A man from Bulawayo allegedly severely assaulted his co-tenant until he fainted, rushed him to hospital where he pretended to be his next of kin and disappeared when doctors called and informed him that the victim had died.
Unit Dube (32) allegedly attacked Tererai Chigwedere (40) in Embundane suburb in Umguza on the outskirts of Bulawayo following a brawl over an undisclosed matter. The incident occurred last Thursday and Chigwedere died the following day at Mpilo Central Hospital.
Dube informed one of their neighbours Ms Anna Nkomo about the incident shortly after the attack. Ms Nkomo is said to have informed the duo’s landlord who rushed to the scene and assisted in ferrying Chigwedere to Mpilo Central Hospital in his car.
Sources said at the hospital Dube posed as Chigwedere’s next of kin and when he died authorities phoned him leading to his disappearance.
Acting Bulawayo provincial police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Nomalanga Msebele confirmed the murder. She said investigations on the matter were underway.
“We are investigating a murder case which occurred in Mbundane suburb. A man was assaulted last Thursday and he died the following day at Mpilo Central Hospital. The accused who is now on the run is said to have struck his 40-year-old co-tenant with an unknown object and the victim was later rushed to Mpilo Central Hospital while unconscious. After the attack, the accused reported the incident to one of their neighbours, Anna Nkomo who upon arriving at their house found the victim sitting in his room with several cuts on his head and face,” said Asst Insp Msebele.
She said Ms Nkomo alerted the house owner who resides in Gwanda but had visited his relatives in Bulawayo’s Emganwini suburb. Asst Insp Msebele said the landlord drove Chigwedere to hospital where he later died.
She said police started to search for Dube so that he could account for Chigwedere’s death.
“The suspect is on the run and police have launched a manhunt. We are therefore appealing to members of the public with information that may lead to the arrest of the suspect to contact any nearest police station,” she said.
“As police we would like to urge members of the public to desist from resorting to violence when trying to resolve disputes. -Chronicle
Farai Dziva|Fearless human rights activist Namatai Kwekweza has dismissed the discourse indicating that Zanu PF is a party of patriots.
On the contrary Zanu PF bigwigs are haters of ordinary citizens, argued Kwekweza.
“Don’t get confused MaZimbo any party that gets into power and doesn’t work to ensure that ALL Zimbos are safe, secure and well governed is not a party of patriots.
Any party that abducts people and lies about it, is not a party of patriots. #ZimbabweanLivesMatter
Zanu Pf is just a political party. It is not the state. ZANU pf is not Zimbabwe and Zimbabwe is not ZANU PF. ZANU pf can not monopolize the definition of patriotism. Even in ZANU pf there are no patriots. That’s why our country has fallen. #ZimbabweanLivesMatter
ZANU PF is not the whole of Zimbabwe Just because we are not ZANU PF members, doesn’t mean we hate Zimbabwe. Just because you are a ZANU PF member it doesn’t mean you love Zimbabwe. #ZimbabweanLivesMatter
ZANU PF people are some of the biggest haters of Zim and it’s people. Think abductions, looting, political violence, authoritarianism. 40years after independence Zimbabwe still looks like a growth point by world standards because of ZANU PF looting. These people don’t love Zim,” Kwekweza wrote on Twitter.
Farai Dziva|Fearless human rights activist Namatai Kwekweza has dismissed the discourse indicating that Zanu PF is a party of patriots.
On the contrary Zanu PF bigwigs are haters of ordinary citizens, argued Kwekweza.
“Don’t get confused MaZimbo any party that gets into power and doesn’t work to ensure that ALL Zimbos are safe, secure and well governed is not a party of patriots.
Any party that abducts people and lies about it, is not a party of patriots. #ZimbabweanLivesMatter
Zanu Pf is just a political party. It is not the state. ZANU pf is not Zimbabwe and Zimbabwe is not ZANU PF. ZANU pf can not monopolize the definition of patriotism. Even in ZANU pf there are no patriots. That’s why our country has fallen. #ZimbabweanLivesMatter
ZANU PF is not the whole of Zimbabwe Just because we are not ZANU PF members, doesn’t mean we hate Zimbabwe. Just because you are a ZANU PF member it doesn’t mean you love Zimbabwe. #ZimbabweanLivesMatter
ZANU PF people are some of the biggest haters of Zim and it’s people. Think abductions, looting, political violence, authoritarianism. 40years after independence Zimbabwe still looks like a growth point by world standards because of ZANU PF looting. These people don’t love Zim,” Kwekweza wrote on Twitter.
MASVINGO –MDC T Secretary General, Douglas Mwonzora has expelled Dusty Zivhaze, an MDC founding member who succumbed to ulcers on July 15, 2019 from the party.
An internal memo dated July 2, 2020 and signed by Mwonzora in possession of The Mirror affirms the expulsion. Efforts to get a comment from Mwonzora were futile.
Zivhave, an MDC founding member died on July 15, 2019 at Checheche St Peters Hospital after battling ulcers. He was the secretary for information and publicity at his death.
The memo expels 34 members from Harare, Mash West, Manicaland, Mash Central, Chitungwiza, Bulawayo, Masvingo, Mat North and Mat South.
In Masvingo, the late Zivhaze was expelled together with provincial chairperson James Gumbi, Takanayi Mureyi and youth leader Philip Chingini.
“In terms of clause 5 (10)a of the constitution of the MDC party be their joining or supporting another party they have automatically terminated their membership of the MDC party led by the late Dr Richard Morgan Tsvangirai,” reads part of the memo.
Farai Dziva|MDC Alliance deputy national chairperson, Hon Job Sikhala, has said Mr Kembo Mohadi is a delusional and misguided politician.
Hon Sikhala was responding to Mr Mohadi’s assertion that Zanu PF will rule Zimbabwe forever.
Hon Sikhala also challenged Mr Chris Mutsvangwa to stop rambling about sanctions.
“We all heard Chris Mutsvangwa rambling about the stupidity of using sanctions as an excuse of failure.
They damned their Mugabe for using sanctions as the excuse for his failures. Those who told us about the stupidity of using sanctions as an excuse are in the same default mode today,” argued Hon Sikhala.
“This young Terrence Manjengwa is suffering for standing with me during my incarceration. He came to Court in solidarity with myself. They took him to jail… Pliz Free Terry.”
“Dear Kembo Mohadi. You are deluded to entertain your illusions that you will rule this country forever.
Although you call yourself junta, what you are saying will happen over our dead bodies.
Makajaidzwa kudzvanyirira vanhu. We are on this case as serious as you purport to be.”
The Thokozani Khupe led MDC-T has barred members of the nelson Chamisa led MDC-Alliance from attending its much-awaited Extra-Ordinary Congress (EOC) which has been slated for the second week of December.
The splinter group has been at loggerheads with the Chamisa’s led outfit over the control of the opposition party and tensions are at fever pitch.
Addressing the media Monday, the party’s Secretary-General said only bona fide MDC-T members are eligible to attend the congress and those who jumped ship to join other political formations will be barred from attending.
TelTrack “The meeting emphasized that the extraordinary congress processes shall be open only to bonafide members of the MDC-T. All those who have joined, formed or are supporting other political parties, not the MDC-T have by operation of clause 5.10a of our constitution automatically terminated their membership of the party.
“Those who have been recalled were recalled on the basis that they ceased to belong to the party. They are not eligible to participate in the extraordinary congress processes. The meeting totally rejected the calls by G40 and leaders of the new MDC Alliance party for their members to attend the congress as this is simply designed to destabilise our extraordinary congress processes,” he said.
He added “Some people simply want to be stars in the absence of the sun. There is no sense in people who have already moved on and formed their own political parties to try to undermine the leadership of another political party.”
Mwonzora said the electoral processes of the congress will be conducted by an Independent Electoral Board to be appointed from local workers’ representative organisations both local and international including churches, civil society and prominent persons.
Zimbabwe’s secretary for Information, Nick Mangwana has dismissed as fake reports suggesting that the government will be closing schools due to an absence of teachers.
The message circulated on social media and attributed to Mangwana claimed that the government had succumbed o pressure as teachers continue with their industrial action and will close schools on 23 October. Read the doctored post:
All schools are to be closed on Friday 23 October with immediate effect because of the wild behaviour that students are doing at school in the absence of teachers (sic).
Moments after post was published online, Mangwana shared a screenshot of the post dismissing it as “a sick joke.” He said:
This is making rounds on WhatsApp, it is not legit. Just someone’s sick joke.
Teachers did not return to work when schools reopened on 28 September demanding the restoration of their 2018 salaries.
LONDON: The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases across the planet has surpassed 40 million, but experts say that is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the true impact of the pandemic that has upended life and work around the world.
The milestone was hit Monday morning, according to Johns Hopkins University, which collates reports from around the world.
The actual worldwide tally of COVID-19 cases is likely to be far higher, as testing has been uneven or limited, many people have had no symptoms and some governments have concealed the true number of cases. To date, more than 1.1 million confirmed virus deaths have been reported, although experts also believe that number is an undercount.
The U.S., India and Brazil are reporting by far the highest numbers of cases — 8.1 million, 7.5 million and 5.2 million respectively — although the global increase in recent weeks has been driven by a surge in Europe, which has seen over 240,000 confirmed virus deaths in the pandemic so far.
In the U.S., some states are trying more targeted measures as cases continue to rise across the country. New York’s new round of virus shutdowns zeroes in on individual neighborhoods, closing schools and businesses in hot spots measuring just a couple of square miles.
As of last week, new cases per day were on the rise in 44 U.S. states, with many of the biggest surges in the Midwest and Great Plains, where resistance to wearing masks and taking other precautions has been running high and the virus has often been seen as just a big-city problem. Deaths per day were climbing in 30 states.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, the U.S. government’s top infectious-disease expert, said Americans should think hard about whether to hold Thanksgiving gatherings next month.
The World Health Organization said last week that Europe had a reported a record weekly high of nearly 700,000 cases and said the region was responsible for about a third of cases globally. Britain, France, Russia and Spain account for about half of all new cases in the region, and countries like Belgium and the Czech Republic are facing more intense outbreaks now than they did in the spring.
WHO said the new measures being taken across Europe are “absolutely essential” in stopping COVID-19 from overwhelming its hospitals. Those include new requirements on mask-wearing in Italy and Switzerland, closing schools in Northern Ireland and the Czech Republic, closing restaurants and bars in Belgium, implementing a 9 p.m. curfew in France and having targeted limited lockdowns in parts of the U.K.
The agency said several European cities could soon see their intensive care units overwhelmed and warned that governments and citizens should take all necessary measures to slow the spread of the virus, including bolstering testing and contact tracing, wearing face masks and following social distancing measures.
WHO has previously estimated about 1 in 10 of the world’s population — about 780 million people — have been infected with COVID-19, more than 20 times the official number of cases. That suggests the vast majority of the world’s population is still susceptible to the virus.
Some researchers have argued that allowing COVID-19 to spread in populations that are not obviously vulnerable will help build up herd immunity and is a more realistic way to stop the pandemic instead of the restrictive lockdowns that have proved economically devastating.
But WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has warned against the belief that herd immunity might be a viable strategy to pursue, saying this kind of protection needs to be achieved by vaccination, not by deliberately exposing people to a potentially fatal disease.
“Allowing a dangerous virus that we don’t fully understand to run free is simply unethical,” Tedros said last week.
The U.N. health agency said it hopes there might be enough data to determine if any of the COVID-19 vaccines now being tested are effective by the end of the year. But it warned that first-generation vaccines are unlikely to provide complete protection and that it could take at least two years to bring the pandemic under control.
Logistics experts also say that some 3 billion of the world’s 7.8 billion people live in areas that lack the infrastructure to refrigerate new vaccines safely, a challenge that is sure to slow down the delivery of vaccines to those areas. This includes most of Central Asia, much of India and southeast Asia, Latin America except for the largest countries, and all but a tiny corner of Africa.
My name is Yevai Mushambadope, a registered Nurse in Birmingham UK. I am appealing for urgent help on behalf of Lawrence Tawonezvi Mubvumbi (34) a husband and a father to a girl (7) and a boy (4), who resides in Zimbabwe. Lawrence is a Catholic who attends at St Monica Parish in Seke Chitungwiza. Lawrence has been diagnosed with a tumor on his jaw (bone growth), doctors call it ameloblastoma.
Teachers’ representative unions have said they stand ready to open, genuine dialogue with the government over the ongoing industrial action.
Eight unions released a joint statement expressing willingness to resolve the prolonged stand-off between workers and the employer. The statement read in part:
Teacher union leaders are ready to engage in meaningful dialogue any time from now to end the current logjam..
(The) Public Service Commission or the government should take teachers’ plight seriously and stop this tomfoolery of playing hide-and-seek with the lives of teachers in particular and of the innocent learners.
Teachers remain incapacitated as nothing has changed. This means our members will not be able to
report for duty anytime soon until the government faithfully engages teachers’ unions.
Teachers refused to return to school when schools were reopened on 28 September after they were prematurely closed in March when the country recorded its first coronavirus case.
They are vowing not to return to work if the government has not met their demands which include the restoration of their 2018 salaries when they were earning about US$500.
Like many other government workers, they are currently earning an equivalent of US$30 on average.
Farai Dziva| A crestfallen Douglas Mwonzora left Masvingo Province in agony after addressing 15 people, including himself at a rally in Chivi Central Constitutiency at the weekend.
Mwonzora who was hoping to address hundreds of members of the MDC T 2014 structures was stunned when he found himself addressing a paltry gathering in Chivi.
Mwonzora also addressed a poorly attended meeting in Masvingo Urban Constituency.
The individuals who attended the meeting are not Congress delegates, it has emerged.
“Mr Mwonzora’ s bid to address hundreds of members of the MDC T 2014 structures hit a snag.
His meetings were poorly attended,” a source told ZimEye.com.
Dear G7002-*****. In order to preserve the value of your funeral policy benefits, with effect from 1 Dec 2020, your monthly premium will increase to ZWL$5017.44. For any adjustments kindly visit your nearest @Nyaradzo_Group Life Assurance Company Office.| TEACHER'S SALARY $12,591
POLITICS HAS BECOME A PERMANENT TOOL FOR THE PRIMITIVE ACCUMULATION OF STATE RESOURCES IN ZANUPF, MDC ALLIANCE NAMIBIA ASSERTS.
At a juncture of widespread poverty and extreme economic woes, Zanupf politicians are not ashamed to choose conspicuous extravagance and barefaced corruption manifesting through some greedy ministers who continue to loot with impunity. Mdc Alliance Namibia is cobra-headed to witness stomach politicians of plunder and self-enrichment forging ahead eating on behalf of the masses who continue to gnash their teeth in abject poverty.
The incumbent Deputy Minister of Health and Child Care, Dr John Mangwiro, has learned nothing from the corrupt and fired former Minister of Health Dr Obadiah Moyo who was dismissed over his involvement in US$60 million Covid-19 procurement scandal. The incessant tender storms rocking our different parastatals emanate from the selective application of the law against criminals in Zimbabwe. There is outright disconnection between the aspirations of the poor and practical implementation by both elected and appointed leaders in government. We are quite aware that the politicians are being protected by the weaponised law that does not convict the looters of our state resources.
Mdc Alliance Namibia is absolutely infuriated by the behaviour of clueless Zanupf and their greedy ministers who are allowed to rob state institutions when the generality of Zimbabweans are all over the globe hunting for quality livelihoods and they are struggling to keep their heads above poverty. Only a small number of well-connected individuals could walk away with a cool US$60 million and continue to live a normal life out of jail worse without any pay back of the stolen money from the state.
The Health and Child Care Deputy Minister Dr John Mangwiro allegedly railroad the National Pharmaceutical Company (NatPharm), in dramatic events, including visiting the parastatal’s workers at night and bullying them with dismissal, to award a US$5.6 million contract to an undeserving company – Young Health Care. This is contained in the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (Zaac) report which says the Deputy Minister had ‘personal interest’ in the matter.
Moreover,the investigation, conducted from 31st August to September 4 this year , looked into circumstances of how the Ministry of Health and Child Care administered a Covid-19 tender (NAT ITCB FWWK 04/2020) for the purchase of laboratory equipment, reagents and consumables. The pro-Zanupf newspaper, The Sunday Mail, recently reported that senior Government Officials were allegedly caught with hands in the till over the Covid-19 materials procurement. This is incontrovertible evidence to prove that politics has become a tool for self-enrichment. The desperate Zanupf government has been afflicted by the inability to practically implement all those good laws and policies for the benefit of all our people especially the youths. It has become apparent that the rich have gotten richer and the poor have gotten more poorer.
Moreso, the suspected violations stem from allegations against the Deputy Minister are that he coaxed NatPharm to give Young Health Care a tender and advance payments before delivery of goods. This is in direct contravention of the Public Finance Management Act and Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets. It is clear that the corrupt minister used his political power as a springboard for the primitive accumulation of state funds.
Dr Mangwiro, annexed the duties of the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary through issuing innumerable directives to NatPharm. Young Health Care , cropped up and was offered a contract through a directive from then acting Permanent Secretary Dr Gibson Mhlanga , at a time when it was not even registered with the Procurement Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (Praz) as required by law. The NatPharm acting director , Mr Zealous Nyabadza thwarted the alleged unlawful act by the Deputy Minister of Health and Child Care officials resulting in a public tendering process which was deferred to allow Young Health Care to register with Praz.
Mdc Alliance Namibia have also learnt that when NatPharm reiterated on competitive bidding, Young Health Care Limited subsequently submitted a bid price of US$3 600 000 for the same items. This saw a reduction of 36 percent in the price in antithesis with the initial quotation by Young Health Care for supply of commodities under direct procurement , where prices quoted were devilish. It amounted to plethoric US$5 600 000, which was coincidentally the identical amount that was available in the ministry’s coffers, insinuating that the company had innermost information. As citizens in the diaspora, we are interested to know the owner of Young Health Care Company who had accurate financial details of the Ministry’s fiscus.
Furthermore, after twenty (22) companies advanced their interest, Dr John Mangwiro ostensibly side-stepped and wooed NatPharm top managers , at odd hours , to unceremoniously award the tender to Young Health Care before terrorising the vulnerable parastatal’s employees with dismissal if they acted otherwise. He forged demanding that a purchase order be issued that same , dark night. Young Health Care was then illegally awarded a contract to supply goods worth US$124 630 instead of US$922 000 that had been demanded as advance. As Mdc Alliance Namibia, we resonate with Bayart who describes African political power in the post-colonial era and draws specific attention to the relationship between patrimonialism , clientelism, corruption and power.
This nature of corruption blight brings forth linkages between government and institutionalised fraud:smuggling , the plundering of state resources , the growth of ego, privatisation of state institutions (state capture) and the development of ‘economies of plunder’. We absolutely condemn Zanupf politicians for eating on behalf of the starving unsuspecting masses. It invites cynicism and disillusionment when Zanupf politicians continue to shift blame on sanctions, opposition, journalists , the media analysts , local business people, citizens in the diaspora and so on. It has become clear that our poverty and suffering in Zimbabwe and outside is artificially made by Zanupf. The depletion of social trust has a numbing effect on communal survival tactics and strategies.
The uncouth behaviour of Zanupf ministers must be resisted with equal measure. It spews forth a particularly vile concoction of greed, graft and arrogance.
In a nutshell, Mdc Alliance Namibia, urges Zaac to be objective in combating corruption in government. This politics of the belly attests to a distinctively African trajectory of power that we need to comprehend as part of a long-term historical development. Corruption and greed have become Zanupf’s modus operandi. They are now permanent features of their human existence.
President Mnangagwa has met three ambassador-designates at State House in Harare this morning where the trio was bidding farewell to the Head of State.
Ambassador Charity Charamba
Ambassadors Charity Charamba who is going to Zambia, Johannes Tomana deployed to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Nancy Saungweme who is headed for Malawi — paid a courtesy call on President Mnangagwa where they were briefed on their roles and duties and what the President expects from them.
Ambassador Johannes Tomanahttps://tpc.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-37/html/container.html
The three said they were going to represent Zimbabwe, strengthen bilateral relations and also work on attracting foreign direct investment.
Ambassador Nancy Saungweme
The ambassadors are also expected to advance the engagement and re-engagement drive in pursuit of the Vision 2030 economic agenda.
HIGHLANDERS will take delivery of the first of the three cars promised by a local clergy to help the club tie down their captains in three weeks time.
Speaking at the sidelines of a three-day church conference that ended on Sunday at Bulawayo’s Johane Masowe Chishanhu Selbourne Park, the sect leader Madzibaba Manuel Mutumwa said he has ordered from a local dealer.
Mutumwa, who last week pledged two cars for use by Highlanders’ captains, while serving the club, added another vehicle for the vice-captain.
Bosso are captained by goalkeeper Ariel Sibanda, who is deputised by defender Peter Muduhwa and Nqobizitha Masuku.
After hearing reports that Highlanders have started negotiating with key players for contract extensions, Mutumwa decided to “spice up” the talks by offering cars to the club.
Mutumwa of the Johane Chishanu Selbourne Park is a die-hard Highlanders’ supporter and he believes the club’s followers play “a big role” in keeping Bosso afloat, hence the need to assist office bearers in achieving their goals.
“I’m happy to see Highlanders players, coach and chief executive here at church as well as other sports personalities coming to get blessings. At first I had said I’ll get two cars for the club, but I learnt that there are three captains so each of them deserves a car. When the Lord blesses me and the church, I see no reason why I shouldn’t bless the team that I love most by giving them cars. I’ve ordered the cars from a local dealer who said he has a shipment coming from Japan which should be arriving in three weeks time,” said Mutumwa.
Bosso have been engaging in contract extension negotiations with the trio of Sibanda, Masuku and Muduhwa.
The three joined Highlanders chief executive officer Nhlanhla Dube, coach Mandla Mpofu, winger Godfrey Makaruse and Bukhozi Zakhu Sibanda at Sunday’s service.
Manica Diamonds midfielder Xolisani Moyo and former FC Platinum midfielder Winston Mhango who is in the country following expiry of his contract with Kabwe Warriors of Zambia also attended the service.
THE Zimbabwe senior men’s cricket team has left for Pakistan where they are scheduled to play the hosts in two limited overs series.
The Chevrons left on Monday morning with a travelling squad of 20 players.
The side has been in a secure bio-bubble camp for the past week for the final part of their preparations to minimize the risks of contracting coronavirus ahead of the trip. They are scheduled to arrive in Pakistan on Tuesday and continue with their practice in isolation.
Zimbabwe will play Pakistan in three One Day Internationals and as many T20 Internationals between October 30 and November 10. The matches will be played in a secure bubble in line with the COVID-19 health and safety protocols.
They say a child is a blessing, but for me it is a heavy load, which I am failing to carry. My name is Regina Matadza. I’m 30 years old and expecting my second child. I live in Harare, Zimbabwe.
In January, when I discovered that I was pregnant, I could not sleep for days; I was worried about how I was going to manage. My husband works in Mount Pleasant, a Harare suburb, as a gardener earning ZW $2,500 (US $25) a month. Thank God we live on the property he gardens. Rent is not an issue, at least for now.
In the early days of my pregnancy, I begged my husband’s employer to hire me as a housemaid. They agreed, but only on a part-time basis. I’m paid ZW $1,500 (US $15) a month. This part-time work gave me time to move around, buying and selling various goods and looking for more work in the neighbourhood. I thought, if we both worked and saved a little, by the delivery day, all would be sorted for the baby.
Then suddenly, in March, because of the coronavirus lockdown, we were banned from moving around. We had not even managed to save enough money for maternity fees or baby clothes. I struggled to pay for the cheapest ultrasound scan, at ZW $2,000 (US $20). And, because of the transport ban, I would need an ambulance to take me to wherever I was delivering the baby. The baby continues to grow inside me; with no plan and more problems. Inside our two-room home, I cry and pray for God’s intervention.
By June, I had raised enough money to cover an antenatal visit, but the nearest clinic was closed due to COVID-19. The cheaper health facilities were all closed. The open ones were very expensive, charging in US dollars.
At some point in July, a friend told me of an affordable clinic that was still open. I woke up early the next morning to go to it. Although I found the clinic open and the charges were reasonable, a lady at the door told me the maternity ward was full and they were too understaffed to accommodate me. I begged and even cried, trying to change her mind. But they called security to chase me away.
Tired and hopeless, I sat outside the clinic until dark. If only they knew how hard I struggled to raise the money for maternity fees, and the number of clinics I had been to! But these people are just cold and rough. I had been eating sadza [thick porridge made out of ground maize] and cabbage every day, to save money, only to be chased away like a dog.
“My baby is due in two weeks and I’m still running around like a headless chicken”
I finally managed to find a hospital where I can deliver the baby: Domboshava Training Centre Hospital. It’s about 30 kilometres from where we live. My husband talked to a relative who has a car, but we will have to pay for the fuel.
According to the scan, I have two weeks left until the baby is due, but I am still running around like a headless chicken. My work as a part-time maid has become difficult. I am weaker and tire easily. Even cleaning my own small home leaves me weak. I vomit a lot. Though my husband has been advising me to take a break, saying I am putting my life and that of the child in danger, I continue to force myself to work. What else can I do?
I don’t even want to think of complications during the delivery or needing surgery! I haven’t been able to afford to pay the transport costs for antenatal visits. The nurses at the hospital said antenatal care is important for blood tests, such as for HIV, to prevent mother to child transmission. I cannot walk the long distance to the hospital for the antenatal care and I don’t have the money, so I will cross that bridge when I come to it.
With two weeks left, I have not bought much for the baby. A baby blanket costs US $20. A baby towel US $15-20. My problems never seem to end, even with all the hard work. I have been waking up at dawn and knocking at people’s doors, but for the past five months I have not found any other work beyond my job as a part-time maid.
My husband has been very understanding and caring, so at least I have someone by my side. He and our six-year-old have kept me going, but I never want to travel this road again.
Government is set to conduct lifestyle audits for Harare City Council officials, amid indications that some of them might have amassed wealth through the sale of State land, Harare Provincial Development Coordinator Mr Tafadzwa Muguti has said.
The lifestyle audit comes at a time senior managers and councillors at Town House have already been arrested for allegedly abusing their positions to mal-allocate stands.
Speaking during a recent meeting with Harare City Council management, Mr Muguti urged the team at council to stop engaging in shoddy deals.
“It is sad that council officials have been facilitating the illegal sale of State land,” he said. “As Government, we want to know those who have been allocated stands since 2014.
“There will be lifestyle audits for people who amassed a lot of wealth through land sales. There will also be a lifestyle audit for all council employees.”
Zimbabwe National Organisation of Associations and Residents Trust head Mr Shepherd Chikomba hailed the move.
“As residents, we applaud the Government for taking this step towards fighting corruption, this was long overdue,” he said.
“We have been advocating for these lifestyle audits for a long time, maybe the level of corruption will go down.”
Mr Shava said their wish as residents was for the exercise to be done in all the councils in Zimbabwe.
The Special Anti-Corruption Unit, the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission and police have been fighting tooth and nail to arrest officials implicated in land scams, with the majority of them now answering to cases in the courts.
THE trial of former Cabinet Minister Prisca Mupfumira and the ex-NSSA director contribution and collections, Barnabas Matongera, in which they are accused of flouting tender procedures and approved a housing project in Gweru involving development of 200 stands has been set for next month.
Mupfumira and Matongera are being charged with criminal abuse of office charges.
Their hearing has been set for November 18, 19 and 20 on a continuous row at the Harare Magistrates’ Court.
Their trial was supposed to have commenced today but the State was yet to furnish the duo with some documents to prepare their defence.
Mupfumira, through her lawyer Mr Sylvester Hashiti, applied for scraping of her bail reporting conditions, but the State said it was not prepared to respond to the application saying she must go back to the High Court where she was granted bail.
Mupfumira and Matongera appeared before magistrate Mr Ngoni Nduna.
Tatenda Mkuruva has been named in the Team of the Season of the National Independent Soccer Association (NISA) in the USA.
The Zimbabwean goalkeeper put on some brilliant performances that saw him named man of the match a couple of times. He is the only Michigan Stars player in the Best XI team that was selected by the league’s broadcast partners.
The recognition comes in Mkuruva’s debut season in the American’s third-tier league. He joined the Detroit-based club in 2019 from Buildcon in Zambia.
The 24-year’s performance in the campaign also earned him a call-up to the national team for the first time in three years. However, he pulled out of the squad for the Malawi friendly, along with several other foreign-based stars, after Zifa failed to arrange his trip to Zimbabwe on time.
Nonetheless, Mkuruva is expected to make it in the squad that will face Algeria in back-to-back Afcon qualifiers next month.-Soccer 24
SuperSport United endured a nervy fish to the game but held on to clinch a 3-2 to win over battling TTM in an MTN 8 quarter-final on Saturday.
Kaitano Tembo’s men, whose season in the 2019/20 ended in disappointment after failing to secure a Confederations Cup despite being third for the greater part of the season, looked to be in cruise control and raced to an early 3-0 lead, as the game looked to be one way traffic.
Bradley Groberlar put them ahead in the 8th minute, before Iqram Rayners doubled the lead then Lungu Ghampani made it three.
Mokagolodi Ngele restored a glimmer of hope for TTM on the stroke of half time and scored again just after the restart- game on.
TTM were all over Matsatsansa in the second half but the defending champions held on to book a place in the semi-finals.-Soccer 24
Farai Dziva|President Nelson Chamisa has described New Zealand Prime Minister’s victory as a sign of hope for the future.
See below President Chamisa’s congratulatory message to New Zealand Prime Minister, Jacinda Arden.
So humbling and refreshing to see how others in the world run clean, free and fair elections.
Huge Congrats to the young leader Jacinda Ardern and the Labour Party on their landslide victory and re-election as Prime Minister of New Zealand.
PM Jacinda Ardern’s re-election shows she genuinely worked for the people in her last term.
We, in the whole world acknowledge the exemplary manner in which the young PM had shown exceptional leadership and in particular, how she handled Covid-19.
The composition of her Parliament, which includes our own from Africa, clearly shows her inclusive leadership.
We look forward to continued engagement based on our shared hope and vision for a just, happier and prosperous world. The future is young!
The upcoming AFCON Group H qualifiers between the Warriors and defending champions Algeria, are giving many Zimbabweans sleepless nights.
In a country in which all the cash denominations combined cannot buy a loaf of bread, the general consensus is that video clips of Warriors games should be sold in pharmacies, because they ‘heal’ and provide comfort amid daily struggles to make ends meet.
With less than a month to go before the two blockbuster games slated for November 12 and 16 respective, what is on the back of many Zimbabweans’ mind is the fact that the star-studded Desert Foxes are on an unbeaten run stretching to over 20 games and recently held Mexico in an international friendly despite being a man down for the greater part of second half.
Judging by how some of the Warriors players expected to be in the squad for those two games performed this past weekend nonetheless, Zimbabweans can dare to dream.
Orlando Pirates’ Terrence Dzvukamanja scored on his debut and it was his solitary goal,a glancing header, which sent the Buccaneers to the semi-finals of the MTN 8 at the expense of Cape Town City.
Tino Kadewere opened his account for Olympique Lyon in the French Ligue 1 and the manner in which Dutch whiz Memphis Depay celebrated with the lanky striker portrayed a vivid picture of how important that goal was for him.
Man of the match Knowledge Musona was involved in both goals as KAS Eupen dispatched R. Excel in the Belgian top-flight. The Smiling Assassin thrust Benat San Jose’s men ahead in the 47th minute before providing for Jonathan Heris to double their advantage with 11 minutes left to play.
Khama Billiat’s start to life under Gavin Hunt was on a positive note; the pint-sized winger assisted both goals scored by Yagan Sasman as Amakhosi came from a goal down to beat Maritzburg United in the MTN 8.
Warriors coach Zdravko Logarušić was inevitably pleased with some of his troops’s display which can hopefully be a blueprint of what can be seen next month.
Tick-tock! The count down to the Algeria games continues but its a ticking clock with a reminder; that the Warriors have sharpened spears for battle.-Soccer 24
Tinotenda Kadewere dedicated his first goal in the French Ligue 1 at Lyon on Sunday to his late brother who died in August.
The Warriors striker started in the 3-2 victory against Strasbourg and scored the opening goal in the 12th minute. The appearance was his second successive start this season.
Reacting to the goal, Kadewere posted on Instagram saying: “Happy to score my first goal in the Ligue 1 and (I am) happy with the victory today. We keep working hard for more Lyon . . . this one for you in heaven #Maronga.”-Soccer 24
By A Correspondent- The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) arrested more than 105 bogus police officers in the first eight months of 2020 for terrorising unsuspecting members of the public around the country.
In the same period last year, the ZRP arrested 130 impersonators of police officers, which led to an intensification of the fight against such crime.
The fraudsters committed various offences in the name of the uniformed forces with some of them wearing police regalia before going around suburbs in vehicles without number plates extorting and robbing people of their valuables.
In some instances, the bogus officers would man fake roadblocks where they would shake down motorists.
Of the more than 105 cases, 101 arrests have been effected with some of the culprits serving jail terms.
National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi told The Sunday Mail that the police force was worried by the trend.
“It is a worrying trend when people go on to commit such crimes because being in possession of a police uniform when you are not a member of the ZRP is an offence,” he said.
“These crimes are being committed nationwide. We are on high alert and ready to interrogate any suspicious ‘officers’ and deal with the culprits.”
While most of the culprits are believed to be getting old uniforms from deserters or stealing from serving officers, some bonafide law enforcement agents are reportedly loaning their uniforms to the culprits, who in turn pay a token.
According to Section 179 of the Criminal Law Codification and Reform Act, Chapter 9:23, impersonating a police officer, peace officer or public official is a jailable offence.
Asst Comm Nyathi urged members of the public to co-operate with local police stations and assist in identifying the culprits as they are usually known members of the community.
When confronted by police, members of the community should ask officers to identify themselves by producing police identity cards where necessary and should request to proceed to the nearest police station if there is a need, Asst Comm Nyathi said.-statemedia
By A Correspondent- Harare City Council has announced the closure of Mbare Musika Bus Terminus for renovation purposes.
The local government authority did not specify when the renovations will be complete. This comes after the government announced that intends to rehabilitate old suburbs in major cities.
We present below the HCC’s statement on Mbare closure.
CLOSURE OF MBARE MUSIKA BUS TERMINUS FOR RENOVATIONS ANC TEMPORARY USE OF ALTERNATIVE PICK UP AND DROP OFF POINTS.
2. Destinations not stated but fall on the same routes mentioned above will use the same pick-up and drop off points.
3. The temporary ranks shall only accommodate buses with COVID-19 compliance permits.
4. The City therefore implore travellers and bus operators to comply and take due care so as to maintain orderliness and the safety of the travelling public.
5. Council has designated temporary pick up and drop off points for intercity travel.
By Energy Mavaza | The Zimbabwe Cricket bubbles in the sweet waters of success regardless of the disturbed year calendar by the COVID 19 pandemic.
Cricket Team with President ED
It could have been one of the busiest year for Chamu Chibhabha led Chevrons but proposed tours were cancelled and halted beyond the ZC capacity.
Nevertheless, tabled on our offer was the Pakistan tour. It came on a very strategic period in time where the whole cricketing fraternity is looking at United Arab Emrates for Indian Premire League.
If only a bilateral tour during this period in time is casted in stone for Pakistan and Zimbabwe as we seem un affected by the IPL.
Predictions of a huge thumping and some of a fair show are already being aired in the cricket circles. Some are quick to mirror the dismal bating exploits being exhibited in the NPL and reflect to the expected show by the Chevrons selected for Pakistan. However, whatever the outcomes, ZC scores big and scores smart. The outcomes only lays with the Coach Rajput and his troops as all modalities seem to be in order.
Not be understated and of note is that the ZC has been soaring above mentionable local Sport boards and leading by example. The ODI and T20 tour to Pakistan, the launch of the National Premier league for both men and women could be counted as some of the few examples that brought good omen to ZC interns of the return of Blessing Muzarabani and the unveiling of the “Visit Zimbabwe” brand by Zimbabwe Tourism Authority aimed at boosting the country’s tourism.This will see the Zimbabwe national cricket teams – whether on the field of play, training or travelling – wearing shirts bearing the ‘Visit Zimbabwe’ branding on the sleeve.
ZC has also produced a promotional video for the campaign.
Taking a leaf from Rwanda tourism initiatives, despite initial criticism over Rwanda’s massive investment in a football club, the deal appears to be bearing fruits. Belise Kaliza, head of RDB’s tourism department in Rwanda highlighted that before the partnership was signed, 71% of the millions of Arsenal fans worldwide did not consider Rwanda a tourist destination, at the end of the first year of the partnership, half of them considered Rwanda a destination to visit.
Tourism industry in Zimbabwe has been crippled by bad publicity and ugly image that has been fueled by unloyal citizenry that endeavour to tarnish the Zimbabwe brand. As the nation dusts itself from the hide outs of Covid 19, it only needs innovation and well crafted and concerted efforts by all sectors to lift our country back to operational again. The Impact of the Chevrons and Zimbabwe cricket on bringing awareness about Zimbabwe wonders to the world should not be understated.
If an initiative with an English football team with no Rwandise player is reaping ripe fruits into the country’s Tourism, then one wonders the impact of our much beloved Chevrons who have a considerable following from Asia and other cricketing nations.
It could not necessarily be about the “Visit Zimbabwe” logo on all national teams kits but it should be every Zimbabwean duty to market your country for nothing is more sweeter than home.
Farai Dziva|MDC Alliance Youth Assembly National Spokesperson, Stephen Sarkozy Chuma has dismissed utterances made by Mr Kembo Mohadi on what the latter described as the new dispensation’s remarkable achievements.
Mr Mohadi boasted of what he described as significant achievements of the new dispensation.
Chuma has challenged Mr Mohadi’s assertion, pointing out that Mr Mnangagwa’s deputy is a “pathological liar.”
Read full statement below :
19-10-2020
Kembo Mohadi’s ridiculous assertion that country’s fortunes have become better under Emmerson Mnangagwa’s regime clearly exposes high levels of insincerity and pathological lies of this so called ‘new dispensation’.
Certainly Mohadi cannot hide under the piecemeal and snail paced roadworks where nothing significant is happening except overhaul of the remaining tarred strip albeit without replacing it.
Mohadi suddenly forgets that from 1980 he was part of the old establishment that ruined the once breadbasket of Africa.
Maybe because of old age, the usually bedridden Mohadi is now suffering from serious Alzheimer’s dementia.
Is it not a public secret that life for the ordinary has gone from bad to worse under Emmerson Mnangagwa’s short reign?
From the education sector to health sector, there is crises everywhere and one wonders what positive rides does Kembo Mohadi refer to.
It is time ZANU PF leaders know that lies, delusions and insincerity can never solve the economic question.
Stephen Sarkozy Chuma MDCAllianceYouthAssemblyNationalSpokesperson
Farai Dziva| A crestfallen Douglas Mwonzora left Masvingo Province in agony after addressing 15 people, including himself at a rally in Chivi Central Constitutiency at the weekend.
Mwonzora who was hoping to address hundreds of members of the MDC T 2014 structures was stunned when he found himself addressing a paltry gathering in Chivi.
Mwonzora also addressed a poorly attended meeting in Masvingo Urban Constituency.
The individuals who attended the meeting are not Congress delegates, it has emerged.
“Mr Mwonzora’ s bid to address hundreds of members of the MDC T 2014 structures hit a snag.
His meetings were poorly attended,” a source told ZimEye.com.
As Germany registered another record number of COVID-19 infections, Chancellor Angela Merkel called on young people to "do without a few parties now in order to have a good life tomorrow." pic.twitter.com/BjA5loIJVC
Kembo Mohadi’s ridiculous assertion that country’s fortunes have become better under Emmerson Mnangagwa’s regime clearly exposes high levels of insincerity and pathological lies of this so called ‘new dispensation’.
Certainly Mohadi cannot hide under the piecemeal and snail paced roadworks where nothing significant is happening except overhaul of the remaining tarred strip albeit without replacing it.
Mohadi suddenly forgets that from 1980 he was part of the old establishment that ruined the once breadbasket of Africa.
Maybe because of old age, the usually bedridden Mohadi is now suffering from serious Alzheimer’s dementia.
Is it not a public secret that life for the ordinary has gone from bad to worse under Emmerson Mnangagwa’s short reign?
From the education sector to health sector, there is crises everywhere and one wonders what positive rides does Kembo Mohadi refer to.
It is time ZANU PF leaders know that lies, delusions and insincerity can never solve the economic question.
Stephen Sarkozy Chuma MDCAllianceYouthAssemblyNationalSpokesperson
The MDC T Midlands North Provincial Structures for 2014 met at the Kwekwe party offices on Saturday 17th October 2020, to brief each other on the Supreme Court Judgement of March 31st 2020, that called for the MDCT party to organize for an Extra Ordinary Congress to elect a replacement of the late founding Iconic President Tsvangirai, in line with the party constitution.
This meeting was the province’s first 2014 structures meeting since the ruling was made.
The turnout was good, with delegates from Gokwe Districts, Kwekwe Districts, and Kadoma Senatorial districts.
The MDC T Midlands North province 2014 is made up of 18 Parliamentary Constituencies.
The meeting was facilitated, and chaired by the 2014 provincial chairperson, Mr Sedwel Bhebhe, and was exceptional peaceful and of conducive environment.
Members of the Provincial Executive, District Chairpersons, and congress delegates from districts that make Midlands North province were in attendance.
There were some who gave apologies due to transport logistics. Also in attendance was NEC member Hon Blessing Chebundo, as well as the Deputy Mayors of Kwekwe and Redcliff, and some of the councillors, all who are delegates to the EOC by virtue of their positions in 2014 structures.
The meeting noted the importance of the 2014 delegates from the province to participate in the EOC, and within the party constitutional framework, and processes.
The meeting also discussed the need for the province to be ready with authentic provincial structures/delegates as per the constitution.
The meeting further noted the importance of unity and sanity needed for the party going forward. To that end, the meeting tasked the 2014 respective district chairpersons and their executives and through the provincial chairperson, to assist the party in availing, and validating the lists of the bona fide provincial EOC delegates, given the time that had lapsed since 2014.
The provincial chairman advised that, meanwhile, the province will await in anticipation of the Midlands North Provincial Council to be convened under guidance of the national 2014 leadership, in preparatory for the National EOC, hence the province should be ready with clear cut bona fide structures to enable the provincial council 2014 structures to attend, in fulfilment of the SC judgement, and of the party constitution regarding processes towards EOC.
It was agreed that the District chairpersons should have the lists of structures ready within one week, and these will be used to ‘cross check’ and validates with the available records.
During the plenary interventions from the floor, those who spoke called for unity of purpose amongst ‘all and sundry’ in the province and party, for the good of the party, and the people. Noting that the party and people stand to lose if the obtaining challenges are not addressed sincerely, and as MDC family.
That there was no need for people to display vindictiveness.
The Chairman ended the meeting by thanking the members for their demonstrated peace loving attitude and their conduct during the entire period of meeting, and went further to urge them to maintain this maturity through and through. Further noting that, this was the legacy left by the founding late President.
The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a dramatic loss of human life worldwide and presents an unprecedented challenge to public health, food systems and the world of work.
The economic and social disruption caused by the pandemic is devastating: tens of millions of people are at risk of falling into extreme poverty, while the number of undernourished people, currently estimated at nearly 690 million, could increase by up to 132 million by the end of the year.
Millions of enterprises face an existential threat. Nearly half of the world’s 3.3 billion global workforce are at risk of losing their livelihoods.
Informal economy workers are particularly vulnerable because the majority lack social protection and access to quality health care and have lost access to productive assets. Without the means to earn an income during lockdowns, many are unable to feed themselves and their families. For most, no income means no food, or, at best, less food and less nutritious food.
The pandemic has been affecting the entire food system and has laid bare its fragility. Border closures, trade restrictions and confinement measures have been preventing farmers from accessing markets, including for buying inputs and selling their produce, and agricultural workers from harvesting crops, thus disrupting domestic and international food supply chains and reducing access to healthy, safe and diverse diets. The pandemic has decimated jobs and placed millions of livelihoods at risk. As breadwinners lose jobs, fall ill and die, the food security and nutrition of millions of women and men are under threat, with those in low-income countries, particularly the most marginalized populations, which include small-scale farmers and indigenous peoples, being hardest hit.
Millions of agricultural workers – waged and self-employed – while feeding the world, regularly face high levels of working poverty, malnutrition and poor health, and suffer from a lack of safety and labour protection as well as other types of abuse.
With low and irregular incomes and a lack of social support, many of them are spurred to continue working, often in unsafe conditions, thus exposing themselves and their families to additional risks. Further, when experiencing income losses, they may resort to negative coping strategies, such as distress sale of assets, predatory loans or child labour. Migrant agricultural workers are particularly vulnerable, because they face risks in their transport, working and living conditions and struggle to access support measures put in place by governments.
Guaranteeing the safety and health of all agri-food workers – from primary producers to those involved in food processing, transport and retail, including street food vendors – as well as better incomes and protection, will be critical to saving lives and protecting public health, people’s livelihoods and food security.
In the COVID-19 crisis food security, public health, and employment and labour issues, in particular workers’ health and safety, converge. Adhering to workplace safety and health practices and ensuring access to decent work and the protection of labour rights in all industries will be crucial in addressing the human dimension of the crisis. Immediate and purposeful action to save lives and livelihoods should include extending social protection towards universal health coverage and income support for those most affected.
These include workers in the informal economy and in poorly protected and low-paid jobs, including youth, older workers, and migrants.
Particular attention must be paid to the situation of women, who are over-represented in low-paid jobs and care roles.
Different forms of support are key, including cash transfers, child allowances and healthy school meals, shelter and food relief initiatives, support for employment retention and recovery, and financial relief for businesses, including micro, small and medium-sized enterprises. In designing and implementing such measures it is essential that governments work closely with employers and workers.
Countries dealing with existing humanitarian crises or emergencies are particularly exposed to the effects of COVID-19. Responding swiftly to the pandemic, while ensuring that humanitarian and recovery assistance reaches those most in need, is critical.
Now is the time for global solidarity and support, especially with the most vulnerable in our societies, particularly in the emerging and developing world.
Only together can we overcome the intertwined health and social and economic impacts of the pandemic and prevent its escalation into a protracted humanitarian and food security catastrophe, with the potential loss of already achieved development gains.
We must recognize this opportunity to build back better, as noted in the Policy Brief issued by the United Nations Secretary-General.
We are committed to pooling our expertise and experience to support countries in their crisis response measures and efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. We need to develop long-term sustainable strategies to address the challenges facing the health and agri-food sectors.
Priority should be given to addressing underlying food security and malnutrition challenges, tackling rural poverty, in particular through more and better jobs in the rural economy, extending social protection to all, facilitating safe migration pathways and promoting the formalization of the informal economy.
We must rethink the future of our environment and tackle climate change and environmental degradation with ambition and urgency.
Only then can we protect the health, livelihoods, food security and nutrition of all people, and ensure that our ‘new normal’ is a better one…
Credit: World Health Organization
Inserted by Zimbabwe Online Health Centre
For more information follow /like our Facebook page :Zimbabwe Online Health Centre
Farai Dziva|Fearless human rights activist Namatai Kwekweza has dismissed the discourse indicating that Zanu PF is a party of patriots.
On the contrary Zanu PF bigwigs are haters of ordinary citizens, argued Kwekweza.
“Don’t get confused MaZimbo any party that gets into power and doesn’t work to ensure that ALL Zimbos are safe, secure and well governed is not a party of patriots.
Any party that abducts people and lies about it, is not a party of patriots. #ZimbabweanLivesMatter
Zanu Pf is just a political party. It is not the state. ZANU pf is not Zimbabwe and Zimbabwe is not ZANU PF. ZANU pf can not monopolize the definition of patriotism. Even in ZANU pf there are no patriots. That’s why our country has fallen. #ZimbabweanLivesMatter
ZANU PF is not the whole of Zimbabwe Just because we are not ZANU PF members, doesn’t mean we hate Zimbabwe. Just because you are a ZANU PF member it doesn’t mean you love Zimbabwe. #ZimbabweanLivesMatter
ZANU PF people are some of the biggest haters of Zim and it’s people. Think abductions, looting, political violence, authoritarianism. 40years after independence Zimbabwe still looks like a growth point by world standards because of ZANU PF looting. These people don’t love Zim,” Kwekweza wrote on Twitter.
For the record I have never claimed that I am still a Member of Zanu PF as it is currently constituted , am not and will not be again . I was expelled from its Central Committee in Nov 2017 , I did not contest my illegal & unilateral dismissal .
Farai Dziva|President Nelson Chamisa has described New Zealand Prime Minister’s victory as a sign of hope for the future.
See below President Chamisa’s congratulatory message to New Zealand Prime Minister, Jacinda Arden:
So humbling and refreshing to see how others in the world run clean, free and fair elections.
Huge Congrats to the young leader Jacinda Ardern and the Labour Party on their landslide victory and re-election as Prime Minister of New Zealand.
PM Jacinda Ardern’s re-election shows she genuinely worked for the people in her last term.
We, in the whole world acknowledge the exemplary manner in which the young PM had shown exceptional leadership and in particular, how she handled Covid-19.
The composition of her Parliament, which includes our own from Africa, clearly shows her inclusive leadership.
We look forward to continued engagement based on our shared hope and vision for a just, happier and prosperous world. The future is young!
Parliament is backtracking on its stance that Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga’s suspension of by-elections to fill vacant parliamentary and municipal seats was constitutional, saying the pronouncement was a mistake.
Jacob Mudenda, the National Assembly speaker, last week announced that Statutory Instrument 225A of 2020, issued by Chiwenga a fortnight ago suspending by-elections as long as Covid-19 remained a “formidable pandemic”, was unconstitutional.
The speaker was, however, singing from a different hymn book in an interview with The Standard where he insisted that the Parliamentary Legal Committee was yet to review the contentious statutory instrument.
Mudenda said the committee was only likely to come up with a position on the statutory instrument in two weeks’ time. Ad by Valueimpression
“There are three statutory instruments that the Parliamentary Legal Committee is yet to consider so they did not pronounce themselves as to whether they were adverse or non-adverse,” he said. “We explained that later on because there was confusion. It appeared as if the statutory instrument had recieved an adverse report from the Parliamentary Legal Committee. That was explained,” Mudenda said. Ad by Valueimpression
“That statutory instrument and two others are still to be reviewed by the Parliamentary Legal Committee and they will meet probably in the next two weeks to pronounce their legal opinion.”
Mudenda had told Parliament that the committee had met and reviewed the statutory instrument and found it to be unconstitutional.
“The committee is of the opinion that the statutory instruments gazetted in the month of October are not in contravention of the Declaration of Rights or any other provisions of the Constitution of Zimbabwe except for the following statutory instruments:- Statutory Instrument 224 of 2020; Statutory Instrument 225 of 2020 and Statutory Instrument 225(a) of 2020. These three were not compliant with the constitution,” Mudenda said.
The statutory instrument issued by Chiwenga, who doubles up as Health and Child Care minister, was dismissed as unconstitutional by legal experts.
A group of citizens and the Elections Resource Centre have since approached the High Court seeking the reversal of the suspension of the polls.
The Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission last week criticised the suspension of the polls, saying it was not consistent with democratic principles.
The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) last month said there would be by-elections on December 5 to fill over 80 municipal seats and nearly 30 parliamentary seats left vacant after Thokozani Khupe’s MDC-T recalled MDC Alliance members that refused to dump Nelson Chamisa.
After the ban, Zec accepted the names of Khupe and 14 others that had been nominated by the MDC-T interim leader to replace Chamisa’s recalled proportional representation MPs, which gave way to their swearing-in, in Parliament on October 7.
But despite the ban, Zanu PF has been conducting primary elections throughout the country in preparation for the by-elections.
Legal experts say the ban does not hold water because Covid-19 cases have been on a decline in Zimbabwe.
The country has significantly opened up after a national lockdown was imposed in March to slow down the spread of the virus.
By A Correspondent- The Zimbabwean government has said it is building the country despite the presence of sanctions imposed on the Southern African country by Western powers on the turn of the millennium.
These remarks were said by Nick Mangwana the permanent secretary in the Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services as the country gears up for 25 October, the anti-sanctions day as declared by SADC.
Posting on Twitter this Monday, Mangwana said:
This year’s Anti-Sanctions theme is: RESILIENCE & SOLIDARITY IN A SANCTIONS ENVIRONMENT. -We are building this country – In spite of Sanctions. -We will achieve #Vision2030 – In spite of Sanctions. -We will meet citizens’ aspirations- In Spite of Sanctions #ZimSanctionsMustGo
Western states imposed the coercive measures on Zimbabwe following the controversial fast track land reform programme that was marred by widespread human rights violations.
Although the sanctions are allegedly “targeted on a few individuals” in the ruling ZANU PF and the army as well as companies they own, the Zimbabwean government and other observers claim that the measures have a spillover effect on the general populace.
Recently, law expert and leader of opposition National Constitutional Assembly, Professor Lovemore Madhuku said sanctions were not appropriate as a corrective measure.
This is happening when the ruling ZANU PF has over the years attributed the economic, humanitarian and political crises to sanctions imposed on the country.
Some say bad governance by the governing party is the leading factor in the demise of the once vibrant economy.-Twitter
NCA leader Lovemore Madhuku has spoken on his relationship with the then MDC-T led by the late Morgan Tsvangirai after the party participated in the COPAC constitutional making process.
Madhuku says he campaigned for MDC-T in the 2008 elections and still voted for Tsvangirai in 2013 respecting their close friendship though he had already made a decision to walk away from the movement.
MDC Alliance spokesperson Fadzai Mahere has dismissed claims that the party is fighting over the Kuwadzana seat that fell vacant following the death of Mirriam Mushayi who was seconded by the MDC led by Professor Welshman Ncube as part of the Alliance agreement.
There are murmurings from the MDC who felt hard done by the failure to respect the Alliance agreement which would have seen the vacant seat filled in by someone from the same party, but Mahere said that is water under the bridge and cannot be respected anymore.
“The MDC Alliance is a unified political party that has long evolved from the Alliance Agreement. We are governed by unified electoral rules derived from the MDC Alliance Constitution,” said Mahere.
The MDC Alliance was an agreement of seven political parties who came together to contest the 2018 harmonised elections as a unit.
I heard this video torched a storm and some have gone into feats of anger and personal abuse towards Samantha. Well, let's stand back and look at ourselves in this mirror placed before us. Let's not attack the mirror for giving us a reflection which is correct but unflattering. pic.twitter.com/CVGgmljpNu
By A Correspondent- Tsholotsho magistrate Rogers Mawarire is in trouble after a Chiredzi woman Violet Chauke, who was severely bitten on the nose by a soldier lodged a complaint against him with the Judicial Services Commission (JSC) for obstructing the course of justice.
Chauke was bitten on the nose by Godfrey Chiwara (32) of the Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA), but Mawarire allegedly gave him a two-year sentence, which angered her as she hoped for severe punishment.
Chief Magistrate Munamato Mutevedzi confirmed receiving the complaint and promised to investigate the matter before action is taken.
“I can confirm receiving that complaint. We are going to investigate the matter and appropriate action will be taken,” Mutevedzi said.
According to Chauke, her nose was bitten off by Chiwara, a member of the ZNA who is attached to the demining regiment in Dumisa in Chikombedzi.
However, Mawarire sentenced Chiwara to two years in jail, of which six months were suspended for three years on condition that he does not commit a similar offence within that period.
The remaining 18 months were suspended on condition that the accused performed 630 hours of community service at Nyabira Police Station.
It is also alleged that Mawarire was transferred to Tsholotsho from Chiredzi after a series of complaints from members of the public.
Chauke was attacked by Chiwara after he borrowed $100 from her and failed to pay back. When she demanded her money, he became elusive. However, on December 23, 2018, she met him at Chikombedzi Police Station and a scuffle ensued, resulting in him biting off a chunk of her nose.
She was admitted at Chikombedzi Mission Hospital and treated for severe injuries and later transferred to a specialist doctor at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals in Harare for a plastic surgery which cost US$1 500.
She later sought medical attention in South Africa where she had a skin graft on the nose.
The matter dragged for two years after she reported it to the police who reportedly did not take action.
She also approached the late ZNA Colonel Overson Mugwisi and Lieutenant-Colonel Alphios Makotore in Harare, which led to Chiwara’s arrest before he appeared in court on July 29, 2020.
He was remanded out of custody to September 30, 2020.-Newsday
Freelance journalist Hopewell Chin’ono was back at the Harare Magistrates Court for routine remand following his arrest in July on charges of inciting public violence.
At the time of publishing, Chin’ono was still in court waiting for the Magistrate.
He was accompanied by his lawyers Douglas Coltart and Roseline Hanzi all from the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR)
By Patrick Guramatunhu- Albert Einstein defined insanity as “doing the same thing over and over again expecting a different result.”
He was right! What he should have said too, is how easy it is to fall into this trap especially when those would swear over others, claiming to know best, in fact are the insane who know fcuk all!
“Elections have become a problem that has sunk us into vicious violence, unreformed state institutions, political and economic strife. It is my desire to enlighten those that still believe in the politics of the ballot paper, that the system called Zanu-PF is a virus that cannot be cured by elections,” wrote Knowledge Hakata.
“Zimbabweans by now should know that voting or not voting Zanu-PF will still find its way back to Munhumutapa building echoing the recent statement by Vice President Kembo Mohadi who said “the junta regime is not going anywhere anytime soon”. Zanu-PF has mastered the art of manipulating the ballot in its favour for the past 15 years,”
Hakata, you cannot “enlighten” others on matters you have no clue what is happening yourself!
Yes Zanu PF has rigged elections and stayed in power these last 40 years (not 15, as you say) with disastrous consequences to the country and people. But to attribute Zanu PF’s successfully rigging the elections all these years to “mastered the art of manipulating the ballot in its favour” is to completely miss the point.
There have been many golden opportunities to stop Zanu PF rigging the elections. One must ask, why these opportunities were wasted?
The best chances to end the Zanu PF dictatorship were during the 2008 to 2013 GNU. Morgan Tsvangirai and his MDC fiends failed to implement even one democratic reform in 5 years of the GNU. Not even one!
Mugabe bribed Tsvangirai and company with the trappings of high office and, with their snouts in the feeding trough, they forgot about the reforms.
Of course, it is foolish to keep complain about Zanu PF mastery in rigging elections when, given a golden opportunity to stop the rigging, you sell-out.
“The system called Zanu-PF is a virus that cannot be cured by elections!” Hakata proclaims. He was quick to rule out elections as the cure of this super duper novel virus but failed to proscribe the cure.
The truth is there is absolutely nothing special about Zanu PF. It is a party of corrupt, incompetent, vote rigging and murderous thugs. Plus whatever other attributes some people have assigned to the thugs. The bottom line is, these Zanu PF thugs are above all else fallible mortals and not the invincible demigod, the incurable virus.
If the MDC idiots had implemented the democratic reforms when they had the golden opportunity to do so; the 2013 elections would have been free, fair and credible. Zanu PF’s reign of terror would have been brought to a screeching end!
By participating in flawed and illegal elections, MDC and the rest of the opposition opportunists are giving the electoral process credibility and, by extension, the vote rigging, per se illegitimate, Zanu PF legitimacy. They continue to participate out of greed; Zanu PF is giving away a few gravy train seats as bait. These opposition politicians know this to be so.
“The worst aspect for me about the failure to agree a coalition was that both MDCs couldn’t now do the obvious – withdraw from the (2013) elections,” wrote Senator David Coltart, in his Book.
“The electoral process was so flawed, so illegal, that the only logical step was to withdraw, which would compel SADC to hold Zanu PF to account. But such was the distrust between the MDC-T and MDC-N that neither could withdraw for fear that the other would remain in the elections, winning seats and giving the process credibility.”
Zanu PF thugs are not smart, the exact opposite as their track record shows. Zimbabwe would not be the failed state it is if Mugabe and company had the common sense. The country’s economic meltdown has not spared the Zanu PF ruling elite; the party is imploding because the party thugs are fight each other, like hyenas, over the ever shrinking national cake.
We have failed to end the Zanu PF dictatorship, regardless of the glaring weaknesses of the party thugs, because the men and women we have entrusted this task have themselves turned out to be breathtakingly corrupt, incompetent and sell-outs!
One cannot claim to know and understand Zimbabwe politics by exaggerating Zanu PF thugs’ tyrannical powers, on the one hand. And, on the other, completely ignore the sheer stupidity of the sell-out opposition opportunists.
As things stand, there is a real danger that Zanu PF will drag the nation over the edge into economic and political chaos comparable to that we see in Libya and Syria. We have failed to bring about peaceful and democratic change and now we face violent change complete with all the death and destruction that entails.
Yes, Mnangagwa and his cronies will rightly blamed for dragging the nation into this mess and, if nothing is done to end the dictatorship, beyond the point of no return. But Tsvangirai et al must too be held to account for the many wasted opportunities to end the dictatorship.
It is easy to see why Zimbabwe has been caught in this nightmare of rigged elections and bad governance for 40 years and counting – there has been very little intellectual discourse to ascertain what is going on much less what to do about it. It does help when the few loud voices to be heard are other Zanu PF propagandists or opposition apologists who pretend to know everything but, actually, know precious little.
By Patrick Guramatunhu| Albert Einstein defined insanity as “doing the same thing over and over again expecting a different result.”
He was right! What he should have said too, is how easy it is to fall into this trap especially when those would swear over others, claiming to know best, in fact are the insane who know fcuk all!
“Elections have become a problem that has sunk us into vicious violence, unreformed state institutions, political and economic strife. It is my desire to enlighten those that still believe in the politics of the ballot paper, that the system called Zanu-PF is a virus that cannot be cured by elections,” wrote Knowledge Hakata.
“Zimbabweans by now should know that voting or not voting Zanu-PF will still find its way back to Munhumutapa building echoing the recent statement by Vice President Kembo Mohadi who said “the junta regime is not going anywhere anytime soon”. Zanu-PF has mastered the art of manipulating the ballot in its favour for the past 15 years,”
Hakata, you cannot “enlighten” others on matters you have no clue what is happening yourself!
Yes Zanu PF has rigged elections and stayed in power these last 40 years (not 15, as you say) with disastrous consequences to the country and people. But to attribute Zanu PF’s successfully rigging the elections all these years to “mastered the art of manipulating the ballot in its favour” is to completely miss the point.
There have been many golden opportunities to stop Zanu PF rigging the elections. One must ask, why these opportunities were wasted?
The best chances to end the Zanu PF dictatorship were during the 2008 to 2013 GNU. Morgan Tsvangirai and his MDC fiends failed to implement even one democratic reform in 5 years of the GNU. Not even one!
Mugabe bribed Tsvangirai and company with the trappings of high office and, with their snouts in the feeding trough, they forgot about the reforms.
Of course, it is foolish to keep complain about Zanu PF mastery in rigging elections when, given a golden opportunity to stop the rigging, you sell-out.
“The system called Zanu-PF is a virus that cannot be cured by elections!” Hakata proclaims. He was quick to rule out elections as the cure of this super duper novel virus but failed to proscribe the cure.
The truth is there is absolutely nothing special about Zanu PF. It is a party of corrupt, incompetent, vote rigging and murderous thugs. Plus whatever other attributes some people have assigned to the thugs. The bottom line is, these Zanu PF thugs are above all else fallible mortals and not the invincible demigod, the incurable virus.
If the MDC idiots had implemented the democratic reforms when they had the golden opportunity to do so; the 2013 elections would have been free, fair and credible. Zanu PF’s reign of terror would have been brought to a screeching end!
By participating in flawed and illegal elections, MDC and the rest of the opposition opportunists are giving the electoral process credibility and, by extension, the vote rigging, per se illegitimate, Zanu PF legitimacy. They continue to participate out of greed; Zanu PF is giving away a few gravy train seats as bait. These opposition politicians know this to be so.
“The worst aspect for me about the failure to agree a coalition was that both MDCs couldn’t now do the obvious – withdraw from the (2013) elections,” wrote Senator David Coltart, in his Book.
“The electoral process was so flawed, so illegal, that the only logical step was to withdraw, which would compel SADC to hold Zanu PF to account. But such was the distrust between the MDC-T and MDC-N that neither could withdraw for fear that the other would remain in the elections, winning seats and giving the process credibility.”
Zanu PF thugs are not smart, the exact opposite as their track record shows. Zimbabwe would not be the failed state it is if Mugabe and company had the common sense. The country’s economic meltdown has not spared the Zanu PF ruling elite; the party is imploding because the party thugs are fight each other, like hyenas, over the ever shrinking national cake.
We have failed to end the Zanu PF dictatorship, regardless of the glaring weaknesses of the party thugs, because the men and women we have entrusted this task have themselves turned out to be breathtakingly corrupt, incompetent and sell-outs!
One cannot claim to know and understand Zimbabwe politics by exaggerating Zanu PF thugs’ tyrannical powers, on the one hand. And, on the other, completely ignore the sheer stupidity of the sell-out opposition opportunists.
As things stand, there is a real danger that Zanu PF will drag the nation over the edge into economic and political chaos comparable to that we see in Libya and Syria. We have failed to bring about peaceful and democratic change and now we face violent change complete with all the death and destruction that entails.
Yes, Mnangagwa and his cronies will rightly blamed for dragging the nation into this mess and, if nothing is done to end the dictatorship, beyond the point of no return. But Tsvangirai et al must too be held to account for the many wasted opportunities to end the dictatorship.
It is easy to see why Zimbabwe has been caught in this nightmare of rigged elections and bad governance for 40 years and counting – there has been very little intellectual discourse to ascertain what is going on much less what to do about it. It does help when the few loud voices to be heard are other Zanu PF propagandists or opposition apologists who pretend to know everything but, actually, know precious little.
By A Correspondent- A ZUPCO bus overturned along Lytton Road in Harare on Saturday and 21 passengers were injured in the accident.
The bus belonging to Changu Logistics but contracted by ZUPCO was on its way to the CBD from Kambuzumba/Rugare when the accident occurred.
The accident was confirmed by ZRP National spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi who said the driver failed to negotiate a curve which caused the bus to overturn:
The driver of the Changu bus contracted to Zupco had 21 passengers on board. On approaching a curve near Rugare traffic lights along Lytton Road, the driver lost control of the bus and it veered off the road before overturning once. Police were called in. The injured were taken to Sally Mugabe Hospital for treatment.
Assistant Commissioner Nyathi said the bus was taken to Vehicle Inspection Department (VID) for inspection. A few weeks ago another ZUPCO bus at the Mupedzanhamo traffic lights rammed into 8 cars and injured 10 people including vendors selling their wares by the roadside.
Some people have questioned the fitness of the busses contracted by the government to ferry passengers through the urban transportation scheme introduced by the government last year after the January protest.-StateMedia
By Jane Mlambo| Former cabinet minister who is now in self imposed exile, Walter Mzembi has warned MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa against participating in the 2023 elections without reforms, saying they will be rigged in favor of Zanu PF.
Responding to Chamisa’s tweet where he congratulated New Zealand Prime Minister on his re-election, Mzembi was quick to draw parallels with Zimbabwe’s political terrain which he said is being run by the military who have taken control of the ruling Zanu PF party.
“A Military Junta will not hold free & fair elections or guarantee them , Zim is the only country in the world where the Military have captured a Political Party , Zanu PF. Should we expect a fair contest ? 2023 without Reforms is a fallacy, Vanokubira futi!,’ said Mzembi.
Chamisa had posted the message below;
“So humbling and refreshing to see others holding clean,free and fair elections.Huge Congrats to @jacindaardern and @nzlabour on a re-election as New Zealand PM. Looking forward to continued engagement based on shared hope and vision for a just, happier and more prosperous world.”
Mzembi has previously formed a political party in exile before jumping off it, to claim that he is still a member of Zanu PF together with another self exiled former cabinet minister Savior Kasukuwere.
Police officers are seen firming up their faces confronting a crowd around the commission to investigate the murder of innocent civilians during the Motlanthe Commission. Exactly 2 years later, Zimbabwe is straddled with another murder, that of a 7 year old Murehwa boy, whose bodyparts have remained missing 4 weeks running. Will this episode end in a discovery? This article is produced pursuant to the Child Protection Act.
ZRP COPS
Under Mnangagwa, will @PoliceZimbabwe ever find Tapiwa's skull or it's another Motlanthe?
Emmerson Mnangagwa looking into President Robert Mugabe’s coffin
People were after Mugabe’s body parts, family spokesperson revealed
By Farai D Hove | ANALYSIS | The late president Robert Mugabe left instructions to be buried next to his mother, instead of the National Heroes Acre in Harare with other war veterans, his nephew and family spokesperson Leo Mugabe said last year.
Leo told the state owned Zimpapers Television Network, that not only did Mugabe want to be buried in the village, but he also warned his wife Grace Mugabe to keep an eye on his remains as there were people who were apparently after his body parts.
As a precaution, Mugabe’s remains were buried in a tamper-proof casket.
Leo told the station: “Originally why we changed [the casket] was because we wanted a tamper-proof casket because you know with rituals and things like that, people really are after his body or his body parts, so we wanted something that is tamper-proof. That is why the casket was changed in the first place.
“The idea came from him because he said to his wife aunty Joyce: ‘When I’m gone, don’t leave my body, be careful because people want to use my body.’ It was him who said to the former first lady. We knew that spiritually he knows something.”
While Mnangagwa was not specifically mentioned by name, the inference was very direct that it was him, since he is the one who was wrestling the body away from the family resulting in several weeks of waiting during which Mnangagwa ‘s offers for an expensive mausoleum were turned down.
Since the bodyparts of thousands of Zimbabweans killed by Mnangagwa since 1983-2019, are still missing (& he was also accused by Mugabe for being after Bob's bodyparts), is it unethical to ask question Mnangagwa over Tapiwa Makore's missing skull whose ZRP case has dragged on?
More than a year later, Mnangagwa is still to comment over the very serious allegations against his name, and Mugabe’s wife, Grace has relocated to rural Kutama where she daily guards her husband’s remains.
Fast forward to this month, Zimbabwe is struggling with finding the missing body parts of a 7 year old Murehwa boy, Tapiwa Makore. The late lad’s uncles yesterday told ZimEye they are frustrated with the rate at which the police are taking to trace the missing skull, especially three weeks after a key suspect narrated almost everything they feel is needed. The person who confesses to killing the toddler has spoken on video naming the person he handed the 7-year old’s skull.
Thousands of Zimbabweans on ZimEye yesterday openly suggested that there must be some political tampering in the Makore case. Many said there is a history of killings in the country that has run for over 37 years in which tens of thousands of people’s remains are still to be found. Reached for comment, Mnangagwa is on video since 1984 denying everything, and in February last year he told the France24 broadcaster he has no knowledge of the remains of 17 people killed under his instruction in January 2019. His victims include Tinashe Choto, a young football player who was coming from a practice match at the time. Choto’s father is still crying for answers to this day.
On 1 August 2018, Mnangagwa deployed the army to kill people so to scare them off and then change 2018 election results. 6 people were shot dead in Harare and Mnangagwa later set up a commission to investigate the killers, which process ended up with all fingers pointing at him. 6 months later, he would admit in writing to parliament saying he did it all.
MUREHWA MURDER- President Mugabe Warned Saying Mnangagwa Is After Human Body Parts | ANY LINK WITH TAPIWA MAKORE's DEATH?
By A Correspondent- In a very unfortunate turn of events, extra lessons students who were learning at their teacher’s house will rue the day they decided to gossip about their teacher’s love affair with his neighbor while his wife was listening in on their conversation after their conversation led to their teacher’s wife assaulting the alleged mistress.
The matter came to light in court where a nurse at UBH Precious Sibanda-Makowe (36) stood accused of assaulting her husband’s mistress Pretty Moyo (32) who both reside at the same compound at Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo Airport compound.
Sibanda-Makowe pleaded guilt to the charges of assault and said she committed the offense out of anger after she got home only to find the extra lessons students discussing the affair between her husband and his mistress who reside at the same compound. She said she confronted Moyo and she confirmed the affair between the 2.
It is the state’s case that: On 2 October 2020 around 1645 hours at M 18 JMN Airport compound, the accused person approached the complainant at her place of residence. She enquired if she was having an affair with her husband.
A misunderstanding ensued and the accused person picked up an empty soft drink bottle and hit the complainant on the face before punching her with clenched fists on the face. The complainant sustained a swollen left eye, bruises on the lower lid of the left eye and forehead.
Sibanda Makowe was jailed for 30 days and given an option to pay $1000 for her offense. Leaners have been out of school since 24 March 2020 due to the ongoing pandemic, when schools reopened on 28 September, teachers are on strike as they are citing incapacitation which has forced many parents to opt for the extra lessons route.-statemedia
Brilliant Khuzwayo and Itumeleng Khune of Kaizer Chiefs
Former Bafana Bafana goalkeeper Brilliant Khuzwayo had to be hospitalised after a stabbing incident at the Mangosuthu University of Technology in Umlazi.
He also faces charges of assault after his alleged attacker laid counter-charges.
KwaZulu-Natal police spokesperson Jay Naicker explained police are investigating two counts of assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and crimen injuria but said the information around the incident is still somewhat unclear.
The spokesperson said two men were involved in an altercation at an event at the university on Sunday afternoon.
Naicker said both men claim to have been stabbed, one with a broken bottle and one with a knife.
They will both appear before the Umlazi Magistrate’s Court on Monday.
By A Correspondent- A Chipinge man, who killed his brother in a scuffle over a goat has been slapped with a 25-year jail term by High Court judge Justice Isaac Muzenda.
It is the State’s case that on October 16 last year, the convict, Tawanda Hlahla (25) had a misunderstanding with his elder brother Sifiso.
The court heard that the convict slaughtered Sifiso’s goat.
During the same week, Sifiso questioned his younger brother about his goat and a misunderstanding ensued.
The convict struck the nowdeceased with a machete once on the back of his head.
Sifiso bled profusely from the wound and died upon admission at Chipinge Hospital.
PARLIAMENT is backtracking on its stance that Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga’s suspension of by-elections to fill vacant parliamentary and municipal seats was constitutional, saying the pronouncement was a mistake.
Jacob Mudenda, the National Assembly speaker, last week announced that Statutory Instrument 225A of 2020, issued by Chiwenga a fortnight ago suspending by-elections as long as Covid-19 remained a “formidable pandemic”, was unconstitutional.
The speaker was, however, singing from a different hymn book in an interview with The Standard where he insisted that the Parliamentary Legal Committee was yet to review the contentious statutory instrument.
Mudenda said the committee was only likely to come up with a position on the statutory instrument in two weeks’ time.
“There are three statutory instruments that the Parliamentary Legal Committee is yet to consider so they did not pronounce themselves as to whether they were adverse or non-adverse,” he said.
“We explained that later on because there was confusion. It appeared as if the statutory instrument had recieved an adverse report from the Parliamentary Legal Committee. That was explained,” Mudenda said.
“That statutory instrument and two others are still to be reviewed by the Parliamentary Legal Committee and they will meet probably in the next two weeks to pronounce their legal opinion.”
Mudenda had told Parliament that the committee had met and reviewed the statutory instrument and found it to be unconstitutional.
“The committee is of the opinion that the statutory instruments gazetted in the month of October are not in contravention of the Declaration of Rights or any other provisions of the Constitution of Zimbabwe except for the following statutory instruments:- Statutory Instrument 224 of 2020; Statutory Instrument 225 of 2020 and Statutory Instrument 225(a) of 2020. These three were not compliant with the constitution,” Mudenda said.
The statutory instrument issued by Chiwenga, who doubles up as Health and Child Care minister, was dismissed as unconstitutional by legal experts.
A group of citizens and the Elections Resource Centre have since approached the High Court seeking the reversal of the suspension of the polls.
The Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission last week criticised the suspension of the polls, saying it was not consistent with democratic principles.
The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) last month said there would be by-elections on December 5 to fill over 80 municipal seats and nearly 30 parliamentary seats left vacant after Thokozani Khupe’s MDC-T recalled MDC Alliance members that refused to dump Nelson Chamisa.
After the ban, Zec accepted the names of Khupe and 14 others that had been nominated by the MDC-T interim leader to replace Chamisa’s recalled proportional representation MPs, which gave way to their swearing-in, in Parliament on October 7.
But despite the ban, Zanu PF has been conducting primary elections throughout the country in preparation for the by-elections.
Legal experts say the ban does not hold water because Covid-19 cases have been on a decline in Zimbabwe.
The country has significantly opened up after a national lockdown was imposed in March to slow down the spread of the virus.
Zimbabwe is a liberated country. It did not come through democracy, there was no vote to say Zimbabwe now wants to become independent. It was fought for.” This is word of mouth by Patrick Chinamasa, ZANUPF Acting Spokesman, confirming that ZANUPF is a war monger allergic to all processes peaceful and democratic.
In the same breath and same manner, we remind the old timer that Matabeleland was not seized and put under Rhodesia now Zimbabwe, through votes or negotiations. It was taken through a bloody war that claimed 6000 lives of Matabele warriors, 12 000 Matabele civilians, many homes and the Capital City of Matabeleland, Bulawayo, was burnt down to ashes and the of the King of Matabeleland, His Majesty King Lobengula disappeared. More than 600 000 cattle and vast fertile land was looted. Surprisingly, the Shona people who claim that Matabeleland is theirs were fighting on the side of the white people to destroy Matabeleland.
It is only in 1980 that the Shona supremacist government, the first of its kind, received Matabeleland as a gift from Britain to thank the Shonas for selling out Matabeles and assisting in the destruction of Matabeleland.
Matabeles are not strangers to wars and we have lost quite a few in our history. We cannot be scared by an old man who has been given a platform at ZANUPF headquarters to hallucinate every week.
Matabeleland is our most treasured gift from above. We will fight for it using any means possible. If it means shedding blood again to regain our independence and sovereignty, we will do it without regret or apologising.
The conquest by the BSACO and its Shona allies was temporary. We regrouped and defeated it and put Rhodesia to an abrupt end.
We have regrouped again and there is no question about it, Zimbabwe is the next fake state to fall. The sleeping giant, Matabeleland has arisen and its enemies are petrified.
The clock is ticking and the zero hour is approaching. Like a thief, we shall sneak in when we are least expected and cause breaking news. It is at this moment of truth that the world and indeed our enemies, will come to know that Matabeleland is not Zimbabwe and that Matabeles are angry and they mean business, and that Zimbabwe is a country in great crisis.
When ZANUPF leaders parrot about war, one can be fooled into thinking that they are invincible inventors of war.You can also be deceived into thinking that they fought the Rhodesian war on their own.
But the truth is, they were ably assisted by China and many other countries that supplied them with weaponry, training space, instructors and others provided financial help. Even The Western countries also chipped in by imposing sanctions on the Smith Regime to force it to the negotiating table.
Mudara Chinamasa needs to be reminded that Zanupf wars are not our wars, their battles are not our battles, and their enemies are not our enemies.
As you got assistance from China, and many other foreign countries to liberate Zimbabwe from white minority oppression, we have the same rights and freedom to seek help from any foreign country of our choice to fight Shona majority oppression which is worse than white minority domination. We do not need permission from the government of Zimbabwe or ZANUPF to do that. We will never explain ourselves to anyone for any decisions that we take.
If sanctions were imposed on Rhodesia to force it to respect human rights and grant independence to majority blacks, we campaign for even harsher sanctions to be imposed on Zimbabwe government, liberator turned black oppressor, to force it to grant independence to Matabeleland. That too, we shall do without regret.
If anyone from any part of the wold offers help, we will gladly accept without apologising for it.
All young Matabele people who are joining Matabeleland Liberation Organization in their numbers are demanding military training and Ak47ns to liberate themselves from Shona oppression, a sign that Matabeles are seething with anger and are ready to liberate themselves. If the young people of Matabeleland say yes, who are we as MLO to say no?
We salute our President and Commander in Chief, Cde Paul Siwela for calling all able bodied young men and women of Matabeleland to stand ready to be called for duty to defend the people of Matabeleland who are slaughtered everyday like animals in Zimbabwe.
Matters have come to a head. The people of Matabeleland have had enough of oppression, tribal segregation, Shona hegemony, dehumanisation, humiliation and genocide that continues to date under the Shona supremacist government of Zimbabwe.The latest being two very disturbing incidents in Matabeleland North.
One in Victoria Falls last week whereby two Matabeles were gunned down in cold blood by the Zimbabwe National Army for speaking Ndebele language and another one in Dete about 133 kilometres from Victoria Falls in which Matabeles were beaten and tortured by the Zimbabwe National Army for relieving themselves in a toilet and heard speaking Ndebele language.
The above acts of barbarism by the Zimbabwe National Army are a clear declaration of war on Matabele nation.
We warn our own who have become traitors because of love of money. The history of Zimbabwe tells us that it is the black Selous Scouts and the Rhodesian African Rifles that killed or caused death of their own African brothers than whites during the Rhodesian war.
We know that the a Matebele in the camp of our enemies is more dangerous to us than the Shonas. Some of them have been discovered, some of them have exposed themselves. We say to them the black neckless is awaiting. It is one size fit all. That is the only gift we for sellouts.
The separation of Matabeleland from Zimbabwe will end in bloodshed and tears.
Lukhulu luyeza luyenyelela!
Izenzo kungemazwi!
Israel Dube MLO Secretary for Information and Public Affairs
By A Correspondent- Staffers at Harare Hospital (Sally Mugabe Hospital) and Chitungwiza Hospital are reportedly taking bribes from desperate travelers wishing to travel out of the country and issuing them fake COVID-19 certificates without conducting tests, The Heralds.
The syndicate which reportedly involves laboratory staff, nurses, and security guards at both hospitals is charging between $20 and $40 for a test that usually costs anything between $60 and $70 at approved laboratories.
The matter came to light when the publication embarked on an investigation following a tip-off. 4 reporters were deployed to both hospitals where they discovered they could obtain the COVID-19 certificates from the syndicates.
The reporters managed to get the COVID-19 free certificate from the syndicate without being tested and after just paying $20.
When contacted for comment the Deputy Health Minister Dr. John Mangwiro said those who are involved in the scandal will face the full wrath of the law:
I am now liaising with the permanentsecretary so that we start conducting investigations.-statemedia
The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) has urged churches to encourage congregants to blow the whistle on any suspected cases of corruption and put pressure on issues pertaining to improved accountability and transparency in public institutions.
This was said by ZACC chairperson Justice Loice Matanda-Moyo while addressing the implementation of the National Anti-Corruption Strategy (NACS) for Church Leaders workshop in Harare last week.
She said given that the majority of people belong to a religious group, corruption should not be on the upward trajectory.
“Pastors should be setting good examples to their congregants by not indulging in corrupt activities such as bribing officials to obtain land to build churches and accepting suspicious tithes,” said Justice Matanda-Moyo.
“We encourage blowing the whistle on congregants that pay suspicious tithes. In addition, when a congregant confesses to have committed a criminal offence to the pastor/bishop/elder, the church should be part of the rehabilitation process of the offender by providing an alternative route when dealing with matters involving corruption related offences.
“Encourage congregants that confess to return the stolen money.”
Justice Matanda-Moyo said the country was facing its biggest challenge of corruption which had not only destroyed the moral fabric of society, but undermined the confidence of the people in public institutions and destroyed livelihoods.
She said the National Anti-Corruption Strategy (NACS) was launched by President Mnangagwa two months ago and was premised on the spirit and principles enshrined in the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC).
Justice Matanda-Moyo said NACS had strategic objectives which will be expected to be realised through actions, activities and interventions.
“It then puts the church at a critical position in the sense that the church should be more than just entertainment,” she said. “The church must return to its rightful place in society of influencing behavioural change amongst the citizens of this country.
“I have no doubt that senior Government officials, civil servants, members of independent commissions, local authorities and even officials in the private sector are church members to various denominations which are ably led by pastors here present.
“It is, therefore, the role of the church to pray for us as leaders. We are gathered here today as men of God, pastors, reverends, bishops etc. What have we done in contributing in the fight against corruption?
“How many of our church members have returned any stolen money following confessions made to the pastor? How many pastors have reported a suspicious transaction? How many congregants have been arrested and imprisoned for corruption related offences as a result of blowing the whistle by church members?
“How many outreach programmes for the youth, men and women have we had where we have included issues relating to corruption? These are some of the questions that should be addressed as you deliberate on the role of the church in NACS.”
Justice Matanda-Moyo said she looked forward to working with all church leaders in the implementation of the NACS for a better and prosperous Zimbabwe.
By A Correspondent- A 40 year old Concession man is in trouble after he attempted to rape a girl who owed her US$7.
The matter came to light at Concession magistrates yesterday where Wallace Jere pleaded not guilty to an attempted rape charge before magistrate Nixon Mangoti.
Mangoti remanded him in custody to tomorrow for trial.
Prosecutor led by Moses Kuimba alleged on September 25 the complainant (29) was sent to give Jere sadza as he was building a house for the complainant’s stepfather.
The complainant owed Jere US$7 and he demanded sex from her but she refused.
He then tipped her down and tried to rape her.
The complainant shouted for help and some herdboy came to her rescue leading to the arrest of Jere.
Emmerson MnangagwaEmmerson Mnangagwa looking into President Robert Mugabe’s coffin
Since the bodyparts of thousands of Zimbabweans killed by Mnangagwa since 1983-2019, are still missing (& he was also accused by Mugabe for being after Bob's bodyparts), is it unethical to ask question Mnangagwa over Tapiwa Makore's missing skull whose ZRP case has dragged on?
People were after Mugabe’s body parts, family spokesperson revealed
By Farai D Hove | ANALYSIS | The late president Robert Mugabe left instructions to be buried next to his mother, instead of the National Heroes Acre in Harare with other war veterans, his nephew and family spokesperson Leo Mugabe said last year.
Leo told the state owned Zimpapers Television Network, that not only did Mugabe want to be buried in the village, but he also warned his wife Grace Mugabe to keep an eye on his remains as there were people who were apparently after his body parts.
As a precaution, Mugabe’s remains were buried in a tamper-proof casket.
Leo told the station: “Originally why we changed [the casket] was because we wanted a tamper-proof casket because you know with rituals and things like that, people really are after his body or his body parts, so we wanted something that is tamper-proof. That is why the casket was changed in the first place.
“The idea came from him because he said to his wife aunty Joyce: ‘When I’m gone, don’t leave my body, be careful because people want to use my body.’ It was him who said to the former first lady. We knew that spiritually he knows something.”
While Mnangagwa was not mentioned by name, the inferrence was very direct that it was him, since he is the one who was wrestling the body away from the family resulting in several weeks of waiting during which Mnangagwa ‘s offers for an expensive mausoleum were turned down.
More than a year later, Mnangagwa is still to comment over the very serious allegations against his name, and Mugabe’s wife, Grace has relocated to rural Kutama where she daily guards her husband’s remains.
Fast forward to this month, Zimbabwe is struggling with finding the missing body parts of a 7 year old Murehwa boy, Tapiwa Makore. The late lad’s uncles yesterday told ZimEye they are frustrated with the rate at which the police are taking to trace the missing skull, especially three weeks after a key suspect narrated almost everything they feel is needed. The person who confesses to killing the toddler has spoken on video naming the person he handed the 7-year old’s skull.
Thousands of Zimbabweans on ZimEye yesterday openly suggested that there must be some political tampering in the Makore case. Many said there is a history of killings in the country that has run for over 37 years in which tens of thousands of people’s remains are still to be found. Reached for comment, Mnangagwa is on video since 1984 denying everything, and in February last year he told the France24 broadcaster he has no knowledge of the remains of 17 people killed under his instruction in January 2019. His victims include Tinashe Choto, a young football player who was coming from a practice match at the time. Choto’s father is still crying for answers to this day.
MUREHWA MURDER- President Mugabe Warned Saying Mnangagwa Is After Human Body Parts | ANY LINK WITH TAPIWA MAKORE's DEATH?
The Zimbabwean government has, for a prolonged period, been engaged in a losing battle to stem illegal foreign exchange market activities. As has been the fashion, the regime has blamed runaway inflation and spiraling price increases on nefarious activities by “market saboteurs”.
Among these innumerable efforts, in the first week of June, the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) threatened to embark on an unusual exercise. It sought to pursue illegal foreign currency dealers via the surveillance of WhatsApp groups through its financial intelligence unit, in collaboration with the police, banks, mobile-money service providers and relevant regulatory agencies. It threatened to bar and freeze suspects’ mobile numbers and accounts. This proved impossible.
On June 23, the RBZ then introduced a foreign exchange auction system (FEAS), which resulted in a move from a fixed exchange rate on the interbank market, which had, since March, been pegged at one US dollar to 25 Zimbabwe dollars (ZWL). After the introduction of the FEAS, the US dollar is now officially trading at 57 ZWL, against a black-market rate of between 80 and 100 ZWL.
On June 26, three days after the introduction of the FEAS, the permanent secretary in the ministry of information and publicity, Nick Mangwana, announced a ban, with immediate effect, on all mobile-money transactions (MMTs) and trading on the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange (ZSE). These drastic measures were described as making way for “intrusive investigations” into illegal dealings linked to the foreign currency black market, in which EcoCash is cited as the “centre pivot”.
In terms of market share, EcoCash, a subsidiary of Econet, accounts for about 97% of Zimbabwe’s mobile-money services. In addressing a crucial gap in Zimbabwe’s cash crisis, MMT services have, nonetheless, made the country’s economy vulnerable to a multiplicity of illicit foreign currency activities.
That said, the RBZ must not lose sight of its contributory role to this crisis through its (mis)management of the nation’s banking system that led to the liquidity crisis in the first place. This birthed and nurtured the mobile-money system that has since spiraled off its radar and, hence, out of its control.
Like any other stock exchange, the ZSE serves as a critical link for investors in the country. The loudest, yet most unfortunate, message from the temporary ban on its trading is that Zimbabwe is not only closed for business but also has no regard for investors’ property rights. Indeed, typical of the proverbial “burning down the house to kill a rat” or “throwing the baby out with the bath water”, this drastic measure is not good for investor confidence.
Further to this looming ZSE national catastrophe, the repercussions of which are yet to fully play out, is the plight of citizens already burdened by a loss of livelihood options during this indefinitely extended Covid-19 lockdown, that is most concerning. After the shock announcement of a blanket suspension of mobile-money services, the RBZ emerged, seemingly to avert a crisis, and reviewed the ban. This reviewed statement indicated that the ban is on MMT agents and merchant mobile-money account holders, while individual transactions up to a maximum of 5,000 ZWL are permitted.
Despite this reversal of the blanket ban and the assurance given by RBZ, Mangwana’s utterance has led to anxiety and a loss of confidence, with some street vendors and supermarkets already declining mobile-money payments.
For citizens battling a worsening economic crisis under the lockdown, this unfortunate development further impoverishes people, most of whom are Econet subscribers, who constitute an unbanked population that has found relief in transacting through mobile-money services.
For the few that are banked, the protracted liquidity crisis has seen citizens brave endless days and nights in long, winding queues in an effort to secure limited withdrawals each week. It is not unusual to leave the bank empty-handed even after dedicating oneself to these queues.
Apart from the often prohibitive costs associated with opening and maintaining a bank account, MMTs have offered a lifeline amid Zimbabwe’s protracted liquidity crisis. The Covid-19 context has also increased the demand for mobile-money services. This is because in light of the increasing levels of police abuse and brutality, they are a safer option in the current context in which citizen mobility, even for access to essential services, is restricted.
MMT services have also fulfilled transacting needs within an already failing banking sector, which, due to Covid-19 social-distancing regulations, has been operating below capacity. The digitalised transacting on mobile-money platforms offered by EcoCash, OneMoney, MyCash and Telecash have come to the rescue of consumers.
Last Friday’s announcement is evidence of a huge climbdown by the RBZ. Mangwana retweeted the climbdown with no hint of irony. This announcement has the potential to decimate what is left of Zimbabwe’s meagre economy and points to a governance system that has failed to subordinate itself to the rule of law.
The government should manage its communications system and segment information outflows so that announcements are delivered by the appropriate authorities, in this case the RBZ and the US Securities Exchange Commission (SEC). Since this is not the first example of such a case in Zimbabwe, until such time as public officials are brought to publicly account for their utterances, with consequences, not much reform can be expected in this regard.
As observed by telecommunications expert Dennis Magaya, the government’s failure to contain illegal foreign currency activities confirms a “widening gap” between a fast-changing digital world and Zimbabwe’s current monetary policy framework. This should be subject to regular review, in line with prevailing digital advances, to ensure that while monetary operations are not beyond its purview, they remain investor- and citizen-friendly.
A long-term solution to Zimbabwe’s liquidity crisis, which inevitably fuels the illegal foreign currency exchange market, must be found. Beyond the concerns of manipulation and illegality and hyperinflation as a result of money supply mismanagement, the latest crackdown compounds already immeasurable suffering for the majority of Zimbabwe’s citizens.
JOHN Sithole, who was shot dead in a dramatic shoot-out with police here last Thursday, was wanted in connection with two cases of rape, one of attempted murder and seven armed robberies.
Sithole, aka Kedha, who was killed in a movie-style operation that lasted 14 hours at a house in Beitbridge’s Dulivhadzimu suburb on Thursday was a violent criminal, sources close to the case revealed yesterday.
They said Kedha was on the most wanted list in connection with the crimes he allegedly committed in Beitbridge, Mberengwa, and along highways to Harare and Bulawayo.
Chronicle was told that he launched his operations from Musina in South Africa and would most of the time skip the border through the Limpopo River.
In the attempted murder case committed three weeks ago, Kedha is said to have raped a woman and her child in Mberengwa before locking them in a house and setting it ablaze. The victims were saved by other villagers who put out the fire.
National Police spokesperson, Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said:
“The suspect has helped clear two cases of rape and attempted murder in Mberengwa and seven armed robberies that occurred around Beitbridge.
“However, we cannot give further details concerning the cases since we are pursuing his other accomplices.”
During the Thursday stand-off, Kedha shot and wounded a detective on the arm.
Before his demise, he had evaded arrest at the Limpopo River on Wednesday afternoon and hid at his rented house in Dulivhadzimu where he was found by detectives.
According to the police, Kedha was ordered to surrender but he turned violent, held 10 people at the house hostage and opened fire at police. Police tried to make him surrender but he kept firing until reinforcements were called in from the special tactics unit.
The team eventually killed him in the afternoon after he had released the hostages and continued shooting at the police officers.
After he was shot the police recovered a Black Star S.A Calsap Pistol loaded with six rounds, and a plastic paper containing loose dagga was found in his trousers pocket.
“A further search was conducted around and within the house leading to the recovery of 25 by 9mm spent cartridges.
“Another 105 and 25 cartridges shot from the police’s AK47 and FN rifles were also picked from the crime scene,” said a security source.
According to the source, the police established that Sithole had in his possession 50 live rounds before the start of the gun battle.
Emmerson Mnangagwa looking into President Robert Mugabe’s coffin
People were after Mugabe’s body parts, family spokesperson revealed
By Farai D Hove | ANALYSIS | The late president Robert Mugabe left instructions to be buried next to his mother, instead of the National Heroes Acre in Harare with other war veterans, his nephew and family spokesperson Leo Mugabe said last year.
Leo told the state owned Zimpapers Television Network, that not only did Mugabe want to be buried in the village, but he also warned his wife Grace Mugabe to keep an eye on his remains as there were people who were apparently after his body parts.
As a precaution, Mugabe’s remains were buried in a tamper-proof casket.
Leo told the station: “Originally why we changed [the casket] was because we wanted a tamper-proof casket because you know with rituals and things like that, people really are after his body or his body parts, so we wanted something that is tamper-proof. That is why the casket was changed in the first place.
“The idea came from him because he said to his wife aunty Joyce: ‘When I’m gone, don’t leave my body, be careful because people want to use my body.’ It was him who said to the former first lady. We knew that spiritually he knows something.”
While Mnangagwa was not specifically mentioned by name, the inference was very direct that it was him, since he is the one who was wrestling the body away from the family resulting in several weeks of waiting during which Mnangagwa ‘s offers for an expensive mausoleum were turned down.
Since the bodyparts of thousands of Zimbabweans killed by Mnangagwa since 1983-2019, are still missing (& he was also accused by Mugabe for being after Bob's bodyparts), is it unethical to ask question Mnangagwa over Tapiwa Makore's missing skull whose ZRP case has dragged on?
More than a year later, Mnangagwa is still to comment over the very serious allegations against his name, and Mugabe’s wife, Grace has relocated to rural Kutama where she daily guards her husband’s remains.
Fast forward to this month, Zimbabwe is struggling with finding the missing body parts of a 7 year old Murehwa boy, Tapiwa Makore. The late lad’s uncles yesterday told ZimEye they are frustrated with the rate at which the police are taking to trace the missing skull, especially three weeks after a key suspect narrated almost everything they feel is needed. The person who confesses to killing the toddler has spoken on video naming the person he handed the 7-year old’s skull.
Thousands of Zimbabweans on ZimEye yesterday openly suggested that there must be some political tampering in the Makore case. Many said there is a history of killings in the country that has run for over 37 years in which tens of thousands of people’s remains are still to be found. Reached for comment, Mnangagwa is on video since 1984 denying everything, and in February last year he told the France24 broadcaster he has no knowledge of the remains of 17 people killed under his instruction in January 2019. His victims include Tinashe Choto, a young football player who was coming from a practice match at the time. Choto’s father is still crying for answers to this day.
MUREHWA MURDER- President Mugabe Warned Saying Mnangagwa Is After Human Body Parts | ANY LINK WITH TAPIWA MAKORE's DEATH?
Precious Sibanda-Makowe with her husband and Pretty Moyo (right) at court
A BULAWAYO-based married teacher who had an affair with his neighbour was exposed by his pupils who were discussing his cheating ways without noticing the presence of his wife.
The pupils had come for extra lessons at their teacher’s house at Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo Airport compound when the wife eavesdropped on them talking about his affair with Pretty Moyo (32) of the same compound.
This was heard when Precious Sibanda-Makowe (36), a nurse based at United Bulawayo Hospitals (UBH) appeared in court for assaulting Moyo.
She pleaded guilty when she appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Mr Shepherd Munjanja facing an assault charge on Thursday.
In her defence, the remorseful Sibanda-Makowe told the magistrate that she committed the offence out of anger as she felt disrespected by her husband and her alleged girlfriend whom she was treating as a sister yet she went behind her back to do such a disgraceful thing.
“Your Worship, I was angered by the actions of the complainant. I was treating her as a sister. We greeted each other every day as if all was normal while she went behind my back to date my husband. When I confronted her, I expected her to show some remorse and apologise but she became arrogant.
“I became a laughing stock in front of people at the compound and worse she ended up admitting that she was in love with my husband because she thought that we had divorced. This infuriated me to assault her,” said Sibanda-Makowe.
When quizzed by the magistrate how she got to know about the affair she explained how she got home from work to eavesdrop on pupils discussing her husband’s affair and how they had seen him sneaking into the house of the complainant.
“I was coming from work when I overheard pupils discussing among themselves on who my husband was dating. I heard them agreeing that my husband usually goes to the complainant’s house when I am not around and they have seen them getting lovey-dovey at the compound during my absence.
“When I asked my husband about it, he failed to give me a satisfactory answer which forced me to confront the complainant at her place of residence where she also became jumpy on the matter.
On pressing her, she ended up confessing to having an affair with my husband,” Sibanda-Makowe said.
Prosecuting Mr Terrence Chakabuda told the court that Sibanda-Makowe and Moyo live in the same compound and there was a misunderstanding over a love affair.
“On 2 October 2020 around 1645 hours at M 18 JMN Airport compound, the accused person approached the complainant at her place of residence. She enquired if she was having an affair with her husband.
“A misunderstanding ensued and the accused person picked up an empty soft drink bottle and hit the complainant on the face before punching her with clenched fists on the face. The complainant sustained a swollen left eye, bruises on the lower lid of the left eye and forehead,” said Mr Chakabuda
She was found guilty and the magistrate sentenced her to 30 days in prison with an option of RTGS$1 000 fine.
State media this Monday ran an article in which under cover journalists from the media house managed to fraudulently acquire Covid-19 test certificates from staff at two Harare top goverment health centres, Harare Hospital and Chitungwiza Hospital.
According to the media, staff members at the two public hospitals and laboratories are charging between US$20 and US$40 to corruptly issue fake Covid-19 certificates to individuals, who need them for international travel, without conducting tests.
The corrupt syndicates at Chitungwiza Hospital and Harare’s Sally Mugabe Hospital involve laboratory staff, nurses and security guards at health facilities who then split the bribes.
Goverment recently Gazetted a US$65 charge for Covid-19 tests at its institutions with private centres charging a lot more than that up to about US$100 for the required PCR test.
But to avoid the inconvenience or cut costs those wishing to cross the borders have resorted to paying US$20 bribes to health staff in order to be issued with a fraudulent certificate showing they tested negative to Covid-19.
According to the Zimbabwean regulations following World Health Organisation guidelines, travellers must produce a PCR Covid-19 clearance certificate issued by a recognised health facility within 48 hours before leaving the country.
Cross-border traders, job-seekers and others desperate for cheaper certificates are the major clients of the corrupt syndicates.
Patients seeking admission to public and private hospitals are also being required to produce coronavirus test results before being taken in under a new policy introduced by the Health Ministry recently. The high cost of the test is likely to force the majority poor to die at home or rush to the “black market” for the test.
Health and Child Care deputy minister John Mangwiro confirmed the new policy in parliament recently.
Speaking to State Media on the corruption on test certificates, Mangwiro said those fingered in the illicit deals will face the full wrath of the law.
“I am now liaising with the permanentsecretary so that we start conducting investigations.”
National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi urged members of the public to report such issues.
“Issues like that should be reported to the police so that investigations can be conducted,” he said.
A former president and his wife will reportedly battle it out in court, as she files for divorce and R150 000 in monthly maintenance. The maintenance will go towards maintaining her lifestyle, including a luxury vehicle, personal assistant and three domestic workers. The wife claims her husband has hidden assets and has demanded that he disclose details of his finances.
A former president and his soon-to-be ex-wife are going into battle over his assets, as she claims he his hiding his “secretive financial affairs”, according to a Sunday Times report.
The two parties cannot be named owing to a Constitutional Court ruling.
The woman reportedly filed court papers on Thursday seeking a divorce from the former president. She alleged she suffered emotional abuse by the former president, had her financial support removed for two years and that “third parties” interfered in the marriage.
According to the report, the wife wants R170 000 per month for herself and the children, and medical and educational expenses, along with a R50 000 contribution to her legal fees.
She is reportedly also demanding that he disclose his finances.
She claims her husband has the financial support and backing of influential individuals in neighbouring states and says she will be able to prove it in court.
She reportedly requires monthly maintenance to cover her expenses, which include three domestic workers, an au pair, a personal assistant and a tutor. She also needs to replace a luxury vehicle that was repossessed by a bank last year because she could no longer afford the instalments.
The former president’s lawyer told the Sunday Times he was not aware divorce papers had been filed and was as such not able to comment.
Shootouts have become common in Zimbabwe in recent weeks.
The government says there is a sudden uptick in the number of violent crimes involving guns.
Government officials and police are blaming this on the return of what they call hardcore criminals during COVID-19.
These suspects are allegedly based in neighbouring countries, especially South Africa.
Zimbabwe’s Home Affairs Minister Kazembe Kazembe said police will deal with the offenders.
“You have seen what happened in Beitbridge, there are so many cases that these fugitives are clashing with police,” Kazembe said.
“I am glad police are doing a good job. We have had people who were on the run for a very long time and known to be serious criminals.”
A week ago, armed men allegedly stormed former Zanu PF commissar Engelbert Rugeje’s house leading to a deadly shootout that involved soldiers who were guarding the property.
One person died during the shootout and another allegedly succumbed to gunshot wounds after he was arrested last week.
Last Thursday, a suspected armed robber was killed by police in a gunfight after he took a Beitbridge family hostage for over 14 hours. In September two men killed a soldier and injured another one in Chivhu after they stormed a police post.
The two, who escaped with two AK-47 rifles, were killed a day later after soldiers were deployed to track them.
Police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said police are still investigating the source of the Chivhu firearms.
“We want to know the source of the firearms and if they are firearms at all,” Nyathi said. “We want to establish whether they are toy guns being used to scare people or not.
“We also want to urge firearms owners to make sure their guns are secure and make sure they comply with the terms of the Firearms Act. “This includes company owners so that the firearms do not fall into wrong hands.
One of the intruders at Rugeje’s house was identified as Kudakwashe Mupedzazvose. A Zanu PF youth league membership card belonging to Mupedzazvose was found at the former army boss’s house.
He was arrested with a gunshot wound to the chest but was sent to police holdings cells where he died.
There have been reports of retired and some serving members of the uniformed forces using service guns to engage in criminal activities.
About two weeks ago, two suspected armed robbers believed to be part of a gang that also included an army deserter and an ex-policeman, which had been terrorising residents in and around Belvedere in Harare, were arrested and appeared in court.
Kazembe says Zimbabwe’s government is also working to extradite several former ministers who served under former President Robert Mugabe.
These former government officials have now sought refuge elsewhere, including in South Africa.
The minister says they have cases to answer to.
“Anyone who has a case to answer and who is outside the country is a fugitive. Police are keen to interview them they should come back and clear their names,” Kazembe said.
South African Health Minister Dr Zweli Mkhize and his wife Dr May have tested positive for COVID-19.
The minister made the announcement in a statement on Sunday night.
Mkhize said he and his wife Dr May Mkhize went to test for the COVID-19 after he started showing mild symptoms.
“I was feeling abnormally exhausted and as the day progressed, I started loosing appetite. My wife had a cough, was dizzy and extremely exhausted. Given her symptoms, the doctors advised that she must be admitted for observation and rehydration,” he said.
Mkhize is in quarantine at home.
He’s urged South Africans to continue adhering to health protocols.
DR ZWELI MKHIZE TESTS POSITIVE FOR COVID-19
18/10/20
I wish to inform the public that this afternoon my wife, Dr May Mkhize and I have tested positive for COVID-19.
We decided to go test yesterday when I started showing mild symptoms.
ABOUT 20 Form Four pupils at Loreto High School have been suspended for allegedly engaging in group sexual activities in July.
One of them has reportedly gone on a hunger strike in protest against her expulsion from the school located in Silobela, Midlands Province. The pupils were at school to sit for their June-July Ordinary Level examinations.
It is said the pupils, both male and female, were caught pants down in the girls’ dormitories in July with the reported suspension coming now, a development that has drawn the ire of parents who are questioning the motive to punish the pupils ahead of their final examinations.
Midlands Provincial Education Director Mr Jameson Machimbira confirmed the incident on Friday.
He however, said he was still waiting for finer details from a team which went to the school on Friday to investigate the matter.
“Yes, we received information that some pupils both male and female from Loreto High School had been suspended following reports that they were caught engaging in unconfirmed sexual activities. I received phone calls from some affected parents who wanted the Ministry (Primary and Secondary Education) to intervene citing the timing of the suspensions. So, we sent a team to investigate the matter on Friday and they are still to give me a report. So, I am waiting for the report,” said Mr Machimbira.
In an interview, a parent of a suspended child said her son confirmed to her that they had been caught while engaging in sexual activities in the girls’ dormitories.
“My son is currently doing Form Four, and is going to write his final examinations in December as advised by the Government. We were notified by the boarding master that they wanted us as parents at the school on October 13, reason being our son had committed an offence and they did not give any further details of the offence nor when it was committed,” said the parent on condition of anonymity to protect the child.
She said she was told by the school that her son was caught while engaging in a group sex in the girls’ dormitories.
“Before I knew it, I was advised to come and collect my child since they had expelled them from school because they were allegedly having sexual affairs. The only tangible evidence they had was they had heard from other students that the students had misbehaved in July 2020 when they were writing mid-year exams.
“My son completed writing on the 14th of July and that’s the day he arrived home but we heard that the Form Six students who had exams later during the month of July were the ones who had committed the offence. Most of the students had owned up and confessed to have misbehaved well after my son had gone home,” narrated the parent.
She said if it was a genuine disciplinary procedure the school should have informed parents of the offences committed by students and even suspended them pending disciplinary hearing.
The parent said affected parents have gone back with their children.
“The children are obviously traumatised by all this. We are not saying children are above the law, no, we only want what is best for our children and in this case, they should be in school preparing for examinations and not at home,” she said.
She said one of the suspended girls hasn’t been eating for the past three days because of trauma.
“One affected girl tried to plead her innocence without anyone listening to her and has gone for three days without eating food. It’s sad for the children,” she said.
The Minister of Primary and Secondary Education Cain Mathema told Parliament last week that Government does not expect any children or teachers to misbehave.
He said school heads, school administrations and the inspectors are there to make sure that pupils don’t stray.
“We will do everything we can to protect the children and I’m ready if any Honourable Member has that evidence let them come to my office and show me and we will do the investigations. We will go out of our way to stop every criminal activity that may be taking place in schools. We are ready to listen to everybody, every parent, every guardian or community member; if you see any indecent activity by any child, please bring that information to my office,” said Minister Mathema.
At least 21 passengers were injured on Saturday after a Changu Bus Service coach contracted to the Zimbabwe United Passenger Company (ZUPCO) overturned along Lytton Road in Harare when the driver failed to negotiate a curve.
National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the accident yesterday.
“The driver of the Changu bus contracted to Zupco had 21 passengers on board,” he said. “On approaching a curve near Rugare traffic lights along Lytton Road, the driver lost control of the bus and it veered off the road before overturning once.
“Police were called in. The injured were taken to Sally Mugabe Hospital for treatment.”
Asst Comm Nyathi said the bus was taken to the Vehicle Inspection Department (VID) for inspection.
He said it was not clear what caused the driver to lose control, but police were conducting investigations into the matter.
The weekend accident comes after concerns over the condition of some of the buses contracted to Zupco.
Recently, a bus contracted to Zupco veered off the road and rammed into several private vehicles and injured some pedestrians near Mupedzanhamo flea market in Harare.
Another bus contracted to Zupco, earlier this month veered off the road in Harare and narrowly missed a pedestrian who was standing on the pavement.
Early this year, 27 people were injured when a bus contracted to Zupco bound for Harare veered off the road and overturned near Beatrice, in Mashonaland East province.
ELANGENI Training Centre in Bulawayo is reopening today to cater for the growing number of people testing positive to Covid-19 in the city.
The facility reopens as medical experts warn that the second wave of the global pandemic is upon the city and could be deadly if people fail to uphold preventive measures.
The isolation centre for asymptomatic Covid-19 patients was closed for renovations but health officials decided to reopen it in response to the rising number of Covid-19 cases in Bulawayo.
Medical experts have warned that with the way members of the public have become relaxed in terms of social distancing and wearing of masks, infections may spike.
As of yesterday, Bulawayo accounted for 1 570 cases of Covid-19 recorded since the outbreak of the disease in the country on March 20. The country has 238 active cases with city having the highest number at 116 followed by Midlands province at 32.
New Covid-19 cases have been up daily and over the past week Bulawayo province has recorded a majority of the reported cases.
By Saturday the seven-day rolling average for new cases stood at 14 and of the 11 cases recorded, five were from Bulawayo.
On October 13, Bulawayo recorded seven cases which rose to 10 the following day and then 13 on Thursday. A total of 11 new cases were recorded on Friday and 20 yesterday.
Bulawayo to date has recorded 47 of the total 231 Covid-19 deaths in Zimbabwe.
Countries like England and Italy are already bearing the brunt of the second wave of Covid-19 with reports showing that globally, the virus had killed more than a million people. The prevalence of Covid-19 in communities has exposed self-isolation challenges in the city as some people do not meet the conditions for isolating at home.
Isolating at home entails being able to stay at home without getting in contact with those one resides with as they also could be infected through interaction with the Covid-19 confirmed person.
Bulawayo is home to four designated Covid-19 treatment centres and three of them have all been undergoing renovations since the outbreak of Covid-19 in March. The three that are being refurbished are Thorngrove Infectious Diseases Hospital, the Old Bartley Memorial Block (BMB) within the United Bulawayo Hospitals (UBH) and Ekusileni Medical Centre.
The fourth centre is the privately-owned Mater Dei Hospital.
The BMB is said to be almost ready and will open its doors on November 1 while Ekusileni will open on November 30.
Bulawayo provincial medical director Dr Welcome Mlilo said the paperwork had been done to have Elangeni reopen.
He raised concern over the sudden rise of Covid-19 infections in Bulawayo saying if proper measures are not taken, the situation may be uncontrollable soon.
“Our numbers of Covid-19 cases are on the rise and we are concerned about experiencing a second wave of infections. We need to actively isolate cases to stop the community spread of the virus hence the decision to reopen Elangeni Training Centre,” said Dr Mlilo.
Acting Mpilo Central Hospital chief executive officer Professor Solwayo Ngwenya said people must heed advice from experts to ensure that the infections remain under control.
He said the reproductive rate of the virus stands at three meaning anyone with Covid-19 has a potential of infecting three more people at a time.
Professor Ngwenya also called for a March-like lockdown which was effective in stopping the spread in Zimbabwe.
He said members of the public were exposing themselves through unnecessary travel.
“The first lockdown was successful as we managed to keep the reproductive rate to below one but with the relaxation and attitudes prevalent in the community now, a Covid-19 storm is looming.
My prediction as a medical expert is that if we are not careful, we will bury many people before the Christmas holiday because it’s clear that the virus has spread rapidly in the community,” he warned.
Prof Ngwenya added that people should be wise enough to heed advice and never mistake it for threats or a violation of their rights.
The three-member tribunal to inquire into the suitability of Justice Erica Fungayi Ndewere to hold the office of a judge is expected to be announced today after the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) last week recommended to President Mnangagwa to set it up.
The tribunal for Justice Ndewere is coming after the sacking last week of Supreme Court Judge Justice Francis Bere for improper conduct after the tribunal set up on another JSC recommendation found the judge was no longer suitable to hold office.
Justice Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Permanent Secretary Mrs Virginia Mabhiza confirmed that the steps required to bring the judge before a tribunal were moving forward.
“The proclamation for the setting up the tribunal will be published on Monday, which will set the processes in motion. The allegations against the judge will also be spelt out,” she said.
According to sources Justice Ndewere is facing allegations of misconduct and conduct inconsistent with being a judicial officer. Her suspension from the bench will be automatic by operation of law once the tribunal is in place.
The JSC last week said investigations into misconduct allegations against Justice Ndewere were formalised in March this year and had nothing to do with her granting bail to MDC-Alliance deputy chairperson Job Sikhala recently. After the results of these investigations were studied by the JSC, the commission then recommended the tribunal.
While the President formally appoints the tribunal, and has to formally dismiss the judge if the tribunal makes an adverse finding, he has no input in the process, acting on the recommendation of the JSC to appoint the tribunal and on the recommendation of the tribunal to clear or fire a judge.
The commission was responding to reports from certain quarters of the media which sought to link the judge’s predicament to Sikhala case, claiming she was being persecuted.
“It is, therefore, unfortunate for one to attempt to link a genuine accountability process that the Honourable Judge is going through with the decisions that the judge made in court,” said the JSC in a statement.
“The Judicial Service Commission respects and indeed makes every effort to protect the independence of the Judiciary. This is a constitutional imperative which we will always adhere to.
“The synopsis of events given shows that there is no connection between the two decisions by the JSC and that of the judge in Sikhala’s matter.”
Justice Ndewere has since responded to JSC allegations through her lawyers Sawyer and Mkushi Legal Practitioners.
She referred to the Constitution, arguing that Judge President Justice Chiweshe was in charge of the High Court, while the Chief Justice was in charge of the Supreme Court.
The judge insisted that the JSC did not have the legal authority to deal with complaints raised against her.
“We direct your attention to Statutory Instrument 107 of 2012 and the provisions contained therein. The Chief Justice does not have the authority to direct the Judicial Service Commission to attend to any complaint against a sitting judge of the High Court,” read the letter dated September 30, 2020.
She implored the Chief Justice to follow laid down procedures for dealing with complaints against a sitting judge.
If the tribunal clears her, she will return to the bench; if the tribunal makes other findings and recommendations she could well lose her post. The tribunal is not a criminal court, but can report that certain conduct is not consistent with holding judicial office.
Justice Bere was fired by President Mnangagwa last week for gross misconduct following recommendations by the tribunal set up to inquire into his fitness to hold the office of a judge.
Justice Bere, who was on suspension pending conclusion of investigations, was fired for interfering with a Harare lawyer involved in a matter in which he had an interest.
Retired Judge Justice Simbi Mubako chaired the three-member tribunal which investigated the judge’s conduct.
The tribunal presented its findings and recommendations to President Mnangagwa at State House after which the report was actioned and the decision made to sack the judge immediately.
Other members of the tribunal were Advocate Takawira Nzombe and veteran lawyer Ms Rekayi Maposa.
President Mnangagwa set up the tribunal inquiry on the recommendation of the Judicial Service Commission after the lawyer accused Justice Bere of interference in a civil case involving the Zimbabwe National Road Administration (Zinara) and his relatives.
The judge allegedly telephoned the lawyer, who was representing Zinara, asking him to consider settling a civil dispute pitting Zinara against Fremus Enterprises. Justice Bere was serving on both the Constitutional Court and Supreme Court benches when he was suspended in March this year.
Staff at two public hospitals and laboratories are charging between US$20 and US$40 to corruptly issue fake Covid-19 certificates to individuals, who need them for international travel, without conducting tests.
The corrupt syndicates at Chitungwiza Hospital and Harare’s Sally Mugabe Hospital involve laboratory staff, nurses and security guards at health facilities who then split the bribes.
Most institutions charge around US$65 for the required PCR test for Covid-19, a test that is required within 48 hours before leaving the country by road or air.
But to avoid the inconvenience or cut costs those wishing to cross the borders have resorted to paying US$20 bribes to health staff in order to be issued with a fraudulent certificate showing they tested negative to Covid-19.
According to the Zimbabwean regulations following World Health Organisation guidelines, travellers must produce a PCR Covid-19 clearance certificate issued by a recognised health facility within 48 hours before leaving the country.
Cross-border traders, job-seekers and others desperate for cheaper certificates are the major clients of the corrupt syndicates.
The Herald recently got a tip-off and embarked on a week-long investigation to expose the rot.
As part of the investigation, two reporters were deployed at Chitungwiza Central Hospital and Sally Mugabe Hospital where they found that corrupt syndicates were ready to issue certificates.
Health and Child Care Deputy Minister Dr John Mangwiro said those fingered in the illicit deals will face the full wrath of the law.
“I am now liaising with the permanentsecretary so that we start conducting investigations.”
At Chitungwiza Hospital, the reporter paid US$20 and was issued with a laboratory report certifying that he had tested negative to Covid-19 when no samples had been taken from him. Initially, he was asked to pay US$25 but the bribe was cut to US$20 after bargaining.
The reporter was introduced to the syndicate by some employees at the hospital and the “greedy” slow-witted team never bothered to ask how the reporter got to know of the service.
He advised the syndicate of his immediate plans to leave the country on a work trip before asking for a Covid-19 certificate.
On Thursday visitors entering Chitungwiza Central Hospital were using a small gate where like anyone else, the reporter had a temperature test.
The temperature read 36,4 degrees Celsius.
The reporter then proceeded to the reception where he met a woman student nurse whom he had been referred to.
“We charge US$25 for a PCR Covid-19 clearance certificate and the process takes less than 10 minutes,” said the student nurse.
However, the reporter bargained for a lesser bribe, until the nurse reduced the figure to US$20.
They proceeded to the hospital’s laboratory where they met an unidentified tall male laboratory technician, who took over from the nurse.
“Let me get you a form so that you quickly fill in your personal details. From the US$20 that you have, give me US$10 so that I give the lady who has the date stamp.
“If you are not in a hurry, I will steal the stamp during lunchtime but if you are in a rush, we will just give her the US$10,” he said.
The reporter then acceded to pay the US$10 which was handed over to the laboratory technician.
He then went into the laboratory where he came out with an existing template used at the institution.
A copy of the fake Covid-19 test certificate issued to the Herald reporter at Chitungwiza Central Hospital last week
They doctored the template by including the reporter’s name, date of birth and other particulars.
Interestingly, the Covid-19 certificate was issued in five minutes despite the fact that the normal PCR test takes at least two hours.
After the certificate was produced the syndicate then demanded the remaining US$10, which was also secretly handed over to the student nurse.
However, the student nurse started pressing for an extra US$5 saying the one who stamped wanted extra cash.
The other reporter deployed at Sally Mugabe Hospital in Harare met a nurse who explained to him that the institution was only testing hospital staff.
“We do not test outsiders. We only offer the service to hospital staff. My advice is for you to go to private health centres who offer that service to all,” she said, quite correctly and properly.
But the reporter then went to the hospital laboratories where a male security guard referred him to the offices on the first floor of the building.
On the first floor of the said building, the reporter met one of the officials and a conversation began.
Asked the reporter, “Sir I am looking for a Covid-19 certificate which is required if one wants to visit outside Zimbabwe. I have been referred to this building. Can you help on how I can obtain one?’’
The official in his response said they are not offering the service to outsiders and referred the reporter to clinics for the service.
“You can go to any clinic and they will send the sample here for processing. But it takes time. When do you intend to leave the country?”
After some minutes the official said, “Okay, take my contact number so we can communicate on WhatsApp. Just save my name as Fidza,” said the official before walking away.
On WhatsApp, the reporter was furnished with the number of the person who could assist.
The reporter dialled the number and talked to a man who did not disclose his name.
However, a check with the number’s Ecocash account showed the name of the account holder as Mathias Hlomayi.
WhatsApp chats between the reporter and the man show that the reporter was charged US$40.
He unsuccessfully negotiated for the reduction of the bribe.
The man, however, accepted a payment plan whereby he would get US$30 with the balance expected in a few days.
The reporter was asked to send his details on WhatsApp to enable processing of the certificate.
He was asked to send his name, surname and date of birth.
However, the writer could not pursue the case considering that he had gathered enough proof through the WhatsApp chats.
The man claimed to be an employee of the National Microbiological Testing Centre.
NATIONAL police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi urged members of the public to report such issues.
“Issues like that should be reported to the police so that investigations can be conducted,” he said.
Farai Dziva|MDC-T Organizing Secretary, Abednego Bhebhe has all but distanced himself from Thokozani Khupe and Douglas Mwonzora’s sinking political project.
Bhebhe’s court affidavit exposes how Khupe and her disciples are using fake 2014 MDC-T structures to undertake the business of the 2014 MDC-T party.
Bhebhe also queried Khalipani Phugeni’s role in the 2014 MDC-T structures.
Bhebhe further exposed the high level of unconstitutionalism which has seen Thokozani Khupe and Mwonzora making decisions without consulting the National Council.
In a statement on the same issue, MDC Alliance said: MCD-T Organising Secretary Bhebhe has exposed how @DMwonzora and Khupe are manufacturing MDC-T 2014 structures, how they have consistently refused to hold meetings of 2014 legitimate structures in an EXPLOSIVE affidavit…
Farai Dziva|President Nelson Chamisa has described the late MDC founding Organising Secretary Esaph Mdlongwa as a dedicated Statesman.
Addressing mourners at Mdlongwa’s funeral in Bulawayo on Saturday, President Chamisa said Mdlongwa fought consistently for democracy and good governance.
“In Bulawayo this weekend…
Now in Luveve laying to rest our hero Ubaba uEsaph Mdlongwa.
Zimbabwe has lost a principled statesman who consistently fought for democracy and good governance.
May his soul rest in peace,” President Chamisa said in a brief statement.
MASVINGO –MDC T Secretary General, Douglas Mwonzora has expelled Dusty Zivhaze, an MDC founding member who succumbed to ulcers on July 15, 2019 from the party.
An internal memo dated July 2, 2020 and signed by Mwonzora in possession of The Mirror affirms the expulsion. Efforts to get a comment from Mwonzora were futile.
Zivhave, an MDC founding member died on July 15, 2019 at Checheche St Peters Hospital after battling ulcers. He was the secretary for information and publicity at his death.
The memo expels 34 members from Harare, Mash West, Manicaland, Mash Central, Chitungwiza, Bulawayo, Masvingo, Mat North and Mat South.
In Masvingo, the late Zivhaze was expelled together with provincial chairperson James Gumbi, Takanayi Mureyi and youth leader Philip Chingini.
“In terms of clause 5 (10)a of the constitution of the MDC party be their joining or supporting another party they have automatically terminated their membership of the MDC party led by the late Dr Richard Morgan Tsvangirai,” reads part of the memo.
The President is committed to the rule of law, and to property rights, the Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube said exactly 2 years ago at the London think-tank Chatham House. 2 years later, we review his promise. | WAS HE TELLING THE TRUTH?
MASVINGO –MDC T Secretary General, Douglas Mwonzora has expelled Dusty Zivhaze, an MDC founding member who succumbed to ulcers on July 15, 2019 from the party.
An internal memo dated July 2, 2020 and signed by Mwonzora in possession of The Mirror affirms the expulsion. Efforts to get a comment from Mwonzora were futile.
Zivhave, an MDC founding member died on July 15, 2019 at Checheche St Peters Hospital after battling ulcers. He was the secretary for information and publicity at his death.
The memo expels 34 members from Harare, Mash West, Manicaland, Mash Central, Chitungwiza, Bulawayo, Masvingo, Mat North and Mat South.
In Masvingo, the late Zivhaze was expelled together with provincial chairperson James Gumbi, Takanayi Mureyi and youth leader Philip Chingini.
“In terms of clause 5 (10)a of the constitution of the MDC party be their joining or supporting another party they have automatically terminated their membership of the MDC party led by the late Dr Richard Morgan Tsvangirai,” reads part of the memo.
Farai Dziva|MDC Alliance deputy national chairperson, Hon Job Sikhala, has said Mr Kembo Mohadi is a delusional and misguided politician.
Hon Sikhala was responding to Mr Mohadi’s assertion that Zanu PF will rule Zimbabwe forever.
Hon Sikhala also challenged Mr Chris Mutsvangwa to stop rambling about sanctions.
“We all heard Chris Mutsvangwa rambling about the stupidity of using sanctions as an excuse of failure.
They damned their Mugabe for using sanctions as the excuse for his failures. Those who told us about the stupidity of using sanctions as an excuse are in the same default mode today,” argued Hon Sikhala.
“This young Terrence Manjengwa is suffering for standing with me during my incarceration. He came to Court in solidarity with myself. They took him to jail… Pliz Free Terry.”
“Dear Kembo Mohadi. You are deluded to entertain your illusions that you will rule this country forever.
Although you call yourself junta, what you are saying will happen over our dead bodies.
Makajaidzwa kudzvanyirira vanhu. We are on this case as serious as you purport to be.”
Police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi.
Six land barons have been arrested in Harare under an operation being conducted across the country to curb illegal selling of housing stands.
The six are: Revai Desha (42), Naboth Munyengera (47), Sophia Chiswede (44), Rosemary Mhaka, Tranos Muzambi (49) and Philbert Madziya (48). Some of them have already appeared in court.
National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the arrests in a statement issued yesterday.
“The Zimbabwe Republic Police has intensified operations into the illegal allocation of housing stands by land barons in several parts of the country in conjunction with Provincial Affairs Ministers, Provincial Development Co-ordinators and Ministry of Local Government and Public Works,” he said.
“Members of the public are urged to come forward and report illegal acts by land barons to enable the law to take its course,” Asst Comm Nyathi said.
Land barons are those who take control of public land, owned either by the Government or a local authority, convert it into an informal urban settlement, divide the land up and sell the stands. Required services such as roads, sewers, water pipes and electricity servitudes are rare, and the proper town planning processes are ignored. This led to people losing their savings.
Recently, Vice President Kembo Mohadi said the creation of illegal urban settlements by land barons was now a thing of the past, with the Second Republic spearheading the construction of modern houses in line with Vision 2030 as pronounced by President Mnangagwa.
Speaking during belated World Habitat Day commemorations held at Nemamwa Growth Point on Friday last week, the Vice President said Vision 2030 was crafted by Zimbabweans, and therefore, everyone should work tirelessly towards the attainment of its targets.
He said as a result, Government will no longer allow unlawful settlements even in rural areas, as this negated the ongoing drive towards modernisation. He said the Second Republic under President Mnangagwa valued order and lawfulness.
VP Mohadi warned against perpetuating a culture of lawlessness in critical areas such as housing that had a bearing on Vision 2030. -Herald
Farai Dziva|MDC Alliance deputy national chairperson, Hon Job Sikhala, has said Mr Kembo Mohadi is a delusional and misguided politician.
Hon Sikhala was responding to Mr Mohadi’s assertion that Zanu PF will rule Zimbabwe forever.
Hon Sikhala also challenged Mr Chris Mutsvangwa to stop rambling about sanctions.
“We all heard Chris Mutsvangwa rambling about the stupidity of using sanctions as an excuse of failure.
They damned their Mugabe for using sanctions as the excuse for his failures. Those who told us about the stupidity of using sanctions as an excuse are in the same default mode today,” argued Hon Sikhala.
“This young Terrence Manjengwa is suffering for standing with me during my incarceration. He came to Court in solidarity with myself. They took him to jail… Pliz Free Terry.”
“Dear Kembo Mohadi. You are deluded to entertain your illusions that you will rule this country forever.
Although you call yourself junta, what you are saying will happen over our dead bodies.
Makajaidzwa kudzvanyirira vanhu. We are on this case as serious as you purport to be.”
A Bulawayo-based married teacher who had an affair with his neighbour was exposed by his pupils who were discussing his cheating ways without noticing the presence of his wife.
The pupils had come for extra lessons at their teacher’s house at Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo Airport compound when the wife eavesdropped on them talking about his affair with Pretty Moyo (32) of the same compound.
This was heard when Precious Sibanda-Makowe (36), a nurse based at United Bulawayo Hospitals (UBH) appeared in court for assaulting Moyo.
She pleaded guilty when she appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Mr Shepherd Munjanja facing an assault charge on Thursday.
In her defence, the remorseful Sibanda-Makowe told the magistrate that she committed the offence out of anger as she felt disrespected by her husband and her alleged girlfriend whom she was treating as a sister yet she went behind her back to do such a disgraceful thing.
“Your Worship, I was angered by the actions of the complainant. I was treating her as a sister. We greeted each other every day as if all was normal while she went behind my back to date my husband. When I confronted her, I expected her to show some remorse and apologise but she became arrogant.
“I became a laughing stock in front of people at the compound and worse she ended up admitting that she was in love with my husband because she thought that we had divorced. This infuriated me to assault her,” said Sibanda-Makowe.
When quizzed by the magistrate how she got to know about the affair she explained how she got home from work to eavesdrop on pupils discussing her husband’s affair and how they had seen him sneaking into the house of the complainant.
“I was coming from work when I overheard pupils discussing among themselves on who my husband was dating. I heard them agreeing that my husband usually goes to the complainant’s house when I am not around and they have seen them getting lovey-dovey at the compound during my absence.
“When I asked my husband about it, he failed to give me a satisfactory answer which forced me to confront the complainant at her place of residence where she also became jumpy on the matter.
On pressing her, she ended up confessing to having an affair with my husband,” Sibanda-Makowe said. Prosecuting Mr Terrence Chakabuda told the court that Sibanda-Makowe and Moyo live in the same compound and there was a misunderstanding over a love affair.
“On 2 October 2020 around 1645 hours at M 18 JMN Airport compound, the accused person approached the complainant at her place of residence. She enquired if she was having an affair with her husband.
“A misunderstanding ensued and the accused person picked up an empty soft drink bottle and hit the complainant on the face before punching her with clenched fists on the face. The complainant sustained a swollen left eye, bruises on the lower lid of the left eye and forehead,” said Mr Chakabuda
She was found guilty and the magistrate sentenced her to 30 days in prison with an option of RTGS$1 000 fine. -Chronicle
The new political administration has managed to achieve milestones that the previous dispensation failed to make progress on during its entire tenure, Vice President Kembo Mohadi has said.
Addressing the ZANU PF Matabeleland South Provincial Co-ordinating Committee (PCC) in Gwanda Town yesterday, VP Mohadi said the country is on the right track under the astute stewardship of President Mnangagwa.
“We have done what the first dispensation did not achieve. The Beitbridge-Masvingo Road; Harare-Chirundu Road were done by the New Dispensation. In Chimanimani, where Cyclone Idai wreaked havoc and killed many people, new road networks have been constructed, new schools and housing units have been put up.
“Agricultural produce can now be taken to markets, and (in all this) we used our own resources and local expertise.”
Some critics, he added, had grimly projected up to one million deaths by June as a result of the coronavirus, but Government had managed to contain the pandemic to manageable levels.
VP Mohadi also took a swipe at party members who were involved in vote buying.
“When I was injured during the 2018 blast at White City Stadium, people took advantage of my incapacitation to use money to buy their way into the party. Now we have people who do not know what ZANU PF stands for because they were not groomed by the party,” he added.
The Vice President said although the country was feeling the effects of three successive droughts, Government has made sure no one dies of hunger.
“The Government is talking of Vision 2030, where we are saying we should have attained an upper middle-income economy by 2030; this is something which we are focused on.”
ZANU PF, he said, is committed to achieving its target of 5 million voters in 2023.-The Sunday Mail
THE Vehicle Inspection Department (VID) will start conducting road tests and issuing driver’s licences from tomorrow after it closed in March due to Covid-19 induced lockdown.
Cabinet okayed the resumption of VID operations last month.
Since being given the nod to reopen, the department is understood to have been developing operating procedures and health protocols in line with Covid-19 guidelines.
Transport and Infrastructural Development Permanent Secretary Engineer Amos Marawa told our Bulawayo Bureau that VID had finalised developing the procedures in line with the World Health Organisation (WHO) recommendations.
The guidelines were approved by Cabinet and the National Covid-19 Taskforce.
“VID has developed operating guidelines and standard operating procedures which are in line with WHO guidelines and were approved by the National Taskforce on Covid-19, and Cabinet.-The Sunday Mail
Farai Dziva|MDC-T Organizing Secretary, Abednego Bhebhe has all but distanced himself from Thokozani Khupe and Douglas Mwonzora’s sinking political project.
Bhebhe’s court affidavit exposes how Khupe and her disciples are using fake 2014 MDC-T structures to undertake the business of the 2014 MDC-T party.
Bhebhe also queried Khalipani Phugeni’s role in the 2014 MDC-T structures.
Bhebhe further exposed the high level of unconstitutionalism which has seen Thokozani Khupe and Mwonzora making decisions without consulting the National Council.
In a statement on the same issue, MDC Alliance said: MCD-T Organising Secretary Bhebhe has exposed how @DMwonzora and Khupe are manufacturing MDC-T 2014 structures, how they have consistently refused to hold meetings of 2014 legitimate structures in an EXPLOSIVE affidavit…
HEALTH and Child Care Deputy Minister Dr John Mangwiro allegedly railroaded the National Pharmaceutical Company (NatPharm), in dramatic events, including visiting the parastatal’s workers at night and threatening them with dismissal, to award a US$5,6 million contract to an “undeserving company” — Young Health Care.
This is contained in a Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (zacc) report which says the Deputy Minister had “personal interest” in the matter.
The investigation, conducted from August 31 to September 4 this year, looked into circumstances of how the Ministry of Health and Child Care handled a Covid-19 tender (NAT ITCB FWWK 04/2020) for the purchase of laboratory equipment, reagents and consumables.
The Sunday Mail recently reported that senior Government officials were allegedly caught with hands in the till over the Covid-19 materials procurement.
The alleged scandal was unearthed following a whistleblower’s tip-off in August.
Reached for comment, Dr Mangwiro said: “Sorry, I cant talk right now”, in a terse SMS response to The Sunday Mail, after his phone went unanswered.
According to the report, the commission recommended a further probe to check if the Deputy Minister criminally abused his office; possible violation of the Public Finance Management Act and Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets.
The suspected violations stem from allegations against the Deputy Minister that he ordered NatPharm to give Young Health Care a tender and advance payments before delivery of goods.
Dr Mangwiro, the zacc report says, usurped the duties of the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary through issuing countless directives to NatPharm.
Young Health Care, it emerged, was given a contract through a directive from then acting Permanent Secretary Dr Gibson Mhlanga, at a time when it was not even registered with the Procurement Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (Praz) as required by law.
NatPharm acting managing director, Mr Zealous Nyabadza resisted the alleged unlawful act by Ministry of Health and Child Care officials resulting in a public tendering process which was delayed to allow Young Health Care to register with Praz.
In part, the zacc report reads: “Initial quotation by Young Health Care for supply of commodities under direct procurement, where prices quoted by Young Heath Care Limited were exorbitant amounted to USD$5 600 000, which was coincidentally the same amount that was in the Ministry coffers, suggesting that the company had inside information.-The Sunday Mail
Zanu pf member Mupfumira stole millions is out if prison on a Zanu technicality that she is not fit for trial whilst #FreeTerrenceManjengwa is languishing in prison for standing in solidarity with @JobSikhala1 for the why ?.difference rules for different class of people ka?
By Nomazulu Tata- They see everything is wrong and going wrong because of Thokozani Khuphe. But who ignited the whole shenanigans going on in the MDC opposition parties?
Indeed tribalism is embedded, it is entranced in our psyche, we fail to think outside our tribal affiliations. This has always been that we look at the polarized tribal thinking and settings and logic is thrown out of the window.
If its not tribal, then the gender aspect comes centre-stage. Thokozani Khuphe suffers both, where she comes from first and a woman as such. All fingers are pointing at Thokozani who sold out.
However, I personally am not happy with Thoko’s politics of working together with Zanu government to crush Chamisa. Do not insult her please.
We seem not to understand the pain Thokozani Khuphe is going through. We have overlooked serious timelines, beginning with the time the late Morgen Richard Tsvangirai appointed two VPs, openly disregarding Khuphe to take over as the interim leader: apparently Tsvangirai’s instinct told him that he was not surviving the terminal cancer.
Hakata must be schooled, must be told in no uncertain terms that this tribal argument is a tired one. We are not buying it for many reasons. After the death, instantly there was a conference to reinstate Chamisa as the leader of the MDC-T.
Why is it that our fellow citizens are not following the timelines where the problem started? It is not Khuphe who started the problem, but it was Tsvangirai who made sure that Khuphe does not assume presidency after his death.
Khuphe, a leader sent from hell is not only sinister, it is not only cynical, it is an insult hard to digest because even the people of Matabeleland are aware of how short-changed Khuphe was by a man he trusted most: Richard Morgen Tsvangirai.
Listening to Sikhala talk about Khuphe who cannot even be voted by donkeys and dogs, why was the hurry to pedestalize Chamisa to presidency immediately after the death of Tsvangirai if you were sure Thoko was going to lose elections at congress?
When the peoples from Mashonaland make obvious political mistakes, somehow it is overlooked and tacitly accepted, everyone is expected to move on without any scrutiny and critiquing political processes that do not make sense.
These wars between Thokozani and Chamisa are classical tribal wars reminiscent with the Zimbabwean politics of the present and the past. In the same manner: Zanu and Zapu had such splitting’s and regrouping for decades.
Frontline states tried on several occasions to reunite the two parties Zanu/Zapu together to fight a common enemy UDI Ian Douglas Smith as one force. Those who survived the guerrilla inner-fighting’s in Tanzania-Mgagau will tell you the story of tribal hate, what is the evil of tribalism?
We have not learnt much from these timelines especially the liberation period that should informed us about tribal animosities in our culture. We should address tribalism in our societies before we depart from this earth.
Who in the Chamisa-MDC-Alliance is on the side of Thokozani Khuphe who nearly lost her life together with Douglas Mwonzorwa in Bhuhera at the funeral of Tsvangirai? But it is easy to sit and pen an article in big letters: KHUPHE; A LEADER SENT FROM HELL.
Painful in this article here is the tribal vitriol more than the argument itself why is she is sent from hell. Your Führer Chamisa is failing to lead the MDC-Alliance with 2,7 million supporters at his disposal.
I cannot even imagine if it was Thokozani Khuphe in Chamisa’s position failing the opposition politics so glaringly and embarrassingly, even Professor Stephen Chan can see this lack of leadership seven thousands miles away from Zimbabwe.
Chamisa is supposed to step down and give someone who has the stamina to stand against the evil regime of Emmerson Mnangagwa. We need someone who is prepared to leave the comfort zone and confront Mnangagwa regime head-on.
Khuphe is a leader who tasted near death by burning. Her anger against Chamisa and all those who crafted her downfall has reached a boiling.
She was given a chance by a DEVIL to crush enemy Chamisa, a fellow leader in MDC-T, an advocate and pastor who would easily have burnt her alive like her relatives who got burnt in the Gukurahundi atrocities.
These are facts we forget when we begin to scrutinize Khuphe’s vindictive politics against MDC-Chamisa. We are quick to see her as the one on the wrong side of the pale.
Let us not forget that Thokozani may be aware of her unpopularity in Zimbabwean political landscape. She is consciously out to eliminate the entire Chamisa-Alliance and all of them permanently from Zimbabwe political landscape altogether.
Her anger is unstoppable, but the damage was done by Tsvangirai, we cannot blame everything on Thoko because she is a small fry in the scheme of things; a woman, of Ndebele tribe as such.
We are pained by the fact that Thokozani is using the wrong stick to whip Chamisa. To work together with Mnangagwa government’s judiciary to crush Chamisa is not the cleanest way to do things, hence, even the voices in Matabeleland are deeply concerned about purging of members of parliament and councillors. These inner fighting’s are exposing a new low in the political maturing of the opposition.
Some parliamentarians who have been purged, crossed the floor to reach out to MDC-T Thokozani for the sake of personal survival. This is politics in Zimbabwe, a means to an end. There is no other source of income if one was thrown out of parliament – a double bind.
Thokozani is throwing the baby out with the bathwater: Chamisa needed some punishment, some threshing but never of this kind where a devil Mnangagwa is robbed in to destroy the only opposition we had.
Let us not be tribal when critiquing opposition destruction, let us not be gender insensitive when we critiques Thokozani and Chamisa shenanigans. We must remember too that these two; Thokozani and Chamisa have been comrades for two decades. They know one other in-and-out.
There is a lot of dirty work they have done in the party together we may not be privy of them. In as much as Thokozani is not clean politically, so is Chamisa too who has on several occasions is accused of back handedness in his political dealings that Thokozani knows too well.
Dear Knowledge Hakata, next time please use a measured language to critique the two political parties of Chamisa and Thokozani, please use a language less tribal and gender sensitive.
It can also be good if both crushed to the point of no return so that we have new names in our political fields. We need new names; said Violent Bulawayo. The beautiful ones needed to be born to take over from where we have dismally failed.
By Knowledge Hakata- Elections have become a problem that has sunk us into vicious violence, unreformed state institutions, political and economic strife.
It is my desire to enlighten those that still believe in the politics of the ballot paper, that the system called Zanu-PF is a virus that cannot be cured by elections.
Zimbabweans by now should know that voting or not voting Zanu-PF will still find its way back to Munhumutapa building echoing the recent statement by Vice President Kembo Mohadi who said “the junta regime is not going anywhere anytime soon”. Zanu-PF has mastered the art of manipulating the ballot in its favor for the past 15 years.
In 2008 Morgan Tsvangirayi won the ballot while in 2013 the late former Premier won again and on top of that his predecessor the charismatic preacher and lawyer Nelson Chamisa also won the ballot without doubt in 2018 but both charming leaders failed to step into the iconic State House.
In 2008 the late Morgan Tsvangirai won the presidential elections with more than 70%. The MDC also managed to bang the majority of the seats in both the Senate and Parliament chambers while at local council it was the same story.
MDC took control of almost every council country wide notably in all the towns MDC was in control from Mutare to Harare, but with all that in hand Morgan Tsvangirai failed to grab the keys to the state house as that place had become a no go area because of the existence of the late Robert Mugabe.
The late Army General Vitalis Zvinavashe had once said “the highest office in the land was a strait jacket” and the events which followed the 2008 presidential elections were totally fulfillments of the late Army Generals words.
Mugabe and his ZANU-PF party essentially lost at the ballot box, and remained in power only by pursuing a campaign of political violence that caused his main presidential challenger to withdraw from the runoff vote. Moreover, amid international pressure and economic collapse, he was forced to accept a power-sharing agreement.
But in 2013 Mugabe was able to engineer a win that did not trigger the same international criticism. Both the African Union (AU) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) deemed the July 31 elections to be “generally” credible, finding that any irregularities would not have changed the outcome a supermajority in Parliament for ZANU-PF and an overwhelming presidential victory for Mugabe.
But free and fair elections do not appear to apply in Zimbabwe at all. In 2018 President Emmerson Mnangagwa a former Mugabe lieutenant who grabbed power in a November 2017 coup won with 50.8 percent of the vote, narrowly avoiding a runoff election.
And his ruling ZANU-PF party won a two-thirds majority of 149 seats in parliament’s lower house, permitting it to amend the constitution at will. But those results were disputed again
The security forces have for many years interfered in the nation’s political and electoral affairs, adversely affecting the right of Zimbabweans to vote for the candidates of their choice.
Mnangagwa and his administration should level the electoral playing field by preventing the military from engaging in partisan politics or interfering in electoral processes, and taking strong action to deter violence and intimidation by the military during the campaign period and elections.
The military leadership should publicly demonstrate its commitment to a fair election process and not interfere with the outcome of the vote.
However without doubt Zanu-PF has managed to capture the Judiciary, ZEC, Police, Army and even the church. Zimbabwe has indigenous churches which always endorse anything that comes from the mouth of Zanu-PF and a good example of such religious leaders is Nehemiah Mutendi.
The ZEC is the most compromised election body in the region, at one point the election body took almost a month to release the presidential election results, the body is just too compromised that without proper electoral reforms,
Zimbabweans will never taste a free, fair and democratic election. Zimbabwe’s political climate is just too compromised in favor of Zanu-PF.
By A Correspondent- Glenview police station shocked Zimbabweans when they detained a 65-year-old widow accusing her of demanding rent from a tenant.
Mrs Editor Mavaza was detained by Glenview police for demanding rent from he lodger Owen Ndoro who is a well known MDC activist.
Mr Owen Ndoro an MDC A activist refused to pay his rent and further refused to vacate the property despite having been given enough notice. He assaulted the landlord for asking for her rent and boasted that the police will not do anything to him and that he will not vacate the property. He told the landlord to go and collect her rent from Mnangagwa.
The landlord Ms Editor Mavaza made a report of an assault to Glenview Police who refused to take action telling her that “the police station was not a rally”.
The officer told Ms Mavaza that she was too proud of her brother Dr Masimba Mavaza who is a defender of President ED Mnangagwa on social media and abroad. The officer instructed Ms Mavaza to go home and allow the lodger to stay until Mnangagwa gives people money.
After a month the lodger Mr Ndoro refused to pay again saying he is not going to pay and nothing will happen to him. The landlord then removed her door as she intended to repair it. The lodger went to the police in Glenview.
The same officer who had refused to handle the assault case was the one who took the report. He arrested the landlord and detained her. The landlord was denied food, medication and access to her lawyer.
She allegedly was told to get her food from her brother who is a known ZANU PF Activist.
In the evening her lawyer came and the police refused him permission to see his client. The police forced the landlord to abandon any eviction process in exchange for her freedom.
Despite the fact that the facts of the matter did not disclose crime and that the landlord has a fixed aboard the police sought to take the matter personally.
This abuse of authority by the police angered civic organisations resulting in LEAD leaser Linda T Masaira writing an open letter to the Commissioner-General to air her disquiet about the heavy-handedness by the police. The detention was unwarranted and it was motivated by malice.
Ms Editor Mavaza’s lawyer Mrs Eucheria Makaka served the police with a pre-action protocol.
Speaking to this reporter Ms Editor Mavaza said she was disappointed with the police.
“The painful thing is that the police insulted me for the things I did not know. And they chose to send me to the cells while my lodger was sent into my house to sleep there.”
“Right now he is refusing to vacate because the police are baking him. I am suffering because of my brother’s political activities.” She said as she cried.
Glenview police refused to comment referring all the questions to the Police headquarters.
By A Correspondent- MDC-T interim leader Thokozani Khupe is trying to stop the party’s organising secretary Abedinico Bhebhe from washing the outfit’s dirty linen in public by blocking his participation in a court case.
Khupe, MDC-T interim chairman Morgen Komichi, acting secretary-general Douglas Mwonzora and Bhebhe were taken to the High Court by two party members Gilbert Kagodora and Nason Mamuse, who want them to be compelled to release key information ahead of an extraordinary congress to choose a new leader.
Bhebhe turned against his allies last week and filed an answering affidavit supporting Kagodora and Mamuse.
He accused Khupe, Komichi and Mwonzora of trying to manipulate the outcome of the congress.
Khupe, who initially signalled that she would not respond to the application as an individual, on Thursday made a spectacular summersault and filed an answering affidavit targeting Bhebhe.
She argued that Bhebhe was not qualified to speak on behalf of the party and should not be allowed to respond to the court application as an individual.
“The fourth respondent ought not to have been joined to these proceedings.
“He is not permitted by the constitution of the first respondent (MDC-T) to speak about the first respondent’s affairs in a court of law in respect of any functions assigned to him under the constitution,” Khupe said in her affidavit.
“He is accountable to me and the relevant organs of the party.
“If any issues arise from his official duties, he cannot be sued in a court of law.
“It is the party and its authorised officials who may sue or be sued on behalf of the party.
“He must be removed from these proceedings.
“I am advised that the fourth respondent’s papers do not comply with the law on notices of opposition.
“He is not opposing the basis of the application; he is adding his own grievances and has his own prayer.
“This is not permitted by our law. His papers must be expunged from the record.”
Bhebhe argued Khupe, Komichi and Mwonzora were deliberately delaying national council and national executive meetings while attempting to shut out bona fide MDC-T leaders in terms of the 2014 congress from participating at the upcoming extraordinary congress.
He said they had “failed and neglected” processes leading to the extraordinary congress while accusing them of trying to manipulate the process in their favour.
A Supreme Court judgement in March nullified the appointment of MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa and ordered an extraordinary congress within three months. The ruling said the party should revert to its 2014 structures with Khupe as acting president.
Chamisa, however, dismissed the ruling, saying it did not in any way affect their party as it was a different legal entity on its own, but Khupe has managed to use the Supreme Court ruling to recall MDC Alliance legislators and councillors.
The MDC-T’s extraordinary congress is yet to take place and, according to Bhebhe, there were attempts to hold the national council and national executive meetings virtually, but in the process shutting out bona fide members of the party’s 2014 structures.
Bhebhe accused Khupe and Komichi of “direct and flagrant disregard” of the MDC-T constitution while “habitually and unilaterally” abusing the national standing committee by pushing through this committee decisions that are ordinarily in the province of the national executive and/or the national council meeting.
The decisions, Bhebhe said, included firing elected officials and members of the party 2014 structures without due process.
Parallel delegates have been positioned, according to Bhebhe, while his list has been sidelined yet he was in charge of the party structures.
Kagodora and Mamuse approached the courts after Mwonzora said MDC Alliance legislators and councillors that were recently recalled by his party would not be allowed to contest for positions at the congress despite them being in the party 2014 structures.
They are also demanding that before the congress is held, the party’s various internal organs must be involved.-Standard
By A Correspondent- The Zimbabwe National Water Authority (Zinwa) has banned the sale of borehole water by some residents in Bulawayo who are taking advantage of the critical situation in the city.
Bulawayo has been experiencing acute water shortages that have seen the local authority only providing water in the Central Business District and industrial sites while most residential areas are going for days without the precious liquid.
The desperate water situation has seen some house owners who have boreholes at their premises selling bulk water and also supplying bulk water to middlemen who then in turn sell to their customers.
According to the Water Act, no one can use water for commercial purposes except in terms of a permit or agreement. Zinwa corporate communications officer Mr Tsungirirari Shoriwa said selling of bulk borehole water was illegal.
“Water which is extracted from underground is governed from Statutory Instrument (SI) 90 of 2013 of the Water Act and that SI bars anyone from conducting bulk water activities from residential areas or other restricted areas. In terms of that SI, it is not allowed for anyone to carry bulk water activities within residential areas,” he said.
Those selling bulk water legally for registered companies in Bulawayo are fetching US$20 for 2 000 litres in the Central Business District while residents are selling the same amount of water for between US$10 and US$15 to illegal bulk water suppliers who in turn sell the water for anything between US$20 and US$25.
Mr Shoriwa said bulk water suppliers must register their business with Zinwa in order for them to be given permits.
“It makes it mandatory for any bulk water dealer to be registered with Zinwa first. They must approach our offices because what they are doing is a criminal offence in terms of the SI 90 of 2013. Everyone who is engaging in bulk water activities must register with Zinwa. It is important to regularise their activities,” he added.
Those selling “smaller” quantities in residential areas are also being warned that they may reach the quantities of bulk water and risk being arrested too. Zinwa has an updated list of all bulk water suppliers for the year 2020 and anyone outside of that is deemed to be selling bulk water illegally.
A 20 litre bucket of water is selling for ZW$10 in some residential areas as water continues to be a challenge. According to Zinwa, the company is mandated in terms of the Water Act and the Zinwa Act to protect and ensure the optimum utilisation of the country’s water resources.
Zinwa has also noted that it is a legal requirement to have trucks that deliver bulk water endorsed as fit for the purpose of ferrying bulk water every three months.-statemedia
By A Correspondent- Parliament is backtracking on its stance that Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga’s suspension of by-elections to fill vacant parliamentary and municipal seats was constitutional, saying the pronouncement was a mistake.
Jacob Mudenda, the National Assembly speaker, last week announced that Statutory Instrument 225A of 2020, issued by Chiwenga a fortnight ago suspending by-elections as long as Covid-19 remained a “formidable pandemic”, was unconstitutional.
The speaker was, however, singing from a different hymn book in an interview with The Standard where he insisted that the Parliamentary Legal Committee was yet to review the contentious statutory instrument.
Mudenda said the committee was only likely to come up with a position on the statutory instrument in two weeks’ time.
“There are three statutory instruments that the Parliamentary Legal Committee is yet to consider so they did not pronounce themselves as to whether they were adverse or non-adverse,” he said.
“We explained that later on because there was confusion. It appeared as if the statutory instrument had received an adverse report from the Parliamentary Legal Committee. That was explained,” Mudenda said.
“That statutory instrument and two others are still to be reviewed by the Parliamentary Legal Committee and they will meet probably in the next two weeks to pronounce their legal opinion.”
Mudenda had told Parliament that the committee had met and reviewed the statutory instrument and found it to be unconstitutional.
“The committee is of the opinion that the statutory instruments gazetted in the month of October are not in contravention of the Declaration of Rights or any other provisions of the Constitution of Zimbabwe except for the following statutory instruments:- Statutory Instrument 224 of 2020; Statutory Instrument 225 of 2020 and Statutory Instrument 225(a) of 2020. These three were not compliant with the constitution,” Mudenda said.
The statutory instrument issued by Chiwenga, who doubles up as Health and Child Care minister, was dismissed as unconstitutional by legal experts.
A group of citizens and the Elections Resource Centre have since approached the High Court seeking the reversal of the suspension of the polls.
The Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission last week criticised the suspension of the polls, saying it was not consistent with democratic principles.
The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) last month said there would be by-elections on December 5 to fill over 80 municipal seats and nearly 30 parliamentary seats left vacant after Thokozani Khupe’s MDC-T recalled MDC Alliance members that refused to dump Nelson Chamisa.
After the ban, Zec accepted the names of Khupe and 14 others that had been nominated by the MDC-T interim leader to replace Chamisa’s recalled proportional representation MPs, which gave way to their swearing-in, in Parliament on October 7.
But despite the ban, Zanu PF has been conducting primary elections throughout the country in preparation for the by-elections.
Legal experts say the ban does not hold water because Covid-19 cases have been on a decline in Zimbabwe.
The country has significantly opened up after a national lockdown was imposed in March to slow down the spread of the virus.
