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.

Farai Dziva|President Nelson Chamisa has challenged the Zanu PF administration to stop abusing ordinary Zimbabweans- by forcing them to participate in the Anti-Sanctions March.

According to President Chamisa, sanctions cannot be removed because of mere marching.

He also accused Zanu PF bigwigs using of ordinary citizens to pursue their selfish interests.

The restrictions target Zanu PF appatchiks who are violating human rights, looting State resources and politicizing aid.

“Sanctions can not be removed just because someone marched.

Those that imposed the targeted sanctions may not even notice that someone was marching.

The story of sanctions has always been filled with the lies.

The truth is, at most 200 individuals including entities were slapped with sanctions following unprecedented human rights abuse, corruption and mass electoral malpractice. That’s the truth.

Zimbabwe as a country is not under sanctions. There are laid down procedures that may be followed if ever someone is serious about having sanctions removed.

Don’t use the poor people to march for you just because you want to withdraw money from frozen foreign accounts. Give people the peace. Make peace with all men.

Farai Dziva|President Nelson Chamisa has challenged the Zanu PF administration to stop abusing ordinary Zimbabweans- by forcing them to participate in the Anti-Sanctions March.

According to President Chamisa, sanctions cannot be removed because of mere marching.

He also accused Zanu PF bigwigs using of ordinary citizens to pursue their selfish interests.

The restrictions target Zanu PF appatchiks who are violating human rights, looting State resources and politicizing aid.

“Sanctions can not be removed just because someone marched.

Those that imposed the targeted sanctions may not even notice that someone was marching.

The story of sanctions has always been filled with the lies.

The truth is, at most 200 individuals including entities were slapped with sanctions following unprecedented human rights abuse, corruption and mass electoral malpractice. That’s the truth.

Zimbabwe as a country is not under sanctions. There are laid down procedures that may be followed if ever someone is serious about having sanctions removed.

Don’t use the poor people to march for you just because you want to withdraw money from frozen foreign accounts. Give people the peace. Make peace with all men.

Ministry of Health and Child Care Coronavirus update :23 October 2020

New cases: 15
Locals: 15
Returnees: 0 Deaths: 0
Recoveries: 29
PCR Tests Done: 1039
National Recovery Rate: 94%
Active Cases: 250
Total Cumulative Cases: 8 257
Total Recoveries: 7 771
Total Deaths: 236

PRESS STATEMENT: ENGINEER ELIAS MUDZURI EOC BID

Greetings!!!

On 15 September 2020 I announced to the world that I had tested positive for COVID 19 because as a public figure I had that responsibility to my country and the world. It is unfortunate that many thought and still think the pandemic does not exist. It is real and is still infecting and affecting many Zimbabweans.

Let us therefore continue to be cautious and take all necessary measures to prevent its spread. I tested negative to Covid-19 and am now fully recovered and raring to go.

Many thanks to the hospital staff that did their best for me under difficult circumstances. I came face to face with the realities of our collapsed health delivery system. Hospitals are offering the barest minimum of care due to unavailability of adequate PPEs and medicines.

Vital tests are very expensive beyond the reach of the majority and take long to be done and there is a critical shortage of specialists to interpret results and attend to patients. There are no known drugs to cure COVID 19, except for the provision of oxygen and steroids to those with respiratory complications.

Besides that, all that the care givers do is to create the ideal environment for self- healing.
It is imperative that a cure is found. In this endeavour, the government must allocate resources towards research.

We have no excuse and we must not wait for outsiders to develop a cure for us. We must strengthen our health institutions, both the traditional herbal and the international medical
systems.

The Minister of Health has a responsibility to ensure professionalism returns in the health delivery system so that health goods are delivered to all who require them at affordable prices. The government must expedite the resolution of the standoff between the health personnel and the Ministry of Health.

I have spent a whole lot of time reflecting on the developments in both my party MDCT and the nation. I had the chance to reshape and perfect my vision for the Party and Zimbabwe.

MY BID

I will reiterate the message I sent out to you on our 21st Anniversary this year. I am offering my candidature for the presidency of the MDCT at the impending Extraordinary Congress.

If voted for at our forthcoming EOC I will gratefully serve as the President of our great party. With the plan of action I have, I am convinced that together we can build a formidable team of fighters for change, right from branch to the national organs.

This is the team that can defeat ZANUPF at the polls in 2023 and make Zimbabwe work again.

Vision

A united, virtuous MDCT family working together harmoniously to win the 2023 Harmonized Elections and delivering the Zimbabwe we all want.

Agenda

• We need to refocus our attention away from this bruising internal competition for power to the education, mobilization and preparation of our people for the 2023 Harmonized Elections.
• .The EOC must quickly be dispensed with so that the unnecessary divisions are put behind us. Coming up with Dr M. R. Tsvangirai’s successor should not be a dog –eat- dog affair. As is being suggested by our structures, the members of the party must quickly and democratically build consensus around the ideal candidate before the event. The Congress
  should just be there to endorse the candidate as has been our tradition since our inaugural congress in 2000. It should not be a difficult matter as all candidates are known to the Electoral College.
• The MDCT EOC must be quintessential of a democratic process that the country, Africa and the world would emulate.
• As a matter of principle, all those who respect democracy, constitutionalism and fair play must never allow or be part of a process with a predetermined outcome and that does not meet the above standards which we demand from ZANUPF all the time. Genuine democracy is a principle the heroes and heroines of the liberation struggle sacrificed for. It
  is one of the founding values behind the formation of the MDC.
• Intra-party and inter-party dialogue is a critical function of any serious leadership of any organization. Indeed as Zimbabwean people we must dialogue among ourselves in order to find lasting solutions to the problems that have been with us for decades. The political polarization that has brought mistrust among Zimbabweans and stalled economic progress must come to an end. It must never be a question of “US” and “THEM” as we are members of the same family where everyone regardless of class, gender or ethnic origin must have equal opportunities to participate in the governance and economic activities of our country.
• The government’s distributive authority must be used to benefit all Zimbabweans. All our
  youths, women and men must be included in all government empowerment programs. To this end, our communities and different cultural groups must be organized around a shared national vision that should result in the rebuilding and respecting all our national institutions.
  The following will be priority areas that will be given urgent attention soon after assuming office as President of the Party:
• 
  • Restoration of MRT House and Legacy: The sacredness of MRT House, formerly known as Harvest House, which is our national headquarters, will be restored. It is an august house that must never be defiled by unnecessary and unreasonable fights.
• 
  • Democracy: Restoration of constitutionalism and respect for all organs of the party in collective decision making. MDC is an institution that is respected as the largest opposition party poised to replace ZANU PF. It must therefore respect its values and observe international best practices governing modern democratic institutions.
• 
  • People’s Participation: In line with our tradition and values we will resume grassroots consultations and participation in decision making in the party. Wisdom is not a preserve of a few top leaders.
• 
  • Elected Officials: MPs and councillors will always come from the people. NO to imposition of candidates and no to corruption in the selection processes.
  • The Big Tent Concept: We need to unite in the party and nationally. After our EOC, we will bring together all those who have been in the trenches under one banner, one big happy family of democrats. All old and new cadres will be accommodated. A comprehensive recruitment drive will be initiated.
• 
  • Political Victims: We will update our roll of political victims. My family was a victim of political violence during the June 27 2008 presidential runoff campaign that saw hundreds of our members getting murdered in cold blood or being forced into exile by Mugabe’s military regime. We need to heal and counsel the victims.
• 
  • Political Prisoners: We will engage the government on all political prisoners and negotiate their release
• • Violence: The party will reshape the youth wing to become a productive, self – reliant and respectable wing of the party which will never be associated with violence
  • Gender: Ensure equal representation of women in all leadership positions of the party
  • Engage the government on the political, social & economic reform agenda for recovery, development and prosperity.

THE NATION

Issues

Transition Problem

Zimbabwe is caught up in a transitional logjam. To unlock this logjam, we will initiate the first genuine attempt to seek the people’s concerns about problems and solutions to the logjam through an inclusive thorough process of research and consultations. We must depart from the confrontational approach to persuasion, engagement, unification and bridging gaps, to achieve reforms (Economic, social and political). This will eventually lead
to a free and fair election that will be accepted by political players and the nation at large.

We need to work together to ensure that the economic problems bedeviling our country such as – poverty, corruption, sky rocketing prices, erosion of incomes, lack of investment, become a thing of the past.

The country has to focus on socio- economic development and choose dependable economic partners and destinations. The guiding principle will always be that Zimbabwean problems can only be solved by Zimbabweans when they sit down together as brothers and sisters.

Strengthening of and respect for State Institutions:
❖ There is need to reform our state institutions so that they become more robust, technical and compliant to the dictates of their respective functions. This will ensure that there are checks and balances in the governance systems.

If elected President of MDC-T at the EOC I will ensure that we get into the 2023 harmonised elections as a united family with one objective of taking over power from ZANU PF so as to change the fortunes of Zimbabwe. We must not betray the people of Zimbabwe who in the more than twenty years have invested so much into this project of change for a better Zimbabwe.

ZANU-PF MP for Nkayi South Stars Mathe shocked legislators on Wednesday after she requested for an opportunity to wail over sanctions in the National Assembly in the middle of a debate.

This comes as Zimbabwe and Sadc will on Sunday mark the Anti-Sanctions Day after a declaration by regional member states last year to unite in the call for the unconditional removal of the “unjust” economic restrictions that have had a debilitating effect on the country’s economic development.

Mathe made the request to cry during Parliament’s question and answer session through a supplementary question to the leader of government business, Justice minister Ziyambi Ziyambi, on what the executive was doing to help citizens who lost their jobs owing to coronavirus (Covid-19).

“Before I ask my supplementary question, allow me to cry because this week is meant for crying — mayibabo ngamasanctions mayibabo! My supplementary question Madam Speaker to the Honourable minister is what measures are you putting in place to make sure that those who have lost jobs are getting their jobs back and those who suffered extreme poverty due to Covid-19 are alleviated once the pandemic is over?” Mathe asked.

The request was met with sarcasm from MDC Alliance MP for Mbizo Settlement Chikwinya, who appeared puzzled and asked for a clarification after raising a point of order.

“Honourable Mathe made some noise and I thought I needed an explanation on what that meant. I took some time trying to figure out what the expression was and its relevance to Parliament.

“Can she be allowed to explain to us what she meant? It was like she was crying and I am not quite sure what the problem is,” Chikwinya said.

National Assembly acting Speaker Tsitsi Gezi explained that the majority of MPs had understood Mathe’s request as it was an expression of interest.

“As legislators, we have got a role to represent people and that is one of our mandates. Therefore, she was representing people in the call against sanctions,” Gezi said.

Yet Chikwinya did not relent on making a caricature of his fellow legislator, saying: “I was worried because I heard exactly the same cry last night at the hotel in room 306 so, I am not quite sure to whom she was referring”.

“I am not saying it was her crying — I am just saying there was a similar cry at the hotel in room 306,” Chikwinya said. This prompted Gezi to call Chikwinya to order and directed the opposition legislator to withdraw his words as they carried overtones of sarcasm, caricature and, therefore, un-parliamentary.

“When we are in this House, we believe that we are supposed to speak maturely. I understand those were your sentiments, but I do not think it will be good for you to be uttering words that can relate otherwise.

“I am kindly asking you to withdraw those words as much as it is something which happened which you are very much relating to but truly speaking, it leaves a lot to be desired. May you kindly withdraw those words?” Gezi said.

— DailyNews

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.

Vice President Constantino Chiwenga failed to save his ZANU PF allies from demotion during Wednesday’s tense politburo meeting, the Zimbabwe Independent reports.

Mashonaland East provincial affairs minister Apolonia Munzverengwi, Chegutu West legislator Dexter Nduna, and Matabeleland North provincial youth chair Tamuka Nyoni – all believed to be Chiwenga’s allies – were censored in one form or another during the tense politburo meeting.

Munzverengwi was demoted from the women’s league national political commissar position to become deputy secretary for lands, Nduna lost his position as Mashonaland West provincial vice-chairperson, becoming a mere card-carrying member and prevented from holding any position in the party for a year. Nyoni suffered a similar fate.

The Zimbabwe Independent reports that Chiwenga personally tried in vain to save both Munzverengwi and Nduna from facing stiffer penalties.

The former army general was however successful in convincing the politburo to rescind the national disciplinary committee (NDC)’s decision to expel Nduna from the party.

Mashonaland West the provincial chairman Ziyambi Ziyambi, secretary for security Lovemore Matuke, and national chairperson Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri were all at one point or another involved in the heated discussion. ZimInd quoted its politburo source as saying: The province (Mashonaland West) had recommended that [Nduna] should be suspended for five years and when the matter came up for discussion, Matuke suggested he should also be enrolled at the Chitepo School of Ideology.

However, the vice president quickly dismissed the suggestion saying it would be an abuse of the facility.

He declared that there was no way Nduna would be sent to the ideological school and in the end, it was agreed that he should be suspended from holding a leadership position in the party for just one year.

Munzverengwi was supposedly censored for bringing the name of the party into disrepute after a nude picture of her went viral on social media last year. A politburo member is quoted as saying: The general feeling in the meeting was that she was being treated unfairly. Again it was Chiwenga who leapt to her defence first.

He clearly stated that there was nothing immoral about the photograph, which only showed her body from the chest upward.

He actually left the meeting in stitches when he suggested that there were some very senior party members who had done much worse things and no such punishment had been imposed on them.

So basically, it was agreed that since she had accepted her demotion during the hearing, it should not be altered-ZimIndependent

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|President Nelson Chamisa has commended veteran nationalist Dr Kenneth Kaunda for playing a leading role in the liberation of African countries.

In his message on Zambia’s 56th Independence anniversary, President Chamisa described Dr Kaunda as a true African icon.

“Today(Saturday) is special.I have two memorials.

One for my uncle in Gweru and the other one for my brother Patson Dzamara…
Sadly missed,” said President Chamisa in a statement.

He added:

“Zambia at 56;Freedom is contagious.

At great cost of the country, Dr KK & Zambia supported the Liberation Movements in Southern Africa.

We cherish this for generations to come.

One Africa, One people. I pray for peace in Zambia these trying times.Happy Independence Day Zambia.God bless Zambia!”

By A Correspondent- 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.5

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

By A Correspondent- The Zimbabwean government has said the target for universal access to energy by 2030 is achievable provided stakeholders are willing to embrace new technologies.

Minister of Energy and Power Development, Zhemu Soda spoke during the launch of a biogas project at Ruya Adventist High School in Mt Darwin and said the treasury has allocated 70 million Zimbabwe dollars towards rural electrification. He said:

Provision of biogas will no doubt bring numerous benefits to the institutions and the surrounding communities. Embrace the new technologies and I would like to urge schools, clinics other government institutions, rural households and farms to take advantage of the Rural Electrification program and raise their standard of living through maximum use of raw waste.

ZBC News reports that the Rural Electrification Fund countrywide has so far established 82 rural institutional facilities to ease energy challenges in communities.

Meanwhile, Rural Electrification Fund Board Member, Engineer Patridge Ndemera said the target for universal access to energy by 2030 is achievable adding that the Fund had made efforts in extending electricity grid infrastructure to rural areas.

This comes when last year the country recorded the worst power shortages in the past decade resulting in low production across sectors.

ZBC News reports that the Rural Electrification Fund has electrified a total of 9 507 rural Institutions countrywide using both grid and solar technology in line with the National Energy Renewable Energy Policy launched by President Mnangagwa in March this year

By A Correspondent- The United Kingdom’s ambassador to Zimbabwe Mrs Melanie Robinson has reiterated that her country did not impose trade restrictions on Zimbabwe amid confusion as to what is really entailed by the sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe.

Her remarks come as Zimbabwe and the Southern African Community Development at large are gearing up for 25 October a day set aside by the regional body to call for the unconditional removal of sanctions.

Mrs Robinson posted on Twitter as the ruling ZANU PF has often cited sanctions as one of the leading factors that have affected its bid to run the country well. She posted:

 There’s no UK trade embargo on Zimbabwe: we’ve just welcomed Zimbabwe’s ratification of an EPA which will mean exporters continue to enjoy tariff & quota free access to the UK market. The UK is Zimbabwe’s 19th largest export market #itsnotsanctions #theUKstandswithZimbabweans

The diplomat speaks after the UK’s Minister for Africa had said his country imposed sanctions on a few individuals for violation of human rights.

Sanctions were imposed on the country two decades ago following the controversial fast track land reform programme that left many white farmers landless.

A number of government officials and some senior army officials, as well as some companies they own or control, are on the sanctions list.

ZANU PF says the coercive measures are only meant to champion the regime change agenda in the former British colony.

Farai Dziva|President Nelson Chamisa has challenged the Zanu PF administration to stop abusing ordinary Zimbabweans- by forcing them to participate in the Anti-Sanctions March.

According to President Chamisa, sanctions cannot be removed because of mere marching.

He also accused Zanu PF bigwigs using of ordinary citizens to pursue their selfish interests.

The restrictions target Zanu PF appatchiks who are violating human rights, looting State resources and politicizing aid.

“Sanctions can not be removed just because someone marched.

Those that imposed the targeted sanctions may not even notice that someone was marching.

The story of sanctions has always been filled with the lies.

The truth is, at most 200 individuals including entities were slapped with sanctions following unprecedented human rights abuse, corruption and mass electoral malpractice. That’s the truth.

Zimbabwe as a country is not under sanctions. There are laid down procedures that may be followed if ever someone is serious about having sanctions removed.

Don’t use the poor people to march for you just because you want to withdraw money from frozen foreign accounts. Give people the peace. Make peace with all men.

A Harare elderly woman was ordered to sell her posh flat in the Harare CBD and hand the money to controversial preacher Walter Magaya for a fake property he claimed was under construction in the Westgate area.

Watch live as the fraudulent scheme by the self confirmed prophet is exposed on ZimEye.com.

The United Kingdom’s (UK) Minister for Africa, James Duddridge, has said his country’s sanctions on Zimbabwe are targeted on those who are violating Zimbabwean citizens’ human rights.

In a post on Twitter, the Conservative parliamentarian asserted that the UK stands for human rights, democracy and the rule of law, and is committed to dealing with corruption to ensure a better future for Zimbabweans. Duddridge said:

The UK stands up for human rights, democracy and the rule of law. Our sanctions only target those who disregard these values in Zimbabwe and across the world. The UK is committed to tackling corruption and ensuring a better future for Zimbabweans. ?? ?? @newswireZW

— Sir James Duddridge KCMG MP (@JamesDuddridge) October 24, 2020