By A Correspondent- Former Harare mayor Herbert Gomba turned up in court last Wednesday clad in a T-Shirt and jeans, earning a warning from Harare regional magistrate, Mr Trynois Utahwashe, that he would be committed to remand prison if he returned to court informally dressed.
Gomba told the court that he only learnt of his court appearance when he had come to verify with the Clerk of Court following “confusion over when he was supposed to appear in court.”
More to follow…
-statemedia
By Wilbert Mukori- Democracy is the greatest gift the Greeks gave to mankind. “Government of the people, by the people, for the people,” as US President Abraham Lincoln defined democracy in his famous Gettysburg speech in 1863.
The Greeks realised, all those 2 500 years ago, that democracy will only work if the people are educated and are allowed to think for themselves freely. They embraced freedom of expression so whole heartedly they named their battle ships Freedom and Freedom of Expression.
Democracy has failed to take root in Zimbabwe for many reasons, one of which is that those brandishing the banner of democracy and claiming to champion it cause have been undermining democracy. Instead of educating the populous they have misinformed and confused them.
“This time last year, Excelgate was about to be published, in the expectation, inter alia, that the MDC Alliance, in particular, would capitalise on the revelations therein, to both fuel their legal challenge against the Constitutional Court’s ruling on the disputed 2018 presidential election; and mount a concerted political campaign that would include the exposure to the Zimbabwean population in general and, in particular, the millions whose votes were stolen of an electoral system so rotten that it has reduced elections in Zimbabwe to a mockery of democracy,” wrote Dr Ibbo Mandaza.
“Such a legal and political campaign might have at least contained or even pre-empted the impunity with which the Zanu-PF/State has now staged the most blatant assault on the electorate, the voter and democracy itself.
Namely, the recall of democratically elected parliamentarians, to be replaced undemocratically, illegally and unconstitutionally by appointment to Parliament of persons who had performed dismally in the 2018 elections. Add to that the cynical act of declaring a loser as the “Leader of the Opposition” in Parliament.
The Khupe Coup! A tragicomedy that includes the summary cancellation of by-elections in which the voters hoped, albeit naively given the history of elections in Zimbabwe, to re-affirm the choice they had made in 2018, and thereby have their recalled legislators returned to Parliament in December 2020.”
What a mouthful! Spit it out and thoroughly rinse your mouth because it is worse than nonsense.
I confess that I have not read Excelgate but from the extracts and synopsis it is clear the book deals with the irregularities in the counting of the votes in the July 2018 elections, the compilation of the results in the V11 at Polling Station, V23A and B at counting centres and the Excel Spreed sheet at ZEC command centre.
Excelgate did not mention at 3 million Zimbabweans in the diaspora were denied the vote (more than 2.3 million votes Mnangagwa claimed to win), ZEC had failed to produce something as basic as a verified voters’ roll, etc., etc.
The July 2018 elections were a mockery of democracy because it denied millions of voters their right to vote, failed to produce a verified voters’ roll, etc. Even is the counting of the votes had gone ahead without a single mistake, deliberate or otherwise, the elections would still be condemned.
The July 2018 elections should have never gone ahead without first implementing the democratic reforms to ensure all those eligible to vote are given the opportunity to do so, ZEC produces a verified voters’ roll, etc.
The truth is Dr Ibbo Mandaza does not know what constitutes free, fair and credible elections. So is given to condemning an election process today and praising the same process to the high heaven tomorrow depending on result, who is the winner, and not the process.
When Tendai Biti and a few others broke away from MDC in 2014, Morgan Tsvangirai recalled the lot. Dr Khupe has used the same constitutional provision to recall MPs and councillors and we are now told this “undemocratic, illegal and unconstitutional”. Was the recall democratic, legal and constitutional in 2014?
“A tragicomedy that includes the summary cancellation of by-elections!” The real tragedy, and it is no laughing matter, is the voters are being encourage to believe the cancelled by-elections was an attack on democracy when there is no democracy.
Zanu PF blatantly rigged the July 2018 elections to secure a 2/3 parliamentary majority and the presidency. The party has allowed the opposition to win a few gravy train seats, bait to entice them to participate in the elections regardless how flawed and illegal the process got.
All opposition candidates, including those from Khupe’s faction, Chamisa factions and the multitude of other parties and independent candidates, who participated in the July 2018 elections are sell-outs. They knew, by participating, they were undermining the fight for free, fair and credible elections.
Mnangagwa and Zanu PF know as long as they are able to attract the opposition to participate in the flawed elections they will derive some legitimacy and will not need to implement any reforms.
Zanu PF has not implemented even one meaningful democratic reform since the July 2018 election. Mnangagwa promised to allow the 3 million Zimbabweans in the diaspora to vote next time but has done nothing about it. Come 2023, the situation will not have changed much and, mark my words, Zanu PF will blatantly rig those elections.
The December 2020 by-elections will be conducted under exactly the same flawed and illegal conditions as the July 2018 elections. Right on clue, our cheer leaders of democracy are hoping mad that by-elections are being cancelled. No doubt the same cheer leaders and the populous will go berserk if the 2023 elections were to be delayed to allow meaningful reforms to be implemented.
In short, the foolish hysteria in defence of recalled MDC A sell-outs and cancelled by-elections, by the demagogues and ignoramus masquerading as champions of democracy, is helping to perpetuate the Zanu PF dictatorship by portraying the status quo as the epoch of democracy. There should be no elections, national or by-elections, in Zimbabwe until all the reforms are implemented to ensure the elections are free, fair and credible.
We must not give up the moral high ground; the demand for free, fair and credible elections; for the sake of fighting the by-election skirmish. The 2023 elections, the decisive battle, must be free, fair and credible or else be declared null and void and to be absolutely certain of that we must have and held the moral high ground at all times.
Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition Chairperson, Rashid Mahiya has today visited incarcerated ZINASU President Takudzwa Ngadziore at Chikurubi maximum prison.
Ngadziore has been in detention since his arrest on 18 September while addressing the press 101 metres away from Impala Car Rental.
He is being charged with inciting public violence and is waiting for the High Court to make a determination on his bail appeal.
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By Jane Mlambo| Former local government minister Savior Kasukuwere has urged government to fix the economy first instead of trying to extradite him from self-imposed exile in South Africa.
Responding to a news article published by The Herald which reported that government was beginning processes to extradite Kasukuwere, the former Zanu PF National Commissar said the state should be fixated with fixing the ecomy.
“Zimbabwe: Mnangagwa Pushes Extradition of South Africa-Based G40 Members. Politics! Fix the economy chief,” said Kasukuwere.
Kasukuwere, Walter Mzembi, Jonathan Moyo and Patrick Zhuwao are some of the G40 members who are in exile following the November 2017 military coup that removed former President Robert Mugabe.
By A Correspondent- There has been a three car pile up accident along Samora Machel in Harare.
The accident occured this morning at a curve near Cresta Lodge.
One of the vehicles overturned.
This is a developing story.
By A Correspondent- At least five Zanu-PF candidates will contest the party’s primary elections to be held soon to fill the Marondera East constituency seat that was left vacant following the death of Patrick Chidhakwa.
Chidhakwa died in South Africa last month due to heart complications and was buried at his rural home in Gokwe.
Some party officials in the constituency have begun campaigning by distributing fliers and posters on social media platforms.
Some of the aspiring candidates include youthful leader Richmond Chikore, agronomist Tatenda Watambwa, Ngonidzashe Mandaza and Paradzai Bhasikoro.
NewsDay is reliably informed that some party members are pushing for former Marondera Central MP Lawrence Katsiru to represent them.
Katsiru owns a farm in the constituency.
Chidhakwa’s predecessor and ex-top police officer Jeremiah Chiwetu is also reportedly eying a comeback.
Zanu-PF provincial secretary for administration Kudzai Majuru said the date for primary elections was still to be set and that they were waiting for a directive from higher offices.
“The date for the primary elections is yet to be set and we are waiting for a directive from our superiors. It is a process. Some have already fowarded their CVs and the chairman (Joel Biggie Matiza) will guide us accordingly on the vetting process,” he said.
Chidhakwa snatched the seat from Chiwetu in the primary elections before winning in the 2018 elections.
The MDC-Alliance in Marondera district has also started a similar process with aspiring candidates still forwarding their CVs.
Both Zanu-PF and the MDC Alliance have been conducting primary elections despite Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga, who is also Health minister, suspending by-elections due to the COVID-19 pandemic.-Newsday
Eight armed robbers raided the Bulawayo High Court yesterday and gained entry into the court’s criminal registry after attacking and disarming police officers manning the premises.
The incident occurred at about 4AM and the suspects were reportedly armed with pistols.
They left two police officers injured as they forced their way into the court building and finally the criminal registry.
One of the officers is admitted to a Bulawayo hospital while the other one did not sustain serious injuries but the robbers tied his hands and legs before they left.
The robbers are said to have used a grinder as they tried to break the registry safe.
National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the robbery.
“We are investigating an armed robbery case which occurred at the Bulawayo High Court yesterday morning at 4AM. It is said about eight suspects went to the court and attacked two officers who were on duty and these suspects were armed with pistols.
“After attacking them, they blindfolded one of the officers. They then tried to force open the court’s main safe to the criminal registry’s office using a key. After failing, they tried again to use a grinder and, in the process, it is alleged that they were making phone calls,” said Asst Comm Nyathi.
He said after failing in their attempts, they tied the hands and legs of one of the police officers.
The officer who sustained some serious injuries was taken to hospital where he is receiving treatment.
“They attacked him using their weapons. He is being treated at a hospital in Bulawayo, but we cannot reveal where he is receiving treatment,” he said.
Asst Comm Nyathi said police suspect the robbers had inside information.
“These guys had inside information and we want to establish the motive behind the robbery and the attack on the officers. We are therefore leaving no stone unturned in our quest to get to the bottom of this case and apprehend the suspects. The law will definitely take its course,” said Asst Comm Nyathi.
Judicial Service Commission (JSC) spokesperson Ms Rumbidzai Takawira said the Commission had deployed a team from Harare to assess the situation on the ground.
“We have a team that is going there to ascertain what really transpired and we can only have information tomorrow (today),” said Ms Takawira.
A legal expert who declined to be named said an exhibit safe room can contain files or prosecution documents for suspects appearing before the courts.
The expert said even valuables that are confiscated when arresting suspects can be stored in the court’s registry.
“A crime registry can store exhibits which include weapons used by criminals in committing crimes. The exhibits are very vital in the prosecution process and probably these robbers wanted to steal these exhibits or destroy important documents,” said the expert.
In May this year a gang of robbers who were armed with an FN rifle pounced on the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) depot in Bulawayo and threatened to shoot security guards manning the premises if they dared raise an alarm.
They later tied the guards’ hands using a rope.
The robbers got away with a consignment of 148 boxes of Broncleer, a cough mixture which was banned over abuse as a euphoric drug, whose street value is US$20 000.
-State Media
By A Correspondent | The most powerful post coup military politician, only next to the Presidium, former ZANU PF National Commissar, Gen Engelbert Eugeje has spoken for the first time following a gun attack at his Mt Pleasant house on Sunday morning.
He spoke after armed intruders were “repelled” by soldiers and one intruder was shot dead, when they tried to attack his house.
Speaking exclusively to ZimEye Gen Rugeje said, “I wasn’t there.”
He was asked if he knows what happened as well as details of possible injuries, and he said, “get the details from ZRP who attended the scene I wasn’t there.”
He was also asked if he has a clue of who is behind this and what their agenda is, and to this he replied with a long sigh and then said,
“I don’t have a clue when I was not there,”
Asked on his well being, how he feels, Gen Rugeje became non committal with responses.
His phone was hung up soon afterwards.
The development comes as Rugeje, who occupied the party’s most influential position, was rumoured to be next in line for disappearance or a car accident as has happened to many before him.
His immediate predecessor Saviour Kasukuwere fled Zimbabwe after his house was pounced on by skilled snipers.
Since independence 1980, every other political commissar has suffered either an assassination, or a humiliating ouster. The list of victims includes:
Mayor Urimbo,
Maurice Nyagumbo,
Movern Mahachi,
Border Gezi,
Elliot Manyika,
Webster Shamu,
In 2018, Rugeje hinted on a political sabbatical arguing that “people should not be mistaken that jobs are found at ZANU PF HQ”.
Rugeje took over from Saviour Kasukwere who was fired from Zanu Pf in 2017 for being linked to a faction which was coalescing around former first lady Grace Mugabe. The expulsion of the G40 faction resulted in some fissures ahead of the polls with some members of the party forming a new outfit called the National Patriotic Front which was also supported by former president Robert Mugabe.
The former army general was appointed by Mnangagwa at the party’s extra-ordinary congress in Harare before he presided over a chaotic primary election where he received brickbats from senior party members like Christopher Mutsvangwa for causing divisions in the party.
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Rugeje, considered a Chiwenga loyalist, was retired from the army by Mnangagwa.
He was however roundly criticised for pursuing a factional agenda in the party’s chaotic primary elections to select legislative and municipal representatives ahead of the July 30, 2018 general elections.
He was, however, unceremoniously booted out by Mnangagwa soon after the elections and replaced by Gokwe Central MP Victor Matemadanda.
Mnangagwa has, since the 2018 election, been purging army generals believed to be aligned to Chiwenga.
State Media
The skies were overcast the whole day yesterday as if to give people a break from the scorching sun witnessed the previous day.
It was the day of King Mambo’s royal wedding at his homestead in Mawabeni in Umzingwane District. The king was installed last year during a ceremony attended by 80 chiefs drawn from across the country.
Yesterday, people braved the chilly weather and put their best attire for the wedding. Many walked, some cycled while others drove to reach the homestead where two giant white tents were pitched to accommodate guests.
The ceremony started at around 2:40PM. By then enough food had been saved and there was still a lot that remained.
King Mambo born Mike Moyo who is also referred to as Ilitshe Aligiqiki, was ushered to his royal chair set up in the traditional Marquette which resembled a traditional hut decorated with yokes, hoes and shovels.
He was wearing a traditional vest associated with Zulu maskandi artists, a short which matched and brown shoes. Ululations accompanied his entrance as he was accompanied by three chiefs.
That he was happy was clear as he smiled to the crowds lifting his hand as if to bless the multitudes.
His bride, Queen Ndlovukazi, born Priscilla Percy Ndlovu, who is the king’s second wife was ushered inside the homestead accompanied by traditional dancers.
She was wearing a traditional dress with brown colours.
Once she took her place beside the King, the festivities started and various traditional groups and poets took turns to entertain the crowd.
The highlight of the ceremony was when the king and queen took the Jerusalem Challenge dance accompanied by Victory Siyanqoba dance group and they did justice showing that they had thoroughly rehearsed.
“I am over the moon for marrying my second wife uMandlovu. In our Lozwi/Rozvi culture, Kings don’t stop marrying. So, we might be here next year for another wedding,” declared the King in an interview with the media during a short break.
Asked if the queen will accept more wives, King Mambo said: “Once you are married to a king; they are educated about our culture so that they know what they are getting themselves into.”
King Mambo challenged men not to resort to “omakhwapheni” to help fight diseases like HIV.
“I want to encourage all men in the country to stop small houses. If you need another wife our culture allows us to do so. Let us do things that are lawful in our culture as African people. This helps us fight diseases like HIV,” he said.
King Mambo said he is worried about high divorce statistics in the country and said people must observe their culture.
“Families must have family courts to educate and bring peace to partners who are having marital problems to avoid the high numbers of divorce cases we are witnessing. During my ancestor Mambo’s time, women were respected and elders played an important role in building families,”he said.
Umzingwane MP Cde Levy Mayihlome hailed the move by the King and said there is a need for the country to open debate on the monarchy.
“There is no conflict in having a monarchy in a democratic country led by an executive President. Our constitution says we are a unitary state without a monarch but in other countries like South Africa they have many kings not just one.
“The monarchy is in charge of culture and tradition in that set up and it won’t affect a constitutional democracy. I do not see any conflict there. I believe we must have an open dialogue as a country about having monarchs. Our cultures are different. We have many languages and different cultures which must be respected so that we have unity in diversity as a people,” he said.
Chief Malisa of Silobela also said there is need for the country`s constitution to be revisited to address the monarchy debate.
“We want unity, peace and development in the country and it is kings who assist in bringing harmony because kings are apolitical. We know that our constitution at the moment has no room for a king but our ancestors have given us a king.
“The Government is encouraging us to revive our cultures and going forward we need to talk about it. We know that in the past Mambo ruled with Mzilikazi, those are some of the issues we need to talk about,” said Chief Malisa.
Chief Makoni of Rusape in Manicaland said there is need for the country to restore its past traditional set up.
“We want our culture to go back to where it was so that we benefit from the richness of this country. We are here to rebuild Zimbabwe and restore our legacy and once we do that, I believe Zimbabwe will be a prosperous nation,” he said.
In no time King Mambo and queen Ndlovu had changed into royal attires and the festivities continued. The dance floor was lit with people dancing in celebration.
By A Correspondent- The International Criminal Police Organisation (Interpol) refused to cooperate with the government of Zimbabwe in its bid to have Robert Mugabe-era cabinet Ministers arrested and extradited.
Walter Mzembi and former ZANU PF political commissar, Saviour Kasukuwere are facing various criminal charges back home.
According to ZimLive, the Zimbabwean government’s request was dismissed by Interpol after it sought for the arrest and extradition of Kasukuwere.
In a letter to Harare authorities, seen by the publication, Interpol said all requests for placement of an individual on a red notice are forwarded to its Notices and Diffusions Task Force to ensure that they comply with the organisation’s constitution and rules, in particular, Article 3. The Clause makes it clear that:
… it is strictly forbidden for the organisation to undertake any intervention or activities of a political, military or racial character.
Following the government’s request to have Kasukuwere apprehended in May, the organisation wrote that it considered: … the status of the person, the nature of the offence, the general context of the case and the implications for the neutrality of the organisation.
… Given the above and taking into account the neutrality of the organisation, it is considered that the request may engage the organisation in matters, which would bring into question its neutrality according to article 3 of Interpol’s constitution.
As a result, the General Secretariat is not in a position to publish the red notice against Mr Kasukuwere and the information concerning the individual will be deleted from Interpol’s databases.
Besides Mzembi and Kasukuwere, some high profile individuals who served in the Mugabe administration and are now out of the country include Jonathan Moyo, Godfrey Gandawa, Walter Chidhakwa, Mandi Chimene and Patrick Zhuwao, the former police chief Augustine Chihuri and former intelligence chief Happyton Bonyongwe.
They are all considered to have been aligned to the G40 faction which was weakened following former President Mugabe’s “resignation”.
By A Correspondent| Chitungwiza Municipality on Sunday 11 October 2020 resolved to stop the demolition of some residents’ houses after Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) threatened to sue the local authority for violating people’s fundamental rights.
In a letter written on behalf of Chitungwiza Residents Trust (CHITREST) by Paidamoyo Saurombe and Tinashe Chinopfukutwa of ZLHR to the Chamber Secretary at Chitungwiza Municipality, the residents association protested against the local authority’s issuance of a purported Demolition Order on Thursday 8 October 2020, where it identified some places in St Mary’s, Zengeza, Seke and Nyatsime suburbs ordering people occupying houses in these areas to depart from the land, remove property from the land, demolish any structures erected, remove all the rubble from the land and restore the land to its original site by Monday 12 October 2020.
Saurombe and Chinopfukutwa stated that the issuance of a purported Demolition Order by Chitungwiza Municipality is a violation of residents’ basic rights protected under section 74 of the Constitution and which provides that no persons may be evicted from their home or have their home demolished without an order of court made after considering all the relevant circumstances.
Saurombe and Chinopfukutwa gave Chitungwiza Municipality an ultimatum lasting up to 9:AM on Monday 12 October 2020 for the local authority to furnish them with a court order authorising the eviction of people and demolition of their houses or else the human rights lawyers would pursue legal remedies to protect the rights of the residents.
But in response to the letter written by CHITREST, Chitungwiza Municipality on Sunday 11 October 2020 said it had resolved to suspend the demolition exercise hence the demolitions will no longer be effected as per its Demolition Order which it had issued on 8 October 2020.
By A Correspondent- The Zimbabwean government has once again engaged South Africa in a bid to repatriate exiled former cabinet minister Saviour Kasukuwere.
The former Local Government, Public Works and National Housing Minister faces four counts of criminal abuse of duty as a public officer.
The National Prosecuting Authority has since prepared indictment papers and the former ZANU PF political commissar will be tried as soon as he is brought home. Mr Nelson Mutsonziwa, in an affidavit commissioned by chief law officer Mr Chris Mutangadura said:
This request is not being pursued for political reasons or any ulterior purpose. Zimbabwe guarantees that Saviour Kasukuwere will receive a fair trial in terms of the laws of Zimbabwe. The Republic of Zimbabwe also undertakes to render assistance to the Republic of South Africa in any criminal matter,
It is alleged that during his tenure as the local government minister, Kasukuwere corruptly parcelled out over 220 hectares of land in Harare and Masvingo to the sister of former First Lady Grace Mugabe, Shuvai Gumbochuma.
He did so at the expense of eight entities who had been awarded the land by his predecessor Ignatious Chombo.
He is also being accused of having corruptly awarded a tender to a company called Brainworks Capital when he was still the Minister of Youth, Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment.
Last year, the International Criminal Police Organisation (Interpol) rejected Zimbabwe’s request to extradite Kasukuwere on grounds that the case would have implications on the organosation’s neutrality.
Kasukuwere and some view the charges against him as politically motivated.-statemedia
By A Correspondent- The Thokozani Khupe Cancer Foundation has joined the rest of the world in the campaign to increase awareness of Breast Cancer.
Posting on Twitter, MDC-T interim leader, Dr Thokozani Khupe who is the founder of the Foundation urged both men and women to be screened on a regular basis.
She posted:
We are calling on every woman and man to do regular self-examination to help detect any abnormalities. Early detection saves lives.
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, an annual campaign to increase awareness of the disease.Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women worldwide, although incidence rates vary widely across the world.
By A Correspondent- The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education has claimed that over 400 girls from four districts in Manicaland have dropped out of school altogether owing to pregnancy, marriage, financial challenges and illness.
Manicaland provincial education director (PED) Mr Edward Shumba, told The Herald the figure is expected to rise as Mutare, Chimanimani and Nyanga districts are still compiling statistics following the resumption of lessons for examination classes on September 28. He said:
We have so far received statistics from Buhera, Chipinge, Mutasa and Makoni. The other three districts are yet to send the statistics, but we expect the figures to increase.
There are 96 female learners in Buhera who dropped out for marriage and five males. We also have one O’ level student who fell pregnant. Other reasons given for the dropping out are financial challenges, illness with some joining the job market.
Mr Shumba said Buhera district had registered 47 grade seven dropouts, of which 35 were girls and 12 were boys. At O’Level, 90 girls and 49 boys dropped out while one A’ level girl dropped out in the district.
In Chipinge 46 females are said to have been married while Makoni recorded 65 pregnancies and 64 marriages and Mutasa had 40 marriages.
This comes when the government recently amended the Education Act to allow pregnant learners to attend classes in all schools, which would ordinarily mean most of these children are allowed to go back to class.
Paul Nyathi
The MDC Alliance will on Tuesday issue out a statement on its much talked about financial audit.
The routine audit came after some sectors of the media claimed that huge amounts of money were not accounted for in the opposition party.
The Treasurer General of the party, David Coltart quickly dismissed the rumour that the financial audit was a witch-hunt exercise.
The claims were that party president and secretary-general, in that order, Nelson Chamisa and Chalton Hwende diverted party funds into personal use.
Coltart however said that the audit was only meant to enhance accountability and transparency in the party.
“As I have made clear to a variety of journalists in the last few weeks since this false story first emerged I am not aware of any money which has been misappropriated from MDC coffers by any official or party leader,” said Coltart.
“The attempts by some to portray the audit as some kind of investigation into alleged impropriety are misleading and utterly false,” he added.
The audit was agreed to last year and is a routine audit. I should also point out that this is the first time the MDC has conducted an audit of this nature and it is the first time any political party in Zimbabwe has ever subjected itself to an audit.
Daily News
NATIONAL Constitutional Assembly (NCA) president Lovemore Madhuku has challenged political parties and ordinary citizens to call for the removal of a clause in the Constitution providing for the recall of members of Parliament (MPs), saying the recalls affect democratic participation and policy development.
This comes as the MDC has recalled over 30 MPs and 45 councillors following a Supreme Court ruling in April this year which declared Thokozani Khupe the rightful interim leader of the party.
Speaking during an online discussion held recently on the implications of the recalls on policy and service delivery, Madhuku said there was need for the removal of the clause, which provides for the recall of MPs and councillors in order to avoid chaos within political parties at the expense of ordinary citizens.
“The recalls that have happened now are not different from the recalls that happened in the past, there is just a dispute in terms of which party these MPs belong to.
Parliament believes these MPs belong to MDC-T. “It may be wrong or it may be right but that is a matter which is before the courts. I don’t think that the clause should remain.
Fadzai Mahere
“It should be removed from the Constitution. The NCA doesn’t support that. “If Zimbabweans still support that clause it means that they would want a situation where the MPs can be removed,” Madhuku said.
According to Madhuku, Section 129 subsection 1, paragraph K of the Constitution provides for the recall of MPs and councillors if they cease to be a member of the political party they were elected under — which is what is currently being used to recall MDC Alliance members who denounced their membership of the MDC-T party.
Speaking at the same event, MDC Alliance spokesperson Fadzai Mahere said the recalls were political and meant to destroy the MDC Alliance as the country’s “strongest opposition party”.
“The recalls confirm that Zimbabwe is a nation in crisis. We see a dramatisation of the crisis in Zimbabwe and the coordinated attempt to return Zimbabwe to a one-party state.
“The capture of State institutions throughout this recall process is completely brazen. “The question on the mind of
every Zimbabwean is how can MPs be recalled by a political party that did not install them in Parliament?
… This is an attempt to destroy the stronger opposition.
“An opposition with mass popular support that says no on certain terms … that speaks out against the economic and health crises,” Mahere said.
Zanu PF director of information Tafadzwa Mugwadi said it was time for the MDC factions to man up and address their problems without blaming outsiders.
“There is no way that I see Zanu PF involved in what is going on between the two MDC political parties. We are always very clear as Zanu PF that there is no crisis in Zimbabwe. In fact, the crisis is in the MDC and MDC Alliance and other MDCs out there.
“You are failing as a political party. You are failing to organise yourselves and now there is a legitimacy crisis within the MDC.
“We don’t bother ourselves with what happens within the MDC or Harvest House. “What is on our table is to ensure that we transform our manifesto of 2018 into reality to ensure that we achieve Vision 2030, to ensure we
stabilise the currency and to bring sanity in the mobile money sector, to prepare for the next farming season through farming modernisation and mechanisation,” Mugwadi said.
Meanwhile, MDC secretarygeneral Douglas Mwonzora said the recall of MPs and councillors from Parliament was based on the need to eliminate those who had denounced the party, those who were corrupt and those who engaged in acts of violence.
“We did not recall people because they did not pledge allegiance to us. “I’m sure you are talking about the affidavits that MPs were made to sign.
“They were not made to sign those affidavits by us. “They were made to sign them by the party that Nelson Chamisa
heads.
“These were created by their lawyers, including Tendai Biti and Charlton Hwende where they specifically said they no longer belonged to the MDC and some of the MPS who were recalled in court documents specifically said that
they were no longer members of our party.
“Once they pledged that they were no longer members of the MDC-T they were bound by word and deed and so the recalls were made,” Mwonzora said.
Paul Nyathi
The High Court will today sit to hear an urgent application filed on Friday by a member of the MDC-T against acting leader Thokozani Khupe.
The members wants the courts to stop Khupe from blocking other 2014 Congress members from attending the Congress.
State Media
GOVERNMENT is crafting a policy that will guide the exhumation and reburial of Gukurahundi victims as it implements measures aimed at national healing.
The Ministry of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage on its part is leading the crafting of the exhumation and reburials policy.
The National Peace and Reconciliation Commission (NPRC) is also part of the stakeholders crafting the policy.
NPRC chairperson Retired Justice Selo Nare on Friday said while Covid-19 has disrupted their plans, the commission has slowly started rolling out its programmes aimed at addressing the Gukurahundi issue.
He said the exhumation and reburials of Gukurahundi victims remains top of the NPRC agenda.
Rtd Justice Nare commended Government for working on a policy that would guide the process. “At the moment the policy is being worked on and several stakeholders including the NPRC are involved. It is being spearheaded by the Ministry of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage. The exhumation and reburial policy that exists only covered episodes that happened up to 1979 but the new policy is holistic as it covers events that occurred after 1980,” said Rtd Justice Nare.
He said once the policy is out and approved by Government, the process of exhumations and reburials will then follow guided by the policy.
“This will see some of the people who were improperly buried being reburied according to their norms and culture,” he said.
Rtd Justice Nare said Zimbabwe needs a healing process as a lot of people are hurt as a result of some unresolved conflicts.
He said before conducting public hearings, the commission needs to counsel victims affected by various conflicts, including Gukurahundi.
Rtd Jutice Nare said counselling enables some victims to openly speak about hurtful things, which is very vital in the healing and reconciliation process.
“If you take into consideration the conflicts that have occurred in the past, you’ll realise that people have been boiling but they have not had an opportunity to open up.
“This is an opportunity for people to open up on something that they were not discussing from the 1980s.
“We know that some people are going to break down hence offering of psychological social support is important in order to encourage people to open up,” he said.
Rtd Justice Nare said NPRC will continue offering psycho-social support to victims as long as there is need for such a service.
Asked if it was not too late for counselling, Rtd Justice Nare said:
“That sort of thing is continuous, it’s not too late as it were. I think there is time when people need to be counselled, remember when there was this agreement (Unity Accord) between the Presidency in the 1987, the grassroots had not been involved, it was the top hierarchy. It’s the grassroots that must be involved, it’s the grassroots that need to be looked into.”
The High Court in Bulawayo recently dismissed an application by a pressure group, Ibhetshu Likazulu and alleged Gukurahundi survivor Charles Thomas to block exhumation and reburials of Gukurahundi victims.
The applicants had rushed to the courts claiming that President Mnangagwa, Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Minister Kazembe Kazembe and Ms Jenny Williams of Matabeleland Collective wanted Government to illegally exhume and rebury Gukurahundi victims.
Justice Martin Makonese threw out the applicants’ case for being presumptuous and premature as there was no evidence that Government wanted to rush exhumations and reburials of Gukurahundi victims.
THE United States of America (USA) has reiterated its desire to see President Emmerson Mnangagwa and his government succeed in improving the lives of long-suffering Zimbabweans.
Speaking to the Daily News On Sunday in an exclusive interview this week, USA ambassador to Zimbabwe Brian Nichols said Washington remained ready to assist Zimbabwe – as long as Mnangagwa and the government fulfilled the promises that were made after the dramatic fall from power of the late former president Robert Mugabe in November 2017.
This comes as Mnangagwa himself has said that he is keen to mend Zimbabwe’s frosty relations of the past two decades with western countries and the USA.
Nichols said Washington wanted to see a prosperous Zimbabwe, contrary to the views held by some Zanu-PF supporters.
“The United States shares the desires of the people of Zimbabwe who want to see a peaceful, democratic and prosperous Zimbabwe that provides for its people and contributes to regional stability.
“To realise these goals, we strongly believe it is important that government and non-governmental entities alike promote our shared values and work in areas of common concern.
“Whenever we may differ on the best means of achieving these goals, we will seek to engage in a dialogue that is respectful and that seeks to uphold the universal values and rights that Zimbabweans fought so hard to gain 40 years ago,” Nichols told the Daily News On Sunday.
However, he also said the USA government was keen to see Mnangagwa fulfilling the promises he made when he replaced Mugabe.
“This government campaigned on a platform of reform. Zimbabwe’s constitution enshrines many fundamental freedoms.
“The government of Zimbabwe should enact and implement its promised political and economic reforms.
“In 2018, the government committed to implementing the recommendations of the Motlanthe Commission,” Nichols further told the Daily News On Sunday.
“As we have stated before, our engagement will depend on the government’s implementation of those reforms, consistent with international standards.
“The Zimbabwe Democracy and Economic Recovery Amendment Act (ZDERA) of 2018 outlines the steps Zimbabwe needs to take to gain the support of the United States government for new lending through international financial institutions.
“The key conditions the United States require Zimbabwe to satisfy remain the same – the restoration of the rule of law, free and fair elections, equitable, legal and transparent land reform … military and national police subordinate to a civilian-led government.
“If Zimbabwe were to fully align its laws to the 2013 Constitution and follow through on President Mnangagwa’s own promises of reform, it would meet these requirements,” Nichols further told the Daily News On Sunday.
“In his meetings with the president (Mnangagwa) and Foreign Affairs minister (Sibusiso Moyo), assistant secretary Tibor Nagy emphasised the importance of implementing promised economic and political reforms to restore Zimbabwe’s international reputation, rebuild the economy and give voice to all Zimbabweans.
“Both President Mnangagwa and Minister Moyo have indicated Zimbabwe’s commitment to these reforms, including holding security forces accountable for violent incidents in 2018 and 2019.
“The Global Compensation Deed Agreement represents an important step forward in resolving Zimbabwe’s land tenure and agriculture problems. However, we will need to see its implementation before we can evaluate it fully,” Nichols added.
This comes as Mnangagwa and his administration have been accused of blowing away the international goodwill which followed the fall of Mugabe from power in November 2017, via a stunning and widely-supported military coup.
Despite making a number of promises, including carrying out broad-based economic and political reforms, Mnangagwa stands accused of failing to fulfil most of them.
However, his government has been credited with expunging some repressive laws from the statute books that were routinely used by Mugabe’s regime to punish political opponents and independent media like the Daily News.
Among the laws that have been scrapped are the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act (AIPPA) and the Public Order and Security Act (Posa).
In addition, Mnangagawa has been praised for trying to end years of chaos in the agricultural sector by restoring farming rights that were taken away during Mugabe’s ruinous reign.
In this regard, the government recently signed a US$3,5 billion Global Compensation Agreement with white former commercial farmers, while also announcing that all farmers who lost their land protected by Bilateral Investment Protection and Promotion Agreements (BIPPAs) would either be compensated or have their land titles restored.
However, Nichols told the Daily News On Sunday that while this was encouraging, Mnangagwa needed to fulfil his promises and put Zimbabwe back on the path to success – as the country had “everything needed to succeed”.
“Zimbabwe has tremendous economic potential. First, it has well educated people. There are so many impressive Zimbabweans in this country, and when you add the Diaspora around the world, you see Zimbabweans at the best universities and at the top of businesses around the world.
“That’s an enormous resource others don’t have. Second, the extractive industries and mineral resources here are vast. The country also has world-class tourist attractions like Victoria Falls and Great Zimbabwe.
“This country was once an agricultural powerhouse, saving southern Africa from a tremendous drought 21 years ago. It can do so again, with the right policies,” Nichols further told the Daily News On Sunday.
“We will continue to press the Government of Zimbabwe to implement the necessary political and economic reforms to provide Zimbabwean citizens with the prosperity, security and well-being they deserve.
“However, the United States cannot build Zimbabwe, only Zimbabweans can do that. United States support will be available where appropriate, when Zimbabwean leaders request it,” Nichols added.
Washington has previously affirmed that it is ready to assist Zimbabwe if authorities implement sweeping reforms.
In the run-up to the historic 2018 national elections, Washington signalled its intent to end nearly two decades of frosty relations between the US and Zimbabwe, when it sent a powerful delegation to Harare to engage with Mnangagwa.
Relations between Zimbabwe and the West have been icy since the country embarked on chaotic and widely-criticised land reforms, which saw many commercial farmers losing their land at the height of Mugabe’s ruinous rule.
The move proved disastrous for the country and its long-suffering citizens, as this resulted in Zimbabwe’s isolation from the rest of the international community, while also destroying the critical agricultural sector.
It also saw Zimbabwe’s credit lines and trade facilities being blocked following the imposition of sanctions on the country – amid widespread criticism of Harare’s human rights record.
This subsequently resulted in Zimbabwe hitting rock bottom economically a decade ago, which left most citizens dirt poor and living on less than a dollar a day – with many companies closing down and investors pulling out.
Source – dailynews
Zanu PF has nominated Eleven Kambizi to replace the late national hero, Perrance Shiri as Senator for Mashonaland Central.
This was published by the chairperson of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission, Justice Priscilla Chigumba under General Notice 2558A in an extraordinary Government Gazette published last Tuesday.
Kambizi was appointed in terms of the Electoral Act.
“It is hereby notified, in terms of section 39(7) (a) of the Electoral Act (Chapter 2:13), that Eleven Kambizi, a registered voter in Ward 10 Guruve, who was nominated by Zimbabwe African National Union Front (ZANU PF) party to fill the vacancy in the Senate that occurred following the death of Honourable Senator Air Chief Marshall Perrance Shiri has been appointed as a Senator with effect from the date of publication of this notice,” Justice Chigumba said.
Shiri, who was also the Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Water and Rural Resettlement Minister, died on July 29 and was buried at the National Heroes Acre.
He also served as the leader of Government business in Senate, a position that has been filled by Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister, Monica Mutsvangwa.
Zimbabwe Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC) coronavirus situation report as of 11 October 2020:
State Media
SOUTH AFRICA-based Warriors forward Kuda Mahachi has become the first Zimbabwean footballer to test positive for the novel coronavirus.
Mahachi had the tests on Thursday after receiving a late call from the Warriors technical team ahead of the team’s departure for the international friendly match against Malawi at the weekend.
No official communication had been sent out by the weekend, but The Herald sources claimed the diminutive midfielder was notified of his status and urged to follow the protocols.
Mahachi was supposed to travel together with left-back Divine Lunga after the Warriors coach Zdravko Logarusic had called for more reinforcements following the unavailability of several foreign-based players that he had called in the initial squad.
Zambian-based trio of Denis Dauda, Tafadzwa Rusike and Evans Katema also got the invitation at the 11th hour and arrived on time before Saturday’s departure for Malawi aboard a chartered flight.
But Mahachi could not be cleared to board the plane in South Africa after failing to satisfy the Covid-19 protocols.
“It hasn’t been officially communicated yet, but I can confirm that Kuda was supposed to be with the team in Malawi.
“He was actually looking forward to playing for Zimbabwe again in this international friendly but he was not able to leave South Africa because of his Covid-19 results,” said the source.
Mahachi was expected to begin his mandatory quarantine and will now miss the opening round of the South Africa DStv Premiership which begins later this month.
The laboratory report obtained by our sister paper, The Chronicle, stated that Mahachi immediately went into quarantine.
“A positive test result for Covid-19 indicates that RNA from Sars-CoV-2 was detected in the sample. The patient is considered to be infected and is presumed to be contagious. Individuals diagnosed with Covid-19 not requiring hospitalisation must self-isolate.
“After a 10-day period of home isolation, a symptomatic people are regarded as no longer infectious. Provided a person’s fever has resolved and their symptoms have improved, those with mild disease may de-isolate 14 days after symptoms onset, while those with severe disease may de-isolate 14 days after achieving clinical stability.
“A follow-up test is not required as remnant RNA can be detected for up to six weeks after clinical recovery,” read the player’s laboratory report.
Mahachi is not the first player at Supersport to contract the disease. The club reported five other cases during the preparations for restart of the previous season, which was disrupted by the outbreak of the disease.
SuperSport are home to Zimbabweans George Chigova, Evans Rusike, Onismor Bhasera and coach Kaitano Tembo.
Mahachi’s positive result comes in the wake of some reckless behaviour by some Warriors players last week. England-based midfielder Marvelous Nakamba had a video circulated with socialite Genius Kadungure all over him. Nakamba arrived in Zimbabwe and was seen mixing and mingling with the socialite without wearing a mask with Kadungure hinting about going to a party afterwards.
Elsewhere, Italian Serie A giants Inter Milan have confirmed winger Ashley Young has tested positive for coronavirus.
The Serie A side confirmed the former Manchester United star is already in quarantine following COVID-19 tests carried out on Saturday at the club’s Appiano Gentile training ground.
Young has played a part in all three Italian top-flight games so far this season for Antonio Conte’s men and becomes the sixth player from the club to have contracted the virus in recent weeks. There is now growing fear in Italy that the derby with AC Milan — that is scheduled for Saturday — may now not be played.
Conte’s men are also scheduled to begin their Champions League campaign against Bundesliga outfit Borussia Monchengladbach next week on Wednesday.
Young’s team-mate Alessandro Bastoni tested positive for Covid-19 earlier in the week amid growing fear of rising cases in Serie A.
Bastoni was then joined by Milan Skriniar — a target for Tottenham in the summer transfer window — after the Slovakian Football Association confirmed his positive test on the eve of their victory on penalties against the Republic of Ireland in their Euro 2020 play-off semi-final on Thursday.
A day later, the club confirmed Belgium midfielder Radja Nainggolan, goalkeeper Ionut Radu and Italy midfielder Roberto Gagliardini had also contracted coronavirus. And should the Milan derby not go ahead it will cause further chaos to a league that is already dealing with cancelled matches. Juventus’ game against rivals Napoli did not go ahead after Gennaro Gattuso’s men were prevented from travelling to Turin after first-team members Elif Elmas and Piotr Zielinski tested positive.
BBC
I had been expecting trouble – so when eight men, some with AK-47s, arrived at my gate in an unmarked vehicle on the morning of 20 July, I was not surprised.
One warning had come about seven weeks earlier, when the spokesman for the ruling party had called me “unscrupulous” and accused me of tarnishing the name of the president’s family.
This was after I’d publicised a Covid-19 procurement scandal involving multi-million dollar contracts awarded to buy supplies at inflated prices – the health minister was then sacked and is facing charges over the allegations.
When the state agents asked me to come out of my house, I asked to see their warrant of arrest but they didn’t show me one.
Instead they hit my dining room glass door with a gun, and walked through to my bedroom where I was waiting for them with my phone, live-streaming their entrance.
I was dragged out of my bedroom barefoot, and asked to use the same entrance where the broken glass lay strewn.
That was the beginning of my 45-day nightmare.
I was not alone, I had been arrested on that same chilly day with Jacob Ngarivhume, a political activist who had called for a peaceful protest against corruption.
We were both charged with inciting violence as I had endorsed his march as the Zimbabwean constitution allows citizens to protest peacefully – something that President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government often thwarts.
Whilst at Harare Central Remand Prison, we received a visit from Zimbabwe’s main opposition leader, Nelson Chamisa, which we were told upset the president’s office.
Dermatitis and diarrhoea
So the next day, we were bundled into a truck and sent to the notorious Chikurubi Maximum Security Prison, where the convicted criminals are kept in leg irons and handcuffs if they move from their cell section.
The jail has a capacity for 1,360 prisoners, yet it had more than 2,600.
I shared a cell, meant to house 16 inmates, with 44 other prisoners. There was no space to turn whilst sleeping, and this is in the middle of a Covid-19 pandemic.
The prisoners had no masks at all, and there was no running water or soap in the cells, where we were locked up for 17 hours a day.
With only one light bulb, it was impossible to read.
During the day we were in a courtyard, where 500 inmates shared only two toilets. Again there was no running water.
Many of the convicts suffered with pellagra because of the poor diet – symptoms include dermatitis and diarrhoea.
There was maize porridge for breakfast, maize meal with boiled beans for lunch – served at 10 in the morning – supper was again badly cooked maize meal with boiled cabbage.
‘I teared up’
I fell ill in the last week of August with a terrible fever – the prison hospital didn’t even have a paracetamol to help relieve the pain.
When my doctor came to the prison, the hospital didn’t have a blood pressure machine for him to use.
Most of the prisoners have turned to religion – and it was difficult to get any sleep because of their loud praying, it is their only source of hope.
Some of them are there for crimes they have committed, there are also those inside for their political activism, some convicted despite no evidence.
I protested to the warders about the conditions – we got three more light bulbs, and some masks – some prisoners were given coronavirus tests.
My cell mates were grateful. After I was granted bail on 2 September, I teared up when a couple of them turned to me before I left and said: “Please don’t forget about us.”
I felt my fight against corruption was vindicated.
I had been writing about the alleged looting of public funds and at Chikurubi I had seen how an institution had been starved of investment.
My ordeal is also a reflection of the difficulties faced by investigative journalists in Zimbabwe.
Three years since Robert Mugabe was ousted, abductions of perceived critics of the authorities have become more common.
That is not to say there was no intimidation under Mugabe, but I was still able to report on stories without arrest, including an award-winning documentary about the 2008 post-poll violence.
At the time I was taken into custody a government spokesman said no profession was above the law, yet I feel the intention of my arrest was to instil fear in journalists – and it seems to be succeeding.
Recently I met a few young journalists who said they had important information they were sitting on. Their reason for failing to report it? “We are too afraid,” they said.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s goverment says it is eagerly awaiting response from South Africa and Kenya following a request to have former Cabinet Ministers, Saviour Kasukuwere, Walter Mzembi and Professor Jonathan Moyo, extradited for trial on theft and fraud charges.
Mzembi allegedly skipped bail while on remand on charges of criminal abuse of duty and theft of trust funds involving US$847 000.
Mzembi allegedly committed the offences when he was Minister of Tourism and Hospitality Industry and was spearheading Zimbabwe’s co-hosting of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation Conference in August 2013.
He is believed to be staying in South Africa since he skipped bail on the criminal charges some two years ago.
Kenya is also expected to respond to Zimbabwe’s request for the extradition of former Minister Jonathan Moyo, who is accused of diverting US$244 575 from the Zimbabwe Manpower Development Fund.
South Africa has been asked to extradite former Cabinet minister Saviour Kasukuwere to Zimbabwe to answer to four counts of criminal abuse of duty as a public officer.
The first three counts arise from the time when Kasukuwere was Local Government, Public Works and National Housing Minister and allegedly corruptly parcelled out over 220 hectares of land in Harare and Masvingo to the sister of former First Lady Grace Mugabe, Shuvai Gumbochuma.
The other count dates back to when as Minister of Youth, Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment, he allegedly and corruptly awarded a tender to a company called Brainworks Capital.
Brainworks was granted a tender to perform brokerage services to the Ministry of Youth Development, Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment without following laid down procedures.
The Government, through the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), is seeking the assistance of the South African authorities to bring Kasukuwere to a Zimbabwean court for trial.
Indictment papers have since been prepared and Kasukuwere will be tried as soon as he is brought home.
Mr Nelson Mutsonziwa, in an affidavit commissioned by chief law officer Mr Chris Mutangadura, assured the South African government that the criminal charges preferred against Kasukuwere were not political and that he should simply be brought to court within a reasonable time for justice to prevail.
“This request is not being pursued for political reasons or any ulterior purpose. Zimbabwe guarantees that Saviour Kasukuwere will receive a fair trial in terms of the laws of Zimbabwe. The Republic of Zimbabwe also undertakes to render assistance to the Republic of South Africa in any criminal matter,” reads part of the request.
While there is no formal extradition agreement between South Africa and Zimbabwe, the NPA premised its request on the Extradition (Designated Countries) Order of 1990 which designated South Africa as one of the nations to which the Government can seek legal mutual assistance in extradition cases.
Kasukuwere is being accused of showing favour to the former President’s sister-in-law by withdrawing letters offering 150ha of land to eight developers and giving it to Mrs Gumbochuma’s unregistered company called Rodonior (Pvt) Ltd and seven others.
The eight entities had been allocated the land by Kasukuwere’s predecessor in the Ministry of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing, Dr Ignatius Chombo, but Kasukuwere withdrew the offer saying he now wanted to use the land for “other pressing issues”.
The eight entities are: Vanorima Investments, Delatfin Investments, Release Power, Bildos Investments, Prophetic Healing Deliverance (PHD), Waiway Investments, Amadulu Construction and China Jianti.
Land use was never changed, but all the land was then given to seven other companies, including Mrs Gumbochuma’s Rodonior Pvt Ltd.
State Media
EIGHT armed robbers raided the Bulawayo High Court at the weekend and gained entry into the court’s criminal registry after attacking and disarming police officers manning the premises.
The incident occurred at about 4AM and the suspects were reportedly armed with pistols.
They left two police officers injured as they forced their way into the court building and finally the criminal registry.
One of the officers is admitted to a Bulawayo hospital while the other one did not sustain serious injuries but the robbers tied his hands and legs before they left.
The robbers are said to have used a grinder as they tried to break the registry safe.
National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the robbery.
“We are investigating an armed robbery case which occurred at the Bulawayo High Court yesterday morning at 4AM. It is said about eight suspects went to the court and attacked two officers who were on duty and these suspects were armed with pistols.
“After attacking them, they blindfolded one of the officers. They then tried to force open the court’s main safe to the criminal registry’s office using a key. After failing, they tried again to use a grinder and, in the process, it is alleged that they were making phone calls,” said Asst Comm Nyathi.
He said after failing in their attempts, they tied the hands and legs of one of the police officers.
The officer who sustained some serious injuries was taken to hospital where he is receiving treatment.
“They attacked him using their weapons. He is being treated at a hospital in Bulawayo, but we cannot reveal where he is receiving treatment,” he said.
Asst Comm Nyathi said police suspect the robbers had inside information.
“These guys had inside information and we want to establish the motive behind the robbery and the attack on the officers. We are therefore leaving no stone unturned in our quest to get to the bottom of this case and apprehend the suspects. The law will definitely take its course,” said Asst Comm Nyathi.
Judicial Service Commission (JSC) spokesperson Ms Rumbidzai Takawira said the Commission had deployed a team from Harare to assess the situation on the ground.
“We have a team that is going there to ascertain what really transpired and we can only have information tomorrow (today),” said Ms Takawira.
A legal expert who declined to be named said an exhibit safe room can contain files or prosecution documents for suspects appearing before the courts.
The expert said even valuables that are confiscated when arresting suspects can be stored in the court’s registry.
“A crime registry can store exhibits which include weapons used by criminals in committing crimes. The exhibits are very vital in the prosecution process and probably these robbers wanted to steal these exhibits or destroy important documents,” said the expert.
Paul Nyathi
Seven heavily armed man broke into the Mount Pleasant home of former Zanu PF national Commissar, Lieutenant General Engelbert Rugeje (Rtd), resulting in a heavy gun exchange which ended with one of the man shot dead.
The incident which happened in the early hours of Sunday morning has been downplayed by the police who have claimed that it was just a federal robbery incident.
“These were purely criminals. There was an exchange of gunfire that left one person dead at Lt-General Engelbert Rugeje’s (Rtd) residence in Mt Pleasant, Harare, involving security personnel and seven suspected criminals in the morning,” National police spokesperson, Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi, said.
“More information will be released soon as police are still carrying out investigations,” said Asst Comm Nyathi.
Asst Comm Nyathi said it seemed the criminals did not know who stayed at the house and also took advantage of the darkness since there was no electricity in the area for some hours.
Speaking exclusively to ZimEye Gen Rugeje said, “I wasn’t there.”
He was asked if he knows what happened as well as details of possible injuries, and he said, “get the details from ZRP who attended the scene I wasn’t there.”
He was also asked if he has a clue of who is behind this and what their agenda is, and to this he replied with a long sigh and then said,
“I don’t have a clue when I was not there,”
Asked on his well being, how he feels, Gen Rugeje became non committal with responses.
His phone was hung up soon afterwards.
The development comes as Rugeje, who occupied the party’s most influential position, was rumoured to be next in line for disappearance or a car accident as has happened to many before him.
His immediate predecessor Saviour Kasukuwere fled Zimbabwe after his house was pounced on by skilled snipers.
Since independence 1980, every other political commissar has suffered either an assassination, or a humiliating ouster. The list of victims includes:
Mayor Urimbo,
Maurice Nyagumbo,
Movern Mahachi,
Border Gezi,
Elliot Manyika,
Webster Shamu,
In 2018, Rugeje hinted on a political sabbatical arguing that “people should not be mistaken that jobs are found at ZANU PF HQ”.
Rugeje took over from Saviour Kasukwere who was fired from Zanu Pf in 2017 for being linked to a faction which was coalescing around former first lady Grace Mugabe. The expulsion of the G40 faction resulted in some fissures ahead of the polls with some members of the party forming a new outfit called the National Patriotic Front which was also supported by former president Robert Mugabe.
The former army general was appointed by Mnangagwa at the party’s extra-ordinary congress in Harare before he presided over a chaotic primary election where he received brickbats from senior party members like Christopher Mutsvangwa for causing divisions in the party.
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Joint Teachers Unions’ Statement On Mnangagwa’s Threat Against Striking Teachers
11 October 2020
▪️ Now that we are about to reach the Armageddon of our incapacitation struggle as witnessed by more teachers joining the action and schools being deserted;
▪️ Worried that His Excellency, President E. D. Mnangagwa made remarks threatening teachers on industrial action before seeking engagement and remaining indifferent to the plight of the teachers;
▪️ Observing that the $600 million meant for Covid-19 purposes did not filter into the schools as evidenced by acute shortage of PPEs and other Covid-19 abatement items in most of the schools;
▪️ Aware that Government is still acting in denial about the situation in our schools as evidenced by their threats to fire teachers or cease their salaries and pretending that the school system is functioning normally;
▪️ Shocked by some acts of ‘benevolence’ in the form of food handouts by some misguided elements who want to hijack the teachers’ incapacitation for personal aggrandizement.
Therefore, we, the undersigned teachers’ representatives, do hereby reiterate that:
▪️ No amount of force or threat can capacitate teachers who have all tested positive to poverty. The employer should swallow her pride and do the right thing.
▪️ The nation should know that teachers in all public schools are not at work because the government has failed them and will not succumb to any threats. Where there are incidents of teaching taking place, it is just cosmetic.
▪️ Teachers are not for charity but professionals who are only crying for dignified treatment, reasonable salaries and befitting conditions of service.
▪️ It is only through meaningful engagement, improved salaries, eradication of discrimination among government workers, assurance of health and safety of teachers and pupils during this Covid-19 period, and harmonisation of labour laws that teachers’ return to schools can be guaranteed. Once government brings a meaningful offer, teachers are ready to report for duty thereafter.
▪️ We, as teachers, want a separate collective bargaining board where we can then articulate the education specific issues unlike the current scenario where the education sector is bundled up with everyone else.
▪️ Teachers should remain resolute and focused on our demands. All pusillanimous tendencies should be a thing of the past going forward. Teachers should encourage those who are still reporting for duty to join others in showing government that we deserve better.
▪️ Teachers are not against parents and students. In actual fact, what teachers are simply saying is that it is very dangerous to entrust the future on learners in the hands of a frustrated, poorly remunerated and stressed teachers. Once the impasse is resolved, teachers will do everything possible to help their learners.
▪️ President E. D. Mnangagwa should not ignore the plight of teachers. We don’t want to believe that he would want to be remembered for destroying the education system of this country.
Jointly signed by
ARTUZ – Chere R. (0775643192)
PTUZ -Zunde L. (0772198868)
TUZ – Phiri R. (0772680952)
ZDTU – Tasaranarwo F. (0773816324)
ZIMTA – Sibanda N. T. (0772803254)
ZINATU – Nyawo M. (0774013500)
ZINEU – Chinosengwa C. (0715815347)
ZRTU – Fambai F. (0775226380)
….
If Dr Stop-It Had Stopped Mnangagwa, Chiwenga | ZIMBABWE WOULD BE WORSE or BETTER?
— ZimEye (@ZimEye) October 11, 2020
Joint Teachers Unions’ Statement On Mnangagwa’s Threat Against Striking Teachers
11 October 2020
▪️ Now that we are about to reach the Armageddon of our incapacitation struggle as witnessed by more teachers joining the action and schools being deserted;
▪️ Worried that His Excellency, President E. D. Mnangagwa made remarks threatening teachers on industrial action before seeking engagement and remaining indifferent to the plight of the teachers;
▪️ Observing that the $600 million meant for Covid-19 purposes did not filter into the schools as evidenced by acute shortage of PPEs and other Covid-19 abatement items in most of the schools;
▪️ Aware that Government is still acting in denial about the situation in our schools as evidenced by their threats to fire teachers or cease their salaries and pretending that the school system is functioning normally;
▪️ Shocked by some acts of ‘benevolence’ in the form of food handouts by some misguided elements who want to hijack the teachers’ incapacitation for personal aggrandizement.
Therefore, we, the undersigned teachers’ representatives, do hereby reiterate that:
▪️ No amount of force or threat can capacitate teachers who have all tested positive to poverty. The employer should swallow her pride and do the right thing.
▪️ The nation should know that teachers in all public schools are not at work because the government has failed them and will not succumb to any threats. Where there are incidents of teaching taking place, it is just cosmetic.
▪️ Teachers are not for charity but professionals who are only crying for dignified treatment, reasonable salaries and befitting conditions of service.
▪️ It is only through meaningful engagement, improved salaries, eradication of discrimination among government workers, assurance of health and safety of teachers and pupils during this Covid-19 period, and harmonisation of labour laws that teachers’ return to schools can be guaranteed. Once government brings a meaningful offer, teachers are ready to report for duty thereafter.
▪️ We, as teachers, want a separate collective bargaining board where we can then articulate the education specific issues unlike the current scenario where the education sector is bundled up with everyone else.
▪️ Teachers should remain resolute and focused on our demands. All pusillanimous tendencies should be a thing of the past going forward. Teachers should encourage those who are still reporting for duty to join others in showing government that we deserve better.
▪️ Teachers are not against parents and students. In actual fact, what teachers are simply saying is that it is very dangerous to entrust the future on learners in the hands of a frustrated, poorly remunerated and stressed teachers. Once the impasse is resolved, teachers will do everything possible to help their learners.
▪️ President E. D. Mnangagwa should not ignore the plight of teachers. We don’t want to believe that he would want to be remembered for destroying the education system of this country.
Jointly signed by
ARTUZ – Chere R. (0775643192)
PTUZ -Zunde L. (0772198868)
TUZ – Phiri R. (0772680952)
ZDTU – Tasaranarwo F. (0773816324)
ZIMTA – Sibanda N. T. (0772803254)
ZINATU – Nyawo M. (0774013500)
ZINEU – Chinosengwa C. (0715815347)
ZRTU – Fambai F. (0775226380)
THE MDC ALLIANCE ASSEMBLY OF WOMEN CELEBRATES THE INTERNATIONAL DAY OF THE GIRL CHILD
Today the 11th of October, we join hands with our girls in celebrating the International Day of the Girl Child under the theme “My voice, our equal future” It is on this day when girls are helped to realise their dreams by supporting them and listening to them.
Today we mourn the collapse of the education sector in Zimbabwe where teachers are on strike and our children are not going to school. We all know that education is the key to success and as mothers and leaders in the society we can only help our girls realise their dreams by giving them their right to education. How then can this be possible when schools are not open? The pictures and audios that are going viral about what the boys and girls are doing in schools alone without teachers is really a cause for concern. We urge the government to fix the incapacitation of our teachers by engaging them and rewarding them a living wage.
This year’s theme focuses on inclusion, gender equality and listening to what the girls want, their dreams and aspirations. There is need to involve girls in all spheres of life and all developmental issues so that we do not experience the gender parities that are being experienced by women at the moment. We can not talk of gender equality without including our girls. It is therefore imperative as AOW to work hand in hand with the girl child so that we achieve gender equality together.
On this International Day of the Girl Child let us all remember that the girls are the new leaders of our time. The future is young and its female.
We wish all our girls in the Youth Assembly, in our homes and the world over a happy International Day of the Girl Child. As MDC Alliance, we shall continue to fight for a people’s government that will recognise and honour the girl child and making them realise their dreams in full.
B Tanyanyiwa
Spokesperson – MDC A Assembly of Women
State Media-South Africa has been asked to extradite former Cabinet minister Saviour Kasukuwere to Zimbabwe to answer to four counts of criminal abuse of duty as a public officer.
The first three counts arise from the time when Kasukuwere was Local Government, Public Works and National Housing Minister and allegedly corruptly parcelled out over 220 hectares of land in Harare and Masvingo to the sister of former First Lady Grace Mugabe, Shuvai Gumbochuma.
The other count dates back to when as Minister of Youth, Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment, he allegedly and corruptly awarded a tender to a company called Brainworks Capital.
Brainworks was granted a tender to perform brokerage services to the Ministry of Youth Development, Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment without following laid down procedures.
The Government, through the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), is seeking the assistance of the South African authorities to bring Kasukuwere to a Zimbabwean court for trial.
Indictment papers have since been prepared and Kasukuwere will be tried as soon as he is brought home.
Mr Nelson Mutsonziwa, in an affidavit commissioned by chief law officer Mr Chris Mutangadura, assured the South African government that the criminal charges preferred against Kasukuwere were not political and that he should simply be brought to court within a reasonable time for justice to prevail.
“This request is not being pursued for political reasons or any ulterior purpose. Zimbabwe guarantees that Saviour Kasukuwere will receive a fair trial in terms of the laws of Zimbabwe. The Republic of Zimbabwe also undertakes to render assistance to the Republic of South Africa in any criminal matter,” reads part of the request.
While there is no formal extradition agreement between South Africa and Zimbabwe, the NPA premised its request on the Extradition (Designated Countries) Order of 1990 which designated South Africa as one of the nations to which the Government can seek legal mutual assistance in extradition cases.
Kasukuwere is being accused of showing favour to the former President’s sister-in-law by withdrawing letters offering 150ha of land to eight developers and giving it to Mrs Gumbochuma’s unregistered company called Rodonior (Pvt) Ltd and seven others
The eight entities had been allocated the land by Kasukuwere’s predecessor in the Ministry of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing, Dr Ignatius Chombo, but Kasukuwere withdrew the offer saying he now wanted to use the land for “other pressing issues”.
The eight entities are: Vanorima Investments, Delatfin Investments, Release Power, Bildos Investments, Prophetic Healing Deliverance (PHD), Waiway Investments, Amadulu Construction and China Jianti.
Land use was never changed, but all the land was then given to seven other companies, including Mrs Gumbochuma’s Rodonior Pvt Ltd.
Meanwhile, Government is awaiting response from South Africa following a request to have another former Cabinet Minister, Walter Mzembi, extradited for trial on theft and fraud charges.
Mzembi skipped bail while on remand on charges of criminal abuse of duty and theft of trust funds involving US$847 000.
Mzembi allegedly committed the offences when he was Minister of Tourism and Hospitality Industry and was spearheading Zimbabwe’s co-hosting of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation Conference in August 2013.
He is believed to be staying in South Africa since he skipped bail on the criminal charges some two years ago.
Kenya is also expected to respond to Zimbabwe’s request for the extradition of former Minister Jonathan Moyo, who is accused of diverting US$244 575 from the Zimbabwe Manpower Development Fund. -Herald
A 24-YEAR-OLD West Nicholson man has been jailed nine months for having sexual intercourse with his 15-year-old girlfriend.
Melusi Tshuma of Artherstone area in West Nicholson was convicted on his own plea of guilty to having sexual intercourse with a young person by Gwanda magistrate, Miss Lerato Nyathi.
He was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment and three months were suspended on condition that he does not commit a similar offence within the next five years.
Prosecuting, Miss Ethel Mahachi said Tshuma had sexual intercourse with the complainant who cannot be named for ethical reasons.
Tshuma had sex with the girl from June to August 20 this year. The matter came to light after a neighbour became suspicious and informed the complainant’s mother. The man sometimes slept with the girl at her home when her parents were away.
“Sometime in April Tshuma proposed love to the complainant who turned down his love proposal. Tshuma persisted up until the complainant accepted his love proposal in the month of May. Tshuma and the complainant started having sex in the month of Jun up to August 20 at his home or at the complainant’s home when her parents were not around,” she said.
“Their relationship came to light when a neighbour became suspicious after realising that Tshuma would spend the night at the complainant’s home while her parents were not around and she informed the complainant’s mother of her suspicions.”
Miss Mahachi said the complainant’s mother questioned her daughter on her association with Tshuma until she revealed that they were lovers and had been sleeping together. The matter was reported to the police resulting in Tshuma’s arrest.
In his Malachi said he did not know that the complainant was below 16 years of age and added that she had consented to the sexual activities.- Herald
Zimbabwe held hosts Malawi to a 0-0 draw for an unbeaten start to coach Zvardko Logarusic’s reign as Warriors coach.
The hosts had the best of the chances but the Warriors created a result in difficult circumstances.
In times when there was pretty much no practice for the team, this was a result based on courage for Zimbabwe against a team that had been in camp September.
The Warriors had to change their squad multiple times in order to fulfill this fixture ahead of the matches against Algeria for the Africa Cup of Nations qualifying matches next month.
For coach Zvardko Logarusic this serves as an opportunity to show his skills in the rustic African environment.-3-Mob.com
By A Correspondent | The police spokesperson, Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi, has dismissed revelations that ZANU PF youths tried to assassinate former ZANU PF commissar, Lt-General Engelbert Rugeje at his house on Sunday morning.
“These were purely criminals,” said Nyathi. He continued saying: “There was an exchange of gunfire that left one person dead at Lt-General Engelbert Rugeje’s (Rtd) residence in Mt Pleasant, Harare, involving security personnel and seven suspected criminals in the morning.
“More information will be released soon as police are still carrying out investigations,” said Asst Comm Nyathi.
The most powerful post coup military politician, only next to the Presidium, Rugeje, confirmed the incident following the gun attack at his Mt Pleasant house.
Armed intruders were “repelled” by soldiers and one intruder was shot dead, when they tried to attack his house.
Speaking exclusively to ZimEye Gen Rugeje said, “I wasn’t there.”
He was asked if he knows what happened as well as details of possible injuries, and he said, “get the details from ZRP who attended the scene I wasn’t there.”
He was also asked if he has a clue of who is behind this and what their agenda is, and to this he replied with a long sigh and then said,
“I don’t have a clue when I was not there,”
Asked on his well being, how he feels, Gen Rugeje became non committal with responses.
His phone was hung up soon afterwards.
The development comes as Rugeje, who occupied the party’s most influential position, was rumoured to be next in line for disappearance or a car accident as has happened to many before him.
His immediate predecessor Saviour Kasukuwere fled Zimbabwe after his house was pounced on by skilled snipers.
Since independence 1980, every other political commissar has suffered either an assassination, or a humiliating ouster. The list of victims includes:
Mayor Urimbo,
Maurice Nyagumbo,
Movern Mahachi,
Border Gezi,
Elliot Manyika,
Webster Shamu,
Farai Dziva|MDC Alliance leader, President Nelson Chamisa has implored Zimbabweans to remain steadfast in their quest for freedom from tyranny.
President Chamisa made the remarks at the funeral of MDC Alliance MP Hon Anna Myambo in Chitungwiza on Friday.
He took a swipe at Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa for using guns to silence dissenting voices.
Said President Chamisa: Mnangagwa is using guns to suppress the will of the people.Mnangagwa has guns and we have the people.
Don’t be intimidated, Mnangagwa cannot arrest the whole nation.
In Zimbabwe everyone is prison, Mnangagwa himself is in prison.”
He added:”(Thokozani) Khupe is playing with a snake.Wait and see you cannot play with a wild beast one day it will kill.Can you harness a snake’s eggs? It’s too risky – sadly that is what Khupe is doing.
Hon Myambo was a dedicated party cadre.This thing(recall) affected her.”
Farai Dziva|MDC Alliance leader, President Nelson Chamisa has implored Zimbabweans to remain steadfast in their quest for freedom from tyranny.
President Chamisa made the remarks at the funeral of MDC Alliance MP Hon Anna Myambo in Chitungwiza on Friday.
He took a swipe at Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa for using guns to silence dissenting voices.
Said President Chamisa: Mnangagwa is using guns to suppress the will of the people.Mnangagwa has guns and we have the people.
Don’t be intimidated, Mnangagwa cannot arrest the whole nation.
In Zimbabwe everyone is prison, Mnangagwa himself is in prison.”
He added:”(Thokozani) Khupe is playing with a snake.Wait and see you cannot play with a wild beast one day it will kill.Can you harness a snake’s eggs? It’s too risky – sadly that is what Khupe is doing.
Hon Myambo was a dedicated party cadre.This thing(recall) affected her.”
THREE men from Chivi in Masvingo province have been arrested for allegedly teaming up to murder their 72-year-old mother after accusing her of witchcraft.
The accused — Duduzile, Bright and Daniel Tizirai of Makuvire village — last week appeared before Masvingo High Court judge Justice Garainesu Mawadze charged with murder.
Prosecutor Emmanuel Mathose alleged that on April 5 this year, the co-accused approached their now deceased mother, Nyengeterai Tizirai, and accused her of causing the death of her daughter-in-law.
The trio reportedly took the deceased to Nyaningwe dip-tank, tied her hands with a rope and took turns to assault her using a rubber strip and logs.-The Sunday Mail
BIG Charlie is probably the country’s largest man. But being big has not been so much of an advantage to him. It has come with its share of problems leaving him with a dream of meeting the First Lady, Amai Auxillia Mnangagwa. He says if he meets her, maybe his plight of better living conditions will be heard.
Born Charles Nyoni, and now 54 years old, Big Charlie of Lwendulu in Hwange is almost reaching the 300kg mark in weight and towering just over 2,1 metres in height. He says his stature has been his biggest source of his trials and tribulations and yearns for better days as he reaches the twilight years of his life.
Big Charlie suffers from gigantic acromegaly which is a hormone disorder and typically, he has enlarged hands, feet, head, jaw, nose and forehead. Sunday News visited Big Charlie at his home in Hwange where they found him perched on the stoep where he spends most of his day sitting as he is not very mobile. He expressed his wish to meet the First Lady.
“I would like to meet Amai venyika, Amai Mnangagwa so that she gets to see and appreciate my plight, I cannot walk. My car is down too. If I try to use public transport the drivers do not allow me. They don’t want. I would be glad to meet her in person, Victor Matemadanda visited me at one time and he said she would come and see me one day but I am still waiting for that visit,” he said.
Big Charlie believes that Amai Mnangagwa will shine light into his life and mobilise assistance for him as the going is getting tough for him.
And because of his body, he has a big appetite too and that is making putting food on the table a mammoth task since he is not working having left the employ of Hwange Colliery about eight years ago.
“I can hardly stand up, it’s a struggle for me to even walk as my body is in pain. I can bath alone though as I have a shower inside the house. I eat at least six eggs, a loaf of bread, a pint of milk and a big tea pot of tea for breakfast.
Then I will feel that I have eaten properly. Sadza, I can really eat, a full chicken by the side is ok too. If it’s a goat, the insides are for one day, I finish them all then the rest I finish in three days,” he said.
He said he was lucky to have accommodation since he was retrenched in 2012 from Hwange Colliery Company where he worked as a builder and a refuse collector.-The Sunday News
A female nurse based at Embakwe Mission Hospital in Mangwe District allegedly bashed her colleague who is asthmatic and living with albinism before shoving her to a gate with barbed wire and calling her a “useless inkawu” over US$10, Sunday News has learnt.
Inkawu is a derogatory SiNdebele word for people living with albinism. The female nurse, Sithethiwe Tshuma attacked her ill colleague allegedly after she was irked by the fact that she was given a lunch allowance of US$10 ahead of her. Matabeleland South police provincial spokesperson Chief Inspector Philisani Ndebele confirmed the incident which happened on 23 September at the Roman Catholic Church-run institution.
“We are handling a case of assault involving nurses at Embakwe over a dispute relating to a lunch allowance,” said Chief Insp Ndebele.
Matabeleland South Provincial Medical Director Rudo Chikodzo declined to comment but sources at the institution who witnessed the incident said they were shocked when their colleague who is employed as a primary care nurse was bashed by Tshuma who works as a registered nurse midwife over US$10. The source said on the day, the nurse-in-charge made a paysheet for lunch allowances and the primary care nurse’s name was included.
“However, when Tshuma discovered that her name was not on the paysheet instead of approaching the nurse-in-charge, she confronted this nurse and asked why she had been paid while she has not received the money,” said the source.
The source added that colleagues advised Tshuma to talk to the nurse-in-charge but she refused and started confronting her colleague who had been paid the allowance.
“She pounced on her and pushed her against the gate which had barbed wire, she fell down and sustained a slight head injury and lacerations on the hands. As if that was not enough, Tshuma strangled her while her other hand was clawing her lips,” said the witness.
The witness said colleagues pulled Tshuma from the top of the other nurse who was now struggling to breathe.-The Sunday News
A female nurse based at Embakwe Mission Hospital in Mangwe District allegedly bashed her colleague who is asthmatic and living with albinism before shoving her to a gate with barbed wire and calling her a “useless inkawu” over US$10, Sunday News has learnt.
Inkawu is a derogatory SiNdebele word for people living with albinism. The female nurse, Sithethiwe Tshuma attacked her ill colleague allegedly after she was irked by the fact that she was given a lunch allowance of US$10 ahead of her. Matabeleland South police provincial spokesperson Chief Inspector Philisani Ndebele confirmed the incident which happened on 23 September at the Roman Catholic Church-run institution.
“We are handling a case of assault involving nurses at Embakwe over a dispute relating to a lunch allowance,” said Chief Insp Ndebele.
Matabeleland South Provincial Medical Director Rudo Chikodzo declined to comment but sources at the institution who witnessed the incident said they were shocked when their colleague who is employed as a primary care nurse was bashed by Tshuma who works as a registered nurse midwife over US$10. The source said on the day, the nurse-in-charge made a paysheet for lunch allowances and the primary care nurse’s name was included.
“However, when Tshuma discovered that her name was not on the paysheet instead of approaching the nurse-in-charge, she confronted this nurse and asked why she had been paid while she has not received the money,” said the source.
The source added that colleagues advised Tshuma to talk to the nurse-in-charge but she refused and started confronting her colleague who had been paid the allowance.
“She pounced on her and pushed her against the gate which had barbed wire, she fell down and sustained a slight head injury and lacerations on the hands. As if that was not enough, Tshuma strangled her while her other hand was clawing her lips,” said the witness.
The witness said colleagues pulled Tshuma from the top of the other nurse who was now struggling to breathe.-The Sunday News
The government of Zimbabwe has given schools and parents the go-ahead to use a pro-rata system to determine the amount parents should pay for the none writing classes who will go back to school in 2 phases on 26 October and 9 November. The Sunday News .reports
This was revealed by the Director of communications and advocacy in the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education Mr. Taungana Ndoro who said this to the publication:
That is the procedure, schools and parents come together and agree the pro-rata system, once they agree on the amount the classes will pay, they then forward to us for approval.
Mr. Ndoro also shed more light on some problems that are mushrooming as schools get ready to receive more students:
The problem is that some schools are now taking advantage to demand too much. We have heard that some schools want to have a thermometer for every class but no pupils must be screened when they are getting into class but at the gate so there is no need to be buying thermometers to cater for every classroom.
Ndoro also repeated Education Minister’s remarks last week that 29% of teachers reporting for duty are enough:
About 27-30 percent of the teachers are reporting for duty and remember not all classes have been opened so using these figures each teacher is catering for 23 students which is commendable.-statemedia
By A Correspondent | “Rugeje was nearly wiped out by COV-ED-19(a short term for state engineered assassinations),” was the meme the whole Sunday afternoon, as the most powerful post coup military politician, only next to the Presidium, former ZANU PF National Commissar, Gen Engelbert Eugeje spoke for the first time following a gun attack at his Mt Pleasant house on Sunday morning.
Armed intruders were “repelled” by soldiers and one intruder was shot dead, when they tried to attack his house.
Speaking exclusively to ZimEye Gen Rugeje said, “I wasn’t there.”
He was asked if he knows what happened as well as details of possible injuries, and he said, “get the details from ZRP who attended the scene I wasn’t there.”
He was also asked if he has a clue of who is behind this and what their agenda is, and to this he replied with a long sigh and then said,
“I don’t have a clue when I was not there,”
Asked on his well being, how he feels, Gen Rugeje became non committal with responses.
His phone was hung up soon afterwards.
The development comes as Rugeje, who occupied the party’s most influential position, was rumoured to be next in line for disappearance or a car accident as has happened to many before him.
His immediate predecessor Saviour Kasukuwere fled Zimbabwe after his house was pounced on by skilled snipers.
Since independence 1980, every other political commissar has suffered either an assassination, or a humiliating ouster. The list of victims includes:
Mayor Urimbo,
Maurice Nyagumbo,
Movern Mahachi,
Border Gezi,
Elliot Manyika,
Webster Shamu,
In 2018, Rugeje hinted on a political sabbatical arguing that “people should not be mistaken that jobs are found at ZANU PF HQ”.
Rugeje took over from Saviour Kasukwere who was fired from Zanu Pf in 2017 for being linked to a faction which was coalescing around former first lady Grace Mugabe. The expulsion of the G40 faction resulted in some fissures ahead of the polls with some members of the party forming a new outfit called the National Patriotic Front which was also supported by former president Robert Mugabe.
The former army general was appointed by Mnangagwa at the party’s extra-ordinary congress in Harare before he presided over a chaotic primary election where he received brickbats from senior party members like Christopher Mutsvangwa for causing divisions in the party.
Watch the video loading below…….(please be patient as it uploads)
CHITUNGWIZA Municipality on Sunday 11 October 2020 resolved to stop the demolition of some residents’ houses after Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) threatened to sue the local authority for violating people’s fundamental rights.
In a letter written on behalf of Chitungwiza Residents Trust (CHITREST) by Paidamoyo Saurombe and Tinashe Chinopfukutwa of ZLHR to the Chamber Secretary at Chitungwiza Municipality, the residents association protested against the local authority’s issuance of a
purported Demolition Order on Thursday 8 October 2020, where it identified some places in St Mary’s, Zengeza, Seke and Nyatsime suburbs ordering people occupying houses in these areas to depart from the land, remove property from the land, demolish any structures erected, remove all the rubble from the land and restore the land to its original site by Monday 12 October 2020.
Saurombe and Chinopfukutwa stated that the issuance of a purported Demolition Order by Chitungwiza Municipality is a violation of residents’ basic rights protected under section 74 of the Constitution and which provides that no persons may be evicted from their home or
have their home demolished without an order of court made after considering all the relevant circumstances.
Saurombe and Chinopfukutwa gave Chitungwiza Municipality an ultimatum lasting up to 9:AM on Monday 12 October 2020 for the local authority to furnish them with a court order authorising the eviction of people and demolition of their houses or else the human rights lawyers would pursue legal remedies to protect the rights of the residents.
But in response to the letter written by CHITREST, Chitungwiza Municipality on Sunday 11 October 2020 said it had resolved to suspend the demolition exercise hence the demolitions will no longer be effected as per its Demolition Order which it had issued on 8 October 2020.-ZLHR
National Constitutional Assembly (NCA) president Lovemore Madhuku has challenged political parties and ordinary citizens to call for the removal of a clause in the Constitution providing for the recall of members of Parliament (MPs), saying the recalls affect democratic participation and policy development.
This comes as the MDC has recalled over 30 MPs and 45 councillors following a Supreme Court ruling in April this year which declared Thokozani Khupe the rightful interim leader of the party.
Speaking during an online discussion held recently on the implications of the recalls on policy and service delivery, Madhuku said there was need for the removal of the clause, which provides for the recall of MPs and councillors in order to avoid chaos within political parties at the expense of ordinary citizens.
“The recalls that have happened now are not different from the recalls that happened in the past, there is just a dispute in terms of which party these MPs belong to.
Parliament believes these MPs belong to MDC-T. “It may be wrong or it may be right but that is a matter which is before the courts. I don’t think that the clause should remain.
Fadzai Mahere
“It should be removed from the Constitution. The NCA doesn’t support that. “If Zimbabweans still support that clause it means that they would want a situation where the MPs can be removed,” Madhuku said.
According to Madhuku, Section 129 subsection 1, paragraph K of the Constitution provides for the recall of MPs and councillors if they cease to be a member of the political party they were elected under – which is what is currently being used to recall MDC Alliance members who denounced their membership of the MDC-T party.
Speaking at the same event, MDC Alliance spokesperson Fadzai Mahere said the recalls were political and meant to destroy the MDC Alliance as the country’s “strongest opposition party”.
“The recalls confirm that Zimbabwe is a nation in crisis. We see a dramatisation of the crisis in Zimbabwe and the coordinated attempt to return Zimbabwe to a one-party state.
“The capture of State institutions throughout this recall process is completely brazen. “The question on the mind of
every Zimbabwean is how can MPs be recalled by a political party that did not install them in Parliament?
… This is an attempt to destroy the stronger opposition.
An opposition with mass popular support that says no on certain terms … that speaks out against the economic and health crises,” Mahere said.
Zanu-PF director of information Tafadzwa Mugwadi said it was time for the MDC factions to man up and address their problems without blaming outsiders.
“There is no way that I see Zanu-PF involved in what is going on between the two MDC political parties. We are always very clear as Zanu-PF that there is no crisis in Zimbabwe. In fact, the crisis is in the MDC and MDC Alliance and other MDCs out there.
“You are failing as a political party. You are failing to organise yourselves and now there is a legitimacy crisis within the MDC.
“We don’t bother ourselves with what happens within the MDC or Harvest House. “What is on our table is to ensure that we transform our manifesto of 2018 into reality to ensure that we achieve Vision 2030, to ensure we
stabilise the currency and to bring sanity in the mobile money sector, to prepare for the next farming season through farming modernisation and mechanisation,” Mugwadi said.
Meanwhile, MDC secretarygeneral Douglas Mwonzora said the recall of MPs and councillors from Parliament was based on the need to eliminate those who had denounced the party, those who were corrupt and those who engaged in acts of violence.
“We did not recall people because they did not pledge allegiance to us. “I’m sure you are talking about the affidavits that MPs were made to sign.
“They were not made to sign those affidavits by us. “They were made to sign them by the party that Nelson Chamisa
heads.
“These were created by their lawyers, including Tendai Biti and Charlton Hwende where they specifically said they no longer belonged to the MDC and some of the MPS who were recalled in court documents specifically said that
they were no longer members of our party.
“Once they pledged that they were no longer members of the MDC-T they were bound by word and deed and so the recalls were made,” Mwonzora said.-dailynews
By A Correspondent | The most powerful post coup military politician, only next to the Presidium, former ZANU PF National Commissar, Gen Engelbert Eugeje has spoken for the first time following a gun attack at his Mt Pleasant house on Sunday morning.
Armed intruders were “repelled” by soldiers and one intruder was shot dead, when they tried to attack his house.
Speaking exclusively to ZimEye Gen Rugeje said, “I wasn’t there.”
He was asked if he knows what happened as well as details of possible injuries, and he said, “get the details from ZRP who attended the scene I wasn’t there.”
He was also asked if he has a clue of who is behind this and what their agenda is, and to this he replied with a long sigh and then said,
“I don’t have a clue when I was not there,”
Asked on his well being, how he feels, Gen Rugeje became non committal with responses.
His phone was hung up soon afterwards.
The development comes as Rugeje, who occupied the party’s most influential position, was rumoured to be next in line for disappearance or a car accident as has happened to many before him.
His immediate predecessor Saviour Kasukuwere fled Zimbabwe after his house was pounced on by skilled snipers.
Since independence 1980, every other political commissar has suffered either an assassination, or a humiliating ouster. The list of victims includes:
Mayor Urimbo,
Maurice Nyagumbo,
Movern Mahachi,
Border Gezi,
Elliot Manyika,
Webster Shamu,
In 2018, Rugeje hinted on a political sabbatical arguing that “people should not be mistaken that jobs are found at ZANU PF HQ”.
Rugeje took over from Saviour Kasukwere who was fired from Zanu Pf in 2017 for being linked to a faction which was coalescing around former first lady Grace Mugabe. The expulsion of the G40 faction resulted in some fissures ahead of the polls with some members of the party forming a new outfit called the National Patriotic Front which was also supported by former president Robert Mugabe.
The former army general was appointed by Mnangagwa at the party’s extra-ordinary congress in Harare before he presided over a chaotic primary election where he received brickbats from senior party members like Christopher Mutsvangwa for causing divisions in the party.
Watch the video loading below…….(please be patient as it uploads)
Parliament notes with apprehension the article in the NewsDay of Thursday 8th of October 2020, which alleges that Parliament ignored a Court Order.
Nothing could be further from the truth. The fact of the matter is that when the Members were sworn in, at 1415 hours and 1430 hours in the National Assembly and Senate respectively, there was no Court Order that barred Parliament from executing its constitutional mandate.
Parliament of Zimbabwe respects the rule of law and the Courts. As such, Parliament has never gone against a Court Order.
It is critical to note that the Constitution of Zimbabwe being the supreme law of the land imposes certain obligations on institutions of the State and on holders of specific offices.
Parliament is obliged, once it receives a notice from the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission to action the notification and administer the oath of office in terms of section 128 of the Constitution.
It is imperative to bear in mind that this is a constitutional obligation that can only be barred by a Court Order.
The filed Court application mentioned in the article could not stop a constitutional process in the absence of a valid Court Order.
The matter is now subjudice as it is before a Judge of the High Court and hence does not invite further comments from Parliament save to say Parliament acted in terms of the law.
Parliament urges reporters to check their facts before they rush to print.
Parliament has always maintained an open-door policy in its interactions with the media and has never refused to respond to issues raised by Journalists
By A Correspondent- A Warriors player based in South Africa who cannot be named for professional reasons tested positive for COVID-19 and this afternoon’s game had to proceed without him.
The player who was called for national duty on 7 October went through the routine testing and he tuned out positive for the novel coronavirus and had to go into self-isolation and was automatically excluded for the Malawi friendly that was played in Blantyre this afternoon.
The lab results that confirmed the player’s positive seen by the publication reads in part:
A positive test result for Covid-19 indicates that RNA from Sars-CoV-2 was detected in the sample. The patient is considered to be infected and is presumed to be contagious. Individuals diagonised with Covid-19 not requiring hospitalisation must self isolate. After a 10-day period of home isolation, asymptomatic people are regarded as no longer infectious.
Provided a person’s fever has resolved and their symptoms have improved, those with mild disease may de-isolate 14 days after symptoms onset, while those with severe disease may de-isolate 14 days after achieving clinical stability. A follow-up test is not required as remnant RNA can be detected for up to six weeks after clinical recovery
The Warriors played Malawi this afternoon after their headlining chaotic preparations and the game ended in a goalless draw.-statemedia
By A Correspondent- A man from West Nicholson will rue the day he fell in love with a minor as he will spend the next 9 months of his life behind bars for bedding the girl.
24-year-old Melusi Tshuma of Atherstone in West Nicholson stood before Gwanda magistrate, Miss Lerato charged with statutory ra_pe and he was convicted of his own guilty plea to having se_xual intercourse with a minor.
The state-led by Miss Ethel Mahachi said:
Sometime in April Tshuma proposed love to the complainant who turned down his love proposal. Tshuma persisted up until the complainant accepted his love proposal in the month of May. Tshuma and the complainant started having se_x in the month of June up to August 20 at his home or at the complainant’s home when her parents were not around.
Their relationship came to light when a neighbour became suspicious after realising that Tshuma would spend the night at the complainant’s home while her parents were not around and she informed the complainant’s mother of her suspicions.
The complainant’s mother questioned her daughter on her association with Tshuma until she revealed that they were lovers and had been sleeping together. The matter was reported to the police resulting in Tshuma’s arrest.-statemedia
Paul Nyathi
Zanu PF acting spokesperson Patrick Chinamasa has all but ordered Local Government minister July Moyo to meddle in the affairs of Chitungwiza Town Council and reinstate the suspended Town Clerk.
Speaking at a ZANU PF press conference on Saturday, Chinamasa said the ruling party wants Moyo to reinstate Zanu PF member George Makunde as town clerk simply because he is ZANU PF.
“Zanu PF is demanding the reinstatement of the town clerk, George Makunde, who was removed by the MDC mayor to facilitate their corrupt activities,” he said.
“Zanu PF considers the suspension of the town clerk to be null and void.
“The appointment of the disciplinary board and the prosecutor was done without following laid-down procedures.
“Zanu PF is demanding that the acting clerk, the director of works and director of housing be suspended forthwith pending finalisation of their cases where they are being accused of abuse of office and corruption.
“Zanu PF is calling on the minister of Local Government July Moyo to exercise his powers and rescind all Chitungwiza Town Council resolutions passed by the MDC-led council to embed systemic corruption within council affairs.”
Makunde was suspended in December last year after he was allegedly implicated in the illegal selling of commercial stands.
By Wilbert Mukori- Democracy is the greatest gift the Greeks gave to mankind. “Government of the people, by the people, for the people,” as US President Abraham Lincoln defined democracy in his famous Gettysburg speech in 1863.
The Greeks realised, all those 2 500 years ago, that democracy will only work if the people are educated and are allowed to think for themselves freely. They embraced freedom of expression so whole heartedly they named their battle ships Freedom and Freedom of Expression.
Democracy has failed to take root in Zimbabwe for many reasons, one of which is that those brandishing the banner of democracy and claiming to champion it cause have been undermining democracy. Instead of educating the populous they have misinformed and confused them.
“This time last year, Excelgate was about to be published, in the expectation, inter alia, that the MDC Alliance, in particular, would capitalise on the revelations therein, to both fuel their legal challenge against the Constitutional Court’s ruling on the disputed 2018 presidential election; and mount a concerted political campaign that would include the exposure to the Zimbabwean population in general and, in particular, the millions whose votes were stolen of an electoral system so rotten that it has reduced elections in Zimbabwe to a mockery of democracy,” wrote Dr Ibbo Mandaza.
“Such a legal and political campaign might have at least contained or even pre-empted the impunity with which the Zanu-PF/State has now staged the most blatant assault on the electorate, the voter and democracy itself. Namely, the recall of democratically elected parliamentarians, to be replaced undemocratically, illegally and unconstitutionally by appointment to Parliament of persons who had performed dismally in the 2018 elections. Add to that the cynical act of declaring a loser as the “Leader of the Opposition” in Parliament. The Khupe Coup! A tragicomedy that includes the summary cancellation of by-elections in which the voters hoped, albeit naively given the history of elections in Zimbabwe, to re-affirm the choice they had made in 2018, and thereby have their recalled legislators returned to Parliament in December 2020.”
What a mouthful! Spit it out and thoroughly rinse your mouth because it is worse than nonsense.
I confess that I have not read Excelgate but from the extracts and synopsis it is clear the book deals with the irregularities in the counting of the votes in the July 2018 elections, the compilation of the results in the V11 at Polling Station, V23A and B at counting centres and the Excel Spreed sheet at ZEC command centre.
Excelgate did not mention at 3 million Zimbabweans in the diaspora were denied the vote (more than 2.3 million votes Mnangagwa claimed to win), ZEC had failed to produce something as basic as a verified voters’ roll, etc., etc.
The July 2018 elections were a mockery of democracy because it denied millions of voters their right to vote, failed to produce a verified voters’ roll, etc. Even is the counting of the votes had gone ahead without a single mistake, deliberate or otherwise, the elections would still be condemned.
The July 2018 elections should have never gone ahead without first implementing the democratic reforms to ensure all those eligible to vote are given the opportunity to do so, ZEC produces a verified voters’ roll, etc.
The truth is Dr Ibbo Mandaza does not know what constitutes free, fair and credible elections. So is given to condemning an election process today and praising the same process to the high heaven tomorrow depending on result, who is the winner, and not the process.
When Tendai Biti and a few others broke away from MDC in 2014, Morgan Tsvangirai recalled the lot. Dr Khupe has used the same constitutional provision to recall MPs and councillors and we are now told this “undemocratic, illegal and unconstitutional”. Was the recall democratic, legal and constitutional in 2014?
“A tragicomedy that includes the summary cancellation of by-elections!” The real tragedy, and it is no laughing matter, is the voters are being encourage to believe the cancelled by-elections was an attack on democracy when there is no democracy.
Zanu PF blatantly rigged the July 2018 elections to secure a 2/3 parliamentary majority and the presidency. The party has allowed the opposition to win a few gravy train seats, bait to entice them to participate in the elections regardless how flawed and illegal the process got.
All opposition candidates, including those from Khupe’s faction, Chamisa factions and the multitude of other parties and independent candidates, who participated in the July 2018 elections are sell-outs. They knew, by participating, they were undermining the fight for free, fair and credible elections.
Mnangagwa and Zanu PF know as long as they are able to attract the opposition to participate in the flawed elections they will derive some legitimacy and will not need to implement any reforms.
Zanu PF has not implemented even one meaningful democratic reform since the July 2018 election. Mnangagwa promised to allow the 3 million Zimbabweans in the diaspora to vote next time but has done nothing about it. Come 2023, the situation will not have changed much and, mark my words, Zanu PF will blatantly rig those elections.
The December 2020 by-elections will be conducted under exactly the same flawed and illegal conditions as the July 2018 elections. Right on clue, our cheer leaders of democracy are hoping mad that by-elections are being cancelled. No doubt the same cheer leaders and the populous will go berserk if the 2023 elections were to be delayed to allow meaningful reforms to be implemented.
In short, the foolish hysteria in defence of recalled MDC A sell-outs and cancelled by-elections, by the demagogues and ignoramus masquerading as champions of democracy, is helping to perpetuate the Zanu PF dictatorship by portraying the status quo as the epoch of democracy. There should be no elections, national or by-elections, in Zimbabwe until all the reforms are implemented to ensure the elections are free, fair and credible.
We must not give up the moral high ground; the demand for free, fair and credible elections; for the sake of fighting the by-election skirmish. The 2023 elections, the decisive battle, must be free, fair and credible or else be declared null and void and to be absolutely certain of that we must have and held the moral high ground at all times
If Dr Stop-It Had Stopped Mnangagwa, Chiwenga | ZIMBABWE WOULD BE WORSE or BETTER?
— ZimEye (@ZimEye) October 11, 2020
The Standard
PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government is set to improve the perks for the leader of the opposition after MDC-T leader Thokozani Khupe ascended to the position through the back door.
Khupe was sworn last week into Parliament alongside 14 other MDC-T officials as a direct replacement of MDC Alliance proportional representation legislators that she recalled under controversial circumstances.
She immediately took over as the official leader of the opposition, a position that was
previously held by MDC Alliance’s Tabitha Khumalo.
MDC-T officials who spoke on condition of anonymity said Mnangagwa was determined to formalise his proposal to create the office of the leader of the opposition, which he first made in 2018.
Mnangagwa dangled the carrot to MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa, who had rejected the outcome of the presidential election, which he argued was rigged.
Chamisa rejected the offer and Khupe is said to be now prepared to assume the position snubbed by her bitter rival.
Mnangagwa’s spokesperson George Charamba was not taking calls and did not respond to questions on his WhatsApp number yesterday.
Charamba, however, tweeted: “Leader of the opposition portfolio comes with perks.”
Justice minister Ziyambi Ziyambi was not picking calls and Information minister Monica Mutsvangwa referred questions to Parliament.
Kennedy Chokuda, the clerk of Parliament, said he could not comment on the alleged plans to strengthen the position.
“Ask the politicians,” Chokuda said.
“The position of leader of the opposition in the House has always been recognised, from way back, you recall Gibson Sibanda.
“The post is there in Parliament and the leader of the opposition is consulted when business is done.”
At the moment, the leader of the House is recognised under standing orders and rules of Parliament.
The leader of the House ordinarily gets a Parliament residence and car. Khupe herself stayed in a Parliament residence in Harare’s Mt Pleasant suburb when she was leader of the House under the leadership of the late MDC founding leader Morgan Tsvangirai.
She also reportedly got two cars from Parliament, one as a constituency MP and the other for her post as leader of the opposition.
Khupe’s spokesperson Khalipani Phugeni said he was not aware of the proposals to bump up Khupe’s perks and enhance her status.
“I am not aware of that, what I know is, she will simply take over from Tabitha Khumalo,” Phugeni said.
Khupe’s associates, however, said she has been promised an office in Parliament and perks that will include pension because she will occupy a ‘constitutional’ office.
The move is allegedly meant to create an impression in the international community that Mnangagwa is tolerant of opposition parties.
Mnangagwa in 2018, during interviews with United States television networks on the sidelines of the United Nations general assembly, said he planned to give Chamisa certain perks as leader of the opposition.
The gesture was seen as an attempt to end the dispute that ensued after the July elections where the MDC Alliance accused the Zanu PF leader of rigging the elections.
Chamisa declined the offer saying he was voted to go to State House, not Parliament.
At the time Ziyambi said the constitution could be amended to allow Chamisa into Parliament since he was not an elected MP.
Charamba said then that the office was going to be created as Mnangagwa’s capacity building measures.
Khupe and Mnangagwa are alleged to be working together to destroy Chamisa, an accusation they both deny.
They are allegedly plotting to have all Chamisa MPs recalled, a development to allow Zanu PF to amend the constitution to raise the presidential running age limit to 50 to block the MDC leader, who is in his 40s.
A 24-YEAR-OLD West Nicholson man has been jailed nine months for having sexual intercourse with his 15-year-old girlfriend.
Melusi Tshuma of Artherstone area in West Nicholson was convicted on his own plea of guilty to having sexual intercourse with a young person by Gwanda magistrate, Miss Lerato Nyathi.
He was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment and three months were suspended on condition that he does not commit a similar offence within the next five years.
Prosecuting, Miss Ethel Mahachi said Tshuma had sexual intercourse with the complainant who cannot be named for ethical reasons.
Tshuma had sex with the girl from June to August 20 this year. The matter came to light after a neighbour became suspicious and informed the complainant’s mother.
The man sometimes slept with the girl at her home when her parents were away.
“Sometime in April Tshuma proposed love to the complainant who turned down his love proposal. Tshuma persisted up until the complainant accepted his love proposal in the month of May. Tshuma and the complainant started having sex in the month of Jun up to August 20 at his home or at the complainant’s home when her parents were not around,” she said.
“Their relationship came to light when a neighbour became suspicious after realising that Tshuma would spend the night at the complainant’s home while her parents were not around and she informed the complainant’s mother of her suspicions.”
Miss Mahachi said the complainant’s mother questioned her daughter on her association with Tshuma until she revealed that they were lovers and had been sleeping together. The matter was reported to the police resulting in Tshuma’s arrest.
In his Malachi said he did not know that the complainant was below 16 years of age and added that she had consented to the sexual activities.
Paul Nyathi
Blessing Chebundo the MDC Alliance National Executive Member popular for defeating President Emmerson in two elections in a row has dismally lost the party’s primary elections for Kwekwe Central.
MDC alliance deputy national youth assembly treasurer Judith Tobaiwa won the race with a landslide victory after polling 1 328 votes with Chebundo coming a distant second with 496 votes.
Chebundo defeated Mnangagwa in the 2000 and 2005 elections until ZANU PF moved the now state President to contest in the Chirumhanzi Zivagwe constituency where he won the election.
The Kwekwe constituency seat fell vacant after the death of National Patriotic Front MP Masango Matambanadzo in June this year.
Former Health Minister in the inclusive government also lost as he managed a paltry 43 votes, while Edmore Marongwe got 22 votes.
Last week ZANU PF failed to hold its own primary elections after heavy violence broke out among its members.
By Simba Chikanza | I’ve just received a message from Him Job Sikhala that he is not feeling well. This is certainly not what we want to hear at a time like this. I have been calling him numerous times but can’t get through.
Paul Nyathi
A cluster of civil society organisations (CSOs) has pressured goverment to reverse VicePresident Constantino Chiwenga’s suspension of by-elections due to the Covid-19 scourge.
Chiwenga doubles up as Health and Child Care Minister. He issued his directive after the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) hinted that the polls would be held on December 5.
In a joint statement on Saturday, the CSOs working on democracy and human rights said the suspension of the polls was undemocratic.
“The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission is constitutionally charged to be an independent institution supporting democracy, accordingly, in our view, the Ministry of Health and Child Care has overreached and has unduly limited fundamental rights and freedoms enshrined in the constitution,” reads the statement.
“We believe that the suspension of by-elections should have been a result of transparent multi-stakeholder consultations inclusive of voices from citizens, parliament, political parties, the academia, civil society, the private sector, trade unions, youths and persons with disabilities to ensure the fostering of trust in electoral processes so as not to further curtail the upholding of democracy in Zimbabwe.”
The organisations said countries such as Malawi, Zambia, South Africa, Guinea, Cameroon, Mali, Benin, Burundi and Ghana had successfully conducted electoral processes during the Covid-19 era without any major incidents.
“Zimbabwe, whose Covid-19 case-load is not in any way unique on the African continent, proceeds to ban by-elections indefinitely, which appears not to be driven by
any Covid-19 science,” they added,
“The Ministry of Health and Child Care has provided guidance on the resumption of a wide array of socio-economic processes and activities, including but not limited to, the reopening of land and air borders, the resumption of the education sector, the expansion of food markets, and the extension of retailers and industry operating hours.
“The blanket ban of by-elections accordingly appears to be a unique limitation on electoral activities.
“Citizens should be allowed to express themselves politically, without restraint or compulsion, from anyone or any political party.
“Political participation is one of the cornerstones of a constitutional democracy and which facilitates discussion on politics, running for office and electing candidates of one’s choice into political positions in Parliament or the presidium,” they said.
Media Statement
Parliament notes with apprehension the article in the Newsday of Thursday 8th of October 2020, which alleges that Parliament ignored a Court Order.
Nothing could be further from the truth. The fact of the matter is that when the Members were sworn in, at 1415 hours and 1430 hours in the National Assembly and Senate respectively, there was no Court Order that barred Parliament from executing its constitutional mandate. Parliament of Zimbabwe respects the rule of law and the Courts. As such, Parliament has never gone against a Court Order.
It is critical to note that the Constitution of Zimbabwe being the supreme law of the land imposes certain obligations on institutions of the State and on holders of specific offices.
Parliament is obliged, once it receives a notice from the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission to action the notification and administer the oath of office in terms of section 128 of the Constitution. It is imperative to bear in mind that this is a constitutional obligation that can only be barred by a Court Order.
The filed Court application mentioned in the article could not stop a constitutional process in the absence of a valid Court Order.
The matter is now subjudice as it is before a Judge of the High Court and hence does not invite further comments from Parliament save to say Parliament acted in terms of the law. Parliament urges reporters to check their facts before they rush to print.
Parliament has always maintained an open-door policy in its interactions with the media and has never refused to respond to issues raised by Journalists.
Paul Nyathi
Nigeria’s police chief has announced the dissolution of a notorious anti-robbery unit following days of widespread protests against police brutality.
The Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) has long been accused of harassment, unlawful arrests, torture and even murders. Thousands of people marched across the country this week to demand it be disbanded, while #EndSARS trended online in Nigeria for several days.
Former Zimbabwe government minister Professor Jonathan Moyo was the first to alert of President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s own similar state security group called Ferret. Moyo said the unit is involved in the abduction of citizens in Zimbabwe. The Ferret team is made up of officials from the country’s security agents.
In a statement on Sunday, Muhammed Adamu, inspector general of police, said the unit had been abolished “with immediate effect”, a move that was “in response to the yearnings of the Nigerian people”.
He added, however, that all SARS officers would be redeployed to other police commands, formations and units, drawing condemnation by some activists online who pledged to keep up their campaign demanding accountability and justice for the victims of police brutality.
Adamu added the Nigerian police force would work with human rights groups and civil society organisations to investigate cases of alleged human rights violations.
The Nigerian presidency also said in a Twitter post that the police unit, which was founded in 1992 in a bid to combat robbery, would be disbanded immediately.
The latest demonstrations calling for the dissolution of SARS erupted after a video circulated last week alleging to show members of the unit shooting dead a man in the southern Delta state.
In June, a report by Amnesty International listed what it alleged were 82 cases of torture, ill treatment and extra-judicial execution by the SARS between January 2017 and May 2020.
The abuses were carried out under the supervision of high-ranking officers, it said.
It accused the squad of the “systematic use of torture” and alleged the existence of torture chambers within the Nigerian Police Force.
SOURCE : AL JAZEERA AND NEWS AGENCIES
Mamelodi Sundowns have announced three signings to add to the ten players who have already arrived at the club ahead of the new season.
The South African giants have signed Kermit Erasmus from Cape Town City on a 3-year contract, Grant Margeman from Cape Umoya and Jody February from Ajax Cape Town.
Last week the club announced the capture of the BidVest Wits trio of Ricardo Goss, Haashim Domingo and Gift Motupa, as well as Aubrey Modiba from SuperSport United.
Other signings are George Maluleka (Kaizer Chiefs), Grant Margeman (Ajax Cape Town), Lesedi Kapinga (Black Leopards), Mothobi Mvala (Highlands Park), Peter Shalulile (Highlands Park) and Luvuyo Phewa (Real Kings), Nyiko Mobbie (Stellenbosch).-Soccer 24
Full Time :
Malawi 0-0 Zimbabwe pic.twitter.com/UzyUlu6Qer
— Zimbabwe Football Daily ?? (@zim_football) October 11, 2020
By A Correspondent | There was an attempt to assassinate the most powerful post coup military politician, only next to the Presidium, the former ZANU PF National Commissar, Gen Engelbert Eugeje has spoken for the first time following a gun attack at his Mt Pleasant house on Sunday morning.
Armed intruders were “repelled” by soldiers and one intruder was shot dead, when they tried to attack his house.
Speaking exclusively to ZimEye Gen Rugeje said, “I wasn’t there.”
He was asked if he knows what happened as well as details of possible injuries, and he said, “get the details from ZRP who attended the scene I wasn’t there.”
He was also asked if he has a clue of who is behind this and what their agenda is, and to this he replied with a long sigh and then said,
“I don’t have a clue when I was not there,”
Asked on his well being, how he feels, Gen Rugeje became non committal with responses.
His phone was hung up soon afterwards.
The development comes as Rugeje, who occupied the party’s most influential position, was rumoured to be next in line for disappearance or a car accident as has happened to many before him.
His immediate predecessor Saviour Kasukuwere fled Zimbabwe after his house was pounced on by skilled snipers.
Since independence 1980, every other political commissar has suffered either an assassination, or a humiliating ouster. The list of victims includes:
Mayor Urimbo,
Maurice Nyagumbo,
Movern Mahachi,
Border Gezi,
Elliot Manyika,
Webster Shamu,
In 2018, Rugeje hinted on a political sabbatical arguing that “people should not be mistaken that jobs are found at ZANU PF HQ”.
Rugeje took over from Saviour Kasukwere who was fired from Zanu Pf in 2017 for being linked to a faction which was coalescing around former first lady Grace Mugabe. The expulsion of the G40 faction resulted in some fissures ahead of the polls with some members of the party forming a new outfit called the National Patriotic Front which was also supported by former president Robert Mugabe.
The former army general was appointed by Mnangagwa at the party’s extra-ordinary congress in Harare before he presided over a chaotic primary election where he received brickbats from senior party members like Christopher Mutsvangwa for causing divisions in the party.
Watch the video loading below…….(please be patient as it uploads)
Marshall Munetsi will miss another game for Stade de Reims due to suspension.
The Zimbabwean midfielder, who didn’t travel for international duty this week, will not take part in the Ligue 1 Round 7 after receiving a third yellow card in a period of ten official matches.
Munetsi was booked in the 2-2 draw at Rennais last weekend while the other yellow card came in Round three of the campaign and the third one was carried forward from last season.
The suspension follows after the player served a red card ban in the game before the trip to Rennais.
Meanwhile, Munetsi has made seven appearances across all competitions in this season thus far.-Soccer 24
Farai Dziva|MDC Alliance leader, President Nelson Chamisa has implored Zimbabweans to remain steadfast in their quest for freedom from tyranny.
President Chamisa made the remarks at the funeral of MDC Alliance MP Hon Anna Myambo in Chitungwiza on Friday.
He took a swipe at Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa for using guns to silence dissenting voices.
Said President Chamisa: Mnangagwa is using guns to suppress the will of the people.Mnangagwa has guns and we have the people.
Don’t be intimidated, Mnangagwa cannot arrest the whole nation.
In Zimbabwe everyone is prison, Mnangagwa himself is in prison.”
He added:”(Thokozani) Khupe is playing with a snake.Wait and see you cannot play with a wild beast one day it will kill.Can you harness a snake’s eggs? It’s too risky – sadly that is what Khupe is doing.
Hon Myambo was a dedicated party cadre.This thing(recall) affected her.”
Zimbabwe held hosts Malawi to a 0-0 draw for an unbeaten start to coach Zvardko Logarusic’s reign as Warriors coach.
The hosts had the best of the chances but the Warriors created a result in difficult circumstances.
In times when there was pretty much no practice for the team, this was a result based on courage for Zimbabwe against a team that had been in camp September.
The Warriors had to change their squad multiple times in order to fulfill this fixture ahead of the matches against Algeria for the Africa Cup of Nations qualifying matches next month.
For coach Zvardko Logarusic this serves as an opportunity to show his skills in the rustic African environment.-3-Mob.com
Joint Teachers Unions’ Statement On Mnangagwa’s Threat Against Striking Teachers
11 October 2020
▪️ Now that we are about to reach the Armageddon of our incapacitation struggle as witnessed by more teachers joining the action and schools being deserted;
▪️ Worried that His Excellency, President E. D. Mnangagwa made remarks threatening teachers on industrial action before seeking engagement and remaining indifferent to the plight of the teachers;
▪️ Observing that the $600 million meant for Covid-19 purposes did not filter into the schools as evidenced by acute shortage of PPEs and other Covid-19 abatement items in most of the schools;
▪️ Aware that Government is still acting in denial about the situation in our schools as evidenced by their threats to fire teachers or cease their salaries and pretending that the school system is functioning normally;
▪️ Shocked by some acts of ‘benevolence’ in the form of food handouts by some misguided elements who want to hijack the teachers’ incapacitation for personal aggrandizement.
Therefore, we, the undersigned teachers’ representatives, do hereby reiterate that:
▪️ No amount of force or threat can capacitate teachers who have all tested positive to poverty. The employer should swallow her pride and do the right thing.
▪️ The nation should know that teachers in all public schools are not at work because the government has failed them and will not succumb to any threats. Where there are incidents of teaching taking place, it is just cosmetic.
▪️ Teachers are not for charity but professionals who are only crying for dignified treatment, reasonable salaries and befitting conditions of service.
▪️ It is only through meaningful engagement, improved salaries, eradication of discrimination among government workers, assurance of health and safety of teachers and pupils during this Covid-19 period, and harmonisation of labour laws that teachers’ return to schools can be guaranteed. Once government brings a meaningful offer, teachers are ready to report for duty thereafter.
▪️ We, as teachers, want a separate collective bargaining board where we can then articulate the education specific issues unlike the current scenario where the education sector is bundled up with everyone else.
▪️ Teachers should remain resolute and focused on our demands. All pusillanimous tendencies should be a thing of the past going forward. Teachers should encourage those who are still reporting for duty to join others in showing government that we deserve better.
▪️ Teachers are not against parents and students. In actual fact, what teachers are simply saying is that it is very dangerous to entrust the future on learners in the hands of a frustrated, poorly remunerated and stressed teachers. Once the impasse is resolved, teachers will do everything possible to help their learners.
▪️ President E. D. Mnangagwa should not ignore the plight of teachers. We don’t want to believe that he would want to be remembered for destroying the education system of this country.
Jointly signed by
ARTUZ – Chere R. (0775643192)
PTUZ -Zunde L. (0772198868)
TUZ – Phiri R. (0772680952)
ZDTU – Tasaranarwo F. (0773816324)
ZIMTA – Sibanda N. T. (0772803254)
ZINATU – Nyawo M. (0774013500)
ZINEU – Chinosengwa C. (0715815347)
ZRTU – Fambai F. (0775226380)
Zimbabwe Online Health Centre:
Snake Bites
Snake bites are common during the rainy season and people mostly affected or at risk are rural agriculture workers, hunters, herders, fisherman and people in poorly constructed houses. Most snakes in Zimbabwe are not poisonous but however when one gets a snake bite they should seek medical attention immediately.
First aid when one gets a snake bite:
Clinical features of snake bites:
Treatment – It depends on the condition of the patient
For more information follow /like our Facebook page :Zimbabwe Online Health Centre
email :[email protected]
Twitter :zimonlinehealthcentre
@zimonlinehealt1
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THE MDC ALLIANCE ASSEMBLY OF WOMEN CELEBRATES THE INTERNATIONAL DAY OF THE GIRL CHILD
Today the 11th of October, we join hands with our girls in celebrating the International Day of the Girl Child under the theme “My voice, our equal future” It is on this day when girls are helped to realise their dreams by supporting them and listening to them.
Today we mourn the collapse of the education sector in Zimbabwe where teachers are on strike and our children are not going to school. We all know that education is the key to success and as mothers and leaders in the society we can only help our girls realise their dreams by giving them their right to education. How then can this be possible when schools are not open? The pictures and audios that are going viral about what the boys and girls are doing in schools alone without teachers is really a cause for concern. We urge the government to fix the incapacitation of our teachers by engaging them and rewarding them a living wage.
This year’s theme focuses on inclusion, gender equality and listening to what the girls want, their dreams and aspirations. There is need to involve girls in all spheres of life and all developmental issues so that we do not experience the gender parities that are being experienced by women at the moment. We can not talk of gender equality without including our girls. It is therefore imperative as AOW to work hand in hand with the girl child so that we achieve gender equality together.
On this International Day of the Girl Child let us all remember that the girls are the new leaders of our time. The future is young and its female.
We wish all our girls in the Youth Assembly, in our homes and the world over a happy International Day of the Girl Child. As MDC Alliance, we shall continue to fight for a people’s government that will recognise and honour the girl child and making them realise their dreams in full.
B Tanyanyiwa
Spokesperson – MDC A Assembly of Women
Farai Dziva|MDC Alliance leader, President Nelson Chamisa has implored Zimbabweans to remain steadfast in their quest for freedom from tyranny.
President Chamisa made the remarks at the funeral of MDC Alliance MP Hon Anna Myambo in Chitungwiza on Friday.
He took a swipe at Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa for using guns to silence dissenting voices.
Said President Chamisa: Mnangagwa is using guns to suppress the will of the people.Mnangagwa has guns and we have the people.
Don’t be intimidated, Mnangagwa cannot arrest the whole nation.
In Zimbabwe everyone is prison, Mnangagwa himself is in prison.”
He added:”(Thokozani) Khupe is playing with a snake.Wait and see you cannot play with a wild beast one day it will kill.Can you harness a snake’s eggs? It’s too risky – sadly that is what Khupe is doing.
Hon Myambo was a dedicated party cadre.This thing(recall) affected her.”
By A Correspondent- Zanu PF through its spokesperson Patrick Chinamasa has demanded the reinstatement of Chitungwiza Town Clerk who is also a member of their party George Makunde who was suspended from the council close to a year ago, The Standard reports.
According to Chinamasa, Chitungwiza Town Clerk should be reinstated because his suspension in December last year was because the MDC Alliance Mayor that suspended him wanted to facilitate their corrupt activities.
Chinamasa further demanded that Local Governance Minister July Moyo should exercise his powers and reinstate Mukande when he said:
Zanu PF is demanding the reinstatement of the town clerk, George Makunde, who was removed by the MDC mayor to facilitate their corrupt activities. Zanu PF considers the suspension of the town clerk to be null and void.
The appointment of the disciplinary board and the prosecutor was done without following laid-down procedures.
Zanu PF is demanding that the acting clerk, the director of works and director of housing be suspended forthwith pending finalisation of their cases where they are being accused of abuse of office and corruption.
Zanu PF is calling on the minister of Local Government July Moyo to exercise his powers and rescind all Chitungwiza Town Council resolutions passed by the MDC-led council to embed systemic corruption within council affairs.-standard
By Knowledge Hakata-Why do you continue going to the courts that are captured by Zanu Pf?
Why do you dream of participating the 2023 presidential elections that are already rigged in favor of Zanu Pf?
Why are you not learning from the past mistakes of the late Morgan Tsvangirai?
Why are you surrounded by a group of lawyers and politicians that are leading you astray?
Why can’t you see that your party is being destroyed and yet you are doing nothing at all?
Why are you too blind to see that you are losing it slowly and yet you still say that you have the numbers?
Why can’t you see it that Mnangagwa is using the Covid-19 to destroy you once and for all?
Why are you still asking for permission from the police to stage a demonstration?
Why do you continue asking for help from AU and SADC knowing that these are political clubs of tyrants and dictators?
Why are your members being abducted, raped tortured and arrested? And you only reply via twitter?
Why did Mwonzora, Komichi, Mudzuri and recently Mashakada and other MPs desert you and you can’t see anything wrong within you?
Mr. President I don’t hate you but you lack the political stamina that Tsvangirai had.
Mr. President you are dying a natural death yet you claim to have the numbers.
Mr. President even Jonathan Moyo told you that only a revolution can remove Zanu Pf.
Mr. President I don’t hate you but its time you remove the pastoral jacket and put on a mafia jacket.
Mr. President why can’t you see that Zimbabweans have suffered to the born marrow.
ITSNOWORNEVER
KNOWLEDGEHAKATA IS A POLITICAL ANALYST AND CAN BE CONTACTED ON [email protected]/+27610014147
By A Correspondent | The most powerful post coup military politician, only next to the Presidium, former ZANU PF National Commissar, Gen Engelbert Eugeje has spoken for the first time following a gun attack at his Mt Pleasant house on Sunday morning.
Armed intruders were “repelled” by soldiers and one intruder was shot dead, when they tried to attack his house.
Speaking exclusively to ZimEye Gen Rugeje said, “I wasn’t there.”
He was asked if he knows what happened as well as details of possible injuries, and he said, “get the details from ZRP who attended the scene I wasn’t there.”
He was also asked if he has a clue of who is behind this and what their agenda is, and to this he replied with a long sigh and then said,
“I don’t have a clue when I was not there,”
Asked on his well being, how he feels, Gen Rugeje became non committal with responses.
His phone was hung up soon afterwards.
The development comes as Rugeje, who occupied the party’s most influential position, was rumoured to be next in line for disappearance or a car accident as has happened to many before him.
His immediate predecessor Saviour Kasukuwere fled Zimbabwe after his house was pounced on by skilled snipers.
Since independence 1980, every other political commissar has suffered either an assassination, or a humiliating ouster. The list of victims includes:
Mayor Urimbo,
Maurice Nyagumbo,
Movern Mahachi,
Border Gezi,
Elliot Manyika,
Webster Shamu,
In 2018, Rugeje hinted on a political sabbatical arguing that “people should not be mistaken that jobs are found at ZANU PF HQ”.
Rugeje took over from Saviour Kasukwere who was fired from Zanu Pf in 2017 for being linked to a faction which was coalescing around former first lady Grace Mugabe. The expulsion of the G40 faction resulted in some fissures ahead of the polls with some members of the party forming a new outfit called the National Patriotic Front which was also supported by former president Robert Mugabe.
The former army general was appointed by Mnangagwa at the party’s extra-ordinary congress in Harare before he presided over a chaotic primary election where he received brickbats from senior party members like Christopher Mutsvangwa for causing divisions in the party.
Watch the video loading below…….(please be patient as it uploads)
Thi’s time last year, Excelgate was about to be published, in the ex-pectation, inter alia, that the MDC Alliance, in particular, would capitalise on the revelations therein, to both fuel their legal challenge against the Constitutional Court’s ruling on the disputed 2018 presidential election; and mount a concerted political campaign that would include the exposure to the Zimbabwean population in general and, in particular, the millions whose votes were stolen of an electoral system so rotten that it has reduced elections in Zimbabwe to a mockery of democracy.
Such a legal and political campaign might have at least contained or even pre-empted the impunity with which the Zanu-PF/State has now staged the most blatant assault on the electorate, the voter and democracy itself. Namely, the recall of democratically elected parliamentarians, to be replaced undemocratically, illegally and unconstitutionally by appointment to Parliament of persons who had performed dismally in the 2018 elections. Add to that the cynical act of declaring a loser as the “Leader of the Opposition” in Parliament. The Khupe Coup!
A tragicomedy that includes the summary cancellation of by-elections in which the voters hoped, albeit naively given the history of elections in Zimbabwe, to re-affirm the choice they had made in 2018, and thereby have their recalled legislators returned to Parliament in December 2020.
Could there be a more cynical statement than this, on the deficit of constitutionalism and democracy in Zimbabwe, or that the voter and the vote are of no consequence in a military-securocratic state?
Yes, ExcelGate destroyed forever the idea that the Zanu-PF/State will run a bona fide election; and now they are trying to make sure that there will be no credible opposition, creating a phony one with “safe seats”.
And, indeed, such a strategy on the part of the Zanu-PF/State is inherently self-defeating: it exposes them as an essentially military-securocratic state, driven by the military doctrine and its false and finite strategy, that the only way to contain those millions of your citizens that you have systematically alienated over the decades is simply to batter and brutalise them into submission. Therein lies the empirical evidence that this is indeed the endgame of the Zanu-PF/State, as precedents in history testify.
Besides, an “outlawed” opposition is more dangerous now than a parliamentary one, if also because the latter has tended to lend legitimacy to an anti-democratic system, largely the outcome of disputed elections, as Excelgate demonstrates.
So, is it not ironic that Emmerson Mnangagwa and his Zanu-PF/State have succeeded in placing the MDC Alliance precisely where they should have been, in the face of both the disputed election of 2018 and the recall of MPs in 2020?
Both the revelations (if not confirmation) in Excelgate and the recall of MP’s should have left the MDC Alliance with no option, but to formally withdraw all their legislators. This would thereby expose the sham that the supposedly august House has become in any case, whilst highlighting the legitimacy question associated with both the disputed presidential election of 2018, and the fact of the coup of November 2017 which continues to underscore the reality of a military-securocratic state, with no capacity for conducting free, fair and democratic elections.
But, then, there has always been a problem with an obliging and compliant opposition in contemporary Zimbabwe.
First, the MDC Alliance refused to acknowledge the contradiction between, on the one hand, having to walk out of Parliament each time Mnangagwa addressed the latter as Head of State regarded by the opposition as illegitimate (on the basis of the claim that he lost to Chamisa in the 2018 presidential elections); and, on the other, remaining in the same legislature, until this unceremonious recall of their MPs, to be replaced by surrogates and losers as part of an arrangement no different from the “Internal Settlement” of the Smith-Muzorewa era.
Second, how could the MDC be expected to afford such bold and principled positions when some in their midst greeted the November 2017 coup with glee? Besides, an advocate in the MDC’s legal team represented Mnangagwa and Constantino Chiwenga in the case in which Justice George Chiweshe ruled that there was no coup. It might have been that, like many others in the MDC camp, the advocate was caught in the shortlived euphoria that greeted the coup during those days. But, as history would have it, the same advocate is the one who led the legal team that represented Nelson Chamisa in his application to the Constitutional Court, seeking to set aside the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission’s declaration that Mnangagwa had won the presidential poll in July 2018. All this tends to detract from the moral authority expected of a strong and consistent opposition party.
Advocates of democracy, constitutionalism and the rule of law, have all the reason to condemn the “Khupe Coup”, and all the shenanigans associated with this assault on the millions of voters who elected their MPs and Chamisa in 2018, only to have them replaced by appointees. But here is also to call the MDC Alliance and indeed all of us who are concerned at the need for the restoration of constitutionalism, rule of law and a genuine and sustainable solution of the crisis in Zimbabwe to demonstrate resolute leadership and an organised programme of action.
Such pious and pastoral-like statements as have emerged in response to the “Khupe Coup” hardly inspire confidence, particularly for the mass of the people out there for whom almost every election over the last two decades has been greeted with the theft of their votes, and violence. On the contrary, it exposes a leadership afraid to lead from the front, not prepared to face the brunt and make the sacrifices necessary (as in the case of the previous generation of nationalist leaders in the period towards national independence), and thereby unable to compel the merchants of violence to the negotiating table.
This is the “agency-ship” to which Tendai Biti made reference during the Sapes Trust Policy Dialogue Forum on “South Africa’s Mediation in Zimbabwe’s Crisis: What should be the outcome?”(October 1, 2020): The region, the continent and, indeed, the international community can only scaffold and support a national process in which opposition forces, civic bodies and the diaspora are coordinated and united in a programme of action, and a loud chorus for political and economic reform in Zimbabwe.
——
Ibbo Mandaza is an academic, author and publisher; co-convenor (with Tony Reeler) of the Platform for Concerned Citizens (PCC); and Convenor of the Sapes Trust’s Policy Dialogue Forum. Here, he writes also as the publisher of Sapes Books, the publishers of ExcelGate by Jonathan Moyo; with the announcement of another print-run within the next week or two, and book launches on Zoom, at home in Zimbabwe, in South Africa, the UK and North America.-standard
By Patrick Guramatunhu- I am very disappoint to note that Professor Jonathan Moyo, Mugabe’s former Minister cum principle propagandist and strategist, has not used his forced sabbatical to redeem himself.
He still considers himself and his boss, Zimbabwe’s former Zanu PF dictator, as the centre of every Zimbabwean’s universe. And the November 2017 military as a catastrophe that rob us of that centre and left us lost of direction and purpose.
“Finger-pointing aside, the political paralysis & rot in ZanuPF & the MDCs is a direct result of the 2017 military coup, which overthrew the 2013 Constitution. Failure by Zimbabweans, most who supported the coup, to come to terms with this will push Zim deeper into the dark abyss!” Twittered Professor Moyo, presumably, from fox-hole in exile in Kenya.
There are eight things I would like to say to you, Professor Moyo:
By A Correspondent- Scores of civil society organisations (CSOs) have called on the government to reverse VicePresident Constantino Chiwenga’s indefinite suspension of by-elections imposed to ostensibly prevent the spread of Covid-19.
Chiwenga, who doubles as Health and Child Care minister, said the holding of by-elections to fill parliamentary and local government vacancies created by the mass recall of legislators and councillors by the MDC-T, would remain suspended as long as Covid-19 was a “formidable epidemic”.
He issued the edict after the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) hinted that the polls would be held on December 5.
Chiwenga’s move has raised questions about Zec’s independence as the electoral body seems to be taking instructions from the government.
In a joint statement yesterday, the over a dozen CSOs working on democracy and human rights said the suspension of the polls was undemocratic.
“The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission is constitutionally charged to be an independent institution supporting democracy, accordingly, in our view, the Ministry of Health and Child Care has overreached and has unduly limited fundamental rights and freedoms enshrined in the constitution,” reads part of the statement.
“We believe that the suspension of by-elections should have been a result of transparent multi-stakeholder consultations inclusive of voices from citizens, parliament, political parties, the academia, civil society, the private sector, trade unions, youths and persons with disabilities to ensure the fostering of trust in electoral processes so as not to further curtail the upholding of democracy in Zimbabwe.”
The organisations said countries such as Malawi, Zambia, South Africa, Guinea, Cameroon, Mali, Benin, Burundi and Ghana had successfully conducted electoral processes during the Covid-19 era without any major incidents.
“Zimbabwe, whose Covid-19 case-load is not in any way unique on the African continent, proceeds to ban by-elections indefinitely, which appears not to be driven by
any Covid-19 science,” they added,
“The Ministry of Health and Child Care has provided guidance on the resumption of a wide array of socio-economic processes and activities, including but not limited to, the reopening of land and air borders, the resumption of the education sector, the expansion of food markets, and the extension of retailers and industry operating hours.
“The blanket ban of by-elections accordingly appears to be a unique limitation on electoral activities.
“Citizens should be allowed to express themselves politically, without restraint or compulsion, from anyone or any political party.
“Political participation is one of the cornerstones of a constitutional democracy and which facilitates discussion on politics, running for office and electing candidates of one’s choice into political positions in Parliament or the presidium,” they said.
Meanwhile, the Zimbabwe Election Support Network argued suspending elections could never be an option whatsoever under the circumstances.-standard
By A Correspondent | The most powerful post coup military politician, only next to the Presidium, former ZANU PF National Commissar, Gen Engelbert Eugeje has spoken for the first time following a gun attack at his Mt Pleasant house on Sunday morning.
Armed intruders were “repelled” by soldiers and one intruder was shot dead, when they tried to attack his house.
Speaking exclusively to ZimEye Gen Rugeje said, “I wasn’t there.”
He was asked if he knows what happened as well as details of possible injuries, and he said, “get the details from ZRP who attended the scene I wasn’t there.”
He was also asked if he has a clue of who is behind this and what their agenda is, and to this he replied with a long sigh and then said,
“I don’t have a clue when I was not there,”
Asked on his well being, how he feels, Gen Rugeje became non committal with responses.
His phone was hung up soon afterwards.
The development comes as Rugeje, who occupied the party’s most influential position, was rumoured to be next in line for disappearance or a car accident as has happened to many before him.
His immediate predecessor Saviour Kasukuwere fled Zimbabwe after his house was pounced on by skilled snipers.
Since independence 1980, every other political commissar has suffered either an assassination, or a humiliating ouster. The list of victims includes:
Mayor Urimbo,
Maurice Nyagumbo,
Movern Mahachi,
Border Gezi,
Elliot Manyika,
Webster Shamu,
By A Correspondent- Some MDC-T members have approached the High Court seeking to force the party’s interim leader Thokozani Khupe to release key information about the forthcoming extraordinary congress.
Gilbert Kagodora and Nason Mamuse cited MDC-T, Khupe, interim chairperson Morgen Komichi and acting organising secretary Abednico Bhebhe in the application.
Kagodora and Mamuse went to court after MDC-T interim secretary-general Douglas Mwonzora said MDC Alliance legislators and councillors that were recently recalled by his party would not be allowed to contest for positions at the congress.
The extraordinary congress was ordered by the Supreme Court, which ruled that MDC Alliance president Nelson Chamisa’s succession of the late MDC founding leader Morgan Tsvangirai was illegal.
Last month the court gave the MDC-T up to the end of next month to hold the congress.
Kagodora and Mamuse said before the congress is held, the party’s various internal organs must be involved.
They said the respondents made an announcement that the party’s national executive committee would meet on October 9, 2020 and the national council would meet on October 11, 2020,
The meetings were to be followed by provincial council meetings to nominate their preferred presidential candidate from October 25, but no notice of such meetings has been issued.
“The details of the venue, time or platform for the meeting have not been advised to applicants, who are entitled to attend such meetings,” they submitted.
“If a proper notice is not issued, and if the details of the meetings are not shared with the applicants, they stand to be excluded from the internal democratic processes of their party in violation of the constitution of the party.
“The dates for the meetings are close. The matter cannot wait.”
They added: “Respondents also announced that they had prepared a database of the electoral college to be used for the extraordinary congress.
“They further stated that all persons, who had been recalled from parliament or councils had lost party membership and were not entitled to attend the extraordinary congress.
“They also stated that all those who were members of the MDC Alliance national standing committee, national executive committee, national council, provincial, ward or branch structures were also not eligible to attend these.
“Given the fluidity between the MDC structures and those of the MDC Alliance, it is difficult to determine eligibility to these processes.”
Kagodora and Mamuse said it was important for the electoral college to be publicly shared to all members to provide clarity on this aspect and avoid arbitrary disenfranchisement of perceived political opponents or inclusion of non-eligible persons in the processes.
They want the court to issue a relief order directing the respondents to furnish them with full details such as date, time, venue, agenda and form of meetings with respect to all meetings in which they are entitled to attend in terms of the constitution of the MDC-T including all meetings of the national council, provincial councils, district councils, ward executive meetings and branch executive meetings.
The duo also asked Bhebhe as the organising secretary to furnish them with copies of the electoral college that will be used for the purposes of the extraordinary congress.
They asked the court to issue an order interdicting the respondents from barring from the extraordinary congress any person who was a bona fide member of the party as at the time the Supreme Court judgement.
Meanwhile, the High Court will tomorrow hear an application by a Kwekwe resident seeking to bar Khupe from carrying out her parliamentary duties.
Khupe and 14 of her associates were sworn in last week to fill in 15 proportional representation seats left vacant after she recalled 32 MDC Alliance MPs and 165 councillors.
Charles Madhiwa filed the court petition a day before the swearing-in ceremony seeking to interdict the parliamentary process.
Khupe immediately declared herself leader of the opposition in the House after the swearing-in.-standard
By A Correspondent- A group of Zanu-PF activists have allegedly invaded a farm in Mvuma owned by a former ruling party activist and started parcelling out land to each other.
Nothiwani Dlodlo, who recently resigned from Zanu-PF and surrendered party cards, said he was being persecuted.
Dlodlo has since petitioned the Agriculture and Lands ministry to eject the invaders who allegedly include a retired army major.
He expressed fears over the downsizing of his farm, subdivision 108 Central Estate.
“My farm is within the government-gazetted maximum farm size of 500 hectares for Midlands province,” Dlodlo said.
“I am perturbed that after the national task force visit to my farm sometime last year, I have not received any formal written communication from the Chirumanzu district development coordinator [Vafias Hlabati].
“To my surprise since then I have witnessed several suspicious visits without appointment by the political leadership from Zanu-PF Chirumanzu led by Mvuma lands office.”
He noted that in their visit, they recently illegally subdivided his farm without any formal communication for such action from the Midlands provincial lands task force team led by Provincial minister Larry Mavima.
Dlodlo said he was later phoned by his neighbour, one Nyandoro, asking him if he was aware that his farm was being subdivided.
“This is not my first time to be victimised over my farm. The first victimisation over my farm, I reported it directly to both President Emmerson Mnangagwa and Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga (pictured) on April 12, 2018 when I lost eight cattle to Chirumanzu Rural District Council in cahoots with the Chivhu Messenger of Court,” he said.
Dlodlo said the matter, which was later handled by the police, spilled to the courts where the magistrate ruled it as a clear stock theft case.
He said after the first report, Chiwenga was then tasked by Mnangagwa to look into the matter.
In the petition, Dlodlo indicated that some people have multiple farms in Chirumanzu, but they were not being affected by the downsizing programme.
“I am the only Ndebele in the area and the sentiments are: How did this Ndebele man get a farm here?.
“In 2018 I campaigned strongly for President Mnangagwa from Beitbridge to Binga using personal resources, a case which can be verified,” he said.
Dlodlo said all this is even known by the invaders who only want to victimise him for being a Ndebele in the area.
Hlabati said he was not aware of the issue and questioned why Dlodlo did not visit his office if his case was genuine.
“I am not aware of that issue. Why is he not coming to my office to say that some people are invading his farm?
“Many people have done so and I would go to the farm in question accompanied by the police and the messenger of court to ask the settlers as to who gave them the land.
“I chair the district land committee here. I was posted by the president last year in November and since then I have never seen him.
“I don’t even know him. If he has a genuine case, he must come to the office and we hear him.”-standard
By A Correspondent | The most powerful post coup military politician, only next to the Presidium, former ZANU PF National Commissar, Gen Engelbert Eugeje has spoken for the first time following a gun attack at his Mt Pleasant house on Sunday morning.
Armed intruders were “repelled” by soldiers and one intruder was shot dead, when they tried to attack his house.
Speaking exclusively to ZimEye Gen Rugeje said, “I wasn’t there.”
He was asked if he knows what happened as well as details of possible injuries, and he said, “get the details from ZRP who attended the scene I wasn’t there.”
He was also asked if he has a clue of who is behind this and what their agenda is, and to this he replied with a long sigh and then said,
“I don’t have a clue when I was not there,”
Asked on his well being, how he feels, Gen Rugeje became non committal with responses.
His phone was hung up soon afterwards.
The development comes as Rugeje, who occupied the party’s most influential position, was rumoured to be next in line for disappearance or a car accident as has happened to many before him.
His immediate predecessor Saviour Kasukuwere fled Zimbabwe after his house was pounced on by skilled snipers.
Since independence 1980, every other political commissar has suffered either an assassination, or a humiliating ouster. The list of victims includes:
Mayor Urimbo,
Maurice Nyagumbo,
Movern Mahachi,
Border Gezi,
Elliot Manyika,
Webster Shamu,
In 2018, Rugeje hinted on a political sabbatical arguing that “people should not be mistaken that jobs are found at ZANU PF HQ”.
Rugeje took over from Saviour Kasukwere who was fired from Zanu Pf in 2017 for being linked to a faction which was coalescing around former first lady Grace Mugabe. The expulsion of the G40 faction resulted in some fissures ahead of the polls with some members of the party forming a new outfit called the National Patriotic Front which was also supported by former president Robert Mugabe.
The former army general was appointed by Mnangagwa at the party’s extra-ordinary congress in Harare before he presided over a chaotic primary election where he received brickbats from senior party members like Christopher Mutsvangwa for causing divisions in the party.
Watch the video loading below…….(please be patient as it uploads)
Press release
I note with concern my purported suspension by MDC-T Acting President Dr Thokozani Khupe. l need to make it clear that l remain Harare Province Youth Chairperson on the following basis;
1. The purported suspension was done from a misinformed position. No person, official or staff member was barred from entering MRT House as alleged in the letter .
2.It is unlawful & unconstitutional to suspend a member of the Party for simply calling for unity within the Party and amongst its leaders.Calling for unity within the Party is not an offense as enshrined in the Party Constitution.
3.I am of the view that the purported suspension is because of my personal and democratic political choice of one candidate over another. This suspension is a mockery of my constitutional right to support a candidate of my choice ahead of EOC.
4.Other than being Harare Province Youth Chairperson. I am employed by the Party as the person responsible of all security matters at MRT House therefore my contract with the Party still exists and is still valid.
On behalf of the MDC-T Harare Province Youth Assembly I reiterate that there is need for our Party leaders to unite so as to have undisputed EOC. Failure to unite and allow all 2014 Genuine Congress delagates will lead to a disputed EOC.
Ahead of EOC National Organizer through his organizing committee should publish all 2014 Genuine Congress delagates list for the purpose of verification. The Independent team that will oversee or supervise nomination processes should be agreed by all candidates and published for scrutiny.
2014 Genuine National Executive and 2014 Genuine National Council should physically seat so as to agree set road map for EOC.
We will not allow a situation whereby few National Executive members who do not constitute quorum make critical decisions via ZOOM ahead of EOC whilst congress delagates who are over 5000 are supposed to physically meet to elect a new leader .
I have instructed my legal representative to study the purported suspension and prepare an adequate response.
We remain in charge of MRT House as we await Court proceedings on the matter filled by 2014 MDC-T Secretary General Hon Douglas Mwonzora.
Any attempt to forcibly take over MRT House will be resisted and stopped.
We call for UNITY
On behalf of
MDC-T Harare Youth Assembly Paul Gorekore Chairperson
By A Correspondent- Zanu PF has accused its ministers of leaking confidential Cabinet minutes to “hostile” countries such as the united Kingdom amid allegations of a rift between President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s appointees and the ruling party’s heavyweights.
Patrick Chinamasa, the acting Zanu-PF spokesperson, yesterday told journalists in Harare, that Mnangagwa’s Cabinet had moles that served foreign interests.
Chinamasa said the leaked minutes had in the past become part of discussions in the British Parliament.
“It is very clear that some people are receiving advice from their colonial masters. They oppose everything,” Chinamasa said.
“They disregard the Official Secrets act and now publish cabinet minutes to their colonial masters.
“If you want to investigate this issue, journalists you can get it.
“Right now the British Parliament discusses our Cabinet minutes in their Parliament. We know that they work with the British.”
The former Justice minister refused to name the ministers that allegedly leak minutes after he was pressed by journalists.
British parliamentarians from time to time raise issues about human rights violations in Zimbabwe and the political crisis.
Zimbabwe’s former coloniser has of late taken a tough stance against Mnangagwa’s administration after initially warming up to the 77-year-old ruler when he seized power from former president Robert Mugabe in a military coup.
Chinamasa’s claims followed repeated allegations that former ministers that were deployed to Zanu-PF headquarters after Mnangagwa left them out of his Cabinet in 2018 are involved in a tug-ofwar with new ministers over supremacy. The Zanu-PF heavyweights want to dictate government policy, arguing that the party is supreme.
Chinamasa also appeared to be leaning on Local Government minister July Moyo to meddle in the affairs of Chitungwiza Town Council.
He said they want Moyo to reinstate Zanu-PF member George Makunde as town clerk.
“Zanu-PF is demanding the reinstatement of the town clerk, George Makunde, who was removed by the MDC mayor to facilitate their corrupt activities,” he said.
“Zanu-PF considers the suspension of the town clerk to be null and void.
“The appointment of the disciplinary board and the prosecutor was done without following laid-down procedures.
“Zanu-PF is demanding that the acting clerk, the director of works and director of housing be suspended forthwith pending finalisation of their cases where they are being accused of abuse of office and corruption.
“Zanu-PF is calling on the minister of Local Government July Moyo to exercise his powers and rescind all Chitungwiza Town Council resolutions passed by the MDC-led council to embed systemic corruption within council affairs.”
Makunde was suspended in December last year after he was allegedly implicated in the illegal selling of commercial stands.
By A Correspondent- President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government is set to improve the perks for the leader of the opposition after MDC-T leader Thokozani Khupe ascended to the position through the back door.
Khupe was sworn last week into Parliament alongside 14 other MDC-T officials as a direct replacement of MDC Alliance proportional representation legislators that she recalled under controversial circumstances.
She immediately took over as the official leader of the opposition, a position that was previously held by MDC alliance’s Tabitha Khumalo.
MDC-T officials who spoke on condition of anonymity said Mnangagwa was determined to formalise his proposal to create the office of the leader of the opposition, which he first made in 2018.
Mnangagwa dangled the carrot to MDC alliance leader nelson Chamisa, who had rejected the outcome of the presidential election, which he argued was rigged.
Chamisa rejected the offer and Khupe is said to be now prepared to assume the position snubbed by her bitter rival.
Mnangagwa’s spokesperson George Charamba was not taking calls and did not respond to questions on his WhatsApp number yesterday.
Charamba, however, tweeted: “Leader of the opposition portfolio comes with perks.”
Justice minister Ziyambi Ziyambi was not picking calls and Information minister Monica Mutsvangwa referred questions to Parliament.
Kennedy Chokuda, the clerk of Parliament, said he could not comment on the alleged plans to strengthen the position.
“Ask the politicians,” Chokuda said.
“The position of leader of the opposition in the House has always been recognised, from way back, you recall Gibson Sibanda.
“The post is there in Parliament and the leader of the opposition is consulted when business is done.”
At the moment, the leader of the House is recognised under standing orders and rules of Parliament.
The leader of the House ordinarily gets a Parliament residence and car. Khupe herself stayed in a Parliament residence in Harare’s Mt Pleasant suburb when she was leader of the House under the leadership of the late MDC founding leader Morgan Tsvangirai.
She also reportedly got two cars from Parliament, one as a constituency MP and the other for her post as leader of the opposition.
Khupe’s spokesperson Khalipani Phugeni said he was not aware of the proposals to bump up Khupe’s perks and enhance her status.
“I am not aware of that, what I know is, she will simply take over from Tabitha Khumalo,” Phugeni said.
Khupe’s associates, however, said she has been promised an office in Parliament and perks that will include pension because she will occupy a ‘constitutional’ office.
The move is allegedly meant to create an impression in the international community that Mnangagwa is tolerant of opposition parties.
Mnangagwa in 2018, during interviews with united States television networks on the sidelines of the united nations general assembly, said he planned to give Chamisa certain perks as leader of the opposition.
The gesture was seen as an attempt to end the dispute that ensued after the July elections where the MDC alliance accused the Zanu-PF leader of rigging the elections.
Chamisa declined the offer saying he was voted to go to State House, not Parliament.
At the time Ziyambi said the constitution could be amended to allow Chamisa into Parliament since he was not an elected MP.
Charamba said then that the office was going to be created as Mnangagwa’s capacity building measures.
Khupe and Mnangagwa are alleged to be working together to destroy Chamisa, an accusation they both deny.
They are allegedly plotting to have all Chamisa MPs recalled, a development to allow Zanu-PF to amend the constitution to raise the presidential running age limit to 50 to block the MDC leader, who is in his 40s.
Zanu-PF is also allegedly plotting to form a unity government with Khupe and suspend elections until 2027 to effectively shut Chamisa out.-standard
By A Correspondent | When he was sworn into office 2 years ago, the Deputy Health And Child Care Minister, John Mangwiro swore saying he would help the country lower its health bill.
25 months later, a major investigation opened by the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission investigates the circumstances in which, the pharmaceutical parastatal, Natpharm is being forced to award Young Healthcare Limited, a briefcase company, a tender for COVID materials. The Deputy Health Minister is under investigation for among other things, complaining and convening a meeting at 10pm on a date in August 2020, to complain why the tender team did not award dysfunctional firm the tender.
The investigation also looks into why COVID 19 materials were overpriced in the deal.
“Deputy Minister of Health and Child Care, Dr. Mangwiro convened a meeting with the adjudication team, where he queried the reasons why the team did not award the tender to Young HealthCare Limited.
Members were threatened with dismissal;” the ZACC report says.
The report investigates how minister Mangwiro allegedly pounced on Natpharm’s adjudicating team for tenders, late at night, at 10pm and grilled them why they are refusing to award Young HealthCare Limited the tender.
The value was at first set at USD5,6 million.
Young Health Care Limited was awarded a contract to supply nucleic acid and purification machines, transport media and reagents.
But to date, Natpharm has received supplies worth only US$124 630.
The Deputy Minister also reportedly insisted on pre-payment and tasked the technical team from laboratory and Natpharm procurement to visit Young Health Care Limited in their country office and verify available stock in order to compel the Natpharm Acting MD to make a prepayment to Young Health Care Limited. Such actions violated the evaluation process since the technical team did not have the mandate to carry out the verification of supplies.
THE FULL ZACC REPORT IS BELOW:
TABLE OF CONTENTS
The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission, as prescribed by Section 12 of the Anti-Corruption Commission Act (Chapter9:22) is mandated, amongst other functions, to monitor and examine the practices, systems and procurement procedures of the public and private institutions; to advise and assist agency or institution in the elimination of minimization of corruption; and to assist in the formulation of practices, systems and procurement procedures of public institutions with a view to the elimination of corrupt practices.
It is against this background that the Commission assigned Compliance and Systems Department to carry out a Compliance and Systems Spot Check Exercise on the procurement procedures for Tender Number– International NAT TCB FWWK 04/2020- laboratory equipment, reagents and consumables for COVID-19 at Natpharm. The exercise was necessitated by allegations raised in the anonymous letter to ZACC dated 18th August 2020 that Natpharm and Ministry of Health and Child Care did not follow proper procurement procedures for the procurement of laboratory equipment, reagents and consumables for COVID-19 management (tender reference number: INT NAT ITCB FWWK 04/2020).
The objectives of the exercise were to ascertain the allegations made in the anonymous letter, which were as follows:-
World Health Organization and FDA specifications; and CE marked;
Members were threatened with dismissal;
1. Interviews
Interviews with members of the adjudication team for the tender for laboratory equipment, reagents and consumables, were held to ascertain what transpired during the procurement process with a view of ascertaining the allegations, tracing the systems used, identify weaknesses and possible remedies. The individuals interviewed were the Acting Managing Director of Natpharm, officers from National Microbiology Reference Laboratories (NMRL) and the procurement officer at Natpharm.
In order to confirm some statements made by the interviewees, the team requested for a number of documents listed below:
4.1 Non-Compliance with provisions of PRAZ Circular 1 of 2020, Public Finance Management Act [Chapter: 22:19] and the Public Entities Corporate Governance Act [Chapter 10:31] by Ministry of Health and Child Care.
4.1.1 Numerous directives from the Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC), particularly Deputy Minister Dr. Mangwiro to
The Deputy Minister does not have the powers and mandate to undertake administrative duties, which are the responsibility of the Permanent Secretary. The Deputy Minister reportedly issued numerous directives to the Nat-Pharm management throughout the tender process.
Health Care Limited subsequently submitted a bid price of USD$ 3 600 000-00 for the same items. This saw a reduction of 36% in the price. (see attached two quotations).
of Health and Child Care, Dr. Mangwiro. (see attached report from Natpharm).
Natpharm settled for competitive bidding, which saw other bidders coming on board to compete with Young Health Care. The tender was eventually floated on the 5th of August and closed 7th of August 2020, in line with PRAZ Circular 1 of 2020 which provides for emergency procurement, allowing tenders to be floated for 48hrs instead of 40 working days under normal circumstances. A total of 22 bidders participated. The adjudication of the tender started from the 8th to 10th of August 2020 and resumed from the 13th and 14th of August 2020.
4.1.4 The results of the winners were announced except for tender item 24, 25 and 26 which are yet to be concluded to allow further technical evaluation of the samples from bidders.
4.1.5 Natpharm Acting MD reported that he received a phone call from the Deputy Minister instructing him to convene with his adjudication team during odd hours to explain why the tender was not awarded to
Young Healthcare Limited. The Deputy Minister also demanded that a purchase order be issued that same night. The adjudication team was picked from their homes around 2200 hours and were interrogated by the Deputy Minister until early hours of the following day.(see attached report) The Deputy Minister threatened the team with dismissal for failing to award Young Health Care the contracts.
4.1.6 Violation of the terms and conditions of Supply Contract by
(i). Young Health Care Limited was genuinely awarded the contract to supply nucleic acid and purification machines, transport media and reagents. To date, Natpharm has received supplies worth US$124 630, 40 as follows:
Young Healthcare Deliveries on the 31st of August 2020
| Item | Quantity Ordered | Quantity Received | % |
| Purification machines | 4 | 2 | 50 |
| Nucleic Acid | 220 000 | 13 824 | 6.3 |
| Transport Media | 220 000 | 14 000 | 6.4 |
Source: Natpharm
Young Health Care Limited managed to deliver a paltry 6% of Nucleic Acid and another 6% of Transport Media but went on to request prepayment for the awarded contract, including undelivered supplies ( see attached request), contrary to the terms and conditions of the contract signed with Nat-Pharm, which stipulates that payment should be made 7 days after delivery.(post-payment)
(ii) The Deputy Minister of Health and Child Care, Dr. Mangwiro reportedly insisted on pre-payment and tasked the technical team from laboratory and Natpharm procurement to visit Young Health Care Limited in their country office and verify available stock ( see letter dated 25th August 2020) in order to compel the Natpharm Acting MD to make a prepayment to Young Health Care Limited. Such actions violated the evaluation process since the technical team did not have the mandate to carry out the verification of supplies.
Natpharm Acting MD wrote a letter on the 26th of August 2020 (attached) to the Permanent Secretary for Health and Child Care informing him of the pre-payment issue and seeking guidance on how to proceed. However, there was no response from the Ministry, prompting the Acting MD to decline taking the Deputy Minister’s instruction to pre-pay Young Health Care and he referred him to the signed contract (attached). Verification team noted that items amounting to US$127,643.20 were in-stock instead of US$922, 000.00 requested for prepayment.
5.1 Given the extent to which the Deputy Minister was involved in the said tender process, indications are that he was acting on his own capacity and not on behalf of the Ministry. The actions of the Deputy Minister signal a personal interest in the tender and this should have prompted him to declare his interest.
5.2 The conduct of the Minister during this tender process warrants further investigations for Criminal Abuse of Office for possible violation of Section 174 of the Criminal Law Codification Act [Chapter 9:23]. Apart from this provision, further investigations should be conducted to ascertain possible violation of Section 14 of the Public Finance Management Act [Chapter 22:19] by the Deputy Minister through giving ministerial directives having financial implications when he demanded prepayment of undelivered goods to Young Health Care.
5.3 There is need for further investigations into the possible violation of the
Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets Act [Chapter 22:23] as
the conduct of the Deputy Minister might have compromised the independence of Natpharm as a procurement entity.
5.4 The Commission should closely follow the re-floated tender laboratory equipment, reagents and consumables for COVID-19 to ensure competitive bidding and that undeserving bidders are not awarded the contracts.
5.5 Best practices and good corporate governance should always be applied during procurement processes. Officials who are appointed to carry out procurement process should be allowed to do so independently without interference.
5.6 Investigations into possible violation of the Cabinet Directive that granted Natpharm exclusive powers for procurement of Covid 19 materials.
7. CLIENT’S COMMENTS ON RECOMMENDATIONS
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
The implementation of these recommendations should be immediate considering the urgency of the matter.
The Commission should monitor the bidding process of the re-floated tender to be carried out in two weeks time.
11. ANNEXURES
FWWK 04/2020- Laboratory Equipment, Reagents and Consumables for COVID-19 at Natpharm
Ministry, Young Healthcare Limited and Natpharm); and
D. Young HealthCare Limited company profile
By A Correspondent- A nurse at Mbagwe Clinic in Plumtree has been arrested on charges of assaulting a colleague following a dispute over a $10 bill.
The nurse also faces two other charges after she attacked other two fellow colleagues in the past and the cases are pending in courts.
Matabeleland South police spokesperson Inspector Philisani Ndebele confirmed the arrest of Sikhethiwe Tshuma for allegedly assaulting Lynet Ndlovu (45) after they had a misunderstanding while at their work station.
“I have received the report and l can safely confirm that Tshuma from Mbagwe Clinic in Madabe had an argument with not only one of her colleagues, but three of them. The arguments led to her having rage and resorting to violence,” Ndebele said.
He said the minor argument was about lunch allowances, which had been allocated to her colleague.-standard
By A Correspondent- Former Miss Zimbabwe Bongani Dhlakama is embroiled in a messy divorce with her husband Bongani Ndlovu.
The couple has thrown all caution to the wind, accusing each other of poor sexual performance, among other issues.
In court papers exclusively obtained by the state media in which Ndlovu was seeking a restraining order against Dhlakama he said although they were still staying together, they have been using separate bedrooms since May 2019 after their relationship irretrievably broke down.
Ndlovu said it was around that time that they agreed that their relationship had come to an end, and the decision was communicated to their relatives. The couple has one child together aged two. Through his lawyers Malinga and Mpofu Legal Practitioners, Ndlovu alleged that the supermodel was verbally and emotionally manipulative towards him, adding that the “repeated abuse” was being meted out on him in front of his children, maid and anyone who would be present at their house in Bulawayo’s Burnside suburb.
“Respondent and I were customarily married sometime in 2016 and we have one minor child together who is two years old. Prior to my involvement with the respondent I was married to my ex-wife with whom I had two children, one who is now at university and the other one doing Lower Six. I also have another one who is 13 years old who occasionally visits. Over the past 17 months my relationship with the respondent has deteriorated to an extent that I can no longer have her under the same roof with me because of her continuous abuse towards myself and my children from my first wife,” Ndlovu’s affidavits reads in part.
Ndlovu claimed that he now lives “scared” at the thought of him and his children being poisoned by Dhlakama.
“On the 31st of August 2020, the respondent threatened to poison me together with my children. She has made it clear that she can carry out her threat upon my children at any time. Prior to respondent sending me the WhatsApp message she had indicated to me that she can get rid of me by poisoning me and I will be gone for good. The said threat was uttered when I tried to engage her concerning her behaviour towards me and the children,” he said.
He alleged that his estranged wife has also threatened to enlist the services of thugs to “deal” with him. This was after his efforts to engage relatives had dismally failed.
“She further indicated that should I continue to seek help from family members and friends she will make it a point that I regret it. She also said that she will simply go and make a false report that I have assaulted her and I will find myself in prison where I will be sodomised and damaged forever.”
He further said in March this year, Dhlakama squandered ZW$20 000 that he had given her for deposit and first month’s rental and US$150 to transport her property. This was after she had indicated that she wanted to move out, as it was untenable for them to be in the same house due to the breakdown of their relationship. He said he lost his job on 30 June 2020, as a result of Dhlakama’s violent behaviour as she was in the habit of going to his workplace to shout and cause a scene.
“Sometime when I was not feeling well, the doctor prescribed for me some antibiotics, multivitamins and mineral syrup. I administered the first dose when I got home but later when I was administering the second dose, I discovered that the medicine was now diluted with another liquid I would like to think was water. I discarded the bottle and got another one. When I engaged her on the issue, she made it known to me that she can do whatever she wants.”
Ndlovu then begged the court to consider his application as a matter of urgency claiming his life and that of his children were in danger.
Responding to Ndlovu’s claims through her lawyers Vundla-Phulu and Partners, the ex-Miss Zimbabwe said her estranged husband approached the wrong court for relief.
She, however, admitted that their relationship has irretrievably broken down with no reasonable prospect of the restoration of a normal marriage relationship.
“I accept that our marriage is practically over. If applicant is to remove me from the property he must do so lawfully and for cogent reasons. I now sleep in a separate bedroom with my daughter. This was a decision taken for my safety and also to avoid sexual imposition by the applicant. In spite of the abuse meted out by the applicant he would still attempt to have sexual intercourse with me but I will not be in a position to entertain him sexually.”
Dhlakama also refuted abuse allegations and that she once tampered with Ndlovu’s medication and that she had also threatened to poison him and his children. She argued that Ndlovu’s life and that of his children were not in any danger except in his mind, adding that Ndlovu was the one who had abused her in several ways.
“I deny that I have abused the plaintiff and his children. I have tried to be a mother to the minor children, however, we failed to bond as a result of the applicant’s constant interference. I have never acted in a manner to cause harm to the children,” argued Dhlakama.
She then labelled Ndlovu a “serial adulterer” while giving explicit evidence of why their marriage has broken down.
“The applicant is a serial adulterer who I found at one point engaging in relationships with three women. This has caused grave stress to myself and emotionally. The applicant did not apologise for his affairs but defended himself. In fact, he gloated about his affairs and insulted my femininity and my capacity to please him physically as a wife.”
She corroborated her claims by attaching a vile WhatsApp conversation in which they end up accusing each other of poor sexual performance. Ndlovu’s attacks read: “Go to your talk clever cassanovas who promise to marry you and dump you. Lawe awumnandi (and you too not sweet). Because of what or who you are . . . you’re not inspiring to any man . . . deceiving portraying beauty but full of rotten heart.”
And Dhlakama hit back saying: “F***yourself. You dumb barbarian. “Your p**** doesn’t do me really. You may think you didn’t want to sleep with me but I also didn’t look forward. Even back then, you were just a lump of dead flesh. And you are weak. I felt like I was being touched by a woman.”
Dhlakama also disputed her estranged husband’s claims that he lost his job because of her abusive behaviour.
“He insulted his own superior at work resulting in problems for him. I deny that I caused the scene at his workplace. I went there to look for him since he had a habit of disappearing for days and not being reachable on his phone.”
In her ruling presiding magistrate Adelaide Mbeure ordered Dhlakama not to physically, verbally and emotionally abuse her estranged husband and also not to go to any place or premise where he would be employed or carrying out his business.
Dhlakama was crowned Miss Zimbabwe in 2012 and held the crown until 2014 when another contest was held.-statemedia
By A Correspondent- Zanu PF National Political Commissar Victor Matemedanda is reportedly using liberation war-time strategies of mobilisation to ensure the ruling party has 5 million members by the 2023 elections.
Zanu-PF has repeatedly said it aims to win the 2023 elections by a landslide so as to bury once and for all the issues of legitimacy and contested electoral outcomes.
Recently, sources in the ruling party revealed that Matemadanda called a meeting of all the party’s provincial political commissars and let them in on a “secret to recruitment of supporters to the scale Las seen during the 1970s war of liberation”, said the source in an interview with the a local publication.
“Remember that during the last days of Cde Robert Mugabe in office, war veterans were pushing for full control of the commissariat department. They felt that Saviour Kasukuwere lacked the gravitas to pull together party mobilization to levels of liberation war era when structures countrywide were solidly behind the party,” said the source, requesting anonymity.
“But soon as President Mnangagwa came into office, he granted the war veterans component their wish and that is why the DCC structures which had been declared divisive under the late Cde Robert Mugabe have been resurrected.
“Also, Cde Matemadanda met with all commissars recently and you’ll see how the party will solidify its stranglehold on especially rural structures in upcoming by-elections.
“But make no mistake of thinking that the strategy is for rural support only. Remember the ruling party won a Cowdray Park election against the MDC-A and MDC-T not so long ago. 2023 will shock many opposition politicians who think they have a God given right to win in some constituencies, especially urban ones.”
As if to confirm that, the Zanu-PF Bulawayo provincial commissar Maidei Mpala while speaking after the party’s Provincial Coordinating Committee(PCC) in Bulawayo yesterday said Matemadanda taught them how they can attain the 5 million members by 2023.
“When we went to Harare to meet the commissar, we were told about the party’s plan to get at least five million members by the time that we go for elections in 2023. We were also taught ways in which this was attainable.
“The commissar told us that in his first two weeks in office, President Mnangagwa had already outlined his vision for the country and that was a vision tied to the year 2030,” she said in a report by the State-owned Sunday News.
She added: “So, when we met the commissar in Harare he wanted to know if we were following in the President’s footsteps. He wanted to know if we had a vision or we were just approaching elections without a necessary strategy.
“The commissar made it clear that, as a party of the people, we should be in touch with the issues that are really affecting people in Bulawayo because the city has many problems.-statemedia
By Farai D Hove | All is not well in Emmerson Mnangagwa’s deputy, Constantino Chiwenga’s family as serious allegations around child molestation grow. This complaint is released pursuant to Child Protection laws and guidelines.
During an emotional family squabble, Vice President Constantino Chiwenga’s “son,” Kuda Blessing, has exploded to suggest that the man he calls his father, is a thief who survives on stealing.
Writing publicly, on Wednesday, he said his dad is a monkey- anasoko “ nekuti munopona nezvekuba.” Chiwenga’s totem (African surname) is a monkey. [This translates to mean a monkey that survives on stealing].
He also offloaded a series of old pictures while penning out his thread. In the piece he also made several allegations against the father concerning his love life.
He alleged that he has been molested, without however elaborating what he means by that type of abuse whether metaphoric or literal. He said, “I may have no memory of this, but I do believe I was loved then. After that, it was just molestation, abuse, and a whole bunch of horrors. 2020 has seemed to exceed them all. There truly is a devil out there. God help us all.
#The_Poet “
He alleged that a woman named “Getty” is destroying the whole Chiwenga clan. He then penned out several staggering allegations against the said, Getty.
He said, “Nhai Getty, woparadza dzinza rese here, wodya murume, kushandisa Charles kuba maunderwear evanhu, zvino shop yako naMwamuka yakasvikepi.
“ Zvino vana vawakabheja kuti tichafa tingoripo.
“Nhai ngatigarei dare, musungise vakandibata chibharo. Ndosaka wakavengwa nedzinza rekumurume wako. Kubatirira pahanzvadzi kutya mhosva. Repent. All of this is your fault. Ndini ndazvitaura.”
After this he went on to point the accusing finger against his father saying that he is conspiring with stepmothers to ruin children’s lives. He said: “You see a whole grown man conspire to help some stepmothers ruin lives. Kubva kuna Jocy, toti Maria. Asi nhai Muradzi wakakwana here nemumwe wako Chaminuka. Zvamave retired muchiri double agent here Mr Chams.
“Ndimi vatingati anasoko nekuti munopona nezvekuba, ko mumwe Njenje akatizira kupi? Ko tsaga vamakatuma paye ndiri pasports diner. Did you think you could destroy me you imbeciles?”
The last block of allegations he offloaded is about the father. He said in full:
If I can calculate the amount of rituals some ladies from our family do. You may discover that the blue uniform they wear is where they truly belong. Imagine someone is sick for four months, he comes back and his sisters and aides conspire to release false articles to confuse the family. We know you were part of the crew that tried to kill him in the first place. Lawyers changing names and stuff. People, there’s a whole to this than people understand. Hatina kwatiri kuenda. Yet they same people are still masquerading as allies. Does your boss know of your other activities? Ana Muringi, idzungu rekunzi munogona kudhedha vanhu here? Takakunzwai nembiri yesabotage. Watooneka nekachiremerera kufamba nashefu asi brain ndopasina.
While attempts to get a comment from VP Chiwenga and his three former lovers were fruitless at the time of writing, several family members had joined in to somewhat commiserate with Kuda, with some saying the running complaints need to be attended to by family as a matter of urgency- this is a developing story.
Today the United Nations Country Team (UNCT) in Zimbabwe pays tribute to adolescent girls in the country as the world marks the International Day of the Girl Child under a global theme – “My voice, our equal future”.
The 2020 theme calls us to reimagine a better future inspired by the ideas and innovations of adolescent girls.
Girls in Zimbabwe, as in the world over, face myriad challenges, including gender-based discriminations that result in less opportunities across a range of sectors like education, training and employment, compared with boys.
By age 19, when most children are expected to be starting their university or tertiary education, half of the girls in the country are already married. Reducing the chances of girls being able to pursue their aspirations and dreams.
Girls and young women under the age of 24 account for 30% of maternal deaths in the country. One in three women and girls in Zimbabwe experience sexual and gender-based violence at least once in their lifetime.
The prevailing humanitarian and economic challenges in the country, and the added burden of the COVID-19 pandemic have shown that gender inequality continues, as women and girls bear a disproportionate brunt of the socio-economic hardships.
The UN and its partners support national development priorities in education, skills training, protection of children, HIV and AIDS, food security
To address the deeply rooted challenges girls and young women face in Zimbabwe, the UN and its partners support national development priorities in education, skills training, protection of children, HIV and AIDS, food security.
The UN team in Zimbabwe are also working to ensure that girls in rural and urban areas have access to information and services on sexual and reproductive health.
Through strong and ambitious partnerships such as the Spotlight Initiative, funded by the European Union, the UN is working with the Government of Zimbabwe, Civil Society Organizations and communities to eliminate violence against women and girls.
Promoting the rights of the girl child demands a commitment to ensure that policy and laws are in place and enforced, preventative and supportive services are available, including access to justice and the UN continues through its programmes to support all Zimbabwean stakeholders to uphold the rights of the girl child.
Despite the myriad of challenges, girls are breaking boundaries and barriers posed by stereotypes and exclusion, including those directed at children with disabilities and those living in marginalized communities. As entrepreneurs, innovators and initiators of local, national and global movements, girls are creating a world that is relevant for them and future generations.
The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals is about ensuring no one is left behind.
On the occasion of the International Day of the Girl Child, the UN Country Team in Zimbabwe renews its commitment and calls on all stakeholders to support and amplify the demands and voices of girls to:
Live free from gender-based violence, harmful practices including child marriages, and HIV and AIDS;
Learn new skills towards the futures they choose; and
Lead as a generation of activists accelerating social change
International Day of the Girl Child has been commemorated since 2011, when the UN General Assembly adopted Resolution 66/170 in recognition of and commitment to address the unique challenges girls face in the world.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of United Nations Country Team (UNCT), Zimbabwe.
By A Correspondent | When he was sworn into office 2 years ago, the Deputy Health And Child Care Minister, John Mangwiro swore saying he would help the country lower its health bill.
25 months later, a major investigation opened by the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission investigates the circumstances in which, the pharmaceutical parastatal, Natpharm is being forced to award Young Healthcare Limited, a briefcase company, a tender for COVID materials. The Deputy Health Minister is under investigation for among other things, complaining and convening a meeting at 10pm on a date in August 2020, to complain why the tender team did not award dysfunctional firm the tender.
The investigation also looks into why COVID 19 materials were overpriced in the deal.
“Deputy Minister of Health and Child Care, Dr. Mangwiro convened a meeting with the adjudication team, where he queried the reasons why the team did not award the tender to Young HealthCare Limited.
Members were threatened with dismissal;” the ZACC report says.
The report investigates how minister Mangwiro allegedly pounced on Natpharm’s adjudicating team for tenders, late at night, at 10pm and grilled them why they are refusing to award Young HealthCare Limited the tender.
The value was at first set at USD5,6 million.
Young Health Care Limited was awarded a contract to supply nucleic acid and purification machines, transport media and reagents.
But to date, Natpharm has received supplies worth only US$124 630.
The Deputy Minister also reportedly insisted on pre-payment and tasked the technical team from laboratory and Natpharm procurement to visit Young Health Care Limited in their country office and verify available stock in order to compel the Natpharm Acting MD to make a prepayment to Young Health Care Limited. Such actions violated the evaluation process since the technical team did not have the mandate to carry out the verification of supplies.
THE FULL ZACC REPORT IS BELOW:
TABLE OF CONTENTS
The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission, as prescribed by Section 12 of the Anti-Corruption Commission Act (Chapter9:22) is mandated, amongst other functions, to monitor and examine the practices, systems and procurement procedures of the public and private institutions; to advise and assist agency or institution in the elimination of minimization of corruption; and to assist in the formulation of practices, systems and procurement procedures of public institutions with a view to the elimination of corrupt practices.
It is against this background that the Commission assigned Compliance and Systems Department to carry out a Compliance and Systems Spot Check Exercise on the procurement procedures for Tender Number– International NAT TCB FWWK 04/2020- laboratory equipment, reagents and consumables for COVID-19 at Natpharm. The exercise was necessitated by allegations raised in the anonymous letter to ZACC dated 18th August 2020 that Natpharm and Ministry of Health and Child Care did not follow proper procurement procedures for the procurement of laboratory equipment, reagents and consumables for COVID-19 management (tender reference number: INT NAT ITCB FWWK 04/2020).
The objectives of the exercise were to ascertain the allegations made in the anonymous letter, which were as follows:-
World Health Organization and FDA specifications; and CE marked;
Members were threatened with dismissal;
1. Interviews
Interviews with members of the adjudication team for the tender for laboratory equipment, reagents and consumables, were held to ascertain what transpired during the procurement process with a view of ascertaining the allegations, tracing the systems used, identify weaknesses and possible remedies. The individuals interviewed were the Acting Managing Director of Natpharm, officers from National Microbiology Reference Laboratories (NMRL) and the procurement officer at Natpharm.
In order to confirm some statements made by the interviewees, the team requested for a number of documents listed below:
4.1 Non-Compliance with provisions of PRAZ Circular 1 of 2020, Public Finance Management Act [Chapter: 22:19] and the Public Entities Corporate Governance Act [Chapter 10:31] by Ministry of Health and Child Care.
4.1.1 Numerous directives from the Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC), particularly Deputy Minister Dr. Mangwiro to
The Deputy Minister does not have the powers and mandate to undertake administrative duties, which are the responsibility of the Permanent Secretary. The Deputy Minister reportedly issued numerous directives to the Nat-Pharm management throughout the tender process.
Health Care Limited subsequently submitted a bid price of USD$ 3 600 000-00 for the same items. This saw a reduction of 36% in the price. (see attached two quotations).
of Health and Child Care, Dr. Mangwiro. (see attached report from Natpharm).
Natpharm settled for competitive bidding, which saw other bidders coming on board to compete with Young Health Care. The tender was eventually floated on the 5th of August and closed 7th of August 2020, in line with PRAZ Circular 1 of 2020 which provides for emergency procurement, allowing tenders to be floated for 48hrs instead of 40 working days under normal circumstances. A total of 22 bidders participated. The adjudication of the tender started from the 8th to 10th of August 2020 and resumed from the 13th and 14th of August 2020.
4.1.4 The results of the winners were announced except for tender item 24, 25 and 26 which are yet to be concluded to allow further technical evaluation of the samples from bidders.
4.1.5 Natpharm Acting MD reported that he received a phone call from the Deputy Minister instructing him to convene with his adjudication team during odd hours to explain why the tender was not awarded to
Young Healthcare Limited. The Deputy Minister also demanded that a purchase order be issued that same night. The adjudication team was picked from their homes around 2200 hours and were interrogated by the Deputy Minister until early hours of the following day.(see attached report) The Deputy Minister threatened the team with dismissal for failing to award Young Health Care the contracts.
4.1.6 Violation of the terms and conditions of Supply Contract by
(i). Young Health Care Limited was genuinely awarded the contract to supply nucleic acid and purification machines, transport media and reagents. To date, Natpharm has received supplies worth US$124 630, 40 as follows:
Young Healthcare Deliveries on the 31st of August 2020
| Item | Quantity Ordered | Quantity Received | % |
| Purification machines | 4 | 2 | 50 |
| Nucleic Acid | 220 000 | 13 824 | 6.3 |
| Transport Media | 220 000 | 14 000 | 6.4 |
Source: Natpharm
Young Health Care Limited managed to deliver a paltry 6% of Nucleic Acid and another 6% of Transport Media but went on to request prepayment for the awarded contract, including undelivered supplies ( see attached request), contrary to the terms and conditions of the contract signed with Nat-Pharm, which stipulates that payment should be made 7 days after delivery.(post-payment)
(ii) The Deputy Minister of Health and Child Care, Dr. Mangwiro reportedly insisted on pre-payment and tasked the technical team from laboratory and Natpharm procurement to visit Young Health Care Limited in their country office and verify available stock ( see letter dated 25th August 2020) in order to compel the Natpharm Acting MD to make a prepayment to Young Health Care Limited. Such actions violated the evaluation process since the technical team did not have the mandate to carry out the verification of supplies.
Natpharm Acting MD wrote a letter on the 26th of August 2020 (attached) to the Permanent Secretary for Health and Child Care informing him of the pre-payment issue and seeking guidance on how to proceed. However, there was no response from the Ministry, prompting the Acting MD to decline taking the Deputy Minister’s instruction to pre-pay Young Health Care and he referred him to the signed contract (attached). Verification team noted that items amounting to US$127,643.20 were in-stock instead of US$922, 000.00 requested for prepayment.
5.1 Given the extent to which the Deputy Minister was involved in the said tender process, indications are that he was acting on his own capacity and not on behalf of the Ministry. The actions of the Deputy Minister signal a personal interest in the tender and this should have prompted him to declare his interest.
5.2 The conduct of the Minister during this tender process warrants further investigations for Criminal Abuse of Office for possible violation of Section 174 of the Criminal Law Codification Act [Chapter 9:23]. Apart from this provision, further investigations should be conducted to ascertain possible violation of Section 14 of the Public Finance Management Act [Chapter 22:19] by the Deputy Minister through giving ministerial directives having financial implications when he demanded prepayment of undelivered goods to Young Health Care.
5.3 There is need for further investigations into the possible violation of the
Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets Act [Chapter 22:23] as
the conduct of the Deputy Minister might have compromised the independence of Natpharm as a procurement entity.
5.4 The Commission should closely follow the re-floated tender laboratory equipment, reagents and consumables for COVID-19 to ensure competitive bidding and that undeserving bidders are not awarded the contracts.
5.5 Best practices and good corporate governance should always be applied during procurement processes. Officials who are appointed to carry out procurement process should be allowed to do so independently without interference.
5.6 Investigations into possible violation of the Cabinet Directive that granted Natpharm exclusive powers for procurement of Covid 19 materials.
7. CLIENT’S COMMENTS ON RECOMMENDATIONS
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The implementation of these recommendations should be immediate considering the urgency of the matter.
The Commission should monitor the bidding process of the re-floated tender to be carried out in two weeks time.
11. ANNEXURES
FWWK 04/2020- Laboratory Equipment, Reagents and Consumables for COVID-19 at Natpharm
Ministry, Young Healthcare Limited and Natpharm); and
D. Young HealthCare Limited company profile
By Dorrothy Moyo | ZANU PF youths allegedly threatened teachers with violence if they do not return to work by Tuesday 13th October.
The union of 8 teachers’ organisations from around the country announced saying,
“ZANU PF Youths have threatened to attack all teachers who are in rural schools but not reporting for duty.
“Teachers have been given an ultimatum expiring on Tuesday 13 October. Violence will not capacitate poor trs. @edmnangagwa restrain your party youths. Pay us USD 520. ”
Meanwhile, the organisation also released the following statement, titled – “Teachers’ Incapacitation”
11 October 2020
Now that we are about to reach the Armageddon of our incapacitation
struggle as witnessed by more teachers joining the action and schools
being deserted;
Worried that His Excellency, President E. D. Mnangagwa made remarks
threatening teachers on industrial action before seeking engagement and
remaining indifferent to the plight of the teachers;
Observing that the $600 million meant for Covid-19 purposes did not
filter into the schools as evidenced by acute shortage of PPEs and other
Covid-19 abatement items in most of the schools;
Aware that Government is still acting in denial about the situation in our
schools as evidenced by their threats to fire teachers or cease their
salaries and pretending that the school system is functioning normally;
Shocked by some acts of ‘benevolence’ in the form of food handouts by
some misguided elements who want to hijack the teachers’ incapacitation
for personal aggrandizement.
Therefore, we, the undersigned teachers’ representatives, do hereby
reiterate that:
No amount of force or threat can capacitate teachers who have all tested
positive to poverty. The employer should swallow her pride and do the
right thing.
The nation should know that teachers in all public schools are not at
work because the government has failed them and will not succumb to
any threats. Where there are incidents of teaching taking place, it is just
cosmetic.
Teachers are not for charity but professionals who are only crying for
dignified treatment, reasonable salaries and befitting conditions of
service.
It is only through meaningful engagement, improved salaries,
eradication of discrimination among government workers, assurance of
health and safety of teachers and pupils during this Covid-19 period, and
harmonisation of labour laws that teachers’ return to schools can be
guaranteed. Once government brings meaningful offer, teachers are
ready to report for duty thereafter.
We, as teachers, want a separate collective bargaining board where we
can then articulate the education specific issues unlike the current
scenario where the education sector is bunched up with everyone else.
Teachers should remain resolute and focused on our demands. All
pusillanimous tendencies should be a thing of the past going forward.
Teachers should encourage those who are still reporting for duty to join
others in showing government that we deserve better.
Teachers are not against parents and students. In actual fact, what
teachers are simply saying is that it is very dangerous to entrust the
future on learners in the hands of a frustrated, poorly remunerated and
stressed teachers. Once the impasse is resolved, teachers will do
everything possible to help their learners.
President E. D. Mnangagwa should not ignore the plight of teachers. We
don’t want to believe that he would want to be remembered for
destroying the education system of this country.
The party was still to comment on the allegations at the time of writing.
Tanzania today joins the rest of the world to celebrate the international day of the girl child, Mugabe Secondary school students highlight challenges they experience during their menstrual cycle.
The day is an international observance day declared by the United Nations. It focuses attention on the need to address the challenges girls face to promote girl empowerment.
In view of the above girl students at Mugabe secondary school have called on the government and the public at large to find solutions they face including lack of facilities for menstrual hygiene, sexual harassment to enable them have equal learning opportunities.
One of the students whose names are withheld has called on the school administration to refrain from punishing them by canning them on the buttocks.
“When I am in my menstrual cycle I experience stomach cramps and when beaten on my buttocks the pain increases,” she said.
Another student said their parents cannot afford to buy pads and are therefore forced to use makeshift pieces of clothes that are not reliable forcing them to remain home during the duration of the cycle.
“That’s not all, the school also lacks a dustbin for disposing the used pads making it very cumbersome,” she stressed.
Some of the students further highlighted how they are forced to have sexual relationships with their uncles who are taking care of them or else get taken out of school.
“Students who live with their uncles and depend on them for their daily needs are forced to have sexual relationship with them and if they refuse they are threatened to be taken out of school,” they said.
They further highlighted how they are sexually molested in fully packed commuter buses and when they try to raise their voices they are threatened by the culprits.
The Integrating Capacity and Community Advancement Organization (ICCAO) Managing Editor, Zahara Salehe said they work with youths in various capacities to understand their challenges and aspirations.
She noted that they have started a programme that will enable them visit schools in the country to understand the challenges students experience that they will share with the teachers and parents to find solutions.
“We believe that every child, youth whether boy or girl have equal right for opportunity,” she said.
