Paul Nyathi

The late Zimbabwe National Army Brigadier-General, Ruphus Chigudu, will be buried this Monday at the National Heroes Acre, with President Mnangagwa presiding over the event.

Attendance by the public will be limited owing to Covid-19 health regulations.

Brig-Gen Chigudu died on September 24 at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals aged 64 and was declared a national hero last Thursday.

In an interview with the State Media over the weekend, Secretary for Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Aaron Nhepera said all the preparatory work for the burial was complete.

“Today we have been doing final touches such as finalising the programme. I can assure you that we are through with all the necessary preparations for the burial of our departed national hero. He will be buried on Monday morning,” said Mr Nhepera.

The funeral would follow the usual programme where the body will leave Charles Gumbo Barracks (formerly One Commando Barracks) around 7am and will be taken to Stodart Hall in Mbare for body viewing.

“From Stodart Hall, the body will proceed to the national shrine for the main event where he will be buried. Like what we have earlier on said, there will be limited attendance because of Covid-19 regulations,” said Nhepera.

State Media

Zimbabweans and South Africans who had failed to leave either country at the onset of the Covid-19 lockdown are with immediate effect allowed to travel to their countries without going through their embassies.

But the borders are still closed to general travellers in line with Zimbabwe’s lockdown protocols.

Though South Africa re-opened 18 borders to international travel on Thursday, including Beitbridge, Zimbabwe still remains in lockdown.

The assistant regional immigration officer-in-charge of Beitbridge Border Post, Mr Nqobile Ncube said in a memorandum to various stakeholders that the movement of people within borders had been revised to accommodate returning residents.

“With South Africa no longer on lockdown, the requirement for South African nationals in Zimbabwe to seek clearance from the Embassy of South Africa in Harare falls away,” he said.

“With immediate effect, all South African nationals seeking to exit should be allowed out without hindrances. The same applies to holders of South African permanent resident permits and valid time-restricted permits.”

Mr Ncube said Zimbabweans in South Africa no longer need to seek clearance with the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) in the neighbouring country.

He said they may return to Zimbabwe under the new set-up and that they shall be allowed passage to the country subject to relevant Covid-19 compliances as administered by the Port Health.

Mr Ncube said the facility also covers those with permanent residents permits in Zimbabwe.

“With the repealing of the lockdown restrictions in South Africa, the implication is that Zimbabwean nationals no longer need DIRCO clearance to leave South Africa,” said Mr Ncube.

“This should be read in tandem with the current Covid-19 restrictions which provide for re-entry for Zimbabwean nationals returning home.

“Team leaders should ensure that all personnel get a copy of this memo and implement as such. Members are also reminded that we are still under lockdown and only those indicated categories should be allowed movement.”

Prior to the latest development, the commercial cargo, diplomats on government business and remains for burial were allowed passage across the borders.

Those South Africans or Zimbabweans wishing to return to their homes had to be cleared by their embassies and the host Government respectively.

They were also subject to mandatory Covid-19 screening and quarantining at various centres upon arrival.

A total of 9 331 Zimbabweans returned to the country from Eswatini, South Africa and Lesotho via Beitbridge border post between April and September.

By A Correspondent | A latest allegation was communicated on Sunday afternoon by a female whistleblower, a mother, that the arrested Murehwa man, Mr Tapiwa Makore’s wife, wanted to kidnap her child while both were traveling from South Africa, 11 months ago.

Mr Makore is the uncle who was arrested after his brother’s son, he shares the same name with, Tapiwa junior, was found decapitated, and other body parts missing last week.

The allegation was made by the mother, name withheld, during a discussion programme with Sis Melly on her Diaries.

This has raised suggestions that the suspect’s wife is an accomplice in other killings.

A comment from the accused could not be obtained at the time of broadcasting. This was a live discussion.

This article is released in pursuance to the Child Protection Act.

A police SOS has since been raised.

ZimEye is making a follow up investigation with the police HQ.

MDC-T insiders claim that an elaborate plan has been set to block MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa from contesting the 2023 presidential elections, which will include stripping him of his party and assets.

The Thokozani Khupe-led outfit has been methodically decimating Chamisa’s base since the Supreme Court ruled in March that the MDC Alliance leader’s succession of Morgan Tsvangirai was illegal.

Khupe has been using the ruling to recall legislators and councillors from a party that defeated her in the previous elections.

On Friday she returned to Parliament as a proportional representation MP on an MDC Alliance ticket despite the fact that her MDC-T contested the 2018 polls against Zanu-PF and Chamisa’s party.

A senior MDC-T official said the developments in the opposition were following a script that was crafted a long time ago and will culminate in Khupe’s party supporting constitutional amendments that will effectively shut Chamisa out of the forthcoming polls.

“The plot is like this: Zanu-PF will support Khupe, decimate Chamisa and force him to form a new party and lose everything like party offices, safe houses and so forth,” said the official who requested to remain anonymous.

“Then in 2022, Zanu-PF and the MDCT MPs will make constitutional amendments to peg the presidential candidates’ minimal age at 50 in order to disqualify Chamisa,” a well-placed Zanu-PF official disclosed.

“Chamisa will not run in 2023, he will only run in 2028 and by that time Zanu-PF will have sponsored internal divisions over his leadership. In short, Chamisa is finished.”

In 2018, Zanu-PF secretary for security Lovemore Matuke said the ruling party was contemplating using its two-thirds majority in Parliament to raise the age limit for presidential election candidates from 40 to 50.

Matuke claimed Chamisa, who was 40 at the time, was immature after he refused to accept President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s controversial election victory.

Chamisa says the polls, which he narrowly lost to the 77-year-old ruler, were rigged.

The main opposition leader also angered Mnangagwa by refusing to join the Political Actors Dialogue where Khupe is a member.

“Mnangagwa and Zanu-PF will not forgive him for that. They know if he is left undisturbed, there is no way Zanu-PF can win against him in 2023,” the MDC-T official added.

MDC-T interim chairman Morgen Komichi, however, dismissed allegations that his party was colluding with Zanu-PF to neutralise Chamisa.

“As MDC, we are independent, we are not working with Zanu-PF,” Komichi said.

“This is our conflict with Chamisa; it is an internal issue emanating from succession which has already been resolved by the court.

“We are now focusing on how we can bring order to the party so that we can confront Zanu-PF in 2023.”

He added: “We are not recalling people as a practice; we recall when a member ceases to belong to our party.”

Zanu-PF director of information Tafadzwa Mugwadi also denied working with Khupe, saying the ruling party had a two-thirds majority in Parliament and does not need any help from the MDC-T.

“That is hogwash, Zanu-PF has a majority in Parliament and it does not need the benevolence of any party to amend the constitution,” Mugwadi said.-The Standard

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.

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.

THE Bulawayo water crisis has reached another level with council indicating that it will cut off supplies to the Central Business District (CBD) and industrial areas for the first time, rendering the whole city dry.

Council had exempted the two key economic areas from water cuts after implementing a devastating water shedding programme which has seen most suburbs going for weeks without water, with other areas getting water for a few hours on a single day once a week. However, it is the latest announcement, that will send shivers even in the industrial corners, as water is key in most companies’ operations.

Bulawayo Town Clerk Mr Christopher Dube yesterday said the city has not been treating water since Friday owing to a power surge that was experienced.

“The City of Bulawayo would like to inform residents of a power surge which occurred at the Criterion Water Treatment Plant late on Friday disrupting the water treatment process. Currently no treatment is taking place at Criterion. Further to that, Cowdray Park Booster Station on the Nyamandlovu line that supplies the Magwegwe Reservoir also lost power on Saturday (yesterday). In that regard, water supply is closed for the whole city till such a time when power is restored,” said Mr Dube.

The Town Clerk said a Zesa subsidiary, the Zimbabwe Electricity Distribution Company (ZETDC) was currently working on rectifying the problems to ensure resumption of water treatment at Criterion and pumping of water on the Nyamandlovu line.-The Sunday News

As the country is still in shock following the murder of a seven-year-old child in Murehwa, police have arrested a 43-year-old man from Zvimba for allegedly striking his son to death with a hoe while seriously injuring another.

National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the incident saying the suspect, Pardington Marezva, is set to appear in court this week.

“The suspect Pardington Marezva, a divorcee, on October 1 left his two male children at home and went to work,” said Asst Comm Nyathi.

“He returned home drunk and accused his children of seeking food from neighbours.”

Police allege Marezva then picked a hoe that he used to assault the children.

“He struck his seven-year-old child on the head and he bled to death while his 10-year-old elder brother suffered a fractured left hand and swollen right hand,” said Asst Comm Nyathi.

“The elder child managed to seek help leading to the suspect’s arrest.”

The incident comes barely a fortnight after another minor, Tapiwa Makore Junior (7), was allegedly murdered in a suspected ritual killing.

Tapiwa was allegedly murdered in cold blood by his uncle Tapiwa Makore Senior (57) in cahoots with his herdsman, Tafadzwa Shamba. Makore allegedly pinned the boy to the ground while Shamba used a knife to cut off the head, arms, and limbs. The remains were packed into two different bags with limbs and arms in one pack-The Sunday Mail

FIVE people died in a road accident that occurred at the 34km peg along the Nyanga-Nyamaropa while at Mupedzanhamo, in Harare, a Zupco contracted Trip Trans bus veered off the road and hit some vendors and eight cars yesterday.

In a statement, National Police Spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said the Nyanga-Nyamaropa accident occurred after a truck which was carrying more than 25 people lost brakes and veered off the road.

Twenty-two others were injured in the crash.

At Mupedzanhamo traffic lights, 10 people were seriously injured when the Trip Trans bus veered off the road and hit the vendors and eight cars. According to a police statement, the injured and taken to Parirenyatwa Hospital for treatment.

“The accident occurred at around 3am at the 34km peg along the Nyanga–Nyamaropa road and five people died on the spot,” he said.

“The survivors were taken to Regina Coeli Mission Hospital, Nyanga General Hospital and Mutare General Hospital.”

Eye witness Mr Daniel Mupfunya said the truck was carrying members of the Matizakurima family who were going to their rural home for a tombstone unveiling ceremony.

“The truck’s brakes failed at the same spot where the Regina Coeli bus disaster occurred,” he said.

Mr Mupfunya said six of the people who were taken to hospital were discharged after medical checks. Police did not immediately release the names of the deceased.-The Sunday Mail

By A Correspondent- A pressure group from Matabeleland has called on the government to review the nursing electronic application system on the basis that is discriminating against some people from marginalized communities.

Volunteers Team 2020 group, the team of volunteers that is helping nursing candidates apply for nursing has so far helped many people access and navigate the e-application portal and so far 91 of them have since gone through the interview process and have already started training.

Imploring the government to make the nursing electronic application system a bit more user friendly, Volunteers Team 2020’s activist Discent Collins Bajila said:

Despite the above achievements, we reiterate our call for a review of the application system. We believe that the very fact that it is an exclusively online process, it marginalizes people from areas with no access to the internet.

We further reiterate the call for the parliamentary portfolio committee on Health and Child Care to investigate whether the system satisfies the requirements for administrative justice and devolution of power as dictated by the constitution

Bajila also asked the general populace to help the trainee nurses with basic staff as they are having a hard time and said:

Their allowances, which remain in arrears, are inadequate to get them groceries, toiletries, stationery, and other basic needs. We call for well-wishers to come forth and assist our young people with groceries, gas stoves, and stationery in order to reduce the load.-standard

By A Correspondent- G40 Remnants have been blamed for the squabbles marring the ruling party’s district co-ordinating committee (DCC) elections as accusations of people taking brides in order to influence the outcome of the polls in favor of candidates sympathetic to G40 emerge, the Daily News.

A party insider privy to the developments spoke to the publication and said:

Remnants of the G40 want to get control of the three provinces as a launch pad to take over from Mnangagwa.

A lot of money is exchanging hands under the table. There is a need for thorough vetting to fish out the malcontents. The good thing is that we unravelled the plot before we went to the elections.

The Zanu PF Secretary for security in the party’s politburo, Lovemore Matuke confirmed the reports and said they were investigating the reports:We received reports of people who are circulating dirty money from G40. We are investigating because we believe in tangible evidence.

We are going to deal with the issue when we vet papers from Mashonaland Central and other provinces. We are going to look at all these accusations because people can do anything.

We want to clean the party. By the time of the (DCC) elections, we will have a clean list of candidates. We are going to flush out all G40 elements, but we are also guarding against enmity between some members who are labelling each other G40. We are currently seized with the matter.

These reports of G40 remnants trying to gain control of the party come amidst reports that the same DCC polls have reportedly widened the rift between President Mnangagwa and his deputy VP Chiwenga

By A Correspondent- Morgen Komichi while dispelling the widespread belief that their court resurrected MDC 2014 Structures were not in any way sponsored by the ruling party Zanu PF said their conflict is with the MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa and they are an independent party, The Standard reports.

Debunking the widespread belief that they were being sponsored by the ruling party, Komichi said:

As MDC, we are independent, we are not working with Zanu PF. This is our conflict with Chamisa; it is an internal issue emanating from succession which has already been resolved by the court. We are now focusing on how we can bring order to the party so that we can confront Zanu PF in 2023.

Komichi also debunked the revenge recalls tags going around as the outfit he runs with Thokozai Khupe and Douglas Mwonzora has so far recalled over 84 councillors countrywide and 31 legislators and said:

We are not recalling people as a practice; we recall when a member ceases to belong to our party.

Meanwhile, an MDC insider told the same publication that the ruling party and the MDC T were crafting a plan that will block Chamisa from contesting in the 2023 elections by increasing the presidential candidate age to 50:

…Then in 2022, Zanu PF and the MDC-T MPs will make constitutional amendments to peg the presidential candidates’ minimal age at 50 in order to disqualify Chamisa.-standard

State Media

A 22- YEAR- OLD artisanal miner from Gokwe allegedly killed his 18- year -old wife in cold blood after walking in on her while she was in the company of her suspected boyfriend in their bedroom.

Emmanuel Bhusumani, from Chiteveteve Village under Chief Njelele in Gokwe, allegedly axed his wife three times on her head before fleeing from the scene with their 10 -month -old baby.

Midlands provincial police spokesperson Inspector Joel Goko confirmed the alleged axing of Nonsikelelo Siziba of Zigandiwa Village under Chief Samambwa in Zhombe by her husband.

He said the murder took place in the wee hours of Saturday in Zigandiwa Village where the couple lived.

“On October 2 at around 1 AM, the accused got home from work and found Nonsikelelo Siziba his wife with another man in bed,” said Insp Goko.

He said the alleged boyfriend fled into the night leaving Siziba at the mercy of her husband.

“The man fled and a misunderstanding arose between Emmanuel Bhusumani and his wife. Bhusumani allegedly took an axe and struck his wife three times on the head and she died on the spot.

Bhusumani allegedly fled with their 10months old baby but surrendered himself to the police the following day.

The baby is said to be in the custody of relatives.

Said Insp Goko, on the same day around 8am, Nyasha Sibanda (16) of the same village visited Siziba and found her dead in a pool of blood.

Insp Goko said Sibanda informed Cosmas Zigandiwa – a fellow villager who made a report at Zhombe Police Station.

Insp Goko said the scene was attended by the police who allegedly found Siziba’s body lying in a pool of blood with a deformed face.

“A blood-stained axe was recovered at the scene. Bhusumani was arrested and is assisting police with investigations,” he said.

Insp Goko said Siziba’s body was conveyed to Zhombe Mission Hospital mortuary awaiting post-mortem.

He urged members of the public to stop using violence following misunderstandings saying violence doesn’t help solving disagreements.

Rather, Insp Goko urged people to consider approaching a third party like community leaders, the police of church leaders when they encounter challenges.

“We continue losing precious lives unnecessarily because of people taking the law into their own hands. When people encounter challenges, they must learn to look for a third party,” he said.

BBC

President Trump is treated with the steroid dexamethasone after oxygen level drops on Friday and Saturday, his doctor says.

But he is said to be doing well and could be discharged back to the White House on Monday.

Dr Sean Conley admits Mr Trump was treated with supplementary oxygen, after refusing to confirm a day earlier.

US First Lady Melania Trump is among a growing group of people around Mr Trump who also have the virus – she is recuperating at the White House.

At least seven people who attended a White House event last week, including the Trumps, have now tested positive.
Trump (74) has been criticised for playing down severity of virus and often spurning masks and social distancing.

Trump’s chief of staff, Mark Meadows, was revealed to be the anonymous source who told reporters on Saturday the president’s vital signs over the previous 24 hours had been “very concerning” and that the next 48 hours would be critical.

On Sunday Dr Sean Conley said Meadows’s statement had been “misconstrued”.

A photograph taken today during Conley’s press conference shows the chief of staff sitting with his head in his hands outside the Walter Reed Medical Center.

When Trump first revealed he had Covid-19, Joe Biden – Trump’s opponent in next month’s presidential election – said he would suspend all negative campaigning.

However, he hasn’t suspended campaigning altogether. For example, in this tweet he reminds voters that there are now only 30 days to go until polling day.

Since Trump’s diagnosis Biden’s poll lead has widened by about 10 points, according to a poll from Reuters and Ipsos released today.

The same poll suggests most American voters think Trump could have avoided getting Covid-19 if he had taken the virus more seriously.

The president likes to speak directly to the public and has often kept his own spokespeople out of the loop. His days at hospital have been particularly challenging for those who work for him.

The conflicting messages showed the problems inherent for Team Trump. They have not provided regular, transparent updates about his health in part because there has never been a coherent method of communicating the president’s messages.

On Saturday White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows revealed that Trump’s condition a day earlier was far worse than officials had made public. This was revealing on different levels. Journalists frequently grant permission to officials to speak off the record to obtain information.

On this occasion, however, their exchange was inadvertently captured on camera: it was a “Washington Gaffe”, a term coined by journalist Michael Kinsley to describe the moment when a politician expresses candidly what they and others think but do not say out loud.

Meadows’ remarks showed the president’s team were not consistent in their views or in their messaging, revealing the discord and chaos unfolding behind the scenes. Above all, it showed they were deeply concerned about the president’s health.

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.

MDC-T insiders claim that an elaborate plan has been set to block MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa from contesting the 2023 presidential elections, which will include stripping him of his party and assets.

The Thokozani Khupe-led outfit has been methodically decimating Chamisa’s base since the Supreme Court ruled in March that the MDC Alliance leader’s succession of Morgan Tsvangirai was illegal.

Khupe has been using the ruling to recall legislators and councillors from a party that defeated her in the previous elections.

On Friday she returned to Parliament as a proportional representation MP on an MDC Alliance ticket despite the fact that her MDC-T contested the 2018 polls against Zanu-PF and Chamisa’s party.

A senior MDC-T official said the developments in the opposition were following a script that was crafted a long time ago and will culminate in Khupe’s party supporting constitutional amendments that will effectively shut Chamisa out of the forthcoming polls.

“The plot is like this: Zanu-PF will support Khupe, decimate Chamisa and force him to form a new party and lose everything like party offices, safe houses and so forth,” said the official who requested to remain anonymous.

“Then in 2022, Zanu-PF and the MDCT MPs will make constitutional amendments to peg the presidential candidates’ minimal age at 50 in order to disqualify Chamisa,” a well-placed Zanu-PF official disclosed.

“Chamisa will not run in 2023, he will only run in 2028 and by that time Zanu-PF will have sponsored internal divisions over his leadership. In short, Chamisa is finished.”

In 2018, Zanu-PF secretary for security Lovemore Matuke said the ruling party was contemplating using its two-thirds majority in Parliament to raise the age limit for presidential election candidates from 40 to 50.

Matuke claimed Chamisa, who was 40 at the time, was immature after he refused to accept President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s controversial election victory.

Chamisa says the polls, which he narrowly lost to the 77-year-old ruler, were rigged.

The main opposition leader also angered Mnangagwa by refusing to join the Political Actors Dialogue where Khupe is a member.

“Mnangagwa and Zanu-PF will not forgive him for that. They know if he is left undisturbed, there is no way Zanu-PF can win against him in 2023,” the MDC-T official added.

MDC-T interim chairman Morgen Komichi, however, dismissed allegations that his party was colluding with Zanu-PF to neutralise Chamisa.

“As MDC, we are independent, we are not working with Zanu-PF,” Komichi said.

“This is our conflict with Chamisa; it is an internal issue emanating from succession which has already been resolved by the court.

“We are now focusing on how we can bring order to the party so that we can confront Zanu-PF in 2023.”

He added: “We are not recalling people as a practice; we recall when a member ceases to belong to our party.”

Zanu-PF director of information Tafadzwa Mugwadi also denied working with Khupe, saying the ruling party had a two-thirds majority in Parliament and does not need any help from the MDC-T.

“That is hogwash, Zanu-PF has a majority in Parliament and it does not need the benevolence of any party to amend the constitution,” Mugwadi said.-The Standard

By A Correspondent- Tapiwa Makore (senior) who was arrested for the murder of his nephew Tapiwa Makore (7) reportedly connived with a mortuary attendant to freeze his own son to death in order to harvest his body parts, a close family relative has revealed.

In an interview on Sis Melly’s diaries, the source said:

“The arrested uncle reportedly connived with a mortuary attendant and asked him to refridgerate his own son and told him that he would collect body parts when that child died.

The child was only saved when the mortuary attendants changed shifts and the child was asked who had brought him to the mortuary and he revealed that it was his father.

Melly : did the mother know about all this?

Whistleblower: Yes she knew but it was kept as a family secret. We are only hearing about it now. I am not sure she was part of it. I really do not know.”

The female whistleblower communicated on Sunday afternoon, that the arrested Murehwa man, Mr Tapiwa Makore’s wife, wanted to kidnap her child while both were traveling from South Africa, 11 months ago.

Mr Makore is the uncle who was arrested after his brother’s son, he shares the same name with, Tapiwa junior, was found decapitated, and other body parts missing last week.

The allegation was made by the mother, name withheld, during a discussion programme with Sis Melly on her Diaries.

This has raised belief that the suspect’s wife is an accomplice in other killings.

A police SOS has since been raised. ZimEye is making a follow up investigation with the police HQ on Sunday.

Watch the live video loading below….

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.

By A Correspondent- A latest allegation was communicated on Sunday afternoon by a female whistleblower, a mother, that the arrested Murehwa man, Mr Tapiwa Makore’s wife, wanted to kidnap her child while both were traveling from South Africa, 11 months ago.

Mr Makore is the uncle who was arrested after his brother’s son, he shares the same name with, Tapiwa junior, was found decapitated, and other body parts missing last week.

The allegation was made by the mother, name withheld, during a discussion programme with Sis Melly on her Diaries.

This has raised belief that the suspect’s wife is an accomplice in other killings.

A police SOS has since been raised. ZimEye is making a follow up

Watch the live video loading below…….

By A Correspondent- ELISE Glahdill High School’s headmaster, Andrew Mvere, escaped death by a whisker after gunshots were fired at him as he was poaching game at a Headlands farm.

Mvere (56) was arrested together with Samuel Chimbo and Million Sanyamakomba.

The trio recently appeared before Rusape magistrate, Ms Rufaro Mangwiro, and they were granted $3 000 bail each.

The trial has been set for 16 November.

The three were represented by Mr Walter Mangwende of Chiwanza and Partners Legal Practitioners.

It is alleged that on September 8, the three drove to Mezzi Estate at night.

When the trio came across a security guard identified as Edison Bvumba, Chimbo fired a single shot in the air. He ordered Bvumba not to alert the farm owners, Messers Craig and Eric Coleman.

Prosecuting, Ms Theresa Mangwende said, “The three then drove off to continue with their mission. Bvumba then called the farm owners. Craig teamed up with Eric to track the trio. When the accused persons saw Craig’s vehicle lights, they drove towards another farm, but the farm owners gave chase.

“Craig fired a warning shot but the trio did not stop. The second shot hit the vehicle’s loading box but the poachers continued driving. When Eric fired another shot, the trio finally stopped,” said Ms Mangwende.

Headlands police were alerted, thereby leading to the arrest of the accused persons.

Investigations conducted by the police revealed that Mvere, Chimbo and Sanyamakomba had gone to Mezzi Farm to poach game.

Investigations also revealed that Mvere’s shotgun riffle, which is licenced for crop and livestock protection at his farm, was used by Chimbo to silence Bvumba.   

Said Ms Mangwende: “Mvere breached the law by handing over the firearm to Chimbo — an unauthorised person.  The firearm was also supposed to be used at a prescribed place only.”-ManicaPost

By A Correspondent- Inmates in prisons have not been spared from the effects of Covid-19 pandemic as they have gone for six months without seeing their loved ones as visits have remained suspended due to lockdown restrictions.

Each year inmates look forward to the Family Week, an event which is held in September where inmates get to spend time with their families and friends. During the event children are allowed to visit as inmates are allowed an unlimited number of visitors.

The Prisons Family Week was introduced by the Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services (ZPCS) in September 2017 in a bid to foster family bonding and to help inmates to keep in touch with what is happening in the outside world.

Due to the prevailing Covid-19 pandemic inmates have been forced to forego this much anticipated event. To mark this year’s Family Week ZPCS has introduced a system where inmates can contact their loved ones using a cell phone. Gwanda Prison marked this year’s Family Day on Wednesday last week.

Gwanda Prison inmate Peter Mlilo (64) from Matshetsheni area in Gwanda who is serving a one year and six months jail sentence for public violence said the Family Week was a time that he looked forward to. Mlilo who is a father of eight, said he last saw his family on 22 November last year on the day that he was convicted.

“I was convicted on 22 November last year and that was the last time I saw my family. I was really looking forward to the Family Week as it was going to be an opportunity for me to see my wife and children and interact with them but this will remain a dream because of the Covid19 pandemic.

“Although I’m able to talk to them over the phone, it’s not the same as seeing them face to face. When I talk to them over the phone, I feel so much pain wishing I could see my children to ensure they are fine. I know that it pains them that I’m in jail and at least if I could see them face to face it could give them assurance that I’m well,” he said.

Ronald Vela (25) from Ntalale area in Gwanda who is serving a two-year sentence for kidnapping and robbery said the pandemic had not only robbed him of an opportunity to spend quality time with his family but to also engage in various projects and activities.

He said they used to engage in car washing, brick moulding and tree planting activities. Vela said they also went to Joshua Mqabuko Polytechnic for short courses and the police station for soccer matches. He said these projects had been suspended because of the pandemic.

Vela, who was sentenced in October 2018 and is set to complete his jail term this month said he had acquired a number of skills during his stay at the prison which he wanted to pursue for a livelihood. He said he had experienced two Family Week events and they were a priceless moment for any inmate.

There is nothing that you look forward to like a Family Week when you are an inmate. I was able to hold my second born child for the first time during the Family Week as I was convicted while my wife was pregnant. During the Family Week there will be a lot of entertainment in the form of dramas, singing from inmates and local groups from the Gwanda community. We thank the prison officials for awarding us an opportunity to talk to our loved ones over the phone,” he said.

Sunday Moyo (48) from Masvingo, a father of nine said he has been in remand for one year and six months after he was arrested for murder.

He said last year he was able to sit, eat and interact at length with his family. Moyo said he was also hoping to meet his children and relatives.

Gwanda Prison Chief Correctional Officer, Chief Inspector Melody Dube said this year’s Family Week was different as inmates were not allowed to have visitors because of the Covid-19 lockdown regulations that also suspended visits to prisons to curb the spread of the virus.

“The Family Week is an opportunity where inmates and their families and friends interact in a bid to strengthen their relations. It also helps the inmates to remain in touch with the outside world and for families to know what is going on with their relatives who are inmates.

With this pandemic the whole prison system was forced to close doors to visitors in order to curb the spread of the pandemic. We have devised a way for inmates to interact with their relatives using a cell phone, relatives can also send money to this cell phone so we can buy desired food for inmates.

“During normal visits we limit the number of visitors but during the normal Family Week there is no restriction. Children are also allowed and we normally invite local drama and music groups to entertain people.

The Family Week is characterised by relaxed visiting hours hours where family and friends can come and be with their loved ones. Physical contact is allowed and sharing of food,” she said.

Chief Insp Dube said in a bid to curb the spread of the pandemic when an inmate comes from court their temperature is checked at the gate.

Inmates are sanitised, and from there they are placed under isolation for the required amount of time and also tested for the virus. He said if results come out positive they can rejoin other inmates. She said officers and inmates at Gwanda Prison have been tested three times and they all came out negative.-statemedia

In March 2020, Statutory Instrument (SI) 77/20 was promulgated by the Health ministry directing the VID in the Transport ministry to cease offering and conducting driving test services in order to contain and prevent the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The VID offices and staff were prohibited from offering and conducting all driving test services and issuing driver licences.

The Transport ministry approached the Health ministry, which promulgated SI 144/20 to defer expiry of documents issued in terms of chapter 12 ,11 due to a public outcry.

In August 2020 the VID chief unilaterally issued a directive to VID offices and officers to resume testing of class three (motorcycle) ultra vires. It is not clear why he exempted class three tests only.

There is no circular directive or instruction given by the VID chief that can supersede a SI issued by a parent ministry or any other. The directive by the VID chief and testing by VID staff is a clear serious violation of SI 77/20 and 144\20 and rendering them liable to arrest and prosecution.

Such an act requires legal authority, but was done without legal capacity, hence invalid. Any class three driver licence obtained as a result of this illegal directive is null and void and must be withdrawn by the parent ministry. Laws apply and bind all government officers, including the VID chief who must obey and it is unlawful to disobey

Government administrators must make decisions that are allowed by law and should not discriminate or impact negatively on other sectors of society such as driving schools or driver licence applicants at large. It’s unfortunate that the VID chief failed to properly follow correct procedure to accommodate whatever is obtaining in respect of class three tests.

The Health ministry should have been approached to legislate for a provision, another SI to accommodate the class three category legally. It is unbelievable and dangerous that the VID chief failed to comprehend that he cannot override the law from another ministry.

Driving schools allege that some VID offices such as Chitungwiza, Eastlea and Chirundu never stopped issuing driving licences since March 2020 in violation of Covid-19 regulations with the full knowledge of the VID chief.

However, it is alleged that no tests were witnessed or conducted as documents for truck driver retest were issued.

Recently parliament unearthed the disappearance of US$6,5 million lost due to VID management, negligence or corruption when dealing with sub-contractors for civil works at various offices. The chief acted beyond the scope of authority or power granted to him by law or administratively.-Standard

By A Correspondent- Police in the Midlands Province are investigating a case of murder involving a 22-year-old artisanal miner from Gokwe under Chief Njelele area.

Emmanuel Bhusumani allegedly killed his 18 year old wife in cold blood after walking in on her while she was in the company of her suspected boyfriend in their bedroom.

A police statement says Bhusumani allegedly axed his wife three times on her head before fleeing from the scene with their 10 -month -old baby.

Midlands provincial police spokesperson Inspector Joel Goko confirmed the alleged axing of Nonsikelelo Siziba of Zigandiwa Village under Chief Samambwa in Zhombe by her husband.

Police say the murder took place in the wee hours of Saturday in Zigandiwa Village where the couple lived.

“On October 2 at around 1 AM, the accused got home from work and found Nonsikelelo Siziba his wife with another man in bed,” said Goko.

He said the alleged boyfriend fled into the night leaving Siziba at the mercy of her husband.

“The man fled and a misunderstanding arose between Emmanuel Bhusumani and his wife. Bhusumani allegedly took an axe and struck his wife three times on the head and she died on the spot.

Bhusumani allegedly fled with their 10months old baby but surrendered himself to the police the following day.

The baby is said to be in the custody of relatives.

On the same day around 8am, Nyasha Sibanda (16) of the same village visited Siziba and found her dead in a pool of blood.

Goko said Sibanda informed Cosmas Zigandiwa – a fellow villager who made a report at Zhombe Police Station.

The crime was attended by the police who allegedly found Siziba’s body lying in a pool of blood with a deformed face.

“A blood-stained axe was recovered at the scene. Bhusumani was arrested and is assisting police with investigations,” he said.

Siziba’s body was conveyed to Zhombe Mission Hospital mortuary awaiting post-mortem.-statemedia

By A Correspondent- Zengeza West legislator who doubles as the MDC Alliance deputy chairperson Job Sikhala has claimed that state security agents have been deployed to influence the outcome of his case where he is facing charges of inciting violence.

Sikhala was released on bail on September 22 after spending nearly a month at Chikurubi Maximum Security Prison after he was arrested in connection with the July 31 protests.

The outspoken legislator would be back in court for trial on November 30.

Sikhala, however, told a local publication that he had unearthed a plan to get him behind bars at all costs.

“I am ready to clear my name on the persecuting illusions of the failed regime of Emmerson Mnangagwa,” he said.

“I want them to show me where I ever called the people of Zimbabwe to violence.

“Any attempt to allocate special projects officers on my case will be viciously and embarrassingly resisted and exposed.

“We have done a good job to investigate the special projects persons and we now have the list.”

Sikhala was denied bail on several occasions at the magistrates’ courts in developments, which saw him being incarcerated under deplorable conditions.

He said he would expose the state security agents set upon him to improperly influence his July 31 protests case.

“We are going to expose all of them name by name,” Sikhala said.

“Let the wheels of justice roll without interference, bring on the trial.

“I am happy to be given an opportunity to expose the rot in our country through this trial

“The state submitted that the docket for my case will be ready on 15th of October and state papers will be served to me on the following day for the consummation of trial on the 30th of November.”–standard

By A Correspondent- Covid -19 derailed plans to host the Rwanda Zimbabwe Trade and Investment Conference in March this year in Kigali where a number of business deals were expected to be concluded as well as the signing of Government to Government cooperation agreements.

Rwanda ambassador to Zimbabwe, James Musoni, said efforts were now being revived to host the trade and investment conference in Kigali early next year.

The conference will unpack and explore trade and investment opportunities between Rwanda and Zimbabwe.

Meanwhile, Ambassador Musoni has been named the Diplomat of the Year [from Africa award].

The Diplomat of the Year Awards are organised by the Diplomat Magazine with the aim of recognising and celebrating the contribution of diplomats in Zimbabwe to the development of the country and its people.

Receiving the award, Ambassador Musoni said he cherished the award as it was a symbol of the good friendship between Rwanda and Zimbabwe.

Ambassador Musoni said Rwanda’s foreign policy promotes a peaceful, prosperous, sovereign and self-defined Rwanda that is politically and economically integrated in the region.

Since opening its Embassy in Zimbabwe, Ambassador Musoni has actively participated at business forums to unpack Rwanda’s investment potential.

He has also led the Rwandan community in supporting Zimbabwe’s national clean-up exercise in which Zimbabwe’s President, Emmerson Mnangagwa is an active participant.

Ambassador Musoni gave tribute to Rwanda President Paul Kagame, saying: “This award has been made possible because of the visionary leadership of H.E Paul Kagame, the President of the Republic of Rwanda.  His leadership provides an operating environment that encourages everyone to constantly improve and even do better.”

By A Correspondent- 5 people died while 22 others were seriously injured in a horror crash that occurred in Nyanga after the truck they were traveling in veered off the road at the 34-kilometer peg along the Nyanga Nyamaropa Highway yesterday, The Sunday Mail reports.

The incident which occurred near Regina Coeli School was confirmed by Zimbabwe Republic Police National Spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi spoke to the publication and said:

The accident occurred at around 3am at the 34km peg along the Nyanga–Nyamaropa road and five people died on the spot. The survivors were taken to Regina Coeli Mission Hospital, Nyanga General Hospital and Mutare General Hospital.

An eyewitness Daniel Mupfunya spoke to the publication and said the accident occurred after the breaks of the truck failed:

The truck’s brakes failed at the same spot where the Regina Coeli bus disaster occurred

The police could not release the names of the deceased while some people who were taken to the hospital were discharged according to Mr. Mupfunya.

Meanwhile, in Harare, a garage bound ZUPCO bus belonging to TripTrans on Saturday at the Mupedzanhamo market in Mbare veered off the road and hit 8 cars and injured 10 people including vendors who were selling their ware by the roadside.

By A Correspondent- President Emmerson Mnangagwa and Foreign Affairs minister Sibusiso Moyo have issued contradicting figures with regards to the value of the Belarus farm mechanisation project.

The president tweeted Wednesday after launching the facility suggesting that the country had injected US$51 million into the project. He said:

I was delighted to announce today that we have invested $51 million USD in over 800 units of farming equipment. This investment will help to revitalize our agriculture industry and make sure no community is left behind as we grow and develop our great nation.

On the same day, Minister Moyo also posted on Twitter insinuating that US$58 million had been invested. The former army boss said: The new dispensation under H.E @edmnangagwa is determined to play a positive role in the globalized world. Zimbabwe is always welcome to new trade and investment opportunities.

Today’s US$58 million agriculture investment is a vital step in the mordenizing of Zim agriculture.

Some observers said it could be a genuine error by either of them while some said it could be a deliberate ploy to abuse state resources.

This comes when cases of abuse of public funds including COVID-19 funds by some senior government officials are still at the courts.

Paul Nyathi

THE United Kingdom ambassador to the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and United Nations (UN), Julian Braithwaite, last week told Zimbabwe delegates to the Geneva Trade Policy Review that the country must shift its policy if it was looking to attract UK co-operation.

The September 30 UK-Zim Geneva conference was attended by Zimbabwean Foreign Affairs deputy minister David Musabayana among other delegates.

At the meeting in Switzerland, Braithwaite impressed on the need for Zimbabwe to change its economic and political policies if it still wished to engage in meaningful co-operation with the UK government.

“The UK is committed to supporting a more prosperous, peaceful and democratic Zimbabwe,” the UK ambassador to the WTO said.

In what also may have “ruffled feathers” among the Zimbabwe delegation, Braithwaite said it was essential for the Government of Zimbabwe to refrain from being stuck in rheroric but instead quickly move forward and implement necessary far reaching economic and political reforms.

“Meaningful progress on reforms, along with respect for human rights and the rule of law, are the only way to sustainably deal with Zimbabwe’s underlying challenges, unlock significant investment and bring about a better future for Zimbabwe and its people,” he said.

The Zimbabwe delegation was also told that high-level corruption was among some of the country’s most dangerous enemies.

“As noted in the reports prepared for this review, corruption continues to hamper Zimbabwe’s development by capturing public and private resources, distorting economic decision-making and undermining governance and accountability.

“We continue to urge Zimbabwe to guarantee the independence of the Anti-Corruption Commission and the courts,” Braithwaite said.

The UK ambassador to the WTO UN also impressed on the need by Zimbabwean authorities to tackle entrenched vested interests and illicit financial flows in the affairs of the country among senior government officials and others in influential positions.

On the mining sector, Zimbabwe was urged to exercise transparency and sign up all policy frameworks to that effect.

“Within the mining sector, signing up to the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, restarting efforts to digitise mining licenses and ensuring compliance with environmental impact assessment requirements, would go some way to restoring the confidence of international investors,” Braithwaite said.

Meanwhile, the WTO ambassador praised Zimbabwe for its resolve to settle outstanding land issues.

“We welcome the Zimbabwe government’s commitments to resolving outstanding land issues.

“We (however) encourage Zimbabwe to take credible steps to ensure the viability and security of tenure in the 99-year leases, stop further farm invasions, ensure continued progress on compensation and guarantee respect for court decisions on property rights disputes,” he said.

Braithwaite added that such steps as were being implemented by the Government of Zimbabwe on land were critical to unlocking the much needed international investment into the country’s agriculture sector.

The ambassador also praised Zimbabwe for moving towards a fully market-based exchange rate.

“We hope that this can help remove exchange rate distortions that enable rent‑seeking behaviour in the economy and create barriers to international investors repatriating their returns on investment,” he added.

Paul Nyathi

MDC-T interim president Thokozani Khupe has recalled Chinhoyi Municipality mayor Dyke Makumbi and his deputy including four councillors over alleged “unrepentant treacherous behaviour”.

The recall is awaiting communication to council by Minister July Moyo.

The affected councillors are; Makumbi (Ward 12), deputy mayor, Chipo Mlothswa (14), Brighton Mhizha (Ward 4), Richard Vhitirinyu (Ward 3), Patricia Chibaya (Ward 2), Mukudzei Chigumbu (Ward 8).

Khupe has so far recalled 32 MDC Alliance MPs and 165 councillors

Contacted for a comment, Makumbi could neither confirm or deny the recalls.

Paul Nyathi

Police have arrested a 43-year-old man from Zvimba for allegedly striking his step son to death with a hoe while seriously injuring another.

National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the incident saying the suspect, Pardington Marezva, is set to appear in court this week.

“The suspect Pardington Marezva, a divorcee, on October 1 left his two male children at home and went to work,” said Asst Comm Nyathi.

“He returned home drunk and accused his children of seeking food from neighbours.”

Police allege Marezva then picked a hoe that he used to assault the children.

“He struck his seven-year-old child on the head and he bled to death while his 10-year-old elder brother suffered a fractured left hand and swollen right hand,” said Asst Comm Nyathi.

“The elder child managed to seek help leading to the suspect’s arrest.”

Source: State Media

Interim MDC-T secretary-general Douglas Mwonzora is said to be planning to extend his recall of MDC Alliance councillors to Masvingo where he faces immense resistance.

Fear of recalls among the seven MDC Alliance Masvingo urban councillors increased recently after Mwonzora recalled 11 Harare councillors, including the deputy mayor in the wake of a mayoral by-election which was won by Jacob Mafume ahead of MDC-T’s preferred candidate Luckson Mukunguma.

The Mwonzora faction went on to capture the Marondera mayoral position with the help of the town’s lone Zanu PF councillor after recalling some city fathers perceived to be loyal to Nelson Chamisa.

Mwonzora told TellZim that he did not have any immediate reason to recall anybody in Masvingo.

“Currently, we have not received any complaints as to the behaviour of councillors in Masvingo so they must not worry,” he said.

“We only go for those that show disloyalty to the party.”

He, however, warned that the councillors should stay warned that they would be recalled should they step out of line.

“Many chose to be misled by the likes of Tendai Biti and they thought it was impossible, but I am glad that they now understand what we are capable of doing,” warned Mwonzora.

Mwonzora is said to be targeting Masvingo urban ward 4 councillor Godfrey Kurauone, who is MDC Alliance national youth organising secretary and a strong Chamisa ally; ward 5’s Daniel Mberikunashe, who is related to Chamisa; and ward 7’s Richard Musekiwa, who is also said to be fiercely loyal to Chamisa.

Sources said Mwonzora could spare mayor Collen Maboke, who had several runs-in with Chamisa prior to the controversial Supreme Court judgement, which sparked the turmoil engulfing the opposition movement.

Sources say the other two councillors — Selima Maridza of ward 1 and Tarusenga Vhembo of ward 3 — could be threatened into toeing the Mwonzora line and spared as well.

Mberikunashe, Kurauone and Musekiwa said they would not be cowed into submission by threats of recalls.

Vhembo said it was unfortunate that councillors were being made to feel insecure and unsure about their future.

“We want to be able to deliver on the mandate given to us by the people without fear,” he said.

“Right now, there is a lot of uncertainty and rumour-mongering and back-stabbing which is not fruitful.

“People are maliciously labelling each other pro-this and anti-that, which is wrong.”

—TellZim

ZANU PF is confident of garnering at least 65 percent of the vote and securing a landslide victory in the 2023 harmonised elections, a senior party official has said.

During the 2018 general elections, President Mnangagwa secured 50,8 percent of the vote while MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa managed 44,3 percent.

In an interview with The Sunday Mail, the ruling party’s Director of Information and Publicity, Tafadzwa Mugwadi, said the projected landslide victory was anchored on the party’s target of five million members by 2023.

Mugwadi said the lofty goal was easily achievable because of President Mnangagwa’s visionary leadership, which is set to usher Zimbabwe to an upper middle-income economy by 2030.

He urged both the party and Government to work hand in glove, and to exercise transparency in order to retain trust of the citizens.

“We are very confident of a resounding victory for President Emmerson Mnangagwa come 2023. We have said that if the President does not win by 65 percent and above we will call it a day, we will have failed to work because the President’s work speaks for itself,” said Mugwadi.

He tore into the opposition MDC Alliance saying their fake abductions had been exposed and their plans for violent demonstrations would not get them votes or bring about change.

Mugwadi said the opposition outfit was “a fallen agenda” whose disastrous infighting would bring votes to the ruling party as citizens do not want to be associated with confusion at a time the economy is on an upward trend.

“There are no abductions that took place, everyone saw the documentary which was aired on ZBC TV. We are aware of the Dr Magombeyi case who also abducted himself — it is unprecedented.

“The MDC Alliance, which had been primed to be the trojan horse of regime change, is waning and splitting on a daily basis, there is a circus at Harvest House. Now they are trying to resuscitate a fallen agenda that has lost basis by faking abductions, we have an efficient law enforcement agency that has been able to bust all these fake abductions.”

State Media

FIVE people died in a road accident that occurred at the 34km peg along the Nyanga-Nyamaropa while at Mupedzanhamo, in Harare, a Zupco contracted Trip Trans bus veered off the road and hit some vendors and eight cars yesterday.

In a statement, National Police Spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said the Nyanga-Nyamaropa accident occurred after a truck which was carrying more than 25 people lost brakes and veered off the road.

Twenty-two others were injured in the crash.

At Mupedzanhamo traffic lights, 10 people were seriously injured when the Trip Trans bus veered off the road and hit the vendors and eight cars. According to a police statement, the injured and taken to Parirenyatwa Hospital for treatment.

“The accident occurred at around 3am at the 34km peg along the Nyanga–Nyamaropa road and five people died on the spot,” he said.

“The survivors were taken to Regina Coeli Mission Hospital, Nyanga General Hospital and Mutare General Hospital.”

Eye witness Mr Daniel Mupfunya said the truck was carrying members of the Matizakurima family who were going to their rural home for a tombstone unveiling ceremony.

“The truck’s brakes failed at the same spot where the Regina Coeli bus disaster occurred,” he said.

Mr Mupfunya said six of the people who were taken to hospital were discharged after medical checks. Police did not immediately release the names of the deceased.

State Media

THIRTY-SIX high-profile figures, who have assets worth a combined US$4,5 million, are the target of a fresh lifestyle audit that is being conducted by the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC), it has emerged.

The anti-graft body recently seized and forfeited 10 mansions and 22 luxury vehicles worth US$8 million. The assets belong to, among others, former Foreign Affairs minister Walter Mzembi, Gender Commission chair Margaret Sangarwe, Russel Mweye — a former staffer at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals — and ex-Zimbabwe National Road Administration (ZINARA) chief executive officer Frank Chitukutuku.

ZACC spokesperson Commissioner John Makamure said the fight against corruption was now in full swing.

“Asset recovery is proceeding well. We are currently handling 36 cases to do with asset recovery running into more than US$4,5 million,” he said.

ZACC believes forfeiting proceeds of crime is the most effective way of fighting the vice as it makes the commission of offences not worthwhile.

The Money Laundering and Proceeds of Crime Act was amended to permanently enable asset recovery notwithstanding a criminal conviction.

Commissioner Makamure said the Anti-Corruption Commission Lay Bill, which provides for whistleblower protection, was being scrutinised by the Attorney-General’s Office.

Whistleblowers need a legal provision to protect them from abuse by corruption suspects.

“The AG and the Ministry of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs have been engaged to speed up enactment. In that Bill is a comprehensive section on whistleblower protection,” said the ZACC spokesperson.

The fight against graft, he said, was key in achieving President Mnangagwa’s Vision 2030, which is premised onthe creation of a relatively prosperous society where people enjoy high standards of living.

“The greatest achievement is the development of the National Anti-Corruption Strategy through a highly consultative process. The National Anti-Corruption Strategy Steering Committee has diverse representation and held its inaugural meeting two weeks ago. The six sub-committees will hold their inaugural meetings mid-October,” he said.

“Basically, ZACC has managed to bring all key stakeholders together in the fight against corruption. It is no longer a ‘them and us’ approach.

“Cases are now moving in the courts due to the setting up of anti-corruption courts and hiring of dedicated prosecutors for these courts. Over 50 dockets have been completed by ZACC and submitted to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) for prosecution. Our target is 80 this year.”

As part of concerted efforts to rein in corrupt activities, ZACC signed several memorandums of understanding (MoUs) with organisations such as the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) and Department of Immigration, among others.

“Just last week we signed an MoU with the Parliament of Zimbabwe, which is a vital player in the anti-corruption fight.”

State Media

THE Government will tomorrow meet representatives of teachers and other civil servants to find a common ground as some educators have not reported for duty since public schools opened on Monday last week.

Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Minister Professor Paul Mavima told Sunday News yesterday that the Government understood the plight of its workers but absconding from duty or threatening industrial action was not the best way to resolve the issue. He said teachers should report for duty while their concerns were being addressed.

“We know that they (teachers and other civil servants) have said what we have given them is not enough. We are negotiating with them. We are at the negotiating table to discuss their demands. On Monday (tomorrow) we will meet unions in the public service to discuss the way forward. We want to find a common ground with them. We are appealing to them (teachers) to go back to work while we negotiate with the unions. I am meeting them ahead of the National Joint Negotiating Council,” said Prof Mavima.

Schools re-opened last week for examination classes while other classes will open later this month and early November.

However, at some schools, few teachers have been reporting for duty citing incapacitation and lack of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to protect themselves and pupils from Covid-19.

Last week the Government awarded civil servants a 40 percent cost-of-living salary adjustment, while negotiations continue with unions representing civil servants over a final agreement on wages and other employment terms.

The adjustment, and the continuation of the US$75 a month Covid-19 allowance, are interim steps taken by the Government to help cushion its employees while the negotiations are in progress. The Zimbabwe School Examinations Council (Zimsec) examinations for Grade Seven, Form Four and Form Six classes start on 1 December and are expected to spill over to January 2021.

State Media

ZIMBABWE has re-opened its side of the Beitbridge Border Post but to only allow Zimbabwean citizens in South Africa to return home.

Zimbabweans with valid South African permanent residence and other permits such as work and student permits are also now allowed to cross into South Africa and back home. In addition, Zimbabweans in South Africa popularly known as injiva are now allowed back home without any restrictions or special clearance in a move that would see some locals who had been stuck in the neghbouring country flocking back home.

There was confusion last Thursday when some members of the public travelled to the border with the hope of accessing services after South Africa announced that it was opening to the general public 18 land borders including Beitbridge and three airports as the neighbouring country moved to level one of its Covid-19 restrictions. However, Zimbabwe and Botswana which share some of the borders with South Africa announced that they were not yet re-opening their borders.

Nonetheless, in the latest development, with effect from Friday, Zimbabwe eased the restrictions allowing specified general people to cross the border. According to a memorandum addressed to immigration staff at the border post, Zimra and police, assistant regional immigration officer in charge of Beitbridge Border Post, Mr Nqobile Ncube, Zimbabwe started allowing specific members of the public to cross the border on Friday.

“With the repealing of the lockdown restrictions in South Africa, the implication is that the Zimbabwean nationals no longer need DIRCO (Department of International Relations and Cooperation) clearance to leave South Africa. This should be read in tandem with the current Covid-19 restrictions which provide for re-entry for Zimbabwean nationals returning home. All Zimbabwean nationals returning home shall be allowed passage subject to relevant Covid-19 compliances as administered by port health. Permanent residence permit holders are also to be granted entry as guided by refereed regulation,” reads part of the memo.

The land borders, however, remains closed for “general travellers” like traders. Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Minister Kazembe Kazembe told Sunday News yesterday that the country was still monitoring the Covid-19 pandemic trends before making a decision on the re-opening of the land border to the general public.

He said while consultations were ongoing their decision would not be influenced by the neighbouring countries’ decision to re-open their land borders.

“Discussions are indeed taking place within Government on the issue of land borders, as there are a lot of considerations which we have to consider before we make a decision to re-open the borders inclusive of the trends of the Covid-19 pandemic. We have to especially look at how the re-opening of the borders will affect our response to the pandemic and further what systems we can put in place so that the re-opening won’t result in a sudden spike in cases,” said Minister Kazembe.

He said all the necessary stakeholders would be consulted before a decision is made on the land borders emphasising that once a decision is made the Ministry will then table it to the National Covid-19 taskforce.

“All that we can do as a Ministry is forward our recommendations to the national task force, who in turn will recommend to Cabinet, who will further deliberate on the matter and make a final resolution. But obviously the borders will not be closed forever, it is now about seeing what is best for the nation juxtaposing this with the trends in the pandemic nationally,” he said.

Commenting on the same issue, the chief coordinator, National Response to Covid-19 pandemic in the Office of the President and Cabinet, Dr Agnes Mahomva said while there was appreciation of pressure by the general public to relax the national lockdown measures inclusive of the opening of the land borders there was a need to consider the Government’s public health measures to curbing the Covid-19 pandemic.

State Media

In the most unexpected move the ZANU PF led government is crafting a new law that will literally seek to force citizens to be loyal to ZANU PF principles.

The law will criminalise and impose stiff penalties for campaigning against the country through private correspondence with foreign governments and harming national interests.

In August, the Cabinet Committee on National Peace and Reconciliation tasked the Ministry of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs to draft a law that prohibits citizens from conniving with hostile foreign governments to harm the country.

Principles of the Patriot Bill have now been drafted. Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi is now expected to table the principles in Cabinet.

Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs permanent secretary Mrs Virginia Mabhiza told The Sunday Mail that the Bill draws from similar legislation in other jurisdictions such as the Logan Act in the United States of America.

She said it is solely the State’s mandate to engage other nations on issues pertaining to foreign relations. Acts that will be criminalised will include corresponding with a foreign government without approval, making false statements which harm the country and conniving with hostile foreign governments to harm the nation.

“The Bill is premised on the constitutional provision on the foreign policy of our country, which values the promotion and protection of the national interests of Zimbabwe,” she said.

“It is the duty of the State to engage other sovereign nations on issues pertaining to foreign relations, and not self-serving citizens.

“Conduct such as private correspondence with foreign governments or any officer or agent thereof will be prohibited, including false statements influencing foreign governments, or any other such conduct aimed at undermining the country.

“Private citizens will have to avoid conduct such as traveling to foreign countries as self-appointed ambassadors, meeting foreign officials to undermine the national interest.

“Conniving with hostile foreign governments and nationals to inflict harm on the country and its citizens will be criminalised.

“All the above conduct will be criminalised and in the event of a conviction, stiff penalties will be imposed.”

Having noted the diplomatic chaos that comes with private citizens having unauthorised negotiations with foreign governments, the US government passed the Logan Act in 1799. It specifically prohibits citizens from negotiating with other nations on behalf of the United States without authorisation and makes it a crime for a citizen to confer with foreign governments against the interests of the United States.

Political analyst Mr Godwine Mureriwa said the proposed law was progressive.

“The fact that the onslaught against Zimbabwe has reached a level where the nation’s sovereignty and national interest are constantly under threat makes such a law relevant,” said Mr Mureriwa.

“A law criminalising campaigning against one’s nation is not new; even the US has such a law. Taking into account the fact that Zimbabwe is under sanctions and faces the threat of a military assault by a foreign power at the invitation of the opposition, under these circumstances, such a law is progressive and acceptable.”

Several Zimbabwean opposition politicians and prominent civil society leaders have often been accused of engaging hostile foreign governments to try to influence them to dislodge the ruling party for their political gain.

The United States imposed harsh economic sanctions on Zimbabwe at the turn of the millennium at the instigation of leaders in opposition political parties and civic society.

The sanctions, which are renewed annually, have wreaked havoc on the country’s economy, with Zimbabwe now ineligible for balance of payment support and affordable loans from international finance institutions. Some opposition leaders have become semi-permanent features at the US Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, where they constantly campaign for more sanctions against the country.

Whistleblower website — Wikileaks — has also outed dalliances between some local politicians and officials at the US embassy in Harare, with one politician requesting
US military intervention in Zimbabwe in order to facilitate an illegal change of Government.

By Job Wiwa Sikhala | Good people, today I drove to Bulawayo with my wife to empathize with Mduduzi Mathuthu and the family of Tawanda Muchehiwa on the horrendous episode they went through on the hands of State Security agents.

I was given a detailed explanation of what happened and the treachery involved. What made me despairing was the way they felt after my visit. Their spirits were raised high and didn’t want me and my wife to drive back to Harare but put up.

The story is not only sad but a clear demonstration of an evil system that does not deserve in any government even of animals. However, the strength and determination to march forward is amazing.

Farai Dziva|The MDC Alliance has described Education Minister Cain Mathema’s attempt to use bully-boy tactics to silence teachers as unfortunate and redundant.

See full statement below :

02 OCTOBER 2020

MDC ALLIANCE NAMIBIA DISTRICT IS IN SOLIDARITY WITH THE THREATENED POVERTY-STRICKEN AND INCAPACITATED TEACHERS IN ZIMBABWE.

Mdc Alliance Namibia is heart-broken by the indifferent and cynical approach from the Minister of Primary and Secondary Education, instead of addressing the plight of learners and teachers, he threatened the innocent teachers who sympthathised with the clueless Zanupf regime for a long time now.

Mr Cain Mathema has threatened to fire incapacitated and replace them with 10 000 unemployed teachers without making effort to upgrade the pathetic lives of our teachers who are struggling to pay fees for their own children. We challenge teachers to remain resolute in confronting the insensitive government that subscribes to repression.

The incapacitation action commenced on a high note and has since escalated to extreme levels since the 28th of September when teachers picked up their national consciousness and resolved to unite against Zanupf stomach politicians.

As Mdc Alliance Namibia, we salute teachers’ unions in Zimbabwe for Unity and Solidarity in fighting suicidal policies in the education sector. It has been difficult for unions to share from the same plate of opinion but on the 22nd of September key stakeholders converged, cross-pollinated revolutionary dreams and aspirations before they pronounced a resolute statement about the poverty-stricken teachers and the trajectory to be embraced by the politically inept government in order to put our education system on a sounder footing.

Moreso, we are quite exhilarated as social democrats to witness more than 100 000 grieved teachers committing and dedicating themselves to the struggle for their liberation from Zanupf’s incompetent governance in the eduction sector.

Amalgamated Rural Teachers’ Union (Artuz) President Obert Masaraure said “teachers should be paid a living wage and we still demand 520US$ per month.

We will continue on this path until the value of our salaries is restored but on the World Teachers’ Day( 05 October 2020), we are going to radicalise our struggle. We are going to take to the streets”.

We pray that our teachers soldier on in unity against Zanupf induced poverty through stinking corruption and daylight looting of state resources.

Moreover, besides incapacitation, our teachers and learners are also vulnerable to the Covid-19 infections. The Progressive Teachers’Union also said about 95% of its members failed to report for duty.

He further exposed that the 600 million dollars availed by the government for Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) procurement has not been received by the schools. The majority of headmasters have truthfully reported that they do not have a single mask let alone thermometers, he further echoed.

This is a clear reflection of Zanupf’s dismal failure to secure sound and quality education to our dear children. It’s really unfortunate that the children of these fat cows in Zanupf school abroad where education is a priority.

The fees that have been drastically increased from $25 000 to $60 000 are beyond the reach of our maltreated teachers who are now grabbing a paltry of $2 600 after funeral deductions of over $1000 every month. It is imperative that teachers vividly speak their poverty and misery manifesting in their undoubted incapacitation.

As Mdc Alliance Namibia, we demand that the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Education engages Teachers’ Unions once again because we have reached the zenith , we can’t afford to give a cold soldier to the need to engage with the view to finding durable solutions. Teachers must continue to organise , mobilise ,recruit and activate for a broader, effective Incapacitation Action to enhance their emancipation from Zanupf misrule.

Furthermore, we appeal to all conscious citizenry in Zimbabwe and in the diaspora, churches , parliamentarians, school children and social democrats around the globe to offer support to our suffering teachers and learners.

The future of our children is in their education.

Teachers must embrace dangerous freedom against peaceful slavery by desisting from the clock in-sit-in / walk out style because it is very detrimental and a very serious offence. Unions expect teachers to demonstrate their incapacitation by staying at their homes so that it will be easy to defend their members basing on the inability of the member to report for duty.

Regardless of Cain Mathema’s empty threats to our diligent and patriotic teachers , defiant teachers continue to gang up against the corrupt and authoritarian regime demanding a living wage to replace meagre unsalted peanuts insufficient to feed the families.

Teachers must resist to be intimidated , following threats that those incapacitated shall be replaced in the identical way the nurses were illegally fired sometime. We still urge the government to engage teachers so that nomalcy can be restored in our schools.

It is compulsory for various teachers organisations to avoid the traditional loophole of selling out the teachers’ struggle for 3 pieces of silver. United we win , divided we lose and the oppressor will satirise us gnashing our teeth in poverty.

In a nutshell, Mdc Alliance Namibia is cognisant of the real source of this pronounced decomposition of the education sector which is the political bankruptcy in Zanupf government.

The President’s deliberate silence on the critical matter is quite horrible.

Mdc Alliance Namibia
Rundu Branch Spokesperson
Robson Ruhanya

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Yesterday 3 July 2020, Zimbabwe recorded 27 new Covid-19 cases to take the country cumulative total to 7885 cases, 6327 recoveries and 228 deaths.

There were no deaths recorded yesterday.

The Zimbabwe Anti Corruption Commission (ZACC) has announced that it recently seized and forfeited 10 mansions and 22 luxury vehicles worth US$8 million. The assets belong to, among others, former Foreign Affairs minister Walter Mzembi, Gender Commission chair Margaret Sangarwe, Russel Mweye — a former staffer at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals — and ex-Zimbabwe National Road Administration (ZINARA) chief executive officer Frank Chitukutuku.

ZACC spokesperson Commissioner John Makamure said the fight against corruption was now in full swing.

“Asset recovery is proceeding well. We are currently handling 36 cases to do with asset recovery running into more than US$4,5 million,” he said.

ZACC believes forfeiting proceeds of crime is the most effective way of fighting the vice as it makes the commission of offences not worthwhile.

The Money Laundering and Proceeds of Crime Act was amended to permanently enable asset recovery notwithstanding a criminal conviction.

Commissioner Makamure said the Anti-Corruption Commission Lay Bill, which provides for whistleblower protection, was being scrutinised by the Attorney-General’s Office.

Whistleblowers need a legal provision to protect them from abuse by corruption suspects.

“The AG and the Ministry of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs have been engaged to speed up enactment. In that Bill is a comprehensive section on whistleblower protection,” said the ZACC spokesperson.

The fight against graft, he said, was key in achieving President Mnangagwa’s Vision 2030, which is premised onthe creation of a relatively prosperous society where people enjoy high standards of living.

“The greatest achievement is the development of the National Anti-Corruption Strategy through a highly consultative process. The National Anti-Corruption Strategy Steering Committee has diverse representation and held its inaugural meeting two weeks ago. The six sub-committees will hold their inaugural meetings mid-October,” he said.

-State Media

CABINET will soon consider the principal framework of a proposed law that will criminalise and impose stiff penalties for campaigning against the country through private correspondence with foreign governments and harming national interests.

In August, the Cabinet Committee on National Peace and Reconciliation tasked the Ministry of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs to draft a law that prohibits citizens from conniving with hostile foreign governments to harm the country.

Principles of the Patriot Bill have now been drafted. Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi is now expected to table the principles in Cabinet.

Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs permanent secretary Mrs Virginia Mabhiza told The Sunday Mail that the Bill draws from similar legislation in other jurisdictions such as the Logan Act in the United States of America.

She said it is solely the State’s mandate to engage other nations on issues pertaining to foreign relations. Acts that will be criminalised will include corresponding with a foreign government without approval, making false statements which harm the country and conniving with hostile foreign governments to harm the nation.

“The Bill is premised on the constitutional provision on the foreign policy of our country, which values the promotion and protection of the national interests of Zimbabwe,” she said.

“It is the duty of the State to engage other sovereign nations on issues pertaining to foreign relations, and not self-serving citizens.

“Conduct such as private correspondence with foreign governments or any officer or agent thereof will be prohibited, including false statements influencing foreign governments, or any other such conduct aimed at undermining the country.

“Private citizens will have to avoid conduct such as traveling to foreign countries as self-appointed ambassadors, meeting foreign officials to undermine the national interest.

-State Media

In a report titled ‘Transition Politics In the Post-Mugabe Era: Public Perception on the Role of Military’ ZDI says citizens have been made to fear the military thereby hindering them from exercising their constitutional rights.

“The study revealed that militarisation has worsened in the Mnangagwa era. Citizens have been made to fear the military and thus being deterred from exercising their constitutionally given rights. The study revealed that the post Mugabe dispensation government has put much military effort on the electoral process and the exercise of the freedom of protest and media as key military blocked of transition in Zimbabwe” read the report

According to the ZDI study transition politics in the country rely on six umbilical codes that include the electoral process, the process of exercise of the right to media and protest, the judiciary, legislative and the politics of the farms process.

“In these six centres of transition politics, the study found that the voice of the military is supreme. The electoral process was identified as the most recognised enabler of political transition in Zimbabwe. Findings also show that citizens have experienced a dramatic intensification of militarisation, deployment of naked force and intimidating deterrence in all key centres of transition politics in Zimbabwe”

ZDI recommended that human rights and democracy defenders must work to engage regional and international bodies to raise the price of continued militarisation.

“Human rights and democracy defenders must endeavor to internationalize the transition problem in Zimbabwe by lobbying regional and international bodies to raise the costs of continued militarisation in Zimbabwe.

“Concerted efforts should be targeted at bursting the role of the military in key enabling processes such as the electoral environment, the protests, the media, the farms and the judiciary. Advocacy and lobby and national and international level should seek to address the militarisation and exposure of brutality in these transition pressure points” noted the ZDI report

By Jane Mlambo| MDC-T Secretary General Douglas Mwonzora has dismissed reports of bombings at Harvest House as side shows meant to divert people’s attention from the illegal takeover of their party headquarters by former Zanu PF G40 faction.

Speaking to journalists following the party standing committee meeting in Hatfield yesterday, Mwonzora said they are on course to reclaim their building from the alleged MDC-T youths.

“Tiri kunzwa kuti kune ma bomb ma petrol bombs kwaane moto wakuitika muHarvest House, izvi hazvina kumbobvira zvaitika kusvikira vanhu ava vauya, asi tinoda kuti tiudze ma members edu e MDC-T kuti its a matter of time, tiri kutora headquarters yedu, (We hear there are bombs, petrol bombs happening at Harvest House, these things never happened before, its only happening now after the takeover by these people, so we want to assure our members that its a matter of time, we will reclaim our headquarters)” said Mwonzora.

He added that the takeover of Harvest House was engineered by former Zanu PF G40 members who ropped in a few people from MDC Alliance.

Inmates in prisons have not been spared from the effects of Covid-19 pandemic as they have gone for six months without seeing their loved ones as visits have remained suspended due to lockdown restrictions.

Each year inmates look forward to the Family Week, an event which is held in September where inmates get to spend time with their families and friends. During the event children are allowed to visit as inmates are allowed an unlimited number of visitors.

The Prisons Family Week was introduced by the Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services (ZPCS) in September 2017 in a bid to foster family bonding and to help inmates to keep in touch with what is happening in the outside world. Due to the prevailing Covid-19 pandemic inmates have been forced to forego this much anticipated event. To mark this year’s Family Week ZPCS has introduced a system where inmates can contact their loved ones using a cell phone. Gwanda Prison marked this year’s Family Day on Wednesday last week.

Gwanda Prison inmate Peter Mlilo (64) from Matshetsheni area in Gwanda who is serving a one year and six months jail sentence for public violence said the Family Week was a time that he looked forward to. Mlilo who is a father of eight, said he last saw his family on 22 November last year on the day that he was convicted.

“I was convicted on 22 November last year and that was the last time I saw my family. I was really looking forward to the Family Week as it was going to be an opportunity for me to see my wife and children and interact with them but this will remain a dream because of the Covid- 19 pandemic.

“Although I’m able to talk to them over the phone, it’s not the same as seeing them face to face. When I talk to them over the phone, I feel so much pain wishing I could see my children to ensure they are fine. I know that it pains them that I’m in jail and at least if I could see them face to face it could give them assurance that I’m well,” he said.

Ronald Vela (25) from Ntalale area in Gwanda who is serving a two-year sentence for kidnapping and robbery said the pandemic had not only robbed him of an opportunity to spend quality time with his family but to also engage in various projects and activities. He said they used to engage in car washing, brick moulding and tree planting activities. Vela said they also went to Joshua Mqabuko Polytechnic for short courses and the police station for soccer matches. He said these projects had been suspended because of the pandemic.

Vela, who was sentenced in October 2018 and is set to complete his jail term this month said he had acquired a number of skills during his stay at the prison which he wanted to pursue for a livelihood. He said he had experienced two Family Week events and they were a priceless moment for any inmate.

“There is nothing that you look forward to like a Family Week when you are an inmate. I was able to hold my second born child for the first time during the Family Week as I was convicted while my wife was pregnant. During the Family Week there will be a lot of entertainment in the form of dramas, singing from inmates and local groups from the Gwanda community. We thank the prison officials for awarding us an opportunity to talk to our loved ones over the phone,” he said.

Sunday Moyo (48) from Masvingo, a father of nine said he has been in remand for one year and six months after he was arrested for murder.

He said last year he was able to sit, eat and interact at length with his family. Moyo said he was also hoping to meet his children and relatives.

Gwanda Prison Chief Correctional Officer, Chief Inspector Melody Dube said this year’s Family Week was different as inmates were not allowed to have visitors because of the Covid-19 lockdown regulations that also suspended visits to prisons to curb the spread of the virus.

“The Family Week is an opportunity where inmates and their families and friends interact in a bid to strengthen their relations. It also helps the inmates to remain in touch with the outside world and for families to know what is going on with their relatives who are inmates. With this pandemic the whole prison system was forced to close doors to visitors in order to curb the spread of the pandemic. We have devised a way for inmates to interact with their relatives using a cell phone, relatives can also send money to this cell phone so we can buy desired food for inmates.

“During normal visits we limit the number of visitors but during the normal Family Week there is no restriction. Children are also allowed and we normally invite local drama and music groups to entertain people. The Family Week is characterised by relaxed visiting hours hours where family and friends can come and be with their loved ones. Physical contact is allowed and sharing of food,” she said.

Chief Insp Dube said in a bid to curb the spread of the pandemic when an inmate comes from court their temperature is checked at the gate.

Inmates are sanitised, and from there they are placed under isolation for the required amount of time and also tested for the virus. He said if results come out positive they can rejoin other inmates. She said officers and inmates at Gwanda Prison have been tested three times and they all came out negative. 

-State Media

Government has disowned a circular circulating on social media platforms directing recently-qualified doctors to enrol as soldiers under the Defence ministry if they are to be allowed to practise anywhere in Zimbabwe.

The circular, purportedly prepared by the Health Service Board, has irked doctors and the general public who felt that it tantamounted to militarising the health sector.

Masvingo Senator Tichinani Mavetera (MDC Alliance) on Thursday asked Health deputy minister John Mangwiro during Senate’s question-and-answer session to explain how they came up with the circular to militarise the medical profession and the latter professed ignorance over the conscription order.

“We heard that of the current 230 medical students that are graduating this year, the Ministry of Health is not going to recruit them, and that they will be recruited by the Ministry of Defence. What arrangements is the Health ministry going to put in place to ensure that we are not going to have a gap where junior doctors are deployed to the Defence ministry and there are no doctors at rural clinics? We are also forcing all junior doctors to join the army whether they like it or not,” Mavetera said.

He added: “We also heard that some graduate student doctors have been prohibited from visiting State or government hospitals after they were expelled and yet they are central to the health delivery in this country and trainee doctors provide more than 60% of the workforce.”

Mangwiro responded: “I do not know anything about the circular you are purporting came from the Ministry of Health. I spoke to the Health Service Board because they are the ones that are supposed to be giving out such a circular and we are going to get more details from them.

“As of now, we spoke to the Health ministry secretary (Jasper Chimedza) and he was oblivious of where that letter came from. So we will get a detailed and clarified position from him because the Ministry of Health is not the one that deploys those cadres, it is the Health Service Board that does so.”

He said student doctors were under the Ministry of Higher Education, which he said was the one that could adequately give an explanation on their situation.-

-NewsDay

Zimbabwe has re-opened its side of the Beitbridge Border Post but to only allow Zimbabwean citizens in South Africa to return home.

Zimbabweans with valid South African permanent residence and other permits such as work and student permits are also now allowed to cross into South Africa and back home. In addition, Zimbabweans in South Africa popularly known as injiva are now allowed back home without any restrictions or special clearance in a move that would see some locals who had been stuck in the neghbouring country flocking back home.

There was confusion last Thursday when some members of the public travelled to the border with the hope of accessing services after South Africa announced that it was opening to the general public 18 land borders including Beitbridge and three airports as the neighbouring country moved to level one of its Covid-19 restrictions. However, Zimbabwe and Botswana which share some of the borders with South Africa announced that they were not yet re-opening their borders.

Nonetheless, in the latest development, with effect from Friday, Zimbabwe eased the restrictions allowing specified general people to cross the border. According to a memorandum addressed to immigration staff at the border post, Zimra and police, assistant regional immigration officer in charge of Beitbridge Border Post, Mr Nqobile Ncube, Zimbabwe started allowing specific members of the public to cross the border on Friday.

“With the repealing of the lockdown restrictions in South Africa, the implication is that the Zimbabwean nationals no longer need DIRCO (Department of International Relations and Cooperation) clearance to leave South Africa. This should be read in tandem with the current Covid-19 restrictions which provide for re-entry for Zimbabwean nationals returning home. All Zimbabwean nationals returning home shall be allowed passage subject to relevant Covid-19 compliances as administered by port health. Permanent residence permit holders are also to be granted entry as guided by refereed regulation,” reads part of the memo.

The land borders, however, remains closed for “general travellers” like traders. Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Minister Kazembe Kazembe told Sunday News yesterday that the country was still monitoring the Covid-19 pandemic trends before making a decision on the re-opening of the land border to the general public.

He said while consultations were ongoing their decision would not be influenced by the neighbouring countries’ decision to re-open their land borders.

“Discussions are indeed taking place within Government on the issue of land borders, as there are a lot of considerations which we have to consider before we make a decision to re-open the borders inclusive of the trends of the Covid-19 pandemic. We have to especially look at how the re-opening of the borders will affect our response to the pandemic and further what systems we can put in place so that the re-opening won’t result in a sudden spike in cases,” said Minister Kazembe.

He said all the necessary stakeholders would be consulted before a decision is made on the land borders emphasising that once a decision is made the Ministry will then table it to the National Covid-19 taskforce.

“All that we can do as a Ministry is forward our recommendations to the national task force, who in turn will recommend to Cabinet, who will further deliberate on the matter and make a final resolution. But obviously the borders will not be closed forever, it is now about seeing what is best for the nation juxtaposing this with the trends in the pandemic nationally,” he said.

Commenting on the same issue, the chief coordinator, National Response to Covid-19 pandemic in the Office of the President and Cabinet, Dr Agnes Mahomva said while there was appreciation of pressure by the general public to relax the national lockdown measures inclusive of the opening of the land borders there was a need to consider the Government’s public health measures to curbing the Covid-19 pandemic.

-State Media

Government and representatives of civil servants will meet tomorrow for crucial talks after a number of teachers refused to report for duty last week.

Public schools reopened for exam classes on October 28. Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Minister Professor Paul Mavima said Government wants to understand why teachers are not reporting for duty.

“We know that they (teachers and other civil servants) have said what we have given them is not enough,” said Prof Mavima.

“We are at the negotiating table to discuss their demands. “On Monday (tomorrow), we will meet unions in the public service to discuss the way forward.

“We want to find a common ground with them. We are appealing to them (teachers) to go back to work while we negotiate with the unions. I am meeting them ahead of the National Joint Negotiating Council.”

Teachers, he said, should report for duty while their concerns were being addressed. Civil servants received a 40 percent cost of living adjustment last week. A final agreement over a substantive salary hike is currently being worked out.

The US$75 Covid-19 allowance has been extended until year-end.

-Sunday Mail

By Jane Mlambo| MDC-T Secretary General Douglas Mwonzora has claimed that the post 2018 general elections MDC Alliance project has failed.

Mwonzora made the remarks while addressing journalists in Hatfield yesterday, where he claimed that MDC Alliance project as represented by Nelson Chamisa in the 2018 Presidential elections performed exceptionally well due to their assistance in the campaign.

Mwonzora however said the MDC Alliance project post the 2018 elections was a failure as shown by the by-election results where the party in selected constituency and council elections performed very badly.

He mentioned wards where the MDC Alliance got votes that are less than 50 compared to Zanu PF which averaged over 500.

“The MDC Alliance when we went into the elections did well, and I think that Nelson Chamisa as a Presidential candidate did quite well, thats not an issue, but you must not forget that we were with him, that we also campaigned and we did well, but after that the MDC Alliance project, the one I am referring to is where they wanted to convert the MDC Alliance into a political party,” said Mwonzora.

THE Bulawayo water crisis has reached another level with council indicating that it will cut off supplies to the Central Business District (CBD) and industrial areas for the first time, rendering the whole city dry.

Council had exempted the two key economic areas from water cuts after implementing a devastating water shedding programme which has seen most suburbs going for weeks without water, with other areas getting water for a few hours on a single day once a week. However, it is the latest announcement, that will send shivers even in the industrial corners, as water is key in most companies’ operations.

Bulawayo Town Clerk Mr Christopher Dube yesterday said the city has not been treating water since Friday owing to a power surge that was experienced.

“The City of Bulawayo would like to inform residents of a power surge which occurred at the Criterion Water Treatment Plant late on Friday disrupting the water treatment process. Currently no treatment is taking place at Criterion. Further to that, Cowdray Park Booster Station on the Nyamandlovu line that supplies the Magwegwe Reservoir also lost power on Saturday (yesterday). In that regard, water supply is closed for the whole city till such a time when power is restored,” said Mr Dube.

The Town Clerk said a Zesa subsidiary, the Zimbabwe Electricity Distribution Company (ZETDC) was currently working on rectifying the problems to ensure resumption of water treatment at Criterion and pumping of water on the Nyamandlovu line.-The Sunday News