week formally recognised Khupe as the official leader of the opposition after she became a Member of Parliament under controversial circumstances.

Chamisa believes Khupe and Mwonzora are simply doing ZANU PF’s bidding through captured State institutions.

He said:
I don’t have time for Khupe and Douglas Mwonzora (interim MDC-T secretary-general).

I know they are simply playing a script handed to them by Zanu PF, enforced by captured institutions.

They are going nowhere. In fact, they are history. People always settle political disputes.

Chamisa accused the government of attempting to distract the masses from the real causes of their sufferings through the anti-sanctions campaign.

Said Chamisa:
Zimbabweans should take the day as an opportunity to imagine a better future without hunger, poverty, police brutality, abductions, and corruption.

It’s a collective task for every Zimbabwean to imagine a Zimbabwe without the vices of bad governance from the current government.

When he came to power on the back of a military coup in November 2017, Mnangagwa said sanctions should never be used as an excuse for failure but he has since changed his tune as the economic situation has continued to deteriorate.-The Standard

Teachers’ unions have described as “daylight robbery” Government’s approval of a steep hike in school fees, a development which was confirmed by Primary and Secondary Education Minister Cain Mathema.

The latest school fees increases will see some pupils at boarding and urban day high schools forking out in excess of $55 000 up from $6 000 and $20 000 up from $3 000 per term, respectively.

Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ) president Takavafira Zhou said the fees were certainly beyond the reach of many parents, particularly civil servants.

He said:
Our position is that parents must stop paying fees until teachers and government find each other over teachers’ welfare, health and safety.

Sending kids to school when teachers are not teaching is a waste of time; the fees are certainly beyond the reach of many parents, particularly teachers.

Mathema asserted that the fees hikes had been approved after no parent formally raised objections with his ministry.

However, parents who spoke to NewsDay said school heads just presented them with figures to choose from and the process was not clear at all.

Zhou said some school heads manipulated the parents by giving them inflated figures to choose from and in some cases school heads bribe education officials to have their fees approved.

Said Zhou:
… school heads have learnt ways of cutting corners and even get government approval of fees without following appropriate procedures.

Heads manipulate attendance registers so that they are presented as consent over a figure that even parents would have shot down, while in some cases, heads bribe authorities at the provincial level to get fees approvals.

Some fees are even unilateral, pegged by schools without input from parents.-NewsDay

GOVERNMENT will this week ramp up monitoring of teacher attendance in schools to assess staffing gaps and determine areas that need additional educators to cover for those not reporting for duty.

Next year’s examination classes — Grade 6, Form 3 and Lower Sixth — will commence school tomorrow under the Phase Two reopening plan.

Provincial and district education officers will intensify daily assessments of teachers’ attendance registers at schools to establish staffing gaps which could be covered by hiring more teachers.

Already, Government has recruited 2 300 teachers, with an additional 3 000 to ensure Standard Health Operating Procedures are effected properly.

The monitoring will allow authorities to evaluate the extent to which this year’s syllabus has been covered and the methods that can be deployed to help pupils catch up.

Minister of Primary and Secondary Education Cain Mathema told The Sunday Mail that all schools are adequately prepared for reopening.

The Ministry’s communication and advocacy director Mr Taungana Ndoro said monitoring will allow authorities to assess gaps in staffing levels.

“There have been daily assessments going on and are still ongoing.

“We anticipate the number of pupils attending school to increase as more classes open,” said Mr Ndoro.

“We seek to establish gaps in terms of human resources so that regulations such as social distancing can be properly implemented. However, in terms of preparation, schools are ready to open on Monday.”-The Sunday Mail

By A Correspondent- The Zimbabwe Nurses Association (ZINA) has objected to the unilateral decision by the Ministry of Health and Childcare to scrap the flexible working hours system.

In a letter to Health secretary Jasper Chimedza dated October 21, ZINA president Enock Dongo accused Chimedza of acting bad good faith. He wrote:

The decision to implement the flexible working hour system is a product of agreement within the HSBNP [Health Service Bipartite Negotiating Panel]. It was not given unilaterally by the government nor did the employees adopt it on their own accord.

With this in mind, your decision to unilaterally remove a system which you found in place and, in any event, was reached by agreement, is irregular and certainly not in good faith.

Dongo added that on May 11, 2020, the Ministry had made it clear that the flexible hour system would remain in place because it reduced exposure to coronavirus.

Said Dongo:

Tied to the above, the flexi-hour system did not only address issues to do with PPE but also addressed issues of incapacity.

When you go to the origins of adopting this system, the reason was that regular working hours were becoming expensive to maintain on the salaries nurses were getting.

Chimedza on October 19 directed provincial medical directors to resume normal working hours for all nurses, saying the flexi working hours were creating artificial nurse shortages.-statemedia

MASVINGO residents have written to the city council demanding that the local authority take action, within seven days, to address the proliferation of illegal gold miners at the Target Kopje Hills whose activities are affecting the city’s water supplies and nearby residential properties.

Through the Masvingo United Residents and Ratepayers Association (MURRA), the residents said in a letter dated 16 October 2020, council should quickly move in to stop the illegal mining activities in the area or be dragged to court.

Through its lawyers, Mutendi, Mudisi and Shumba, MURRA said the mining activities were damaging the water reservoirs and contaminating purified water stored in the tanks before being distributed to the city suburbs.

Residents in areas near the hills that include, Target Kopje, Hillside Extension, Mucheke B popularly known as Majange and Mucheke C have complained that the constant blasting of explosives by the miners is damaging their properties.

“It is also common cause that the water reservoir tanks that store water supply for the whole City of Masvingo are located at the said area. We are informed that the said water storage tanks have a capacity of more or less 10 million litres.

If these illegal miners are not stopped the water reservoir tanks may end up bursting which will culminate in flooding and destruction of structures,” reads part of the letter.

The residents said the illegal gold panners are using dangerous chemicals such as cyanide and mercury which are also dangerous if they pollute the water.

“We give you seven days to address the above issue or to sit down with our client and unpack your strategic plan on how you intend to stop the illegal mining activities. If either of the above is not done within seven working days calculated from the date of this letter our client may be forced to approach the courts for relief.”-The Sunday News

Paul Nyathi

Matopo High School outside Bulawayo has advised parents not to send more children to the school while investigations are being carried out on the death of one learner at the school in what is suspected to have been Covid-19 related.

A memorandum circulated to parents and made available to ZimEye.com indicates that the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education gave the school a waiver not to receive the returning form 3 and Lower Six learners until the death is fully investigated.

Below is the circular memo written by the school to all learners:

Good Evening Parents. As Head of the school I have been making consultations with Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education on Phase 2 Opening of schools. In light of the untimely death of one of our Learners, l wish to officially inform you that, The Permanent Secretary of Education in the Ministry has granted Matopo High school a waiver to open schools on Wednesday 28 October 2020 pending the outcome of the postmortem results of our dearly departed Learner. Therefore, there will be no traveling of Learners tomorrow (Sunday), 25th October 2020,until Clearance has been granted. Any delay in sending this important message is sincerely regretted.Sibanda G(Head).

State Media

GOVERNMENT will this week ramp up monitoring of teacher attendance in schools to assess staffing gaps and determine areas that need additional educators to cover for those not reporting for duty.

Next year’s examination classes — Grade 6, Form 3 and Lower Sixth — will commence school tomorrow under the Phase Two reopening plan.

Provincial and district education officers will intensify daily assessments of teachers’ attendance registers at schools to establish staffing gaps which could be covered by hiring more teachers.

Already, Government has recruited 2 300 teachers, with an additional 3 000 to ensure Standard Health Operating Procedures are effected properly.

The monitoring will allow authorities to evaluate the extent to which this year’s syllabus has been covered and the methods that can be deployed to help pupils catch up.

Minister of Primary and Secondary Education Cain Mathema told The Sunday Mail that all schools are adequately prepared for reopening.

The Ministry’s communication and advocacy director Mr Taungana Ndoro said monitoring will allow authorities to assess gaps in staffing levels.

“There have been daily assessments going on and are still ongoing.

“We anticipate the number of pupils attending school to increase as more classes open,” said Mr Ndoro.

“We seek to establish gaps in terms of human resources so that regulations such as social distancing can be properly implemented. However, in terms of preparation, schools are ready to open on Monday.”

Minister Mathema said schools will be equipped with the requisite Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and the safety of pupils, teachers and support staff is guaranteed.

“We are prepared and ready to open schools under the second

phase,” said Minister Mathema.

“Schools have been receiving PPE since we opened for the First Phase and it has been an ongoing process. Preparations for schools opening for all phases have been going on for some time now and we are prepared to open schools even for the last phase.”

He said the number of teachers attending class had been steadily rising over the last few weeks, adding that only a handful are not reporting for duty.

National Association of School Heads president Mr Arthur Maphosa said adequate PPE had been provided for all schools.

“The issue of PPE is no longer much of an issue, yes, there might be gaps here and there but Government has been trying to supply,” said Mr Maphosa.

“The biggest issue now is that there are no adequate teachers. Some mission schools have teachers because there were arrangements made between the schools and parents.

“However, in rural and most public schools there are no teachers. At times the attendance register shows that only two out of 47 would have reported for duty, with the two being the head of the school and the deputy.”

He said salary negotiations between Government and public sector workers should be expedited to break the impasse between the two parties.

Salary negotiations

As schools continue with the phased reopening, negotiations for a salary review for public sector workers will commence soon.

Public Service Commission secretary Ambassador Jonathan Wutawunashe said negotiations were ongoing through the National Joint Negotiating Council (NJNC).

“I was informed by the leader of the Government team that the two parties are now working on a suitable date to meet and continue with negotiations,” said Amb Wutawunashe.

“The negotiations will not be for teachers only but the whole civil service sector. That is why there has been a call for teachers to go to their respective stations while their grievances are being attended to.

“Other civil servants are going to work, so it is important for teachers’ unions to tell their members to be at work until finalisation of the negotiations.”

Schools reopened last month starting with examination classes – Grade 7, Form 4 and Upper Sixth – on 28 September. The rest of the classes will open on November 9.

Government recently released $600 million to fund the improvement of sanitation at schools and to enable them to reopen safely. The funds were used to procure PPE for use by learners and teachers.

South African rapper Cassper Nyovest (real name Refiloe Maele Phoolo) has mourned the death of Bulawayo based rapper Cal Vin (real name Mgcini Calvin Nhliziyo) who died this morning in Bulawayo after a hit and run driver of a White Mazda Familia car with no plates ran over him in the early hours of Sunday the 25th of October.

Cassper Nyovest took to Twitter to share his condolences for Cal Vin in a tweet that said Zimbabwe has lost a passionate artist. Tweeted the award-winning rapper:

Rest in peace big dawg. Sad news. Zimbabwe rap icon Cal Vin. What a passionate guy

Cassper in 2015 featured on Cal Vin’s song Zikhupan’ and the song was a chart-topper and also won the Song of the year award at the Zimbabwe Hip Hop Awards that same year.

Meanwhile, another rapper who died on 5 October M.O The Rapper ( real name Alvin Munondo)’s song M.O Mutema’s music video was released on YouTube today. M.O The rapper succumbed to injuries sustained during an accident on 5 October but his death only came to light on social media today.

Source: Twitter

The Thokozani Khupe led MDC-T has said all economic saboteurs must face the music saying continuous blaming of sanctions for economic collapse by the country’s leadership was not helpful.

It said a cocktail of past disastrous economic policies and “our own acts of omission and commission” are to the root cause for the meltdown.

In a statement to coincide with the second SADC Anti-Sanctions Day commemoration on 25 Sunday, the opposition lamented the suffering of the people and workers who are bearing the brunt of sanctions.

“Whist we call for the unconditional removal of sanctions, we also urge the government to address policy missteps and corruption, whose net effect on the economy may exceed the economic impact of sanctions,” Tapiwa Mashakada, MDC-T Secretary for Finance and Economic Affairs said.

He added “Economic saboteurs must be brought to book” without naming any.

Zanu PF is accused of using the sanctions mantra as an excuse for its economic failures.

The ruling party has always attributed economic, humanitarian and political crises in the country to sanctions which were imposed at the turn of the millennium following the controversial fast-track land reform.

Some say corruption which is rampant in the country is the leading factor choking efforts to revive the collapsed economy.

Western states including the United Kingdom, the United States and members of the European Union argue that the sanctions are measures meant to coerce Zimbabwe to return to constitutionalism, rule of law and good governance.

Mashakada called for “doubling of efforts” to remove sanctions saying ordinary Zimbabweans are suffering.

“As a pro-poor and labour backed party, the MDC-T laments the suffering of the people and workers who are bearing the brunt of sanctions.”

He added, “The economy is partly hamstrung by sanctions due to restrictions faced by corresponding banks and difficulties in accessing new capital as Zidera gives the United States of America veto powers on the Boards of the main Multi-Lateral bodies such as the IMF and World Bank.”

Mashakada said respect international law in its governance architecture was key in removal of sanctions.

“Finally let us desist from blaming sanctions for our own acts of omission and commission.

In calling for the unconditional removal of sanctions we must be honest and accept that some of the economic policies implemented in the past stoked inflation, the budget deficit, currency and exchange rate volatility. Let us fix the issues we control and not just mourn about sanctions.”

However, MDC-T credited itself through its late founding president and former Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai for a massive reduction of people on sanctions list.

“Through our contribution to the re-engagement efforts during the GNU (2009-2013), most travel restrictions were removed and to date, less than 3 people remain on the Sanctions travel ban list.

“Thanks to the wisdom of our late icon Dr Morgan Richard Tsvangirai who made a clarion call for the removal of what he called “all restrictive measures”.

Mashakada also claimed that his formation “fought” for a new Constitution in 2013 which now provides for compensation for developments on the land through the enactment of the US$3.5 billion Global Compensation Deed signed on 29 July between government and former farm owners.

The billion-dollar compensation agreement is expected to bring finality the emotive land issue as envisaged by the country’s constitution.

Source – cite.org

The Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi while in an interview with the Daily News President Mnangagwa offering firebrand opposition leader Nelson Chamisa the position of the leader of the opposition in parliament was just a rumor, Chamisa was never offered anything.

Ziyambi has been asked:

After the election, President Mnangagwa wanted to offer Chamisa that position.

And he responded and said:

I am not sure Chamisa was offered that position. People were simply discussing, but outside Parliament. Then we needed to change the legislation (because he was not an MP). But if he was an MP and leader of the opposition in Parliament, the Parliament has a provision to offer him that position.

Ziyambi also said lockdown restrictions were still in place and the MDC Alliance might not be able to protest as planned when he was asked:

Chamisa recently threatened to roll out protests against the government. Your response to that?

Ziyambi answered:

Our laws are sufficient to deal with them. If you want to protest, you give the necessary notices in terms of the Maintenance of the Peace and Order Bill, you follow the due process that is required.

But as far as I am concerned, because of the Covid-19 pandemic, there is a curfew and there are restrictions on movement.

I am not sure how he wants to protest without violating the laws and our security is on high alert to stop anyone who wants to violate the laws of this country.

Daily News

Paul Nyathi

The government of Zimbabwe recently spent millions of dollars on luxury cars for senior officials while complaining of sanctions and claiming to be the reason behind the deepening economic collapse that has plunged citizens into profound hardship.

The new cars, including dozens of Range Rovers and Toyota pick-up trucks worth more than $40,000, were distributed to ambassadors and senior civil servants.

Analysts say the move constitutes a new effort to shore up support for the government of President Emmerson Mnangagwa, who took power after the military coup that ousted Robert Mugabe in 2017.

Dozens of luxury models are also believed to have been distributed to senior army officers, while junior ranks have received more modest vehicles. The total cost has not been disclosed but some of the purchases have been confirmed by ministers in answers to parliamentarians.

Sibusiso Moyo, Zimbabwe’s foreign minister, told the parliamentary foreign affairs committee that new vehicles had been delivered to all Zimbabwe’s 50 diplomatic envoys and some other staff.

In another parliamentary hearing, the head of Zimbabwe’s health services board confirmed that commissioners recently took delivery of Range Rover Discoveries worth around $50,000 each. Paulinus Sikosana said the distribution was standard practice for senior bureaucrats.

Currently, thousands of nurses, doctors, and teachers are on strike in protest at working conditions, a lack of protective equipment and low salaries.

Mnangagwa has blamed the economic malaise on sanctions and some unnamed “political detractors”.

“What’s unusual about the expenditure [on luxury cars] is that it comes when the government is under siege financially. It looks like a desperate effort to scaffold their support. The real challenge for Mnangagwa is that the policy of patronage and plunder means significant reform is impossible,” said Piers Pigou, an analyst with the International Crisis Group.

Mwenezi East MP Joosbi Omar has passed on.

He died a few moments ago at Makurira Memorial Clinic in Masvingo reportedly from a diabetes-related complication.

More to follow….

https://youtu.be/ldKUD417Be8

Farai Dziva|The MDC Alliance is appealing for donations to assist jailed activist Terrence Manjengwa’s family.

Manjengwa was arrested for standing in solidarity with MDC Alliance vice chairperson Job Sikhala.

See the MDC Alliance statement below :

While Terrence Manjengwa is being incarcerated for a crime he didn’t commit ,we as his extended family must ensure that his wife and young daughter are taken care of.

Terrence’s daughter was born on the same day that his father was arrested, meaning everyday he is incarcerated is a day she gets older without seeing her father.

We all know the hardships that we Zimbabweans are going through day in day out , but it is even more difficult when the sole breadwinner is in prison.

With that in mind it is our duty to see to it that our incarcerated cadres family is well looked after .Lets be that big family that we are and see to it that Mother and Daughter are taken care of.

Below is the contact information of Terrence Manjengwa’s Wife Choice Mukwesha including Ecocash

Choice Mukwesha
+263771395548

Please lets help in any way we can be it in cash or in kind. Together we can do it as we have always done.

Thank you

FreeTerrenceManjengwa

ZimbabweanLivesMatter

MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa has refuted allegations by the ruling ZANU PF party that he campaigned for sanctions to be imposed on Zimbabwe.

Chamisa told The Standard in an interview that he is neither a god nor does he have powers to control the United States of America’s foreign policy. He said:

Chamisa is not a god, he is not a state that rapes people, abducts people. Chamisa is not billions of dollars that disappear.

Sponsored: Click here to buy NetOne, Telecel Airtime online using EcoCash

Chamisa is also not the one who manipulates the institutions of the state.

Don’t give me the powers that I don’t have. I don’t control Washington. I don’t have such powers.

The youthful opposition leader hit out at President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government, saying its rule is based on lies and deceptions.

That is why we have a senior government official holding a press conference to announce that Chamisa is training soldiers in (Moldova).

We have officialised lies in order to elevate foolish claims to the level of policy.-The Standard

By A Correspondent- Primary and Secondary Education Minister Ambassador Cain Mathema said as far as Government was concerned, teachers have reported for duty and reports claiming that there are schools without teachers were a figment of some people’s imagination.

This is despite reports indicating that a lot of schools across the country do not have teachers, who are boycotting classes to push for a salary review.

Said Mathema:

We are ready for the schools opening. There is no school where there are no teachers. If you know any please let us know.

Meanwhile, the National Association of School Heads (NASH) president Arthur Maphosa said though adequate PPE had been provided for all schools, the biggest challenge is that there are no adequate teachers.

Said Maphosa:

The biggest issue now is that there are no adequate teachers. Some mission schools have teachers because there were arrangements made between the schools and parents.

However, in rural and most public schools there are no teachers. At times the attendance register shows that only two out of 47 would have reported for duty, with the two being the head of the school and the deputy.

Schools reopened last month starting with examination classes – Grade 7, Form 4 and Upper Sixth – on 28 September.

Next year’s examination classes — Grade 6, Form 3 and Lower Sixth — will commence school tomorrow under the Phase Two reopening plan.

The rest of the classes will open on November 9.-statemedia

Watch the live video loading below…..

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=735211300397988&id=150154425045764

By Claris Magwenzi- Whistle blowers from ZIMPARKS have reported the wildlife authority to the Zimbabwe Anti Corruption Commission.

The reports are over irregular appointments of 7 top executives at the authority. The officials according to the leaked information include Timothy Kuguyo, Gift Kuora, Roseline Mandisodza and Arthur Musakwa among others. 

Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority has corruption scandals which have remained hidden from the face of the public. 

Part of the report read:

“At the core of the corruption syndicate at Zimparks is a group of incompetent and corrupt elements who were corruptly hired and promoted to further personal causes.  Edward Chitiyo is currently an Economist Zimparks , he was appointed from outside the authority at D1 Level under the Business Development Unit.

No interviews were done, no advert was flighted, he was upgraded to D3 following an instruction from Board Vice Chair-Mrs Mpamhanga.

The position was not on the organizational structure, it was introduced from nowhere, and the grading justification was also flawed. Chitiyo was allegedly in a questionable relationship with  Mrs Mpamhanga. Chitiyo wanted to become the Business Development Manager (BDM) at grade D5.

To further this cause Chitiyo catalyzed the dismissal of the then BDM (Mr Gregory Nyaguse) because he had commented and red flagged Chitiyo’s relationship with Mrs Mpamhanga to Chitiyo in a peer discussion.

There were allegations that Nyaguse was loyal to Chidziya therefore he had to be removed despite good performance, Chidziya had to be removed even though he had not done wrong or dismissible offense. 

During that time Mrs Tom was Acting Director Commercial Services on appointment of Mrs Mpamhanga and she joined hands with Chitiyo. Together they orchestrated the dismissal of Chidziya with the support of Minister Muchinguri who had business interests through Afro Jumbo. 

Nyaguse had charged Afro Jumbo for not handling an event well and fired the entity. 
Fainos Chuma, Corporate Secretary Appointed from outside at D3 Level as Heard of the Legal Services Unit and Cooperate Secretary.

 He was out competed by other prospective but still imposed by the previous Board and DG Chidziya’s directives he was therefore unfairly recruited. Chuma has had consistent performance and capacity issues since he joined ZIMPARKS.

ZIMPARKS is said to have incurred several costs and losses from the appointment of Chuma which has not benefited ZIMPARKS in any manner or form. 

Chuma is accussed of being involved in confidential information leaks involving the flawed recruitment of the Director Conservation, which resulted in his demotion to grade D4 reporting to Mtetwa who was his immediate subordinate. 

Due to his lack of capacity, the Authority was left with no option but to separate the Legal Services and Corporate functions from his portfolio With the coming in of the Mpamhanga Board, Chuma was upgraded back to grade D5 and Mtetwa was also appointed to grade D5.”

Efforts to get a comment from ZimParks was an ongoing process by the time of writing.

This is a developing story. Refresh this page for latest updates

By A Correspondent- The National Joint Negotiating Council (NJNC) is set to convene soon for the resumption of negotiations for a salary review for public sector workers.

Public Service Commission (PSC) secretary Ambassador Jonathan Wutawunashe has therefore urged teachers to return to work while their grievances are being attended to.

Said Wutaunashe:

I was informed by the leader of the Government team that the two parties are now working on a suitable date to meet and continue with negotiations.

The negotiations will not be for teachers only but the whole civil service sector. That is why there has been a call for teachers to go to their respective stations while their grievances are being attended to.

Other civil servants are going to work, so it is important for teachers’ unions to tell their members to be at work until the finalisation of the negotiations.

Teachers have been on strike since schools reopened on 28 September when examination classes – Grade 7, Form 4 and Upper Sixth – resumed lessons.

Meanwhile, next year’s examination classes — Grade 6, Form 3 and Lower Sixth — will commence school tomorrow under the Phase Two reopening plan, with the rest of the classes scheduled to open on November 9.-statemedia

By A Correspondent- Matopo High School outside Bulawayo has advised parents not to send more children to the school while investigations are being carried out on the death of one learner at the school in what is suspected to have been Covid-19 related.

A memorandum circulated to parents and made available to ZimEye.com indicates that the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education gave the school a waiver not to receive the returning form 3 and Lower Six learners until the death is fully investigated.

Below is the circular memo written by the school to all learners:

Good Evening Parents. As Head of the school I have been making consultations with Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education on Phase 2 Opening of schools. In light of the untimely death of one of our Learners, l wish to officially inform you that, The Permanent Secretary of Education in the Ministry has granted Matopo High school a waiver to open schools on Wednesday 28 October 2020 pending the outcome of the postmortem results of our dearly departed Learner. Therefore, there will be no traveling of Learners tomorrow (Sunday), 25th October 2020,until Clearance has been granted. Any delay in sending this important message is sincerely regretted.Sibanda G(Head)

By A Correspondent- Primary and Secondary Education Minister Ambassador Cain Mathema said as far as Government was concerned, teachers have reported for duty and reports claiming that there are schools without teachers were a figment of some people’s imagination.

This is despite reports indicating that a lot of schools across the country do not have teachers, who are boycotting classes to push for a salary review.

Said Mathema:

We are ready for the schools opening. There is no school where there are no teachers. If you know any please let us know.

Meanwhile, the National Association of School Heads (NASH) president Arthur Maphosa said though adequate PPE had been provided for all schools, the biggest challenge is that there are no adequate teachers.

Said Maphosa:

The biggest issue now is that there are no adequate teachers. Some mission schools have teachers because there were arrangements made between the schools and parents.

However, in rural and most public schools there are no teachers. At times the attendance register shows that only two out of 47 would have reported for duty, with the two being the head of the school and the deputy.

Schools reopened last month starting with examination classes – Grade 7, Form 4 and Upper Sixth – on 28 September.

Next year’s examination classes — Grade 6, Form 3 and Lower Sixth — will commence school tomorrow under the Phase Two reopening plan.

The rest of the classes will open on November 9.-statemedia

PASSPORT APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS: CLARIFICATION ON PASSPORT PHOTO SPECIFICATIONS

It has come to the attention of the Consul General that most passport photos which are being submitted by our valued clients for passport application purposes are being rejected for failure to meet the minimum standards for a passport application photo.

The Consul General has also received numerous complaints from clients, voicing their strong suspicion that their photos were being rejected because they were not obtained from the Consulate’s “preferred source”.

The Office of the Consul General hereby provides the following clarification:

1. The Consulate does not have a preferred/chosen photographer. As such, clients are free to decide on where to
   obtain their passport photographs.
2. The Consulate is not affiliated/connected to any photographer(s) within and without the South Africa borders. Consequently, the institution has no interest in dictating where passport photographs should be obtained.

As a way of ensuring transparency and accountability in judgements relating to the suitability of passports photos, the Consulate has introduced a “Passport Photo Rejection Clearance Form aimed at allowing a review of each decision before finalisation

• Neutral facial expression with the mouth must shut. (Smiling, frowning or raised eyebrows not acceptable).
• The photos must be printed on high quality, smooth paper and non-glossy paper.

FOR INFANTS

In addition to the above specifications,

• The child’s eyes and ears must be clearly visible. Do not photograph infants and new-borns when they are asleep:

• The child must be alone in his/her passport photo;
• Headwear is not allowed;

Clients are welcome to loge their complaints via a dedicated email: [email protected] in cases where they are convinced that the passport photo rejection process has been biased.

Clients should remember to have the rejected photo signed at the back as substantiating evidence.

The Consulate would like to take this opportunity to remind our valued clients NOT TO CERTIFY in advance copies of documents to be used for the various applications as these will not be accepted.

N.B. Before the appointment, please visit our website: www.zimbabweconsulate.co.za for comprehensive information relating application requires for all consular services.

Clients should be guided accordingly.

CONSUL GENERAL

ZIM-JOHANNESBURG

These are some of the bean packs which Auxillia Mnangagwa gave schools in CHIMANIMANI. Many of them are are rotten – "Dzimwe dzacho dzakasangana nedzakatoshata" as can be seen.
Is this not food poisoning @Jamwanda2? What's govt done now @nickmangwana ? pic.twitter.com/VhAXFnBuKu

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) October 25, 2020

Paul Nyathi

City of Harare main water treatment plant, Morton Jaffray Waterworks, which were was shut down couple of days ago due to shortage of aluminium sulphate has been reopened.

Council last week sent out a notice that its main supplier has raised a red flag appealing for financial assistance to import 1 000 tonnes of the commodity.

In another notice on Sunday morning the City indicated that the waterworks had resumed operations.

Tweeted the capital city’s authority:

Dear Residents
We have resumed operations at Morton Jaffray. By 0630 hrs we had 2 pumps to Letombo from Warren Control Pumpstation. Pepsi, Mbare and Sunningdale should be getting water now with situation expected to "normalize" in the next 24-36 hrs as chemical supplies improve

— City of Harare (@cohsunshinecity) October 25, 2020

Standard

MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa yesterday said the government was using sanctions to divert Zimbabweans’ attention from its failure to deliver on promises to improve citizens’ lives.

The government last night organised a virtual gala to ostensibly put pressure on western countries to lift the sanctions imposed nearly two decades ago.

Last year a similar rally held at the

60 000-seater National Sports Stadium attracted a paltry crowd of 7 000 people despite the government dangling food to the revellers.

Chamisa told The Standard in an interview that last night’s event and the government’s campaign against sanctions through the public media was a distraction.

“Zimbabweans should take the day as an opportunity to imagine a better future without hunger, poverty, police brutality, abductions, and corruption,” he said.

“It’s a collective task for every Zimbabwean to imagine a Zimbabwe without the vices of bad governance from the current government.”

He added: “This should be a day of intercession, pastors, bishops and priests should reflect on the real source of the problems Zimbabweans face.

“It should be a solidarity day to the suffering of Zimbabweans and victimised citizens.”

Zimbabwe has been facing its worst economic crisis in a decade characterised by high prices of goods, liquidity challenges, increased poverty levels as well as unemployment.

Mnangagwa and his ruling party have blamed the sanctions for the problems.

When he came to power, Mnangagwa said sanctions should never be used as a scapegoat for failure.

But two months as president, Mnangagwa changed course when the economy deteriorated and started blaming the sanctions for the meltdown.

His party has also accused Chamisa and one of his deputies, Tendai Biti, of inviting the sanctions.

Mnangagwa’s government has lobbied the Southern African Development Community and the African Union to back its anti-sanctions call.

Chamisa, however, said the biggest challenges facing Zimbabwe today included “bad governance, corruption, illegitimacy of the government emanating from a stolen mandate and not sanctions”.

He said Zanu PF was good at explaining causes of problems, and not solutions because it was aware that sanctions were not the major source of the country’s problems.

“Jingles, slogans, adverts, galas, protests will not solve the problem. It is high time Sadc should wake up and smell the coffee,” Chamisa said.

“Let Sadc see its own Zimbabwe without problems.

“Let Sadc do a reality check or it risks being irrelevant to the African problem.”

He added: “Sadc should remove the tinted glasses and have a proper reflection of Zimbabwe.

“Everything is not rosy and Sadc should not see celebratory fireworks where there is a dangerous fire. Sadc should not be part of the problem, but the solution.

“Cheering madness is dangerous because the madness will also affect you as a neighbour.

“You don’t cure a disease by lying to yourself.”

Chamisa dismissed charges that he and his party campaigned for the sanctions.

“Chamisa is not a god, he is not a state that rapes people, abducts people. Chamisa is not billions of dollars that disappear,” he charged.

“Chamisa is also not the one who manipulates the institutions of the state.

“Don’t give me the powers that I don’t have. I don’t control Washington. I don’t have such powers.”

He said Mnangagwa’s government’s rule was based on lies and deceptions.

“That is why we have a senior government official holding a press conference to announce that Chamisa is training soldiers in (Moldova),” Chamisa added.

“We have officialised lies in order to elevate foolish claims to the level of policy.”

Meanwhile, Chamisa said he was not losing sleep over manoeuvres by the Thokozani Khupe-led MDC-T to decimate his MDC Alliance.

Mnangagwa last week formally recognised Khupe as the official leader of the opposition after the former deputy prime minister sneaked back into Parliament under controversial circumstances.

“I don’t have time for Khupe and Douglas Mwonzora (interim MDC-T secretary-general),” Chamisa said.

“I know they are simply playing a script handed to them by Zanu PF, enforced by captured institutions.

“They are going nowhere. In fact, they are history. People always settle political disputes.”

Khupe is using a Supreme Court ruling that said she was the legitimate interim leader of the MDC-T after she was elbowed out in the battle to succeed the late Morgan Tsvangirai by Chamisa.

The MDC Alliance, however, insists that it broke ranks with Khupe before the 2018 elections and she has no right to take over legislators and councillors of a party that defeated her in the polls.

A suspected armed robber was shot dead on Friday night in Esigodini after attempting to attack police details who were effecting an arrest on him.

The suspected robber, identified as Mbekezeli Nxumalo (38) of Ntabende Village under Chief Sigola in Esigodini, was shot dead after pulling out a machete from a vehicle and attempting to attack police. Nxumalo was in the company of Gracious Moyo (35) and Prince Mpofu (21) of the same village when they were approached by police but his accomplices surrendered while Nxumalo sought to attack the security details.

National police spokesman Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the incident yesterday. Asst Comm Nyathi said police received a report of a robbery on Friday morning from a female complainant who said she had been accosted by four men in a black Toyota Corolla who robbed her of two cellphones, a Mobicell and Itel A56, a torch, a hand pump and an amplifier, all worth US$395.

“Police went to search for the suspects and as they were at Ntabende Business Centre they met the second complainant, a man who gave them the description of the same vehicle and said he had been robbed of US$1 300 and R250 in cash, a gold scale, a torch, a Hisense cellphone, a Tecno phone, a Huawei phone, a solar light and a gold scale,” he said.

Asst Comm Nyathi said the police continued their search and came across the described vehicle at night but the suspects took off upon being confronted by the police. He said officers gave chase and shot the rear left tyre forcing the vehicle to stop.

“Upon stopping, two suspects disembarked from the vehicle with their hands up and as the police approached the vehicle the driver emerged with a machete in his hand, leading the police to shoot him and he died on the spot,” said Asst Comm Nyathi.

Police recovered the vehicle, car registration vehicle number, AAU 3360, which Asst Comm Nyathi said turned out to be a fake plate as a search confirmed it was for another vehicle. Police also recovered was a machete, axe, catapult, a nine-pound hammer and a chisel, which are believed to have been used to commit various crimes.

According to community members who talked to Sunday News, the two arrested suspects revealed they were operating with a fourth suspect who is still at large and is the one who took possession of the stolen property.

They said there has bee a worrying trend of crime in the area in the past five days that has seen a number of criminal acts being committed that included rape, assaults, armed robbery and attempted murder.

Community leader Mr Luckson Mnkandla of Ntabende Village said they were happy with the apprehension of the suspects as there had been an upsurge in the number of violent crimes taking place within the areas.

“Several villagers have been victims of the armed robberies and it was a worrying trend for us. We hope the police manage to deal with these criminals as people were now afraid to even stay in their own homes,” he said.

Government says it is prepared for the second phase of the schools opening on Monday which will see pupils in Grade Six, Form Three and Lower Sixth classes going back to school following nearly seven months since schools closed due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

In an interview, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Monica Mutsvangwa said Government had put in place necessary measures to ensure the phased reopening of schools goes well, despite challenges brought about by Covid-19.

Minister Mutsvangwa said the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education was working tirelessly to ensure that schools open and that pupils receive the best education under the circumstances.

“Schools are already open for exam classes that is the Grade Sevens, Form Fours and Upper Sixth. They are now preparing to write examinations. When it comes to the second phase of schools opening on the 26th (October), the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education has been working on full throttle to make sure that the Form Threes, Lower Sixth and Grade Sixes, they all commence, and all the other classes will start on the 9th of November.

“We have made sure as a Government that we provide education to our children in spite of the Covid-19 pandemic. There has been a lot of preparation done to make sure that we put all the measures in place to contain the spread of this Covid-19,” she said.

Primary and Secondary Education Minister Ambassador Cain Mathema said as far as Government was concerned the teachers were at their respective schools. He said there were no schools where teachers have not reported for duty.

“We are ready for the schools opening. There is no school where there are no teachers. If you know any please let us know,” he said.

This is despite some teachers threatening to boycott lessons in an effort to push for a salary review. Minister of Public Service and Social Welfare Professor Paul Mavima said Government has remained committed to address the realistic concerns of teachers.

Meanwhile, Government will this week ramp up monitoring of teacher attendance in schools in order to assess staffing gaps and determine areas that need additional educators to cover for those not reporting for duty. Provincial and district education officers will intensify daily assessments of teachers’ attendance registers at schools in order to establish staffing gaps which could be covered by hiring more teachers.

Already, Government has recruited 2 300 teachers, with an additional 3 000 to be added to ensure Standard Health Operating Procedures are effected properly. The monitoring will also allow authorities to evaluate the extent to which this year’s syllabus has been covered and the methods that can be deployed to help pupils catch up.

Standard

President Emmerson Mnangagwa has given in to demands by traditional leaders, who want the government to take a back seat in the exhumation and reburial of victims of army atrocities.

Mnangagwa, who made the concession after meeting chiefs from Matabeleland and Midlands provinces in Bulawayo yesterday, initially wanted the government to take a leading role in the process targeting victims of the 5th Brigade buried in mass graves and mineshafts across the two provinces.

The meeting was a follow-up to another one he held with the chiefs in June 2019.

According to resolutions by the traditional leaders in consultative meetings in their areas of jurisdiction, the government cannot take a leading role in the reburials.

The chiefs also expressed frustration over endless consultative meetings without any involvement of the victims of the atrocities, commonly known as Gukurahundi.

“Going forward, his Excellency undertook

to meet the national chiefs’ council led by Chief Charumbira next week to frame details on the next steps in moving the matter forward and also to provide comprehensive responses to ancillary issues raised by the chiefs in respect to their areas of jurisdiction and in their regions,” Local Government minister July Moyo said.

Moyo had earlier presented the chiefs’ position in the closed-door meeting with Mnangagwa.

“The consensus that emerged from the two reports (by chiefs Siansali and Nyangazonke) was that in addressing the issue of exhumations and reburials, care should be taken to respect different customs of each area and community,” he said.

“To that end, issues of exhumations and reburials should be led and guided by chiefs as the custodians of customs and culture in their areas of jurisdictions.”

Matabeleland North and South traditional leaders were represented by Chief Siansali and Chief Nyangazonke respectively.

Mnangagwa was already under pressure from pressure groups, victims and other activists against his involvement in the exercise as they argued he was conflicted since he was State Security minister at the time of the massacres.

He was also taken to the High Court in August by Ibhetshu LikaZulu pressure group, the opposition Zapu and Gukurahundi victim Charles Thomas, who also protested the same.

The High Court, however, ruled against them.

Last year, Mnangagwa also attracted the anger of Gukurahundi survivors following announcements that the government would fast-track exhumations of Gukurahundi victims.

Bulawayo-based Ukuthula Trust, an independent body of forensic archaeologists and forensic anthropologists, has also argued that families and not the state have a say in the exhumation and reburial of Gukurahundi victims.

Ukuthula Trust has exhumed scores of Gukurahundi victims since the late 90s.

In 2019, Ukuthula Trust exhumed the bodies of Justin Tshuma and Thembi Ngwenya in Tsholotsho’s Enkwalini community, who were killed by the Fifth Brigade in March 1983.

Ukuthula Trust has, however, said only a few thousand, if not hundreds, of remains of Gukurahundi victims can be exhumed as others lie in mass graves and mine shafts where exhumations are problematic and near impossible under international norms and standards.

Correspondent

Suspended Zimbabwe Republic Police Criminal Investigation Department (CID) director Crispen Charumbira has been charged with defeating the course of justice after he allegedly ordered the release of an illegal gold dealer, who had been arrested by his subordinates.

Charumbira, who appeared before Harare magistrate Vongai Muchuchuti yesterday, was granted $10 000 bail and remanded to November 11 pending trial.

Allegations are that sometime in June 2019 detectives from the minerals unit arrested one David Mucheche in Mutare for contravening a section of the Gold Trade Act after he was found in possession of gold without a licence.

The detectives allegedly escorted Mucheche to Mutare Central Police Station and on arrival the detectives briefed their officer in charge Inspector Felix Machaka about the arrest.

It is alleged that while briefing Machaka one David Crobsy entered the office talking on the phone and he handed it to Machaka advising him that Charumbira wanted to talk to him.

Prosecutors alleged that Charumbira unlawfully directed Machaka to release Mucheche without confirmation of existence of a licence, recording the exhibit in any official book and without pressing any changes against him as well as not ordering the return of the gold to Mucheche.

It is alleged that Machaka complied with the order and the suspect was released.

Charumbira’s instructions were allegedly unlawful, according to the state.

The CID boss was arrested by the Special Anti-Corruption Unit (Sacu) last month after his subordinates alleged that he was interfering with their duties by protecting drug and gold dealers after accepting bribes.

One of the cases involves Crosby from Mutare, who is a suspected illegal gold dealer.

Charumbira’s subordinates claim that sometime in April last year he foiled a raid on Crosby after he was allegedly bribed.

Sacu said it was still investigating a number of other allegations against the top cop.

It has been one year since the Summit of Heads of State and Government of the
Southern African Development Community (SADC) declared 25th October as the day for SADC to campaign as a region for the unconditional removal of sanctions imposed on the Republic of Zimbabwe.

While significant progress has been made since the decision was made in 2019,
Zimbabwe remains under sanctions that significantly undermine the country’s capacity to respond to socio-economic challenges that include three successive droughts; recovery from the effects of Tropical Cyclone Idai; poor access to affordable lines of credit on the global market; and servicing of her debt obligations. The prevailing COVID-19 pandemic has further placed serious constraints on the Government of Zimbabwe’s ability to fund programmes, as well as investments in key economic sectors. SADC, therefore, reiterates the call for these sanctions to be unconditionally lifted for Zimbabwe to improve the livelihoods of her citizens, and develop unhindered.

We are encouraged that SADC’s call has received some attention, and as such we
applaud the recent call by the United Nations Secretary General, Dr. Antonio Guterres, and the UN Human Rights Commission, for the removal of unilateral coercive measures, as they have significant negative impacts on access to COVID-19 prevention measures and post recovery efforts. We welcome the pertinent conclusions and recommendations of the Report of the Special Rapporteur on the negative impact of unilateral coercive measures on the enjoyment of human rights, which also found out that countries targeted by unilateral sanctions are constrained in their quest to effectively respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.

We are acutely aware that the continuation of sanctions not only impacts negatively on socio-economic progress in Zimbabwe, but also on the attainment of the SADC Vision 2050, the African Union Agenda 2063 and ultimately the 2030 United Nations Agenda for Sustainable Development.

As SADC, we fully support the very constructive re-engagement dialogue between the Republic of Zimbabwe and her global partners, including those that have maintained sanctions on Zimbabwe. We call on all progressive forces to lend diplomatic, political and moral support to the re-engagement efforts.

As the world grapples with containing the COVID-19 pandemic, and mobilizing
resources aimed at building resilient economies, it is important to observe the
collective resolve that has been built to ensure that everybody is on board, in line with the UN Member States’ pledge to ensure no one is left behind. For SADC as a region, the call for the unconditional removal of sanctions assumes even greater importance.

It is not just a solidarity call in support of Zimbabwe, but also a clarion call for justice, fairness and full enjoyment of human rights. The sanctions are no longer relevant, and are detrimental to the socio-economic development and self-determination of Zimbabweans.

On a very encouraging and positive note, SADC notes with satisfaction the resolve of the Government of the Republic of Zimbabwe, and of His Excellency President Emmerson Mnangagwa, to continue implementing reforms aimed at stabilising the economy and the financial sector. Furthermore, we continue to witness political and legislative reforms that have seen, among others, the Public Order and Security Act (POSA); Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act (AIPPA); and the Indigenization and Economic Empowerment Act being repealed, and efforts to align
legislation with the Constitution of Zimbabwe. The recently concluded landmark Global Compensation Deed Agreement, signed between the Government of Zimbabwe and former farm-owners, is evidence of the Government’s commitment to address the contentious issues emanating from the land reform programme, which was introduced to redress historical land inequalities that existed along racial and class lines. Such developments are evidence that Zimbabwe is on a positive trajectory, and the lifting of sanctions will accelerate the realisation of positive milestones.

As we celebrate the 75th Anniversary since the establishment of our community of nations, the United Nations, let us also draw inspiration from our Charter and this year’s theme, “The Future We Want, The United Nations We Need”, and remain faithful to our global commitment to leave no one behind.

Sanctions without UN approval are a violation of our Charter and run against the spirit of multilateralism. As SADC, we reaffirm the urgency of the removal of all sanctions imposed on the Republic
of Zimbabwe. The sanctions must be removed now for the good of the region and the world.

Opposition MDC Alliance leader, Nelson Chamisa has dismissed the rival MDC-T faction leaders Dr Thokozani Khupe and Douglas Mwonzora saying accusing them of playing handed to them by the ruling Zanu PF.

He made the remarks during an interview with a local weekly, The Standard.

Chamisa said both Mwonzora and Khupe were political history as the arbitrators of politics, the people had overwhelmingly rejected their project.

“I don’t have time for Khupe and Douglas Mwonzora (interim MDC-T secretary-general),” Chamisa said.

“I know they are simply playing a script handed to them by Zanu PF, enforced by captured institutions.

“They are going nowhere. In fact, they are history. People always settle political disputes.” he added.

By Jane Mlambo| Opposition MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa has scoffed at the Zanu PF sponsored anti-sanctions e-gala saying the real issues that need to be address are well known to the state though they chose to believe their own lies.

In an interview with a local weekly, The Standard, Chamisa said he is not responsible for the abduction and rape of people to be accused of causing the imposition of sanctions on the country.

“Chamisa is not a god, he is not a state that rapes people, abducts people. Chamisa is not billions of dollars that disappear,” he said.

Chamisa said he had no control over what Washington decides on Zimbabwe.

“Chamisa is also not the one who manipulates the institutions of the state.

“Don’t give me the powers that I don’t have. I don’t control Washington. I don’t have such powers.” he added.

With all the pomp of a national function, Emmerson Mnangagwa had a kiss of reality Saturday evening when a paltry 14 people turned up to watch his Anti Sanctions Gig.

What is usually a major attendance of music lovers suffered defeat even during the first hour with numbers fast dropping further below.

“Vaharai doti renyu mhani,” one viewer wrote to the ZANU PF Facebook page at around 5pm on Saturday

Emmerson Mnangagwa has set aside October 25 as the Anti Sanctions Day, to protest against the western sanctions slapped on him and his close clique since 2002 over gross human rights violations. But he has not cared this address his own sanctions against the entire population of Zimbabwe since 1983 when he announced that anyone who sides with protesters must be killed using DDT fumigation poison. Video below

MNANGAGWA'S ANTI SANCTIONS GALLA https://t.co/rnxPwCXAJQ

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) October 24, 2020

THE Government is prepared for the second phase of the schools opening tomorrow which will see pupils in Grade Six, Form Three and Lower Sixth classes going back to school following nearly seven months since schools closed due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

In an interview, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Monica Mutsvangwa said Government had put in place necessary measures to ensure the phased reopening of schools goes well, despite challenges brought about by Covid-19.

Minister Mutsvangwa said the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education was working tirelessly to ensure that schools open and that pupils receive the best education under the circumstances.

“Schools are already open for exam classes that is the Grade Sevens, Form Fours and Upper Sixth. They are now preparing to write examinations. When it comes to the second phase of schools opening on the 26th (October), the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education has been working on full throttle to make sure that the Form Threes, Lower Sixth and Grade Sixes, they all commence, and all the other classes will start on the 9th of November.

“We have made sure as a Government that we provide education to our children in spite of the Covid-19 pandemic. There has been a lot of preparation done to make sure that we put all the measures in place to contain the spread of this Covid-19,” she said.

Primary and Secondary Education Minister Ambassador Cain Mathema said as far as Government was concerned the teachers were at their respective schools. He said there were no schools where teachers have not reported for duty.

“We are ready for the schools opening. There is no school where there are no teachers. If you know any please let us know,” he said.

This is despite some teachers threatening to boycott lessons in an effort to push for a salary review. Minister of Public Service and Social Welfare Professor Paul Mavima said Government has remained committed to address the realistic concerns of teachers.

Meanwhile, Government will this week ramp up monitoring of teacher attendance in schools in order to assess staffing gaps and determine areas that need additional educators to cover for those not reporting for duty. Provincial and district education officers will intensify daily assessments of teachers’ attendance registers at schools in order to establish staffing gaps which could be covered by hiring more teachers.

Already, Government has recruited 2 300 teachers, with an additional 3 000 to be added to ensure Standard Health Operating Procedures are effected properly. The monitoring will also allow authorities to evaluate the extent to which this year’s syllabus has been covered and the methods that can be deployed to help pupils catch up.

-State Media

By Jane Mlambo| Former Zanu PF politburo member Professor Jonathan Moyo has hit at the Supreme Court ruling that ordered the opposition MDC factions led by Nelson Chamisa and Thokozani Khupe to go back to its 2014 status and elect the late Morgan Tsvangirai successor, calling it an absurdity as it tried to retrieve a party that had died with its leader on the 14th of February 2018.

Posting a thread on Twitter, Professor Moyo said the courts should have accepted that with Tsvangirai dead and Khupe and Chamisa having contested separately, MDC-Tsvangirai was water under the bridge which cannot be retrieved.

“The situation that the MDC-Tsvangirai should go back to its 2014 structures, and proceed from there to reconstruct itself without Morgan Tsvangirai is an absurdity. That this absurdity has been enabled by a Supreme Court judgment is a tragedy. A court must not cause an absurdity!

“What aggravates the absurdity & exposes the dirty tricks is that the Supreme Court agreed that, with Tsvangirai dead; Khupe & Chamisa having contested in the 2018 elections separately, the MDC-Tsvangirai party was water under the bridge. And no new bridge can retrieve that water!

“Given the Supreme Court judgment on the absurd resurrection of the MDC-Tsvangirai, when it had become water under the bridge, I feel for Advocate @nelsonchamisa. In Mnangagwa’s rogue regime, one can’t be an officer of the court and an effective opposition leader at the same time,” said Moyo.

MASVINGO residents have written to the city council demanding that the local authority take action, within seven days, to address the proliferation of illegal gold miners at the Target Kopje Hills whose activities are affecting the city’s water supplies and nearby residential properties.

Through the Masvingo United Residents and Ratepayers Association (MURRA), the residents said in a letter dated 16 October 2020, council should quickly move in to stop the illegal mining activities in the area or be dragged to court.

Through its lawyers, Mutendi, Mudisi and Shumba, MURRA said the mining activities were damaging the water reservoirs and contaminating purified water stored in the tanks before being distributed to the city suburbs.

Residents in areas near the hills that include, Target Kopje, Hillside Extension, Mucheke B popularly known as Majange and Mucheke C have complained that the constant blasting of explosives by the miners is damaging their properties.

“It is also common cause that the water reservoir tanks that store water supply for the whole City of Masvingo are located at the said area. We are informed that the said water storage tanks have a capacity of more or less 10 million litres.

If these illegal miners are not stopped the water reservoir tanks may end up bursting which will culminate in flooding and destruction of structures,” reads part of the letter.

The residents said the illegal gold panners are using dangerous chemicals such as cyanide and mercury which are also dangerous if they pollute the water.

“We give you seven days to address the above issue or to sit down with our client and unpack your strategic plan on how you intend to stop the illegal mining activities. If either of the above is not done within seven working days calculated from the date of this letter our client may be forced to approach the courts for relief.”-The Sunday News

GOVERNMENT will this week ramp up monitoring of teacher attendance in schools to assess staffing gaps and determine areas that need additional educators to cover for those not reporting for duty.

Next year’s examination classes — Grade 6, Form 3 and Lower Sixth — will commence school tomorrow under the Phase Two reopening plan.

Provincial and district education officers will intensify daily assessments of teachers’ attendance registers at schools to establish staffing gaps which could be covered by hiring more teachers.

Already, Government has recruited 2 300 teachers, with an additional 3 000 to ensure Standard Health Operating Procedures are effected properly.

The monitoring will allow authorities to evaluate the extent to which this year’s syllabus has been covered and the methods that can be deployed to help pupils catch up.

Minister of Primary and Secondary Education Cain Mathema told The Sunday Mail that all schools are adequately prepared for reopening.

The Ministry’s communication and advocacy director Mr Taungana Ndoro said monitoring will allow authorities to assess gaps in staffing levels.

“There have been daily assessments going on and are still ongoing.

“We anticipate the number of pupils attending school to increase as more classes open,” said Mr Ndoro.

“We seek to establish gaps in terms of human resources so that regulations such as social distancing can be properly implemented. However, in terms of preparation, schools are ready to open on Monday.”-The Sunday Mail

Teachers’ unions have described as “daylight robbery” Government’s approval of a steep hike in school fees, a development which was confirmed by Primary and Secondary Education Minister Cain Mathema.

The latest school fees increases will see some pupils at boarding and urban day high schools forking out in excess of $55 000 up from $6 000 and $20 000 up from $3 000 per term, respectively.

Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ) president Takavafira Zhou said the fees were certainly beyond the reach of many parents, particularly civil servants.

He said:
Our position is that parents must stop paying fees until teachers and government find each other over teachers’ welfare, health and safety.

Sending kids to school when teachers are not teaching is a waste of time; the fees are certainly beyond the reach of many parents, particularly teachers.

Mathema asserted that the fees hikes had been approved after no parent formally raised objections with his ministry.

However, parents who spoke to NewsDay said school heads just presented them with figures to choose from and the process was not clear at all.

Zhou said some school heads manipulated the parents by giving them inflated figures to choose from and in some cases school heads bribe education officials to have their fees approved.

Said Zhou:
… school heads have learnt ways of cutting corners and even get government approval of fees without following appropriate procedures.

Heads manipulate attendance registers so that they are presented as consent over a figure that even parents would have shot down, while in some cases, heads bribe authorities at the provincial level to get fees approvals.

Some fees are even unilateral, pegged by schools without input from parents.-NewsDay

Farai Dziva|The MDC Alliance has said the swearing in of Thokozani Khupe as leader of the opposition in Parliament is a gross violation of democratic processes.

In a statement the MDC Alliance denounced manoeuvres by Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration to suppress the will of the people.

See full statement below:

FULL TEXT: MDC-A Communiqué On National Council Meeting

OCTOBER 24, 2020

On the 23rd of October 2020, the National Council of the MDC Alliance met in accordance with the party’s constitution.

The following matters were tabled for deliberation:

1. Livelihoods: The National Council received reports from all provinces on the deepening crisis of poverty in all provinces that has been caused by Zanu PF’s bad governance.

Teachers, doctors and nurses are incapacitated due to wage erosion and the worsening economic crisis.

Reports were also received of the politicization of Covid-19 food aid and Pfumvudza program assistance.

Most provinces are suffering from the continued hunger crisis and a lack of inputs for the upcoming agricultural season.

2. Human Security and Bad Governance Crisis: The National Council was briefed on the continued rise of abduction cases in all provinces where MDC Alliances leaders and pro-democracy activists are being routinely targeted.

There is also a coordinated weaponization of the law by the State where MDC Alliance members and pro-democracy activists have been arrested and detained on spurious charges in an attempt to silence their criticism of the government.

3. Recalls of Elected Representatives: The National Council received a comprehensive briefing on the capture of state institutions that have been used to fraudulently elevate Ms Khupe to Parliament and recall duly elected Members of Parliament and local government representatives in a clear breach of the will of the people.

The Council noted its strong displeasure with these unconstitutional acts and the continued onslaught on the will of the people.

The recalled MDC Alliance officials remain committed to serving the people notwithstanding what has transpired.

4. By-Elections: Preparations for by-elections are at an advanced stage. The Council received a detailed elections report.

All systems are in place to ensure that the party is well-positioned to carry out its mandate in respect of the people.

The demand for a free, fair and credible electoral process that accords with the constitutional standard and for the wholesale reform of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission and the electoral playing field were re-affirmed.

5. Health of the Party: The National Council took note of the sound health of the party as all branches and structures are solid and growing.

The strategic focus shall be directed towards energizing the basis with a particular emphasis on the rural strategy.

Action will be taken on implementing programmes centred around the party’s big fights, namely, the fight for the return to legitimacy and democracy, the fight for a people’s Government, the fight against corruption, the fight for better livelihoods and the fight in defence of the Constitution and Constitutionalism.

Attention will be devoted to renewing the institutional and administrative capacity of the party as well as developing modern, data-driven protocols and systems that are in tune with the demands of the communities the party serves.

The party will update all policies in line with the changing realities and new
threats and emerging opportunities.

The National Council committed to remaining unwavering in championing the cause of the Zimbabwean people, being the legitimate voice of the suffering masses and leading a broad front to confront Zanu PF in the fight to win Zimbabwe for change.

Fadzayi Mahere

National Spokesperson

Farai Dziva| A critical shortage of water has hit communities in Zaka.

Water points are dry while boreholes need to be fixed as a matter of urgency.

Speaking during a feedback meeting facilitated by Community Tolerance Reconciliation and Development (COTRAD) in ward 18, villagers said they had been reduced to water scavengers.

The situation is getting worse owing to lack of repair and maintenance of boreholes and water points by the District Development Fund (DDF) department and the Rural District Council.

The villagers have reportedly engaged ward 18 councillor Mr Mativenga and the Ward Development Committee (WADCO) over the water challenges.

However, the community members are worried about government’s lame duck approach to the critical problem.

According to villagers, the situation on the ground is pathetic.

A local community borehole which serves Maputsa, Marufu, Chongore, Gaza and other local villages is currently not functioning.

The community members have been previously making contributions for the refurbishment of local boreholes.

“Villagers are now drawing water from unprotected shallow wells along Mushavhutwi River and Makambe Dam.

These water sources are being used by both humans and livestock, posing serious health risks to the people” said one community member.

Headman Madzivire, a WADCO member for Ward 18 confirmed the negotiations involving the Councillor, WADCO and COTRAD portfolio committee on water supply over the matter were in progress.

Improving access to clean water is critical especially during the COVID-19 pandemic period.

“COTRAD will continue to engage the local council and public officials until the water crisis is rectified.

Access to clean water is a constitutional right as enshrined in section 77 that, every person has the right to clean and safe water”, said Kupfuwa Ishmael, a COTRAD official.