ZIMBABWEAN midfielder, Marvelous Nakamba has stayed put at English Premier League club Aston Villa despite speculation linking him with a loan exit to Turkey.

With the transfer having closed in England on Monday, Nakamba remained at Villa where he is now expected to fight for a place in the starting lineup. In his team’s three league matches so far, Nakamba has started on the bench with Brazilian Douglas Luiz chosen ahead of him in the central midfield role. In the last two matches, Nakamba has replaced Luiz with a few minutes to go.

On Sunday, Nakamba was introduced as an 80th minute substitute for Luiz as Villa hammered defending champions Liverpool 7-2. Nakamba even had a shot on target taken with his left foot, which was smothered by Liverpool’s second choice goalkeeper, Spaniard Adrian who had a terrible time in goal for the Reds in place of the injured first choice Alisson Becker

The Zimbabwean started and played 90 minutes in Villa’s three matches in the Carabao Cup where they were booted out in the fourth round of the competition after a 1-0 defeat to Stoke City at Villa Park last Thursday.

Nakamba joined Villa on a five year deal from Club Brugge of Belgium in August last year, with the Claret and Blue said to have paid £11m for the Warriors star.

While Aston Villa manager Dean Smith said Nakamba fits the criteria of the type of player they were looking for when he joined, the defensive midfielder has struggled to command a place in starting lineup. The arrival of England midfielder Ross Barkly on loan from Chelsea has made life even more difficult for Nakamba who has to work extra hard for a place in Villa’s midfield.

Media Statement

SALARY NEGOTIATION FEEDBACK MEETING

To: Members of all the undersigned Unions/Associations

Ccc :Parents and Learners

We the undersigned teachers’ Unions wish to unequivocally state that the meeting that had been perceived to bring tangible results failed to bring such.

What the Honourable Minister Paul Mavhima did was to assure teachers that no one will be fired willy nilly from work as a result of incapacitation.

We managed to present successfully our position paper. The Minister promised to take our demands to cabinet for further discussion

There was no progress from the meeting at all.

Therefore we wish to state it clearly that members of the teaching fraternity remain incapacitated

To parents and learners we would like to advice them that it is risky to keep learners at a school environment where there are no teachers

Jointly Signed by
ARTUZ – Chere R
PTUZ – Zunde L
TUZ – Phiri R
ZDTU – Tasaranarwo F
ZIMTA – Sibanda N. T
ZINATU – Nyawo M
ZINEU – Chinosengwa C
ZRTU – Fambai F

Paul Nyathi

Watch this tuesday’s post cabinet meeting press briefing in the video downloading below: please be patient as the video downloads.

Paul Nyathi

The Foreign Exchange Auction Results of 6 October 2020 by the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe has seen the Zimbabwe Dollar gaining strength against the US$ by from 8.4439 the previous week to 8.13486.

The grand total of bids made at the auction was US$24 691 329 32.

THE State has indicated that it wants MDC Alliance MP Joanna Mamombe to spend four to six more weeks at Chikurubi Maximum Security Prison while waiting for the release of the results of her mental examination.

Mamombe yesterday appeared before magistrate Bianca Makwande together with five other accused persons that include MDC Alliance youth leader Obey Sithole on charges of participating in an unsanctioned protest during the COVID-19 lockdown period.

The MDC Alliance legislator was committed to prison by magistrate Makwande for two weeks and she will be back in court on October 8, when the results are expected to be available.

But the State said Mamombe would not be out of prison on October 8 as was ordered by the court because results of the tests conducted on her would only be released after four to six weeks.

Prosecutor Michael Reza told the court that the accused were in court for trial, but it could not start because the government doctors had not availed the mental examination results for Mamombe.

Reza said the State was expecting the mental examination results in four to six weeks’ time and that is when they would provide a trial date.

The legislator’s lawyers Obey Shava and Gift Mtisi of the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, however, put the State on notice that if they failed to resume trial by October 30, they would file for refusal of further remand.

But Reza said the trial would be guided by the availability of the results.

Mamombe was remanded in custody for mental examination after her lawyer submitted in court that she was not mentally fit to stand trial.

She was supposed to stand trial in a matter she is accused of faking abduction together with MDC Alliance members Cecilia Chimbiri and Netsai Marova.

The trio was reportedly abducted in May and found dumped in rural Bindura after being sexually abused and tortured by suspected State security agents.

Makwande, however, postponed the matter to October 13 for a possible trial date.

Source – NewsDay

Zimbabwe National Students Union (ZINASU) leader has been sent back to prison following the High Court’s judgement to reserve his bail appeal ruling.

Ngadziore has been in prison since September facing a charge of participating in a gathering with the intent to promote public violence after he was allegedly caught addressing a press conference at OK Mart near Impala Car Rental premises.

High Court Judge, Justice Davison Foroma reserved Takudzwa Ngadziore’s bail saying the parties will be notified when he will be ready to hand down the judgment.

A few days before his second arrest, he had been granted bail for similar allegations after staging a demonstration at the troubled car rental company which was fingered in the abduction of Tawanda Muchehiwa in Bulawayo.

Paul Nyathi

VP CONSTANTINO Chiwenga condemned authorities at UBH for maintaining memorabilia plaques with colonial names, saying they should be removed and replaced with names of pioneer black doctors and nurses at the institution.

“I have seen some names which I think need to be removed and replaced with names of our heroes and heroines. We had our own heroines such as Queen Lozikeyi Dlodlo who was hanged from a tree at Masotsha Ndlovu Avenue,” she said.

“We have national heroes here such General Mtshana Khumalo. We need to preserve and regenerate our own history and those names should reflect the history of this region so that we educate the younger generation. Why not honour our first black doctors and nurses?”

A 20-YEAR-OLD illegal miner died after a shaft collapsed while he was searching for gold at a mine in Esigodini.

Matabeleland South provincial police spokesperson, Chief Inspector Philisani Ndebele confirmed the incident which occurred on Monday at around 5PM at Alice Farm Compound in Esigodini. He said Nkosilathi Mkandla was in the company of two friends when he entered into a shaft at a disused mine.

“I can confirm that we recorded a fatal mine accident which occurred in Alice Farm Compound in Esigodini. Nkosilathi Mkandla was in the company of two others when they arrived at a disused mine shaft. He went down the shaft in search for gold samples while his peers remained outside.

“The shaft collapsed while he was inside and buried him. His friends dug him out but by the time they got to him he was already dead. The matter was reported to the police who attended the scene and Mkandla’s body was ferried to Esigodini District Hospital mortuary,” he said.

Chief Insp Ndebele urged members of the public to desist from engaging in illegal mining activities as by so doing they were endangering their lives. He also urged miners to stay away from disused or abandoned shafts as they were a life threat.

“Mining is a dangerous activity which requires people to follow the necessary rules and requirements. People must desist from engaging in illegal mining activities as they will be risking their lives. Disused or closed shafts should be left alone as they are a risk to human life. If shafts have been abandoned it means that experts realised that further operations in those shafts will endanger the lives of people. Those shafts would have also been ruled out as unsafe and that should be respected,” he said.

Paul Nyathi

Four people were burnt beyond recognition on Sunday morning following a head-on collision between a Nissan UD truck and a Toyota Wish near Macheke along the Harare-Mutare Highway.

The deceased, including the driver, were all in the Toyota Wish while the truck driver and his colleague escaped with injuries.

It is reported that on Sunday, at around 2am, Boyson Chikwanda and a colleague were travelling towards Mutare in a UD truck, while the Toyota Wish was heading in the opposite direction.

On approaching the 93km peg along the Harare-Mutare Highway, the truck encroached into the opposite lane and collided with the Toyota Wish, and both vehicles burst into flames.

The vehicles were burnt to shells while the Toyota Wish occupants were burnt beyond recognition.

Chikwanda and his colleague, who escaped with minor injuries, were rushed to Marondera Provincial Hospital where they are still admitted.

— NewsDay

Paul Nyathi

VICE-PRESIDENT Constantino Chiwenga’s visit to the United Bulawayo Hospitals (UBH) last Friday rekindled memories of how his life was saved at the institution after he ruptured his appendix 37 years ago.

He was rushed to the hospital writhing in pain after being diagnosed of appendicitis, a condition in which the appendix becomes inflamed and filled with pus, causing pain. It is usually treated with surgery and antibiotics and if untreated, the appendix can rupture and cause an abscess or systemic infection.

The rupture spreads infection throughout the abdomen and the condition, which can be fatal, requires immediate surgery to remove the appendix and clean the abdominal cavity.

Speaking during his familiarisation tour of UBH, VP Chiwenga briefly narrated how doctors saved his life.

“I am fond of this hospital because I got saved here many years ago. I am grateful UBH is now developing and this is where my life was first was saved way back in 1983 and if you go to your records you will find that you cured somebody who had ruptured his appendix,” he said.

“I think I was the second survivor for this condition.”

A nostalgic smile played across his lips as he briefly narrated the memories of the loving care and dedication of a team of nurses and doctors who ensured he did not become a death statistic.

He recalled how he was rushed to theatre and treated of the life threatening condition, adding he wanted to ensure all hospitals in the country worked in the same way UBH operated when he was saved.

Source: State Media

By A Correspondent- A 15 year old boy who went missing for two days was yesterday found floating in a dam in Mazowe.

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

“I can confirm that Steady Katura who was missing for two days at Watchwood farm was found floating in a dam at the farm yesterday,” he said.

Allegations are that the now deceased Katura failed to swim while playing at a local dam and drowned he was missing for two days and latter retrieved by police sub aqua unit.

Paul Nyathi

Confusion has hit Gwanda town as to which political party their newly elected Mayor belongs.

Ward 4 councillor, Njabulo Siziba was elected as the new mayor replacing former mayor Jastone Mazhale who was recently recalled by the MDC-T party for being aligned to the MDC Alliance led by Nelson Chamisa.

Cllr Siziba won the mayoral race polling five votes beating Ward 10 councillor Albert Ndlovu of Zanu-PF who garnered four votes following a rerun.

The new mayor had initially been nominated together with Cllr Ndlovu and Cllr Thulani Moyo also of Zanu-PF.

In the first round of voting, Cllr Moyo garnered one vote while his rivals garnered four votes each leading to a re-run.

The victory by Siziba immediately sent wild celebrations from the Chamisa led party who claimed the victory as theirs.

The MDC Alliance Secretary General Charlton Hwende was the first senior party official to claim the victory minutes after the results were announced.

It has however since emerged that the MDC-T led by Thokozani Khupe claims Siziba was their candidate and was nominated by the party in a caucus meeting a day before the election.

The party claims that all opposition party councillors attended the meeting and unanimously endorsed Siziba as the party candidate with current Deputy Mayor Ponolo Maphala retaining his position.

Speaking to journalists on Monday evening after the election, MDC-T party spokesperson Khaliphani Phugeni challenged anyone with proof that Siziba was an MDC Alliance candidate to bring the information forward as he was convinced that the Mayor is an MDC-T member.

However, speaking to ZimEye.com in an interview on Tuesday, councillor Siziba all but confirmed that he was an MDC Alliance member.

Siziba initially refused to give ZimEye.com an interview indicating that he was mourning his son who passed on two days before the election.

Probed on who ZimEye.com could talk to on his behalf he referred the journalist to an MDC Alliance administration officer.

“You can talk to Mr Gwebu the party administrator at the offices in Gwanda, he has all the information,” said Siziba.

When probed to which party Gwebu belonged Siziba indicated that its the MDC Alliance before confessing that it is the party he also belongs to.

Gwanda Municipality now has nine councillors following the recalling of the former mayor Mazhale.

In his acceptance speech, Cllr Siziba pledged to work tirelessly to improve service delivery in the town.

“I would like to thank you all my fellow councillors for entrusting me with this role of being the mayor of the town. I hope to carry on from where my predecessor left off. My main focus will be issues of service delivery such as water, sewer and refuse collection. It should show that our town has leadership which has people at heart by the level of service delivery,” he said.

“As councillors we have always worked together as a team and we should continue in the same spirit. I have the utmost respect for all of you as councillors and I hope that we will continue working well together regardless of political affiliation for the betterment of our town. This town has a lot of potential and if development is properly implemented, we can see a lot of improvement.”

Gwanda District Administrator, Ms Kiliboni Ndou administered the election process which was conducted through a secret ballot.

By A Correspondent- A speeding vehicle with poor lights last week Thursday fatally stroke a Nissan caravan killing some of the people who were behind it trying to help a trapped motorist who had been involved in an accident.

The accident was confirmed by Mashonaland Central police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Fidelis Dhewu who said two died on the spot, one on the way to the hospital while others were admitted at Mvurwi Hospital.

Police say Edward Makumbe (52) was driving a Mazda Bongo towards Mvurwi when he hit a cow and was trapped inside the vehicle.

Notice Makaza (34), who was driving a Nissan Caravan parked his vehicle to assist the trapped motorist.

Assistant Inspector Dhewu added:

Jumbe Trymore (43), who was driving a truck with poor lights and was also speeding, failed to keep a proper lookout and hit the Nissan Caravan and as a result the three people who were behind the Nissan Caravan were knocked down.

Shamu and Kasaira died on the spot while Mvurumu, who had come from nearby houses to render assistance, died on the way to Mvurwi Hospital. Makaza is in a stable condition.

He added that Jumbe has since been charged with culpable homicide while the owner of the cow is charged under the Road and Traffic Regulations.

The accident happened around 6 pm along Guruve-Mvurwi Road.

Those involved in the accident were identified as Lilian Shamu, Tarisai Kasaira, Delight Mvurumu, Norman Makaza and Darlington Guvamombe.-statemedia

Farai Dziva|President Chamisa has accused Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration of governing through fraud.

Those who are running the country are using fraudulent ways to suppress the will of the people, according to President Chamisa.

President Chamisa, quoted by NewsDay said:
“We have people who are in government out of a criminal conduct and fraud and they can only continue to be in government through fraud.

Their foundation and framework is fraudulent and we cannot allow that to continue…”

In September, Zimbabwe turned the corner and joined, full time, the dark list of the world’s repressive regimes, where citizens are reduced to nothing but subjects who are not part to deciding how the country is run in sharp contrast to the tenets of democracy and good
governance.

As has been the case for the past six months, government continued to use Covid-19 as an excuse to stifle rights and freedoms guaranteed by the supreme law, and as evidenced by the nature of human rights violations this month, the violations went a notch up, and were more than ever before, systematic and methodical.

In the month of September, there were no more attempts to present a false face of
democracy and this is evidenced by the following developments recorded in September, some of which had started earlier.

THE growing feeling that judicial independence is being whittled down to such an extent that it is a weapon to persecute by prosecution, dissenting voices. The arbitrary/ unlawful/political arrests, abductions, torture, harassment and intimidation that heightened in April, were widely used in May, June and July, and fine-tuned in August and September.
2
THE continued neglect of social services rendered the country’s health, education and social welfare and services sectors completely incapacitated. More than ever before, access to healthcare, water, stable income, food security, and other social services was
a critical human rights issue in the country. While the Zimbabwe dollar remained stable against the US dollar through the auction system, the majority of Zimbabweans remained in poverty, with their disposal income remaining very low, and the food insecurity unabated.
“
‘in September the majority of Zimbabweans remained in poverty, with their disposal
income remaining very low, and the food insecurity unabated.
”
THE strengthening of the ruling Zanu PF community level intimidation of opposition
political and human rights activists left communities much more scared of their own
government.

This is made worse by the continued presence of state security agents in the
streets and villages, who, under the guise of enforcing Covid-19 regulations, flagrantly and
with impunity suppressed basic rights. The instruments of repression remained well oiled,
vigilant, and ready to strike.

WITH the Zimbabwean crisis having entered a stage where it became a concern for
neighbouring countries, the regional body SADC, the African Union, the United Nations and
the international community in general, the Government of Zimbabwe and ruling party has
remained aloof, disregarding the growing calls for process facilitation to solve the crisis and
get Zimbabwe back onto the path to democracy, good governance and economic prosperity.

Zimbabweans were once again on their own, presided over by a government that is in the
habit of preying on its citizens.

Evidence of these four key events in September is highlighted in this month’s statistics of human rights violations, where the army, police, Zanu PF and municipal police contributed to a combined 74.9 percent of human rights violations.

For seven successive months, state security agents remain the leading perpetrators of
human rights violations.

Disaggregated, the police contributed the highest percentage at 31.03, followed by Zanu PF at 15.61 percent, the army at 13.83 percent and the municipal police at 10.87 percent, while unspecified state agents contributed to 3.56 percent.

The MDC Alliance contributed 1.58 percent and MDC-T Khupe was in the same region at 1.19 percent attributable to the conflict between the two factions. The affiliation of 22.33
percent of the perpetrators was unknown.

Men contributed to the most human rights violations at 88.98 percent compared to 8.46
percent women. ZPP recorded five cases of killings , three cases of attempted murder and three cases of abduction.

In September, there were 23 cases of assault, 11 incidents of unlawful detention, two cases
of torture and 81 cases of harassment and intimidation.

ZPP continues to note with great concern that the large number of the human rights violations recorded in September and prior to that are attributable to state affiliated
agents and/or institutions, and this presents what is an apparent regression of Zimbabwe
into a crisis.

Weaponisation Of The Law

At the time of writing this report, Joanna Mamombe, an MDC Alliance youth leader and Member of Parliament is in prison. She and two others, Cecilia Chimbiri and Netsai
Marova were abducted and tortured by suspected state security agents in May 2020 after being arrested for leading a flash protest against hunger in Warren Park.

Following this, the three were then charged with ‘faking their own abduction’ This is despite the existence of a strong footprint of state security agents in their arrest, abduction and torture.

Following the horror incident, Mamombe was admitted in hospital, suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, rendering her unable to attend a court hearing.

But the State, through Harare magistrate Bianca Makwande, decided to remand Mamombe in custody for two weeks pending examination of her mental health by two government doctors.

Mamombe joins part of the growing number of political and human rights activists who are victims of the capture of the judiciary by the ruling party. These include MDC Alliance deputy chairperson Job Sikhala who was released from Chikurubi Maximum Security Prison after weeks of pre-trial detention and his bail bid being frustrated several times. Sikhala’s ordeal is similar to that of journalist Hopewell Chin’ono, Transform Zimbabwe leader Jacob Ngarivhume, and MDC Alliance youth leader Godfrey Kurauone.

The four, who have all be charged with inciting violence, spent up to, between 30 and 45 days each in prison, and their ordeal, which includes ill-treatment, being transferred to the maximum section of the prison, delays in bail hearings and judgement, all point to a judiciary that has become a weapon to silence dissent.

Thokozani Khupe to sneak into Parliament as the leader of the opposition…

Analysts say the whole thing is calculated to dismantle the MDC Alliance led by Advocate Nelson Chamisa.

Watch video below :

By A Correspondent| MDC Alliance Treasurer General David Coltart has dismissed Finance minister Professor Mthuli Ncube’s economic projections saying his assertion that the country is on a path to sustainable growth was more smoke and mirrors.

Commenting on remarks made by Professor Ncube, Coltart said the economy cannot be on the right path when doctors and teachers are getting slave wages.

“Mthuli Ncube says the economy is on the path to sustainable growth. This is just more smoke & mirrors. How can any economy be on the right path when doctors and teachers are being paid slave wages and the political elite are looting millions?,” said Coltart.

Yesterday, Professor Ncube said government’s efforts to turnaround and place the economy on a path to sustainable growth were bearing fruit.

“Price stability is now visible in line with convergence of parallel and auction rates. (Government also) introduced a ­second auction system for small scale operators,” Ncube noted.

By A Correspondent- The axe is hovering over the heads of close to 80 more MDC councillors countrywide after the party’s national standing committee resolved to recall them last week, saying they no longer represent the party’s interests.

MDC secretary general Douglas Mwonzora confirmed the development but did not have the exact number of the latest recalls.

Some of the councillors set to be recalled include Chinhoyi mayor Dyke Makumbi, his deputy Chipo Mlotshwa and four other councillors from town.

The letters of recall are currently being drafted.-DailyNews

MDC Alliance Secretary General Charlton Hwende has announced that they have won the Beitbridge Mayoral elections following the recall of the sitting Mayor by the MDC-T party.

Posting on Twitter, Hwende said, “We have just won the Beitbridge Mayoral Election. We defeated both Zanu-PF led by @edmnangagwa and the Zanu-PF Lite led by @DrThoko_Khupe . The Mayor and his Deputy are with the People. Our Mayor and 3 Cllrs were illegally recalled by Mwonzora conniving with ED.”

By A Correspondent- A soldier who claimed to have carried out the White City Stadium bombing in June 2018 while trying to impress a girlfriend was jailed for 12 years, his lawyer said.

Tendai Saunyama Kandima, who worked for Military Intelligence, was convicted of making statements prejudicial to the state by the General Court Martial.

Kandima had no lawyer during his trial. Harare lawyer Innocent Gonese – instructed by the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights – has taken up his case aiming to secure his release to enable him to undergo urgent treatment for a heart ailment.

Gonese told ZimLive:

“I’ve just been engaged, and we’ll look at our options. Obviously, an appeal can only be made to the Supreme Court because the General Court Martial is the same as the High Court.”

Gonese hopes to secure Kandima’s release on compassionate grounds. He is serving an effective six years after half of his sentence was conditionally suspended.

No-one has been charged over the June 23, 2018, grenade attack which happened as President Emmerson Mnangagwa and his deputies Constantino Chiwenga and Kembo Mohadi were leaving a Zanu PF rally at White City Stadium in Bulawayo.

Three security aides of the president were killed and 40 others – including Mohadi – were injured in the explosion.

Mnangagwa told the BBC he knew who was behind the attack, and promised that arrests would be made after elections held in July 2018 – but an inter-agency investigation into the incident has failed to make headway.

Kandima, according to Gonese, boasted to his girlfriend that he was behind the bombing in a WhatsApp message sent early last year. The message eventually found its way to the military leading to his arrest and detention at 2 Infantry Brigade at Kaguvi Barracks in Harare. It was later established that Kandima was in India when the incident happened.

He was tried by the military court accused of “publishing or communicating a wholly or materially false statement with the intention or realising that there is a real risk or possibility of undermining public confidence in a law enforcement agency.”

Father-of-two Kandima lived in Chitungwiza with his wife.-ZimLive

By A Correspondent- President Emmerson Mnangagwa yesterday alleged a plot by Zanu-PF insiders to oust him from office after agreeing to pay white commercial farmers US$3,5 billion in compensation for land expropriated by government for resettlement to landless blacks at the start of the millennium.

The Global Compensation Agreement between government and the white former commercial farmers, for improvements and equipment, signed in July had been in the works since 2016, but has met with stiff resistance, with some Zanu-PF elements challenging the deal.

A group of war veterans have challenged the agreement in court.

In August, Mnangagwa’s government was forced to offer land as compensation to local blacks who lost their farms during the often chaotic land reform exercise under the late former president Robert Mugabe and to companies whose farms were protected under the Bilateral Investment Promotion and Protection Agreements.

The decision has been met with hostility from various quotas, with many accusing Mnangagwa of trying to reverse the land reform programme that allegedly empowered natives, but alienated Zimbabwe from her traditional Western donors and plunged the country into a deep economic mess.

Some war veterans, a critical wing in the ruling Zanu-PF, which often views itself as the stockholder of the former liberation party, immediately accused Mnangagwa of selling out and reversing the gains made of the liberation struggle.

Mnangagwa told mourners at the burial of national hero Brigadier-General Ruphus Chigudu that he was aware of a plot by some elements “from within the party” to try to use the land issue as an excuse for regime change.

“The land has come and it has now been united with its people. It has come forever and is irreversible,” he said.

Mnangagwa was apparently referring to critics who accused him of seeking to reverse the programme that benefited millions of Zimbabweans, mostly Zanu-PF supporters.

“There are those in our midst who are misreading what the government constitutionally seeks to achieve in pursuit of a narrow agenda,” he said.

“They think they have now found a credible platform for mobilising against our administration and its government. They are desperate, but let me assure you, they are bound to fail.”

Mnangagwa, who came to power through a military coup in November 2017, has claimed several plots against his rule in the three years he has been in power.

In May 2018, ahead of the July 30 elections, Mnangagwa said he had unearthed a plot by some Zanu-PF MPs working with MDC Alliance to use their numbers in Parliament to impeach him.

In June, Home Affairs minister Kazembe Kazembe, claimed there was a coup plot against Mnangagwa involving the opposition and civil society.

That same month, Mnangagwa admitted there were some wolves in sheep’s skins in his party.

Last week, State Security minister Owen Ncube said there were “rogue elements” that included MDC Alliance and G40 members that had been conniving with some Western nations to smuggle guns into the country and set up “democratic resistance committees” to destroy the democratic foundations of Zimbabwe.

Several MDC Alliance officials have in recent months been arrested for allegedly plotting to subvert a constitutionally-elected Zanu-PF government.

Mnangagwa’s government has also accused the exiled members of the G40 faction of plotting from South Africa to oust his administration.

Zanu-PF has been involved in fierce internal fights, with some members allegedly aligning themselves with VicePresident Constantino Chiwenga, who is said to be angling to take over from his boss, although he has publicly denied harbouring such ambitions.

Mnangagwa yesterday endorsed Chiwenga’s decision to suspend the holding of by-elections until the COVID-19 pandemic is over, saying there was no need to be complacent as the threat of the disease remained real.

Chiwenga, in his capacity as Health minister, last week suspended by-elections, a move that legal experts said was unconstitutional and, therefore, a nullity.

“Voting and democracy are enjoyed by the living, not by the sick nor those dying or dead,” Mnangagwa said while urging people to observe laid down COVID-19 preventive measures.

He also said government had put security agents on high alert to curb the rise in ritual murders and armed robberies.

This came after the suspected ritual murder of a seven-year-old Murewa boy allegedly by his uncle and a domestic worker.

“Let me reiterate that all stakeholders in our justice delivery system deal with this so that this evil trend is expunged from our society,” Mnangagwa said.

“Equally worrisome are the growing cases of armed and violent crimes. We must draw lessons from the late Brigadier-General who knew the use of guns was to protect the nation.”

He said Zimbabweans should remain peaceful and united in the wake of “machinations” by the country’s detractors.

“Given the onslaught, machinations and clandestine shenanigans by our detractors, let us be united in defence of our hard won independence,” he said.

“In this regard, I commend us the people of Zimbabwe for upholding peace, harmony and love which our late national hero fought for.”

“Violence, destruction of property and making Zimbabwe ungovernable can never be democratic and it is not what we fought for.”

By A Correspondent- A Chivhu woman was left homeless after her mentally-challenged son destroyed property worth over $100 000.

Kudakwashe Gahadzikwa (29) of Mombe village in Chief Neshangwe’s area yesterday appeared before Chivhu magistrate Sam Chitumwa facing malicious damage to property charges.

He was not asked to plead, but was referred to hospital for mental examination.

It is the State’s case that on September 19, 2020, Gahadzikwa, who was at his mother Beauty Maunze’s homestead, removed his children’s clothes from the bedroom.

His mother inquired why he was doing so and he threatened to kill her.

Maunze then rushed to call her son’s wife.

When Gahadzikwa was left alone, he set two houses on fire, destroying property worth $100 000 and US$350 that was in the bedroom. His mother reported the matter to the police.

Gahadzikwa was remanded in custody to October 12, 2020.

Mike Choto represented the State..-newsday

By A Correspondent- The State has indicated that it wants MDC Alliance MP Joanah Mamombe to spend four to six more weeks at Chikurubi Maximum Security Prison while waiting for the release of the results of her mental examination.

Mamombe yesterday appeared before magistrate Bianca Makwande together with five other accused persons that include MDC Alliance youth leader Obey Sithole on charges of participating in an unsanctioned protest during the COVID-19 lockdown period.

The MDC Alliance legislator was committed to prison by magistrate Makwande for two weeks and she will be back in court on October 8, when the results are expected to be available.

But the State said Mamombe would not be out of prison on October 8 as was ordered by the court because results of the tests conducted on her would only be released after four to six weeks.

Prosecutor Michael Reza told the court that the accused were in court for trial, but it could not start because the government doctors had not availed the mental examination results for Mamombe.

Reza said the State was expecting the mental examination results in four to six weeks’ time and that is when they would provide a trial date.

The legislator’s lawyers Obey Shava and Gift Mtisi of the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, however, put the State on notice that if they failed to resume trial by October 30, they would file for refusal of further remand.

But Reza said the trial would be guided by the availability of the results.

Mamombe was remanded in custody for mental examination after her lawyer submitted in court that she was not mentally fit to stand trial.

She was supposed to stand trial in a matter she is accused of faking abduction together with MDC Alliance members Cecilia Chimbiri and Netsai Marova.

The trio was reportedly abducted in May and found dumped in rural Bindura after being sexually abused and tortured by suspected State security agents.

Makwande, however, postponed the matter to October 13 for a possible trial date.-newsday

By A Correspondent- A soldier who claimed to have carried out the White City Stadium bombing in June 2018 while trying to impress a girlfriend was jailed for 12 years, his lawyer said.

Tendai Saunyama Kandima, who worked for Military Intelligence, was convicted of making statements prejudicial to the state by the General Court Martial.

Kandima had no lawyer during his trial. Harare lawyer Innocent Gonese – instructed by the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights – has taken up his case aiming to secure his release to enable him to undergo urgent treatment for a heart ailment.

Gonese told ZimLive: “I’ve just been engaged, and we’ll look at our options. Obviously, an appeal can only be made to the Supreme Court because the General Court Martial is the same as the High Court.”

Gonese hopes to secure Kandima’s release on compassionate grounds. He is serving an effective six years after half of his sentence was conditionally suspended.

No-one has been charged over the June 23, 2018, grenade attack which happened as President Emmerson Mnangagwa and his deputies Constantino Chiwenga and Kembo Mohadi were leaving a Zanu PF rally at White City Stadium in Bulawayo.

Three security aides of the president were killed and 40 others – including Mohadi – were injured in the explosion.

Utter devastation … Injured people lie on the ground in the immediate aftermath of a bomb explosion at White City Stadium on June 23, 2018

Mayhem … Several people lie injured moments after the bomb explosion which killed three
Mnangagwa told the BBC he knew who was behind the attack, and promised that arrests would be made after elections held in July 2018 – but an inter-agency investigation into the incident has failed to make headway.

Kandima, according to Gonese, boasted to his girlfriend that he was behind the bombing in a WhatsApp message sent early last year. The message eventually found its way to the military leading to his arrest and detention at 2 Infantry Brigade at Kaguvi Barracks in Harare. It was later established that Kandima was in India when the incident happened.

He was tried by the military court accused of “publishing or communicating a wholly or materially false statement with the intention or realising that there is a real risk or possibility of undermining public confidence in a law enforcement agency.”

Father-of-two Kandima lived in Chitungwiza with his wife.

By A Correspondent| HARARE: Girls and young women worldwide are demanding urgent action from social media companies after a landmark survey has revealed more than half (58%) have been harassed or abused online.

Attacks are most common on Facebook, where 39% say they have suffered harassment, but occur on every platform included in the global study including Instagram (23%), WhatsApp (14%), Snapchat (10%), Twitter (9%) and TikTok (6%).

The research by Plan International, a leading girls’ rights organisation, is based on a survey and a series of in-depth interviews of 14,000 girls aged 15-25 from 22 countries.

The largest study of its kind, it found girls who use social media in high and low-income countries alike are routinely subjected to explicit messages, pornographic photos, cyberstalking and other distressing forms of abuse, and reporting tools are ineffective in stopping it.

Online violence has led to nearly one in five (19%) of those who have been harassed stopping or significantly reducing their use of the platform on which it happened, while another one in ten (12%) have changed the way they express themselves.

Abuse also damages girls’ lives offline, with one in five (22%) of those surveyed saying they or a friend have been left fearing for their physical safety, while 44% say social media companies need to do more to protect them.

Angela Muriithi, Country Director of Plan International Zimbabwe, said: “Although this research was gathered in conversation with more than 14,000 girls across multiple continents, they share similar experiences of harassment and discrimination that resonate with experiences of girls and young women in Zimbabwe.”

“The effect is that girls end up withdrawing from online platforms because of fear and intimidation and resultantly missing out on educational and other opportunities.” “These attacks may not be physical, but they are often threatening, relentless, and limit girls’ freedom of expression.

Driving girls out of online spaces is hugely disempowering in an increasingly digital world, and damages their ability to be seen, heard and become leaders.” “Disappointingly, they are being left to deal with online violence on their own, with profound consequences for their confidence and wellbeing.

With COVID-19 driving more of our lives online and with internet access around the world improving, it is time for digital platforms to step up and protect their users.” The most common type of attack is abusive and insulting language, reported by 59% of girls who have been harassed, followed by purposeful embarrassment (41%), body shaming and threats of sexual violence (both 39%).

The report – titled Free to be online? Girls’ and young women’s experiences of online harassment – found that social media is a significant part of young people’s lives and is widely used for activism, entertainment, to learn and to keep in touch with friends and family.

Three-quarters (74%) of those surveyed say they post frequently or very frequently, while interviews suggest that COVID-19 has made being online even more important. In the words of one young woman, (18) said: “Social media is very important these days, and I often use it for three to four hours a day.”

However, this leaves girls vulnerable to new forms of abuse, with 50% saying online harassment is more common than street harassment.

Describing her experience of using social media, one young woman in Harare said: “I get all sorts of requests ranging from meet ups, requests for nude pictures from strangers and at times from people I know. Some of the requests are accompanied by threats and use of bad words if I fail to meet them.

“This form of abuse robs us of the much needed confidence and dignity to an extent that many of us are depressed and have decided to be quiet on such platforms.”

Although one in three (35%) have reported perpetrators, abuse persists because they can make new accounts and significant numbers of people need to report harmful content before action is taken.

Another girl (17), who was interviewed for the study said: “I would block him but he would create more profiles and keep sending me pictures of myself I had previously shared online.” Have removed Ecuador because it doesn’t resonate with our local audience.

Harassment takes a profound toll on girls’ confidence and wellbeing, with 39% of those surveyed saying it lowers self-esteem, 38% saying it creates mental and emotional stress and 18% saying it can cause problems at school.

The research was carried out as part of Girls Get Equal, Plan International’s global campaign for a world where girls and young women have the power to be leaders and shape the world around them. As part of the campaign, girls around the world have written an open letter to Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Twitter calling on them to create stronger and more effective ways to report abuse and harassment.

Plan International is also asking governments worldwide to implement specific laws to deal with online gender-based violence and ensure girls who suffer it have access to justice.

Ms Muriithi continued: “Social media companies have the power to make change.”

“They must do more to tackle harmful behaviour and ensure that their platforms are safe environments that allow girls, young people and other groups that are vulnerable to harassment to fully express themselves and play their rightful role in shaping the modern world.”

Three people trying to help a motorist trapped in his vehicle after it hit a cow at the 23km peg along the Guruve-Mvurwi Road around 6pm on Thursday last week, were fatally struck by a speeding vehicle that had poor lights.

Mashonaland Central police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Fidelis Dhewu said the three were Lilian Shamu, Tarisai Kasaira and Delight Mvurumu and two others, Norman Makaza and Darlington Guvamombe, were injured and are admitted at Mvurwi Hospital.

Guvamombe is reportedly in a serious condition. The accident happened around 6pm.

Ass Insp Dhewu said Edward Makumbe (52) was driving a Mazda Bongo towards Mvurwi when he hit a cow and was trapped inside the vehicle.

Notice Makaza (34), who was driving a Nissan Caravan in the same direction, parked his vehicle in front of the Mazda Bongo to render assistance.

“Jumbe Trymore (43), who was driving a truck with poor lights and was also speeding, failed to keep a proper lookout and hit the Nissan Caravan and as a result the three people who were behind the Nissan Caravan were knocked down.

Shamu and Kasaira died on the spot while Mvurumu, who had come from nearby houses to render assistance, died on the way to Mvurwi Hospital. Makaza is in a stable condition.”

Ass Insp Dhewu said Jumbe has since been charged with culpable homicide while the owner of the cow is charged under the Road and Traffic Regulations.

Ass Insp Dhewu appealed to motorists to drive roadworthy vehicles and to keep a proper lookout to avoid accidents.

-State Media

By A Correspondent| Women’s Academy for Leadership and Political Excellence (WALPE) together with Zimbabwe Women Lawyers Association (ZWLA) represented by Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum approached the High Court of Zimbabwe suing President Emmerson Mnangagwa for making cabinet appointments that are not gender balanced.

Section 17 (1) (b) (ii) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe requires that women constitute at least half the membership of all elective and appointed governmental bodies established by or under the Constitution or any other Act of Parliament.

However, President Mnangagwa has failed several times to abide by these constitutional provisions for example when he appointed five female and eighteen male ministers on 08 November 2019 when he did a cabinet reshuffle. Through those appointments the number of women in cabinet stood at 21% instead of 50%. The President also went further to appoint five women and thirteen men as deputy ministers and thus women constituted 28% of the total number of deputy ministers instead of the constitutionally required 50%.

Moreso, after firing health minister Obadiah Moyo over corruption, the President replaced him with a male candidate, Vice President Constantino Chiwenga. The replacement of the late Agriculture minister Perrance Shiri was also  a man, Anxious Masuka, whilst when Energy minister Fortune Chasi was fired, he was also replaced with Soda Zhemu, another male leader. The case is still pending before the courts.

Women’s Academy for Leadership and Political Excellence has released a report titled “The state of women’s rights and wellbeing in the era of Covid-19 in Zimbabwe.” The report outlined the impact of Covid-19 on Zimbabwean women who reside in both urban and rural areas and expose the disproportionate burden that the pandemic has had on women.

With women being the most affected by the Coronavirus pandemic, the major impacts of the pandemic on Zimbabwean women include; violence against women human rights defenders and political activists, domestic violence, access to health services, education, unpaid care work and domestic work, women working in the informal sector, corruption, access to reliable, clean and potable water and demolition of vending stalls as well as the lack of support systems for mental health issues.

The organisation also recorded a total number 985 cases of human rights violations against women across all the ten provinces of Zimbabwe since the first case of Covid-19 infection was reported in March 2020. The provinces which recorded the highest number of cases are Harare, Bulawayo and Masvingo whilst Mashonaland East, Mashonaland Central and Matabeleland had the least number of cases.

The recorded cases also came in different forms of torture which include, arbitrary arrests, assault, online violence, unlawful detentions and abductions. Amongst the appeals made by WALPE to the Government is the need to spearhead a  campaign to end all forms of violence against women and girls and bring to book all state security officials responsible for perpetrating gross human rights violations countrywide against women.

The report concluded that the state of women’s rights and well-being in the era of Covid-19 in Zimbabwe has rapidly and negatively reshaped the participation of women in political, social and economic activities.

NEWSDAY– President Emmerson Mnangagwa yesterday alleged a plot by Zanu PF insiders to oust him from office after agreeing to pay white commercial farmers US$3,5 billion in compensation for land expropriated by government for resettlement to landless blacks at the start of the millennium.

The Global Compensation Agreement between government and the white former commercial farmers, for improvements and equipment, signed in July had been in the works since 2016, but has met with stiff resistance, with some Zanu PF elements challenging the deal.A group of war veterans have challenged the agreement in court.

In August, Mnangagwa’s government was forced to offer land as compensation to local blacks who lost their farms during the often chaotic land reform exercise under the late former president Robert Mugabe and to companies whose farms were protected under the Bilateral Investment Promotion and Protection Agreements.

The decision has been met with hostility from various quotas, with many accusing Mnangagwa of trying to reverse the land reform programme that allegedly empowered natives, but alienated Zimbabwe from her traditional Western donors and plunged the country into a deep economic mess.

Some war veterans, a critical wing in the ruling Zanu PF, which often views itself as the stockholder of the former liberation party, immediately accused Mnangagwa of selling out and reversing the gains made of the liberation struggle.

Mnangagwa told mourners at the burial of national hero Brigadier-General Ruphus Chigudu that he was aware of a plot by some elements “from within the party” to try to use the land issue as an excuse for regime change.

“The land has come and it has now been united with its people. It has come forever and is irreversible,” he said.

Mnangagwa was apparently referring to critics who accused him of seeking to reverse the programme that benefited millions of Zimbabweans, mostly Zanu PF supporters.

“There are those in our midst who are misreading what the government constitutionally seeks to achieve in pursuit of a narrow agenda,” he said.

“They think they have now found a credible platform for mobilising against our administration and its government. They are desperate, but let me assure you, they are bound to fail.”

Mnangagwa, who came to power through a military coup in November 2017, has claimed several plots against his rule in the three years he has been in power.

In May 2018, ahead of the July 30 elections, Mnangagwa said he had unearthed a plot by some Zanu PF MPs working with MDC Alliance to use their numbers in Parliament to impeach him.

In June, Home Affairs minister Kazembe Kazembe, claimed there was a coup plot against Mnangagwa involving the opposition and civil society.

That same month, Mnangagwa admitted there were some wolves in sheep’s skins in his party.

Last week, State Security minister Owen Ncube said there were “rogue elements” that included MDC Alliance and G40 members that had been conniving with some Western nations to smuggle guns into the country and set up “democratic resistance committees” to destroy the democratic foundations of Zimbabwe.

Several MDC Alliance officials have in recent months been arrested for allegedly plotting to subvert a constitutionally-elected Zanu PF government.

Mnangagwa’s government has also accused the exiled members of the G40 faction of plotting from South Africa to oust his administration.

Zanu PF has been involved in fierce internal fights, with some members allegedly aligning themselves with Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga, who is said to be angling to take over from his boss, although he has publicly denied harbouring such ambitions.

Mnangagwa yesterday endorsed Chiwenga’s decision to suspend the holding of by-elections until the COVID-19 pandemic is over, saying there was no need to be complacent as the threat of the disease remained real.

Chiwenga, in his capacity as Health minister, last week suspended by-elections, a move that legal experts said was unconstitutional and, therefore, a nullity.

“Voting and democracy are enjoyed by the living, not by the sick nor those dying or dead,” Mnangagwa said while urging people to observe laid down COVID-19 preventive measures.

He also said government had put security agents on high alert to curb the rise in ritual murders and armed robberies.

This came after the suspected ritual murder of a seven-year-old Murewa boy allegedly by his uncle and a domestic worker.

“Let me reiterate that all stakeholders in our justice delivery system deal with this so that this evil trend is expunged from our society,” Mnangagwa said.

“Equally worrisome are the growing cases of armed and violent crimes. We must draw lessons from the late Brigadier-General who knew the use of guns was to protect the nation.”

He said Zimbabweans should remain peaceful and united in the wake of “machinations” by the country’s detractors.

“Given the onslaught, machinations and clandestine shenanigans by our detractors, let us be united in defence of our hard won independence,” he said.

“In this regard, I commend us the people of Zimbabwe for upholding peace, harmony and love which our late national hero fought for.”

“Violence, destruction of property and making Zimbabwe ungovernable can never be democratic and it is not what we fought for.”

–NEWSDAY

Dear Knowledge Hakata

“As a political student this is my prediction of what is happening and what is going to happen in Zimbabwe. Zanu PF knows that they won’t stand a chance in 2023 presidential elections and to counter that they had to create fake opposition party in the form of MDC Khupe and her political demagogues,” you predicted 

Your name is Knowledge but, sadly, knowledge is the one thing you DO NOT have! 

Zanu PF has been rigging elections for donkey years now because the party KNEW it would lose power if it held free, fair and credible elections. Mnangagwa promised to hold free, fair and credible elections following the November 2017 military coup but failed to implement even one token democratic reform because he did not want to risk losing the elections. 

Mnangagwa knew that if he could get the MDC to participate in the elections regardless of the electoral flaws and illegalities he can rig the election and get away with it. He offered the opposition a few gravy train seats as bait and it worked. There were 23 presidential candidates alone! 

“MDC has stringent measures to stop Zanu PF rigging the elections,” insisted Nelson Chamisa. Of course, he knew that Zanu PF was rigging the July 2018 elections, he had no measures to stop the rigging and yet he still participated out of greed.

Zanu PF went on to win 2/3 majority in parliament and the presidency in the July 2018 elections. 

By participating in these flawed and illegal elections the opposition are giving “credibility” to the flawed process. And they know it, as David Coltart readily admitted. 

In his Book, The Struggle Continues 50 years of Tyranny in Zimbabwe, David Coltart, former MDC – Ncube Senator and Minister of Education in the 2008 GNU, gave details of how Zanu PF was flouting the electoral rules in the upcoming 2013 elections. It was clear to all the elections would not be free, fair and credible.

“The worst aspect for me about the failure to agree a coalition was that both MDCs couldn’t now do the obvious – withdraw from the elections,” wrote Senator Coltart.

“The electoral process was so flawed, so illegal, that the only logical step was to withdraw, which would compel SADC to hold Zanu PF to account. But such was the distrust between the MDC-T and MDC-N that neither could withdraw for fear that the other would remain in the elections, winning seats and giving the process credibility.”   

By giving credibility to the illegal election process the opposition is also, by extension, giving legitimacy to the vote rigging, ipso facto, illegitimate Zanu PF government. 

Zanu PF’s electoral chance of winning the 2023 elections have not improved from that in 2018 and hence the reason the party has resolutely resisted all calls to implement the democratic reforms. The only likely reforms to be carried out are to create the position of Leader of the Opposition complete with a few Shadow Cabinet post; the office bearers will be entitled to ministerial limos, generous salaries, etc. The opposition will find the bait even more irresistible! 

Mnangagwa won 2018 elections because Zanu PF had the carte blanche dictatorial powers to rig the elections. The party has retained all the dictatorial powers and so would he bother creating fake opposition parties to win the 2023 elections?

Ever since the High Court ruling that said Nelson Chamisa’s seizure of power following Morgan Tsvangirai’s death in February 2018 had violated MDC’s own constitution; MDC leaders have been at each other’s throat. The most important point here is to accept that MDC leaders are their own worst enemy in this mess. It is foolish, to say the least, to blame Mnangagwa and Zanu PF for MDC leaders’ own breath taking incompetence and greed.

The irony is Zanu PF has managed to stay in power post the 2008 to 2013 GNU thanks to the breath taking incompetence and greed of the MDC. And in turn MDC leaders themselves have in power thanks to the breath taking naivety of opposition supporters like Knowledge Hakata who binary mentality will not allow them to see MDC leaders for what they are – sell-outs. 

People like Hakata cannot talk of Chamisa except in conjunction with Mnangagwa. Since he has judged the latter a corrupt, incompetent and murderous tyrant, which many of us would agree with; and compared to Mnangagwa, Chamisa is an angel! This is nothing new. 

Before independence the whites were the devil incarnate and Mugabe and Zanu PF were the angels. It took 20 years for before many Zimbabweans finally accept that Zanu PF was a party of corrupt and murderous thugs. And today, after 21 years of risking life and limb to elect MDC leaders into power and with nothing to show for it; many Zimbabweans are yet to accept that MDC leaders are not the angels they imagined.  

Of course, the mental refusal of seeing and judging Chamisa except in the light of Mnangagwa and no one else is as flawed, limited and foolish as one who will only view the world in black and white when there are are all the colours of the rainbow. 

How tragic that we are living in the age when other have landed on the moon; a carrying out route operation on the most delicate human organ, the brain; and a thousand other things beside. In Zimbabwe we still do not know what constitute free, fair and credible elections; something the Greeks bequeathed mankind 2 500 years ago!

The emotional power of graphics – the clarity of conviction:

By A Correspondent| Today at High Court, ZINASU leader Takudzwa Ngadziore appears for his bail appeal seeking his release from Harare Remand Prison, where he has been detained since last week.

Ngadziore was denied bail at Harare Magistrates Court after he was arrested and charged for allegedly protesting against the use of Impala Car Rental vehicle in the abduction of Tawanda Muchehiwa in July by some unidentified people.

ZINASU leader will have to spend more time in jail awaiting outcome of his bail appeal filed by Webster Jiti of ZLHR after High Court Judge postponed hearing and determination of his matter to Thursday to allow the State to file its response to his freedom bid.

“After investing our energies in seeking the release of Ngadziore, we are saddened that Taku will have to spend more time in jail after hearing of his appeal was postponed to Tuesday because the State has not filed its response & the record of proceedings has some missing pages.

“At High Court today, we are ready to make submissions on behalf of ZINASU leader seeking his release on bail. Ngadziore has spent a long time in prison since he was arrested in September for allegedly addressing a media briefing on abduction of Muchehiwa,” said ZLHR.

Webster Jiti is ready to represent Ngadziore during the hearing of the bail appeal wherein he seeks to end the incarceration of the student leader.

Three people trying to help a motorist trapped in his vehicle after it hit a cow at the 23km peg along the Guruve-Mvurwi Road around 6pm on Thursday last week, were fatally struck by a speeding vehicle that had poor lights.

Mashonaland Central police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Fidelis Dhewu said the three were Lilian Shamu, Tarisai Kasaira and Delight Mvurumu and two others, Norman Makaza and Darlington Guvamombe, were injured and are admitted at Mvurwi Hospital.

Guvamombe is reportedly in a serious condition. The accident happened around 6pm.

Ass Insp Dhewu said Edward Makumbe (52) was driving a Mazda Bongo towards Mvurwi when he hit a cow and was trapped inside the vehicle.

Notice Makaza (34), who was driving a Nissan Caravan in the same direction, parked his vehicle in front of the Mazda Bongo to render assistance.

“Jumbe Trymore (43), who was driving a truck with poor lights and was also speeding, failed to keep a proper lookout and hit the Nissan Caravan and as a result the three people who were behind the Nissan Caravan were knocked down.

Shamu and Kasaira died on the spot while Mvurumu, who had come from nearby houses to render assistance, died on the way to Mvurwi Hospital. Makaza is in a stable condition.”

Ass Insp Dhewu said Jumbe has since been charged with culpable homicide while the owner of the cow is charged under the Road and Traffic Regulations.

Ass Insp Dhewu appealed to motorists to drive roadworthy vehicles and to keep a proper lookout to avoid accidents.

By A Correspondent- Zimbabwe has seen the number of malnutrition cases rising lately due to the drought-induced food insecurity and the deteriorating economy.

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) indicated in its latest report that the majority of households in the country require food assistance to prevent a worse-off scenario.

Said the humanitarian office:

The number of pellagra cases reported has continued to increase in Zimbabwe. As per routine data, 1 258 pellagra cases were recorded between January to July 2020, which is double compared to the 667 cases over the same period last year.

Following increases from 88 pellagra cases in March to 141 in April, 224 in May and 248 in June, 169 cases were reported for July 2020. The numbers of pellagra cases are likely to continue to increase as food insecurity in the country deepens and household income for accessing diversified diets continues to be depleted by the impact of the Covid-19 lockdown and economic crisis.

The UN office observes that nationally 56 percent of women were consuming less than five groups of recommended foods.

Zimbabwe has had acute food shortages since 2019 promoting the government to import and subsidise maize grain and or mealie-meal.

Back in March when the coronavirus lockdown was involved, the government pledged but did not commit to distributing cushioning packages to vulnerable members of the society to shield them from the effects of the lockdown.-DailyNews

By A Correspondent- MDC T interim leader Thokozani Khupe is set to be sworn in today.

The development follows the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) gazetting the names of legislators who will replace MDC Alliance Members of Parliament who were recalled by the MDC-T.

The names which ZEC chair, Justice Priscilla Chigumba gazetted include MDC interim president Thokozani Khupe, her spokesperson Khaliphani Phugeni, Yvonne Winfielda Musarurwa, Lindani Moyo, January Sawuke, Memory Munochinzwa, Lwazi Sibanda, Sipho Mokone, Molly Dorothy Ndlovu, Tamani Moyo, Gertrude Moyo, Piniel Denga, Chief Ndlovu, Nomalanga Khumalo and Teti Chisorochengwe.

Reads the latest Government Gazette:

It is hereby notified, in terms of section 39(7)(a) of the Electoral Act [Chapter 2:13], that persons listed in the Schedule nominated by the MDC -T party to fill the vacancies that occurred among the party list members of the National Assembly and the Senate following the recall of the incumbent members by the MDC-T party on the grounds that they had ceased to be members of that party, have been appointed as National Assembly party-list members and Senators respectively with effect from the date of publication of this notice.

This comes as by-elections to replace the recalled legislators and councillors are in limbo after the Health Minister, Vice President Constantino Chiwenga has amended the COVID-19 Regulations Act to block elections.

MDC-T leadership has since March this year been recalling MPs and councillors aligned to MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa.-DailyNews

By A Correspondent- Five people have been arrested in connection with the violence that broke out in Kwekwe at the ruling ZANU PF’s primary elections held over the weekend.

The elections were called off after machete-wielding youths stormed the command centre at the party’s Kwekwe district office and started to beat up everyone, including polling agents.

Kandros Mugabe (ZANU PF’s losing Kwekwe Central candidate in 2018) and Energy Ncube (nephew of state minister Owen Mudha Ncube), were contesting to represent the party in the by-elections meant to replace Kwekwe Central legislator Masango Matambanadzo who succumbed to COVID-19 in July this year.

The arrest was confirmed by Zanu PF Midlands provincial spokesperson Cornelius Mpereri who said the party was assisting the police with investigations.

Mpereri said:

There are suspects who have since been arrested following the disturbances on Sunday, but you can check with the police for the names.

I am not in the office at the moment. We are a peaceful party and we continue to work with the police as we seek to bring the perpetrators of the violence to book.

Of interest to some, however, is the fact that the primary elections were conducted after the Health Minister, Vice President Constantino Chiwenga had decreed that by-elections to replace recalled MDC Alliance MPs will not be conducted.

Through Statutory Instrument (SI), 225A of 2020 Chiwenga cited the coronavirus pandemic as the reason why the elections should be suspended indefinitely.

Some say the directive is a political tool to prevent the citizenry from choosing representatives of their own as the party which recalled the MPs will now nominate replacements.-statemedia

By A Correspondent- Two soldiers stationed at Manyame air force base appeared in court on Monday after they allegedly stole gold ore belonging to Maxen Manuel Syndicate in Mazoe where they are part-time workers.

The duo, Taurai Towo (34) a corporal and Tinashe Tembo, a sergeant were remanded out of custody and will appear again in court on 18 October 2020.

It is alleged that on 29 September, the accused connived together with a security guard Themba Mudzengerere who is still at large connived with Tamuka Gandiwa (20), Promise Chivhorovhoro and Cosmas Kafudzaruwa (29) and stole 1 100kgs which they sold to Morebetterdays Milling company and shared the proceeds.

On the following day, the mine supervisor Dannie Chesa discovered that 55x 20 kgs sacks of gold ore were missing and made a report leading to the arrest of the five accused persons.USD90 was recovered from Gandiwa while USD130 and 5kg gold ore was recovered from Kafudzaruwa.

Paul Nyathi

Newly elected MDC Alliance Gwanda Mayor Njabulo Siziba is set to break record for serving the shortest time as Mayor of a council in Zimbabwe as the Thokozani Khupe led MDC-T is set to recall him together with two other councillors for being dishonest and playing double standards.

Reliable sources within the MDC-T Matabeleland South Province have provided ZimEye.com with details that Siziba together with his colleague councillors Nappy Moyo and Mkhululi Tshuma will be recalled within the next few days at the recommendation of the province.

The sources, who provided ZimEye.com with a copy of the recommendation letter for the recall from the province to Secretary General Douglas Mwonzora said that the three councillors took the party for a ride after attending an MDC-T meetingin the town a day before the election where they agreed to nominate and elect Siziba as an MDC-T Councillor only to change the party name and allegiance at the election.

The province has since recommended for the recall which Mwonzora is set to execute immediately.

The three councillors hit the headlines a month ago in pictures in a meeting with the MDC-T leadership where they denounced their allegiance to the Nelson Chamisa led MDC Alliance.

Only former Mayor Jastone Mazhale came out of the meeting dismissing Khupe and her MDC-T which led to his immediate recall.

After Mazhale’s recall, the three councillors appeared in an MDC Alliance media statement claiming allegiance to the MDC Alliance.

MDC-T spokesperson Khaliphani Phugeni could not be reached for a comment at the time of this article.

More details to follow.

The DA wants to see the minutes of the meeting between Defence and Military Veterans Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula and her Zimbabwean counterpart, Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri, during a visit last month.

Mapisa-Nqakula met with Muchinguri-Kashiri on 9 September, only two days after she requested the meeting. This meeting happened on the same date as the one between ANC officials and Zimbabwe’s governing party, Zanu-PF. The ANC officials travelled with Mapisa-Nqakula on board an SA Air Force Falcon 900 jet to Harare.

The meeting between Mapisa-Nqakula and Muchinguri-Kashiri lasted about two-and-a-half hours, while the ANC and Zanu-PF meeting lasted about nine, according to Mapisa-Nqakula’s draft affidavit to the Public Protector.

Accompanying Mapisa-Nqakula was Social Development Minister Lindiwe Zulu, and civilians Ace Magashule, Nomvula Mokonyane, Tony Yengeni, Enoch Godongwana and Dakota Lekgoete, all senior ANC members.

After a public outcry, the Presidency last week released Mapisa-Nqakula’s reports to President Cyril Ramaphosa and documentation relating to the visit. The details from these documents sketch a picture of a hastily arranged official visit after the ANC resolved to meet Zanu-PF.

Suspicion

DA MP and spokesperson on defence Kobus Marais said in a statement on Monday Mapisa-Nqakula’s report to Ramaphosa “gives rise to the suspicion that she is simply conspiring to hide the ANC’s abuse of state resources behind this meeting”.

He said on Monday:”We believe that the minutes of this meeting will reveal what we all suspect – that this meeting was nothing more than a ruse by the minister to hide the fact that the whole trip to Zimbabwe was solely in service to ANC politics and had nothing to do with the business of government.”

“Nowhere in her report to the president does she give any feedback on a meeting deemed so urgent and critical that it could not be conducted over a virtual platform and had to break the rules of the Ministerial Handbook which requires approval two weeks in advance.”

Included in Mapisa-Nqakula’s documents is a draft affidavit to the Public Protector, in which she states that the ANC delegation, which included her, met with Zanu-PF from 10:00 to 19:00 on 9 September.

Meeting

She said at about 16:30, she and Muchinguri-Kashiri broke away to have their official meeting, which lasted until about 19:00 before they addressed a press briefing on the meeting at 19:30.

She also attached a copy of a report by the Zimbabwean news outlet ZBC News on the briefing.

Marais said it seemed clear the ANC wanted to visit Zimbabwe, but was unable to do so due to its current financial constraints and then “decided that they are above the rules and regulations governing normal South African citizens”.

“And instead of rebuking this blatant abuse of state resources and being steadfast in fighting corruption – as he so recently promised to do again – the president went along with the subterfuge because it is simply impossible that President Ramaphosa had no idea what the members of his party and Cabinet were up to.”

Ramaphosa reprimanded Mapisa-Nqakula and docked three months of her salary after he considered the reports and documentation and found she had made an “error in judgement”.

This is not enough for Marais.

“They should both suffer the consequences of their actions. Neither’s hands are clean. Those in the ANC that organised this abuse are as guilty as those who partook, and those who tried to cover it up. The ANC should pay back all the money for the flight, and not just a small percentage calculated by a minister who has already proven that she would put her party before her country.”

Marais said the DA would submit parliamentary questions about the meeting and request the information via the Promotion of Access to Information Act.

Source: The Citizen

Paul Nyathi

The High Court has ended the high level internet row between comedian Felistas Murata, best known as Mai Titi, and her ex-friend Memory Muyaka which had spilled into court where the latter was demanding $500,000 defamation damages.

Muyaka, the owner of Khloe’s Home Decor (Private) Limited, has slapped Murata with a lawsuit accusing her of publishing falsehoods that she is a prostitute.

This happened between November last year and April this year after the comedian made several posts on her Facebook page which has over 170,000 followers.

Murata also claimed that Muyaka was a witch and a cultist baying for her blood.

In its judgement, the court ordered Mai Titi to pay the $500 000 defamation damages to Muyaka.

High Court judge Justice Erica Ndewere in her ruling said: “Whereupon after reading documents filed on record and hearing counsel, it is ordered that the defendant pays the plaintiff in the sum of $500 000 and the prescribed interest rate starting from the date of judgment up to the date of payment in full.”

Muyaka was ordered to pay the costs of the suit.

In her submissions to court Muyaka said the postings made by Murata degraded her social standing as a married woman, a business person, and as a Christian.

“She is a businesswoman who is a director and shareholder of Khloe’s Home and Decor (Private) Limited, a business which is into home decor and design,” the court papers read.

“On several dates between the 17th of November 2019 and 3 April 2020, Murata who has over 170 000 followers on Facebook published several broadcasts on Facebook and WhatsApp platforms about the plaintiff whom she also calls Mai Khloe, Mai Maketeni.

“The said broadcasts stated that the plaintiff was a prostitute, a witch, a gossiper, and someone who blackmails her clients.”

Muyaka’s lawyers said the statements were both wrongful and defamatory of the plaintiff who is a business person and a legally married woman who is highly regarded in her community.

They also accused the entertainer of publishing that Muyaka and three other unnamed people were part of the Illuminati secret society that is believed to be involved in Satanism and that they wanted to kill Murata.

“This was false and intended by the defendant to impute that plaintiff is an evil person. This statement is wrongful and defamatory of the plaintiff who is a Christian,” they wrote in the summons.

Source: ZBC

President Emmerson Mnangagwa has all but given Caledonia Mining serious exclusive mining rights at its Blanket Mine gold claims in Gwanda.

In a move similar to the historic Rudd Concession of 1888, Mnangagwa as was said by Lobengula then, said the country welcomes the private sector’s involvement in research, exploration, mining, and value addition of the country’s resources.

Mnangagwa when he witnessed together with Vice President Retired General Dr Constantino Chiwenga, the signing ceremony of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Caledonia Mining Corporation.

The Rudd Concession, a written concession for exclusive mining rights in Matabeleland, Mashonaland and other adjoining territories in what is today Zimbabwe, was granted by King Lobengula of Matabeleland to Charles Rudd, James Rochfort Maguire and Francis Thompson, three agents acting on behalf of the South African-based politician and businessman Cecil Rhodes, on 30 October 1888.

Despite Lobengula’s retrospective attempts to disavow it, it proved the foundation for the royal charter granted by the United Kingdom to Rhodes’s British South Africa Company in October 1889, and thereafter for the Pioneer Column’s occupation of Mashonaland in 1890, which marked the beginning of white settlement, administration and development in the country that eventually became Rhodesia, named after Rhodes, in 1895.

A major Gwanda goldbelt miner, Caledonia Mining Corporation, signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Government yesterday so it can boost investment and production in its gold mining and play a leading part in the drive to a US$12 billion mining sector economy by 2023.

President Mnangagwa, speaking at the signing ceremony at State House, said Caledonia’s commitment was testimony that Zimbabwe is a safe investment destination since the coming in of the Second Republic.

He immediately called for the involvement of local communities for the growth of rural industry systems and the achievement of robust provincial gross domestic product, in line with the devolution agenda.

In the MoU, Caledonia declares and affirms its intention to increase gold production in excess of 500 000 ounces, around 15,5 tonnes, by 2030.

“This ceremony is a milestone achievement towards our quest to attain a US$12 billion mining sector economy by 2023. Furthermore, it is indicative of the Caledonia Mining Corporation’s explicit interest to invest in our economy, affirming that Zimbabwe is a safe investment destination,” said Pres Mnangagwa.

Gold is expected to rake in US$4 billion a year, platinum US$3 billion, diamonds US$1 billion, while chrome, iron, steel and coal will contribute US$1 billion. Lithium is expected to contribute US$500 million while other minerals will contribute US$1,5 billion.

President Mnangagwa said the MoU was vital as it defined the responsibilities of each party, while also providing scope of authority, clarifying terms, conditions and outlining compliance issues regarding the proposed mining interventions.

He implored the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development and Caledonia to speed up the implementation of the agreement, saying bureaucratic and lethargic tendencies were “a thing of the past”.

“The government is accelerating measures to improve the cost and ease of doing business, with the recent establishment of the Zimbabwe Investment and Development Agency providing impetus and drive “Zimbabwe is open for Business”.

But President Mnangagwa said as miners carry out their projects, they should be alive to the intricate relationship between the natural environment and development through adoption and use of appropriate mining technologies.

Caledonia has already made considerable capital investments in both underground and surface mining as well as rural infrastructure, in line with the devolution agenda.

The Gwanda-based miner is working on constructing a solar plant that will meet up to 30 percent of its power requirements at its major Blanket Mine.

President Mnangagwa said the solar project was in tandem with Zimbabwe’s thrust for sustainable use of green energy to enhance production and productivity within the broader economic spectrum.

Caledonia is also interested in investing in Government-owned projects, and has pledged to evaluate mining rights and properties.

President Mnangagwa said such expression of interest reflects the private sector’s determination to explore opportunities and partner his administration.

He called on investors in all sectors of the economy to establish partnerships, which propel the national development agenda, “leaving no one behind”.

“Zimbabwe has abundant and diversified mineral endowments, which makes mining a critical sector in the economic development of our great nation. The mining sector continues to immensely contribute to the economic development of the country, contributing more than 60 percent of export receipts and more than 50 percent foreign direct investment into the country,” he said.

The President said he looks forward to the successful implementation of the MoU guided by clear and definite timeframes, with Government ready to support expressed mining interests for the ultimate growth of the mining sector and the economy at large.

Vice President Constantino Chiwenga at the same occasion said since President Mnangagwa’s inauguration, he had committed to improving the lives of citizens through creating a conducive investment environment, adding that yesterday’s MoU demonstrated that Zimbabwe was “indeed open for business”.

He called on all stakeholders to work together so that everyone benefits from mines.
Mines and Mining Development Minister Winston Chitando, said the MoU was in line with the projected target of 100 tonnes of gold by 2023.

“I would like to recognise that Caledonia Mining Corporation is approaching the end of its US$70 million investment project which result in Blanket Mine’s annual gold production increasing from the current level of 1,7 tonnes to 2,5 tonnes,” he said.

Caledonia CEO Mr Steve Curtis said his company remained committed to investing in Zimbabwe, one of the remaining gold frontiers.

He said they were determined to ensure the health and safety of employees and their families.

ZCTU president Peter Mutasa speaks on the worsening plight of workers in Zimbabwe.

ZCTU is calling for mass protests to force government to address workers’ grievances.

Watch video below :

Zimlive

A soldier who claimed to have carried out the White City Stadium bombing in June 2018 while trying to impress a girlfriend was jailed for 12 years, his lawyer said.

Tendai Saunyama Kandima, who worked for Military Intelligence, was convicted of making statements prejudicial to the state by the General Court Martial.

Kandima had no lawyer during his trial. Harare lawyer Innocent Gonese – instructed by the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights – has taken up his case aiming to secure his release to enable him to undergo urgent treatment for a heart ailment.

Gonese told ZimLive: “I’ve just been engaged, and we’ll look at our options. Obviously, an appeal can only be made to the Supreme Court because the General Court Martial is the same as the High Court.”

Gonese hopes to secure Kandima’s release on compassionate grounds. He is serving an effective six years after half of his sentence was conditionally suspended.

No-one has been charged over the June 23, 2018, grenade attack which happened as President Emmerson Mnangagwa and his deputies Constantino Chiwenga and Kembo Mohadi were leaving a Zanu PF rally at White City Stadium in Bulawayo.

Three security aides of the president were killed and 40 others – including Mohadi – were injured in the explosion.

Utter devastation … Injured people lie on the ground in the immediate aftermath of a bomb explosion at White City Stadium on June 23, 2018

Mayhem … Several people lie injured moments after the bomb explosion which killed three
Mnangagwa told the BBC he knew who was behind the attack, and promised that arrests would be made after elections held in July 2018 – but an inter-agency investigation into the incident has failed to make headway.

Kandima, according to Gonese, boasted to his girlfriend that he was behind the bombing in a WhatsApp message sent early last year. The message eventually found its way to the military leading to his arrest and detention at 2 Infantry Brigade at Kaguvi Barracks in Harare. It was later established that Kandima was in India when the incident happened.

He was tried by the military court accused of “publishing or communicating a wholly or materially false statement with the intention or realising that there is a real risk or possibility of undermining public confidence in a law enforcement agency.”

Father-of-two Kandima lived in Chitungwiza with his wife.

State Media

Five suspected gold panners allegedly hired to disrupt Zanu PF primary elections for Kwekwe Central over the weekend have been arrested, as investigations into the incident continue.

The primary elections had to be cancelled after rowdy youths armed with machetes and iron bars stormed the command centre at the party’s Kwekwe district office and started to beat up everyone, including polling agents.

Vehicles belonging to party officials, including that of the provincial deputy chairperson Rabson Nyathi, who was presiding were damaged.

Two aspiring candidates, Kandros Mugabe and Energy Ncube, were battling it out to represent the party in the Kwekwe Central seat left vacant following the death of Mr Masango Matambanadzo of the National Patriotic Front in July this year.

Zanu PF Midlands provincial spokesperson Cornelius Mpereri yesterday confirmed the arrest of the five suspects, saying the party was assisting the police with investigations.

“There are suspects who have since been arrested following the disturbances on Sunday, but you can check with the police for the names,” he said.

“I am not in the office at the moment. We are a peaceful party and we continue to work with the police as we seek to bring the perpetrators of the violence to book.”

Paul Nyathi

Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Minister Professor Paul Mavima says that teachers’ unions are not being realistic in their engagements with the Government over salaries.

In an engagement with the teachers unions in Harare on Monday, Mavima said that the teachers must take into consideration the present economic challenges faced by the goverment while making their demands.

Teachers have not reported for duty since examination classes reopened on September 28.

Teacher representatives are calling for a minimum salary of US$520 or the equivalent at the auction rate while Government has indicated that it would be unable to pay in US dollars given that it has reintroduced the local currency.

“They have raised their concerns and we are taking these concerns to the President and Cabinet. We have heard their concerns, but we also appealed to them to be realistic in their concerns and consider the economic conditions prevailing in the country.

“The salary negotiations between the Government and the National Joint Negotiating Council are ongoing. But Government decided to cushion its workers, while waiting for these negotiations to be finalised and the appeal to civil servants is to be patient while waiting for the outcome,” said Professor Mavima.

Last week, Treasury paid a 40 percent cost of living salary adjustment to cushion civil servants, while waiting for the completion of negotiations with unions over pay and other employment terms.

Government has also committed to continue paying the temporary US$75 monthly Covid-19 allowances that it promised to all its workers for the duration of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Paul Nyathi

The trial of six MDC Alliance Activists arrested for staging “an illegal demonstration” failed to kick off at the Harare Magistrates Court on Monday as the court claimed to be waiting for mental examination results on Joanna Mamombe.

The results will needed in a different case will determine whether the trial proceed at their next appearance on October 13.

Mamombe’s results are expected on October 8 when she appears for the case where she is being charged with Cecilia Chimbiri and Netsai Marova for allegedly faking their abductions.

Yesterday, Mamombe, Chimbiri, Marova, Lovejoy Chitengu, Stanley Manyenga and Obey Tererai Sithole were supposed to be tried on allegations of staging an illegal demonstration, but Mr Reza said they wanted to ascertain Mamombe’s mental status before the trial commenced.

“We need to be guided by the outcome of the mental examination of the first accused (Mamombe),” he said.

“She is supposed to appear in court on October 8 and it is when we expect to know whether or not she will be able to stand trial.”

The five are charged with demonstrating at Warren Park in Harare over Covid-19 interventions by goverment.

Three people who died in a road accident that occured along the Nyanga-Nyamaropa road at the weekend have been laid to rest at their family home in Kanyimo, Nyanga this morning.

The other two are expected to be buried tomorrow morning in Nyanga.

The five died when the truck they were travelling in, which was carrying more than 25 people, lost brakes and veered off the road at around 3am on Saturday.

Manicaland Provincial Development Coordinator Mr Edgars Seenza said the accident had been declared a disaster and Government was assisting in the burial of the deceased.

“Three of the deceased were buried in Kanyimo village this morning. Their bodies were ferried from Nyanga to their village last night. The other two will be buried in Nyanga tomorow in another village. Government is providing coffins and hearse for those who died and will also be taking care of the hospital fees for those who are in the hospital,” he said.

He said of those who had been injured, nine out of 17 who had been admitted at Nyanga District hospital had been discharged by last night while all those who had been admitted at Regina Coeli hospital had also been discharged. Five are still admitted at Victoria Chitepo Provincial Hospital in Mutare.

Mr Seenza said the Minister of State for Manicaland Affairs and Devolution Dr Ellen Gwaradzimba would lead a delegation from the province to visit the injured today before meeting with families of the deceased in Nyanga later in the day.

According to witnesses, the truck was carrying members of the Matizakurima family who were going to their rural home for a tombstone unveiling ceremony when the accident occurred at the same spot where the Regina Coeli bus disaster occurred in 1991-The Herald

A 73-year-old Mbare woman was burnt to death on Saturday night after her house caught fire in unclear circumstances.

The incident occurred around 8pm at house number 17 Ruredzo Makoni Street in Mbare and furniture and electrical gadgets worth thousands of dollars were destroyed.

Some rooms had the roof damaged.

The cause of the fire was still not known and investigations are still in progress.

The elderly woman was identified as Mrs Oripa Mukumbi and her body was taken to Sally Mugabe Central Hospital mortuary.

In an interview yesterday, Mrs Mukumbi’s son, Mr Godfrey Mukumbi, said the cause of the fire was still to be established.

“I am not sure about the cause of fire since I was not around, but from what we gathered, the fire started in the room she was sleeping in,” he said.

“Some neighbours and family members teamed up and managed to extinguish the fire. They also managed to take some items outside the house. But most of the property was burnt.”

Mrs Makumbi’s body was discovered at the door, indicating she was attempting to leave the room when she died.

Mr Mukumbi said the fire brigade and the police arrived a few minutes later and they helped putting out the fire.

Mrs Mukumbi is survived by four children and 20 grandchildren.-The Herald

PRESIDENT Mnangagwa has ordered the country’s security arms to decisively deal with ritual murderers and people who betray their country by engaging in criminal activities for money.

Addressing mourners at the burial of national hero Cde Ruphus Chigudu, who was interred at the sacred National Heroes Acre yesterday, the President said Zimbabweans should pluck a leaf from the illustrious generation of the country’s liberators who knew that guns were for the defence and protection of national interests and not for criminal deeds.

“Government is very concerned about growing cases of ritual murders of minors,” said President Mnangagwa. “Let me reiterate that all stakeholders in our criminal justice system should speedily and strongly deal with perpetrators so that this evil trend is expunged from our society.

“Equally worrisome are the growing cases of armed and violent crimes. We must draw lessons and inspiration from the late Brigadier General Chigudu whose profession was founded on use of firearms, who knew that guns are for the defence and protection of national interest, unlike others in our midst who turn up against their own nation, betray their own people for the love of money, engage in criminal activities due to lack of principle. I have ordered our security arms to deal with such misdeeds.”-Chronicle

Farai Dziva|MDC Alliance Secretary General, Hon Charlton Hwende has declared that the opposition party will not allow Zanu PF to capture the people’s struggle.

” All People who were in the MDC-T Structures at the time of the death of our President Morgan Tsvangirai are free to participate in the Extra Ordinary Congress ordered by the Supreme Court.

They must participate and stop Zanu-PF from abusing the legacy of our late President.

They must participate also to ensure that the democratic project is not delivered to Zanu-PF by puppets masquerading as opposition leaders. Zanu-PF want to capture the opposition using Mwonzora this must be resisted,” Hwende argued.

Farai Dziva|Key stakeholders are threatening to pull out of a clinic construction project in Gutu District, Masvingo Province, due to political interference, it has emerged.

Impeccable sources told ZimEye.com on Saturday, the construction of a clinic at Chitsa Business Centre has been stalled by political interference.

Key stakeholders are reportedly unhappy with the politicization of the project.

“Villagers were forced to chant Zanu PF slogans at stakeholders meeting last week.

This has angered those interested in funding the clinic construction project.

In actual fact the project has been grabbed by Zanu PF.

Zanu PF is already using the project as a campaign tool,” a government official told ZimEye.com.

ZCTU president Peter Mutasa speaks on the worsening plight of workers in Zimbabwe.

ZCTU is calling for mass protests to force government to address workers’ grievances.

Watch video below :

By A Correspondent- Zanu Pf has implored its Bulawayo provincial leadership to rally residents to register en masse to vote following reports that the city risks losing some constituencies in the next delimitation exercise.

The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) has been lamenting a poor turnout in its voter registration exercise in Bulawayo and warned that the city risks losing some constituencies in the next delimitation exercise.

Zec Bulawayo officials have set a target to register at least 400 000 voters in Bulawayo to ensure the city gets 15 constituencies up from the current 12 during the next delimitation exercise.

However, indications are that the city could lose at least three constituencies as the number of registered voters for the city falls far short of the minimum threshold.

Bulawayo currently has about 258 000 registered voters. Zanu-PF national political commissar Victor Matemadanda, who was in Bulawayo over the weekend, said the city cannot afford to lose constituencies, imploring the party’s provincial leadership to lead the voter registration awareness campaigns.

“We encourage and challenge the provincial leadership to lead voter registration awareness campaigns to make sure more residents register to vote, and the city retains its constituencies,” Matemadanda said during a provincial coordinating committee meeting held at Davies Hall on Saturday.

The party also held primary elections to select candidates to contest in the upcoming local government by-elections following the recall of eight councillors by MDC-T leader Thokozani Khupe.

Independent electoral watchdog, the Zimbabwe Election Support Network has also warned that Bulawayo, Matabeleland North and South provinces were likely to lose some constituencies in the next demarcation exercise.

Bulawayo has been one of the opposition’s strongholds since the formation of MDC in 1999. Zimbabwe last carried a delimitation exercise in 2007 ahead of the 2008 harmonised elections.

According to section 161 of the Constitution, electoral boundaries must be delimited once every 10 years after a census.

This means the next exercise was supposed to be held in 2023, but has since been brought forward to 2021.-Newsday

Farai Dziva|MDC Alliance vice president, Hon Tendai Biti has sensationally revealed how Zanu PF is stealing State funds through the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe.

The former Finance Minister described the RBZ as a rogue bank that is being used to fund illicit Zanu PF programmes and tyranny.

“The RBZ is a rogue bank that has been key to sustaining the ZANU agenda of regime survival and state capture . In 1 year alone it has contracted debt of US$2.5 b without approval from Parliament and in breach of the of the constitution,the Debt Management Act ,the PFMA and the RBZ Act

A huge chunk of the RBZ US$2.5 b debt is from the African Export and Import Bank (Afrexim ) and has been used to prop up the rigged one supplier FX auction .

Parliament has made it clear that the law must be followed . S 327 of the constitution requires prior approval of Parly…

The RBZ Quasi Fiscal Activities centered around illicit dealings in foreign currency,fuel,debt , Command Agriculture, TBs ,fuel and energy subsidies ,minerals and minerals securitization, export surrender requirements , money creation and ZAMCO make it the most dangerous organ in Zim,” Hon Biti wrote on Twitter.

Farai Dziva|President Nelson Chamisa has pointed out that no mortal being will stop the wave of change.

President Chamisa has also revealed why Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa is desperate to destroy the MDC Alliance.

“They fight us because we are stronger.

They attack us because we are resisting them.

They pull us down because we are standing and not fallen.
They hate us because we are the best..

We will get there no matter what!
Be inspired this Sabbath,” President Chamisa wrote on social media on Saturday.