By A Correspondent- Chiredzi residents last week called on government to reduce military expenditure in the 2021 national budget and channel more resources towards social services.

The residents were speaking during a 2021 national budget consultative meeting led by the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Budget, Finance and Economic Development chaired by Zaka North legislator Rabison Mavhenyengwa.

Human rights monitor, Marko Shoko said Zimbabwe was not at war, hence the Finance ministry should channel more resources towards education, health as well as social welfare and stop burdening the country with unnecessary military expenditure.

Patricia Zunga said morale in schools was low and the government should seriously look into the plight of teachers and pay them a salary commensurate with the work they do.
She also said there was no need for government to continue to allocate huge amounts to the Defence ministry.

“Government should consider allocating more money towards the construction of new schools in Chiredzi,” Zunga said.

United Chiredzi Residents and Ratepayers Association programmes officer Constance Chikumbo said public hospitals were in a sorry state with no medicine, burdening the poor who could not afford to get treatment at private hospitals.

“Immobility of police officers is making countless criminals unaccounted for because most police stations have no vehicles to track down reported cases,” Chikumbo said.

“This is an impetus to spiralling cases of corruption by our police force which is now taking bribes in order to open an investigation. Our hospitals need to be stocked with medicine so the government should give more resources to the Health and Child Care ministry.”

Other residents said more resources should be allocated to cater for people living with disabilities and other vulnerable members of the community.-Newsday

MDC-T National Organising Secretary Abednico Bhebhe has refused to attend a disciplinary hearing called by Secretary General Douglas Mwonzora accusing them of not following procedures and being resistant to the truth.

This followed an announcement by Mwonzora that Bhebhe and Harare Provincial youth leader Paul Gorekore will be disciplined for bringing the name of the party into disrepute.

“The leadership hereby ordered to commence and pursue disciplinary action against these two in terms of the party constitution.

“The national council was of the opinion that there were acts of indiscipline by Mr Gorekore and Mr Bhebhe but we resolved that the two would be dealt with in terms of our constitution. We want to assure our supporters that we will be firm with our own,” said Mwonzora.

But in response, Bhebhe said he will not attend the hearing as he had only heard it through the media.

“I will not attend such a disciplinary hearing being called through the media,” Bhebhe told NewZimbabwe.com Monday.

“The person who did that knows what needs to be done in terms of the procedures and process when one is being called to appear for a disciplinary hearing, and I am sure that has not been done.

“The party leadership should not be afraid of being told the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.” added Bhebhe.

By A Correspondent- MDC-T secretary-general Douglas Mwonzora has said Job Sikhala’s continued presence in Parliament is not a sign the party leadership feared him, but a matter of his unclear allegiance they are still to ascertain.

He made the remarks while addressing journalists in Harare Monday.

Mwonzora was responding to a question on whether his party was being selective in recalling MDC Alliance MPs and councillors since there are some public officials still loyal to MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa who are in office.

Sikhala, who is the Zengeza West MP and MDC Alliance vice-chairperson, is one of the officials who have remained loyal to Chamisa despite some threats by Mwonzora they risked recalls.

“We are not afraid of Mr Sikhala. He does not bite and he is a person who holds certain views, some very strongly and we do respect some of his views,” said Mwonzora.

“We do not know, he is yet to tell us the membership of his party, we have not seen the affidavit he signed renouncing the party (MDC-T).

“All members of our party who commit acts of misconduct will be dealt with in a fair manner, they will be afforded the right to be heard but if you leave the party for example by signing the affidavits which were drafted by the MDC Alliance lawyers, they would have expelled themselves.

“Those affidavits specifically stated that these people were no longer members of the MDC-T and if you specifically state that you are no longer a member of the MDC-T, you would have expelled yourself.”

Mwonzora has wielded his axe on over 20 MDC Alliance MPs and dozens of councillors he claims signed affidavits renouncing their membership to MDC-T in favour of the Chamisa-led faction.

The whole drama emanates from a March 2020 Supreme Court ruling that nullified Chamisa’s presidency and ordered an immediate return to party 2014 structures before an extraordinary congress meant to select late party leader Morgan Tsvangirai’s successor.-Newsday

By A Correspondent- Bulawayo’s Queens Park suburb has recorded diarrhoea cases as more suburbs register outbreaks of the disease which claimed 13 lives in Luveve in July and infected nearly 2 000 people.

Water shortages, ageing water and sewer infrastructure have been blamed for the recurrent diarrhoea outbreaks in the city.

Auditor-General, Midlred Chiri, in a report tabled in Parliament, recently warned that Bulawayo risked an outbreak of water-borne diseases resulting from failure to manage sewage reticulation systems.

“The community health worker for Queens Park alerted the area environmental health officer over concerns that a number of people seemed to be suffering from diarrhoea in the area. The concern was investigated and confirmed,” a council health, housing and education report read in part.

However, no deaths were recorded with the report, adding that people were avoiding council clinics because they do not want to undergo COVID-19 testing.

“Indications were that the affected were not willing to visit health facilities for fear of being tested for COVID-19. They were assured that it was not standard procedure that everyone who came to the clinic was tested for COVID-19, therefore, they should be free to go to the clinic,” the report added.

“The community health workers were advised to encourage all affected to visit the nearest clinic for treatment as diarrhoea treatment was currently free. The area environmental health officer continued to monitor the situation.”

In her report, Chiri said persistent bursting of sewage pipes and failure by councils to attend to them could result in an outbreak of fatal diseases.

“Due to failure by the urban local authorities to attend to blockages within the stipulated eight to 24 hours, raw sewage is lost into the environment before reaching the treatment plants thereby contaminating water bodies,” Chiri said.

“The raw sewage flowing on the ground will mix with potable water thereby resulting in water-borne diseases. Furthermore, delays in the repair of sewer blockage/chokes will result in backflow of sewage increasing pressure on inlet pipes and joints or weaker points will give in to pressure thereby causing further blockages.”-Newsday

City of Harare has closed down Mbare bus termini to pave way for renovations with buses now moved to Fourt street, Coventry holding bay, Mbudzi Complex car park and Machipisa shopping centre.

Travellers to Mutare, Mutoko, Murewa and Goromonzi will use Fourth Street bus terminus, while those travelling to Masvingo, Beitbridge and Chiredzi will use Mbudzi Complex parking and Machipisa Shopping Centre.

Those travelling to Bulawayo, Gweru, Chinhoyi, Shamva and Masvingo among other destinations will now use Coventry holding bay.

This was announced in a public notice issued by City of Harare.

By A Correspondent- Property worth thousands of dollars was gutted after a thatched house was caught in a veld fire on Sunday evening.

Muzarabani rural district council chairperson Ashton Chiweshe confirmed the inferno.

“Property belonging to Graria Mtemaringa was burnt but people managed to escape without injuries, the fire was caused by a veld fire which came uncontrolled,” Chiweshe said.

Last month a fuel dealer in St Alberts burnt his room and her child after, fuel which he kept in his room caught fire.

By A Correspondent- Two men have been arrested for allegedly beating their friend to death for placing a bet using a torn 10 rand note during a gambling game.

Thulani Nkomo (19) and Peter Dube (26) both from Filabusi area were not asked to plead when they appeared before Gwanda magistrate, Ms Lerato Nyathi facing a murder charge.

They were remanded in custody to October 30. Prosecuting Ms Ethel Mahachi said the pair was gambling with Freedom Moyo on August 13 at around 9PM when Moyo tried to place a bet using a torn R10 note resulting in an altercation.

“On 13 August at around 9PM Thulani Nkomo, Peter Dube and Freedom Moyo were gambling at Nkwalimi Business Centre in Filabusi when Moyo tried to place a bet with a torn R10 note. Nkomo and Dube refused to accept the torn money but Moyo insisted that the money could be used which resulted an altercation.

“They then abandoned the game and left for their homes while still arguing about the torn money. Moyo proceeded to his home while the accused persons also went to their places of residence,” she said.

Ms Mahachi said on the following morning at around 6AM Moyo met Nkomo and Dube who confronted him over the torn money. She said the pair started assaulting Moyo with stones and logs.

Ms Mahachi said Moyo called out for help and villagers rushed to the scene while Nkomo and Dube fled.

She said villagers found Moyo lying unconscious on the ground and they rushed him to a nearest clinic where he was pronounced dead upon arrival.

The matter was reported to the police resulting in the arrest of Moyo and Dube. Ms Mahachi said stones and logs that the suspects had used to attack Moyo were found on the scene.Source – statemedia

By A Correspondent- Student teachers have petitioned Parliament to push the President Emmerson Mnangagwa-led government to raise their monthly allowances currently pegged at $150, which translates to less than US$2 using the auction rate.

In a petition dated October 19, 2020, cosigned by Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (Artuz)’s secretary for unemployed, student and retired teachers, Takemore Mhlanga and Walter Muzamhani, the student teachers said they were poorly paid despite assuming full teaching responsibilities.

Part of the petition read: “The student teachers on teaching practice continue to receive a monthly allowance of $150. As at $150 which is almost 5% to the salary of the lowest paid qualified teacher.

“It should be noted that student teachers are being assigned a full load in the classroom as schools battle to plug the gap of staff shortage. Student teachers are adults who have to cater for all living expenses.”

The student teachers said they had become an embarrassment to the teaching profession.

“Student teachers are no longer respected in communities. They have become beggars. They beg for almost everything from neighbours, for instance, mealie-meal, cooking oil, toothpaste, salt and even body lotion. Things that should be readily accessible and affordable to them have become unaffordable. If such necessities become scarce to student teachers it will jeopardise the discharge of their duties.”

Teacher’s allowance on teaching practice to 80% of the salary of the lowest-paid qualified teacher. Backdate the agreed allowance to February 2020 when the first petition was handed over … set up a board representing student teacher’s welfare … teaching practice allowance be reviewed in tandem with the qualified teachers’ salary reviews … and pay full monthly allowance for the first and last months of the teaching practice tenure”.

Artuz president Obert Masaraure said: “We hope that government will take heed of our petition and address the plight of the student teachers. It is an urgent matter.”

Student teachers on teaching practice used to receive 70% of what the lowest-paid qualified teacher earned before their allowances were reduced to $150 in 2016 and never reviewed until now.-Newsday

By A Correspondent- Infighting and political gamesmanship have ripped apart interim MDC-T leader Thokozani Khupe’s party ahead of its planned extraordinary congress to choose a substantive successor for the opposition’s late founding leader, Morgan Tsvangirai.

Khupe has already moved to charge her former close aide and party organising secretary Abednico Bhebhe, after the latter accused her of violating the party constitution and abusing party funds.

Addressing journalists in Harare yesterday, MDCT secretary-general Douglas Mwonzora said the party’s national council had resolved to take disciplinary action against Bhebhe and Paul Gorekore for breaching the code of conduct of the party.

“Due to acts of indiscipline, destabilisation of the party and bringing the name of the party into disrepute by Mr Abednico Bhebhe and Mr Paul Gorekore, the leader-ship is hereby ordered to commence and pursue disciplinary action against the two in terms of the party constitution,” Mwonzora said.

“The national council was of the opinion that there were acts of indiscipline by Mr Gorekore and Mr Bhebhe, but we resolved that the two will be dealt with in terms of our constitution, how that is going to come out will be seen in the next few days,” Mwonzora said.

He added: “We denounce and totally reject the calls by members of the MDC Alliance and G40 to come to the congress for purposes of elect-ing our substantive leader.”

Bhebhe last week filed a damning affidavit at the High Court, accusing Khupe, Mwonzora and acting chairperson Morgan Komichi of failing to hold national executive and nation-al council meetings in accordance with the party constitution.

He also said the trio, who are all eying the presidency, had created new party structures, further violating the principles of the party. Highly-placed sources said Khupe had flushed out more than two-thirds of MDC-T members who were in the 2014 national council as she seeks to ring-fence her position at the helm of the party.

Khupe is also reportedly aware that any move to convene the national council would spectacularly backfire because she does not have the support of party structures.

“They are aware that a national council will stop them in their tracks and possibly put them to a disciplinary hearing for usurping the powers of council. They have avoid-ed calling for the meet-ing of legitimate structures of the council,” said a party insider.-Tuesday

By A Correspondent- Nelson Chamisa led MDC Alliance youths have castigated Vice President Kembo Mohadi following his remarks last weekend that the new dispensation has achieved what the first republic could not achieve and life under President Mnangagwa has become better.

Speaking to the publication, MDC Alliance youth spokesperson Stephen Chuma said VP Mohadi’s remarks exposed his insincerity:

Kembo Mohadi’s ridiculous assertions that the country’s fortunes have become better under Emmerson Mnangagwa’s regime clearly expose high levels of insincerity and pathological lies of this so called new dispensation

Certainly Mohadi cannot hide under piecemeal and snail-paced roadworks where nothing significant is happening except overhaul of the remaining tarred strip albeit without replacing it.

He added: “Mohadi suddenly forgets that from 1980 he was part of the old establishment that ruined the once breadbasket of Africa. Maybe because of old age, the usually bed-ridden Mohadi is now suffering from serious Alzheimer’s dementia.

Is it not a public secret that life for the ordinary people has gone from bad to worse under Emmerson Mnangagwa’s short reign? From the education sector to health sector, there are cost increases everywhere and one wonders what positives Kembo Mohadi refers to. It is time Zanu PF leaders know that lies, delusion and insincerity can never solve the economic question.

VP Mohadi’s remarks come amid a crippling teachers strike due to low wages and 600+% inflation amid a dire economic crisis.-Newsday

By A Correspondent- Underfire Health Ministry Deputy Minister Dr John Mangwiro has denied involvement in the $5.6 million National Pharmaceuticals Company (Natpham) tender scam in which he is being investigated for arm-twisting the later to award the tender to an undeserving company called Young Health Care.

Calling the reports malicious Dr Mangwiro said he only called the headlining evening meeting because there was an emergency and he did not interfere with the tender process:

It is not correct that I interfered with the bidding process. On August 14 2020 at around 2100 hours I received a phone call from the Hon Vice President and Minister of Health and Child Care. He wanted me to get an update on what was causing the delays to the procurement of the Covid-19 requirements.

I could not sleep over an emergency and as such I called (acting Natpharm managing director) Mr Zealous Nyabadza to urgently convene a meeting to appraise me on what was causing the delays.

I attended the meeting on August 14 2020 in the company of MoHCC legal advisor Ms S Chikati. The adjudication process had already been completed on August 13 2020. I did not attend the meeting to review any tender processes as this had already been completed.

I informed the meeting that I wanted to get an update on the availability of the PCR Machine and PCR Test kits arising out of the bids. Mr Z Nyabadza explained that Young Health Care Limited had won the tender to supply some of the equipment.

In his lengthy statement denying all charges against him, Dr Mangwiro said Youth Health Care was engaged because there was an emergency:

It is not correct that the MoHCC gave numerous directives to Natpharm Management to make a direct procurement of supplies from Young Health Care Limited which resulted in the delay of the procurement. The correct position is that by the letter dated 15 July 2020, the acting Secretary for Health and Child Care (Dr Gibson Mhlanga) wrote to Natpharm requesting purchase of Covid-19 PCR test reagents on urgent basis from Young Health Care Limited.

The request was justified on two grounds. Firstly, the urgency was necessitated by a need to facilitate implementation of national testing strategy since the country was experiencing a sharp spike of Covid-19 cases and was unable to meet demand.Secondly, the Ministry wanted to mitigate the exorbitant freight charges by utilising the Vice President and Minister of Health and Child Care chartered plane. The plane was in China and coming back to Zimbabwe at no additional cost

I deny the allegation that I directed Natpharm to make a prepayment to Young Health Care Limited for the undelivered supplies contrary to the terms and conditions of the contract signed between Natpharm and Young Health Care Limited. The correct position is that Hon Prof Amon Murwira specifically stated that the payment should be for the items delivered, of which US$127 000 was to be paid out of the US$922 000 stipulated in the contract. The directive was given in the presence of the Permanent Secretary for Health and Child Care, Mr Z Nyabadza and myself, and was done in the office of Hon Murwira.

Analysts have already urged President Mnangagwa to suspend Dr Mangwiro while ZACC is actively investigating his involvement in the scandal.-statemedia

By A Correspondent- Daring thieves reportedly stole the perimeter wire at Matabeleland North Provincial Heroes Acre in Lupane.

The development was confirmed by the National Museums and Monuments of Zimbabwe (NMMZ) director Dr Godfrey Mahachi who said:

I haven’t gotten a full report but I am disappointed that you get people with no respect like that. How can someone go to a provincial shrine and steal fence? This shouldn’t be happening at all.

We thought we had moved a step in the right direction only to get people who don’t understand the value of such monuments. We will have a team from Bulawayo museums to go and assess the situation

The province’s war veterans leadership Sonny Mguni said they will go to assess the damage at the Matabeleland North Provincial Heroes Acre:

We got a report from our people on the ground and we will be going there on Friday to assess the situation. That fence was donated by a businessman from Umguza to protect the shrine and we were excited by the development not knowing some people will steal it.

No arrest has been made as yet but we suspect people from nearby villages but we will wait for police to do their job hoping that the suspects will be nabbed soon.

We are told they cut the whole side and my fear is we will once again have a situation where cattle and goats damage the graves

The fence that was stolen by the thieves had been sourced from well-wishers in Umguza District who were concerned about the state of the shrine and donated the fencing material to secure the shrine.-statemedia

The Department of Immigration has advised the Government to consider formalising two proposed borders with South Africa to relieve pressure on Beitbridge and curb irregular migration and smuggling along the border’s flanks.

Beitbridge is the only land border with South Africa and two more tourism borders have been proposed at Shashe (120km west of Beitbridge town) and at Tshituripasi some 125km east of the border town.

One house (for immigration officials) and a road have been constructed at Shashe, while a road has been constructed and land for housing has been cleared at Tshituripasi.

Shashe was created in 2007 to facilitate groups of tourists during the Wildrun and the Tour de Tuli that are held annually.

Tour de Tuli attracts 500 visitors, while Wildrun attracts 80, all from across the globe and the events are usually held three months apart.

Assistant Regional Immigration Officer-in-Charge of Beitbridge, Mr Nqobile Ncube, made the call during a recent visit by parliamentarians from the committee on Defence, Security and Home Affairs.

He said though the sites were identified a decade ago and initial bilateral engagements had been done, nothing much had happened on the ground.

Mr Ncube said the borders should be set up in the mould of Maitengwe, Mpoengs and Mlambapele, which Zimbabwe share with Botswana.

He said the creation of such ports that can be manned by a few officers will help to reduce smuggling and irregular migration (border jumping).

“We are concerned with cases of illegal crossing on the flanks of the legal border (Beitbridge),” said Mr Ncube. “Such a scenario is not good in terms of security and the country being able to collect revenue through imports/exports which are leaking via the many non-formal entry/exit points.”

Mr Ncube said in some instances, those living along the border areas did not see the need to travel for more than 100km or 200km to gain legal access to a place, which is just across the river.

He said such a reality could not be overlooked,hence the need to formalise the already existing points, which can open on specified times to cater for all those travelling on family or tourism-related business in those areas.

The two borders, he said, will help boost arrivals of tourists, with the Shashe point catering for people visiting the Greater Mapungubwe Trans-frontier conservation area which coversBotswana, South Africa, and Zimbabwe (west of Beitbridge).

“The Tshituripasi border will take locals, traffic to other western parts of Zimbabwe and to the Greater Limpopo Trans-frontier Conservation Area, which involves Mozambique, South Africa, and Zimbabwe,” said Mr Ncube.

“We have had to use these borders during major annual tourism events, albeit on a temporary basis and that has been done successfully. We have seen it, we can manage. This will be a relief to Beitbridge, which clears half a million people every month.”

Correspondent

MDC-T secretary-general Douglas Mwonzora has said Job Sikhala’s continued presence in Parliament is not a sign the party leadership feared him.

He made the remarks while addressing journalists in Harare Monday.

Mwonzora was responding to a question on whether his party was being selective in recalling MDC Alliance MPs and councillors since there are some public officials still loyal to MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa who are in office.

Sikhala, who is the Zengeza West MP and MDC Alliance vice-chairperson, is one of the officials who have remained loyal to Chamisa despite some threats by Mwonzora they risked recalls.

“We are not afraid of Mr Sikhala. He does not bite and he is a person who holds certain views, some very strongly and we do respect some of his views,” said Mwonzora.

“We do not know, he is yet to tell us the membership of his party, we have not seen the affidavit he signed renouncing the party (MDC-T).

“All members of our party who commit acts of misconduct will be dealt with in a fair manner, they will be afforded the right to be heard but if you leave the party for example by signing the affidavits which were drafted by the MDC Alliance lawyers, they would have expelled themselves.

“Those affidavits specifically stated that these people were no longer members of the MDC-T and if you specifically state that you are no longer a member of the MDC-T, you would have expelled yourself.”

Mwonzora has wielded his axe on over 20 MDC Alliance MPs and dozens of councillors he claims signed affidavits renouncing their membership to MDC-T in favour of the Chamisa-led faction.

The whole drama emanates from a March 2020 Supreme Court ruling that nullified Chamisa’s presidency and ordered an immediate return to party 2014 structures before an extraordinary congress meant to select late party leader Morgan Tsvangirai’s successor.

By Dorothy Moyo| Shiny back shoes, a grey suit, clean attire, women and men there, sat down listening and bang, there stands the man from the capital city, fully suited and booted – he wears spectacles, and confidently proceeds on, addressing his crowd.

Before his countenance it is a crowd, massive maybe, or perhaps more blastive? There are 8 women sat there, and the 9th, wears ZANU PF regalia. And then on his left side, is a group of men, identity not revealed. The crowd is large up to the number not exceeding 15, and they are all listening to the one important person, a leader who’s traveled from Harare.

A crestfallen Douglas Mwonzora left Masvingo Province in agony after addressing 15 people, including himself at a rally in Chivi Central Constitutiency at the weekend.

Mwonzora who was hoping to address hundreds of members of the MDC T 2014 structures was stunned when he found himself addressing a paltry gathering in Chivi.

Mwonzora also addressed a poorly attended meeting in Masvingo Urban Constituency.

The individuals who attended the meeting are not Congress delegates, it has emerged.

“Mr Mwonzora’ s bid to address hundreds of members of the MDC T 2014 structures hit a snag.

His meetings were poorly attended,” a source told ZimEye.com.

MDC-T structures voted into office at the 2014 congress are reportedly backing the embattled Nelson Chamisa to take over the party’s leadership from Thokozani Khupe who was installed by the Supreme Court.

According to sources within the MDC-T, the elected party structures want an extra-ordinary congress to be held as quickly as possible to settle the leadership crisis.

“I can tell you that those who were in 2014 structures are not happy with Mwonzora and Khupe who seem to be worried about their personal benefits. As it stands, we are all convinced that only Chamisa can lead the MDC,” the sources said.

However, the party has since fired Chamisa on allegations that he had formed a separate entity called the MDC Alliance.

In March this year, the Supreme Court ruled that Chamisa was an illegitimate leader of the party as his ascendency to the throne was illegal following the demise of Morgan Tsvangirai in 2018.

Sources said supporters were unhappy with how the party affairs were being run as the current secretary general, Mwonzora, and interim president, Khupe, were battling each other to control the structures.

“People were used by those who wanted to feed their families and they are forgetting that we are struggling for a better Zimbabwe,” the sources added.

“That one is a fly by night party that will not last for six months because the people are hungry for money and they can do anything. One important issue is that they seem to be used in the matrix for destroying the opposition.”

The party’s national chairman Morgan Komichi and national organising secretary Abednico Bhebhe have reportedly backed the move by the structures to have Chamisa lead the party.

Bhebhe, in a response to a court application by two members who are asking for information about the congress, has challenged Khupe to release details about the extra-ordinary congress as well as declaring the party’s financial status.

Komichi, who is another respondent in the application is yet to file his papers at the court.

He, however, declined to comment on the matter.

Party spokesperson Khaliphani Phugeni said: “I will first look into that before I give a comment. What I am sure of is that everything is going well in the party and we are not looking back, we are going forward.”

– The Zimbabwe News Live

State Media

HEALTH and Child Care Deputy Minister Dr John Mangwiro has denied interfering in the bidding process for the supply of Covid-19 related materials by Young Health Care to the National Pharmaceutical Company (Natpharm) saying he only convened a meeting at night in August this year to establish what was causing delays at a time when infections were surging.

In a statement released yesterday, Dr Mangwiro described allegations that he abused office in the awarding of a contract to Young Health Care Limited for the procurement of Covid-19 supplies as malicious, mischievous and calculated to cause alarm, despondency and sensationalise the public.

“It is not correct that I interfered with the bidding process. On August 14 2020 at around 2100 hours I received a phone call from the Hon Vice President and Minister of Health and Child Care. He wanted me to get an update on what was causing the delays to the procurement of the Covid-19 requirements.

“I could not sleep over an emergency and as such I called (acting Natpharm managing director) Mr Zealous Nyabadza to urgently convene a meeting to appraise me on what was causing the delays. I attended the meeting on August 14 2020 in the company of MoHCC legal advisor Ms S Chikati. The adjudication process had already been completed on August 13 2020. I did not attend the meeting to review any tender processes as this had already been completed.

“I informed the meeting that I wanted to get an update on the availability of the PCR Machine and PCR Test kits arising out of the bids. Mr Z Nyabadza explained that Young Health Care Limited had won the tender to supply some of the equipment,” said Dr Mangwiro.

The Deputy Minister’s statement comes as the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (Zacc) is investigating claims by a whistle-blower that he had personal interest in the awarding of a tender to Young Health Care and tried to arm-twist workers at Natpharm to award the tender without following due process.

Dr Mangwiro said his ministry did not give orders to Natpharm in the procurement processes, and that their intervention was to push for the expeditious delivery of the equipment since it was a health emergency.

“It is not correct that the MoHCC gave numerous directives to Natpharm Management to make a direct procurement of supplies from Young Health Care Limited which resulted in the delay of the procurement. The correct position is that by the letter dated 15 July 2020, the acting Secretary for Health and Child Care (Dr Gibson Mhlanga) wrote to Natpharm requesting purchase of Covid-19 PCR test reagents on urgent basis from Young Health Care Limited.

“The request was justified on two grounds. Firstly, the urgency was necessitated by a need to facilitate implementation of national testing strategy since the country was experiencing a sharp spike of Covid-19 cases and was unable to meet demand.Secondly, the Ministry wanted to mitigate the exorbitant freight charges by utilising the Vice President and Minister of Health and Child Care chartered plane. The plane was in China and coming back to Zimbabwe at no additional cost.”

Citing Section 33(1) of the Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets Act (PPDPA), Dr Mangwiro said the law does not prohibit a procuring entity to conduct direct procurement in cases of extreme urgency and those unforeseen by the procuring entity or where procurement requirement cannot be obtained in time in accordance to competitive bidding.

“I deny the allegation that I delayed the procurement.

“I wish to state that the delay was attributed to the conduct of the acting managing director for Natpharm Mr Nyabadza. By letter dated 21st July 2020 Mr Nyabadza clandestinely wrote to PRAZ (Procurement Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe) requesting that the tender be treated as a competitive international tender instead of a direct procurement

“Mr. Nyabadza did not communicate with the Permanent Secretary that Natpharm had opted to procure the equipment using a competitive procurement method instead of conducting a direct procurement method.

“The thinking of the Ministry was that Natpharm would apply for the authorisation from PRAZ for a direct procurement as requested by the Ministry, in line with Section 15(1) of the PPDPA Act. This is because from prior communication with Mr Nyabadza, he did not object to the Ministry’s request for a direct procurement from Young Health Care Limited,” he said.

On allegations that he usurped powers of the then Permanent Secretary of the Health Ministry Dr Mhlanga, the Deputy Minister said he only got involved because the accounting officer was not available during the emergency.

“The Permanent Secretary should have accompanied me to the meeting but he was engaged on other assignments. The Permanent Secretary was fully aware of the intended meeting since I had briefed him.”

Dr Mangwiro denied allegations that he ordered a prepayment to Young Health company saying it was the vice chairman of the Ad-Hoc Inter-Ministerial Taskforce on Covid-19, Professor Amon Murwira when he was acting Health Minister, who directed the payment of delivered items.

“I deny the allegation that I directed Natpharm to make a prepayment to Young Health Care Limited for the undelivered supplies contrary to the terms and conditions of the contract signed between Natpharm and Young Health Care Limited. The correct position is that Hon Prof Amon Murwira specifically stated that the payment should be for the items delivered, of which US$127 000 was to be paid out of the US$922 000 stipulated in the contract. The directive was given in the presence of the Permanent Secretary for Health and Child Care, Mr Z Nyabadza and myself, and was done in the office of Hon Murwira.”

A TSHOLOTSHO man who fatally head-butted his grandfather, who was also a village head, before stealing some groceries from him has been sentenced to 10 years in jail for culpable homicide.

Bulawayo High Court judge Justice Christopher Dube-Banda who was on circuit in Hwange last week found Thembinkosi Sibanda (33) not guilty of murder but guilty of a lesser charge of culpable homicide.

In his defence, Sibanda, who was represented by Ms Charity Manyeza of Ndove and Associates, said he had no intention to kill his grandfather, Fundani Ncube, who was 59.

Sibanda said he met and fought a stranger in darkness and only later realised that it was his grandfather.

He said he then took his groceries home for safekeeping because the deceased was drunk.

The two resided at separate homesteads in Sifungo Line, Mahlathini area in Tsholotsho and were both drunk on the fateful day after spending the day drinking beer together with other patrons at Bubude Business Centre.

Sibanda will serve an effective eight years after the judge suspended two years on condition of good behaviour.

Prosecuting, Mrs Martha Cheda said Sibanda followed his grandfather and attacked him.

“On the 26th of June 2019 the deceased was at Bubude Business Centre where he bought some groceries and thereafter went to a nearby bar to drink beer with the accused and two others. The deceased left the business centre at 10pm going home and was carrying his groceries.

“The accused followed the deceased and head butted him twice on the head below the left ear. The deceased fell to the ground and bled from nose and mouth. The accused took the deceased’s groceries and left the scene,” said Mrs Cheda.

Some villagers found the deceased’s lifeless body the following morning and at the crime scene was an okapi knife which Sibanda had dropped during the attack.

The villagers rushed the lifeless body to Bubude Clinic where Ncube was confirmed dead.

Villagers tracked foot prints from the crime scene to Sibanda’s homestead where the deceased’s groceries were recovered.

Sibanda was arrested and clothes he had been wearing the previous night were found with blood stains.-Chronicle

A FORM Four pupil at a Bulawayo school tested positive for Covid-19 resulting in her contacts who include her classmates, being forced to self-isolate at home.

The pupil is part of the exam classes pupils that resumed lessons on September 28 to prepare for Zimbabwe School Examination Council (Zimsec) examinations which are set to start on December 1.

The girl’s Covid-19 positive results were confirmed last Tuesday and school authorities immediately followed laid down measures meant to curb the spread of the pandemic.

The measures are part of the Primary and Secondary Education Ministry’s Standard Operation Procedures (SOP) guiding schools for safe reopening under the Covid-19 environment.

Officials at the school confirmed the case, highlighting that it could have emanated from the community.

The authorities said all health guidelines were followed and the pupil is recovering from home.

“We are pleased to note that the pupil is at home and doing fine. She was tested at one of the public hospitals in Bulawayo and was advised to isolate.

Staff members and other learners who were in contact with the learner were tested and so far, we have not encountered any further Covid-19 related challenges at the school. The school continues to observe Covid-19 prevention guidelines as outlined by the Ministry of Health and Child Care,” said the official.

Bulawayo acting provincial medical director Dr Welcome Mlilo said health officials were working with the school to ensure the situation is properly managed.-Chronicle

Farai Dziva|MDC Alliance Youth Assembly National Spokesperson, Stephen Sarkozy Chuma has dismissed utterances made by Mr Kembo Mohadi on what the latter described as the new dispensation’s remarkable achievements.

Mr Mohadi boasted of what he described as significant achievements of the new dispensation.

Chuma has challenged Mr Mohadi’s assertion, pointing out that Mr Mnangagwa’s deputy is a “pathological liar.”

Read full statement below :

19-10-2020

Kembo Mohadi’s ridiculous assertion that country’s fortunes have become better under Emmerson Mnangagwa’s regime clearly exposes high levels of insincerity and pathological lies of this so called ‘new dispensation’.

Certainly Mohadi cannot hide under the piecemeal and snail paced roadworks where nothing significant is happening except overhaul of the remaining tarred strip albeit without replacing it.

Mohadi suddenly forgets that from 1980 he was part of the old establishment that ruined the once breadbasket of Africa.

Maybe because of old age, the usually bedridden Mohadi is now suffering from serious Alzheimer’s dementia.

Is it not a public secret that life for the ordinary has gone from bad to worse under Emmerson Mnangagwa’s short reign?

From the education sector to health sector, there is crises everywhere and one wonders what positive rides does Kembo Mohadi refer to.

It is time ZANU PF leaders know that lies, delusions and insincerity can never solve the economic question.

Stephen Sarkozy Chuma
MDC Alliance Youth Assembly National Spokesperson

Farai Dziva|President Nelson Chamisa has described New Zealand Prime Minister’s victory as a sign of hope for the future.

See below President Chamisa’s congratulatory message to New Zealand Prime Minister, Jacinda Arden.

‪So humbling and refreshing to see how others in the world run clean, free and fair elections.‬

Huge Congrats to the young leader Jacinda Ardern and the Labour Party ‬on their landslide victory and re-election as Prime Minister of New Zealand.

PM Jacinda Ardern’s re-election shows she genuinely worked for the people in her last term.

We, in the whole world acknowledge the exemplary manner in which the young PM had shown exceptional leadership and in particular, how she handled Covid-19.

The composition of her Parliament, which includes our own from Africa, clearly shows her inclusive leadership.

We look forward to continued engagement based on our shared hope and vision for a just, happier and prosperous world. The future is young!

Farai Dziva| A crestfallen Douglas Mwonzora left Masvingo Province in agony after addressing 15 people, including himself at a rally in Chivi Central Constitutiency at the weekend.

Mwonzora who was hoping to address hundreds of members of the MDC T 2014 structures was stunned when he found himself addressing a paltry gathering in Chivi.

Mwonzora also addressed a poorly attended meeting in Masvingo Urban Constituency.

The individuals who attended the meeting are not Congress delegates, it has emerged.

“Mr Mwonzora’ s bid to address hundreds of members of the MDC T 2014 structures hit a snag.

His meetings were poorly attended,” a source told ZimEye.com.

Farai Dziva|Fearless human rights activist Namatai Kwekweza has dismissed the discourse indicating that Zanu PF is a party of patriots.

On the contrary Zanu PF bigwigs are haters of ordinary citizens, argued Kwekweza.

“Don’t get confused MaZimbo any party that gets into power and doesn’t work to ensure that ALL Zimbos are safe, secure and well governed is not a party of patriots.

Any party that abducts people and lies about it, is not a party of patriots. #ZimbabweanLivesMatter

Zanu Pf is just a political party. It is not the state. ZANU pf is not Zimbabwe and Zimbabwe is not ZANU PF. ZANU pf can not monopolize the definition of patriotism. Even in ZANU pf there are no patriots. That’s why our country has fallen. #ZimbabweanLivesMatter

ZANU PF is not the whole of Zimbabwe
Just because we are not ZANU PF members, doesn’t mean we hate Zimbabwe. Just because you are a ZANU PF member it doesn’t mean you love Zimbabwe. #ZimbabweanLivesMatter

ZANU PF people are some of the biggest haters of Zim and it’s people. Think abductions, looting, political violence, authoritarianism. 40years after independence Zimbabwe still looks like a growth point by world standards because of ZANU PF looting. These people don’t love Zim,” Kwekweza wrote on Twitter.

MASVINGO –MDC T Secretary General, Douglas Mwonzora has expelled Dusty Zivhaze, an MDC founding member who succumbed to ulcers on July 15, 2019 from the party.

An internal memo dated July 2, 2020 and signed by Mwonzora in possession of The Mirror affirms the expulsion.
Efforts to get a comment from Mwonzora were futile.

Zivhave, an MDC founding member died on July 15, 2019 at Checheche St Peters Hospital after battling ulcers. He was the secretary for information and publicity at his death.

The memo expels 34 members from Harare, Mash West, Manicaland, Mash Central, Chitungwiza, Bulawayo, Masvingo, Mat North and Mat South.

In Masvingo, the late Zivhaze was expelled together with provincial chairperson James Gumbi, Takanayi Mureyi and youth leader Philip Chingini.

“In terms of clause 5 (10)a of the constitution of the MDC party be their joining or supporting another party they have automatically terminated their membership of the MDC party led by the late Dr Richard Morgan Tsvangirai,” reads part of the memo.

Source:

Masvingo Mirror

Farai Dziva|MDC Alliance deputy national chairperson, Hon Job Sikhala, has said Mr Kembo Mohadi is a delusional and misguided politician.

Hon Sikhala was responding to Mr Mohadi’s assertion that Zanu PF will rule Zimbabwe forever.

Hon Sikhala also challenged Mr Chris Mutsvangwa to stop rambling about sanctions.

“We all heard Chris Mutsvangwa rambling about the stupidity of using sanctions as an excuse of failure.

They damned their Mugabe for using sanctions as the excuse for his failures. Those who told us about the stupidity of using sanctions as an excuse are in the same default mode today,” argued Hon Sikhala.

“This young Terrence Manjengwa is suffering for standing with me during my incarceration. He came to Court in solidarity with myself. They took him to jail… Pliz Free Terry.”

“Dear Kembo Mohadi. You are deluded to entertain your illusions that you will rule this country forever.

Although you call yourself junta, what you are saying will happen over our dead bodies.

Makajaidzwa kudzvanyirira vanhu. We are on this case as serious as you purport to be.”

The Thokozani Khupe led MDC-T has barred members of the nelson Chamisa led MDC-Alliance from attending its much-awaited Extra-Ordinary Congress (EOC) which has been slated for the second week of December.

The splinter group has been at loggerheads with the Chamisa’s led outfit over the control of the opposition party and tensions are at fever pitch.

Addressing the media Monday, the party’s Secretary-General said only bona fide MDC-T members are eligible to attend the congress and those who jumped ship to join other political formations will be barred from attending.

TelTrack
“The meeting emphasized that the extraordinary congress processes shall be open only to bonafide members of the MDC-T. All those who have joined, formed or are supporting other political parties, not the MDC-T have by operation of clause 5.10a of our constitution automatically terminated their membership of the party.

“Those who have been recalled were recalled on the basis that they ceased to belong to the party. They are not eligible to participate in the extraordinary congress processes. The meeting totally rejected the calls by G40 and leaders of the new MDC Alliance party for their members to attend the congress as this is simply designed to destabilise our extraordinary congress processes,” he said.

He added “Some people simply want to be stars in the absence of the sun. There is no sense in people who have already moved on and formed their own political parties to try to undermine the leadership of another political party.”

Mwonzora said the electoral processes of the congress will be conducted by an Independent Electoral Board to be appointed from local workers’ representative organisations both local and international including churches, civil society and prominent persons.

263chat

Zimbabwe’s secretary for Information, Nick Mangwana has dismissed as fake reports suggesting that the government will be closing schools due to an absence of teachers.

The message circulated on social media and attributed to Mangwana claimed that the government had succumbed o pressure as teachers continue with their industrial action and will close schools on 23 October. Read the doctored post:

All schools are to be closed on Friday 23 October with immediate effect because of the wild behaviour that students are doing at school in the absence of teachers (sic).

Moments after post was published online, Mangwana shared a screenshot of the post dismissing it as “a sick joke.” He said:

This is making rounds on WhatsApp, it is not legit. Just someone’s sick joke.

Teachers did not return to work when schools reopened on 28 September demanding the restoration of their 2018 salaries.

Teachers’ representative unions have said they stand ready to open, genuine dialogue with the government over the ongoing industrial action.

Eight unions released a joint statement expressing willingness to resolve the prolonged stand-off between workers and the employer. The statement read in part:

Teacher union leaders are ready to engage in meaningful dialogue any time from now to end the current logjam..

(The) Public Service Commission or the government should take teachers’ plight seriously and stop this tomfoolery of playing hide-and-seek with the lives of teachers in particular and of the innocent learners.

Teachers remain incapacitated as nothing has changed. This means our members will not be able to

report for duty anytime soon until the government faithfully engages teachers’ unions.

Teachers refused to return to school when schools were reopened on 28 September after they were prematurely closed in March when the country recorded its first coronavirus case.

They are vowing not to return to work if the government has not met their demands which include the restoration of their 2018 salaries when they were earning about US$500.

Like many other government workers, they are currently earning an equivalent of US$30 on average.

More: Daily News

Farai Dziva| A crestfallen Douglas Mwonzora left Masvingo Province in agony after addressing 15 people, including himself at a rally in Chivi Central Constitutiency at the weekend.

Mwonzora who was hoping to address hundreds of members of the MDC T 2014 structures was stunned when he found himself addressing a paltry gathering in Chivi.

Mwonzora also addressed a poorly attended meeting in Masvingo Urban Constituency.

The individuals who attended the meeting are not Congress delegates, it has emerged.

“Mr Mwonzora’ s bid to address hundreds of members of the MDC T 2014 structures hit a snag.

His meetings were poorly attended,” a source told ZimEye.com.

State Media

President Mnangagwa has met three ambassador-designates at State House in Harare this morning where the trio was bidding farewell to the Head of State.

Ambassador Charity Charamba

Ambassadors Charity Charamba who is going to Zambia, Johannes Tomana deployed to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Nancy Saungweme who is headed for Malawi — paid a courtesy call on President Mnangagwa where they were briefed on their roles and duties and what the President expects from them.

Ambassador Johannes Tomanahttps://tpc.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-37/html/container.html

The three said they were going to represent Zimbabwe, strengthen bilateral relations and also work on attracting foreign direct investment.

Ambassador Nancy Saungweme

The ambassadors are also expected to advance the engagement and re-engagement drive in pursuit of the Vision 2030 economic agenda.

Farai Dziva|President Nelson Chamisa has described New Zealand Prime Minister’s victory as a sign of hope for the future.

See below President Chamisa’s congratulatory message to New Zealand Prime Minister, Jacinda Arden.

‪So humbling and refreshing to see how others in the world run clean, free and fair elections.‬

Huge Congrats to the young leader Jacinda Ardern and the Labour Party ‬on their landslide victory and re-election as Prime Minister of New Zealand.

PM Jacinda Ardern’s re-election shows she genuinely worked for the people in her last term.

We, in the whole world acknowledge the exemplary manner in which the young PM had shown exceptional leadership and in particular, how she handled Covid-19.

The composition of her Parliament, which includes our own from Africa, clearly shows her inclusive leadership.

We look forward to continued engagement based on our shared hope and vision for a just, happier and prosperous world. The future is young!

By A Correspondent- The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) arrested more than 105 bogus police officers in the first eight months of 2020 for terrorising unsuspecting members of the public around the country.

In the same period last year, the ZRP arrested 130 impersonators of police officers, which led to an intensification of the fight against such crime.

The fraudsters committed various offences in the name of the uniformed forces with some of them wearing police regalia before going around suburbs in vehicles without number plates extorting and robbing people of their valuables.

In some instances, the bogus officers would man fake roadblocks where they would shake down motorists.

Of the more than 105 cases, 101 arrests have been effected with some of the culprits serving jail terms.

National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi told The Sunday Mail that the police force was worried by the trend.

“It is a worrying trend when people go on to commit such crimes because being in possession of a police uniform when you are not a member of the ZRP is an offence,” he said.

“These crimes are being committed nationwide. We are on high alert and ready to interrogate any suspicious ‘officers’ and deal with the culprits.”

While most of the culprits are believed to be getting old uniforms from deserters or stealing from serving officers, some bonafide law enforcement agents are reportedly loaning their uniforms to the culprits, who in turn pay a token.

According to Section 179 of the Criminal Law Codification and Reform Act, Chapter 9:23, impersonating a police officer, peace officer or public official is a jailable offence.

Asst Comm Nyathi urged members of the public to co-operate with local police stations and assist in identifying the culprits as they are usually known members of the community.

When confronted by police, members of the community should ask officers to identify themselves by producing police identity cards where necessary and should request to proceed to the nearest police station if there is a need, Asst Comm Nyathi said.-statemedia

By A Correspondent- Harare City Council has announced the closure of Mbare Musika Bus Terminus for renovation purposes.

The local government authority did not specify when the renovations will be complete. This comes after the government announced that intends to rehabilitate old suburbs in major cities.

We present below the HCC’s statement on Mbare closure.

CLOSURE OF MBARE MUSIKA BUS TERMINUS FOR RENOVATIONS ANC TEMPORARY USE OF ALTERNATIVE PICK UP AND DROP OFF POINTS.

2. Destinations not stated but fall on the same routes mentioned above will use the same pick-up and drop off points.

3. The temporary ranks shall only accommodate buses with COVID-19 compliance permits.

4. The City therefore implore travellers and bus operators to comply and take due care so as to maintain orderliness and the safety of the travelling public.

5. Council has designated temporary pick up and drop off points for intercity travel.

Farai Dziva| A crestfallen Douglas Mwonzora left Masvingo Province in agony after addressing 15 people, including himself at a rally in Chivi Central Constitutiency at the weekend.

Mwonzora who was hoping to address hundreds of members of the MDC T 2014 structures was stunned when he found himself addressing a paltry gathering in Chivi.

Mwonzora also addressed a poorly attended meeting in Masvingo Urban Constituency.

The individuals who attended the meeting are not Congress delegates, it has emerged.

“Mr Mwonzora’ s bid to address hundreds of members of the MDC T 2014 structures hit a snag.

His meetings were poorly attended,” a source told ZimEye.com.

Farai Dziva|President Nelson Chamisa has described New Zealand Prime Minister’s victory as a sign of hope for the future.

See below President Chamisa’s congratulatory message to New Zealand Prime Minister, Jacinda Arden:

‪So humbling and refreshing to see how others in the world run clean, free and fair elections.‬

Huge Congrats to the young leader Jacinda Ardern and the Labour Party ‬on their landslide victory and re-election as Prime Minister of New Zealand.

PM Jacinda Ardern’s re-election shows she genuinely worked for the people in her last term.

We, in the whole world acknowledge the exemplary manner in which the young PM had shown exceptional leadership and in particular, how she handled Covid-19.

The composition of her Parliament, which includes our own from Africa, clearly shows her inclusive leadership.

We look forward to continued engagement based on our shared hope and vision for a just, happier and prosperous world. The future is young!

Parliament is backtracking on its stance that Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga’s suspension of by-elections to fill vacant parliamentary and municipal seats was constitutional, saying the pronouncement was a mistake.

Jacob Mudenda, the National Assembly speaker, last week announced that Statutory Instrument 225A of 2020, issued by Chiwenga a fortnight ago suspending by-elections as long as Covid-19 remained a “formidable pandemic”, was unconstitutional.

The speaker was, however, singing from a different hymn book in an interview with The Standard where he insisted that the Parliamentary Legal Committee was yet to review the contentious statutory instrument.

Mudenda said the committee was only likely to come up with a position on the statutory instrument in two weeks’ time.
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“There are three statutory instruments that the Parliamentary Legal Committee is yet to consider so they did not pronounce themselves as to whether they were adverse or non-adverse,” he said.
“We explained that later on because there was confusion. It appeared as if the statutory instrument had recieved an adverse report from the Parliamentary Legal Committee. That was explained,” Mudenda said.
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“That statutory instrument and two others are still to be reviewed by the Parliamentary Legal Committee and they will meet probably in the next two weeks to pronounce their legal opinion.”

Mudenda had told Parliament that the committee had met and reviewed the statutory instrument and found it to be unconstitutional.

“The committee is of the opinion that the statutory instruments gazetted in the month of October are not in contravention of the Declaration of Rights or any other provisions of the Constitution of Zimbabwe except for the following statutory instruments:- Statutory Instrument 224 of 2020; Statutory Instrument 225 of 2020 and Statutory Instrument 225(a) of 2020. These three were not compliant with the constitution,” Mudenda said.

The statutory instrument issued by Chiwenga, who doubles up as Health and Child Care minister, was dismissed as unconstitutional by legal experts.

A group of citizens and the Elections Resource Centre have since approached the High Court seeking the reversal of the suspension of the polls.

The Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission last week criticised the suspension of the polls, saying it was not consistent with democratic principles.

The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) last month said there would be by-elections on December 5 to fill over 80 municipal seats and nearly 30 parliamentary seats left vacant after Thokozani Khupe’s MDC-T recalled MDC Alliance members that refused to dump Nelson Chamisa.

After the ban, Zec accepted the names of Khupe and 14 others that had been nominated by the MDC-T interim leader to replace Chamisa’s recalled proportional representation MPs, which gave way to their swearing-in, in Parliament on October 7.

But despite the ban, Zanu PF has been conducting primary elections throughout the country in preparation for the by-elections.

Legal experts say the ban does not hold water because Covid-19 cases have been on a decline in Zimbabwe.

The country has significantly opened up after a national lockdown was imposed in March to slow down the spread of the virus.

-The Standard

By A Correspondent- The Zimbabwean government has said it is building the country despite the presence of sanctions imposed on the Southern African country by Western powers on the turn of the millennium.

These remarks were said by Nick Mangwana the permanent secretary in the Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services as the country gears up for 25 October, the anti-sanctions day as declared by SADC.

Posting on Twitter this Monday, Mangwana said:

This year’s Anti-Sanctions theme is: RESILIENCE & SOLIDARITY IN A SANCTIONS ENVIRONMENT. -We are building this country – In spite of Sanctions. -We will achieve #Vision2030 – In spite of Sanctions. -We will meet citizens’ aspirations- In Spite of Sanctions #ZimSanctionsMustGo

Western states imposed the coercive measures on Zimbabwe following the controversial fast track land reform programme that was marred by widespread human rights violations.

Although the sanctions are allegedly “targeted on a few individuals” in the ruling ZANU PF and the army as well as companies they own, the Zimbabwean government and other observers claim that the measures have a spillover effect on the general populace.

Recently, law expert and leader of opposition National Constitutional Assembly, Professor Lovemore Madhuku said sanctions were not appropriate as a corrective measure.

This is happening when the ruling ZANU PF has over the years attributed the economic, humanitarian and political crises to sanctions imposed on the country.

Some say bad governance by the governing party is the leading factor in the demise of the once vibrant economy.-Twitter

NCA leader Lovemore Madhuku has spoken on his relationship with the then MDC-T led by the late Morgan Tsvangirai after the party participated in the COPAC constitutional making process.

Madhuku says he campaigned for MDC-T in the 2008 elections and still voted for Tsvangirai in 2013 respecting their close friendship though he had already made a decision to walk away from the movement.

Watch video loading below….

MDC Alliance spokesperson Fadzai Mahere has dismissed claims that the party is fighting over the Kuwadzana seat that fell vacant following the death of Mirriam Mushayi who was seconded by the MDC led by Professor Welshman Ncube as part of the Alliance agreement.

There are murmurings from the MDC who felt hard done by the failure to respect the Alliance agreement which would have seen the vacant seat filled in by someone from the same party, but Mahere said that is water under the bridge and cannot be respected anymore.

“The MDC Alliance is a unified political party that has long evolved from the Alliance Agreement. We are governed by unified electoral rules derived from the MDC Alliance Constitution,” said Mahere.

The MDC Alliance was an agreement of seven political parties who came together to contest the 2018 harmonised elections as a unit.

By A Correspondent- Tsholotsho magistrate Rogers Mawarire is in trouble after a Chiredzi woman Violet Chauke, who was severely bitten on the nose by a soldier lodged a complaint against him with the Judicial Services Commission (JSC) for obstructing the course of justice.

Chauke was bitten on the nose by Godfrey Chiwara (32) of the Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA), but Mawarire allegedly gave him a two-year sentence, which angered her as she hoped for severe punishment.

Chief Magistrate Munamato Mutevedzi confirmed receiving the complaint and promised to investigate the matter before action is taken.

“I can confirm receiving that complaint. We are going to investigate the matter and appropriate action will be taken,” Mutevedzi said.

According to Chauke, her nose was bitten off by Chiwara, a member of the ZNA who is attached to the demining regiment in Dumisa in Chikombedzi.

However, Mawarire sentenced Chiwara to two years in jail, of which six months were suspended for three years on condition that he does not commit a similar offence within that period.

The remaining 18 months were suspended on condition that the accused performed 630 hours of community service at Nyabira Police Station.

It is also alleged that Mawarire was transferred to Tsholotsho from Chiredzi after a series of complaints from members of the public.

Chauke was attacked by Chiwara after he borrowed $100 from her and failed to pay back. When she demanded her money, he became elusive. However, on December 23, 2018, she met him at Chikombedzi Police Station and a scuffle ensued, resulting in him biting off a chunk of her nose.

She was admitted at Chikombedzi Mission Hospital and treated for severe injuries and later transferred to a specialist doctor at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals in Harare for a plastic surgery which cost US$1 500.

She later sought medical attention in South Africa where she had a skin graft on the nose.

The matter dragged for two years after she reported it to the police who reportedly did not take action.

She also approached the late ZNA Colonel Overson Mugwisi and Lieutenant-Colonel Alphios Makotore in Harare, which led to Chiwara’s arrest before he appeared in court on July 29, 2020.

He was remanded out of custody to September 30, 2020.-Newsday

Freelance journalist Hopewell Chin’ono was back at the Harare Magistrates Court for routine remand following his arrest in July on charges of inciting public violence.

At the time of publishing, Chin’ono was still in court waiting for the Magistrate.

He was accompanied by his lawyers Douglas Coltart and Roseline Hanzi all from the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR)

Refresh this page for updates…

By Patrick Guramatunhu- Albert Einstein defined insanity as “doing the same thing over and over again expecting a different result.” 

He was right! What he should have said too, is how easy it is to fall into this trap especially when those would swear over others, claiming to know best, in fact are the insane who know fcuk all!

“Elections have become a problem that has sunk us into vicious violence, unreformed state institutions, political and economic strife. It is my desire to enlighten those that still believe in the politics of the ballot paper, that the system called Zanu-PF is a virus that cannot be cured by elections,” wrote Knowledge Hakata. 

“Zimbabweans by now should know that voting or not voting Zanu-PF will still find its way back to Munhumutapa building echoing the recent statement by Vice President Kembo Mohadi  who said “the junta regime is not going anywhere anytime soon”. Zanu-PF has mastered the art of manipulating the ballot in its favour for the past 15 years,”

Hakata, you cannot “enlighten” others on matters you have no clue what is happening yourself! 

Yes Zanu PF has rigged elections and stayed in power these last 40 years (not 15, as you say) with disastrous consequences to the country and people. But to attribute Zanu PF’s successfully rigging the elections all these years to “mastered the art of manipulating the ballot in its favour” is to completely miss the point. 

There have been many golden opportunities to stop Zanu PF rigging the elections. One must ask, why these opportunities were wasted?

The best chances to end the Zanu PF dictatorship were during the 2008 to 2013 GNU. Morgan Tsvangirai and his MDC fiends failed to implement even one democratic reform in 5 years of the GNU. Not even one! 

Mugabe bribed Tsvangirai and company with the trappings of high office and, with their snouts in the feeding trough, they forgot about the reforms. 

Of course, it is foolish to keep complain about Zanu PF mastery in rigging elections when, given a golden opportunity to stop the rigging, you sell-out.  

“The system called Zanu-PF is a virus that cannot be cured by elections!” Hakata proclaims. He was quick to rule out elections as the cure of this super duper novel virus but failed to proscribe the cure. 

The truth is there is absolutely nothing special about Zanu PF. It is a party of corrupt, incompetent, vote rigging and murderous thugs. Plus whatever other attributes some people have assigned to the thugs. The bottom line is, these Zanu PF thugs are above all else fallible mortals and not the invincible demigod, the incurable virus.

If the MDC idiots had implemented the democratic reforms when they had the golden opportunity to do so; the 2013 elections would have been free, fair and credible. Zanu PF’s reign of terror would have been brought to a screeching end!

By participating in flawed and illegal elections, MDC and the rest of the opposition opportunists are giving the electoral process credibility and, by extension, the vote rigging, per se illegitimate, Zanu PF legitimacy. They continue to participate out of greed; Zanu PF is giving away a few gravy train seats as bait. These opposition politicians know this to be so.

“The worst aspect for me about the failure to agree a coalition was that both MDCs couldn’t now do the obvious – withdraw from the (2013) elections,” wrote Senator David Coltart, in his Book.

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

Zanu PF thugs are not smart, the exact opposite as their track record shows. Zimbabwe would not be the failed state it is if Mugabe and company had the common sense. The country’s economic meltdown has not spared the Zanu PF ruling elite; the party is imploding because the party thugs are fight each other, like hyenas, over the ever shrinking national cake. 

We have failed to end the Zanu PF dictatorship, regardless of the glaring weaknesses of the party thugs, because the men and women we have entrusted this task have themselves turned out to be breathtakingly corrupt, incompetent and sell-outs! 

One cannot claim to know and understand Zimbabwe politics by exaggerating Zanu PF thugs’ tyrannical powers, on the one hand. And, on the other, completely ignore the sheer stupidity of the sell-out opposition opportunists.   

As things stand, there is a real danger that Zanu PF will drag the nation over the edge into economic and political chaos comparable to that we see in Libya and Syria. We have failed to bring about peaceful and democratic change and now we face violent change complete with all the death and destruction that entails. 

Yes, Mnangagwa and his cronies will rightly blamed for dragging the nation into this mess and, if nothing is done to end the dictatorship, beyond the point of no return.  But Tsvangirai et al must too be held to account for the many wasted opportunities to end the dictatorship. 

It is easy to see why Zimbabwe has been caught in this nightmare of rigged elections and bad governance for 40 years and counting –  there has been very little intellectual discourse to ascertain what is going on much less what to do about it. It does help when the few loud voices to be heard are other Zanu PF propagandists or opposition apologists who pretend to know everything but, actually, know precious little.

By A Correspondent- A ZUPCO bus overturned along Lytton Road in Harare on Saturday and 21 passengers were injured in the accident.

The bus belonging to Changu Logistics but contracted by ZUPCO was on its way to the CBD from Kambuzumba/Rugare when the accident occurred.

The accident was confirmed by ZRP National spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi who said the driver failed to negotiate a curve which caused the bus to overturn:

The driver of the Changu bus contracted to Zupco had 21 passengers on board. On approaching a curve near Rugare traffic lights along Lytton Road, the driver lost control of the bus and it veered off the road before overturning once. Police were called in. The injured were taken to Sally Mugabe Hospital for treatment.

Assistant Commissioner Nyathi said the bus was taken to Vehicle Inspection Department (VID) for inspection. A few weeks ago another ZUPCO bus at the Mupedzanhamo traffic lights rammed into 8 cars and injured 10 people including vendors selling their wares by the roadside.

Some people have questioned the fitness of the busses contracted by the government to ferry passengers through the urban transportation scheme introduced by the government last year after the January protest.-StateMedia

By Jane Mlambo| Former cabinet minister who is now in self imposed exile, Walter Mzembi has warned MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa against participating in the 2023 elections without reforms, saying they will be rigged in favor of Zanu PF.

Responding to Chamisa’s tweet where he congratulated New Zealand Prime Minister on his re-election, Mzembi was quick to draw parallels with Zimbabwe’s political terrain which he said is being run by the military who have taken control of the ruling Zanu PF party.

“A Military Junta will not hold free & fair elections or guarantee them , Zim is the only country in the world where the Military have captured a Political Party , Zanu PF. Should we expect a fair contest ? 2023 without Reforms is a fallacy, Vanokubira futi!,’ said Mzembi.

Chamisa had posted the message below;

“So humbling and refreshing to see others holding clean,free and fair elections.Huge Congrats to @jacindaardern and @nzlabour on a re-election as New Zealand PM. Looking forward to continued engagement based on shared hope and vision for a just, happier and more prosperous world.”

Mzembi has previously formed a political party in exile before jumping off it, to claim that he is still a member of Zanu PF together with another self exiled former cabinet minister Savior Kasukuwere.

By A Correspondent- In a very unfortunate turn of events, extra lessons students who were learning at their teacher’s house will rue the day they decided to gossip about their teacher’s love affair with his neighbor while his wife was listening in on their conversation after their conversation led to their teacher’s wife assaulting the alleged mistress.

The matter came to light in court where a nurse at UBH Precious Sibanda-Makowe (36) stood accused of assaulting her husband’s mistress Pretty Moyo (32) who both reside at the same compound at Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo Airport compound.

Sibanda-Makowe pleaded guilt to the charges of assault and said she committed the offense out of anger after she got home only to find the extra lessons students discussing the affair between her husband and his mistress who reside at the same compound. She said she confronted Moyo and she confirmed the affair between the 2.

It is the state’s case that: On 2 October 2020 around 1645 hours at M 18 JMN Airport compound, the accused person approached the complainant at her place of residence. She enquired if she was having an affair with her husband.

A misunderstanding ensued and the accused person picked up an empty soft drink bottle and hit the complainant on the face before punching her with clenched fists on the face. The complainant sustained a swollen left eye, bruises on the lower lid of the left eye and forehead.

Sibanda Makowe was jailed for 30 days and given an option to pay $1000 for her offense. Leaners have been out of school since 24 March 2020 due to the ongoing pandemic, when schools reopened on 28 September, teachers are on strike as they are citing incapacitation which has forced many parents to opt for the extra lessons route.-statemedia

By A Correspondent- A Chipinge man, who killed his brother in a scuffle over a goat has been slapped with a 25-year jail term by High Court judge Justice Isaac Muzenda.

It is the State’s case that on October 16 last year, the convict, Tawanda Hlahla (25) had a misunderstanding with his elder brother Sifiso.

The court heard that the convict slaughtered Sifiso’s goat.

During the same week, Sifiso questioned his younger brother about his goat and a misunderstanding ensued.

The convict struck the nowdeceased with a machete once on the back of his head.

Sifiso bled profusely from the wound and died upon admission at Chipinge Hospital.

PARLIAMENT is backtracking on its stance that Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga’s suspension of by-elections to fill vacant parliamentary and municipal seats was constitutional, saying the pronouncement was a mistake.

Jacob Mudenda, the National Assembly speaker, last week announced that Statutory Instrument 225A of 2020, issued by Chiwenga a fortnight ago suspending by-elections as long as Covid-19 remained a “formidable pandemic”, was unconstitutional.

The speaker was, however, singing from a different hymn book in an interview with The Standard where he insisted that the Parliamentary Legal Committee was yet to review the contentious statutory instrument.

Mudenda said the committee was only likely to come up with a position on the statutory instrument in two weeks’ time.

“There are three statutory instruments that the Parliamentary Legal Committee is yet to consider so they did not pronounce themselves as to whether they were adverse or non-adverse,” he said.

“We explained that later on because there was confusion. It appeared as if the statutory instrument had recieved an adverse report from the Parliamentary Legal Committee. That was explained,” Mudenda said.

“That statutory instrument and two others are still to be reviewed by the Parliamentary Legal Committee and they will meet probably in the next two weeks to pronounce their legal opinion.”

Mudenda had told Parliament that the committee had met and reviewed the statutory instrument and found it to be unconstitutional.

“The committee is of the opinion that the statutory instruments gazetted in the month of October are not in contravention of the Declaration of Rights or any other provisions of the Constitution of Zimbabwe except for the following statutory instruments:- Statutory Instrument 224 of 2020; Statutory Instrument 225 of 2020 and Statutory Instrument 225(a) of 2020. These three were not compliant with the constitution,” Mudenda said.

The statutory instrument issued by Chiwenga, who doubles up as Health and Child Care minister, was dismissed as unconstitutional by legal experts.

A group of citizens and the Elections Resource Centre have since approached the High Court seeking the reversal of the suspension of the polls.

The Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission last week criticised the suspension of the polls, saying it was not consistent with democratic principles.

The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) last month said there would be by-elections on December 5 to fill over 80 municipal seats and nearly 30 parliamentary seats left vacant after Thokozani Khupe’s MDC-T recalled MDC Alliance members that refused to dump Nelson Chamisa.

After the ban, Zec accepted the names of Khupe and 14 others that had been nominated by the MDC-T interim leader to replace Chamisa’s recalled proportional representation MPs, which gave way to their swearing-in, in Parliament on October 7.

But despite the ban, Zanu PF has been conducting primary elections throughout the country in preparation for the by-elections.

Legal experts say the ban does not hold water because Covid-19 cases have been on a decline in Zimbabwe.

The country has significantly opened up after a national lockdown was imposed in March to slow down the spread of the virus.

By A Correspondent- Staffers at Harare Hospital (Sally Mugabe Hospital) and Chitungwiza Hospital are reportedly taking bribes from desperate travelers wishing to travel out of the country and issuing them fake COVID-19 certificates without conducting tests, The Heralds.

The syndicate which reportedly involves laboratory staff, nurses, and security guards at both hospitals is charging between $20 and $40 for a test that usually costs anything between $60 and $70 at approved laboratories.

The matter came to light when the publication embarked on an investigation following a tip-off. 4 reporters were deployed to both hospitals where they discovered they could obtain the COVID-19 certificates from the syndicates.

The reporters managed to get the COVID-19 free certificate from the syndicate without being tested and after just paying $20.

When contacted for comment the Deputy Health Minister Dr. John Mangwiro said those who are involved in the scandal will face the full wrath of the law:

I am now liaising with the permanentsecretary so that we start conducting investigations.-statemedia