WHILE the principle of land reform in Zimbabwe was primarily to address the skewed legacy of colonial land ownership imbalances, the late former president Robert Mugabe and his family engaged in greedy accumulation of farms establishing themselves as the new landed aristocracy.

Owen Gagare

By the time of his death on 6 September 2019, Mugabe had became a top land baron with 24
farms in violation of his regime’s one-man-one-farm policy.

Beneath the rhetorical veneer of a noble cause of to correct historical land ownership imbalances, there was a greedy accumulation agenda for Zanu PF elites and their cronies who amassed land but mainly failed to utilise it, spawning
food insecurity and shortages.

Some displaced white Zimbabwean farmers are now doing well in South Africa, Mozambique, Zambia and Nigeria, among other countries. The land seizures also left Zimbabweans holding onto dead capital on farms, with uncertainty of ownership decreasing the value of the property and the ability to lend or borrow against it.

Contrary to public perception and widespread reports that the Mugabes 10 or 14 farms at most, The NewsHawks has managed to dig out the record showing the correct number of farms that they
held: 24.

By violating his own government policy on land ownership, Mugabe and his family became the largest landowning black family after the chaotic and often violent fast-track land redistribution programme which began in 2000.

Ironically, Mugabe used to publicly complain about multiple farm ownership at various fora, including the 2002 Johannesburg Earth Summit where he denounced former British prime minister Tony Blair, telling him: “Blair, keep your England and let me keep my Zimbabwe” as he vowed to push on with the land reform programme.

Blair’s No. 10 Downing Street strongly criticised as needlessly unstructured and brutal. “Every one of them (white farmers) is entitled to at least one farm, but they would want to continue to have more than one farm. More than one farm, indeed 15, 20, 35 farms, one person. These are not figures I’m just getting from my mind, they are real figures, so no farmer is being left without land…,” Mugabe said.

“We don’t mind having and bearing sanctions banning us from Europe, we are not Europeans. We have not asked for an inch of Europe, any square inch of that territory. So, Blair keep your England and let me keep my Zimbabwe.”
After self-righteously and repeatedly telling the world, he was only motivated by correcting a major historical injustice, Mugabe however went to acquire many farms and, in some cases, grabbing up to five farms before consolidating them into one big bloc of a landholding.

For example, the Mugabe family ow Smithfield Farm in Mashonaland Central, which is an amalgam of five farms, namely Smithfield Farm, Willows Plot, Lemon Pool, Mazowe Junction and Lot 5 of Yarrowdale which totalled 1 300 hectares.

“Although they grabbed those farms just like colonial predators, the Mugabes are not farming on that consolidated farm. They have subcontracted and leased it to the Rudland Brothers—Simon and Harmish. The offer letter for the
farm is in the name of the Grace Mugabe Foundation,” a relative of the Mugabes said.

While Mugabe bought Highfield Farm in Norton in the 1980s, he went on to take advantage of the land reform programme to grab four surrounding farms before consolidating the five farms.

Police, army and intelligence security operatives were deployed to facilitate the acquisition of Tankatara, Cressydale, John O’Groats and Clifford farms before they became part of Highfield Farm. The five farms total 4 800 hectares.

The Mugabes also own Iron Mask Farm, which is a consolidation of three properties. The three farms, according to the farm handover letter seen by The NewsHawks, are B of Greater B, Remainder of Iron Mask and Portion of Irene Estate.

Documents obtained by The NewsHawks support and prove this. The handover letter is in the name of Grace Mugabe Children’s Home and has a total of 1 399.6 hectares. Grace played a huge role in building the Mugabes’ land empire.

In addition, the family also has Gushungo Dairy Estate in Mazowe, once known as Foyle Farm. The farm was initially parceled out to the state-owned Agricultural and Rural Development Authority (Arda) by former agriculture minister Joseph Made, a Mugabe farm manager and right-hand man. It was then renamed Arda Foyle before being acquired by the Mugabes and developed to become the flagship of their Mazowe business empire.

“All infrastructure and equipment that was mobilised by Arda was taken over and the farm became Gushungo Dairy Estate,” an informed said.

Also in Mazowe, the Mugabe family acquired five farms and consolidated them under Manzou, with a game reserve. The consolidated farms are Manzou Farm, Surtic Ranch, Arnolds Farm, Maggiesdale Farm and Glenbervile with a combined hectarage of 16 000 hectares.

The Mugabes’ also have the 310-hectare Kaseplan Farm in Pomona on their books. The farm was initially taken over by some local families during the land reform programme, among them Adonia Makombe, Sahungwe Hungwe and Nyika Chifamba, who were given offer letters.

The Mugabes however later acquired a handover letter in the name of one of their companies, Kaseplan Grand Industries, in 2011 before evicting the families with the assistance of the police, military and intelligence operatives.

The family then grabbed 100 hectares of state land next to the farm that was initially meant for a botanical garden. The Zunde botanical garden project was shelved by the state owing to a lack of underground water in the area.

Further, the Mugabes also own the 1 300-hectare Mwenewazvo Farm, formerly known as Sigaro. The farm was initially taken over by Arda before being named Arda Sigaro. Arda then mobilised equipment for the farm before the
Mugabes took over the land.

Vusumuzi Farm, which is 800 hectares and formerly known as Gwina in Mashonaland West, is also owned by the Mugabes after they grabbed part of it from the then High Court Justice Ben Hlatshwayo. The judge had been allocated the farm formerly owned by prominent commercial farmer Vernon Nicolle.

The long list of farms belonging to the Mugabes include Bucklands Farm, originally named Buckland Estate. The 310-hectare farm is next to Wild Geese Lodge. The Mugabe family also owns a 120-hectare plot after Pomona
Golf Course which was allocated to their company called Mawuya Zimbabwe.

Source: Zimbabwe News Hawks

The Zimbabwe Independent

BELEAGUERED Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga made spirited but futile efforts to save his allies from the Zanu PF political guillotine during Wednesday’s tense politburo meeting in which a titanic battle among senior party officials exploded into the open.

The most high-profile casualty from Wednesday’s meeting was Mashonaland East provincial affairs minister Aplonia Munzverengwi, who was demoted from the women’s league national political commissar position to become deputy secretary for lands in the influential wing.

Mashonaland West provincial vice-chairperson Dexter Nduna — also Chegutu West legislator — was demoted to a mere card-carrying member, prevented from holding any position in the party for a year, while Matabeleland North provincial youth chair Tamuka Nyoni suffered a similar fate.

They are all believed to be Chiwenga’s allies.

As reported by the Zimbabwe Independent in the past three years, there is a simmering power struggle between President Mnangagwa, who is also Zanu PF’s president and first secretary, and Chiwenga since the two men conspired to overthrow the late former president Robert Mugabe in a military coup in November 2017.

Chiwenga is widely seen as leader of a faction in Zanu PF and is reportedly itching to take over from the 78-year-old incumbent, who is planning to seek a second term in 2023. Zanu PF has roundly endorsed Mnangagwa as the party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 election.

Since the November 2017 coup, Mnangagwa’s camp has been working to decimate Chiwenga’s power base by weakening his influence on the military and other state departments. Mnangagwa has been making sweeping changes in the military and reassigning those perceived to be loyal to the Vice-President.

However, the former Zimbabwe Defence Forces commander, who orchestrated the coup, remains influential in the military and in Zanu PF.

Tension between the two has escalated dramatically over the past few months amid intense jostling for positions during the ongoing restructuring exercises, particularly the upcoming District Coordinating Committee (DCC) elections.

Having dealt Chiwenga a decisive blow by neutralising his military influence, sources said, Mnangagwa has now firmly set his eyes on decimating his political power base and this explains the decision during the Wednesday’s politburo meeting to purge Chiwenga’s political allies.

The Independent’s politburo sources said Chiwenga personally tried in vain to save both Munzverengwi and Nduna from facing stiffer penalties but successfully managed to convince the politburo to rescind the national disciplinary committee (NDC)’s decision to expel Nduna from the party.

Nduna was accused of attempting to use his influence as provincial deputy chair to impose candidates for various DCC positions, against the provincial executive’s resolution.

Sources however alleged he was punished for frequently clashing with his superior, the provincial chairman Ziyambi Ziyambi, who is also Justice minister.

Ziyambi is widely considered to be Mnangagwa’s right hand man.

A politburo member said during a discussion on his issue, Zanu PF secretary for security Lovemore Matuke suggested that Nduna must be suspended from the party for five years and forced to enroll in the Chitepo School of Ideology.

Chiwenga, sources said, quickly shot down the proposal saying the sanction would be too harsh.

“The province (Mashonaland West) had recommended that he 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,” the politburo member said.

Insiders further said the issue of Munzverengwi took much more time as some of the politburo members sympathetic to Chiwenga felt she was being treated unfairly.

According to the NDC report presented by Zanu Pf national chair Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri, Munzverengwi was accused of bringing the name of the party into disrepute after a nude picture of her went viral on social media last year.

However, it emerged during the deliberations some politburo members reportedly rubbished the allegation saying she was actually being victimised by women’s league boss Marble Chinomona, with whom she has had bad blood since early 2019, well before the picture was circulated.

Munzverengwi comes from Wedza district, a stone’s throw from Chiwenga’s rural homestead. She is also a former senior assistant commissioner in the police and is perceived to be one of Chiwenga’s most ardent supporters having made several appearances at his private functions in Wedza.

“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,” a source who attended the meeting said.

“So basically, it was agreed that since she had accepted her demotion during the hearing, it should not be altered,” the source added.

Nyoni was punished for attending meetings organised by shadowy pressure group, #tajamuka and receiving payments ahead of the thwarted July 31 protests.

“On being quizzed by the NDC, he said he had been sent by the provincial chair Richard Moyo to infiltrate and spy on the pressure group and give information back to the party. However, Moyo denied the allegation, leaving us with no option but to recommend that he should be demoted to being a card-carrying member,” another source said.

According to inside sources, the party bigwigs also viciously clashed when debating the fate of former Zanu PF secretary for youth affairs Kudzi Chipanga who had applied to rejoin the party from which he was jettisoned at the height of the 2017 military coup.

While those in the Mnangagwa camp like July Moyo and Matuke reportedly wanted him to be readmitted as a card-carrying member ineligible to occupy any leadership position for five years, Chiwenga and party secretary for finance Patrick Chinamasa came out guns blazing saying there was no way he could be allowed back into the party since he was the chief instigator of their woes during Mugabe’s last days in power.

Chipanga traversed the length and breadth of the country rallying youths against Mnangagwa and his then Team Lacoste faction and promoting his bitterest rival at the time, former first lady Grace Mugabe against whom he fought for the right to succeed Mugabe.

As further punishment, Chipanga will lose his farm in Rusape, again at the instigation of Chiwenga and Chinamasa.

“Basically, Chiwenga and Chinamasa argued that readmitting Chipanga would be a mistake as it would imply tolerance for G40 and there was a likelihood that he could be their conduit,” a senior politburo member said.

“On the issue of the farm, July Moyo had actually said he preferred the issue to be referred to the ministry of lands since it was not a party issue but an administrative issue to be best addressed through government. But Chinamasa and Chiwenga sharply disagreed saying the politburo had the right to make a determination on the case and in the end it was resolved that he should be asked to vacate the property,” the politburo member said.

Sources further said the politburo referred the cases of other G40 acolytes Tapiwa Matangaidze and Makhosini Hlongwane back to the Midlands provincial coordinating committee after strong objections from Sibusiso Moyo, Joram Gumbo, July Moyo, Tsitsi Muzenda and Simbarashe Mbengegwi, who argued that their applications had not been deliberated on at provincial level.

“The five, who are the most senior members from the Midlands province, accused secretary for legal affairs Paul Mangwana of misrepresenting to the politburo that their case had been deliberated on by the provincial PCC. The five then said they did not remember any such PCC meeting being converged and this resulted in the meeting referring the case back to the provincial structures,” a source said. —

Mobile money service EcoCash has begun moving funds held in the recently banned agent lines with the transactions liable to 2% tax.

The liquidation follows the immediate ban of agent lines in August by the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe saying that they were no longer serving any legitimate purpose.

While the Central Bank said that the liquidation process could be done after a legitimate source of funds could have been produced.

The mobile money platform announced the development in a notice , “ We wish to advise all EcoCash agents of the liquidation process as approved by RBZ.”

All transactions are being subjected to the famous 2% IMTT (Intermediate Money Transfer Tax).

“All transactions above $100 000 are subject to approval by the FIU,” said EcoCash

While most agent lines hold much funds in them the Central bank will most likely make a killing out of it.

Agent line holders are being required to produce documents certified by the police , fill in liquidation forms and show proof of bank accounts.

Government in August banned agent lines alleging that they were being used for illegal forex dealings fuelling the black market.

As an act of compliance Ecocash has since closed them down.

However , this has caused a dent in the black market and on daily transactions.

Technomag

The World Food Programme has swiftly removed the names of two Kariba council officials, including Mayor George Masendu, who had been included on the list of vulnerable people in the area that are expected to benefit from a cash disbursement programme.

WFP got wind of the development through anonymous calls to their toll free hotline, prompting investigations and the removal of the names.

The matter has since been forwarded to Government, through the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare for further action.

In a statement yesterday, WFP Zimbabwe Country director and representative, Ms Francesca Erdelmann, said fraud would not be tolerated.

“The World Food Programme is aware of media reports that two officials in Kariba were incorrectly included on a list of people there said to be eligible for WFP food assistance,” said Ms Erdelmann.

“A prompt WFP investigation of both allegations resulted in the two officials being removed from our list. The two cases have been referred to the Ministry of Public Service and Social Welfare for further action. WFP has zero tolerance for fraud and is committed to ensuring its assistance goes to those who meet strict eligibility criteria.”

Disbursements have not yet started in the affected wards, although those in other wards have already started withdrawing their money via electronic money transfer platform, Mukuru.com.

Officials in Government said the process of verification and cleaning up the list was ongoing adding that ineligible people would be flushed out.

WFP has set up platforms for the public to provide feedback on its work, processes, errors of inclusion and exclusion, among others.

Watch the live video loading below….

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Farai Dziva|Hard-hitting MDC Alliance vice president, Hon Tendai Biti, has said Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa’s State Of The Nation is fraught with deception and lies.

On Thursday Mr Mnangagwa chronicled what he described as the new dispensation’s achievements.

However, Hon Biti argued :

Failed regimes function on deception lies propaganda and spin .

The delusional regime makes crazy assertions in its Budget Strategy Paper. It claims a growth of 7.4 % for 2021 This is zany & not backed by any credible underlying assumption.
@steve_hanke
is right.This one has lost it

The claims of stability are the vortex of self delusion. “Stability “is a punchline in overkill.Truth is there is chaos out there.There is poverty, unemployment and instability.

There is low productivity and continued reproduction of an enclave economy.There is corruption and cluelessness.

Engineer Elias Mudzuri has officially announced he is vying for the MDC T presidency.

Watch video below:

“…We also discovered separate sets of teeth; and two separate skulls, one with lower teeth and the other one with upper teeth but without a tongue…” 

By A Correspondent | This week marks 5 weeks after 7 year old Tapiwa Makore was discovered dead in Murehwa.

His relatives this week tell ZimEye, the story is still the same since that fateful day on the 17th September when Tapiwa’s body was found dismembered without several parts that include his head.

5 days later two skulls of children were discovered and one of them they boldly deny could ever be Tapiwa’s.

Makandiwa, Magaya, Chiwenga have failed to reveal Murehwa Murder Tapiwa Makore's head | WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) October 22, 2020

They said they are convinced that the first discovered fresh skull could not be their “son’s”.

Mr Isaac Makore (57), the deceased boy’s granduncle, said the newly discarded skull they chanced on was not his grandnephew’s, but that of a 12-year-old, yet to be identified child’s.

As a result of the uncertainty, Tapiwa is still to find rest, as burial arrangements have been put on hold pending further investigations.

“My grandnephew went missing, and we later discovered his torso with other organs, like the head, hands, and legs missing. We also discovered separate sets of teeth; and two separate skulls, one with lower teeth and the other one with upper teeth but without a tongue.

“Indications are that the other skull belongs to a yet to be identified older child, and not our ‘child’s’, Mr Makore said.

However, the boy’s privates were untouched.

Following Tapiwa’s grisly murder, and the unearthing of more mutilated body parts, villagers are now living in fear of death merchants who could be on the prowl in the area, seeking children’s hearts for ritual purposes.

Tapiwa’s uncle, Mr Simbarashe Makore (38), said it is believed that there could be many children, although not from their area, who could have been killed for ritual purposes, and had their bodies dumped in the proximity of their village.

“We are now living in fear. Our prayer is that the police apprehend the culprits and rid our area of this menace. Who knows, after our children, they may also come for us, their parents. How could someone kill a fellow human being in such cold blood just like that?” he bemoaned.

Ms Easther Makore (52), Tapiwa’s aunt concurred, saying the police should not leave any stone unturned and get to the bottom of the issue as it was mind-boggling that so many human organs could be discovered hard upon her nephew’s demise.

Meanwhile more confusion has built up following the police’s delay in catching the N’anga who allegedly ordered the killing.

https://youtu.be/DvGn5Py0tXw

https://twitter.com/ZimEye/status/1317531664264974337?s=19

 This comes at the backdrop of an unnamed N’anga at the weekend making allegations that Tapiwa’s head was taken to a property in Dzvivarasekwa.  – the investigation continues

WILL TAPIWA MAKORE’S HEAD EVER BE FOUND?

Dear Editor. The N'anga speaking on the MUREHWA murder, announced saying Tapiwa Makore's head is at a house in Dzivarasekwa. Can you please ask va Mnangagwa who also has a house in DZ on this. How can he keep quiet after it's rumoured the head is somewhere around his house?

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) October 23, 2020

By A Correspondent- Three MDC Alliance youth leaders Joana Mamombe, Netsai Marova and Cecilia Chimbiri are today appearing at court ZimEye has learnt.

The three are appearing at Rotten Row Magistrates court.

Revealed, one of the trio’s close ally:

“Today the MDC Alliance trio, Joana Mamombe, Cecilia Chimbiri and Netsai Marova are again before the Court at Rotten Row.

The State prosecutor Mr Michael Reza and the Magistrate Bianca Makwande are working out a sinister agenda to have the trio separated on the same case. They are advocating go have Joana appear on her own while the other two appear together separately.

This then follows according to Achemedes Principal of displacement that if they so wish to incriminate the two or one on trial they all go to prison.

The State through Michael Reza is now the super litigant on the accused who are victims of state torture and forced disappearance.

When the trio reported their case they then got arrested by the State which is alleging that they faked their torture and abduction.

The ZTV also produced a photoshoped video that became a shame. The State wants by all means to incarcerate the girls. The women groups are all silent on this injustice.”

By A Correspondent- The secretary-general of the Supreme Court reconstituted MDC-T, Douglas Mwonzora, expressed disappointment over President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s State of the Nation Address (SONA) delivered at State House on Thursday.

Mwonzora said Mnangagwa’s address was silent on critical issues such as electoral reforms which include, but not limited to the amendment of the Electoral Act and granting the right to vote to Zimbabweans living in the diaspora. Mwonzora posted on Twitter:

The address by [President Mnangagwa] does not mention any plans to initiate electoral reforms in Zimbabwe nor does it mention plans to amend the Electoral Act. We need electoral reforms that will among other things guarantee the crucial diaspora vote.

Mnangagwa gave a State of the Nation Address and the opening the Third Session of the Ninth Parliament at State House in Harare yesterday.

This year the opening speech and the State of the Nation was done virtually in keeping with measures aimed at preventing the spread of the coronavirus.

Only a minority of legislators were present in the chamber of the National Assembly and the rest followed the proceedings on television or online platforms.-statemedia

By A Correspondent- Eight unions representing teachers have written a joint petition to President Emmerson Mnangagwa seeking to meet him urgently and highlighting their continued incapacitation and requesting the restoration of their salaries as they existed before October 2018.

The teachers, currently earning basic salaries of about US$70, are demanding United States dollar salaries of at least US$520 or the Zimbabwe dollar equivalent, as well as sector-specific allowances.

They argued they are not on strike but are simply incapacitated and cannot continue subsidising the government by reporting for duty.

The petition read:

In light of the prevailing situation in the education sector and teachers’ incapacitation, we want to plead with you to intervene and save the education sector from total collapse and capacitate teachers so they can report for duty.

Zimbabwe has embarked on a phased re-opening of schools since their premature closure in March due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Exam-sitting classes re-opened on September 28 and will be joined by Grade 6, Form 3 and Lower Sixth pupils starting next week with the rest of the classes expected to return to school on November 8.-

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By A Correspondent- President Emmerson Mnangagwa has said his government is encouraged by the economic stability which he attributed to the Transitional Stabilisation Programme (TSP).

Mnangagwa made the remarks in his state of the nation address (SONA) during which he also indicated that sanctions imposed on the country by Western states continued to choke efforts to revive the collapsed economy.

The president said:

Our Transitional Stabilisation Programme has delivered and there are causes for optimism. My government is indeed encouraged by the current economic stability evident since the launch of the foreign exchange auction system in June.

The system has resulted in the stability of the foreign exchange rate as well as the prices of our goods and services.

In spite of the global and local economic impact of the covid-19 pandemic, our exports increased by 4.9 % to $USD1,96 billion during the first half of 2020 from $USD1,86 billion in 2019 for the comparative period.

Meanwhile, imports declined by 5,9% from $USD1,96 billion to $USD1,84 billion during the 2019 and 2020 first half comparative periods. In addition, foreign currency receipts have performed better than anticipated, appreciating by 18% as at end of August 2020 coupled by diaspora remittances which further stability.

Zimbabwe aims to have achieved an upper-middle-income economy status by 2030 and the government believes it is on the right track.

Some economic analysts, however, say the Southern African country has a long way to go after suffering the worst recession in a decade when the incumbent government came to power two years ago.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) projects that the economy will further dip this year before regaining next year.

IMF’s projection is contradicting with that of the minister of Finance and Economic Development, Professor Mthuli Ncube who says the economy will not sharply recede contrary to earlier projections.-statemedia

Police have arrested two notorious armed robbers in connection with 15 counts of unlawful entry and theft, and rape.

The two, Mukudzei Zhou (25) and Edwin Kazakula (28), were arrested after a Nokia 1200 cell-phone stolen from the woman they had raped was recovered from the person who had bought it.

A statement issued by the national police spokesperson Paul Nyathi read:

The Zimbabwe Republic Police has arrested Mukudzei Zhou (25) and Edwin Kazakula (28) of Zvishavane in connection with 15 counts of unlawful entry and theft.

The accused persons broke into various homes during the period extending from July to September 2020.

They would threaten the occupants and later rob them of electrical gadgets such as televisions, cellphones, laptops, radios, cash and various groceries.

In one such incident, on 7th July 2020, the accused persons broke into a woman’s house and threatened her with a knife, raped her and stole her laptop, cell-phone and 8.5kg gas cylinder.

The woman (28) was then forced into her vehicle and driven towards Masvingo where she was raped again before being given back her vehicle.

The duo’s luck ran out when a Nokia 1200 cell-phone stolen from the woman was recovered from a person who had bought it from Mukudzei Zhou.

Investigations led to the identification of fourteen other complainants and recovery of property worth USD$5 130.00 against USD$ 10 057.00 worth of property stolen.

Teachers’ unions have requested an urgent meeting with President Emmerson Mnangagwa to “put you into picture of the real situation in the education sector.”

The eight unions say Mnangagwa is badly advised by his ministers about the depth of a job boycott by teachers since schools re-opened on September 28.

The teachers, currently earning basic salaries of about US$70, are demanding United States dollar salaries of at least US$520 or the Zimbabwe dollar equivalent, as well as sector-specific allowances.

Calling on Mnangagwa to prioritise the health and safety of teachers, the unions said “there is not enough Covid-19 abatement equipment in place for teachers such as PPEs and sanitisers.”

Teachers were “frog-marched to re-open schools without testing for Covid-19,” the unions said, adding that they were not aware of any member who had been tested for the virus in readiness for the re-opening of schools.

Zimbabwe has staggered the re-opening of schools since their premature closure in March. Exam-sitting classes re-opened on September 28 and will be joined by Grade 6, Form 3 and Lower Sixth pupils starting next week with the rest of the classes expected to return to school on November 8.

Unions say very little teaching is going on at schools, which has compromised pupils who are sitting their final exams. Teachers want the government to close schools or postpone the exams for at least another term while it attends to their grievances.

“In light of the prevailing situation in the education sector and teachers’ incapacitation, we want to plead with you to intervene and save the education sector from total collapse and capacitate teachers so they can report for duty,” the unions said, calling themselves the United Front of Teacher Unions.

Calling him a “listening president”, the unions pleaded with Mnangagwa to “come to our rescue for the good of current and future generations.”

Harare resident Enock Mukudu of ward 30 in Glen View, has approached the High Court challenging the recent suspension of by-elections by Health minister, Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga on health grounds.

In his court application, Mukudu said the move was not only irrational, but also infringed upon the independence of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) which has a constitutional mandate to implement electoral policies as set out in section 235 of the Constitution.

Mukudu joins nine other Harare residents who filed a similar court application last week.

Mukudu said he was seeking the intervention of the court to declare that Statutory Instrument (SI) 225A of 2020 Public Health COVID-19 Prevention, Containment and Treatment (Amendment) Regulations, 2020 (No 4) as unconstitutional and that it is ultra vires sections 56, 57 and 58(3) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe.

“I submit that the suspension of by-elections by the first respondent (Health minister) is challenged on the grounds that it is unlawful, irrational and unconstitutional,” he said.

“In these circumstances, there is no justification for the ban on by-elections. In addition, section 159 of the Constitution requires vacant elective public offices to be filled within 90 days, it follows, therefore, that the provisions of the Constitution must be respected, protected and fulfilled,” Mukudu said.

“With greatest respect, it is humbly submitted that the suspension of by-elections infringes upon the independence of the third respondent that has a constitutional duty to formulate electoral policies without the direction or control of anyone as set out in section 235 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe.”

Mukudu further said the suspension of by-elections by Chiwenga was not a result of transparent multi-stakeholder consultations with citizens, Parliament, political parties, the academia, civil society, the private sector, trade unions and the youths.

He added that President Emmerson Mnangagwa reasonably used his presidential powers in terms of the law and put in place reasonable measures to contain the COVID-19 pandemic, adding that the prohibition of large gatherings was reasonable, but these had been relaxed with certain conditions imposed so as to contain the spread of the pandemic.

Paul Nyathi

MDC Alliance Vice President Tendai Biti on Thursday made light of Professor Lovemore Madhuku’s submissions to challenge the High Court’s jurisdiction in presiding over cases brought by recalled legislators.

Biti successfully got the court to throw out the submissions by Madhuku.

Recalled MDC Alliance legislators Chalton Hwende, Prosper Mutseyami, Thabita Khumalo and Lilian Timveos approached the High Court after they were booted out of Parliament and their seats declared vacant.

They cited Speaker of Parliament Jacob Mudenda, MDC reinstated secretary-general Douglas Mwonzora, acting president Thokozani Khupe and the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission as respondents.

The matter was heard before High Court judge Justice Pisirai Kwenda, who ruled that the High Court had jurisdiction to entertain the matter.

Lovemore Madhuku had submitted on behalf of the respondents that the matter could not take off in the High Court, arguing that the Constitution only mandated the Constitutional Court (Con-Court) to decide on any matters involving the President or Parliament.

“According to Section 167 of the Constitution, only the Con-Court has jurisdiction to determine whether a president or Parliament has failed to fulfil a constitutional mandate … this clearly shows that the applicants have approached the wrong court,” he said.

In response Tendai Biti, representing the legislators, said the Con-Court was relevant in confirming an order issued by the High Court, but did not take away its powers to preside over matters involving the president or Parliament.

“The only caveat is that the order has no force and effect unless confirmed by the Con-Court,” Biti said.

Biti then argued that Mwonzora did not have the authority to recall MDC Alliance MPs, adding that the Supreme Court judgment which declared Khupe the acting leader in March did not make them substantive leaders since they are yet to convene a congress for that purpose.

“The Supreme Court judgment gives a narrow bridge versus the succession issue, but now Mwonzora thinks he has powers. The judgment cannot be vandalised in the manner that Mwonzora is doing,” argued Biti.

“That judgment presupposes freezing of a button until someone fills the big shoes of the late leader Morgan Tsvangirai. So, when Mwonzora writes those letters he cannot derive paternity from that judgment.

“That judgment was to remedy the mischief of the manner in which Tsvangirai was succeeded.

“Mwonzora does not become the secretary-general, but is there for purposes of creating a road map to the congress.”

The matter continues on October 30.

Source – dailynews

By Dorrothy Moyo | The Zimbabwe Republic Police plans to arrest the MDC Alliance President Nelson Chamisa, it has emerged.

The main motive is to punish Chamisa for his refusal to accept the job offer passed to him by his own opponent Emmerson Mnangagwa.

This was first revealed in televised deliberations during the Motlanthe Commission over the 1 August killings.

During the hearings, the police general Godwin Matanga announced saying that Chamisa is guilty of inciting violence.

He then went on to say that Chamisa’s only way out of guilt is to accept the job given him by his very opposite during the 2018 elections, Emmerson Mnangagwa. The supposedly advertised job is that of Leader Of The House, an offer which Nelson Chamisa scoffs at saying it means nothing as he already holds it.

But whichever swing that is, there was drama yesterday when Mnangagwa practically ‘handed over the job’ to election loser Thokozani Khupe.

Said Matanga:

“So really up to this hour I still feel that it would be very improper for me to arrest the leader of the opposition party in the name of Nelson Chamisa because not too long ago when our State President was in New York attending some conference that he also extended some own relief where he was going to propose to his parliament to open a special office to accommodate the opposition leader.

“And I still feel today the doors are still open and it will be very improper for me to arrest him.

“But at the same time I would want to say crime does not rot like meat.”

An except of the deliberations is below:

COMMISSIONER CHIEF EMEKA ANYAOKU (To witness)
Q. Just a few questions. First is there any law that empowers the police to do something
about inciting public violence?
A. The law is there. Fortunately we had a seminar a week before the Election Day which was conducted by the Chairperson of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission Justice
Chigumba at one of our conference rooms and it was very clear and it’s still very clear
that the Electoral Act did not allow people to incite violence.
Q. So it’s a law on which the police have never acted. Would that be right to say that?

A. Can you come again?
Q. Would it be correct to say that the police have never really acted on this law?
A. Going back to history I borrowed some facts from within the continent where by
arresting a leader of the then opposition party could have worsened the situation. I
will tell you a clue whereby queer situation where more than a 1000 people died
during the election period and to go further it is already known that the lawyer of the main opposition leader in Kenya Roila Odinga by the name Silas Jaracumba if I am not mistaken was in the country to advice our main opposition leader on how to proceed with actions which took place on the 1st of August. When I got that
information unfortunately he had left the country on the 31st of July going back to
Kenya. So really up to this hour I still feel that it would be very improper for me to
arrest the leader of the opposition party in the name of Nelson Chamisa because not too long ago when our State President was in New York attending some conference that he also extended some own relief where he was going to propose to his parliament to open a special office to accommodate the opposition leader. And I still feel today the doors are still open and it will be very improper for me to arrest him.
But at the same time I would want to say crime does not rot like meat. The records are there to tell and anytime he can be arrested if the time permits.
Q. The people who died as a result of 1st of August violence have you been able to
establish whether they all died from gunshots from the army alone or was there any
fatality to police gunshots?
A. Our investigations have not come up with the culprits involved. And for me to say
these people were shot by the army it will be very unfair because I was expecting to
get evidence in the form of cartridges or bullet heads only to read through the papers

that there are Zimbabwean citizens who do have these cartridges and through the
Commission I am appealing to them to come forward so that investigations can be
carried out.
COMMISSIONER GENERAL DAVIS MWAMUNYANGE (To witness)
Q. Based on the intelligence that you might have collected before 1st of August did you
foresee the occurrence and extent of the violence that took place on the 1st of August?
A. Unfortunately from the time of the election date and even before was announced by
the State President, people, political leaders were campaigning peacefully to include
Nelson Chamisa and his party. And I if I do recall its on record it is the first time
when the opposition party was allowed to have their main rally in the Africa Unit
Square. According to our plans which we discussed together with the opposition
convenors and I want to say and to remain on record that at the end of their rally we
did not record any mishap. So with that in mind but of course I was not seating on to
say it was peaceful but I can assure you the situation was reasonably comfortable,
peaceful up to the end of the ballot dates. So we were then expecting results from
ZEC and of course they were fishers that certain individuals wanted to announce the
results before the official board ZEC could do it which again is a serious offence. So I
want to say before the Commission the situation was very comfortable and
considering that the people had voted up to the end peacefully at some point I did not
expect the violence which took place on the 1st of August to take place.
Q. When violence erupted on the 1st of August did you make any attempt to contact the
leader of the opposition and other institutions?

Turning to the Public Order and Security Act, after the approval by the President was
there any need for the Defence Forces to operate under the regulating authority for
Harare?
A. Definitely yes. If it was on a normal operation the members of the Defence Forces
were supposed to come down to the regulating authority who was then Chief
Superintendent Ncube to be given instructions. Of course a situation which did not
take place.
Q. Does that mean there you agree with the witness who came early on the regulating
authority for Harare that that section of the law was not complied?
A. Mr Chairman this questions is coming from a specialist in the Constitution.
CHAIRMAN KGALEMA MOTLANTLE
Q. You are protected.
A. He is asking me to spit hell here. It’s now here nor there when it comes to law but
then of course it was not done but it was not done deliberately. That one I must
accept.
COMMISSIONER LOVEMORE MADHUKU (To witness)
Q. I accept that I think I took your words in here. Correct me if it is not correct. Your
language says that the normal process could not be followed because they was no time
for that process. You are saying again that regard that you couldn’t then follow those
provisions because there was no time for it?
A. That is surely Mr Chairman if the time was there this channel was going to be
followed for sure.

Commissioner you have told this Commission that when your request to get the army
to assist was granted they was no time to go back to the regulatory authority so are
you telling this gathering that it is you who said the army could go? You gave the last
word?
A. Can you come again madam so that I can answer correctly.
Q. I am saying according to procedure it was supposed to be the regulatory authority as
stated by Assistant Inspector Ncube that he was then supposed to command the army
to go. I am saying since there was no time to go to the authority was it then you who
sent the army out, who commanded rather?
A. Mr Chairman I can’t run away from the fact it’s me.
Q. What was your instruction to the Forces? What did you instruct them to go and do?
A. The deployment of the army like I already indicated was to make sure that these
demonstrators were not going to run over the Rainbow Towers which was
accommodating the Command Centre, secondly the ZANU PF National Headquarter
where in normal circumstances our Ministers are housed. The ZEC officers, the ZEC
offices themselves where Justice Chigumba and the rest were accommodated and
lastly the ZANU PF provincial headquarters along Simon Muzenda Street. Along the
way and it was very clear for me that I would not know what will happen in between
because the town was already on fire.
Q. When the town is on fire what would you specifically state to the army that goes? Did
you just tell them just go and do what you can do or they was an instruction?

Unfortunately through the Chair it’s like I am going through a jungle. I will not be
too sure whether one will encounter an elephant, a lion or whatever but only to say
please try to be careful the situation is not favourable. Just what I said to the
commander of the army.
Q. So in other words there was an open instruction for them to use their discretion within
their training abilities?
A. I wouldn’t say an open instruction because in day to day training program there is
what they call military aid to civil power. And there are trained to quail out
disturbances of that nature which took place on the 1st of August. And to say it was
an open instruction I would not take that. No.
Q, The reason why I am asking is because we heard all the witnesses coming but it looks
like the public want to know who gave instruction, who said what, when the shootings
happened who had said go and shoot. That’s why I am trying to ask?
A. Through the Chair, right now I cannot even tell you who were part of the 5000, 4000
demonstrators who were in town. So for me to say they were going to do this at cnr
Chitepo and Simon Muzenda Street it was going to be very difficult for me. But as
trained officer I would and even right now I would still feel that that was not a
situation which they would not be able to quail.
Q. But in your own assessment was the power or the force used commensurate to the
events that were happening?
A. Depending on what corner we are looking at this situation from. From a civilian point
of view for those who were viewing it on television and for those who were going on
to the actual ground the assessment will be different but without maybe provoking the

bereaved families I still believe that minimum force was used because I know that our
Defence Forces are armed with AKs. If those arms were carelessly used I can assure
you we could have counted 1000 bodies in Harare central.
COMMISSIONER RODNEY THOMAS DICKSON (To witness)
Q. Commissioner General I just need you to clarify this point because I thought I heard
you saying loud and clear that there was no space for discussion because of the
urgency of the situation. That meant that you couldn’t place the Defence Forces that
were coming in under your command? They maintained a separate command under
the Defence Forces. Am I wrong in that understanding?
A. As I have already said, when authority was granted for me to invite the Forces mostly
all the Forces were on the ground and these colleagues of ours also did come to assist
us and to say there was this possibility of them meeting to discuss on how to go
forward I would lie to the Commission, there was no time for that. Like I have already
indicated these demonstrators were not on one place they were all over town and if I
remember my officers also were very much in danger the same as maybe those who
lost their lives.
Q. So to be clear there you did receive command of both your Forces and the Defence
Forces that joined them on the ground.
A. I did because I was getting information from individual offices who were at different corners of the town. So to say I did not I will be lying. I was on top of the situation.
Q. When you take command as my fellow Commissioner asked you you gave orders as to how they should conduct the operations in quailing the demonstrators is that what happened?

Is there any possibility from your investigations so far that individual soldiers acted
outside of the law for framework that you have now told us about? They acted as
individuals unlawfully is there any possibility of that?
A. I was told that some members of the ZDF appear on social media in some kneeling
position but that is not enough for me to say this is the person who killed that
particular person. I am not in that position until investigation is completed.
Q. I asked about that particular question because we saw the videos of the person
kneeling, what we also saw is what appeared to be a commander appearing to be
telling the person by hitting on the shoulder to stop shooting. That’s why I was asking
the question whether there is more information at this stage?
A. Unfortunately Mr Chairman for that commander to get to that position of restraining
his colleague definitely I would want to leave that one to that particular officer
otherwise I would say something wrong on his behalf.
Q. We appreciate the investigations are going on, can you clarify whether or not it’s the
military doing those investigations or its solely the police. Sometimes there is a
difference of jurisdiction?
A. Whilst I don’t want to talk on behalf of the ZDF I know there is a department they call
Military Police I want to believe that they could be carrying out their own
investigations but in the ZRP for sure my CID department is investigating, the Law
and Order department.
Q. Do you know whether they have interviewed the families of the deceased or those people who were injured yet?

there any possibility from your investigations so far that individual soldiers acted
outside of the law for framework that you have now told us about? They acted as
individuals unlawfully is there any possibility of that?
A. I was told that some members of the ZDF appear on social media in some kneeling
position but that is not enough for me to say this is the person who killed that
particular person. I am not in that position until investigation is completed.
Q. I asked about that particular question because we saw the videos of the person
kneeling, what we also saw is what appeared to be a commander appearing to be
telling the person by hitting on the shoulder to stop shooting. That’s why I was asking
the question whether there is more information at this stage?
A. Unfortunately Mr Chairman for that commander to get to that position of restraining
his colleague definitely I would want to leave that one to that particular officer
otherwise I would say something wrong on his behalf.
Q. We appreciate the investigations are going on, can you clarify whether or not it’s the
military doing those investigations or its solely the police. Sometimes there is a
difference of jurisdiction?
A. Whilst I don’t want to talk on behalf of the ZDF I know there is a department they call
Military Police I want to believe that they could be carrying out their own
investigations but in the ZRP for sure my CID department is investigating, the Law
and Order department.
Q. Do you know whether they have interviewed the families of the deceased or those
people who were injured yet?

State Media

Two medical reports handed over to court yesterday state that MDC Alliance member Joana Mamombe has a psychological problem that requires treatment, with her defence lawyer arguing for postponement of her trial on charges of incitement or participating in a public gathering with intent to cause public violence.

Her lawyer, Mr Alec Muchadehama, told the court that two of the three medical reports now before the court concurred that Mamombe has a psychological problem. “It is clear that Mamombe should be treated by a psychologist and the court would be given the review results,” he said. The third and earlier report said she was fit to stand trial.

Mr Muchadehama told the court that the trial should be postponed until such time his client would be fit to comprehend court proceedings.

Mamombe is jointly charged with other MDC Alliance activists Cecilia Chimbiri, Netsai Marova, Lovejoy Chitengu, Stanley Manyenga and Obey Tererai Sithole on the charge arising from an alleged illegal demonstration in Warren Park.

Prosecutor Mr Michael Reza said there was confusion as one doctor said on October 5 that Mamombe was perfectly well, but barely 15 days later, it was said she cannot comprehend court proceedings.

Mr Reza said the State will consider whether to try the accused separately, the five in one trial and Mamombe on her own at a different time.

Harare regional magistrate, Mrs Bianca Makwande, rolled over the matter to today to make a ruling on Mamombe’s treatment plan.

Mamombe also faces another charge of allegedly faking her abduction, together with Chimbiri and Marova.

On the current case, the six allegedly staged an illegal demonstration in Warren Park, Harare, in May this year, in violation of Covid-19 national lockdown measures. They were later intercepted and dispersed by police.

Paul Nyathi

Zimbabwe is back to battling with power cuts and the reinstated ZESA Holdings Chief Executive Officer Sydney Gata has blamed the troubles on targeted sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe by the West.

Gata who has made a sudden shift from blaming the power issues on obsolete equipment and low levels of water in Kariba says the sanctions have crippled ZESA Holdings operations, resulting it generating less than half of its capacity of between 4 000 to 5 000 megawatts.

Speaking during a meeting with stakeholders in Bindura, Dr Gata said sanctions have affected the company’s ability to get financial support internationally.

“Countries like the United States are making sure that the country does not get financial investment support and as a result our economy and the power utility are struggling to raise money or find investment that improve operations,” he said.

“Independent Power Producers (IPP) and international investors are failing to assist us because of the sanctions.

“In my estimation, Zimbabwe should be able to supply 4 000 to 5 000 megawatts for the population size that we have but due to sanction we are performing less than half that capacity.”

He said the country inherited the Rhodesian economy that was structured around an agricultural economy and there was need to keep supporting the sector.

“Ian Smith had the courage to declare independence after discovering that Kariba dam had 600 megawatts of cheap power. He had no worries about energy,” he said.

“The engineering industry and other sectors that were sufficient to support a modern economy were supported by agriculture. We have added to those efforts and between 2000 and 2005 we extended the grid by several thousand kilometres of distribution lines under the rural electrification programme. This saw connections of 6 500 schools most of them in the remote parts of the country.

“We still have to expand and do more in rural electrification. If we fail to supply electricity to the agriculture sector we would have failed the economy.”

Dr Gata said they were trying hard to revamp their operations and had started replacing copper wire with aluminium on infrastructure following continuous vandalism and theft of mainly copper and transformers.

Last year the power utility lost over US$18 million through vandalism and theft. They are continuing to lose copper and a section of transmission in Matebeleland was built using copper wire.

Midlands and Harare regions have lost the largest number of transformers.

“I have understood the grievance of our consumers who came from different sectors including agriculture, mining and residents associations in Bindura,” he said.

“Our challenge is quality of service and culture of service by Zesa. I have captured testimonies from the affected people who are the customers.

“I have recorded the depth of the frustration you have been experiencing. It is a waste of time to avail resources when there is no culture change. The final resource that I request you to invest in this process is time.”

State Media

A 25-year-old man appeared in court yesterday after masquerading as a medical doctor at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals casualty unit for seven months.

Admire Chisi from Zimre Park, Ruwa attended to patients and wrote medical affidavits and prescriptions until a senior doctor discovered him.

Chisi was charged with impersonating a public official and fraud when he appeared before Harare magistrate Mrs Judith Taruvinga.

Prosecutor Mr Sebastian Mutizirwa opposed bail saying Chisi was facing a serious offence. The matter was rolled over to today for continuation of bail hearing.

It is the State’s case that between April 2020 to October 20, Chisi went to Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals where he misrepresented that he was a medical doctor.

He was apprehended by Doctor Tapiwa Nyakudya after discovering some anomalies on his conduct that contrasted the medical profession and he failed to produce his practising certificate.

The court heard that Chisi was taken to the police where a report was made leading to his arrest. Parirenyatwa Hospital on Wednesday issued a statement confirming Chisi was a fake doctor and that they had handed him over to the police.

“On October 20 2020, Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals discovered that the Accident and Emergency Department had been infiltrated by a fake medical doctor who posed as a physician registrar.

“The matter was discovered after our vigilant casualty staff doubted his medical proficiency and made some inquiries. The suspect has been handed over to the police who are now handling the matter,” reads the statement.

However, labour lawyers, medical experts and other commentators questioned how the hospital could be infiltrated by a bogus doctor for seven months.

They blasted the leadership for failing to properly supervise staff while the security section of the institution was criticised for laxity.

A self-styled prophet who started a virtual church on WhatsApp has admitted bedding several female congregants who came to him for prayer and confided in him about problems they were having in their relationships.

Panashe Madekebve (28) who said he founded Daylight Ministries International runs a virtual church in a WhatsApp group called Heavenly Voices, where he allegedly proposes to women and visits them individually for prayers.

All hell, however, broke loose recently after the prophet posted pictures of a woman that he said he had proposed marriage to in the church group.

He allegedly duped some women he had promised to marry, into contributing money he used to engage the woman from Cowdray Park suburb.

A number of women from the church accused Madekebve of sleeping with them and dumping them after promising them marriage in the church group.

The prophet admitted to B-Metro that he had a weakness for women.

He is accused of even dribbling past parents of some of the girls he has had sex with by seeking accommodation in their homes pretending to be homeless.

“We have opened a WhatsApp group for victims of the prophet and we discovered that he would lie to us that he had lost a relative in Maphisa following a mine collapse. He would say all family members went there and forgot to leave keys to the house and hence start asking for accommodation. Some of the girls would talk to their parents and they would accommodate him.”

The prophet allegedly sweet-talked some congregants into giving him money and gadgets such as cellphones, saying they would get blessings in return.

According to the emotive messages, Madekebve’s trail of destruction goes as far as South Africa, where he was allegedly once based, in Cape Town, and where a number of girls regret wasting their time and money they spent on him while others fear for their health.

Some women in South Africa were made to financially support him by “seeding” money with him.

“We have discovered that many of us have been played by Prophet Panashe. He has a sweet tongue and he promises marriage to everyone that he proposes love to. He had promised to pay lobola for me this year and then a wedding next year. He was actually putting me under pressure to agree to marry him saying his ministry does not want him to be single,” a woman in her early 20s told B-Metro.

She said she later discovered the prophet had just engaged someone in the same church when pictures started circulating within the Heavenly Voices group.

In Bulawayo, eight women claimed the self-proclaimed prophet had unprotected sex with them and one suspects she is pregnant after missing her period.

“I was introduced to his Heavenly Voices WhatsApp group by a friend. I was having problems with my boyfriend and wanted him to assist with prayers. I did one-on-one with him via WhatsApp and to cut a long story short we ended up having sex,” said one of the women.

A South Africa-based woman said she strongly suspected the prophet used some magic to get girls.

“It was in May this year, after talking on WhatsApp. He was sending some silly messages and we started the relationship. We introduced each other to our families. I think I am the only one who was shown his real relatives because the other girls seem to have been introduced to fake relatives,” she said.

She said they had even started discussing marriage with the prophet but everything fell apart when he engaged another girl in Bulawayo.

The woman said the prophet at one time claimed his father had died and requested money from congregants who contributed in large numbers.

“A girl based in South Africa told me that the prophet requested money claiming that his only son was sick in hospital and needed money for medication. The girl sent him the money, not knowing that he wanted to use the money to engage another girl who stays in Cowdray Park.”

Another South Africa-based girl said the prophet would ask that she sends him her tithes and offerings.

“He was insisting that I send my tithe to him as well as seed money so that he can pray on my behalf for my things to be well. I regret ever meeting him. We had sex many times and he never wanted to use protection saying he would marry me,” she said.

After the cat was out of the bag the man of the cloth could not withstand the heat, and he reportedly removed all those who were attacking him from the WhatsApp group.

A pastor who knows Prophet Panashe and who spoke to B-Metro on condition of anonymity said it was shocking that such a “gifted” man of God was a sex pest.

“I came to know him after he invited me to preach in his church after I was introduced to him. He has a WhatsApp group, Heavenly Voices. I think that is where he targets the girls. He does not have a church here in the city so he does his prophecies on the WhatsApp group then if there is a need for prayers he goes to houses of the affected people,” said the pastor.

“I have spoken to some of his victims. It seems he has a network of people he is working with because he has introduced some of the girls to some people he claimed were his relatives but he does not have any relatives in Bulawayo,” said the pastor.

Madekebve’s grandmother, Gogo Madekebve, after hearing about his sexcapades sent him a voice note decrying his “evil behaviour”.

“Panashe my grandchild, I cried after hearing that you have engaged yet another girl.

Because of your deeds, I am now only waiting for the coffin carrying your body. What you are doing will kill you. I have prepared a grave, just waiting for your death,” said the grandmother in a WhatsApp voice note in possession of B-Metro.-B-Metro

A MAN from Gwezhera Village in Masvingo is on the run after he allegedly severely battered his daughter who died after a week at his homestead.

A source in the area said Tanyaradzwa Poruri (14) sneaked out of her bedroom hut through the window at night intending to attend a party. She headed to her cousin’s place and asked her to accompany her to the party but she refused. She ended up sleeping at her cousin’s home.

During the night, the source said, it rained heavily and raindrops poured into the bedroom hut through a window that the girl had left open.

Tanyaradzwa’s siblings cried for help, prompting their mother Merjury to head to their bedroom where she was shocked to find them alone, said the source.

The worried Merjury informed her husband Nhamoinesu Poruri (47) who in the morning went to a neighbour’s homestead and found her there.

“He tied her hands with tree fibre and dragged her to his homestead while thrashing her with a stick,” said the source.

Upon arrival at home he continued beating her with a stick and she was injured on the hands and legs.

It is reported that while he was beating her, Tanyaradzwa had a blackout and fell into the fire and suffered burns on the hands and thighs.

“They (parents) never took her to a hospital; they only soothed her with cold water. Sadly she died on Saturday.

When her father noticed that his daughter had died he fled and is still at large,” said the source close to investigation.

The matter was reported at Renco Police Station.

Masvingo acting police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Kudakwashe Dewa confirmed the incident.

“We are appealing to anyone with information that may lead to the arrest of the accused to contact any nearest police station.”-B-Metro

Farai Dziva|Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa has vowed to deal ruthlessly with perceived government opponents.

Speaking at the Official Opening of the Third session of the Ninth parliament in Harare on Thursday, Mr Mnangagwa accused detractors of working round the clock to disrupt government efforts to revive the economy.

“I would like to commend our security forces for working hard to defend our sovereignty and integrity.

We know that there are individuals who are working round the clock to disrupt and destabilize government programmes.We will deal with them accordingly, ” said Mr Mnangagwa.

Mr Mnangagwa also spoke of what he described as tremendous achievements of the new dispensation.

“We are the in the process of creating jobs for our people.We are happy with the reopening of our companies,” said Mr Mnangagwa.

However, political analysts dismissed Mr Mnangagwa’s speech as a cacophony of high sounding words and mere rhetoric.

Meanwhile social media users have challenged Mr Mnangagwa to address issues that are affecting ordinary Zimbabweans- including civil servants.

“Your speech is divorced from the reality on the ground.Address the bread butter issues that are affecting us,” commented one, Esyln on Facebook.

“This is the usual rhetoric – nothing new.Concede failure and go -simple,” wrote Smartman.

Acting Zanu PF spokesperson, Patrick Chinamasa has accused Zimbabweans of being unpatriotic.

Speaking at a Zanu PF media briefing in Harare on Wednesday, Chinamasa claimed Zanu PF educated Zimbabweans and citizens must return the favour by defending their country.

Watch video :

Farai Dziva|Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa has vowed to deal ruthlessly with perceived government opponents.

Speaking at the Official Opening of the Third session of the Ninth parliament in Harare on Thursday, Mr Mnangagwa accused detractors of working round the clock to disrupt government efforts to revive the economy.

“I would like to commend our security forces for working hard to defend our sovereignty and integrity.

We know that there are individuals who are working round the clock to disrupt and destabilize government programmes.We will deal with them accordingly, ” said Mr Mnangagwa.

Mr Mnangagwa also spoke of what he described as tremendous achievements of the new dispensation.

“We are the in the process of creating jobs for our people.We are happy with the reopening of our companies,” said Mr Mnangagwa.

However, political analysts dismissed Mr Mnangagwa’s speech as a cacophony of high sounding words and mere rhetoric.

Meanwhile social media users have challenged Mr Mnangagwa to address issues that are affecting ordinary Zimbabweans- including civil servants.

“Your speech is divorced from the reality on the ground.Address the bread butter issues that are affecting us,” commented one, Esyln on Facebook.

“This is the usual rhetoric – nothing new.Concede failure and go -simple,” wrote Smartman.

Farai Dziva|MDC Alliance Secretary General, Charlton Hwende has implored Zimbabweans to ignore the “Anti-Sanctions Day” arguing participating in the event will authenticate Zanu PF propaganda.

Hwende accused Zanu PF of being insensitive to the plight of suffering Zimbabweans.

“Participating in this call by @ZANUPF_Official is the same with endorsing Abduction and torture of innocent Zimbabweans.

21 people who were shot and killed in Jan 2019 by soldiers have not received justice.

You will be endorsing theft of elections and Corruption #Musaitiswe,” Hwende wrote on Twitter.

Farai Dziva|MDC Alliance Secretary General, Charlton Hwende has implored Zimbabweans to ignore the “Anti-Sanctions Day” arguing participating in the event will authenticate Zanu PF propaganda.

Hwende accused Zanu PF of being insensitive to the plight of suffering Zimbabweans.

“Participating in this call by @ZANUPF_Official is the same with endorsing Abduction and torture of innocent Zimbabweans.

21 people who were shot and killed in Jan 2019 by soldiers have not received justice.

You will be endorsing theft of elections and Corruption #Musaitiswe,” Hwende wrote on Twitter.

A 49-YEAR-OLD man from Sikombingo Village in Lower Gweru in the Midlands Province has been arrested for allegedly impregnating his 15-year-old stepdaughter after raping her three times.

Each time his wife, the victim’s mother, was away, the accused would sneak into the bedroom where the complainant slept with her other siblings before raping her.

In one of the counts, one of the siblings woke up to relieve herself and allegedly witnessed her father raping the complainant.

Each time the accused raped the complainant, he allegedly threatened her with death if she dared report the rape to anyone.

When the complainant’s mother discovered the pregnancy, she allegedly lied that her boyfriend was responsible as she feared being killed by the accused.

This was heard when the accused appeared before Gweru regional magistrate Mrs Phathekile Msipa facing three counts of rape.

The accused who has pleaded guilty to just one count, was remanded out of custody to October 27 for continuation of trial.

Mr Talent Tadenyika is representing the State.-Chronicle

Patrick Chitumba, Midlands Bureau Chief
THE trial of former Kwekwe magistrate Story Rushambwa (48) who was arrested together with the Clerk of Court Bright Mpiyabo (45) on allegations of abuse of office, kicked off at the Gweru magistrates court yesterday.

The pair who apppeared before Gokwe regional magistrate Mr Taurai Manwere, pleaded not guilty.

The trial of the duo who are on $2 000 bail each, continues today.

Rushambwa was early this year suspended from work pending investigations after he was arrested together with Mpiyabo on allegations of illegally facilitating the release of a stolen vehicle to controversial businessman Shepherd Tundiya.

Rushambwa has since been dismissed from work following a disciplinary hearing on June 1 which found him guilty and recommended his dismissal.

It is alleged that sometime in October last year, a Toyota Hilux vehicle was impounded by the police anti-corruption unit from John Mapurazi, a miner in Kwekwe.

The vehicle was allegedly taken as an exhibit after it was fraudulently imported into the country.

The State alleges the vehicle was then handed over to Zimra for customs management.

It is alleged that on December 27 last year, Mapurazi made an ex parte application seeking the release of the vehicle.

Rushambwa and Mpiyabo allegedly hatched a plan to order the release of the motor vehicle to Mapurazi.

Mpiyabo deliberately withheld the record so that the matter could be presided over by Rushambwa despite the fact that Rushambwa was on leave.

The State alleges Mpiyabo then placed the record before Rushambwa well knowing he was on leave.

Rushambwa presided over the application in the absence of Mapurazi who was now being represented by Tundiya who is not a legal practitioner.

The magistrate went on to grant the order for the release of the motor vehicle to Mapurazi showing favour to him.

The former officer-in-charge of CID Gweru, Detective Inspector Leonard Gwandu has been sentenced to three years in jail for the same case.-Chronicle

Paul Nyathi

PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwa is spending Thursday night at the Bulawayo State House somthing that he rarely does.

Mnangagwa arrived in the City on Thursday evening on his way to Lupane where is set to preside over the state university’s graduation ceremony on Friday.

Mnangagwa who arrived aboard an air Zimbabwe plane, was met at the Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo international airport by the Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution Judith Ncube, service chiefs, senior government officials and Zanu-pf party officials.

Both President Mnangagwa and his predecessor Robert Mugabe hardly spend the night at the State House in Bulawayo which was built by the colonial goverment on a land where the last Ndebele King, Lobengula built his palace.

Former MDC Alliance leaders Douglas Mwonzora and Engineer Elias Mudzuri have showered praises to President Emmerson Mnangagwa following his State of The Nation Address on Thursday.

The address by President Emerson Mnangagwa was pregnant with the message of how Zimbabwe has achieved economic stability in the “Second Dispensation” amid a myriad of past challenges inherited from the first Republic.

MDC-T Acting Secretary General, Mwonzora said now is the time to ensure that all the economic gains achieved so far achieved benefit all.

“We acknowledge the gains that have been made so far but let’s now build on them to ensure that our citizens can also benefit,” he said.

“We are very supportive of the President’s directive to show oneness in the manner we conduct ourselves for the purpose of building our country,” said Honourable Elias Mudzuri.

“In a very short space of time many infrastructure development projects have been undertaken hence this address put into focus what Zimbabweans should expect once all Government programs have been rolled out,” said Murehwa South legislator, Joel Biggie Matiza.

Turning to the legislative agenda for the third session of the ninth Parliament, Leader of Government Business in the National Assembly, Honourable Ziyambi Ziyambi underscored the need for urgent action in passing bills.

“The President has set up the agenda for the bills we are supposed to debate and pass bills and our goal is to ensure that this is done with speed so that we harness the law-making function of this arm of the state,” said Honourable Ziyambi Ziyambi, Leader of Government Business in the National Assembly.

“The SONA was very impressive and our position as a party was to listen to it so that we constructively debate the bills in the third session of the ninth assembly.”

With a rallying call by President Mnangagwa for all Zimbabweans to unite, the opposition concurred that national development will be in vain if we sow seeds of hatred and division.

President Mnangagwa revealed that despite several headwinds such as the cyclone Idai, drought and the Covid 19 pandemic, Zimbabwe has recorded significant milestones in all spheres hence the five-year National Development Strategy which is replacing the Transitional Stabilization Programme will spur economic growth towards achieving Vision 2030.

Paul Nyathi

Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ) president, Dr Takavafira Zhou has said teachers have not changed from their previous stance and will not be intimidated by government into changing as they are still incapacitated to return to work.

We post below his unedited statement.

Incapacitation Rages On

22 October 2020

The struggle continues unabated. There will be no defeat no surrender. Concerted efforts by the United Front of all teacher unions are at an advanced stage to engage the President of the Country to intervene over the parlous state of affairs in schools.

Its good that we have education officials touring schools across the country this week and our greatest hope is that they would be able to report as accurately as possible rather than fabricate the sorry state in schools.

School Heads have been using personal data bundles and many have now been crippled by the incessant information requisition so much that they are no longer sending any statistics. We salaute this level of our struggle.

We salute decorated cdes who have stood firm in our incapacitation modus operandi. We cherish such distinguished dedication and commitment to a legitimate cause of incapacitation. Our struggle would have been won in the first week of our incapacitation had all comrades responded in this fashionable manner. All the same the ripple effects of our heroic incapacitation have reached far and wide and is now riverberating in gvt corridors.

We condemn outrightly the logging brigade epitomised by schools in Chiredzi ( Masvingo) which gives an impression of normalcy in schools when nothing is virtually happening there. Be warned that you will burn your fingers soon.

It is encouraging that some extortionist schools and teachers are beating a retreat. But we still have a few former Group A schools in Bulawayo, Gweru, Masvingo, Mutare and Harare still acclimitised to extortion and incentives. Chibi High, Chivi district (Masvingo province), St johns Chikwaka, Goromonzi District, Mashonaland Central, etc have become notorious for extortion. But let me won the teachers that the US$20 per month coming to you has added your names to a number of teachers’ enemies and soon you will reap the consequences of extortion. Let it sink in every teachers that the incapacitation battle cannot be fought on your behalf. It is a battle you must fully participate in for your dignity, status restoration and posterity.https://tpc.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-37/html/container.html

Some parents have done the most noble thing, viz, taking their children back from boarding schools and stopping their children from going to school until gvt and teachers reach an understanding over issues of welfare of teachers and prioritisation of their health and safety. We urge parents to serious take our advice into consideration as it can only be neglected at their children’s peril.

There have been reported covid 19 cases among teachers and pupils and this justifies our call for testing teachers and pupils before congregation in schools. Blame us it doesnt matter, history has always absolved us.

The welfare of teachers matter and so likewise is their health and safety. Teachers are their own liberators and our clarion call for a living wage rages on. Forward ever and backwards never.

Aluta Continua

Dr Takavafira M. Zhou (Ptuz President)

Paul Nyathi

The US Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Brian Nichols, has belittled the Zimbabwe anti sanctions day set for Sunday.

Ambassador Nichols said that the amount of energy government is wasting on lobbying for the uplifting of the sanctions should instead be directed at efforts to bring about reforms prescribed for the sanctions to be lifted.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government has blamed the worsening economic environment on the punitive measures the West has slapped on Zimbabwe.

Watch the video below:

Paul Nyathi

Former MDC-T National Chairman, Lovemore Moyo has been named as potential contestants in the upcoming reconstructed MDC-T Extraordinary Elective Congress set for November or December.

Moyo the former speaker of Parliament and chairman is tipped for the post of vice president or chairperson.

Other MDC-T big names appearing in the contest are secretary general Douglas Mwonzora, national chairman Morgan Komichi, Paurina Mpariwa, Elias Mudzuri and Khupe.

Khupe wants to retain her position as the president of the party.

She is likely to battle it out with Mwonzora for the president position.

Komichi will likely square off against Mudzuri for the vice president position.

Mpariwa is likely to be nominated to be chairperson of the MDC-T women’s wing and Shakespeare Mukoyi being tipped to land the post of the youth chairperson.

Abednico Bhebhe is likely to be retained as the organising secretary.

Gift Chimanikire is tipped to be the secretary general. The party’s spokesperson Khalipani Phungeni is likely to retain his post.

Samuel Sipepa Nkomo is also in the race for one of the senior portfolios posts in the party.

Komichi confirmed that the nomination process has begun in the various provinces to select candidates.

“The candidates are campaigning in the various provinces and it is likely to be a highly contested congress with many candidates expressing their interest to contest and one has to be nominated by provinces,” Komichi said.

He said a number of the senior party members wanted to contest for powerful portfolios at the congress but were keeping their cards close to their chest.

The closing date for the nomination is October 25. Komichi said the preparation for the elective congress slated for December is going on smoothly with over 4 000 delegates being expected to participate.

Komichi said his party was going ahead with congress preparations and all the MPs and councillors and other leaders in the MDC Alliance led by Nelson Chamisa were not welcomed to participate.

Other party members of the MDC Alliance have approached the court challenging the directive by Khupe to bar them from attending and contesting for any post at the congress.

“We know that party members of MDC Alliance are being sponsored by Chamisa and his party seeking to stop our congress or to gate-crash and participate but they will not be successful,” Komichi said.

Source – Business Times

State Media

Diversified media group Zimbabwe Newspapers 1980 Ltd’s online streaming service, Zimpapers Television Network (ZTN), has presented credentials for consideration of a television licence to the Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe (BAZ).

Fourteen companies have applied for TV licences, including ZTN, whose online streaming has already attracted interest from various quarters.

The group’s board chairman, Mr Tommy Sithole, led ZTN’s presentation on Wednesday, and said they will be guided by preserving the national interest.

“Our vision as a group is to fully serve the diverse needs of our content consumers, and television is the next big thing for us,” he said.

“A television license will give us more opportunities to serve our nation by doing the things we do best. Educating our people about themselves, the country and bringing the world closer to them.

“Entertaining them through the promotion of our own very rich culture, the arts and sport.”

Mr Sithole said they will be informing people about nation building and bring to life that of which the people fought for, with many others paying the ultimate price.

“We assure you that the national interest shall be our guiding principle as indeed it has always been,” he said.

“The welfare of our nation is the development and happiness of Zimbabweans and shall be the determining factor in how we apply for the licence we seek from you today.”

Zimpapers Chief Executive Officer Mr Pikirayi Deketeke said the application for a television licence was not only a financial proposition, but to also aid the stable’s goals to give expression to the country’s political, social and economic aspirations of the majority.

He said the company was already employing more than 1 000 people and was looking to add more human resources, which dovetails into President Mnangagwa’s vision of creating employment.

“As a business whose majority shareholders are the people of Zimbabwe, through the Zimbabwe Mass Media Trust, it is incumbent upon Zimpapers that it plays a leading role in the development of our country,” said Mr Deketeke.

“Over the last 40 years, we have invested in our capacity to create and distribute content on multiple platforms, and have demonstrated our ability to do so guided by the national interest and the public benefit while maintaining profitability for the benefit of all our shareholders.”

ZTN General Manager Nomsa Nkala gave a detailed overview of the operations of the online streaming services.