Farai Dziva|MDC Alliance National Youth Organising Secretary and councillor for ward 4, Masvingo Urban, Godfrey Kurauone is suing the police for illegally arresting and detaining him.

Councillor Godfrey Kurauone is demanding over $2 million for malicious arrest and persecution.

Kurauone, who was facing charges of criminal nuisance and obstructing traffic, was acquitted after the state failed to prove its case in court.

The state accused the councillor of posting a video of a song in which he called for immediate removal of President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

The state also alleged Kurauone burnt vehicle tyres along the Mashava-Zvamahande road disrupting the smooth flow of traffic.

He was arrested by officers from the Law and Order Section in Masvingo Town while reporting at the police provincial headquarters in fulfilment of his bail conditions for a similar case.

By A Correspondent- A Harare lawyer yesterday appeared in court for allegedly misappropriating trust funds amounting to US$200 000. Ryan Baglow (35) of Matizanadzo and Warhurts Legal Practitioners allegedly used two names to hoodwink his clients, the court heard.

Baglow allegedly failed to account for US$200 000, he collected on behalf of his client on a sale of two stands. Baglow was not asked to plead when he appeared before Harare magistrate Ms Judith Taruvinga who released him on $50 000 bail.

The complainant in the matter is Lake Fisheries, a duly registered company in Kariba, represented by one of its directors, Mr David Edwin Webster.

Prosecutor Mr Sebastian Mutizirwa alleged that in 2007, Webster and his co-director, the late Mr Thomas Campbell Miller, formed a company named Stenplay Investments, which purchased the entire issued share capital in companies called Lake Fresh Fishers Kariba Sardines and Sea Farmers from Peter Oscar Marchussen.

According to the State, Lake Fresh Fisheries had properties which were stand numbers, 473-566 Kariba Township, but due to financial inability, the two directors decided to dispose of them. It is alleged they wanted to raise money to fund Lake Fresh Fisheries and its associated company’s capital and operational needs.

Mr Miller then expressed interest in purchasing the two stands for his company called Fairwinds Farming (Pvt) Limited and he approached his legal practitioner, Baglow for legal advice whom he knew as Ryan  Stewart. It is the State’s case that Baglow fraudulently appointed “another” lawyer called Ryan Baglow to represent Lake Fresh Fisheries in the sale of its two stands when in actual fact it was him using the two names.

Acting on the misrepresentation, Mr Webster signed a resolution authorising Baglow to sell the two stands on their behalf and he subsequently sold the them to Mr Miller at an agreed price of US$200 000. He further instructed Miller to deposit US$40 000 to Matizanadzo and Warhurst Law Firm’s trust account and US$160 000 into Lake Fresh Fisheries account.

An agreement of sale of the two stands was drafted between Lake Fresh Fisheries and Fairwinds Farming where Baglow represented the seller, but according to the State, Baglow failed to account for the proceeds of the stands.

Baglow, it is alleged, later facilitated the transfer of the stands from Lake Fresh Fisheries name into Fairwinds name.

Mr Miller later passed on leaving Mr Webster as the only director of Stenplay, who later realised that he had been duped by Baglow and made a police report.

Investigations established that Baglow was using both names Ryan Baglow and Ryan Stewart, with the later having no record at the office of the Registrar General.-statemedia

By A Correspondent- Opposition MDC Alliance youth leader and Masvingo ward 4 councillor, Godfrey Kurauone, has given notice to sue police for $2,4 million in damages following his arrest on trumped-up violence charges.

Kurauone is demanding $500 000 being damages for unlawful and wrongful arrest, $800 000 for unlawful and wrongful detention, another $800 000 for malicious prosecution, and $300 000 for legal expenses.

His lawyer, Martin Mureri, wrote to police Commissioner-General Godwin Matanga, Prosecutor-General Kumbirai Hodzi, Attorney-General Prince Machaya, officer-in-charge for Criminal Investigation Department Law and Order in Masvingo and one Constable Muonde, arguing that his arrest was “arbitrary and without just cause”.

“His arrest and prosecution was motivated by malice and improper motives. In the premises, we are instructed to notify you as we hereby do, in line with the relevant statutory provisions, that our client intends to sue you jointly and severally with all police officers and other persons who participated in his wrongful and malicious arrest and prosecution, as well as the prosecutors who acted out of culpable ignorance and led to the prosecution against our client,” the letter read.

The AG’s Office acknowledged receipt of the letter and said it had taken note of the contents and promised to reply to Kurauone’s lawyer.

We acknowledge receipt of your letter dated September 21 2020, the contents of which have been noted. Please be advised that the matter is receiving attention and we will revert to you in due course,” said one Magunde, who signed for the director of Civil Division in the AG’s Office.

Kurauone was arrested on July 31 on allegations of criminal nuisance for allegedly circulating a video on social media purportedly inciting for the dethronement of President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

He was also facing another charge of endangering public safety by blocking roads and urging citizens to protest against high-level corruption and escalating human rights abuses.

The MDC Alliance councillor was denied bail twice, resulting in him spending 45 days in remand prison.

The youthful politician has since been acquitted of the charge of obstructing or endangering free movement of people, while that of criminal nuisance was withdrawn before plea.-Newsday

By A Correspondent- Government yesterday said it has decided to send a team of experts to all ports of entry to assess whether the country is ready to open its borders amid the continued decline in Covid-19 cases.

Covid-19 National Taskforce chairperson Oppah Muchinguri said the country was preparing to open its borders although she did not have a specific date.

More to follow…..

By A Correspondent- ZimEye will be livestreaming a press conference set to be addressed by the Secretary of the Public Service Commission Ambassador Jonathan Wutawunashe this morning.

The press briefing will address civil servants’ COVID 19 allowances.

Said a notice issued by government to the media:

Secretary of Public Service Commission Ambassador Jonathan Wutawunashe is inviting you for an impromptu briefing on the COVID ALLOWANCE FOR CIVIL SERVANTS

TIME: 1130am

VENUE: 9TH FLOOR SSC BUILDING

DATE: 14 OCTOBER 2020

By A Correspondent- In a major turn of events at Harare Town House, an MDC-T councillor Luckson Mukunguma, who last month narrowly lost the Harare mayoral election to MDC Alliance candidate Jacob Mafume, was yesterday elected deputy mayor.

Mukunguma lost to Mafume by five votes. This was despite that the Thokozani Khupe-led MDC-T had recalled councillors affiliated to the Nelson Chamisa-led MDC Alliance party.

Mukunguma has, however, pledged to work with Mafume saying political affiliation should be put aside in order for elected officials to improve service delivery and fight graft.

“I would like to extend my appreciation to the mayor and say we are in this together and we need to make sure service delivery is our chorus so that the people who entrusted us with votes are given the services they are expecting,” Mukunguma said.

“It is important at this juncture to fight our number one enemy in the city of Harare and that is corruption,” he said. But the MDC Alliance said Mukunguma’s election would derail most council projects as he would use the position to fight Mafume.-Newsday

By A Correspondent- Suspended High Court judge justice Erica Ndewere is reportedly paying the price for refusing to take orders from Chief Justice Luke Malaba.

Sources privy to developments revealed that Ndewere told Justice Malaba that the Constitution does not make provision for him to supervise her work.

Said an anonymous journalist in a leak:

I am a journalist who closely reported the the developments in the cases of Job Sikhala, Hopewell Chin’ono and Jacob Ngarivhume after their arrest on Inciting Public Violence. I work for the locally registered online media house. There is no day my bosses didn’t allocate me duties to Court to cover and follow the cases of the three blow by blow. Many international news outlets borrowed stories about the developments on the trio’s cases from us.

I remember on the day when the hearing for Job Sikhala’s bail appeal in the High Court was to be heard, we were shuffled from one Court to another until we were told that the bail hearing by the Judge will be heard their arguments from lawyers of Job Sikhala and prosecutors in Court J.

The Judge opted for Court J instead of the usual bail court F because she wanted a Court with recorders. The bail hearing scheduled to commence at 14:15 hrs started late around 15:30hrs. Everyone was worried on the cause of the inordinate delay.

When the matter started the Court room was full and journalists had to stand in the corridor to follow proceedings. After arguments by lawyers from both sides Justice Ndewere went back to her office.

We noticed strange things happening and we whispered among ourselves as journalists about, who the people who followed Justice Ndewere to her offices. We later understood that these were not ordinary people. They were state security agents from Munhumutapa Building, who we gathered threatened Justice Ndewere on the dire consequences if she dare grant Job Sikhala bail.

They went to show her some documents outlining her transgressions during her tenure as a judge, some of them ridiculous to contemplate or believe. They alleged that she used her Assistant to write judgements on her behalf and that they will come for her if she grants Job Sikhala bail.

We wanted to break the news but my Editor told us that the story might jeopardize Job Sikhala’s chances of getting bail. We left it there.

Again something strange happened that the Judge hesitated to give her ruling on the on the bail appeal for a period spanning a week and half. Bail judgements are generally given immediately after arguments by lawyers and prosecutors, but Job Sikhala’s bail ruling was delivered after one and half weeks. This should have attracted the inquisitive mind of Zimbabweans.

On the day of the bail ruling, Justice Ndewere announced that she will deliver her judgment at 1400hrs. People who came were directed to go to Court A, the largest Court room at the High Court. The Court was full to the gallery by the time announced for the ruling.

All Job Sikhala’s family, friends and colleagues were waiting for the judgement only for another inordinate delay to take place. The Judge invited Job Sikhala’s lawyers and the state public prosecutor to come to her office.

They came back and told everyone to wait as the judge was finishing editing her judgment putting comas and full stops. People had to wait until 16:46hrs for the Judge to enter the Courtroom. From her first sentence to the last full stop she was castigating the police and the Magistrate who heard the matter at Rotten Row for serious misdirections committed.

It could be noticed that the Judge was hiding her judgment from uninvited external forces. After the delivery of her judgment we obtained information that, she received a telephone call from the Chief Justice Malaba who shouted at her over her judgment. Her life was never the same since then. She became a loner at the Court hounded by the threats thrown at her by the Chief Justice Malaba.

Ndewere, last month granted bail to MDC Alliance vice-chairperson Job Sikhala, said she received Malaba’s letter of complaint against her conduct on September 15, but refused to respond, arguing Malaba did not supervise High Court, but Supreme Court judges.

In her response, Ndewere referred to sections 163(2) and 163(3) of the Constitution, saying it was clear that the Judge President and, in this case Justice George Chiweshe, was in charge of the High Court, while Justice Malaba was in charge of the Supreme Court.

“The Judicial Service Commission does not have the legal authority to deal with complaints raised against the Honourable Ndewere. 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,” Ndewere’s lawyers Sawyer and Mkushi said in response to the JSC dated September 30, 2020.

“The regulations which govern the handling of complaints are contained in Statutory Instrument 107 of 2012. In the result, section 187(3) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe is not applicable to the extent that there are no legal requirements for Ndewere to respond to your minute.”

Ndewere urged Malaba to follow laid down procedures for dealing with complaints against a sitting judge.

According to the Constitution, Ndewere’s issue was supposed to be handled by Justice Chiweshe, who would refer it to the Chief Justice, in the event that he failed to address it.

After Malaba received the complaint against Justice Ndewere, he was supposed to appoint three judges to conduct a disciplinary hearing to make recommendations to him before involving the JSC or President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

It would appear Malaba conflicted himself by being the complainant when he was supposed to be the adjudicator since he also chairs the JSC.

The internal memos showed the JSC has not yet disclosed the misconduct charges levelled against Ndewere, but it is believed that some of the allegations include late finalisation of matters.

The source said Ndewere was also being accused of refusing to take Malaba’s instructions not to grant bail to Sikhala before she heard the matter.

“Justice Ndewere is being victimised by Chief Justice Malaba for refusing to take his instructions not to grant bail to a prominent politician before she heard the case. Malaba threatened her with investigations when she told him that his instructions were unlawful and against the Constitution,” the sources said.

It is alleged Justice Chiweshe refused to raise complaints against Ndewere.

The matter is likely to spill into the Constitutional Court as the Chief Justice’s conduct is tantamount to interference.

This brings to two the number of judges that have been suspended this year over alleged misconduct.

By A Correspondent- Government has said it will open the electoral playing field for contestation once it was satisfied that political parties will stick to set COVID-19 regulations.

Speaking during a post-Cabinet media briefing yesterday, Defence minister Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri said while government had allowed business to resume operations, it would not rush to do the same for political contestation.

“While all sectors of the economy have been opened, it has been a process of consultation and presentation with those sectors. There are statutory instruments we have put in place which comply with World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines,” she said.

Muchinguri-Kashiri said political players had not shown any commitment to stick to WHO guidelines.

“We have not received any representations from the political space that they are ready to engage the government on the issue of by-elections. They don’t demonstrate capacity that they will abide by the WHO guidelines. I would rather not comment on this until the time comes,” she said.

Her statement came weeks after the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) said it had presented COVID-19 compliant electoral protocols.

Zec chairperson Justice Priscilla Chigumba in her roadmap which dealt with holding of elections under COVID-19, proposed that by-elections be held by December 5, but Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga who also doubles as Health minister barred the holding of the by-elections citing fears of spread of the virulent disease.

The by-elections were triggered by the recall of 32 MDC Alliance MPs by the Thokozani Khupe-led MDC-T.

Khupe’s party members have since been sworn in to fill 15 party list seats.

In an unrelated matter, Cabinet also reduced the costs of acquiring health certification documents from the initial US$100 to US$25.

Cabinet also announced that schools were now ready to open for phase two, which will include Grade Six, Form 3s and Form 5s.

This is despite a public outcry by parents and teachers’ unions that schools were not yet ready for reopening since teachers were on strike.

Government said it had set aside US$32 million for disaster preparedness ahead of the rainy season. Zimbabwe was struck by Cyclone Idai in the last rainy season, leaving hundreds dead and a trail of infrastructure destruction.-Newsday

By A Correspondent – A missing Concession woman was found dead with her hands tied with a cloth near a stream yesterday.

Mashonaland Central deputy police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Fidelis Dhewu confirmed the case.

“I can confirm that we found Winnie Magadu of White cliff farm, Concession dead near a stream after she was reported missing three days before by her husband Foster Chaka (25), Dhewu said.

It is alleged that  the body was discovered by a passerby who was looking for wild fruits.

The passerby filed a police report and they went to the scene where they found the body’s hands  tied with a white cloth.

Chaka positively identified his wife’s body which was in an advanced state of decomposition.

Police is appealing for information that can lead to the detection of the case.

By A Correspondent- Police have raised alarm over the rise in murder cases reported throughout the country, with a record eight cases recorded at the weekend.

National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi yesterday attributed the upsurge in the murder cases to failure by people to value human life, drunkenness, marital disputes and infidelity which resulted in partners killing each other.

“The murder cases have been reported in Kadoma, Concession, Esigodini, Mount Darwin, Bulawayo and Harare and they are now a cause for concern,” Nyathi said.

His statement comes at a time police in Kadoma are investigating a murder case where masked men and a woman forced their way into a house demanding dagga before fatally shooting the owner of the house.

In Esigodini, a 39-year-old man was last week fatally assaulted by five assailants after he had earlier fought with one of them.

Two of the attackers have since been arrested. In Bulawayo again on the same day, police said a 22-year-old man was killed by seven men after a misunderstanding over wages.

“The man’s friend was also severely assaulted and six of the suspects have since been arrested,” police said.

In Plumtree, a 25-year-old man, who was drinking beer at a shopping centre had a misunderstanding with another man over an undisclosed matter before the altercation turned physical.

Police said he was stabbed with a knife on the chest, resulting in him dying on the spot.

The accused was arrested and an okapi knife was recovered hidden in a thatched roof of his bedroom hut.

In Mt Darwin, a man aged 42 was manhandled and fatally assaulted by a mob after trying to break into a house.

In another gruesome murder, the body of a 20-year-old woman was discovered at the weekend in an advanced state of decomposition with her hands tied together with a white cloth.

The victim is said to have left home on October 1, 2020 on her way to Glendale, where she met her fate. The motive of her murder is still unknown.

In Harare, a 32-year-old man was fatally assaulted by a mob after he tried to rob a woman of her cellphone and threatened to rape one of the woman’s daughters who managed to escape.

Robbery cases have also risen.-Newsday

By A Correspondent- Chaos and violence reportedly marred the Zanu PF Kuwadzana primary elections which forced the ruling party to postpone the primary elections.

A party insider told a local publication that:

There were running battles here in Kuwadzana as people fought over money which was being splashed by (name supplied) using runners.

Voters were put into groups of 10 with one of them tasked with distributing the money. Trouble started when those who were handling the money in some of the groups did not give it out,

When contacted for comment, Zanu PF Harare provincial commissariat Kudakwashe Damson accused former Kuwadzana MP Betty Kaseke of trying to manipulate the vote and said:

We are not ready to release the results of the elections because we have received several complaints from candidates who are alleging that the elections were not fair. We did not do the Kuwadzana election because there are issues that must be resolved there,

We have information to the effect that she (Kaseke) went to the commissariat department yesterday (Wednesday) where she managed to convince the people manning the office to give her the cell lists (voters’ roll).

She took them away and our worry is that they could be tampered with by either adding some more names or deleting others.

We will, however, put in place mechanisms to ensure that whatever she will do with the lists, will not affect the credibility of the elections because we are going to be using the Zec (Zimbabwe Electoral Commission) voters’ roll as well as the cell ones.

We are also wary of the fact that the probability of candidates bussing voters from other constituencies that are not going to have by-elections is 100 percent. So, we have to make sure that we are thorough in matching the Zec voters’ roll and ours.

When contacted for comment Kaseke dismissed the reports and said they were being spread by her detractors. Zanu PF Kwekwe primary by-elections also turned bloody after rival groups clashed over who should represent the party in the upcoming by-elections.-DailyNews

By MISA Zimbabwe| The right to privacy in Zimbabwe is increasingly under threat following remarks by President Emmerson Mnangagwa that the government had managed to track the locations of certain individuals and their communication details.

President Mnangagwa was addressing Zanu PF women, youths and war veterans, provincial chairpersons, at the party’s headquarters in Harare on 12 October 2020. 

He said the government has been facing attacks from individuals within the country, foreign embassies in Zimbabwe, and foreign-funded non-governmental organisations, which are not operating within their mandate particularly in view of the 31st of July 2020 Movement. 

This comes on the backdrop of earlier sentiments by Army Commander Lieutenant-General Edzai Chimonyo, that the army would start snooping into private communications between citizens to ‘guard against subversion’ as the use of social media poses a threat to national security.  

The right to privacy is provided for under Section 57 of the Constitution.  The Constitution  provides that every person has the right to privacy, which includes the right not to have: 

their home, premises or property entered without their permission, 

their person, home, premises or property searched

their possessions seized

the privacy of their communication infringed; or

their health condition disclosed.

The right to privacy is very critical because it is an enabling right that allows for the exercise of media freedom and freedom of expression. It is in that context that the confidentiality of media sources is key and equally protected by the Constitution.

Similarly, the protection of whistleblowers is also very important for the purposes of fostering transparency and accountability. Unjustified infringements to the right to privacy results in self-censorship as citizens will be afraid to communicate freely, fearing that their communications will be availed to other third parties. 

It should also be noted that Section 86 of the Constitution states that fundamental rights and freedoms may be limited only in terms of a law of general application, and to the extent that the limitation is fair, reasonable, necessary and justifiable in a democratic society based on openness, justice, human dignity and freedom. 

MISA Zimbabwe position

MISA Zimbabwe is concerned by what seems to be targeted surveillance at critics of the government and dissenting voices. This is a grave departure from the letter and spirit of the Constitution which calls on the State and all institutions and administrative authorities to respect, protect and promote the Declaration of Rights as set out in the Constitution. 

International standards and best practices stress that any limitation to fundamental rights should pass the three-pronged test on legality, necessity and proportionality. 

Principle 41 of the recently launched Declaration on Principles of Freedom of Expression and Access to Information in Africa of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’Rights, provides as follows:

1. States shall not engage in or condone acts of indiscriminate and untargeted collection, storage, analysis or sharing of a person’s communications. 
2. States shall only engage in targeted communication surveillance that is authorised by law, that conforms to international human rights law and standards, and that is premised on specific and reasonable suspicion that a serious crime has been or is being carried out or for any other legitimate aim. 
3. States shall ensure that any law authorising targeted communication surveillance provides adequate safeguards for the right to privacy, including: 
4. the prior authorisation of an independent and impartial judicial authority; 
5. due process safeguards; 
6. specific limitation on the time, manner, place and scope of the surveillance; 
7. notification of the decision authorising surveillance within a reasonable time of the conclusion of such surveillance; 
8. proactive transparency on the nature and scope of its use; and 
9. effective monitoring and regular review by an independent oversight mechanism.

The above principle clearly lays out the mechanisms that should be put in place to guide any form of surveillance that can be conducted. 

Zimbabwe should also be guided accordingly to ensure the right to privacy is fully respected.  

MISA Zimbabwe, therefore, reiterates its earlier position that the Interception of Communications Act 2007 which regulates the interception of communications, including telephonic communications, postal telecommunications as well as Internet-based communications in Zimbabwe, should be aligned to the Constitution. 

It legitimises surveillance and yet does not have any oversight mechanisms that prevent over-surveillance and extra-judicial surveillance.

If the State engages in any form of surveillance, such surveillance should be lawful and based on a warrant authorised by a court of law through the judicial officers and for a specific and legitimate purpose. 

Indiscriminate and also targeted surveillance are both therefore disproportionate and uncalled for and amount to a grave violation of the right to privacy.  

The trend of surveillance in Zimbabwe, and in view of such sentiments by government officials, are worrisome particularly in light of the fact that the country currently does not have a data protection framework.  

This comes at a time when concerns around surveillance have also been noted in terms of the Cybersecurity and Data Protection Bill. The Bill proposes to impose three roles under the Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (POTRAZ), being that it remains as the telecommunications regulator and also becomes the Cybersecurity Centre and Data Protection Authority. 

This is despite the fact that the independence of POTRAZ is questionable due to the overarching role of the Executive, both in the appointment of its Board of Directors and also in its operations. 

Although POTRAZ does not collect the private data of citizens, it should be noted that it has access to such data through its role as the regulator of the telecommunications industry.  This raises genuine and plausible concerns on the protection and privacy of the data that is in the hands of mobile network operators.

MISA Zimbabwe, therefore, calls on the government, through its various institutions and stakeholders, to respect the Constitution as the supreme law of the land and ensure that any limitations to Constitutional rights are lawful and proportionate. Zimbabwe, 14 October 2020

By Nomusa Garikai- Zimbabwe is facing a serious economic crisis brought about by 40 years of gross mismanagement and rampant corruption.

The economy has all but collapsed forcing unemployment rate to soar to nauseating heights of 90%, basic services like education and health care have collapsed and in 2019 34% of the population were already living in “extreme poverty”, according to WB report.

When Mnangagwa seized power in the November 2017 military coup, he was cocksure his “Zimbabwe is open for business!” would open the floodgate of investors and kickstart the country’s comatose economy. Investors are a savvy and shrewd lot; they could see that Zimbabwe was still a pariah state ruled by corrupt, incompetent, vote rigging and murderous thugs and so stayed away.

“Zimbabwe is open for business!” is dead in the water.

Worse still, it is crystal clear that this Zanu PF government has run out of ideas what to do to revive the economy.

When you are in a hole, stop digging! One would think that is obvious, but not to VP Constantino Chiwenga!

Trainee Doctors, just like nurses, teachers and other civil servants, have been on strike on and off for the last two decades; demanding a living wage and better working conditions. One of the consequences of a sick economy, is that government not collecting enough money in tax and other public revenue to pay civil servants a living wage and to maintain a decent education and health care services.

Instead of VP Chiwenga and his fellow Zanu PF cronies going back to the drawing board and think how else to revive the economy so government can pay the doctors, etc. a living wage; he, in his infantile wisdom has come up with a two pronged strategy:

1. the Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) is reportedly recruiting over 400 medical doctors, radiographers and pharmacists, which is the total intake of graduate students the country.

• He has suspended the University of Zimbabwe’s Masters of Medicine and Masters of Obstetrics and Gynaecology programmes and all striking student doctors have been banned from accessing public hospitals.

VP Chiwenga must be very pleased with himself because the striking doctors have not only ended the strike but have even apologised for having undertaken the strike action!

“I see people saying doctors bowed down to the General (Chiwenga)! Yes, we did! Why not? What options did we have? How long have we been fighting for better hospitals and salaries to no avail?” commented one striking doctor on twitter.

Actually, VP Chiwenga did not solve the health crisis no more than the striking doctors solved their living wage and decent working conditions demands by giving in to his arm-twisting and idiotic tactics.

As a rule of thumb, soldiers, Police and CIO are paid better wages and have better conditions of service than most civil servants – but of course, as befit a Police State! And so, the militarised doctors will be getting considerably better wages, at least, compared to civil servant counter-part.

As for getting a living wage, that will not happen until there is meaningful economic recovery. All VP Chiwenga has done is kick the can down the road. Are we to believe the same government that had failed to pay doctors a living wage from the Ministry of Health budget will now do so from the Ministry of Defence’s budget?

Still, in the Army they will never need to go on strike. Zanu PF is always take good care of the soldiers, the regime is scarred stiff of the Army.   

Is ZNA going to recruit all the striking nurses too? Hospitals will not function without nurses.

Is the Ministry of Defence also going to takeover the repair and equipping of all the hospitals and clinics, which are in various stages of rot and decay after decades of underfunding? There is a lot that will have to be done to improve the conditions of service in our health care services. A hell of a lot!

The striking doctors may have called-off the strike and apologised to VP Chiwenga but they all know that be going back to the same poorly equipped hospitals without PPE, basic medicine, etc. And it will not take long before the country’s 838% inflation erode the buying power of their new wages.

For the last 40 years we, the people of Zimbabwe, have allowed Zanu PF to ride roughshod over our freedoms, rights, hopes and dreams to appease the regime gaining very little gain, if anything at all. Even now with the nation’s future balancing on the knife edge some people continue to pursue the discredited policy of appeasement! 

“What options did we have?” So, you think bowing to Chiwenga’s idiotic demands was a better option! Without the proper PPE, for example, a military doctor is as just as susceptible to corona virus infection as a civilian doctor!!!

Opposition MDC Alliance Spokesperson Fadzai Mahere and six others who were arrested on 31 July while holding anti-corruption placards will return to court on the 22nd of October for ruling on their application to have their bail conditions relaxed.

Posting on Twitter, Mahere said;

“Back at Rotting Row for the continuation of our case. Last week, we were told to come back today for the ruling in our application for the relaxation of our bail conditions & the challenge relating to 2nd count. The ruling is not ready. We go back on 22/10. #Groombridge7.”

By A Correspondent| Opposition MDC Alliance youth leader and Masvingo Town councillor Godfrey Kurauone is sueing Police Commissioner General and all officers involved in his arrest over $2 million for what he calls “wrongful and malicious arrest. ”

Kurauone was last month acquitted of all the flimsy charges and freed after spending 42 days in remand prison.

Kurauone, who was facing charges of criminal nuisance and obstructing traffic, was acquitted after the state failed to prove its case in court.

The state was accusing the councillor of posting a video of a song in which he called for immediate removal of President Emmerson Mnangagwa. The state also alleged Kurauone also burnt vehicle tyres along the Mashava-Zvamahande road disrupting the smooth flow of traffic.

He was arrested by officers from the Law and Order Section in Masvingo Town while reporting at the police provincial headquarters in fulfilment of his bail conditions for a similar case.

By A Correspondent- Chaos and violence reportedly marred the Zanu PF Kuwadzana primary elections which forced the ruling party to postpone the primary elections.

A party insider told a local publication that:

There were running battles here in Kuwadzana as people fought over money which was being splashed by (name supplied) using runners.

Voters were put into groups of 10 with one of them tasked with distributing the money. Trouble started when those who were handling the money in some of the groups did not give it out,

When contacted for comment, Zanu PF Harare provincial commissariat Kudakwashe Damson accused former Kuwadzana MP Betty Kaseke of trying to manipulate the vote and said:

We are not ready to release the results of the elections because we have received several complaints from candidates who are alleging that the elections were not fair. We did not do the Kuwadzana election because there are issues that must be resolved there, We have information to the effect that she (Kaseke) went to the commissariat department yesterday (Wednesday) where she managed to convince the people manning the office to give her the cell lists (voters’ roll).

She took them away and our worry is that they could be tampered with by either adding some more names or deleting others.

We will, however, put in place mechanisms to ensure that whatever she will do with the lists, will not affect the credibility of the elections because we are going to be using the Zec (Zimbabwe Electoral Commission) voters’ roll as well as the cell ones.

We are also wary of the fact that the probability of candidates bussing voters from other constituencies that are not going to have by-elections is 100 percent. So, we have to make sure that we are thorough in matching the Zec voters’ roll and ours.

When contacted for comment Kaseke dismissed the reports and said they were being spread by her detractors. Zanu PF Kwekwe primary by-elections also turned bloody after rival groups clashed over who should represent the party in the upcoming by-elections.-DailyNews

Spiked

Zimbabwe’s outgoing Ambassador to Malawi, Ms. Hilda Suka Mafudze, has been appointed the African Union (AU) envoy to Washington DC, replacing Ambassador Arikana Chihombori Quao who was fired last November over alleged abuse of funds.

Suka Mafudze, who was appointed Zimbabwe’s ambassador to Malawi last year by President Emmerson Mnangagwa, is expected to fly to Washington next week and is currently in the country after a recent visit to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, at the AU headquarters.

In an interview with Spiked Online Media, Ambassador Hildah Suka Mufudze expressed appreciation for the trust bestowed upon her to represent the continent in the US.

“I feel humbled and appreciative to be able to represent my continent in the US. I am certainly going to use this as an African to contribute better to the Africa we all want. As a true pan Africanist, I know what we really need as Africa and where we want to be as Africans. All this is in my heart and on my fingertips.” she said.

“What we want as Africa is to be on the global stage as equal with others. We have what it takes and no one must, therefore, look down upon us. As Africa, we are at a stage where we know what we want and we obviously cannot, for example, continue to let our resources be taken away as raw materials by people who by so doing are taking employment away from us. There are challenges on the continent, but we have to look at how to deal with those challenges and this opportunity is one way of finding solutions and I am humbled to be part of that,” said Ambassador Suka Mufudze.

Ambassador Hilda Suka Mafudze also spoke on her vision for the continent.

“I will contribute towards the AU vision on the intra-Africa trade and I will be alert to the need to entrench relations with the US. Let us not overlook the need for relations if we are to be competitive on the global space but that does not mean our inability to effectively manage what we have”, said Ambassador Suka Mufudze.

As she represents the chairman of the African Union in Washington, Africa must speak with one voice going forward in defining her destiny and harnessing opportunities through relations with the world, the US included.

“I represent the African Union, my chairman Moussa Faki Mahamat but I must also say I am humbled by the support I got from my country, Zimbabwe, President Emmerson Mnangagwa, and his entire administration. I am going to represent the whole continent and we want to engage the US and agree on issues where we can cooperate. As Africa, we need investment in infrastructure to have investors coming in and when they do come in, it should be on a win-win basis”, she said.

Between 2000 to 2005 Hildah Suka Mufudze served as MDC legislator for Manyame Constituency during the Government of National Unity (GNU). She was appointed the County’s Ambassador to Sudan until November 2019 when she was redeployed to represent the country in Malawi.

Chaos and violence reportedly marred the Zanu PF Kuwadzana primary elections which forced the ruling party to postpone the primary elections, the Daily News reports.

A party insider told the publication that:

There were running battles here in Kuwadzana as people fought over money which was being splashed by (name supplied) using runners.

Voters were put into groups of 10 with one of them tasked with distributing the money. Trouble started when those who were handling the money in some of the groups did not give it out,

When contacted for comment, Zanu PF Harare provincial commissariat Kudakwashe Damson accused former Kuwadzana MP Betty Kaseke of trying to manipulate the vote and said:

“We are not ready to release the results of the elections because we have received several complaints from candidates who are alleging that the elections were not fair. We did not do the Kuwadzana election because there are issues that must be resolved there,”

We have information to the effect that she (Kaseke) went to the commissariat department yesterday (Wednesday) where she managed to convince the people manning the office to give her the cell lists (voters’ roll).

She took them away and our worry is that they could be tampered with by either adding some more names or deleting others.

We will, however, put in place mechanisms to ensure that whatever she will do with the lists, will not affect the credibility of the elections because we are going to be using the Zec (Zimbabwe Electoral Commission) voters’ roll as well as the cell ones.

We are also wary of the fact that the probability of candidates bussing voters from other constituencies that are not going to have by-elections is 100 percent. So, we have to make sure that we are thorough in matching the Zec voters’ roll and ours.

When contacted for comment Kaseke dismissed the reports and said they were being spread by her detractors. Zanu PF Kwekwe primary by-elections also turned bloody after rival groups clashed over who should represent the party in the upcoming by-elections.

More: Daily News

Tanyaradzwa ‘Tanya’ Muzinda, a young talented Zimbabwean female motocross rider has been nominated for the prestigious International Children’s Peace Prize 2020.

The winner of the award for junior sportswoman of the year at the 2015 edition of the Annual Sports Awards announced the development via her Twitter account this Wednesday. She said:

Post Cabinet Briefing | Tuesday 13 October 2020

Please be patient as the video downloads

By A Correspondent- Zimdancehall artiste Lady Squanda was on Tuesday arrested together with four suspected robbers in connection with a robbery case in Zengeza.

Born Sandra Gazi, the chanter is said to have surrendered herself to police yesterday after she fled from her house where suspected robbers had taken refuge on Monday night.

National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the arrest saying part of the stolen items were recovered at Lady Squanda’s house.

“The Zimbabwe Republic Police is investigating a robbery case involving four men and a woman which took place in Zengeza on Monday night,” said Ass-Comm Nyathi.

“The five are Denzel Chiwenga, Rodrick Gwasira believed to be an ex-police officer, Zacharia Magaya, Sandra Gazi and Tichaona Chitova suspected to have robbed US$20, a cellphone and a laptop belonging to the complainant.

“Circumstances were that on the 12th of October 2020 the accused persons spotted a motorist driving a Toyota Wish without registration plates.

“When the motorist stopped to pick two passengers, Gwasira sprayed the complainant with pepper spray and took the cellphone, US$20 and laptop.

“Within some minutes Magaya arrived driving a Honda Fit registration (AEI 3552) with Gazi and Chitova and started assaulting the complainant.

“The complainant lodged a police report against them and a follow up was made and the suspects were found at Gazi’s house.

“Chiwenga produced knives to attack police officers and was overpowered. Gazi and Chitova fled the scene.

“Chiwenga and Magaya were arrested and a laptop and cellphone were recovered,” said Ass Comm Nyathi.

However, H-Metro witnessed Lady Squanda yesterday at St Mary’s Police Station where her statement and that of Chitova were being recorded.

Lady Squanda’s relative was holding the chanter’s baby.-Statemedia

A man appeared in court on Tuesday accused of “insulting the president” after posting a video WhatsApp status of a woman criticising a call by President Emmerson Mnangagwa to “pray and fast” for divine intervention against the coronavirus in June.

Victor Majoni, 35, a farm manager in Umguza, allegedly posted the status on June 14 – a 59-second clip of a woman who asked Mnangagwa “what other fasting do you want because Zimbabweans are fasting already, they are hungry in their homes?”

Majoni was shopped to the police by Remigious Komboni the Ward 8 Zanu PF secretary for administration in the Youth League. The two men are both on WhatsApp groups called ‘Umguza Irrigation Lots’ and ‘Umguza Zesa Updates.’

Majoni entered a ‘not guilty’ plea when he appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Shepherd Mjanja charged with “undermining the authority of or insulting the president.”

His lawyer Nqobani Sithole told the court: “The constitution provides for freedom of expression, and whoever designed the post, who is not the accused person, is the one responsible for that content.”

Majoni maintained that the status was uploaded by his nephew.

His lawyer moved for the charges to be quashed at the close of the state case.

After hearing state witness testimony from Komboni and cross-examination by the defence, Mjanja ordered the defence to make written submissions of their application for discharge at the close of the state case by October 19, and the prosecution to file its response by October 22.

Mjanja said he will rule on the matter on November 9 when Majoni finishes writing his examinations at Midlands State University.

Mnangagwa declared June 15 as a ‘Day of Prayer and Fasting’ to seek divine intervention in tackling the coronavirus outbreak.

“I urge you all on this day, to join us giving up one, two or all meals and fasting,” Mnangagwa said in a TV address carried by the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC).

The unnamed woman recorded the video response which appeared on Majoni’s phone as a WhatsApp status.

Speaking in Shona, the woman said Mnangagwa should “put her in conflict with God” – words uttered when one is holding back from swearing in anger.

“What other fasting do you want Mr Mnangagwa? Zimbabweans are fasting already, they are hungry in their homes, not because they want to fast but because they have no food,” the woman ranted.

She also told Mnangagwa to “grow up”, asking: “Do you think before you speak?”

State Media

A Harare lawyer yesterday appeared in court for allegedly misappropriating trust funds amounting to US$200 000.

Ryan Baglow (35) of Matizanadzo and Warhurts Legal Practitioners allegedly used two names to hoodwink his clients, the court heard.

Baglow allegedly failed to account for US$200 000, he collected on behalf of his client on a sale of two stands.

Baglow was not asked to plead when he appeared before Harare magistrate Ms Judith Taruvinga who released him on $50 000 bail.

The complainant in the matter is Lake Fisheries, a duly registered company in Kariba, represented by one of its directors, Mr David Edwin Webster.

Prosecutor Mr Sebastian Mutizirwa alleged that in 2007, Webster and his co-director, the late Mr Thomas Campbell Miller, formed a company named Stenplay Investments, which purchased the entire issued share capital in companies called Lake Fresh Fishers Kariba Sardines and Sea Farmers from Peter Oscar Marchussen.

According to the State, Lake Fresh Fisheries had properties which were stand numbers, 473-566 Kariba Township, but due to financial inability, the two directors decided to dispose of them.

It is alleged they wanted to raise money to fund Lake Fresh Fisheries and its associated company’s capital and operational needs.

Mr Miller then expressed interest in purchasing the two stands for his company called Fairwinds Farming (Pvt) Limited and he approached his legal practitioner, Baglow for legal advice whom he knew as Ryan Stewart.

It is the State’s case that Baglow fraudulently appointed “another” lawyer called Ryan Baglow to represent Lake Fresh Fisheries in the sale of its two stands when in actual fact it was him using the two names.

Acting on the misrepresentation, Mr Webster signed a resolution authorising Baglow to sell the two stands on their behalf and he subsequently sold the them to Mr Miller at an agreed price of US$200 000.

He further instructed Miller to deposit US$40 000 to Matizanadzo and Warhurst Law Firm’s trust account and US$160 000 into Lake Fresh Fisheries account.

An agreement of sale of the two stands was drafted between Lake Fresh Fisheries and Fairwinds Farming where Baglow represented the seller, but according to the State, Baglow failed to account for the proceeds of the stands.

Baglow, it is alleged, later facilitated the transfer of the stands from Lake Fresh Fisheries name into Fairwinds name.

Mr Miller later passed on leaving Mr Webster as the only director of Stenplay, who later realised that he had been duped by Baglow and made a police report.

Investigations established that Baglow was using both names Ryan Baglow and Ryan Stewart, with the later having no record at the office of the Registrar General.

Paul Nyathi

Exiled former ZANU PF heavyweight Saviour Kasukuwere has called on goverment to release Zimbabwe National Students Union leader Takudzwa Ngadziore from prison.

Takudzwa was arrested on 10 September and charged him with participating in an illegal demonstration outside the offices of Impala Car Rental. Protest came after student Tawanda Muchehiwa was abducted by state agents using an Impala vehicle. He was granted bail for the offence.

A week later he was arrested after being badly beaten by unknown assailants believed to be members of the ZANU PF Youth League while addressing a press conference 101 meters away from Impala Car Rental premises.

Takudzwa was on 21 September 2020 denied bail on the basis that releasing him will “undermine the peace”. Today marks nearly a month in prison after arrest for addressing the news conference near Impala Car Rental. His bail appeal still cannot start at High Court:

Paul Nyathi

Vice President Constantino Chiwenga in his capacity as the Minister of Health and Child Care through Statutory Instrument (SI) 225A of 2020 banned the holding of by-elections citing the coronavirus.

The former army boss amended Covid-19 regulations ahead of by-elections scheduled for December 5.

Nomination court was due to sit on October 9.

Latest figures by Chiwenga’s Ministry indicate that the country has turned around a curve to worry so much about the virus.

As of 13 October 2020 the Ministry reported the country to be at 95% recovery rate with an average of less than 15 cases per day and all manageable as deaths have remained stagnant at around 230.

With these figures, shouldn’t Chiwenga reconsider his ban on by elections?

• New cases: 12
• Deaths: 0
• Recoveries: 5
• PCR Tests Done: 588
• National Recovery Rate: 95%
• Active Cases: 164
• Total Cumulative Cases: 8036
• Total Recoveries: 7632
• Total Deaths: 230

Paul Nyathi

Opposition MDC Alliance youth leader and Masvingo Town councillor Godfrey Kurauone is sueing Police Commissioner General and all officers involved in his arrest over $2 million for what he calls “wrongful and malicious arrest. ”

Kurauone was last month acquitted of all the flimsy charges and freed after spending 42 days in remand prison.

Kurauone, who was facing charges of criminal nuisance and obstructing traffic, was acquitted after the state failed to prove its case in court.

The state was accusing the councillor of posting a video of a song in which he called for immediate removal of President Emmerson Mnangagwa. The state also alleged Kurauone also burnt vehicle tyres along the Mashava-Zvamahande road disrupting the smooth flow of traffic.

He was arrested by officers from the Law and Order Section in Masvingo Town while reporting at the police provincial headquarters in fulfilment of his bail conditions for a similar case.

Below is the full outline of his case against the police.

State Media

THE National Peace and Reconciliation Commission (NPRC) has raised concern over cases of violence involving machetes which have resurfaced in mining areas in Matabeleland South Province.

The commission has attributed the resurgence of violence to laxity and rogue elements within the police force.

Four miners were hospitalised after they were attacked by a machete gang while at Vova Mine in Gwanda on Friday.

Speaking yesterday during a Churches Converging on Conflict and Peace (CCCOP) inception meeting in Gwanda which was attended by the Gwanda local peace committee, NPRC Commissioner

Leslie Ncube said the commission had received numerous reports of corruption by police at Colleen Bawn and West Nicholson police stations.

Comm Ncube said the commission visited the Gwanda Provincial Hospital on Saturday to see people that were attacked by a machete gang at Vova Mine on Friday as part of their assessment.

“As a commission we are concerned by issues of machete gangs which have resurfaced in Matabeleland South Province in areas such as Vova. Members of the security sector who are charged constitutionally with enforcing laws shouldn’t be found sleeping on duty. People can’t be moving around with machetes and attacking people and then walk scot free. We have security around us and one of its thrusts is to smell and detect where these criminals will strike. These gangs come in vehicles in a manner that would have been well organised and they do this under the watchful eye of the police which is disturbing.

“The reaction from police is very slow. For those who are sleeping on duty heads will roll. I believe that the State hasn’t run out of resources and on that note decisive measures will be taken and those who are not performing their duties will go home. The police have a mandate to protect the people of Zimbabwe and they have to fulfill it. If people continue being attacked in this manner then it means we are not safe as people,” he said.

Comm Ncube said they had raised the Commissioner-General of the Police and were set to hold a closed door meeting with him on Friday to discuss the matter of rogue police officers and laxity within law enforcement agents. He said unnecessary loss of life through violence had to be stopped.

Comm Ncube said they had received numerous complainants from residents in Matabeleland South Province on police corruption, particularly in West Nicholson and Colleen Bawn areas.

He urged the media to expose such corrupt tendencies. Comm Ncube said the media had a role to amplify the voice of the masses.

He applauded churches for their numerous efforts to ensure peace prevailed in communities.

Comm Ncube urged the Gwanda Local Peace Committee to continue with its peace building efforts. He challenged the committee to address various issues of conflict which were being recorded in the community.

The commission, Comm Ncube said, was working together with Zimbabwe Christian Alliance to promote issues of peace building in Matabeleland South Province.

State Media

A BOY, last seen kicking a football up a street on October 3, has not been seen since then.

The disappearance of 16-year-old Prince Sibanda, a Form Three pupil at Bulawayo’s Milton High School, has left his parents, Ms Sinothando Ncube and Mr Trevor Sibanda worried.

What was bizarre about his disappearance was that Prince ran ahead of his mother, up a sloppy road and then disappeared going down. When his mother got to the top, there was no sign of him.

“My son and I were coming from church (12 Apostles Church) on October 3 accompanied by his siblings. There is a road that leads to our house that passes by Parrot Lodge in Matsheumhlophe suburb (along Valeview Road) and it has a steep slope. So, we were going up the slope and he ran forward kicking his plastic ball. He went over the hill and when we got there about a minute later, we couldn’t see him,” said a solemn looking Ms Ncube.

While she spoke, her husband, Mr Sibanda sat there in silence, perhaps still in shock that their son has been missing for 10 days.

Ms Ncube said she thought that Prince, an aspiring volleyball player at school, had run home.

“When we couldn’t see him, his siblings started laughing saying Prince has run home, but they had the house keys.

When we got home (in Sunninghill suburb), Prince wasn’t there. We called him on his cellphone and it wasn’t going through,” said Ms Ncube.

Soon they started getting worried as Prince did not return home that night.

The next day Ms Ncube said with her husband they went to report Prince as missing at the Zimbabwe Republic Police Hillside Station. They are appealing to members of the public to help find him.

Prince was last seen wearing a black and white long sleeve t-shirt, a blue Adidas cap with matching blue Nike takkies and a brown face mask.

Anyone who can help find Prince can contact their nearest police station or call or WhatsApp 0779139961 or 0778607723, said Ms Ncube.

State Media

Auditor-General Mrs Mildred 8Chiri is taking stock of all donations and resources directed towards Covid-19.

Mrs Chiri has ordered all Governmentdepartments to furnish her with details and she is keen to ensure watertight safeguards are in place.

The audit will establish how records of Covid-19 donations are managed.

Local companies, individuals, friendly countries and development partners flocked to help Zimbabwe in its fight against Covid-19 and they were promised that everything would be accounted for.

In an interview, Mrs Chiri said she was now waiting for responses from the relevant departments including the Ministries of Local Government and Public Works; Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare and Health and Child Care.

“We are waiting for the responses of these ministries on the issues we raised. Once we get the information we will study them, where we will look at issues of corporate governance, the control mechanism, and what is it that needs to be done,” said Mrs Chiri.

“Our desire is not to conduct a witch-hunt, but to assist Government so that it does not unnecessarily lose resources. We will write to them on our observations, where we feel requires improvement.

“We will be looking at such issues as control systems, whether they are strong or weak, at how are records of Covid-19 donations administered, at the distribution of such donations. So it is a whole package. It is a systems audit to ensure that there is enough control mechanism in handling the donations. The idea being to improve and ensure value for money given that we are still in a pandemic and every donation counts regardless of how huge or small.”

Mrs Chiri said her previous work on State entities had been post-expenditure audits and she wanted to ensure that systems are watertight.

She said the audit was delayed due to the national lockdown.

“There is a Government circular directing that departments can increase their staff complement from 15 percent to 40 percent. That is what we are now doing and we are sure the situation will improve. This will also go a long way in dealing with not only audit of Covid-19 donations, but other audits with respect to other entities,” said Mrs Chiri.

State Media

Mdc Alliance member of parliament Joana Mamombe has still not been examined by a second medical doctor to ascertain if she is capable of comprehending trial proceedings as directed by the court.

The court ordered her mental examination after the State successfully applied that she be tested after her lawyer indicated she was suffering from anxiety disorder and could not comprehend court proceedings.

Mamombe is being jointly charged with other activists Cecilia Chimbiri and Netsai Marova, Lovejoy Chitengu, Stanley Manyenga and Obey Tererai Sithole on incitement or participating in a public gathering with intent to cause public violence.

Mamombe also faces another charge of allegedly faking abductions together with Chimbiri and Marova.

On the current case, the six allegedly staged an illegal demonstration in Warren Park, Harare, in May this year.

Prosecutor Mr Michael Reza yesterday told the court that they were expecting Mamombe to be examined by another medical doctor before commencement of trial.

“There is a court order in regard to the first accused (Mamombe) who is required to be seen by two medical practitioners. So far, she has been seen by one and we do not know when she will be seen by another doctor. In view of that, we seek a postponement of the matter to November 11,” he said.

Their lawyers, Obey Shava and Gift Mutisi, consented to the postponement.

They were, however, quick to apply for a temporary release of Sithole’s passport whom they said wanted to travel to South Africa for a human rights defenders’ conference slated for November 8 to 14.

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Mr Reza opposed to the release of the passport saying there was no need for the release of the passport since he was not representing any organisation.

Mr Nduna is expected to make a ruling today.

On May 13 around 12.30pm, the six teamed up with several others and went to gather at Warren Park 1 Shopping Centre in Harare and allegedly marched from the shopping centre going towards the Harare-Bulawayo Road.

According to the State, they displayed and waved placards, one of which was inscribed “Unlock us before we revolt”.

Further allegations are that the gang demonstrated against the extension of Covid-19 national lockdown and were later intercepted and dispersed by police.

A Kwekwe man has been arraigned before the courts for allegedly raping and impregnating his biological daughter.

The man, whose identity cannot be revealed to protect the victim, but is from Chiwundura, allegedly raped and impregnated his 19-year old daughter.

He was arraigned before Kwekwe Magistrate Ms Mildred Matuvi facing rape charges.
He was remanded in custody to  October 24 for provision of trial date.

Prosecuting, Ms Ethel Bhumhure told the court that sometime in June this year, the accused person and the complainant were staying together at a farm near Kwekwe.

One day he alledgedly sneaked into the complainant’s bedroom,  Ms Bhumure told the court.

Whilst in the bedroom, the accused person allegedly sneaked into the blankets where the complainant was sleeping.

He then threatened her with death if she dared scream before going on to rape her once.

The accused person temporarily left the room before returning after some minutes and raped the accused person twice.

After the act he threatened her with death and left the room.

The matter came to light when the complainant visited her auntie who discovered that she was pregnant.

She was taken to hospital for tests where she was discovered to be 20 weeks pregnant.
The matter was reports to police leading to the arrest of the accused.

The accused in his defense left the court in stiches after he claimed to have gone mad after going after a bet.

“She saw a bet and screamed for help and I quickly rushed to her rescue. The bet however disappeared into darkness and we went mad. I ended up sleeping with her as I thought I was in my bedroom.

We did it three times, I remember. But soon after she regained consciousness that is when I discovered I was in the wrong room,” the accused told the court.-Chronicle

Chaos and violence reportedly marred the Zanu PF Kuwadzana primary elections which forced the ruling party to postpone the primary elections.

A party insider told the publication that:

There were running battles here in Kuwadzana as people fought over money which was being splashed by (name supplied) using runners.

Voters were put into groups of 10 with one of them tasked with distributing the money. Trouble started when those who were handling the money in some of the groups did not give it out,

When contacted for comment, Zanu PF Harare provincial commissariat Kudakwashe Damson accused former Kuwadzana MP Betty Kaseke of trying to manipulate the vote and said:

We are not ready to release the results of the elections because we have received several complaints from candidates who are alleging that the elections were not fair. We did not do the Kuwadzana election because there are issues that must be resolved there,

We have information to the effect that she (Kaseke) went to the commissariat department yesterday (Wednesday) where she managed to convince the people manning the office to give her the cell lists (voters’ roll).

She took them away and our worry is that they could be tampered with by either adding some more names or deleting others.

We will, however, put in place mechanisms to ensure that whatever she will do with the lists, will not affect the credibility of the elections because we are going to be using the Zec (Zimbabwe Electoral Commission) voters’ roll as well as the cell ones.

We are also wary of the fact that the probability of candidates bussing voters from other constituencies that are not going to have by-elections is 100 percent. So, we have to make sure that we are thorough in matching the Zec voters’ roll and ours.

When contacted for comment Kaseke dismissed the reports and said they were being spread by her detractors.

 Zanu PF Kwekwe primary by-elections also turned bloody after rival groups clashed over who should represent the party in the upcoming by-elections-Daily News

During a press conference in Harare last week, Zanu PF spokesperson Patrick Chinamasa made sensational claims that the opposition will not rule this country because according to him, the opposition undermines the gains that came through the liberation struggle.

Addressing the media, a tough-talking Chinamasa said:

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. Those who oppose its liberation should never dream of ruling this country, those who oppose the independence of this country and those who oppose the land redistribution programme should never dream of ruling this country with their masters.Those who oppose the redistribution of the land… have no right to rule this country because by opposing it, they became sell-outs.

Right now, they talk about human rights. During the colonial period, there were no human rights to talk about.

“The colonial masters only started to talk about human rights, democracy in 1980 when they were handing over power. Right now, they are talking about freedom of expression.

That is a digression, it’s important, but it’s a digression. The important narrative is how Zimbabweans get empowered until you do that, you spend the next 200 years exercising freedom of expression without eating. Those who go to America to ask for sanctions have no rights to rule this country.

Zanu Pf Political commissar Victor Matemadanda said something similar to what Chinamasa said in 2018 when he said elections will never remove Zanu PF from power because he said if they don’t work Zanu PF will use other means.

Chinamasa in July at a press conference attacked the American ambassador and called him a thug right before he threatened to expel him from Zimbabwe.

During the same month, he also urged Zanu PF supporters to defend themselves from people who were planning to protest the government’s maladministration and corruption.-Daily News

Farai Dziva|The MDC Alliance(Youth Assembly) has described the level of police brutality in the country as shocking.

On Monday overzealous cops threw tear gas canisters into a bus full of children and the elderly…

Read below the MDC Alliance Youth Assembly statement :
12-10-2020

Barbaric acts by thugs disguised as members of the Zimbabwe Republic Police who recklessly tear gassed a bus carrying passengers including the elderly and the minors must never go unchallenged.

The inhumane act by some rogue police elements which occured today(Monday) in Harare at Showgrounds must never go unpunished.

It is very clear that the police force is now a danger to the public as exhibited by their recent acts of brutality.

This is not the first time that the police have exhibited animalistic behavior on innocent citizens.

Just a year ago, the same police force gruesomely hit a vendor Hilton Tamangani with iron bars and fists at a basement at QV Pharmacy in Angwa street. Tamangani later succumbed to sustained injuries at Harare Remand Prison.

Earlier this year, the same police force was at it again when they released the trio of MDC Alliance female youth leaders, Joana Mamombe, Cecilia Chimbiri and Netsai Marova into the custody of abductors after the police spokesperson Paul Nyathi had initially indicated that the trio were in police custody.

Few months later, the same unrepentant police force bashed a sprawling MDC Alliance Deputy Youth Spokesperson, Womberai Nhende at Morgan Richard Tsvangirai house. Up to now Nhende is walking wounded as a result of police brutality.

As if that was not enough, the same police force today summoned some foolish intelligence or lack of it and threw tear gas right into a bus carrying passengers.

Of importance to note for citizens is that the bus was not carrying MDC Alliance supporters but citizens from diverse backgrounds and political inclinations.

What this means is that no one is safe from this bunch of rogue police officers that behaves worse than the colonial black watchers (mabhurakwacha).

As citizens, we are no longer safe from this monster regime.

Resistance is now a must for every citizen because injustice is everywhere.

Surely if we can not be moved by today’s horrible police behavior, then something is wrong with us as a people.

In a normal society Police Commissioner General, Godwin Matanga is supposed to resign with immediate effect. Anything other than that is pure nonsense!

StopPoliceBrutality

Stephen Sarkozy Chuma
MDC Alliance Youth Assembly National Spokesperson

Farai Dziva|MDC Alliance has said in essence Zanu PF is the opposition because its leader, Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa stole the 2018 Presidential Election.

Zanu PF acting spokesperson, Patrick Chinamasa last week accused ” opposition elements of plotting to render the country ungovernable.”

According to Chinamasa the opposition will never rule the country because independence did not come through democracy.

Responding to Chinamasa’s remarks, MDC Alliance Youth Assembly national spokesperson, Stephen Sarkozy Chuma said:

“Chinamasa’s party is the opposition- there is a legitimacy crisis in the country as a result of stolen elections.

The legitimacy crisis is the sticking point- we cannot move forward as a nation as a result of what happened in 2018.”

Another MDC Alliance official said:

“Very soon Chinamasa and his ilk will be the opposition.It is clear that Zanu PF bigwigs are having sleepless nights because of our growing influence.”

Farai Dziva|MDC Alliance has said in essence Zanu PF is the opposition because its leader, Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa stole the 2018 Presidential Election.

Zanu PF acting spokesperson, Patrick Chinamasa last week accused ” opposition elements of plotting to render the country ungovernable.”

According to Chinamasa the opposition will never rule the country because independence did not come through democracy.

Responding to Chinamasa’s remarks, MDC Alliance Youth Assembly national spokesperson, Stephen Sarkozy Chuma said:

“Chinamasa’s party is the opposition- there is a legitimacy crisis in the country as a result of stolen elections.

The legitimacy crisis is the sticking point- we cannot move forward as a nation as a result of what happened in 2018.”

Another MDC Alliance official said:

“Very soon Chinamasa and his ilk will be the opposition.It is clear that Zanu PF bigwigs are having sleepless nights because of our growing influence.”

MDC Alliance has availed to the public audit results of its financial records.

The opposition party also accused Zanu PF of plundering State resources at will…

Watch video below. ..

A SUSPECT who was allegedly part of a gang that killed a man in Mpopoma in a fight over a girlfriend has been arrested at a hideout in his rural home in Lupane, Matabeleland North Province
Rabson Tshuma (27) a self-employed carpenter at Manwele in Mzilikazi suburb, who was in the company of accomplices who are still at large, allegedly stabbed Bhekumuzi Nkomo (28) to death at an illegal house party at a shebeen in Mpopoma suburb.

Nkomo was stabbed with a knife in the chest and shoulder and he died on the spot.

Tshuma was not asked to plead when he appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Miss Nomagugu Maphosa charged with murder. He was remanded in custody to 15 October and was advised to apply for bail at the High Court.

The State’s case as presented by the prosecutor Mr Carrington Dhliwayo is that: “On the night of 4 October 2020, at 54/1693 in Mpopoma suburb the accused person who was in the company of his accomplices who are on the run were drinking beer at a shebeen where the now deceased was also a patron.”

The court heard that an altercation ensued between the accused persons and the deceased over one of the accused persons’ girlfriends. The scuffle degenerated into a fist fight and the accused person produced a knife and stabbed Nkomo once in the chest and once on the shoulder.

The accused and his accomplices, who are still on the run, fled from the seen. A post mortem was conducted and it was ascertained that the cause of death was haemorrhagic shock, chest (viscera) bleeding and chest stabbing.Chronicle

IN a spine-chilling incident that left people in Village 4 under Chief Svosve in Hwedza shocked, a man axed his wife and two children to death after she allegedly told him, he was not the biological father of the kids.

Innocent Chakabuda, allegedly struck his wife twice on the back of her head before turning it on his two children following a heated domestic dispute sparked by suspicions of infidelity.

As if that was not enough, Chakabuda, downed pesticide in an attempt to take his own life after allegedly axing his wife Junior Dzonga, their children; Vongai and Anenyasha Chakabuda.

The incident occurred on September 8, 2019.

On the day in question, Chakabuda had a misunderstanding with his wife on the suspicion that she was having an extra-marital affair.

It was when his wife told him that he was not the biological father of their two children.

Irked by his wife’s words, he went on to grab an axe, struck her twice on the back of her head before turning it on their children, whom he also attacked twice each on the back of their heads.

Chakabuda was then arrested.

Yesterday, Chakabuda appeared at the High Court charged with three counts of murder.

Chakabuda, through his lawyer Mr Phanuel Mazhande of Mazhande Legal Practice, denied the charges when he appeared before Justice Erica Ndewere.

In his defence prepared by Mr Mazhande, Chakabuda challenged admission of his warned and cautioned statement saying he gave it after being coerced.

Mr Mazhande raised issues on Chakabuda’s sanity and applied that he be examined by two Government medical doctors before trial commences.

Justice Ndewere granted the application and ordered that Chakabuda returns to court on October 26 for trial.-The Herald

13 OCTOBER 2020 ZIFA APPOINTS MPANDARE AS GENERAL MANAGER – NATIONAL TEAMS

The Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) has appointed Mr Wellington Mpandare as the General Manager for all national teams on a three-year contract.

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The position comes with huge responsibilities which the board felt match the experience possessed by Mpandare, who has served in almost similar capacity in the past. Mpandare was the team manager for the senior men’s team when the Warriors qualified for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations, and he was also in the same position when the locally based Warriors secured a place at the 2021 African Nations Championship.

Apart from the usual responsibilities of the team manager of the Warriors, Mpandare will also be responsible for all logistical and welfare issues for all other national teams. He will work hand in glove with team managers of the other teams to improve the organisational aspects around national team games.

We would like to wish Mpandare all the best in his new secretariat position which teams him up with a dedicated group which has been doing some of the duties he will assume. The executive committee has great faith in his ability to execute his duties well to support the association’s long-term goals.

For and on behalf of the Zimbabwe Football Association: Xolisani Gwesela Communications & Competitions Manager

www.zifa.org.zw

+263 0242 704624

RESPONSE: COMPLAINT AGAINST HONOURABLE JUSTICE ERICA NDEWERE

The Judicial Service Commission (JSC) is concemed with the false accusotions being peddled against it in some sections of the press and on social media platforms. The misleading statements seek to link the institution of processes to investigate the question of the removal of Honourable Justice Erica Ndewere from the office of judge of the High Court to the bail hearing of Honourable Job Sikhala that she recently presided over.

The Commission takes this unprecedented route of making public the background to the investigation in order to clarify the offensive undertones emanating from the statements.

The following is the correct chronology of events:

• The facts of the matter giving rise to the allegations against the judge arose on 22 October 2019. Needless to say, this was many months before the allegations against Honourable Job Sikhala arose and before he made a bail application in the High Court in September 2020.

• Formal investigations into the allegations of the judge’s misconduct commenced on 12 March 2020;

• On 6 May 2020 the judge formally responded to the allegations;

• On 11 September 2020 the allegations against the judge were referred for consideration by the Judicial Service Commission in terms of secffon 187 (3) of the Constitution. This again was before the judgment in respect of Honourable Job Sikhala’s bail application had been made.

(iv On 15 September 2020 the JSC resolved that the judge must be made to comment on these allegations.

• On 17 September 2020 the Honourable Judge’s legal practitioners wrote to JSC requesting to be given more time to respond to the allegations. which time was granted.

• The Court’s decision on Honourable Job Sikhala’s boil application was only handed down on 22 September 2020, eleven months after the allegations against the judge hod arisen and six months otter formal investigations had commenced.

• It is important to note that in all the deliberations and decisions relating to the allegations against the judge by the JSC. the Chief Justice and the Judge President of the High Court did not participate because they were involved in the initial investigations on the allegations made against the judge.

• The synopsis of events given above shows that there is no connection between the two decisions by the JSC and that of the judge in Honourable Sikhala’s matter.

• 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

• The Judicial Service Commission respects and indeed makes every effort to protect the independence of the Judicial, This is ci constitution., imperative which we will always adhere to.

Paul Nyathi

The Zimbabwean dollar traded virtually unchanged in the foreign currency auction that was conducted today 13 October 2020 according to the RBZ.

The official rate this week according to the RBZ stands at $81.3458 which shows a marginal change from last week’s rate of $$81.3486

Paul Nyathi

The MDC Alliance on Tuesday publicly released results of an independent audit of the party’s accounts on Tuesday, to dispel claims of funds looting by senior party odficials.

The party’s treasurer general David Coltart said the independent audit findings “show that our accounts are in order.”

“It’s an unqualified audit that we have received from this independent firm,” Coltart said at a news conference in Harare, also attended by party leader Nelson Chamisa.

The audit covered the period between May 2019 when the MDC Alliance held its congress in Gweru and December 2019.

Watch video downloading below:

Paul Nyathi

Losing Harare Mayoral candidate Councilor representing the Thokozani Khupe led MDC-T, Luckson Mukunguma has bounced back to win the Deputy Mayor’s post after being nominated unopposed.

The other contestant, Councilor Matinyanya, failed to get a seconder after he had nominated himself.

Mukunguma replaces Councilor Enock Mupamawonde who was recently recalled by the MDC-T.

The Finance Committee Chairperson previously lost the contest for the Mayor’s position after losing to current Mayor Jacob Mafume.

Councilor Mafume polled 19 votes whilst Councilor Mukunguma got 14 votes.

Mukunguma’s latest win provides some redemption for the Khupe faction which appears to now control the majority in the Capital City chamber.

Paul Nyathi

Mdc Alliance Deputy National Chairman Job Sikhala says that he will pray for justice to prevail as Justice Erica Ndewere who granted him bail against all odds goes into a tribunal.

Ndewere is facing suspension and trial by a tribunal to be set up by President Emmerson Mnangagwa for a misconduct yet to be told.

Sources however, claim that Ndewere is being charged for not submitting her bail ruling on Sikhala to her superiors before delivering it in court.

Paul Nyathi

The Ministry of Health and Child Care has gone into length trying to explain the National Recovery Rate for Covid-19 which shot to 95.1 percent with the country recording 1122 recoveries as of Monday.

Previously, the rate was standing at 81 percent.

The Ministry said the huge jump was a result of follow ups done on recorded active cases.

The country’s figures of active cases has remained stuck on over 1500 for months since the number of new cases ballooned as a result of accelerated testing.

The sudden discovery of the huge number of recoveries by the Ministry shows that the Ministry has not been monitoring the Covid-19 cases which is a serious incompetence according to WHO standards.

“There are 1122 new recoveries reported. National Recovery Rate rises to 95.1 percent and active cases go down to 164 today. Harare reported 1114 recoveries today (yesterday) after following up the cases,” the Ministry said.

It added that 10 new cases were also recorded on Monday and no deaths have been reported in the last 24 hours.

As of 12 October 2020, Zimbabwe has now recorded 8021 cases, 7627 recoveries and 230 deaths so far.

State Media

THE Government is increasing the capacity of border personnel at Beitbridge to screen and test travelers coming into the country from South Africa where there is a high infection rate.

Health and Child Care Deputy Minister Dr John Mangwiro said it was very critical for the Government to put all necessary systems in place ahead of the gradual opening of land borders. He made the remarks during the tour of Beitbridge Border Post on Saturday. He said more PCR testing machines were being deployed to the border which at peak handles 15 000 people daily.

Currently, the border is handling less than 1 000 people mainly those handling essential and special cargo and returning residents.

“We toured Beitbridge border, where we discovered that we need to introduce foot and wheel baths for vehicles and people as soon as they enter from South Africa,” said Dr Mangwiro.

“Most of the workers in offices were poorly protected and we have recommended improvements so that they don’t spread the virus. We need to make sure that we control whatever comes in before it leaves the border.

“So the workers there need maximum protection, social distancing needs to be marked properly. Those meeting people should be properly donned.”

He said already the Government had started deploying automated thermometers and sanitisers to improve efficiency.

Dr Mangwiro said the use of manual gadgets was risky and delaying the smooth flow of traffic.

“At the isolation and quarantine centre, we need automated machines to improve the way of doing business.

It is good that the Government workers and our partners are working hard,” said the Deputy Minister.

He said it was also important for the security to ramp up patrols on the borderline where the illegal movement of people who later converge on urban centres was high.

The Deputy Minister said Government was also working on equipping Beitbridge District Hospital with an isolation centre to carry 30 people so that it can be able to cope with any eventualities.

“We have engaged the Minister of Energy and Power Development to ensure that all hospitals in Matabeleland South are adequately supplied with electricity.

“In addition, the Beitbridge Isolation Centre needs upgrading in terms of accessories for the Intensive Care and HDU by availing piped oxygen to cope with any eventuality related to Covid-19 illness. They have little tanks which are not enough and we are starting work immediately,” he said.

Paul Nyathi

Acting City of Harare town planner, Fani Machipisa who lost his mother a few hours after his arrest will go through his mother’s mourning period in prison after Harare Magistrate Ngoni Nduna denied him bail claiming that he is likely to interfere with investigations.

Machipisa appeared in court on offences he allegedly committed in a week he acted as housing director in 2018 involving land allocations valued at US$210 000.

Machipisa’s lawyer, Professor Lovemore Madhuku had begged with the court to grant Machipisa bail so that he could go and mourn his deceased mother but the magistrate ruled that the prison services have a facility to console bereaved inmates.

Madhuku had pleaded “On compassionate grounds, he lost his mother on the day he first appeared in court and the court must take judicial notice.”

Machipisa is facing allegations of parcelling out stands without following proper procedure.

He is facing two counts of criminal abuse of office and the State opposed his admission to bail on grounds that he was facing a serious offence and that he would interfere with evidence and investigations.

In bidding for his client’s freedom, Prof Madhuku also gave examples of former Harare Mayor Herbert Gomba, Admore Nhekairo who was the accused’s immediate boss who arrested and granted bail but facing similar allegations.

“The court must take judicial notice in the interest of justice that most of those arrested over the City of Harare land deals or related offences have all been granted bail after being arrested.Other cases that have happened in Harare City Council that involve senior and junior Councillors were admitted to bail.Hence basing on those grounds court should also consider the accused in the same manner,” said Madhuku.

He further proposed on behalf of the accused that he be granted bail and if the court is not satisfied it is in the court’s hands to put stringent measures in relation to bail.

Allegations are that between June 19 and 22, 2018, Machipisa criminally abused his office as a public official by allocating fictitious stand numbers 7246 – 7250 and 7253- 7262 in Mabelreign with an unknown layout plan to home seekers who were not on the council’s housing waiting list.

He is alleged to have fast tracked the allocation without due diligence and without following council procedures.

The land was designated for stands 3621 to 3639 on an already approved layout plan.

The State alleges that Machipisa as the acting housing director took advantage of the absence of a substantive director, who was on a one-week workshop, to fast-track the allocation process to happen within a week which he was acting.

When the substantive director returned, Machipisa is alleged to have concealed the allocations and the director went on to cause allocation of the land.

One of the beneficiaries, who was said to have been on the waiting list by 2005, was just 13 years old which is contrary to council’s housing allocation policy which does not approve juveniles.

It is further alleged that in September this year, Machipisa directed George Mukodzi, the district officer for Mufakose, to halt developments on a piece of land which was allocated to Youth In Business Trust by the State.

He allegedly indicated that the papers Youth In Business Trust had were fake and that the land belonged to council and allocated to Taringana Housing Consortium yet the land was State-owned.

Also arrested over the land dispute between Youth In Business and Taringana Housing Consortium are Taurai Nziradzinengwe and Tatenda Selemani, accused of interfering with developments at the disputed land.

They allegedly demarcated and allocated the land to their chosen beneficiaries.

The two were granted free bail by magistrate Nduna who indicated that the State had nothing compelling to deny them bail.

Former Zanu PF youths commissar Godfrey Tsenengamu has been denied bail.

Harare magistrate Mr Ngoni Nduna said it was in the best interest to safeguard his safety after he sought refuge at the police claiming there were people who were stalking him.

Mr Nduna also said it was not correct that Tsenengamu surrendered himself to the police after having been on the run for nearly three months.

Tsenengamu initially appeared in court on Saturday on incitement to commit public violence with an alternative charge of incitement to participate in a public gathering with intend to commit public violence.

Tsenengamu was among 14 political activists, including MDC-Alliance deputy chair Job Sikhala and Amalgamated Rural Teachers’ Union of Zimbabwe (ARTUZ) president Obert Masaraure, who were on the police wanted list for inciting public violence.

He handed himself over to the police on Friday.

Paul Nyathi

The United Kingdom (UK) has expressed concern over the indefinite suspension of by-elections in Zimbabwe by the minister of Health and Child Care, Vice President Constantino Chiwenga.

Posting on Twitter in response to a report by the Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) which also condemned the suspensions, the UK in Zimbabwe said:

Vice President Chiwenga amended Statutory Instrument 225A of 2020 which now notes that “the holding of any by-election to fill a casual vacancy in Parliament or in a local authority is, for the duration of the period of the declaration of COVID-19 as a formidable epidemic disease, suspended, and if such vacancy occurred while such declaration is in force, no part of the period from the date of such vacancy to the date of the end of the declaration shall be counted for the purposes of section 158(3) of the Constitution.”

The suspension was also confirmed by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission which also cited the coronavirus.

Ironically, political parties have in recent weeks successfully held internal primary elections in preparation for the by-election.

Some political analysts view the move as a way to prevent the opposition MDC Alliance from replacing its members who were reCalled by the interim MDC-T leadership.

THE National Sports Stadium in Harare has been cleared to host the bumper 2021 Afcon qualifier between the Warriors and Algeria next month.

CAF today gave the facility the greenlight to host the Warriors/Algeria match when they released match day three and four of the Afcon qualifiers.

The rescheduled fixture, to be played four days after the same teams clash in Algeria, takes place on November 16.

The back-to-back ties were originally scheduled to be played in March but was cancelled days before the first leg in Algeria due to Covid-19 outbreak.

Zimbabwe were on their way to host the African champions in the second leg on neutral soil after Confederation of African Football (CAF) had banned all the country’s stadium for failing to meet minimum requirements.

Government, through the Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation Ministry then took advantage of the coronavirus pandemic-enforced break to address flaws at the giant venue.

They have done almost all the work save for installing bucket seats.

By A Correspondent- A Gweru prosecutor, Namatirai Chipere has controversially and unconstitutionally thrown her name as a candidate in the upcoming Zanu PF District Coordinating Committee elections.

In many political cases she presided over, opposition politicians asked for the recusal of Chipere because she is a known Zanu PF activist.

The Constitution of Zimbabwe requires Prosecutors, Magistrates and Judges to be impartial in their handling of justice.

She has thrown her name in for the position of Secretary for Legal Affairs in Gweru’s DCC.

There are concerns Chipere would compromise justice by being a politician and a prosecutor at the same time.

A source who spoke to Nehanda Radio said; 

“This person is a serving prosecutor at Gweru Magistrate’s Court. She shouldn’t be contesting for a position in a political party.

“The constitution requires PG (and those who work in his name, i.e. prosecutors) to be completely neutral. To run DCCs you need to be a member of the party in good standing (paying subs, attending meetings etc). How will she be an impartial prosecutor if she is a party political official,” the source told Nehanda Radio.

In another interview, Advocate Kudzai Kadzere urged Chipere to resign from prosecution and go full time into politics.

“It falls foul of the law for State Prosecutors who are expected to be impartial to be involved in politics. It damages the institutions of the State that are key in the rule of law. The best is for her to resign from Prosecution and go into full time politics,” Kadzere said.

Four months ago, MDC Alliance MP for Chiwundura constituency Levison Chimina wanted the recusal of Chipere whom he accused of being a known ZANU PF activist and avid supporter.

Chimina was facing charges of assault where he and others are being accused of assaulting Zanu PF youths.

Chimina’s lawyer Wellington Davira said his client was being persecuted for being an affiliate of the MDC Alliance in a case being handled by a known Zanu PF supporter.

Farai Dziva|MDC Alliance has said in essence Zanu PF is the opposition because its leader, Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa stole the 2018 Presidential Election.

Zanu PF acting spokesperson, Patrick Chinamasa last week accused ” opposition elements of plotting to render the country ungovernable.”

According to Chinamasa the opposition will never rule the country because independence did not come through democracy.

Responding to Chinamasa’s remarks, MDC Alliance Youth Assembly national spokesperson, Stephen Sarkozy Chuma said:

“Chinamasa’s party is the opposition- there is a legitimacy crisis in the country as a result of stolen elections.

The legitimacy crisis is the sticking point- we cannot move forward as a nation as a result of what happened in 2018.”

Another MDC Alliance official said:

“Very soon Chinamasa and his ilk will be the opposition.It is clear that Zanu PF bigwigs are having sleepless nights because of our growing influence.”

Watch the live video loading below…..

By A Correspondent- Yesterday Zimbabwe recorded 1122 COVID-19 recoveries which since the onset of the pandemic was the first highest recovery rate to date.

The 95% recovery rate was contained in a Ministry of Health and Child Care’s daily update which stated that active cases have dropped to below 200 for the first time in months.

The Ministry of Health said:

481 Polymerous Chain Reaction (PCR) tests done today (positivity was 2.1%). 1122 new recoveries were reported while the national recovery rate rises to 95% and active cases go down to 164 today.

Of the 1122 recoveries recorded yesterday, 1114 of them were recorded in Harare according to Health Times.

According to World Health:

WHO has published guidance on adjusting public health and social measures for the next phase of the COVID-19 response.

Some governments have suggested that the detection of antibodies to the SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, could serve as the basis for an “immunity passport” or “risk-free certificate” that would enable individuals to travel or to return to work assuming that they are protected against re-infection.

There is currently no evidence that people who have recovered from COVID-19 and have antibodies are protected from a second infection.

Many countries are now testing for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies at the population level or in specific groups, such as health workers, close contacts of known cases, or within households. WHO supports these studies, as they are critical for understanding the extent of – and risk factors associated with – infection.  These studies will provide data on the percentage of people with detectable COVID-19 antibodies, but most are not designed to determine whether those people are immune to secondary infections.

By A Correspondent- A Zimbabwean doctor has confessed that they were defeated by the Vice President in charge of the Ministry of Health and were forced to apologise for engaging in a long strike that crippled the health sector.

Posting on Twitter Dr T Stanzo said:

“I see people saying doctors bowed down to the General! Yes we did! Why not? What options did we have? How long have we been fighting for better hospitals and salaries to no avail? We were defeated. And we have given up. We lost.”

MDC Alliance has availed to the public audit results of its financial records.

The opposition party also accused Zanu PF of plundering State resources at will…

Watch video below. ..