The opposition MDC Alliance has set a very high bar against ZANU PF in terms of holding internal elections as the party went through very peaceful and organised primary elections in Kuwadzana Constituency ahead of the forth coming by elections.
The party opened polling stations early Sunday morning with thousands of party members expected to cast their votes by 4pm when polling closes.
The opposition party used the the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission 2018 elections voters roll with about ten polling stations set up in the constituency.
Last week, the ruling ZANU PF primary elections in the same constituency were marred with chaos and violence which forced the ruling party to postpone the primary elections.
There were running battles as people fought over money which was being splashed by one of the candidates, former Kuwadzana MP Betty Kaseke, using runners.
Trouble started when those who were handling the money in some of the groups did not give it out,
Kaseke reportedly went to the commissariat department where she managed to convince the people manning the office to give her the cell lists (voters’ roll).
She took them away and allegedly added some more names and deleted others which forced the party to resort to using the Zec voters’ roll which was rejected by President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
The Nelson Chamisa led MDC Alliance is this sunday holding primary elections in Kuwadzana Constituency in preparation for the by election to replace the late Miriam Mushayi.
The by elections reported to have been going on smoothly at the time of writing come amidst a heated contestation on who should represent the party in the by-elections, with members of the Welshman Ncube’s MDC declaring that the seat be reserved for them as per a 2018 agreement.
The Ncube led partner in the Alliance had unanimously picked on former party spokesperson Kurauone Chihwayi to be the candidate believing on the strength of the Alliance Agreement which accorded the party the seat.
Chihwayi since withdrew his candidature after the party leaders opened up the seat for an open primary election to all members of the Alliance.
In a letter to the MDC Alliance secretary general, Chalton Hwende, Chihwayi expressed disappointment over the primary election order.
“I am strongly disturbed by the violation of a valid MDC Alliance agreement that expires in 2023, which gave the seat to the MDC led by Prof Welshman Ncube.
“As such, I expected the MDC to elect or choose one of its own to finish the term of office left by the late Hon. Miriam Mushayi,” Chihwayi said.
He further said there was no need for the MDC Alliance to hold primary elections in the constituency since the seat was reserved for his party when they signed the MDC Alliance agreement in 2018.
“I did not see the rationale of participating in a primary election with members of the then MDC-T in the MDC Alliance. I am a full member of the MDC Alliance by virtue of being a member of the MDC,” Chihwayi alluded.
He further said members of the then MDC-T should withdraw from the primary elections as a way of showing respect to the terms and conditions of the 2018 agreement.
The late Mushayi was a member of the MDC before her party joined the MDC Alliance in 2018 and with this, Chihwayi believes that the seat should remain in the hands of the then MDC until the terms of the Alliance expire in 2023.
Meanwhile, women in the “MDC Green,” as the Ncube party is nicknamed also demanded that the seat be seconded to a woman from their party as was the original internal arrangement within the party.
They suggested the name of Harare based member Ellen Shiriyedenga.
Results of the by election are yet to be published.
MDC Alliance Primary Elections are currently taking place in Kuwadzana. We have three Polling stations opened till 4PM. pic.twitter.com/EoX86235wJ
— Citizens' Coalition for Change (@CCCZimbabwe) October 18, 2020
By Wilbert Mukori- “There are no imaginative skills on how to move the country forward internally and externally, be it economic and political in both the ruling party and the opposition of Nelson Chamisa,” wrote Nomazulu Thata, commenting on Professor Stephen Chan’s recent video interview.
Professor Stephen Chan is a blundering idiot masquerading as an intellectual. He has made many very serious blunders on Zimbabwe politics in the past and talked about one such blunder in his interview. He admitted to advising the British Secretary of State for Africa to attend Mnangagwa’s inauguration following the rigged July 2018 elections. He argued the British to give Mnangagwa a chance.
Other luminary personalities who had observed Zimbabwe’s July 2018 elections, notably Labour MP Kate Hoey, dismissed the elections as a farce and argued the international community not to give the illegitimate Zanu PF regime any support.
It was a great pity that the British government accepted Professor Chan’s advice and not that of MP Hoey. We, in Zimbabwe, have paid dearly for that blunder to this day!
I do agree with Professor Chan’s gloomy assessment of the sorry state Zimbabwe is in. He is right to say there is a lack of imagination, internally and externally, as what to do to get the country out of the mess. The irony is the solution has been hiding in plain sight all along; if only we would open our eyes and minds to see it.
The root cause of Zimbabwe’s economic and political crisis is the country’s failure to hold free, fair and credible elections. 40 years of gross mismanagement and rampant corruption have left the country’s economy in ruins. 40 years of stifled debate and democratic competition has forced quality out of public life leaving the field open to corrupt and incompetent individuals on both sides of the political divide.
We need to implement the democratic reforms to promote free debate and competition and to stop Zanu PF rigging the elections.
Since Zanu PF government will never implement the reforms, the party will never reform itself out of office, we must appoint an independent body that will implement the reforms.
Zanu PF must step down to allow the political space for the independent body that will implement the reforms.
“Zanu PF will never step down!” many have argued. Of course, they will step down; they have done is before already!
Zanu PF was forced to step down following the blatant cheating and wanton violence of the 2008 elections. The international community, included the usually reticent see nothing SADC and AU, refused to endorse Zanu PF’s claim of electoral victory and legitimacy.
By participating in the July 2018 elections Zimbabwe’s corrupt and incompetent opposition parties gave the flawed and illegal process credibility and, by extension, the vote rigging Zanu PF regime some modicum of legitimacy. Just one of the many decisions proving the compete lack of quality and imagination on the part of Nelson Chamisa et al!
The EU, the Americans, the Commonwealth and all the other nations and organisations with any democratic credentials worth a spit condemned the July 2018 elections as a farce.
“The electoral commission lacked full independence and appeared to not always act in an impartial manner. The final results as announced by the Electoral Commission contained numerous errors and lacked adequate traceability, transparency and verifiability,” stated the EU Mission final report.
“As such, many aspects of the 2018 elections in Zimbabwe failed to meet international standards.”
Given such a damning report, the decision by Professor Chan and the British to let Mnangagwa off the legitimacy hook beggared belief and showed a complete lack of imagination.
The pressure on Zanu PF to stop down should have been brought to bear immediately following the rigged 31 July 2018. The pressure can still be brought to bear even now, the failure to revive the economy is putting Mnangagwa under renewed pressure.
Mnangagwa rigged the July 2018 elections confident he would go on to “rig” economic recovery. His “Zimbabwe is open for business!” clarion call has failed to attract the flood of investors. The corona virus pandemic has made a bad situation even worse, the crisis has now turned into a real tragedy.
Before the corona virus outbreak, 34% of the Zimbabweans were already living in extreme poverty; the number has surged upward.
Basic services such as health care and education have all but collapse because of decades of poor funding. Teachers and health care personal have been on strike for months on end demanding a living wage and safe working conditions. All civil servants have just been awarded up 500% wage increase taking the pittance wage of the lowest paid teachers from US$30 to 157 pm. The PDL in Zimbabwe is US$650 pm.
With inflation already at 838% year on year, the wage hike will be eroded away within a few months and everyone will be out of strike again.
With more than a third of the population living in extreme poverty, no health care service, no education for the children, etc. Zimbabwe’s future is bleak. And as long as the country remains a Banana Republic, a pariah state, ruled by corrupt, incompetent and vote rigging thugs; the situation will only get worse.
Zimbabwe could have been saved from this tragic end if only Zanu PF had been stopped from turning the country into a pariah state. The country can still be save from sinking even deeper into this man-made hell-on-earth by implementing the democratic reforms designed to end the curse of rigged elections.
Only that is needed is the courage and resolve to demand that the illegitimate Zanu PF regime steps down and stop holding the nation to ransom.
Yes, Professor Chan is right, there really is shocking lack of imagination here. When a corrupt, incompetent and, for all intend and practical purposes, braindead thug like Emmerson Mnangagwa is viewed for 40 years and counting as an all powerful demigod; there is a daft lack of imagination all round.
By A Correspondent | AS ZIMEYE.COM INVESTIGATES – the family of the murdered 7 year old MUREHWA boy, Tapiwa Makore, speak to ZimEye on Sunday expressing concerns on the speed with which the police are processing investigations to find the lad’s missing body parts, which include his skull…
THE late former MDC MP for Luveve Constituency in Bulawayo Esaph Mdlongwa, who was also father to South Africa based legendary music producer Oscar “Oskido” Mdlongwa who died last Wednesday evening at Mater Dei Hospital due to Covid-19 related complications was yesterday laid to rest at Luveve Cemetery in the City.
He was 78.
The burial, which was restricted to close family members was historic as it brought together the two splinter MDC parties presidents Dr Thokozani Khupe and Advocate Nelson Chamisa.
Mdlongwa who was the founding organising secretary of the MDC, was buried in accordance with the WHO guidelines on Covid-19.
Mdlongwa was elected as part of the first leadership of the opposition party in 1999- before its initial split in 2005- together with the late Mr Morgan Tsvangirai (president), the late Mr Gibson Sibanda (vice president), Professor Welshman Ncube (secretary general), Mr Gift Chimanikire (deputy secretary general), the late Mr Isaac Matongo (chairman), the late Mr Fletcher Dulini Ncube (treasurer general), Mrs Lucia Matibenga (women’s assembly), the late Learnmore Jongwe (spokesman) and Mr Nelson Chamisa (youth assembly).
He was elected as the MP for Luveve in the 2000 general election.
Both Thokozani Khupe and Chamisa were given an opportunity to address the gathering with Khupe being given a chance to address the main service at the Amphitheatre in the City Centre and Chamisa being given an opportunity to speak at the grave site.
Watch video downloading below as Khupe addresses the mourners.
By A Correspondent| The new political administration has managed to achieve milestones that the previous dispensation failed to make progress on during its entire tenure, Vice President Kembo Mohadi has said.
Addressing the ZANU PF Matabeleland South Provincial Co-ordinating Committee (PCC) in Gwanda Town yesterday, VP Mohadi said the country is on the right track under the astute stewardship of President Mnangagwa.
“We have done what the first dispensation did not achieve. The Beitbridge-Masvingo Road; Harare-Chirundu Road were done by the New Dispensation. In Chimanimani, where Cyclone Idai wreaked havoc and killed many people, new road networks have been constructed, new schools and housing units have been put up.
“Agricultural produce can now be taken to markets, and (in all this) we used our own resources and local expertise.”
Some critics, he added, had grimly projected up to one million deaths by June as a result of the coronavirus, but Government had managed to contain the pandemic to manageable levels.
VP Mohadi also took a swipe at party members who were involved in vote buying.
“When I was injured during the 2018 blast at White City Stadium, people took advantage of my incapacitation to use money to buy their way into the party. Now we have people who do not know what ZANU PF stands for because they were not groomed by the party,” he added.
The Vice President said although the country was feeling the effects of three successive droughts, Government has made sure no one dies of hunger.
“The Government is talking of Vision 2030, where we are saying we should have attained an upper middle-income economy by 2030; this is something which we are focused on.”
ZANU PF, he said, is committed to achieving its target of 5 million voters in 2023.-The Sunday Mail
By A Correspondent- Zimbabwe Anti Corruption Commission has opened an active investigation into the Health Deputy Minister Dr. John Mangwiro after it emerged that he held a meeting with National Pharmaceutical Company (Natpharm) and influenced them to award a contract worth US$5,6 million to supply COVID-19 sundries to an unregistered firm.
A report contained by ZACC says the Health Deputy Minister went to Natpharm at night and threatened them with dismissal if they failed to award the tender to an undeserving company called Young Health Care.
A report by ZACC which states that ZACC has opened an investigation to determine if the Heath Deputy Minister abused his office reads:
The Deputy Minister (Dr Mangwiro) also demanded that a purchase order be issued that same night. The adjudication team was picked from their homes around 2200 hours and were interrogated by the Deputy Minister until the early hours of the following day. The Deputy Minister threatened the team with dismissal for failing to award Young Health Care the contracts
Young Health Care Limited managed to deliver a paltry six percent of Nucleic Acid and another six percent of Transport Media but went on to request pre-payment for the awarded contract, including undelivered supplies contrary to the terms and conditions of the contract signed with Natpharm, which stipulates that payment should be made seven days after delivery (post-payment).
The Deputy Minister of Health and Child Care, Dr Mangwiro, reportedly insisted on pre-payment and tasked the technical team from laboratory and Natpharm procurement to visit Young Health Care Limited in their country office and verify available stock to compel Natpharm to make a pre-payment to Young Health Care Limited.
Given the extent to which the Deputy Minister was involved in the said tender process, indications are that he was acting in his own capacity and not on behalf of the ministry. The actions of the Deputy Minister signal a personal interest in the tender and this should have prompted him to declare his interest.
Analysts last week urged the government to suspend Dr. Mangwiro for his involvement in the tender.-statemedia
Kim Jong Un , Chairman of the State Affairs Commission of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, received a reply message from Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa, President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, on June 15 after he wrote to Mnangagwa in April on the occasion of Zimbabwe’s independence celebrations.
Mnangagwa sounds to be enticing the Koreans for an unspecified future relationship.
Mnangagwa as State Security Minister in the early eighties entices the North Koreans to train the notorious Gukurahundi soldiers who went on to kill over 20 000 Zimbabweans in the Matabeleland region.
The reply message reads as follows:
I acknowledge, with appreciation, receipt of your kind and thoughtful message on the occasion of the 40th Anniversary of the Independence Day of Zimbabwe.
Our two countries share a close historical relationship which continues to grow since Zimbabwe gained independence on 18 April 1980.
I look forward to closely working with you to strengthen bilateral relations and to further consolidate the bonds of solidarity that exist between our two countries, for the mutual benefit of both nations and peoples.
Please accept, Your Excellency, the assurances of my highest consideration.
Many countries in sub-Saharan Africa commit resources to promote agricultural innovations. This is based on the assumption that rural livelihoods are mainly agricultural and that the innovations will increase agricultural production and household income.
As resources come under pressure from growing populations and natural resource degradation, governments and donors want to see that agricultural research and innovation has an impact. They want to see “success” and “value for money”.
But success is understood in different ways. It depends on how it’s framed and by whom.
Studying conflict in agricultural innovations can lead to a better understanding of the appropriateness of certain technologies in terms of how they’re designed, promoted and how they’re linked to rural livelihoods.
Conservation agriculture in Zimbabwe provides a good example of an innovation like this. This approach to farming has been widely promoted by non-governmental organisations, research institutes and the state. It’s also promoted in other countries of eastern and southern Africa.
The method is based on minimal soil disturbance, mulching soil with crop residues, and crop rotation. These are meant to conserve moisture, reduce soil erosion and build up soil organic matter to improve crop yields and rural livelihoods.
We wanted to know how this innovation was promoted and implemented in Zimbabwe and how its “success” was framed and assessed. Our study found that there were differences in how farmers and promoters of conservation agriculture defined its success.
These differences matter when investments are made in promoting agricultural innovations. It’s particularly important to understand the diversity of rural livelihoods.
The research Our study was conducted in Gwanda and Insiza districts in south western Zimbabwe. Droughts are a common feature in the area, occurring on average every two or three years. We collected data via a household questionnaire survey, interviews and focus group discussions. Participants included farmers, NGO and government extension officers.
We found that innovation was understood by the majority of respondents as having three main attributes, namely, “novelty”, “adaptability” and “utility”. Despite novelty being mentioned more often than other understandings of innovation, some felt that it existed in theory and not practically.
For example, a farmer said interventions promoted in their communities weren’t new but rather repackaged existing technologies with different names. Some weren’t suitable for the area.
Conservation agriculture was identified as the innovation most often promoted by non-governmental organisations and government extension officers in the area. Huge investments were committed to promoting it – the Department for International Development set aside about US$23 million to promote it in Zimbabwe. Yet after the project’s three year lifespan, farmers mostly abandoned the practice.
The locals gave it the name “diga ufe”, which means “dig and die”, because it required so much physical labour. The manual digging of conservation basins during land preparation and the multiple weeding was labour intensive.
Farmers did find, though, that using the conservation agriculture techniques in their vegetable gardens yielded better results compared to bigger plots. Under crop production, farmers prioritised irrigated agriculture compared to rain-fed agriculture. Gardening was therefore identified as the second ranked important livelihood source after livestock production.
Respondents agreed that innovation was vital for sustaining food security and nutrition in the context of climate change. One farmer said innovation was about experimenting with resources at one’s disposal to come up with something new and suitable for the area. He also emphasised that innovation was a collective action that includes farmers, researchers, extension agents and the private sector. He said it was not only confined to new technology (hardware), but processes such as governance, that would yield positive results.
Climate smart crops such as sorghum, millet and cowpeas and climate smart livestock (goats and indigenous poultry) were identified by locals as potentially suitable in addressing dry spells in the area. But poor informal markets, limited bargaining power, shortage of grazing land, pests and diseases constrained productivity.
Diversifying out of agriculture was identified as an alternative response to climate change. It could boost the income of the household and help sustain food and nutrition security.
Government extension officers felt that innovations in the area should be targeted towards livestock production. The area’s semi-arid climate means it’s not conducive for rain-fed agriculture.
So, despite the efforts to promote conservation agriculture, dry land cropping was ranked as the lowest source of livelihood for rural people. People in the area prioritised livestock production. Promoting more livestock production related innovations would have been ideal for the area.
What does this mean for policy and innovations? Innovation can thrive in rural areas. But this depends on understanding the communities’ perceptions and livelihood context to appreciate their priorities.
Rural communities are dynamic and complex. Imposing innovations that don’t speak to the needs of these communities won’t achieve rural development. Our study showed the importance of developing innovations with communities as opposed to innovations for communities.
People in rural areas don’t lack capacity. They need support to utilise available resources and innovate in a flexible manner that’s context specific. They should be key players in coming up with solutions, since they have a better understanding of the challenges and opportunities within their communities.
THE late former MDC MP for Luveve Constituency in Bulawayo Esaph Mdlongwa, who was also father to South Africa based legendary music producer Oscar “Oskido” Mdlongwa who died last Wednesday evening at Mater Dei Hospital due to Covid-19 related complications was yesterday laid to rest at Luveve Cemetery in the City.
He was 78.
The burial, which was restricted to close family members was historic as it brought together the two splinter MDC parties presidents Dr Thokozani Khupe and Advocate Nelson Chamisa.
Mdlongwa who was the founding organising secretary of the MDC, was buried in accordance with the WHO guidelines on Covid-19.
Mdlongwa was elected as part of the first leadership of the opposition party in 1999- before its initial split in 2005- together with the late Mr Morgan Tsvangirai (president), the late Mr Gibson Sibanda (vice president), Professor Welshman Ncube (secretary general), Mr Gift Chimanikire (deputy secretary general), the late Mr Isaac Matongo (chairman), the late Mr Fletcher Dulini Ncube (treasurer general), Mrs Lucia Matibenga (women’s assembly), the late Learnmore Jongwe (spokesman) and Mr Nelson Chamisa (youth assembly).
He was elected as the MP for Luveve in the 2000 general election.
Both Thokozani Khupe and Chamisa were given an opportunity to address the gathering with Khupe being given a chance to address the main service at the Amphitheatre in the City Centre and Chamisa being given an opportunity to speak at the grave site.
Watch video downloading below as Khupe addresses the mourners.
Zimbabwe is still involved in high level squabbles on whether to go on with by elections originally set for the 5th of December because Health and Child Care Minister Constantino Chiwenga banned the elections due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
While Zimbabwe is still undecided, neighboring South African IEC says it has put measures in place to ensure the country’s by elections set for November “don’t turn into superspreader events.”
Voting was set down for March but had to be rescheduled for 11 November due to the coronavirus pandemic.
“Like most entities, we had to adjust we have to adjust activities to give voice to the people without turning election into superspreader event,” said Masego Shiburi, IEC deputy manager.
“There will be a slight varied voting process and we will enforce social distancing and provide PPE for our staff.”
The IEC says these by-elections will serve as a dress rehearsal for the 2021 local government polls.
It comes amid intense debate on whether the local government and general elections should be combined in 2024.
Chiwenga, who is also the Health Minister, early this month amended the 2020 Public Health Regulations and suspended all by-elections the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) had scheduled for 5 December citing the Covid-19 pandemic.
Last month, ZEC chairperson, Justice Priscilla Chigumba announced by-elections were to be conducted in December.
However, Chiwenga as the Health Minister announced that all by-elections had been suspended.
Meanwhile, parliament last week roped in to reverse Chiwenga’s ban which had been confirmed by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) saying that the election body had no legal basis to call off the by-elections based on the statutory instrument by Chiwenga that has not undergone parliamentary scrutiny.
In Parliament on Thursday, Speaker of Parliament Jacob Mudenda said statutory instruments can only be acted upon after the Parliamentary Legal Committee has issued a non-adverse report – which was yet to happen.
Dear Zimbabweans
By Hon Job Wiwa Sikhala, Zengeza West MP.
Terrence Manjengwa
When I was in prison one young man called Terrence Manjengwa, through pain of my incarceration and persecution came to attend my Court sessions at Rotten Row Magistrates Court. Poor fellows in chambers upon their heads which they call riot gear refused him entrance to come and follow proceedings of my case. These are penniless idiots who were used to intimidate all those who came to give me solidarity at Rotten Row Magistrates Court. Terrence resisted this injustice and told these idiots that there is no reason why they were refusing them the right to hear the proceedings of my case in the Court. I later found out that the video of their resistance against police bullism went viral when they were telling the useless idiots in chambers over their head on the entrance to Court to go to hell.
They arrested him for a charge of criminal nuisance. Since then he is now 50 days in remand prison with courts refusing to grant him bail on the grounds that he ashamed the State.
So stupid are grounds for refusing him bail that people tend to question themselves whether Zimbabwe still has any judiciary to talk about. Does anyone need to ashame a regime which is a shame itself.
I have now taken it upon myself to inform all embassies and important bodies about the injustice perpetrated upon this young man. He is just 26 years old. His wife was expecting and delivered a baby boy last week when the husband is in prison.
The nonsense of punishing people before trial must come to an end. How would a normal country with a properly functioning judiciary system honestly refuse an accused person bail for a charge of criminal nuisance. This must be brought to the world so that everything wrong with our state is exposed. This is what is called shaming oneself not what Terrence did. Release this young man as soon as possible. Otherwise I will sprink from the slumber. I don’t give empty threats. It’s not part of my DNA. Release Terrence Manjengwa. Stop doing this kind of nonsense in our country. On Tuesday I am going to address a Press conference concerning the abuse of this young man. Enough is enough.
When I was in prison one young man called Terrence Manjengwa, through pain of my incarceration and persecution came to attend my Court sessions at Rotten Row Magistrates Court. Poor fellows in chambers upon their heads which they call riot gear refused him entrance to come and follow proceedings of my case. These are penniless idiots who were used to intimidate all those who came to give me solidarity at Rotten Row Magistrates Court. Terrence resisted this injustice and told these idiots that there is no reason why they were refusing them the right to hear the proceedings of my case in the Court. I later found out that the video of their resistance against police bullism went viral when they were telling the useless idiots in chambers over their head on the entrance to Court to go to hell.
They arrested him for a charge of criminal nuisance. Since then he is now 50 days in remand prison with courts refusing to grant him bail on the grounds that he ashamed the State.
So stupid are grounds for refusing him bail that people tend to question themselves whether Zimbabwe still has any judiciary to talk about. Does anyone need to ashame a regime which is a shame itself.
I have now taken it upon myself to inform all embassies and important bodies about the injustice perpetrated upon this young man. He is just 26 years old. His wife was expecting and delivered a baby boy last week when the husband is in prison.
The nonsense of punishing people before trial must come to an end. How would a normal country with a properly functioning judiciary system honestly refuse an accused person bail for a charge of criminal nuisance. This must be brought to the world so that everything wrong with our state is exposed. This is what is called shaming oneself not what Terrence did. Release this young man as soon as possible. Otherwise I will sprink from the slumber. I don’t give empty threats. It’s not part of my DNA. Release Terrence Manjengwa. Stop doing this kind of nonsense in our country. On Tuesday I am going to address a Press conference concerning the abuse of this young man. Enough is enough.
Usual congestion at Beitbridge Border Post during festive season rush.
Immigration experts at Beitbridge Border Post have advised goverment not to fully open the port of entry probably until after the festive season.
Speaking during a tour of Beitbridge Border Post, team leader Mr Stewart Nyakotyo said engagements have been ongoing with stakeholders at the one of Africa’s busiest border.
“We have started engaging various stakeholders at Beitbridge border post to assess the resources, operations, proposals, state of manpower, proposed timeframes for reopening, current operational challenges and what they need to get things moving,” he said.
“After that we are going to have a practical feel on the ground of what they have and the shortcomings.
“We will then make recommendations to the National Covid-19 Taskforce, which will then merge our findings and recommendations with those from other teams.
During consultations, stakeholders proposed that Government should consider a phased reopening that begins with private vehicles. The immigration officer in charge of Beitbridge, Mr Nqobile Ncube, said:
“It is only prudent to go with the phased route considering the current state of affairs here, where we are battling with commercial trucks with South Africa having re-opened their borders.
“You will note that in 2019, we cleared 5,3 million people at this border, with 14 000 passing daily, and we could have more people if we open at full throttle considering that people have not been moving for over six months.”
He said successfully reopening land borders will depend on Government’s commitment and availability of resources to attend to all safety measures as proposed by stakeholders. Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) shift manager Mr Jericho Rundogo said current civil works to upgrade the border had left them with limited space to operate, prompting the need to stagger the reopening.
“Currently, we are using private cars and bus lanes to clear commercial cargo. Imagine what will happen if we open full scale? So our proposal is, let’s have small or private cars which are easy to manage to come through and we look at public transport after the festive season to avoid chaos,” he said.
French police officers stand guard a street in Eragny on October 16, 2020, where an attacker was shot dead by policemen after he decapitated a man earlier on the same day in Conflans-Sainte-Honorine.
PARIS – A French teacher who had recently shown students cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed was beheaded outside his school on Friday in what President Emmanuel Macron called an “Islamist terrorist attack”.
The assailant, whose identity has not been established, was shot by police as they tried to arrest him and later died of his injuries, police said.
The attacker shouted “Allahu Akbar” (“God is greatest”) as police confronted him, a cry often heard in jihadist attacks, a police source said.
French anti-terror prosecutors said they were treating the assault as “a murder linked to a terrorist organisation”.
The attack happened on the outskirts of Paris at around 5pm near the middle school where the teacher worked in Conflans Saint-Honorine, a northwestern suburb around 30 kilometres from the city centre.
The killing bore the hallmarks of “an Islamist terrorist attack”, Macron said as he visited the scene.
Visibly moved, the president said that “the entire nation” stood ready to defend teachers and that “obscurantism will not win”.
Four people, including a minor, have been arrested, a judicial source told AFP early Saturday. All were related to the assailant, the source added.
The victim was a history teacher who recently showed cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed as part of a class discussion on freedom of expression, police said.
A parent of a pupil at the school said the teacher might have stirred “controversy” by asking Muslim pupils to leave the room before showing the cartoons.
The teacher “simply said to the Muslim children: ‘Leave, I don’t want it to hurt your feelings.’ That’s what my son told me,” the parent said.
HEALTH and Child Care Deputy Minister Dr John Mangwiro
HEALTH and Child Care Deputy Minister Dr John Mangwiro allegedly railroaded the National Pharmaceutical Company (NatPharm), in dramatic events, including visiting the parastatal’s workers at night and threatening them with dismissal, to award a US$5,6 million contract to an “undeserving company” — Young Health Care.
This is contained in a Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (zacc) report which says the Deputy Minister had “personal interest” in the matter.
The investigation, conducted from August 31 to September 4 this year, looked into circumstances of how the Ministry of Health and Child Care handled a Covid-19 tender (NAT ITCB FWWK 04/2020) for the purchase of laboratory equipment, reagents and consumables.
The Sunday Mail recently reported that senior Government officials were allegedly caught with hands in the till over the Covid-19 materials procurement.
The alleged scandal was unearthed following a whistleblower’s tip-off in August.
Reached for comment, Dr Mangwiro said: “Sorry, I cant talk right now”, in a terse SMS response to The Sunday Mail, after his phone went unanswered.
According to the report, the commission recommended a further probe to check if the Deputy Minister criminally abused his office; possible violation of the Public Finance Management Act and Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets.
The suspected violations stem from allegations against the Deputy Minister that he ordered NatPharm to give Young Health Care a tender and advance payments before delivery of goods.
Dr Mangwiro, the zacc report says, usurped the duties of the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary through issuing countless directives to NatPharm.
Young Health Care, it emerged, was given a contract through a directive from then acting Permanent Secretary Dr Gibson Mhlanga, at a time when it was not even registered with the Procurement Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (Praz) as required by law.
NatPharm acting managing director, Mr Zealous Nyabadza resisted the alleged unlawful act by Ministry of Health and Child Care officials resulting in a public tendering process which was delayed to allow Young Health Care to register with Praz.
In part, the zacc report reads: “Initial quotation by Young Health Care for supply of commodities under direct procurement, where prices quoted by Young Heath Care Limited were exorbitant amounted to USD$5 600 000, which was coincidentally the same amount that was in the Ministry coffers, suggesting that the company had inside information.
“When NatPharm insisted on competitive bidding, Young Health Care Limited subsequently submitted a bid price of USD$3 600 000 for the same items. This saw a reduction of 36 percent in the price.”
The public tender was then done on August 7, 2020, with 22 companies competing for the contract.
zacc said Dr Mangwiro allegedly side-stepped and cajoled NatPharm top managers, at odd hours, to award the tender to Young Health Care before threatening the parastatal’s workers with dismissal if they acted otherwise.
“The Deputy Minister also demanded that a purchase order be issued that same night.
“The adjudication team was picked from their homes around 2200 hours and were interrogated by the Deputy Minister until the early hours of the following day. The Deputy Minister threatened the team with dismissal for failing to award Young Health Care the contracts,” reads the zacc report.
Young Health Care was then awarded a contract to supply goods worth US$124 630 instead of US$922 000 that had been demanded as advance payment.
The Zacc report says, “Young Health Care Limited managed to deliver a paltry 6 percent of Nucleic Acid and another 6 percent of Transport Media but went on to request pre-payment for the awarded contract, including undelivered supplies contrary to the terms and conditions of the contract signed with Natpharm, which stipulates that payment should be made seven days after delivery (post-payment).
“The Deputy Minister of Health and Child Care, Dr Mangwiro, reportedly insisted on pre-payment and tasked the technical team from laboratory and Natpharm procurement to visit Young Health Care Limited in their country office and verify available stock to compel Natpharm to make a pre-payment to Young Health Care Limited.”
This had a negative impact on the tendering process as the technical adjudication team did not carry out verification of supplies.
“Given the extent to which the Deputy Minister was involved in the said tender process, indications are that he was acting in his own capacity and not on behalf of the ministry. The actions of the Deputy Minister signal a personal interest in the tender and this should have prompted him to declare his interest,” the report said.
The tender was later cancelled due to the irregularities and will now be re-floated to allow deserving companies to supplies the much needed laboratory equipment, reagents and consumables for Covid-19.
Former Health and Child Care Minister Dr Obadiah Moyo was fired over his involvement in a US$60 million Covid-19 procurement scandal.
This comes after Health and Child Care Minister Constantino Chiwenga has declared zero tolerance to corruption in his ministry.
THE Vehicle Inspection Department (VID) will start conducting road tests and issuing driver’s licences from tomorrow after it closed in March due to Covid-19 induced lockdown.
Cabinet okayed the resumption of VID operations last month.
Since being given the nod to reopen, the department is understood to have been developing operating procedures and health protocols in line with Covid-19 guidelines.
Transport and Infrastructural Development Permanent Secretary Engineer Amos Marawa said that VID had finalised developing the procedures in line with the World Health Organisation (WHO) recommendations.
The guidelines were approved by Cabinet and the National Covid-19 Taskforce.
“VID has developed operating guidelines and standard operating procedures which are in line with WHO guidelines and were approved by the National Taskforce on Covid-19, and Cabinet.
“These will guide the operations of VID during the pandemic,” Eng Marawa said.
The ministry has since issued a circular to all depots instructing them to start conducting tests and issuing drivers’ licences from tomorrow.
Following the suspension of operations, Government extended the validity of provisional driving licences and defensive driving certificates by six months to give room for holders to remain eligible for testing.
Thokozani Khupe with Abednico Bhebhe and Thabitha Khumalo in good times.
MDC-T 2014 Organising Secretary Abednico Bhebhe has got interim leader Thokozani Khupe running around as he has delivered scathing attacks on her and party National Chairman Morgen Komichi through his court submissions.
Khupe, Komichi, acting secretary-general Douglas Mwonzora and Bhebhe were taken to the High Court by two party members Gilbert Kagodora and Nason Mamuse, who want them to be compelled to release key information ahead of an extraordinary congress to choose a new leader.
In a surprise move, Bhebhe turned against his collegues and filed an answering affidavit accusing Khupe, Komichi and Mwonzora of trying to manipulate the outcome of the congress.
Khupe, who initially signalled that she would not respond to the application as an individual, on Thursday got into full gear with an answering affidavit targeting Bhebhe and not the appellants.
She argued that Bhebhe was not qualified to speak on behalf of the party and should not be allowed to respond to the court application as an individual.
“The fourth respondent ought not to have been joined to these proceedings.
“He is not permitted by the constitution of the first respondent (MDC-T) to speak about the first respondent’s affairs in a court of law in respect of any functions assigned to him under the constitution,” Khupe said in her affidavit.
“He is accountable to me and the relevant organs of the party.
“If any issues arise from his official duties, he cannot be sued in a court of law.
“It is the party and its authorised officials who may sue or be sued on behalf of the party.
“He must be removed from these proceedings.
“I am advised that the fourth respondent’s papers do not comply with the law on notices of opposition.
“He is not opposing the basis of the application; he is adding his own grievances and has his own prayer.
“This is not permitted by our law. His papers must be expunged from the record.”
Bhebhe argued Khupe, Komichi and Mwonzora were deliberately eliminating some members of the 2014 Congress in order to twist the Congress in their favour. One of the key members of the MDC-T 2014 National Council is their big rival Nelson Chamisa who took over party leadership after the death of founding leader Morgan Tsvangirai.
Khupe has since indicated that she has fired Chamisa from the party.
A Supreme Court judgement in March nullified the appointment of MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa and ordered an extraordinary congress within three months.
The ruling said the party should revert to its 2014 structures with Khupe as acting president.
The MDC-T’s extraordinary congress is yet to take place and, according to Bhebhe, there were attempts to hold the national council and national executive meetings virtually, but in the process shutting out bona fide members of the party’s 2014 structures.
Bhebhe accused Khupe and Komichi of “direct and flagrant disregard” of the MDC-T constitution while “habitually and unilaterally” abusing the national standing committee by pushing through this committee decisions that are ordinarily in the province of the national executive and/or the national council meeting.
The decisions, Bhebhe said, included firing elected officials and members of the party 2014 structures without due process.
Parallel delegates have been positioned, according to Bhebhe, while his list has been sidelined yet he was in charge of the party structures.
Kagodora and Mamuse approached the courts after Mwonzora said MDC Alliance legislators and councillors that were recently recalled by his party would not be allowed to contest for positions at the congress despite them being in the party 2014 structures.
They are also demanding that before the congress is held, the party’s various internal organs must be involved.
The ruling ZANU PF party’s third in command, Second Vice President Kembo Mohadi has called, dogs, opposition parties and other proponents against the ZANU PF government.
Addressing government officials, among them Cabinet ministers, following a tour of infrastructure built under the Beitbridge Redevelopment Project, Mohadi said the “junta” would not be dislodged by “dogs barking at the rising moon”, in apparent reference to the media and opposition parties exposing the Zanu PF government’s inadequacies.
Mohadi also declared that Zimbabwe will, for a long time, remain under military rule because civilians had no capacity to enforce stability.
“People call us junta, the President (Emmerson Mnangagwa) is a war veteran, Vice-President (Constantino) Chiwenga is a soldier, I am a soldier, (Housing) minister (Daniel) Garwe here is a soldier and we will rule not minding what the media says. We will continue to rule. Civilians will not,” he said.
“Those of you who are like dogs barking at the rising moon, you can come back home because the moon will continue rising. There is nothing wrong in coming back home.”
His remarks came at a time the opposition MDC Alliance, which accuses Mnangagwa of rigging the July 2018 presidential election, has escalated its campaign for the international community to intervene and resolve the political logjam which has plunged the country in a crisis.
MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa claims that he won the presidential poll, but was denied a clear victory by Mnangagwa working in cahoots with the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission and the Constitutional Court which endorsed the Zanu PF leader as winner.
The new political administration has managed to achieve milestones that the previous dispensation failed to make progress on during its entire tenure, Vice President Kembo Mohadi has said.
Addressing the ZANU PF Matabeleland South Provincial Co-ordinating Committee (PCC) in Gwanda Town yesterday, VP Mohadi said the country is on the right track under the astute stewardship of President Mnangagwa.
“We have done what the first dispensation did not achieve. The Beitbridge-Masvingo Road; Harare-Chirundu Road were done by the New Dispensation. In Chimanimani, where Cyclone Idai wreaked havoc and killed many people, new road networks have been constructed, new schools and housing units have been put up.
“Agricultural produce can now be taken to markets, and (in all this) we used our own resources and local expertise.”
Some critics, he added, had grimly projected up to one million deaths by June as a result of the coronavirus, but Government had managed to contain the pandemic to manageable levels.
VP Mohadi also took a swipe at party members who were involved in vote buying.
“When I was injured during the 2018 blast at White City Stadium, people took advantage of my incapacitation to use money to buy their way into the party. Now we have people who do not know what ZANU PF stands for because they were not groomed by the party,” he added.
The Vice President said although the country was feeling the effects of three successive droughts, Government has made sure no one dies of hunger.
“The Government is talking of Vision 2030, where we are saying we should have attained an upper middle-income economy by 2030; this is something which we are focused on.”
ZANU PF, he said, is committed to achieving its target of 5 million voters in 2023.
Vice President Kembo Mohadi says that goverment has silently “dealt with” the person who detonated an explosive suspected to have been a grenade at White City Stadium in June 2018 in what was described as an assasination attempt on President Emmerson Mnangagwa at the finish of a ZANU PF campaign rally in Bulawayo.
Addressing government officials, among them Cabinet ministers, following a tour of infrastructure built under the Beitbridge Redevelopment Project, Mohadi said the “junta” would not be dislodged by “dogs barking at the rising moon”, in apparent reference to the media and opposition parties exposing the Zanu PF government’s inadequacies.
The blast killed two VVIP security aides, and seriously injured several government and Zanu PF officials.
He, however, could not name the culprit or disclose how government had dealt with him, raising speculation that the State might have applied extra-judicial punishment on the suspected assassin.
At least 45 people including Mohadi, Defence minister Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri, former Zanu PF national commissar Engelbert Rugeje, Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga’s estranged wife, Marry, to name a few, were injured in the explosion, widely believed to have been targeted at Mnangagwa.
The incident occurred when political tempers were still high in Zanu PF following the ouster of the now late former President Robert Mugabe in a November 2017 military coup.
“I know people are asking when that person will be arrested. We are not interested in that. He has been dealt with and he will never be able to do that again. We are not going to arrest him. He is not going to do it again,” Mohadi said.
After the blast, police interviewed witnesses, a number of whom reported that they saw a man throw an object at the stage.
Police described the suspect as a young male “between the ages of 23 and 25”, about 1.7 meters tall and of dark complexion, who was wearing a yellow ZANU–PF T-shirt at the time of the attack.
Witnesses told police that the man lobbed an item towards the stage from about 30 to 35 meters away, but the item missed its target after hitting a rope and then bouncing off a security officer’s cheek before landing and detonating.
The suspect was allegedly “fiddling around” with the object before throwing it. After the blast, police and military went after him, but witnesses said they saw soldiers get to him first and arrest him, police reported.
The suspect has never been seen since the military apprehended him in the townships outside White City Stadium.
Two other suspects, residents of Bulawayo’s Pumula suburb were also picked up by the police and appeared before a magistrate at the Tredgold Magistrates’ Court in Bulawayo to answer charges regarding the bombing.
The suspects were identified as John Zulu and Douglas Musekiwa, and it was clear that none of these men was the suspect arrested by the military the day of the attack.
Zulu and Musekiwa were later released without charges.
In the latest reports on the incident, a soldier who claimed to have carried out the bombing while trying to impress a girlfriend was jailed for 12 years.
Tendai Saunyama Kandima, who worked for Military Intelligence, was convicted of making statements prejudicial to the state by the General Court Martial.
Kandima had no lawyer during his trial. Harare lawyer Innocent Gonese – instructed by the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights – has taken up his case aiming to secure his release to enable him to undergo urgent treatment for a heart ailment.
By A Correspondent | AS ZIMEYE.COM INVESTIGATES – the family of the murdered 7 year old MUREHWA boy, Tapiwa Makore, speaks to ZimEye on Sunday expressing concerns on the speed with which the police are processing investigations to find the lad’s missing body parts, which include his skull…
Two Makore brothers have in an interview with ZimEye confirmed the family used to own shares in the Rixi Taxi business (Rhodesia-Zim days). "But the Rixi Taxi shares faded away with our father," Tapiwa Makore's younger brother, Michael tells ZimEye – SUNDAY INTERVIEW https://t.co/1Su1zJRqiA
MDC-T leader Dr Thokozani Khupe reportedly left the funeral of party stalwart Esaph Mdlongwa in a huff after party supporters aligned to Nelson Chamisa booed her, forcing the now leader of the opposition in parliament to cut short her attendance at gathering.
This is according to a party supporter who shared the details on Twitter.
“Khupe was forced to leave the funeral of the late National Organiser Leader Mdlongwa after the mourners started jeering at her. Efforts by family members to calm the mourners were in vain,” the member said.
ZIMBABWE is set to re-open more land borders after a team of senior Government officials was dispatched to assess the state of affairs at the port of entries/exit ahead of the gradual opening.
Two weeks ago, the country re-opened its side of the Beitbridge Border Post but only to allow Zimbabwean citizens in South Africa to return home. The border is also processing outbound Zimbabweans with valid South African permanent residence and other permits such as work and student permits who are also now allowed to cross into South Africa and back home.
Zimbabweans in South Africa popularly known as injiva are also 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.
However, it has emerged that the Government is now moving to re-open other land borders to passenger traffic. The latest developments are being implemented as per last week’s Cabinet directive that teams be sent to all border posts to assess the state of readiness and recommend interventions after taking input from all stakeholders on the ground.
Sunday News understands that the teams are visiting Beitbridge, Forbes, Chirundu, Kariba, Victoria Falls, Kazungula, and Nyamapanda border posts. The teams comprise senior civil servants from ministries of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Environment, Climate Change, Tourism and Hospitality, Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare, Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development, Defence and War Veterans, and Local Government and Public Works.
Beitbridge’s team leader, Mr Stewart Nyakotyo who is the Director Legal and Consul Affairs in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade said their mission involves taking submissions from border actors and practical assessment of current operations.
“We have started engaging various stakeholders at Beitbridge to assess the resources, operation proposals, state of manpower, proposed time frames for re-opening, current operational challenges, and what they need to get things moving. After which we are going to have a practical feel on the ground of what they have and the shortcomings. We will then make recommendations to the National Covid-19 Task Force which will then merge our findings and recommendations with those from other teams. This will then be taken to Cabinet to guide decision making,” said Mr Nyakotyo.
Speaking during the consultation, border stakeholders proposed that the Government should consider a phased border opening before allowing all and sundry through the borders. They said those travelling in private vehicles should start in the first phase this year with public transport being the last before the end of the first quarter of 2021. The immigration officer-in-charge of Beitbridge Mr Nqobile Ncube said:
“It is only prudent to go with the phased route considering the current state of affairs here where we are battling with the commercial trucks with South Africa having re-opened their borders. You will note that in 2019, we cleared 5, 3 million people at this border with 14 000 passing through daily and we could have more people if we open at full throttle considering that people have not been moving for over six months.”
He said a successful re-opening of the land borders will depend on the Government’s resource base to attend to all the safety measures as proposed by the border stakeholders. The Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) shift manager, Mr Jericho Rundogo said the current civil works to upgrade the border post had left them with limited operation space and hence the need to stagger the opening.
“Currently we are using private cars and bus lanes to clear commercial cargo. Imagine what will happen if we open to full strength. So our proposal is let’s have small/private cars which are easy to manage to come through and we look at public transport after the festive season to avoid a chaotic scenario,” he said.
Beitbridge District Medical Officer Dr Lenos Samhere said they were still in discussions with four private laboratories who want to set up shop in the border town to boost the testing of travellers leaving and entering the country through Beitbridge.
He said they had since requested for more Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing and automated screening machines to boost service delivery and minimise delays at the port of entry.
Dear Editor. Did you know that the late Tapiwa Makore's grandparents were shareholders in the Rixi Minicab Taxi company, during Rhodesian days? They were also renowned as the company's founders. The company has since been run down. Keep my name anonymous.
By A Correspondent | Below is the LIVE discussion following Government spokesperson, Nick Mangwana’s last minute turning down a LIVE debate with former Harare mayor Gomba over MDC run councils saying:
Nick Mangwana vs Herbert Gomba on running down Council | WHO'S GUILTY?
“Please get someone from Zanu PF as I am not a politician and can’t really go for the political jugular as I am restrained by my office,” as he told ZimEye.
On Friday morning, Mangwana accused the MDC of running down the councils. He wrote on Twitter saying, “Our Cities have been totally run-down. What’s interesting is that in 20 years(1980-2000) we had great services.
VIDEO LOADING BELOW
“One wonders what has happened in the last 20(2000-2020) for us to be in this mess.
“Those who can’t run smaller things can’t surely run things at a National Scale.”
Our Cities have been totally run-down. What's interesting is that in 20 years(1980-2000) we had great services. One wonders what has happened in the last 20(2000-2020) for us to be in this mess. Those who can't run smaller things can't surely run things at a National Scale. pic.twitter.com/DzYBCmzcdk
I speak tonight for the dignity of man and the destiny of democracy. I urge every member of both parties, people of all religions and of all colours, from every section of this country, to join me in that cause.
At times history and fate meet at a single time in a single place to shape a turning point in man’s unending search for freedom. – Lyndon Baines Johnson
……
Last year June, the Zengeza West MP Job Sikhala said Emmerson Mnangagwa who pushed his way to Presidency through the 2017 military coup will be replaced by a transitional authority in a civilian administration.
Sikhala added saying Zimbabweans will deal with Mnangagwa the Tunisian and Sudanese way. “This man (Mnangagwa) is clueless, his government is pathetic,” he said.
He added “Mugabe would at least show you some instincts of knowing how to run a state. This man is an embarrassment to the people of Zimbabwe and he knows it. “Zimbabweans do not see an election before 2023. Zimbabweans see a change of government before 2023 through the will of the people.”
Sikhala also said, “If you had been following some of the elections in Africa, you would know that Ben Ali won by 96% but six months later, the people of Tunisia said enough is enough.
“Omar Al Bashir (ousted Sudanese leader) won elections last year but it did not take two years for people to say enough is enough. “I see that if Emmerson Mnangagwa is not going to engage MDC President Nelson Chamisa and the MDC leadership to find a solution, the people of Zimbabwe, without the influence of anyone, will make sure that they take the destiny of this country into their own hands.”
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 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 the time of 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. -MasvingoMirror
By Patrick Guramatunhu- One of the most offensive and exasperating things the white colonial oppressors did was to deny the blacks their voice and human dignity.
In the workplace blacks were called “boyi” and were expected to grovel before the whites, to show respect, and to do as they were told.
The print and electronic media was there to give the whites a voice. The few independent newspapers and magazine serving the blacks were expected to help keep law and order by not questioning the blatant racial injustice. And so such publications as Moto, a Roman Catholic Church backed magazine, were harassed and censored by the white regime for publishing strongly held views by blacks. The whites could not tolerate any black person do dared to think for themselves; they were considered radicals and dangerous.
In white ruled Rhodesia, blacks had no meaningful say in the governance of the country. They had no vote; period.
Zimbabwe’s independence in 1980 has brought an end to white colonial oppression but only to replace it with black ruling elite oppression. All pretence of Zimbabwe being a multi-party democracy completely evaporated with the signing of the Zanu PF and PF Zapu Unity Accord in 1987; merging the two parties to form the de facto one-party, Zanu PF, dictatorship.
Zanu PF assimilated the laws and practices designed to silence and oppress the blacks, lock, stock and barrel, and keep the white in power; only this time they were to keep the Zanu PF dictatorship in power.
In Zanu PF ruled Zimbabwe, blacks had a vote in theory but not in practice. Starting with the 1980 elections Zanu PF has blatantly cheated and used violence varying from subtle intimidation to beatings, rape and even cold-blooded murder to secure electoral victory. Zimbabwe has never ever held free, fair and credible elections.
The root cause of Zimbabwe’s economic mess is the failure to hold free and fair elections. The country has been stuck with a corrupt and incompetent Zanu PF regime for 40 years now. 40 years of gross mismanagement and rampant corruption have left the country in economic ruins and millions are now living in abject poverty.
The economic situation in Zimbabwe has reached alarming levels, unemployment has soared to 90% plus, basic services such as education and health care have all but collapsed. 34% of the population, according to WB 2019 report, were living in extreme poverty. The corona virus pandemic has made the health and economic situation even worse. The human suffering caused by the economic meltdown has become intolerable.
It is extremely annoying therefore that instead of the nation addressing the country’s economic mess and the underlying cause of rigged elections the nation being forced to discuss a side show.
“Zanu-PF takes strong exception to being lectured on issues of human rights by citizens of countries which perpetrated the brutalities accompanying the Atlantic African Slave Trade and colonial conquest of Africa, and who refuse to render apologies or pay reparations,” said Patrick Chinamasa, Zanu PF’s acting spokesperson.
“As a consequence of seeking to redress the brutalities that occurred in the colonisation of Zimbabwe, accompanied by dispossession of our land and brutal confiscation of livestock by colonialists, the country has suffered 20 years of naked bullying, economic isolation and severe sanctions regime by the former colonial powers now acting in concert as economic and political powers in support of what they allege are rights of 4 500 white former farmers,” he said.
Ordinary Zimbabweans have been calling for the restoration of their basic freedoms and human rights including the right to a meaningful vote and the right to life itself. Of course, they have been crying for freedom, peace, justice and human dignity all their lives; they are at the coal face of Zanu PF oppression just as they were at the coal face of white colonial oppression.
Last month President Cyril Ramaphosa of SA send envoys to Zimbabwe whose mission was to encourage Zanu PF to accept meaningful democratic changes and end the country’s worsening economic and political crisis. SA was told in no uncertain terms to mind its own business.
“We are an independent sovereign country. We agreed in our meeting that we are equal sovereign States. South Africa has no mediatory role to play in Zimbabwe. We know that the South African government is controlled by white men,” remarked Patrick Chinamasa.
So Zanu PF has completely ignored the ordinary Zimbabweans who have crying for their freedoms and rights because the regime is indifferent to their suffering. And, more significantly, Zanu PF, just like the white colonial regime before it, does not recognise ordinary Zimbabweans as human beings entitled to the same freedoms and rights as other human being.
“That at the time of abolition of the Atlantic African slave trade the British through the British Parliament approved and paid 20 million pounds to slave owners already rich through the labour of the slaves,” concluded Chinamasa.
This is just madness! And so, ordinary Zimbabweans be denied their basic freedoms and rights because the British compensated the slave owners but not the slaves. What has that got to do with me?
By A Correspondent | Government spokesperson, Nick Mangwana has at the last minute turned down a LIVE debate with former Harare mayor Gomba over MDC run councils saying:
“Please get someone from Zanu PF as I am not a politician and can’t really go for the political jugular as I am restrained by my office,” as he told ZimEye.
Yesterday Mangwana accused the MDC of running down the councils. He wrote on Twitter saying, “Our Cities have been totally run-down. What’s interesting is that in 20 years(1980-2000) we had great services.
“One wonders what has happened in the last 20(2000-2020) for us to be in this mess.
“Those who can’t run smaller things can’t surely run things at a National Scale.”
Our Cities have been totally run-down. What's interesting is that in 20 years(1980-2000) we had great services. One wonders what has happened in the last 20(2000-2020) for us to be in this mess. Those who can't run smaller things can't surely run things at a National Scale. pic.twitter.com/DzYBCmzcdk
Farai Dziva|ZINASU leader, Takudzwa Ngadziore who was granted bail on Friday, has declared he is determined to push for democratic change despite harassment and persecution.
The vibrant and brave ZINASU leader also urged the nation to unite in fighting for freedom from Zanu PF oppression.
Commenting on Ngadziore’s remarks President Chamisa said:
“On point Zinasu President. Resistance is the language of the oppressed!”
Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa’s desperate attempt to use guns to disrupt the people’s struggle literally confirms that he is an illegitimate leader who is afraid of the power of the citizens, according to President Chamisa.
Advocate Chamisa also took a swipe at the jittery Zanu PF leader for using “excessive force and coercion against hapless citizens.”
“The incumbent’s illegitimacy is confirmed by the excessive use of force and coercion against citizens.
Faith in brute force often mislead unpopular rulers to mistakenly rely on guns, imprisonment, teargas and terror to subjugate and muzzle citizens. Ultimately,citizens will always win,” President Chamisa said in a statement.
Farai Dziva|ZINASU leader, Takudzwa Ngadziore who was granted bail on Friday, has declared he is determined to push for democratic change despite harassment and persecution.
The vibrant and brave ZINASU leader also urged the nation to unite in fighting for freedom from Zanu PF oppression.
Commenting on Ngadziore’s remarks President Chamisa said:
“On point Zinasu President. Resistance is the language of the oppressed!”
Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa’s desperate attempt to use guns to disrupt the people’s struggle literally confirms that he is an illegitimate leader who is afraid of the power of the citizens, according to President Chamisa.
Advocate Chamisa also took a swipe at the jittery Zanu PF leader for using “excessive force and coercion against hapless citizens.”
“The incumbent’s illegitimacy is confirmed by the excessive use of force and coercion against citizens.
Faith in brute force often mislead unpopular rulers to mistakenly rely on guns, imprisonment, teargas and terror to subjugate and muzzle citizens. Ultimately,citizens will always win,” President Chamisa said in a statement.
…convening a meeting at 10pm on a date in August 2020, to complain why the tender team did not award a dysfunctional firm the tender.
By A Correspondent | When he was sworn into office 2 years ago, the Deputy Health And Child Care Minister, John Mangwiro swore saying he would help the country lower its health bill.
John Mangwiro
25 months later, a major investigation opened by the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission investigates the circumstances in which, the pharmaceutical parastatal, Natpharm is being forced to award Young Healthcare Limited, a briefcase company, a tender for COVID materials. The Deputy Health Minister is under investigation for among other things, complaining and convening a meeting at 10pm on a date in August 2020, to complain why the tender team did not award dysfunctional firm the tender.
The investigation also looks into why COVID 19 materials were overpriced in the deal.
“Deputy Minister of Health and Child Care, Dr. Mangwiro convened a meeting with the adjudication team, where he queried the reasons why the team did not award the tender to Young HealthCare Limited. Members were threatened with dismissal;” the ZACC report says.
The report investigates how minister Mangwiro allegedly pounced on Natpharm’s adjudicating team for tenders, late at night, at 10pm and grilled them why they are refusing to award Young HealthCare Limited the tender.
The value was at first set at USD5,6 million.
Young Health Care Limited was awarded a contract to supply nucleic acid and purification machines, transport media and reagents.
But to date, Natpharm has received supplies worth only US$124 630.
Dr John Mangwiro
The Deputy Minister also reportedly insisted on pre-payment and tasked the technical team from laboratory and Natpharm procurement to visit Young Health Care Limited in their country office and verify available stock in order to compel the Natpharm Acting MD to make a prepayment to Young Health Care Limited. Such actions violated the evaluation process since the technical team did not have the mandate to carry out the verification of supplies.
THE FULL ZACC REPORT IS BELOW:
TABLE OF CONTENTS
BACKGROUND……………………………………………………………………3
OBJECTIVES………………………………………………………………..…….3
METHODOLOGY…………………………………………………………………4
FINDINGS……………………………………………………………………..4-7
RECOMMENDATIONS…………………………………………..…………….8
6. CONCLUSIONS………………………………………………………………………9
CLIENT’S COMMENTS ON RECOMMENDATIONS………….…………..9
IMPLEMENTATION…………………………………………… ..…………..10
MONITORING AND EVALUATION……………………………………….10
ANNEXURES……………………………………………………………………11
1. BACKGROUND
The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission, as prescribed by Section 12 of the Anti-Corruption Commission Act (Chapter9:22) is mandated, amongst other functions, to monitor and examine the practices, systems and procurement procedures of the public and private institutions; to advise and assist agency or institution in the elimination of minimization of corruption; and to assist in the formulation of practices, systems and procurement procedures of public institutions with a view to the elimination of corrupt practices.
It is against this background that the Commission assigned Compliance and Systems Department to carry out a Compliance and Systems Spot Check Exercise on the procurement procedures for Tender Number– International NAT TCB FWWK 04/2020- laboratory equipment, reagents and consumables for COVID-19 at Natpharm. The exercise was necessitated by allegations raised in the anonymous letter to ZACC dated 18th August 2020 that Natpharm and Ministry of Health and Child Care did not follow proper procurement procedures for the procurement of laboratory equipment, reagents and consumables for COVID-19 management (tender reference number: INT NAT ITCB FWWK 04/2020).
2. OBJECTIVES
The objectives of the exercise were to ascertain the allegations made in the anonymous letter, which were as follows:-
The tender was awarded to a non-deserving company (Young Healthcare), whose products were sub-standard and do not meet
World Health Organization and FDA specifications; and CE marked;
The price quoted by Young International was higher than other competitors whose products were approved by WHO, FDA; and CE marked;
Deputy Minister of Health and Child Care, Dr. Mangwiro convened a meeting with the adjudication team, where he queried the reasons why the team did not award the tender to Young HealthCare Limited.
Members were threatened with dismissal;
To examine the systems, procurement procedures and practices related to Tender Number : International NAT TCB FWWK 04/2020- laboratory equipment, reagents and consumables for COVID-19; and
To come up with recommendations to plug loopholes and measures in view of the above allegations.
3. METHODOLOGY
1. Interviews
Interviews with members of the adjudication team for the tender for laboratory equipment, reagents and consumables, were held to ascertain what transpired during the procurement process with a view of ascertaining the allegations, tracing the systems used, identify weaknesses and possible remedies. The individuals interviewed were the Acting Managing Director of Natpharm, officers from National Microbiology Reference Laboratories (NMRL) and the procurement officer at Natpharm.
2. Documents Analysis
In order to confirm some statements made by the interviewees, the team requested for a number of documents listed below:
Tender documents for 04/2020;
Summary Report of the tender; and
Young HealthCare Limited company profile and communication with Natpharm and Ministry of Health and Child Care.
4. FINDINGS
4.1 Non-Compliance with provisions of PRAZ Circular 1 of 2020, Public Finance Management Act [Chapter: 22:19] and the Public Entities Corporate Governance Act [Chapter 10:31] by Ministry of Health and Child Care.
4.1.1 Numerous directives from the Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC), particularly Deputy Minister Dr. Mangwiro to
Natpharm Management
Procurement process of the tender 04/2020 was marred by directives from the Deputy Minister of Health and Child Care, Dr Mangwiro, resulting in delaying of the procurement. A letter from the then Acting Secretary of Health Dr. Mhlanga dated 15 July 2020, instructing Nat-Pharm to make direct procurement of supplies from Young Health Care (attached) was issued when the company was not registered with PRAZ. This is violation of some provisions of PRAZ Circular 1 of 2020 which stipulates that, only PRAZ listed suppliers are sources of COVID-19 supplies. When Natpharm insisted on competitive bidding, the tender process had to be postponed to allow Young Health Care Limited to register with PRAZ. This delayed the procurement of COVID-19 materials.
The Deputy Minister has usurped the authority of the Permanent Secretary as the accounting Officer.
The Deputy Minister does not have the powers and mandate to undertake administrative duties, which are the responsibility of the Permanent Secretary. The Deputy Minister reportedly issued numerous directives to the Nat-Pharm management throughout the tender process.
4.1.2 Price-inflation by Young Health Care on Direct Procurement quotation ($5 600 000)
Initial quotation by Young Health Care for supply of commodities under direct procurement, where prices quoted by Young Heath Care Limited were exorbitant amounted to USD$5 600 000-00, which was coincidentally the same amount that was in the Ministry coffers, suggesting that the company had inside information.
When Nat-Pharm insisted on competitive bidding, Young
Health Care Limited subsequently submitted a bid price of USD$ 3 600 000-00 for the same items. This saw a reduction of 36% in the price. (see attached two quotations).
4.1.3 Interference with the bidding process by the Deputy Minister
of Health and Child Care, Dr. Mangwiro. (see attached report from Natpharm).
Natpharm settled for competitive bidding, which saw other bidders coming on board to compete with Young Health Care. The tender was eventually floated on the 5th of August and closed 7th of August 2020, in line with PRAZ Circular 1 of 2020 which provides for emergency procurement, allowing tenders to be floated for 48hrs instead of 40 working days under normal circumstances. A total of 22 bidders participated. The adjudication of the tender started from the 8th to 10th of August 2020 and resumed from the 13th and 14th of August 2020.
4.1.4 The results of the winners were announced except for tender item 24, 25 and 26 which are yet to be concluded to allow further technical evaluation of the samples from bidders.
4.1.5 Natpharm Acting MD reported that he received a phone call from the Deputy Minister instructing him to convene with his adjudication team during odd hours to explain why the tender was not awarded to
Young Healthcare Limited. The Deputy Minister also demanded that a purchase order be issued that same night. The adjudication team was picked from their homes around 2200 hours and were interrogated by the Deputy Minister until early hours of the following day.(see attached report) The Deputy Minister threatened the team with dismissal for failing to award Young Health Care the contracts.
4.1.6 Violation of the terms and conditions of Supply Contract by
Young Healthcare Limited and the Deputy Minister
(i). Young Health Care Limited was genuinely awarded the contract to supply nucleic acid and purification machines, transport media and reagents. To date, Natpharm has received supplies worth US$124 630, 40 as follows:
Young Healthcare Deliveries on the 31st of August 2020
Item
Quantity Ordered
QuantityReceived
%
Purification machines
4
2
50
Nucleic Acid
220 000
13 824
6.3
Transport Media
220 000
14 000
6.4
Source: Natpharm
Young Health Care Limited managed to deliver a paltry 6% of Nucleic Acid and another 6% of Transport Media but went on to request prepayment for the awarded contract, including undelivered supplies ( see attached request), contrary to the terms and conditions of the contract signed with Nat-Pharm, which stipulates that payment should be made 7 days after delivery.(post-payment)
(ii) The Deputy Minister of Health and Child Care, Dr. Mangwiro reportedly insisted on pre-payment and tasked the technical team from laboratory and Natpharm procurement to visit Young Health Care Limited in their country office and verify available stock ( see letter dated 25th August 2020) in order to compel the Natpharm Acting MD to make a prepayment to Young Health Care Limited. Such actions violated the evaluation process since the technical team did not have the mandate to carry out the verification of supplies.
Natpharm Acting MD wrote a letter on the 26th of August 2020 (attached) to the Permanent Secretary for Health and Child Care informing him of the pre-payment issue and seeking guidance on how to proceed. However, there was no response from the Ministry, prompting the Acting MD to decline taking the Deputy Minister’s instruction to pre-pay Young Health Care and he referred him to the signed contract (attached). Verification team noted that items amounting to US$127,643.20 were in-stock instead of US$922, 000.00 requested for prepayment.
5. RECOMMENDATIONS
5.1 Given the extent to which the Deputy Minister was involved in the said tender process, indications are that he was acting on his own capacity and not on behalf of the Ministry. The actions of the Deputy Minister signal a personal interest in the tender and this should have prompted him to declare his interest.
5.2 The conduct of the Minister during this tender process warrants further investigations for Criminal Abuse of Office for possible violation of Section 174 of the Criminal Law Codification Act [Chapter 9:23]. Apart from this provision, further investigations should be conducted to ascertain possible violation of Section 14 of the Public Finance Management Act [Chapter 22:19] by the Deputy Minister through giving ministerial directives having financial implications when he demanded prepayment of undelivered goods to Young Health Care.
5.3 There is need for further investigations into the possible violation of the
Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets Act [Chapter 22:23] as
the conduct of the Deputy Minister might have compromised the independence of Natpharm as a procurement entity.
5.4 The Commission should closely follow the re-floated tender laboratory equipment, reagents and consumables for COVID-19 to ensure competitive bidding and that undeserving bidders are not awarded the contracts.
5.5 Best practices and good corporate governance should always be applied during procurement processes. Officials who are appointed to carry out procurement process should be allowed to do so independently without interference.
5.6 Investigations into possible violation of the Cabinet Directive that granted Natpharm exclusive powers for procurement of Covid 19 materials.
6. CONCLUSIONS
The timeous intervention by the Commission has resulted in the cancellation of the controversial tender awarded to Young Health Care Limited, thus saving the nation from a potential loss of USD$2million, had the tender been awarded.
The Systems and Review Team recommendation – for cancellation of the tender- has however been pre-empted by NatPharm`s decision to cancel the tender. The Team is satisfied with this positive outcome which signals the importance of conducting such spot checks.
Farai Dziva|MDC-T Organizing Secretary, Abednego Bhebhe has all but distanced himself from Thokozani Khupe and Douglas Mwonzora’s sinking political project.
Bhebhe’s court affidavit exposes how Khupe and her disciples are using fake 2014 MDC-T structures to undertake the business of the 2014 MDC-T party.
Bhebhe also queried Khalipani Phugeni’s role in the 2014 MDC-T structures.
Bhebhe further exposed the high level of unconstitutionalism which has seen Thokozani Khupe and Mwonzora making decisions without consulting the National Council.
In a statement on the same issue, MDC Alliance said: MCD-T Organising Secretary Bhebhe has exposed how @DMwonzora and Khupe are manufacturing MDC-T 2014 structures, how they have consistently refused to hold meetings of 2014 legitimate structures in an EXPLOSIVE affidavit…
By Dorrothy Moyo | ANALYSIS | When he came into power, he said that God has called him serve the people in truth and righteousness. But barely 6 months into office, President Lazarus Chakwera, a pastor has turned worse than his predecessors the Mutharikas and Kamuzu Banda. Yesterday his administration took a sudden turn to completely ignore the gross crimes against humanity committed by his counterpart Emmerson Mnangagwa which have been condemned by the United Nations; the violations have made both local and international business to lose trust in the zanu-pf leader.
Instead of complaining about the crimes personally sanctioned against the nation’s civilians by Emmerson Mnangagwa for over 37 years, the recently sworn in president Lazarus Chakwera’s local envoy chose to rather concentrate on deceptions created by Mnangagwa over the so called sanctions on a few ZANU PF entities between 2002 and 2020.
The US ZIDERA bill was put in place to curtail and discourage the crimes that have continued since 1983.
Chakwera’s local envoy, Ambassador Annie Yauka Kumwenda, speaking in support for Mnangagwa’s Anti Sanctions Day, announced as follows, ” Malawi joins the rest of the world…in calling an end to the imposed sanctions on Zimbabwe which have been in existence for almost 20 years now, this means that children are being born and raised in a sanctioned environment, and this becomes a gross violation of Human Rights more especially in children…”
She continued saying, “what we are saying now is please consider to remove these sanctions on Zimbabwe.
“Allow Zimbabwe to participate fully in global trade and in global economic activities and all those other opportunities and let Zimbabwe perform without the sanctions and be judged its performance according to what they are capable of.”
VIDEO
Malawi joins the rest of the world…in calling an end to the imposed sanctions on Zimbabwe which have been in existence for almost 20 years now, this means that children are being born and raised in a sanctioned environment, and this becomes a gross violation of Human Rights… pic.twitter.com/G3gOghQxcQ
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 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 the time of 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. -MasvingoMirror
Farai Dziva|MDC-T Organizing Secretary, Abednego Bhebhe has all but distanced himself from Thokozani Khupe and Douglas Mwonzora’s sinking political project.
Bhebhe’s court affidavit exposes how Khupe and her disciples are using fake 2014 MDC-T structures to undertake the business of the 2014 MDC-T party.
Bhebhe also queried Khalipani Phugeni’s role in the 2014 MDC-T structures.
Bhebhe further exposed the high level of unconstitutionalism which has seen Thokozani Khupe and Mwonzora making decisions without consulting the National Council.
In a statement on the same issue, MDC Alliance said: MCD-T Organising Secretary Bhebhe has exposed how @DMwonzora and Khupe are manufacturing MDC-T 2014 structures, how they have consistently refused to hold meetings of 2014 legitimate structures in an EXPLOSIVE affidavit…
A potential disaster is looming for the Mighty Warriors after it emerged the Women’s Soccer League was not aware of Zimbabwe’s participation at next month’s cosafa Championships.
After being suspended indefinitely owing to Covid-19, the women’s game in Southern Africa will resume with the 2020 cosafa Women’s Championship, which will be staged concurrently with the Girls Under-17 tournament, at the Nelson Mandela Bay in Port Elizabeth, South Africa.
The tournaments will kick off on November 3 with the women’s tourney. They will be the first women’s internationals on the continent since the pandemic wreaked havoc on football and global sport.
While it is a welcome return to national team competition for cosafa nations, who have endured a frustrating 2020, it seems the Mighty Warriors are still in the dark about their participation at the tournament.
Women’s Soccer League chairperson Barbra Chikosi, who is widely accused of behaving like an “absentee landlady” by a number of women’s clubs, told The Sunday Mail Sport she had not received any communication about the championships.
“I am not even aware of the cosafa programme, whether the tournament has been confirmed or if the dates are out yet. I will have to talk to ZIFA and find out because I am in the dark,” she said.
Women’s football was granted US$500 000 from the US$1,5 million Covid-19 relief fund that ZIFA received from FIFA. The money is earmarked for the resumption of the women’s game.
According to a list compiled by ZIFA, Evelyn Rimai will be in charge of the Under-15s, while the Under-17 team will be headed by Thulani Sibanda. Rosemary Mugadza will be in charge of the Under-20s.
Sithethelelwe “Kwinji 15” Sibanda will oversee the Mighty Warriors. Surprisingly, the coaches claim that although the list was released by ZIFA, the association is yet to officially communicate with them regarding the cosafa tournament.
Sibanda said he was unaware of preparations for the cosafa tournament. “Not sure if I am involved since ZIFA say they are yet to confirm our appointments. However, the truth is that we are not prepared,” he said.
“Body adaptations to training require six weeks, excluding the two weeks of muscle toning, but as an emergency measure, maybe players can be taught time-tapping for the matches. “This technique works for a single match though.
“Proper time is anything above eight weeks, but as coaches, if worse comes to worst, we may be forced to compromise.”
Mugadza, who too is waiting for confirmation and official communication regarding participation at the regional tournament, said the association needs to speed up their processes and get their charges in camp as soon as possible.
“I am not even sure if we are going to participate, because ZIFA is still quiet on the matter, and this at a time when we should be racing against time.
“Remember, teams have not been active for months, and if we are to be part of the tournament, then it means we are behind. There is no time to waste,” she said.
Kwinji 15 confirmed to our sister paper The Herald that she was still in the dark. “I do not have any official communication from the office on whether we are playing or not, so the best people to talk to would be the office,” she said.
ZIFA communications and competitions manager Xolisani Gwesela, however, said ZIFA had long confirmed Zimbabwe’s participation with the Cosafa secretariat.
“Yes, we confirmed participation for Under-17 and senior team in the upcoming cosafa tournaments. We will provide a detailed programme in the coming week (this week),’’ he said. -Sunday Mail
The Vehicle Inspection Department (VID) will from tomorrow start conducting road tests and issuing driver’s licences after close to six months of closure.
The closure of VID in March after the Government introduced a national lockdown due to Covid-19, had left hundreds of learners and prospective learner drivers in a quandary. The Government, however, extended the validity of provisional driving licences and defensive driving certificates by six months giving room for holders to remain eligible for testing. This was done through SI 144 of 2020. Ideally, provisional licences have a one-year lifespan from the date of issue.
SI 144 of 2020 also known as Public Health (Covid-19 Prevention, Containment and Treatment) (National Lockdown) (Amendment) Order, 2020 (No. 11) gave provisional licence holders six more months in addition to the one-year period the document is valid to compensate for time lost during the lockdown.
The Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development has since issued a circular to VID depots instructing them to start conducting tests and issue drivers licences from tomorrow. Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development Engineer Amos Marawa told Sunday News that VID had finalised developing the Covid-19 operating guidelines and standard operating procedures which are in line with the World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines and were approved by the National Task Force on Covid-19 and Cabinet. Eng Marawa said despite the go ahead, VID will continue operating under the prescribed modus operandi during the Covid-19 induced lockdown period.
“VID has developed Covid-19 operating guidelines and standard operating procedures which are in line with WHO guidelines and were approved by the National Task Force on Covid-19 and Cabinet. These will guide the operations of VID during the Covid-19 pandemic,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Insurance Council of Zimbabwe (ICZ) has announced that the Central Vehicle Registry’s (CVR) has no capacity to issue adequate vehicle registration licences. In a presentation during a virtual training of journalists, ICZ representative Mr Tendai Karonga said there were 80 000 unregistered vehicles in the country yet the CVR has the capacity to issue 32 000 registration plates up to the end of the year. This comes at a time when crimes of robbery perpetrated by motorists using unregistered vehicles are on the increase.
“Performance of motor insurance was further affected by the Central Vehicle Registry’s (CVR) inability to register vehicles due to lack of financial resources to produce registration plates. This resulted in about 80 000 unregistered and uninsured vehicles on the roads leading to a loss of the mandatory Third-Party Motor premiums of approximately Z$60 million. Statistics are based on the CVR Registrar’s Report to the Parliamentary Transport Committee on 28 September 2020. The situation might persist as CVR has financial resources to provide plates for 32 000 vehicles leaving more than 48 000 unregistered,” said Mr Karonga. -Sunday News
Own Correspondent| Gogo Ndunge has reportedly fired a broadside at controversial Masvingo based preacher Isaac Makomichi after the two clashed over a client.
The controversial cleric posted a statement on social media, boasting of his spiritual powers.
“Two friends are dating one person-the other one is my client and the other one is Mbuya Ndunge’s.
Now my client won the race, it’s sad to note that Mbuya Ndunge is calling me saying she will destroy me.
I have confirmed the number through eco cash and I have managed to record voice calls.
Definitely I’m making a police report today.
If she is strong enough let her help her client to win back the boyfriend,” claimed Makomichi.
By Dr Masimba Mavaza | Zimbabweans in diaspora are horrified by the sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe for such a long time. No matter how hard the Zimbabwean government has tried to do what the West demand all these efforts are taken as nothing.
Dr Masimba Mavaza
In the UK a group of Zimbabweans has formed a coalition against sanctions with some imdibiduals engaging the UK government. This group of Zimbabweans in UK began by noting that the president is the pivotal player in the sanctions policy and that presidents pander to voters in swing states; Therefore, the size of a diaspora’s voting block in swing states should determine whether the American government imposes sanctions on their former homeland or not.
In order to be heard, the Zimbabweans have encouraged their fellow patriots to register for voting in America so that their voice can be recognised. A Zimbabwean group against Sanctions found that a one-percentage-point increase in the size of a country’s diaspora in swing states increases the probability of removal of sanctions by 19 percentage points. It then goes on to calculate causal estimates of the effectiveness of engaging the host governments to abandon economic sanctions and regime change agenda against Zimbabwe. Using the size of diasporas in swing states as an instrumental variable for the economic sanctions fight it shows that sanctions do not have a statistically-significant impact on regime change. How do the desires of disaporas combine with the ambitions of presidential candidates to encourage the American economic sanctions policy? Diasporas from Zimbabwe can feel the effects of the sanctions even if they are away from home. Most of their relatives are out of employment; the industry has been hit hard by sanctions. The political land scape is soiled by sanctions and not a single right minded Zimbabwean will support sanctions against their mother land. The West has now realised that no diasporas despise their motherland and they want the Western governments to abandon the sanctions.
In America it is a fact that the president has the power to unilaterally impose and revoke sanctions so they have to appeal to the president on the promise of removing sanctions. As Zimbabwe commemorated the SADC solidarity on the fight against sanctions, the Diaspora in America are aware that the president panders to swing-state voters. As a result, a diasporas power to fight against sanctions runs through theWhite House and is determined by the diaspora’s distribution between swing states and safe states. Diasporas concentrated in swing states will be able to affect American sanctions policy; those concentrated in safe states will not.Sanctions are costly not only on Zimbabwe but on the country imposing them, so the United States government may be more likely to remove sanctions in cases where they will be unsuccessful, biasing statistical analysis in favor of finding that sanctions are evil and simply destructive to humanity. Conversely, sanctions are often imposed as a last resort, when other policies are seen as either too meek or too costly. Further, if targeted governments believe that resistance is futile, they will be more likely to capitulate before sanctions are imposed in order to avoid pointless damage. In the case of Zimbabwe diaspora has argued that America targeted a wrong country.
Both of these factors would bias the results against finding that sanctions are effective. As a result of these competing biases, previous estimates of the effectiveness of economic sanctions are unreliable and even whether they underestimate or overestimate sanctions’ true effect is unknown.
The Zimbabweans in diaspora have joined SADC in putting pressure on America to lift the Sanctions.
A sanctioned Zimbabwe is a burden to each and every person in Zimbabwe. To this end diaspora views Sanctions as repugnant to social justice.
The so called targets in the sanctions are not the ones to feel the pinch. It is the old lady in Mutoko the young child in Taholotsho the innocent girl in Chikeaka. All these are victims. In this time of COVID diaspora views sanctions as a death trap which needs to be removed for the benefit of every Zimbabwean.
The state of our hospitals we can not improve under these conditions. Diaspora examines the impact of imposed sanctions on the stability of Zimbabwean economy. It explores the transnational nature of Zimbabwean society and examines the history and structure of the Zimbabwean diaspora as well as its transformation since the new dispensation. Diaspora has noted that the government of America as well as both its supporters and its opponents have all instrumentalized sanctions for their own purposes. Zimbabwe has used sanctions to rally supporters “around the flag”, calling on the diaspora to raise voices to negate their effect. By contrast, opposition activists have campaigned against removing of sanctions arguing that a good economy for Zimbabwe may be used for illicit military purposes in breach of human right. In this sense, the sanctions have destabilized a core component of the nation’s resource base. Diaspora sees the evil hand of the sanctions and together with those at home we shout with chocked voices. “We cannot breathe.” We cry together with prophet Amos. “Lord father forgive Zimbabwe can not survive for she is too small” [email protected]
There is no doubt that the late MDC founding and former Prime Minister, Right Honourable Morgan Richard Tsvangirai identified and nurtured President Chamisa’s capacity and charisma…
A reflection of the strong bond between President Tsvangirai and President Chamisa .Above PresidentTsvangirai “hands over” the stick to President Chamisa
In a murder case that has left villagers near Shavambiri Business Centre shell-shocked, a Marange man fatally assaulted his younger brother after a beer binge.
The siblings — Nyashadzashe (35) and Mundawashe Chinamira (25) — fought for several hours before the former overpowered the latter and fatally struck him with an iron bar.
Manicaland provincial police spokesperson, Inspector Tavhiringwa Kakohwa, confirmed the case and said Nyashadzashe has since been charged with murder as defined in Section 47 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act, Chapter 9:23. Insp Kakohwa said on October 6, Nyashadzashe and the now late Mundawashe spent the whole day drinking an illicit brew at the business centre.
Later that night, the heavily intoxicated brothers had a fierce brawl.
At around 10pm, their uncle — Mr Tatenda Musoni — offered to accommodate them in his barbershop for the night.
The brothers were left sleeping in the barbershop while Mr Musoni went home.
However, Mr Musoni locked the screen door from outside as his nephews were drunk.
At around midnight, Mr Patrick Mutimbanyoka, a security guard at the business centre, heard some noise coming from the barbershop and went to investigate.
“He peeped through the screen door and saw the brothers fighting. Nyashadzashe threw an empty beer bottle at Mr Mutimbanyoka but missed him. The security guard ran for his life.
“When Mr Mutimbanyoka came back after about 30 minutes in the company of a Mr Tinashe Kangorongo, the two brothers were still fighting. The due tried to stop the brothers from fighting but they couldn’t do much since the screen door was still locked.
“Nyashadzashe attempted to strike Mr Mutimbanyoka with an iron bar so Messrs Mutimbanyoka and Kangorongo decided to leave,” said Inspector Kakohwa.
At around 5am the following morning, Mr Musoni came back to unlock the door. He found the two brothers lying on the floor.
However, there was blood all over the floor. Mundawashe had deep cuts on his head and was writhing in pain.
Mr Musoni quickly alerted other villagers.
Mundawashe was ferried to the nearby Bakorenhema Clinic for treatment.
He died around 7.30am.
Inspector Kakohwa said Nyashadzashe admitted that he committed the offence, claiming that his younger sibling had threatened to cut off his head for ritual purposes.-Manica Post
By A Correspondent | Government spokesperson, Nick Mangwana has at the last minute turned down a LIVE debate with former Harare mayor Gomba over MDC run councils saying:
“Please get someone from Zanu PF as I am not a politician and can’t really go for the political jugular as I am restrained by my office,” as he told ZimEye.
Yesterday Mangwana accused the MDC of running down the councils. He wrote on Twitter saying, “Our Cities have been totally run-down. What’s interesting is that in 20 years(1980-2000) we had great services.
“One wonders what has happened in the last 20(2000-2020) for us to be in this mess.
“Those who can’t run smaller things can’t surely run things at a National Scale.”
Our Cities have been totally run-down. What's interesting is that in 20 years(1980-2000) we had great services. One wonders what has happened in the last 20(2000-2020) for us to be in this mess. Those who can't run smaller things can't surely run things at a National Scale. pic.twitter.com/DzYBCmzcdk
By Wilbert Mukori- “There are no imaginative skills on how to move the country forward internally and externally, be it economic and political in both the ruling party and the opposition of Nelson Chamisa,” wrote Nomazulu Thata, commenting on Professor Stephen Chan’s recent video interview.
Professor Stephen Chan is a blundering idiot masquerading as an intellectual. He has made many very serious blunders on Zimbabwe politics in the past and talked about one such blunder in his interview. He admitted to advising the British Secretary of State for Africa to attend Mnangagwa’s inauguration following the rigged July 2018 elections. He argued the British to give Mnangagwa a chance.
Other luminary personalities who had observed Zimbabwe’s July 2018 elections, notably Labour MP Kate Hoey, dismissed the elections as a farce and argued the international community not to give the illegitimate Zanu PF regime any support.
It was a great pity that the British government accepted Professor Chan’s advice and not that of MP Hoey. We, in Zimbabwe, have paid dearly for that blunder to this day!
I do agree with Professor Chan’s gloomy assessment of the sorry state Zimbabwe is in. He is right to say there is a lack of imagination, internally and externally, as what to do to get the country out of the mess. The irony is the solution has been hiding in plain sight all along; if only we would open our eyes and minds to see it.
The root cause of Zimbabwe’s economic and political crisis is the country’s failure to hold free, fair and credible elections. 40 years of gross mismanagement and rampant corruption have left the country’s economy in ruins. 40 years of stifled debate and democratic competition has forced quality out of public life leaving the field open to corrupt and incompetent individuals on both sides of the political divide.
We need to implement the democratic reforms to promote free debate and competition and to stop Zanu PF rigging the elections.
Since Zanu PF government will never implement the reforms, the party will never reform itself out of office, we must appoint an independent body that will implement the reforms.
Zanu PF must step down to allow the political space for the independent body that will implement the reforms.
“Zanu PF will never step down!” many have argued. Of course, they will step down; they have done is before already!
Zanu PF was forced to step down following the blatant cheating and wanton violence of the 2008 elections. The international community, included the usually reticent see nothing SADC and AU, refused to endorse Zanu PF’s claim of electoral victory and legitimacy.
By participating in the July 2018 elections Zimbabwe’s corrupt and incompetent opposition parties gave the flawed and illegal process credibility and, by extension, the vote rigging Zanu PF regime some modicum of legitimacy. Just one of the many decisions proving the compete lack of quality and imagination on the part of Nelson Chamisa et al!
The EU, the Americans, the Commonwealth and all the other nations and organisations with any democratic credentials worth a spit condemned the July 2018 elections as a farce.
“The electoral commission lacked full independence and appeared to not always act in an impartial manner. The final results as announced by the Electoral Commission contained numerous errors and lacked adequate traceability, transparency and verifiability,” stated the EU Mission final report.
“As such, many aspects of the 2018 elections in Zimbabwe failed to meet international standards.”
Given such a damning report, the decision by Professor Chan and the British to let Mnangagwa off the legitimacy hook beggared belief and showed a complete lack of imagination.
The pressure on Zanu PF to stop down should have been brought to bear immediately following the rigged 31 July 2018. The pressure can still be brought to bear even now, the failure to revive the economy is putting Mnangagwa under renewed pressure.
Mnangagwa rigged the July 2018 elections confident he would go on to “rig” economic recovery. His “Zimbabwe is open for business!” clarion call has failed to attract the flood of investors. The corona virus pandemic has made a bad situation even worse, the crisis has now turned into a real tragedy.
Before the corona virus outbreak, 34% of the Zimbabweans were already living in extreme poverty; the number has surged upward.
Basic services such as health care and education have all but collapse because of decades of poor funding. Teachers and health care personal have been on strike for months on end demanding a living wage and safe working conditions. All civil servants have just been awarded up 500% wage increase taking the pittance wage of the lowest paid teachers from US$30 to 157 pm. The PDL in Zimbabwe is US$650 pm.
With inflation already at 838% year on year, the wage hike will be eroded away within a few months and everyone will be out of strike again.
With more than a third of the population living in extreme poverty, no health care service, no education for the children, etc. Zimbabwe’s future is bleak. And as long as the country remains a Banana Republic, a pariah state, ruled by corrupt, incompetent and vote rigging thugs; the situation will only get worse.
Zimbabwe could have been saved from this tragic end if only Zanu PF had been stopped from turning the country into a pariah state. The country can still be save from sinking even deeper into this man-made hell-on-earth by implementing the democratic reforms designed to end the curse of rigged elections.
Only that is needed is the courage and resolve to demand that the illegitimate Zanu PF regime steps down and stop holding the nation to ransom.
Yes, Professor Chan is right, there really is shocking lack of imagination here. When a corrupt, incompetent and, for all intend and practical purposes, braindead thug like Emmerson Mnangagwa is viewed for 40 years and counting as an all powerful demigod; there is a daft lack of imagination all round.
By A Correspondent- Police in Mutoko, Mashonaland East province have arrested a 23-year-old man who allegedly axed his aunt to death, accusing her of misplacing his talisman.
Piniel Tinomuda, of village 43 Hoyuyu, is also facing another charge of attempted murder after he also struck his grandmother, Benhilda Nyarambi (81), with an axe over the same issue.
The body of the deceased, Lizzie Madende (59), has since been conveyed to Murewa Hospital mortuary for a postmortem, while Nyarambi is battling for her life at Mutoko District Hospital.
Provincial police spokesperson Inspector Tendai Mwanza confirmed both incidents.
“It is disheartening to report the death of the victim through such a gruesome way. It is also disturbing to note that the accused person took the law into his own hands and critically injured another victim,” he said.
“Violence should not permeate our communities to such an extent. The public should respect the sanctity of life and resolve any misunderstandings amicably. The suspect will be taken to court soon on murder and attempted murder charges.”
It is reported that on Tuesday at around 8pm, Madende was at her residence with other family members, including the suspect.
Tinomuda reportedly accused Madende for misplacing his talisman which he kept in an old tyre behind his bedroom.
The suspect became violent, drew an axe from his bedroom and struck Madende on the head twice, killing her on the spot.
Nyarambi reportedly pleaded with the suspect to stop axing his aunt. He then turned and struck her twice on the neck and arm.
Nyarambi fell down and became unconscious.
After realising that he had committed a heinous crime, Tinomuda fled and hid in a nearby mountain.
A report was made at Janhi Police Base, who launched a manhunt and arrested him.-Newsday
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 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 the time of 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. -MasvingoMirror
Farai Dziva|ZINASU leader, Takudzwa Ngadziore who was granted bail on Friday, has declared he is determined to push for democratic change despite harassment and persecution.
The vibrant and brave ZINASU leader also urged the nation to unite in fighting for freedom from Zanu PF oppression.
Commenting on Ngadziore’s remarks President Chamisa said:
“On point Zinasu President. Resistance is the language of the oppressed!”
Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa’s desperate attempt to use guns to disrupt the people’s struggle literally confirms that he is an illegitimate leader who is afraid of the power of the citizens, according to President Chamisa.
Advocate Chamisa also took a swipe at the jittery Zanu PF leader for using “excessive force and coercion against hapless citizens.”
“The incumbent’s illegitimacy is confirmed by the excessive use of force and coercion against citizens.
Faith in brute force often mislead unpopular rulers to mistakenly rely on guns, imprisonment, teargas and terror to subjugate and muzzle citizens. Ultimately,citizens will always win,” President Chamisa said in a statement.
By A Correspondent- The Zimbabwe Republic Police has said the death of John Sithole who died in a Beitbridge shootout which followed a 14-hour stand-off, solves a number of cases.
Sithole was on a list of police’s most wanted people in connection with crimes committed in Beitbridge, Mberengwa and along highways to Harare and Bulawayo.
National police spokesperson, Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi, yesterday gave details of cases being cleared.
The suspect has helped clear two cases of rape and attempted murder in Mberengwa and seven armed robberies that occurred around Beitbridge.
However, we cannot give further details concerning the cases since we are pursuing his other accomplices.
In the Mberengwa case which happened three weeks ago, Sithole is alleged to have raped a woman and her child in before locking them up in a house and setting them ablaze.
The victims were saved by other villagers who managed to put out the fire–statemedia
By A Correspondent- In a murder case that has left villagers near Shavambiri Business Centre shell-shocked, a Marange man fatally assaulted his younger brother after a beer binge.
The siblings — Nyashadzashe (35) and Mundawashe Chinamira (25) — fought for several hours before the former overpowered the latter and fatally struck him with an iron bar.
Manicaland provincial police spokesperson, Inspector Tavhiringwa Kakohwa, confirmed the case and said Nyashadzashe has since been charged with murder as defined in Section 47 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act, Chapter 9:23. Insp Kakohwa said on October 6, Nyashadzashe and the now late Mundawashe spent the whole day drinking an illicit brew at the business centre.
Later that night, the heavily intoxicated brothers had a fierce brawl.
At around 10pm, their uncle — Mr Tatenda Musoni — offered to accommodate them in his barbershop for the night.
The brothers were left sleeping in the barbershop while Mr Musoni went home.
However, Mr Musoni locked the screen door from outside as his nephews were drunk.
At around midnight, Mr Patrick Mutimbanyoka, a security guard at the business centre, heard some noise coming from the barbershop and went to investigate.
“He peeped through the screen door and saw the brothers fighting. Nyashadzashe threw an empty beer bottle at Mr Mutimbanyoka but missed him. The security guard ran for his life.
“When Mr Mutimbanyoka came back after about 30 minutes in the company of a Mr Tinashe Kangorongo, the two brothers were still fighting. The due tried to stop the brothers from fighting but they couldn’t do much since the screen door was still locked.
“Nyashadzashe attempted to strike Mr Mutimbanyoka with an iron bar so Messrs Mutimbanyoka and Kangorongo decided to leave,” said Inspector Kakohwa.
At around 5am the following morning, Mr Musoni came back to unlock the door. He found the two brothers lying on the floor.
However, there was blood all over the floor. Mundawashe had deep cuts on his head and was writhing in pain.
Mr Musoni quickly alerted other villagers.
Mundawashe was ferried to the nearby Bakorenhema Clinic for treatment.
He died around 7.30am.
Inspector Kakohwa said Nyashadzashe admitted that he committed the offence, claiming that his younger sibling had threatened to cut off his head for ritual purposes.-Manica Post
By A Correspondent | Government spokesperson, Nick Mangwana has at the last minute turned down a LIVE debate with former Harare mayor Gomba over MDC run councils saying:
“Please get someone from Zanu PF as I am not a politician and can’t really go for the political jugular as I am restrained by my office,” as he told ZimEye.
Yesterday Mangwana accused the MDC of running down the councils. He wrote on Twitter saying, “Our Cities have been totally run-down. What’s interesting is that in 20 years(1980-2000) we had great services.
“One wonders what has happened in the last 20(2000-2020) for us to be in this mess.
“Those who can’t run smaller things can’t surely run things at a National Scale.”
Our Cities have been totally run-down. What's interesting is that in 20 years(1980-2000) we had great services. One wonders what has happened in the last 20(2000-2020) for us to be in this mess. Those who can't run smaller things can't surely run things at a National Scale. pic.twitter.com/DzYBCmzcdk
The English Premier League returned to action this Saturday following the FIFA international break. Manchester City, Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea are some of the big teams that played today. Below are the results of the matches played.
Everton 2-2 Liverpool; (Michael Keane 19′ and Dominic Calvert-Lewin 81′; Sadio Mané 3′ Mohamed Salah 72′) Chelsea 3-3 Southampton; (Timo Werner 15′, 28′ and Kai Havertz 59′; Danny Ings 43′, Che Adams 57′ Jannik Vestergaard 90+2′) Manchester City 1-0 Arsenal; (Raheem Sterling 23′)
The Newcastle v Manchester United match is next at 2100 hours.
Tomorrow:
Sponsored: Click here to buy NetOne, Telecel Airtime online using EcoCash
Sheffield United v Fulham Crystal Palace v Brighton Tottenham v West Ham Leicester v Aston Villa
By Dorrothy Moyo | The government of Malawi took a sudden turn at the weekend as they completely ignored the gross crimes against humanity committed by Emmerson Mnangagwa and his administration which have been condemned by the United Nations, and have made both local and international business to lose trust in the zanu-pf leader.
Instead of complaining about the crimes personally sanctioned against the nation’s civilians by Emmerson Mnangagwa for over 37 years, the recently sworn in president Lazarus Chakwera’s local envoy chose to rather concentrate on so called sanctions on a few ZANU PF entities between 2002 and 2020.
Chakwera has for months been thought to be a Nelson Chamisa ally.
The US ZIDERA bill was put in place to curtail and discourage the crimes that have continued since 1983.
Chakwera’s local envoy, Ambassador Annie Yauka Kumwenda, speaking in support for Mnangagwa’s Anti Sanctions Day, announced as follows, ” Malawi joins the rest of the world…in calling an end to the imposed sanctions on Zimbabwe which have been in existence for almost 20 years now, this means that children are being born and raised in a sanctioned environment, and this becomes a gross violation of Human Rights more especially in children…”
She continued saying, “what we are saying now is please consider to remove these sanctions on Zimbabwe.
“Allow Zimbabwe to participate fully in global trade and in global economic activities and all those other opportunities and let Zimbabwe perform without the sanctions and be judged its performance according to what they are capable of.”
VIDEO
Malawi joins the rest of the world…in calling an end to the imposed sanctions on Zimbabwe which have been in existence for almost 20 years now, this means that children are being born and raised in a sanctioned environment, and this becomes a gross violation of Human Rights… pic.twitter.com/G3gOghQxcQ
Armed robbery suspect John Sithole, a.k.a Kedha, who was shot in a gunfight at a Beitbridge house this week after a 14-hour hostage stand-off, was wanted by the police in connection with two cases of rape, attempted murder and seven other armed robberies.
Sithole, who was shot and killed by police as he sought to escape while firing at police units surrounding the house in Beitbridge’s Dulivhadzimu suburb on Thursday, was known to be a violent criminal.
He is said to have been on the police most wanted list in connection with crimes committed in Beitbridge, Mberengwa and along highways to Harare and Bulawayo.
The Herald understands that Sithole was launching his operations from Musina in South Africa and would usually skip the border through the Limpopo River.
In the attempted murder case which occurred three weeks ago, Sithole is said to have raped a woman and her child in Mberengwa before locking them up in a house and setting it ablaze.
The victims were saved by other villagers who managed to put out the fire.
National police spokesperson, Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi, yesterday gave details of cases being cleared.
“The suspect has helped clear two cases of rape and attempted murder in Mberengwa and seven armed robberies that occurred around Beitbridge,” he said.
“However, we cannot give further details concerning the cases since we are pursuing his other accomplices.”
Sithole was shot and killed in a heavy gunfire exchange.
During the stand-off, he managed to shoot and wound one detective on the arm.
Before his demise, he had initially evaded arrest at the Limpopo River on Wednesday afternoon and hid at his rented house in Dulivhadzimu where he was found by the detectives.
According to police, Sithole was ordered to surrender, but he turned violent and held 10 people at the house hostage and opened fire at the police who tried everything to make him surrender.
He did not relent and kept firing until reinforcements were called in from the police special tactics unit which eventually killed him in the afternoon after he had released the hostages.
Police recovered a Black Star S.A Calsap Pistol loaded with six rounds, and a plastic containing loose dagga from his trousers.
“A further search was conducted around the house leading to the recovery of 25 by 9mm spent cartridges,” said a security source. “Another 105 cartridges shot from the police’s AK47 rifles and 25 from FN rifles were also picked from the crime scene.”
According to a source, the tactical team established that Sithole had around 50 live rounds before the start of the gun battle, but only six were recovered at the end, meaning the rest had been fired at the police.
The total number of declared deaths from the new coronavirus has topped 1.1 million around the world, according to an AFP tally from official sources.
At least 1,100,056 fatalities, out of 38,997,267 cases, have been reported.
Almost one in five deaths was in the United States, the hardest-hit country which has 217,798 deaths from 7,985,356 infections.
The United States is followed by Brazil with 152,460 deaths from 5,169,386 cases, India with 112,161 deaths from 7,370,468 cases, Mexico 85,285 fatalities from 834,910 cases and the United Kingdom with 43,293 deaths out of 673,622 reported infections.
With daily COVID-19 infections rising to record levels in several US states, false information remains a barrier to people getting vaccinated.
US health officials are pushing Americans to get vaccinated against the flu to help prevent hospitals already busy battling COVID-19 from being overwhelmed this winter, but false claims are threatening their efforts.
Misinformation on social media, particularly that a flu shot will increase the risk of contracting the coronavirus or cause you to test positive for COVID-19 — it won’t — is undermining the public health message.
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.
Make your business swim. Advertise with The Mirror from as little as a USD$1.00 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.
Kaizer Chiefs winger Khama Billiat says Amakhosi are hungry for silverware in the 2020/21 season under new coach Gavin Hunt.
Amakhosi kick-start their season with a tricky MTN 8 quarter-final clash with Maritzburg United on Sunday, in what will be Hunt’s maiden game in charge of the Glamour Boys.
Speaking at a press conference ahead of the clash, the Warriors star was upbeat and said the team is determined to do better than last season.
“The atmosphere in the build up to the game has been great, good energy. We still feel that from what we did last season, we had to come back quicker and get the momentum going,” he said.
Continued Billiat: “I have been given another opportunity, in a new season with a great coach and good players around me.”
The Aces Youth Academy graduate also said it is the team’s desire to win silverware this season.
“We are playing with great understanding as a team, with an idea of how we want to play this season. I’m lucky to be part of a great team and we are hungry to win trophies,” explained Billiat.-Soccer 24
Marshall Munetsi will miss another game for Stade de Reims due to suspension.
The Zimbabwean midfielder was not included in the squad for today’s Ligue 1 Round 7 match against Lorient after he received a third yellow card in a period of ten official matches.
Munetsi was booked in the 2-2 draw at Rennais last weekend while the other yellow card came in Round three of the campaign and the third one was carried forward from last season.
The suspension follows after the player served a red card ban in the game before the trip to Rennais.
Meanwhile, Munetsi has made seven appearances across all competitions in this season thus far. -Soccer 24
By A Correspondent | Government spokesperson, Nick Mangwana has at the last minute turned down a LIVE debate with former Harare mayor Gomba over MDC run councils saying:
“Please get someone from Zanu PF as I am not a politician and can’t really go for the political jugular as I am restrained by my office,” as he told ZimEye.
Yesterday Mangwana accused the MDC of running down the councils. He wrote on Twitter saying, “Our Cities have been totally run-down. What’s interesting is that in 20 years(1980-2000) we had great services.
“One wonders what has happened in the last 20(2000-2020) for us to be in this mess.
“Those who can’t run smaller things can’t surely run things at a National Scale.”
Our Cities have been totally run-down. What's interesting is that in 20 years(1980-2000) we had great services. One wonders what has happened in the last 20(2000-2020) for us to be in this mess. Those who can't run smaller things can't surely run things at a National Scale. pic.twitter.com/DzYBCmzcdk
Farai Dziva|ZINASU leader, Takudzwa Ngadziore who was granted bail on Friday, has declared he is determined to push for democratic change despite harassment and persecution.
The vibrant and brave ZINASU leader also urged the nation to unite in fighting for freedom from Zanu PF oppression.
Commenting on Ngadziore’s remarks President Chamisa said:
“On point Zinasu President. Resistance is the language of the oppressed!”
Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa’s desperate attempt to use guns to disrupt the people’s struggle literally confirms that he is an illegitimate leader who is afraid of the power of the citizens, according to President Chamisa.
Advocate Chamisa also took a swipe at the jittery Zanu PF leader for using “excessive force and coercion against hapless citizens.”
“The incumbent’s illegitimacy is confirmed by the excessive use of force and coercion against citizens.
Faith in brute force often mislead unpopular rulers to mistakenly rely on guns, imprisonment, teargas and terror to subjugate and muzzle citizens. Ultimately,citizens will always win,” President Chamisa said in a statement.
Farai Dziva|MDC-T Organizing Secretary, Abednego Bhebhe has all but distanced himself from Thokozani Khupe and Douglas Mwonzora’s sinking political project.
Bhebhe’s court affidavit exposes how Khupe and her disciples are using fake 2014 MDC-T structures to undertake the business of the 2014 MDC-T party.
Bhebhe also queried Khalipani Phugeni’s role in the 2014 MDC-T structures.
Bhebhe further exposed the high level of unconstitutionalism which has seen Thokozani Khupe and Mwonzora making decisions without consulting the National Council.
In a statement on the same issue, MDC Alliance said: MCD-T Organising Secretary Bhebhe has exposed how @DMwonzora and Khupe are manufacturing MDC-T 2014 structures, how they have consistently refused to hold meetings of 2014 legitimate structures in an EXPLOSIVE affidavit…
Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, many countries were making steady progress in tackling tuberculosis (TB), with a 9% reduction in incidence seen between 2015 and 2019 and a 14% drop in deaths in the same period. High-level political commitments at global and national levels were delivering results. However, a new report from WHO shows that access to TB services remains a challenge, and that global targets for prevention and treatment will likely be missed without urgent action and investments.
Approximately 1.4 million people died from TB-related illnesses in 2019. Of the estimated 10 million people who developed TB that year, some 3 million were not diagnosed with the disease, or were not officially reported to national authorities.
The situation is even more acute for people with drug-resistant TB. About 465 000 people were newly diagnosed with drug-resistant TB in 2019 and, of these, less than 40% were able to access treatment. There has also been limited progress in scaling up access to treatment to prevent TB.
“Equitable access to quality and timely diagnosis, prevention, treatment and care remains a challenge,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of WHO. “Accelerated action is urgently needed worldwide if we are to meet our targets by 2022.”
About 14 million people were treated for TB in the period 2018-2019, just over one-third of the way towards the 5-year target (2018-2022) of 40 million, according to the report. Some 6.3 million people started TB preventive treatment in 2018-2019, about one-fifth of the way towards the 5-year target of 30 million.
Funding is a major issue. In 2020, funding for TB prevention, diagnosis, treatment and care reached US$ 6.5 billion, representing only half of the US$ 13 billion target agreed by world leaders in the UN Political Declaration on TB.
The COVID-19 pandemic and TB
Disruptions in services caused by the COVID-19 pandemic have led to further setbacks. In many countries, human, financial and other resources have been reallocated from TB to the COVID-19 response. Data collection and reporting systems have also been negatively impacted.
According to the new report, data collated from over 200 countries has shown significant reductions in TB case notifications, with 25-30% drops reported in 3 high burden countries – India, Indonesia, the Philippines – between January and June 2020 compared to the same 6-month period in 2019. These reductions in case notifications could lead to a dramatic increase in additional TB deaths, according to WHO modelling.
However, in line with WHO guidance, countries have taken measures to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 on essential TB services, including by strengthening infection control. A total of 108 countries – including 21 countries with a high TB burden – have expanded the use of digital technologies to provide remote advice and support. To reduce the need for visits to health facilities, many countries are encouraging home-based treatment, all-oral treatments for people with drug-resistant TB, provision of TB preventive treatment, and ensuring people with TB maintain an adequate supply of drugs.
“In the face of the pandemic, countries, civil society and other partners have joined forces to ensure that essential services for both TB and COVID-19 are maintained for those in need,” said Dr Tereza Kaseva, Director of WHO’s Global TB Programme. “These efforts are vital to strengthen health systems, ensure health for all, and save lives.”
A recent progress report from the UN Secretary General outlines 10 priority actions for Member States and other stakeholders to close gaps in TB care, financing and research, as well as advance multisectoral action and accountability, including in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Note for the editors
Global targets
In 2014 and 2015, all Member States of WHO and the UN adopted the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and WHO’s End TB Strategy. The SDGs and End TB Strategy both include targets and milestones for large reductions in TB incidence, TB deaths and costs faced by TB patients and their households.
TB is included under Goal 3 Target 3.3 of the SDGs which aims to “end the epidemics of AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria and neglected tropical diseases” by the year 2030.
The WHO End TB Strategy aims for a 90 per cent reduction in TB deaths and an 80 per cent reduction in the TB incidence rate by 2030, compared to the 2015 baseline. Milestones for 2020 include a 20% reduction in the TB incidence rate and a 35% reduction in TB deaths.
Efforts to step up political commitment in the fight against TB intensified in 2017 and 2018 culminating, in September 2018, in the first-ever high-level meeting on TB at the UN General Assembly. The outcome was a political declaration in which commitments to the SDGs and End TB Strategy were reaffirmed. The UN Political Declaration on TB also included 4 new targets for the period 2018-2022:
Treat 40 million people for TB diseaseReach at least 30 million people with TB preventive treatment for a latent TB infectionMobilize at least US$13 billion annually for universal access to TB diagnosis, treatment and careMobilize at least US$2 billion annually for TB research…
Source :World Health Organization
Inserted by Zimbabwe Online Health Centre
For more information follow /like our Facebook page :Zimbabwe Online Health Centre
By A Correspondent | Government spokesperson, Nick Mangwana has at the last minute turned down a LIVE debate with former Harare mayor Gomba over MDC run councils saying: “Please get someone from Zanu PF as I am not a politician and can’t really go for the political jugular as I am restrained by my office,” as he told ZimEye.
Yesterday Mangwana accused the MDC of running down the councils. He wrote on Twitter saying, “Our Cities have been totally run-down. What’s interesting is that in 20 years(1980-2000) we had great services.
“One wonders what has happened in the last 20(2000-2020) for us to be in this mess.
“Those who can’t run smaller things can’t surely run things at a National Scale.”
Our Cities have been totally run-down. What's interesting is that in 20 years(1980-2000) we had great services. One wonders what has happened in the last 20(2000-2020) for us to be in this mess. Those who can't run smaller things can't surely run things at a National Scale. pic.twitter.com/DzYBCmzcdk
“But he posted a politically motivated statement on Twitter,” Gomba complained saying, to which Mangwana replied saying, “Lol. Tell him I posted as an aggrieved ratepayer.”
So why don’t you come debate with your mayor as a ratepayer then?
To this, Mangwana said, “Naaa. People will always quote what I say and attribute it to Govt. Get Cde Mugwadi or Chirau.”
Farai Dziva|MDC-T Organizing Secretary, Abednego Bhebhe has all but distanced himself from Thokozani Khupe and Douglas Mwonzora’s sinking political project.
Bhebhe’s court affidavit exposes how Khupe and her disciples are using fake 2014 MDC-T structures to undertake the business of the 2014 MDC-T party.
Bhebhe also queried Khalipani Phugeni’s role in the 2014 MDC-T structures.
Bhebhe further exposed the high level of unconstitutionalism which has seen Thokozani Khupe and Mwonzora making decisions without consulting the National Council.
In a statement on the same issue, MDC Alliance said: MCD-T Organising Secretary Bhebhe has exposed how @DMwonzora and Khupe are manufacturing MDC-T 2014 structures, how they have consistently refused to hold meetings of 2014 legitimate structures in an EXPLOSIVE affidavit…
By A Correspondent- MDC-Alliance party youth leader Godfrey Kurauone has slapped President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government and other accomplices with a $2.4 million lawsuit over his unlawful arrest, detention and malicious prosecution, which resulted in him spending more than 40 days in prison before he was acquitted.
Kurauone, who serves as the National Organising Secretary for the MDC-Alliance party’s Youth Assembly and also as Masvingo Urban Ward 4 Councillor, endured horror when he was imprisoned at Masvingo Remand Prison after he was arrested on 31 July 2020 and charged with obstructing the free movement of traffic during an anti-government protest to demonstrate against rampant corruption.
Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) officers who arrested Kurauone charged him with obstructing or endangering the free movement of persons or traffic as defined in Section 38(c) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act.
Following his arrest in July, Kurauone was denied bail at Masvingo Magistrates Court and at Masvingo High Court and only stood trial which commenced early in September.
During his trial at Masvingo Magistrates Court, prosecutors alleged that Kurauone blocked roads by putting stones and burnt tyres along Gaths Mine to Chirumanzu road for a stretch of 500 metres on 31 July.
Kurauone had also been charged with criminal nuisance as defined in section 46 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act for allegedly circulating a video on WhatsApp on 20 July showing him singing a song with lyrics which authorities deemed derogatory to President Mnangagwa.
But prosecutors later withdrew the criminal nuisance charge and prosecuted him over the charge of obstruction of free movement of persons and traffic.
However, Magistrate Patience Madondo on 10 September 2020 acquitted Kurauone after his lawyer Martin Mureri of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights applied for discharge at the close of the prosecution case thereby ending his prison ordeal.
In his notice of intention to sue, Kurauone charged that his arrest by ZRP officers and prosecution by representatives of Prosecutor-General Kumbirai Hodzi was motivated by malice and improper motives.
The opposition party youth leader cited Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Minister Kazembe Kazembe, ZRP Commissioner-General Godwin Matanga, Prosecutor-General Hodzi, Detective Constable Muonde, who arrested him and the Officer In Charge at Masvingo Central Police Station as respondents whom he asked to take appropriate action in paying him $2.4 million as compensation for gross violation of his rights.
Out of the $2.4 million that he is demanding, $500 000 is for damages for unlawful and wrongful arrest, $800 000 for unlawful and wrongful detention, $800 000 for malicious prosecution and $300 000 for legal expenses incurred defending himself against the malicious allegations levelled against him.
By A Correspondent- A prosecutor who was once forced to recuse herself from prosecuting an MDC Alliance MP has quit her job after standing for election in Zanu-PF internal elections.
Namatirai Chipere is contesting to be Zanu-PF’s legal secretary in District Coordinating Committee elections in Gweru.
After reports emerged last week of her participation in the election, Prosecutor General Kumbirai Hodzi finally responded to the furore on Thursday, revealing that Chipere had resigned as a prosecutor.
The government wishes to advise that in line with constitutional requirements, the prosecutor resigned from the National Prosecuting Authority,” Hodzi said in a statement issued through the ministry of information.
The statement did not say when she resigned.
Chipere’s open allegiance with Zanu-PF was a major sore point with opposition activists appearing in at the Magistrate’s Court in Gweru charged with various public order offences.
In June, she was forced to recuse herself from the trial of Chiwundura MP Livingstone Chimina after the court was shown pictures of her in Zanu-PF regalia. Chimina was on trial for allegedly assaulting a Zanu-PF member.
By A Correspondent- Since President Mnangagwa came into power in November 2017, the Government has shown commitment to improve the welfare of its workforce.
In an interview after touring a food manufacturing and processing firm in Bulawayo yesterday, Prof Ncube said:
“Since we came in as a new dispensation, we have not failed to pay the civil servants their normal salaries on time.
Secondly, we have not failed to pay them their bonus on time, so there should be no question about that.”
He said the Second Republic is committed to improving the welfare of its workers thus relentless efforts were being made to cushion them from the impact of Covid-19 pandemic.
“We will pay their normal bonus, and of late of course we’ve been negotiating with civil servants. They are receiving the 40 percent adjustment to their core salary and we are continuing with the US$75 payment per month under the Covid-19 allowance.
“That is carrying on and health sector workers are getting a further top up being for those that are in the frontline in terms of Covid-19,” said Prof Ncube.
“We have a four-tier system. We have got the first tier earning $6 000, the next tier about $3 750, the next tier about $2 500 and the last tier about $1 500 and that’s to deal with the health sector because they are on the frontline.”
He said that was in addition to the 40 percent adjustment and US$75 payment per month.
Ncube said the 13th cheque will be paid next month.
Meanwhile, the Government has said negotiations for salary increment with the National Joint Negotiating Council were underway and any agreement to be arrived at will be announced soon and honoured in the spirit of collective bargaining.
Government has a long history of negotiating with its workers in good faith and it is hoped that any salary increments the parties negotiate will not work against the stability that has been achieved on the financial markets and price stability as this will fuel inflation and erode the gains achieved so far.
Year-on-year inflation for last month slowed down to 659,4 percent compared to 761 percent the previous month, anchored by the progressive macro-economic policies Government is putting in place.
Official figures also show that the month-on-month inflation last month slid to 3,83 percent shedding 4,61 percentage points on the August rate of 8,44 percent.
Before the Government’s intervention through the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe, more than $8 billion was circulating outside the formal monetary systems and this was cited as one of the major factors driving price increases and instability on the foreign exchange markets.
It is in this context that the monetary authorities stepped in to stamp out illegal transactions by mobile money agents.
The Government, in June also moved in to promote macro-economic stability as well as containing the run-away inflation by introducing the weekly foreign exchange auction trading system.
Stability of the exchange rate on the auction market has stopped the run of the parallel market exchange rate, slowing down inflation.-statemedia
By Patrick Guramatunhu- One of the most offensive and exasperating things the white colonial oppressors did was to deny the blacks their voice and human dignity.
In the workplace blacks were called “boyi” and were expected to grovel before the whites, to show respect, and to do as they were told.
The print and electronic media was there to give the whites a voice. The few independent newspapers and magazine serving the blacks were expected to help keep law and order by not questioning the blatant racial injustice. And so such publications as Moto, a Roman Catholic Church backed magazine, were harassed and censored by the white regime for publishing strongly held views by blacks. The whites could not tolerate any black person do dared to think for themselves; they were considered radicals and dangerous.
In white ruled Rhodesia, blacks had no meaningful say in the governance of the country. They had no vote; period.
Zimbabwe’s independence in 1980 has brought an end to white colonial oppression but only to replace it with black ruling elite oppression. All pretence of Zimbabwe being a multi-party democracy completely evaporated with the signing of the Zanu PF and PF Zapu Unity Accord in 1987; merging the two parties to form the de facto one-party, Zanu PF, dictatorship.
Zanu PF assimilated the laws and practices designed to silence and oppress the blacks, lock, stock and barrel, and keep the white in power; only this time they were to keep the Zanu PF dictatorship in power.
In Zanu PF ruled Zimbabwe, blacks had a vote in theory but not in practice. Starting with the 1980 elections Zanu PF has blatantly cheated and used violence varying from subtle intimidation to beatings, rape and even cold-blooded murder to secure electoral victory. Zimbabwe has never ever held free, fair and credible elections.
The root cause of Zimbabwe’s economic mess is the failure to hold free and fair elections. The country has been stuck with a corrupt and incompetent Zanu PF regime for 40 years now. 40 years of gross mismanagement and rampant corruption have left the country in economic ruins and millions are now living in abject poverty.
The economic situation in Zimbabwe has reached alarming levels, unemployment has soared to 90% plus, basic services such as education and health care have all but collapsed. 34% of the population, according to WB 2019 report, were living in extreme poverty. The corona virus pandemic has made the health and economic situation even worse. The human suffering caused by the economic meltdown has become intolerable.
It is extremely annoying therefore that instead of the nation addressing the country’s economic mess and the underlying cause of rigged elections the nation being forced to discuss a side show.
“Zanu-PF takes strong exception to being lectured on issues of human rights by citizens of countries which perpetrated the brutalities accompanying the Atlantic African Slave Trade and colonial conquest of Africa, and who refuse to render apologies or pay reparations,” said Patrick Chinamasa, Zanu PF’s acting spokesperson.
“As a consequence of seeking to redress the brutalities that occurred in the colonisation of Zimbabwe, accompanied by dispossession of our land and brutal confiscation of livestock by colonialists, the country has suffered 20 years of naked bullying, economic isolation and severe sanctions regime by the former colonial powers now acting in concert as economic and political powers in support of what they allege are rights of 4 500 white former farmers,” he said.
Ordinary Zimbabweans have been calling for the restoration of their basic freedoms and human rights including the right to a meaningful vote and the right to life itself. Of course, they have been crying for freedom, peace, justice and human dignity all their lives; they are at the coal face of Zanu PF oppression just as they were at the coal face of white colonial oppression.
Last month President Cyril Ramaphosa of SA send envoys to Zimbabwe whose mission was to encourage Zanu PF to accept meaningful democratic changes and end the country’s worsening economic and political crisis. SA was told in no uncertain terms to mind its own business.
“We are an independent sovereign country. We agreed in our meeting that we are equal sovereign States. South Africa has no mediatory role to play in Zimbabwe. We know that the South African government is controlled by white men,” remarked Patrick Chinamasa.
So Zanu PF has completely ignored the ordinary Zimbabweans who have crying for their freedoms and rights because the regime is indifferent to their suffering. And, more significantly, Zanu PF, just like the white colonial regime before it, does not recognise ordinary Zimbabweans as human beings entitled to the same freedoms and rights as other human being.
“That at the time of abolition of the Atlantic African slave trade the British through the British Parliament approved and paid 20 million pounds to slave owners already rich through the labour of the slaves,” concluded Chinamasa.
This is just madness! And so, ordinary Zimbabweans be denied their basic freedoms and rights because the British compensated the slave owners but not the slaves. What has that got to do with me?
By A Correspondent- A Malawian Judge, Judge Mankhambira Charles Mkandawire will smile all the way to the bank after the regional bloc Southern African Development Committee has ordered to compensate him after they reportedly wrongfully terminated his contact as the bloc’s Registrar of the SADC Tribunal, Nyasa Times reports.
Mkandawire who had been locked in a legal battle with SADC will reportedly be compensated for US$380 184.71 less his cumulative earnings in Malawi from the time of the termination of his contract up to 30th November 2016.
Additionally, the judge will also get a 10% interest on the amount of claim from 30th November 2016 until the whole amount is paid in full.
The Tribunal that ruled in Judge Mkandawire’s favor was chaired by fired judge Justice Francis Bere at the SADC Administrative Tribunal in Gaborone, Botswana under application number 2 of 2019. Justice Bere reportedly chastised the SADC Secretariat for humiliating Judge Mkandawire and ordered the latter to pay for the cost of the suit.
In delivering his ruling Justice Bere reportedly said: The Applicant’s departure from SADC was characterized by extreme humiliation which negatively impacted on the general welfare of his family. His wife and Son who were enrolled at some universities in Namibia had to cut short their studies. In short, the Applicant made an unceremonious exit from SADC. The whole script makes sad reading
By A Correspondent- Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has released details that show armed robbery cases are on the rise in Zimbabwe.
Using their official Twitter handle ZRP posted the following cases in which a gang of armed robbers managed to rob unsuspecting citizens of their hard-earned cash or property.
Tweeted ZRP:
In Chitungwiza, on 13/10/20, seven unknown male adults broke into a house armed with a rifle and iron bars. The men robbed the family of cash US$5 020.00 , two cell-phones and made good their escape. Police are investigating the matter.
In Beitbridge, on 13/10/20, a man who had gone for prayers in the bush was approached by five armed men. The men robbed him of cash ZAR10 000.00, US$200.00, seven cellphones and clothes. Investigations are also underway.
Police in Harare are investigating a case of armed robbery where a man (41) was robbed of his Toyota Hilux Revo vehicle, reg.no. AFE 3194 by three male adults driving a grey Honda Fit on 13/10/20 in Eastlea, Hre. 2/2 The men were armed with pistols and they also took away the man’s cellphone and two laptops. #notocrime
ZRP also warned the public against boarding unregistered vehicles as they said robbers are now using unregistered vehicles to steal from the public:
Members of the public are warned against boarding unregistered motor vehicles. On 13/10/20 a man (29) boarded an unregistered silver Toyota Axio in Harare intending to go to Bindura.The vehicle had three occupants who then robbed the man of his cash, laptop, cellphones and two satchels. The man was dumped at Greencroft shopping centre.
On the same date, in Kuwadzana, a man (32) boarded an unregistered Nissan Caravan and with seven occupants who robbed him of his cash and dumped him in Kuwadzana 4.A female adult (27) boarded an unregistered black Toyota Wish in Zengeza 3, Chitungwiza intending to go to Sunningdale on 12/10/20 at around 2200 hours. The driver stopped the vehicle and three other occupants on board searched the woman and stole her cash, two cellphones and clothes at knife point. She was dumped near Maruta Shopping centre.#notounregisteredvehicles
By A Correspondent- ZCTU has urged the government to close down schools till striking teachers return to work because of reports of students being involved in undesirable activities in schools.
There are several videos circulating on social media of learners engaging in truant activities at schools where there is no one to chastise them because there are no teachers.
The development comes after a video circulated on social media of a nasty fight involving learners where the students are seen fighting each other with chairs in a classroom.
Close schools until teachers are back after resolving their legitimate grievances. We are going to witness fatalities in these schools without teachers. Parents why are you sending children to school?
Teachers have been on strike since schools opened on 28 September.
By A Correspondent- According to Police Commissioner General Godwin Matanga, ZRP will recruit 1000 Police officers after the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic is over..
PG Matanga was speaking during a “discuss the security situation in the country” news briefing he jointly addressed with the Home Affairs Minister Kazembe Kazembe.
Matanga said:
We last recruited in 2018, but I have been given the green light by the Police Service Commission through the Home Affairs ministry to recruit 1,000 men and women to train as police officers.
The Covid-19 pandemic came unplanned and we ended up having too many roadblocks, so the army ended up collaborating with the police.
If you read the Constitution, depending on the situation on the ground the army may be called in to assist. It’s not about shortages (of police officers) but it’s about the public order situation where you will see we have roadblocks all over. Any department can be called in to assist.
Matanga commended the work of the police officers who work for his department and said even though they were not adequately funded, they have done a good job in dealing with dangerous criminals.
During the same briefing Kazembe Kazembe urged fugitive politicians to voluntarily surrender themselves to the authorities to clear their names.
The president of the Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe, Dr Takavafira Zhou has said the government is to blame for the high prevalence of pregnancy cases among learners.
This comes after the Ministry of Higher and Secondary Education has reported that over 400 learners dropped out of school due to pregnancies and or illnesses.
Meanwhile, education minister Cain Mathema said communities and parents or guardians should work together for the upbringing of children since the said pregnancies were registered while learners were home. We present Zhou’s statement below.
Gvt Reponsible for the High Prevalence of Pregnancy Cases Among 2020 Students
17 October 2020
Ptuz baseline survey has shown that more than 20 000 of the 2020 final examination girl candindates are heavily pregnant. While parents may be partially responsible for this state of affairs, gvt must take the large blame.
Fundamentally, gvt enacted regulations allowing pregnant girl children to continue with their education have been taken as an open cheque to sex with the consequent high prevalence of pregnancy among students.
We highlighted previously that there was need for wide engagement with communities and educators but our professional advice was disregarded. Not that the enactment was totally wrong, but that it was hurriedly done without engaging stakeholders and explaining its efficacy. Anything right but done at the wrong time and without safety valves is totally wrong and we are paying for our wrong actions. The govt must therefore accept total responsibility for its actions and inactions.
Over and above since schools closed on 24 March there was very little activity, if any, to engage students and communities on awareness of covid 19 pandemic, confidence building, new pedagogical intercourse between teachers and learners, and creating hope for a better future.
The only source of intertainment for poor students became sex, more so when the politicians, artisinal miners, money changers and some rich cartels dangled monetary poisoned carrots.
Worse still the current gvt has presided over the fall of the teaching profession from grace to grass with monotonous regularity, reducing salaries from US$520-US$40 thereby eroding the value and dignity of teachers. The loss of our lustre has also been accompanied by loss of being role models so much that our advice is not accepted by students.
We therefore have lost our role as custodians of moral values and good chacter builders with the consequent high prevalence of pregnant cases among students.
Govt has eroded the importance of education in Zimbabwe so much that students do not see the value of pursuit of educational endeavours. So when students meet ‘potential cash husbands’ they are eager to get pregnant. Sadly, most of such potential husbands are either already married or liars who quickly dump students.
Worse still the more than 90% unemployment, poverty and misery of majority of Zimbabweans have left many parents unable to pay school fees and thereby enticing students to engage in sex in order to survive.
The current situation where students are going to schools where more than 90% of teachers are not present due to incapacitation will worsen the prevalence of pregnancy rate. Several students leave their homes allegedly to go schools but never get there as they spend the day either in guest houses abused by politicians and cartels or in some bush abused by artisinal miners etc. Most such students leave their homes wearing uniforms but quickly change into other clothes along the way.
Way Forward -The right to education is a fundamental right that must be guaranteed by gvt in order to allow children from poor families to pursue their education to a logical conclusion. -Gvt must restore the status of teachers that has been eroded over time. The best way to do so is to pay them a living wage. -Parents must stop sending their children to school until teachers are in schools. If so many pupils got pregnant while in your custody, what more is happening in the absence of teachers in schools? It is free for all, more so given group sex orgies arranged by students where male and female students would be naked drinking and taking drugs.
By A Correspondent- Vice President Kembo Mohadi has said the ruling ZANU PF will continue ruling despite the name-calling by its detractors.
Mohadi made the remarks while addressing government officials, among them Cabinet ministers, following a tour of infrastructure built under the Beitbridge Redevelopment Project. He said:
People call us junta, the President (Emmerson Mnangagwa) is a war veteran, Vice-President (Constantino) Chiwenga is a soldier, I am a soldier, (Housing) minister (Daniel) Garwe here is a soldier and we will rule not minding what the media says. We will continue to rule. Civilians will not.
Those of you who are like dogs barking at the rising moon, you can come back home because the moon will continue rising. There is nothing wrong in coming back home.
A Military Junta predominantly refers to the government of an authoritarian state run by high-ranking officers of a military.
ZANU PF critics started using the term junta in reference to President Mnangagwa after he rose to power in 2017 through a military assisted transition.
Mnangagwa is also accused of conniving with the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) to manipulate 2018 elections in his favour.
Analysts have also observed the militarisation of several government departments and parastatals since the ascendancy of Mnangagwa to power.-Newsday
By A Correspondent- A habitual thief from Tsholotsho who used a spoon to break into the same shop through the same window on six different occasions and stole groceries and airtime worth over $20 000 shocked a court when he blamed Satan for his criminal activities.
But the court rubbished the burglar Nqobile Moyo (20)’s lame excuse and sentenced him to 10 years imprisonment with hard labour.
This was after he was convicted of six counts of unlawful entry into premises and six counts of theft by Tsholotsho resident magistrate Victor Mpofu.
He will, however, spend an effective of eight years behind bars after two years of his jail package was suspended for five years on condition that he does not within that period commit similar crimes.
For the State, prosecutor Billiard Muguwu told the court that on the night of 22 January this year and at around 11pm Moyo armed himself with a spoon and went to Jonathan Ndebele (36)’s shop at Ntulula Business Centre in Tsholotsho.
Upon arrival he forced open one of the shop windows and got inside. While inside he took a Samsung cell phone, 16 x 200mls Skippers cane spirit, 5x500g biscuits, 65x Netone juice cards and 26x$10 Econet juice cards, altogether worth $7 350.
On 9 February at around 10 pm the accused person went to the complainant’s shop and used a spoon again to force open the same window and took 10x500ml Pepsi drinks, 6x200ml Clere body lotion, 25x500g hello snacks, 16x$10 Netone juice cards and the stolen items were valued at $5 500.
The court heard that on 11 May at around 10pm using the same modus operandi, Moyo again broke into Ndebele’s shop and took 6x500ml maheu, 5x200g chunks, 5x2kg sugar, 21x$10 Netone juice cards and the stolen items were valued at $4 500.
The court proved that on 15 April, Moyo again went to Ndebele’s shop armed with a spoon and forced open the same window and stole groceries and airtime worth $3 700.
The stolen items include 4x2kg rice, 15x500g hello snacks, 18x$10 net one juice cards and 22x$5 Econet juice cards.
On 22 May at around 11pm a daring Moyo struck again at Ndebele’s shop and took 4x2litre cooking oil, 5x500g peanut butter, seven loaves of bread, 27x$10 Netone juice cards and a speaker box, all valued at $5 500.
Having made it a habit to break into Ndebele’s shop using the same spoon and window, on 8 June at around 11pm Moyo again took 16x200g maputi, 5x500ml milk and 4x500g salt.
His luck, however, ran out on 22 June when police arrested him and recovered a speaker box, Samsung cell phone and a few groceries from his house.
Moyo admitted to stealing the items and when asked why he committed the offence, Moyo told the magistrate that the devil had possessed him and instructed him to commit the crime.
In coming up with the sentence the magistrate considered that the accused’s conduct was far from repentance as he repeatedly broke into the complainant’s business premises. He said this was an act of economic sabotage on the innocent complainant who was trying to make ends meet in a distressed economy.-statemedia
By A Correspondent- A teacher who duped a woman of R35 000 and US$1 050 in a botched building material deal ran out of luck and has been convicted of his crime.
A court heard that at a date not known to the prosecutor but in May last year Zenzile Mahlangu (38) was introduced to Mzokhulu Ncube (45), a teacher at Eastview High School in Bulawayo by her pastor.
The court heard the pastor told Mahlangu that Ncube could help her get building material as she was constructing a house in Trenance suburb.
Mahlangu embraced the idea which resulted in her and Ncube meeting at her flat in the city centre.
Representing the State, Hardlife Mhaka said:
“Mahlangu allegedly gave Mzokhulu US$1 050 for the purchase of window panes and door frames for her house which is under construction in Trenance suburb,” he said.
The court heard that Ncube allegedly squandered the money and told the unsuspecting Mahlangu that he was waiting for an order from South Africa.
In April last year he allegedly phoned Mahlangu and asked for a second payment saying he wanted to order a lot of building material for her so that she would finish building her house quickly.
Mahlangu, the court heard, was enticed by that and she allegedly gave him R35 000 so that he could buy building material that included an aluminium frame. The court heard that after two weeks of that payment, Ncube’s phone was not reachable and that raised eyebrows prompting Mahlangu to look for him and she found him at Eastview High School where he is employed as a teacher.
When she asked about the building material Ncube allegedly made empty promises. Subsequently Mahlangu sensed she was duped and reported the matter to the police leading to Ncube’s arrest.
During a full trial before magistrate Amanda Moyo, Ncube was convicted of theft of trust property and remanded in custody. He will be sentenced next week on Monday.-statemedia
Own Correspondent| Gogo Ndunge has reportedly fired a broadside at controversial Masvingo based preacher Isaac Makomichi after the two clashed over a client.
The controversial cleric posted a statement on social media, boasting of his spiritual powers.
“Two friends are dating one person-the other one is my client and the other one is Mbuya Ndunge’s.
Now my client won the race, it’s sad to note that Mbuya Ndunge is calling me saying she will destroy me.
I have confirmed the number through eco cash and I have managed to record voice calls.
Definitely I’m making a police report today.
If she is strong enough let her help her client to win back the boyfriend,” claimed Makomichi.
By A Correspondent- Eunice Chitangu from Marumisa village under Chief Nemangwe has been hauled to the traditional court after she decided to punish her husband Nesbert Chitondo by denying him sex over unpaid lobola.
Chitagu also made this decision as punishment for allegedly demanding sex all the time even when she was not in the mood.
It was revealed to B-Metro that in January this year, Chitangu who felt her husband should not continue enjoying her affection without giving her parents their dues as an appreciation for raising a woman who bore him four children solemnly told him the comfort, he had enjoyed was equivalent to the lobola he had so far paid.
Irked by his wife’s “sufficient reason” to deny him his conjugal rights, Chitondo then approached Chief Nemangwe’s traditional court complaining that his wife was holding him at ransom by allegedly denying him sex on grounds that he had not yet finished paying lobola for her.
According to a source who claimed to have intimate details of the incident, Chitondo was now accusing his wife of having a boyfriend arguing that same boyfriend must be the one who has been issuing instructions to his wife so that he doesn’t get his conjugal rights.
“In his case which is yet to be heard before Chief Nemangwe, Chitondo is complaining about his wife saying since January this year, he has not had sex with her because every time he tries to stimulate her sexual desires, she would refuse saying he should pay the outstanding lobola.
“Despite the fact he wanted the chief to restore the conjugal rights, Chitondo was complaining that he was also fed up of living with a stingy and disrespectful wife,” the source said.
The source further said Chitondo tried his best to make his wife happy and he even preached to her on the dangers of leaving him sexually starved, but to no avail.
B-Metro also gathered that central to the dispute is the fact that Chitondo was constantly demanding sex to an extent that he would even set his alarm clock an extra 30-40 minutes early so that he could fit in some of his lovemaking sessions with his seemingly restive wife.
Contacted for comment Chief Nemangwe could neither confirm nor deny the incident.
“I am not at liberty to comment on that case now because I have a lot of cases before me, which accumulated after we suspended hearings in March as part of Government’s efforts to reduce the spread of the deadly Covid-19. I will however, only be able to do so after I have presided over it,” said Chief Nemangwe
By A Correspondent- A Bulawayo man who is reportedly under investigation for suspected murder in Gwanda, Matabeleland South province is also being accused of engaging in the “cold and callous” acts of digging up graves.
Although his motive for digging up graves was not immediately established, Noel Masuku from Cowdray Park suburb was exposed by his brother Nicholas Masuku who is also a businessman after he sued him for breaching his peace by persistently confronting him over the suspected murder case whose investigations are still pending.
This was also after Noel claimed that his elder brother was branding him a witch before he threatened to hire thugs to abduct him.
So frosty is the relationship between the two brothers that Noel last week rushed to Bulawayo Civil Court and sought a protection order against Nicholas claiming he had also threatened to kill him.
“I request that the court must secure me with a protection order against my brother Nicholas Khawulani Masuku who is threatening to kill me. He is constantly coming to my house to insult me while armed with a pistol.
He is also saying I am a wizard and he will hire people to abduct me and make me disappear forever. He claims that since he is an ex- soldier who was trained to kill, no one will arrest him because he is well connected to all law enforcement agencies,” said an emotionally disturbed Noel.
Noel further said Nicholas was also insulting his mother calling her a prostitute who was abusing his father’s wealth.
He then begged presiding magistrate Nkosinomusa Ncube to grant a protection order against his brother saying the harassment was now affecting his family.
In response Nicholas justified his frequent visits to his younger brother’s place saying he had a case to answer concerning a suspected murder case which happened in Gwanda.
“I once came to court last year regarding this issue and the applicant defaulted. He is my brother and there is a pending murder case in Gwanda which is under investigation. We suspected he murdered someone and is also being suspected of digging up graves. I called him about this and went to his house to talk about it and he is now accusing me of fighting with him.
“In fact he is the one who is always fighting with us and there is no reason why I should shoot him. He is, however, interfering with investigations in which I’m also a complainant,” responded Nicholas.
In her ruling the magistrate granted an order in favour of Noel which spells that Nicholas should not call him or to go to his house without his consent and the order is valid for a period of eight years.
In coming up with the ruling the magistrate observed that there were reasonable grounds for believing that Nicholas had committed a breach of peace towards his younger brother especially from his submissions that he was going to reprimand him over the suspected murder case in question whose investigations were still pending.-BMetro
By A Correspondent- MDC Alliance Vice national Chairperson Job Sikhala has warned Zanu Pf stalwarts that their party will not rule Zimbabwe forever.
Said Sikhala:
Dear Kembo Mohadi
You are deluded to entertain your illusions that you will rule this country forever. Although you called yourself junta, what you said will happen on our dead bodies. Mkajaidzwa kudzvanyirira vanhu. We are on this case as serious as well as you purport to be.”
Dear Kembo Mohadi.
You are deluded to entertain your illusions that you will rule this country forever. Although you called yourself junta, what you said will happen on our dead bodies. Makajaidzwa kudzvanyirira vanhu. We are on this case as serious as well as you purport to be.
What I have been briefed since my release from prison from the African diplomatic front is that ED's regime has totally shut out emissaries from @President Cyril Ramaphosa from meeting anyone outside themselves. On this they will not relent. Time now to think outside the box.
By A Correspondent- While many people are happy that the rainy season is upon us, a woman from Ntabazinduna is living in fear of losing her life after her estranged husband threatened to kill her by lightning while in her house.
Rhoda Dlodlo from Madlelenyoni Line claimed her ex-husband Elias Zondo from Dobha Line in ward 5, also in Ntabazinduna, threatened that he had the power to send lightning to kill her as punishment for deserting him.
In a desperate bid to stop Zondo from carrying out his chilling threats, a fearful Dlodlo approached the Bulawayo Civil Court and sought a protection order against him.
“I want a protection order to be granted against my ex-husband Elias Zondo. We parted ways because he was an irresponsible man. He was failing to financially support me. He is a drunkard and would drink beer from morning till late at night.
“He would come home very drunk and start insulting me with vulgar language. On 17 September he followed me to my sister’s house where I’m now staying. He came armed with an axe and knobkerrie and was threatening to harm me.
“He also threatened to bewitch me saying he was going to send lightning to kill me together with those I’m staying with. He is also coming late at night at our home and lies in wait in the yard. He is a very dangerous man and I now feel insecure that he can harm me together with those people I’m staying with,” said Dlodlo.
Zondo didn’t, however, refute his ex-wife’s accusations. He said he carried out the threats in a bid to force Dlodlo to reconcile with him.
“Yes, I followed her to where she is now staying because I wanted her to come back home so that we can stay together. I was hurt that she deserted me so that is why I followed her to her place of residence. This is also because I didn’t expect her to leave me just like that,” protested Zondo.
His efforts to reconcile with Dlodlo seemed to have been dampened after the presiding magistrate Nkosinomusa Ncube sternly ordered him that for the next six months he should not to go to her house without her consent or to behave in a violent manner towards her.-statemedia
By Patrick Guramatunhu- One of the most offensive and exasperating things the white colonial oppressors did was to deny the blacks their voice and human dignity. In the workplace blacks were called “boyi” and were expected to grovel before the whites, to show respect, and to do as they were told.
The print and electronic media was there to give the whites a voice. The few independent newspapers and magazine serving the blacks were expected to help keep law and order by not questioning the blatant racial injustice. And so such publications as Moto, a Roman Catholic Church backed magazine, were harassed and censored by the white regime for publishing strongly held views by blacks. The whites could not tolerate any black person do dared to think for themselves; they were considered radicals and dangerous.
In white ruled Rhodesia, blacks had no meaningful say in the governance of the country. They had no vote; period.
Zimbabwe’s independence in 1980 has brought an end to white colonial oppression but only to replace it with black ruling elite oppression. All pretence of Zimbabwe being a multi-party democracy completely evaporated with the signing of the Zanu PF and PF Zapu Unity Accord in 1987; merging the two parties to form the de facto one-party, Zanu PF, dictatorship.
Zanu PF assimilated the laws and practices designed to silence and oppress the blacks, lock, stock and barrel, and keep the white in power; only this time they were to keep the Zanu PF dictatorship in power.
In Zanu PF ruled Zimbabwe, blacks had a vote in theory but not in practice. Starting with the 1980 elections Zanu PF has blatantly cheated and used violence varying from subtle intimidation to beatings, rape and even cold-blooded murder to secure electoral victory. Zimbabwe has never ever held free, fair and credible elections.
The root cause of Zimbabwe’s economic mess is the failure to hold free and fair elections. The country has been stuck with a corrupt and incompetent Zanu PF regime for 40 years now. 40 years of gross mismanagement and rampant corruption have left the country in economic ruins and millions are now living in abject poverty.
The economic situation in Zimbabwe has reached alarming levels, unemployment has soared to 90% plus, basic services such as education and health care have all but collapsed. 34% of the population, according to WB 2019 report, were living in extreme poverty. The corona virus pandemic has made the health and economic situation even worse. The human suffering caused by the economic meltdown has become intolerable.
It is extremely annoying therefore that instead of the nation addressing the country’s economic mess and the underlying cause of rigged elections the nation being forced to discuss a side show.
“Zanu-PF takes strong exception to being lectured on issues of human rights by citizens of countries which perpetrated the brutalities accompanying the Atlantic African Slave Trade and colonial conquest of Africa, and who refuse to render apologies or pay reparations,” said Patrick Chinamasa, Zanu PF’s acting spokesperson.
“As a consequence of seeking to redress the brutalities that occurred in the colonisation of Zimbabwe, accompanied by dispossession of our land and brutal confiscation of livestock by colonialists, the country has suffered 20 years of naked bullying, economic isolation and severe sanctions regime by the former colonial powers now acting in concert as economic and political powers in support of what they allege are rights of 4 500 white former farmers,” he said.
Ordinary Zimbabweans have been calling for the restoration of their basic freedoms and human rights including the right to a meaningful vote and the right to life itself. Of course, they have been crying for freedom, peace, justice and human dignity all their lives; they are at the coal face of Zanu PF oppression just as they were at the coal face of white colonial oppression.
Last month President Cyril Ramaphosa of SA send envoys to Zimbabwe whose mission was to encourage Zanu PF to accept meaningful democratic changes and end the country’s worsening economic and political crisis. SA was told in no uncertain terms to mind its own business.
“We are an independent sovereign country. We agreed in our meeting that we are equal sovereign States. South Africa has no mediatory role to play in Zimbabwe. We know that the South African government is controlled by white men,” remarked Patrick Chinamasa.
So Zanu PF has completely ignored the ordinary Zimbabweans who have crying for their freedoms and rights because the regime is indifferent to their suffering. And, more significantly, Zanu PF, just like the white colonial regime before it, does not recognise ordinary Zimbabweans as human beings entitled to the same freedoms and rights as other human being.
“That at the time of abolition of the Atlantic African slave trade the British through the British Parliament approved and paid 20 million pounds to slave owners already rich through the labour of the slaves,” concluded Chinamasa.
This is just madness! And so, ordinary Zimbabweans be denied their basic freedoms and rights because the British compensated the slave owners but not the slaves. What has that got to do with me?
Linda Masarira, a Zimbabwean politician and current president of the Labour, Economists and African Democrats party (LEAD) has written an open letter to Police Commissioner-General Godwin Matanga complaining about police brutality on a senior citizen. Below is the letter.
16 October 2020
Dear CG Matanga,
It is with pain in my heart that I write this letter to you, after learning of the harassment by the police of an elderly woman Editor Mavaza aged 65 residing in Glen View.
The background of the story is that last month in September Editor Mavaza was assaulted by her tenant who is lodging at her house 7988 28th Road Glen View area 8, Harare.
She was assaulted after asking the tenant to vacate her house after 3 months notice had lapsed. The police did not arrest the tenant after she had made a report at ZRP Glen View.
The officer at ZRP Makomva Post in Glenview threatened the complainant and sent her back home where the lodger had remained. The lodger had systematically and continually harassed this old woman taking advantage that she is a widow and her two adult boys died within six months of each other due to unnatural causes.
The tenant refused to pay the outstanding rentals and for the current month of October and is still staying at the house. Out of frustration, the home-owner decided to remove the door of the room which the lodger was using and he reported to the police leading to the arrest of Editor Mavaza.
She was arrested and charged with unlawful eviction of a lodger. Despite the clear fact that the law does not recognise the removal of a door as a crime the police harassed Editor insulted her. One lady police officer told her that if she does not cooperate with the lodger she will rot in cells.
The police denied Editor Mavaza her right to contact her lawyer and access to food and her medication.
Commissioner-General, this woman is a senior citizen who has been harassed by law enforcement agents, denied medication and food, a right to fair trial and was released yesterday without a charge.
The police in order to cover up they told the complainant to make a withdrawal to legitimise their detention of this old lady.
The reason why I am engaging your office, is that it is not the first time that women house owners have approached me for assistance in similar matters in Harare.
The cases are similar in nature where ZRP officials take sides and deny women the right to a fair trial and justice.
In this case, when she reported the assault case it was ignored and that is an issue of gender-based violence which all organs of the state should condemn without fear or favour.
Commissioner General, the detention of Editor Mavaza was unlawful and vindictive. The police used cells to force the poor old lady to allow the abusive lodger to stay at her house where he is not paying rent. The lodger is actually boasting that the police are in his pocket and he will do things his way.
My pain Commissioner-General is that the actions of the police stinks of corruption and I am humbly asking you to institute investigations of all involved officers.
Furthermore, the charge did not warrant a detention denial including being denied her medication and refusal to avail the poor lady to see her lawyer.
I know that you are a man who does not tolerate corruption and abuse of police powers. Please look into this matter and bring justice to this poor old lady.
I have decided to take this case to you for assistance.
Women’s rights are human rights. In anticipation of a favourable response I remain,
A reflection of the strong bond between President Tsvangirai and President Chamisa .Above PresidentTsvangirai “hands over” the stick to President Chamisa
By A Correspondent- Zimbabwe’s Finance Minister, Professor Mthuli Ncube has said the current administration led by President Emmerson Mnangagwa has always paid workers’ salaries and bonuses on time.
Ncube told The Herald in an interview after touring a food manufacturing and processing firm in Bulawayo that bonuses will be coming in November. He said:
Since we came in as the New Dispensation, we have not failed to pay the civil servants their normal salaries on time.
Secondly, we have not failed to pay them their bonus on time, so there should be no question about that. We will pay their normal bonus, and of late of course, we have been negotiating with civil servants.
They are receiving the 40 percent adjustment to their core salary and we are continuing with the US$75 payment per month under the Covid-19 allowance.
That is carrying on and health sector workers are getting a further top-up being for those that are in the frontline in terms of Covid-19.
Before the Mnangagwa-led administration came to power in 2017, workers pay dates were not certain and would usually be staggered to the following month as government coffers had allegedly dried up.
Meanwhile, workers have expressed concern over the depreciation of the value of their salaries leaving them incapacitated to perform their contractual duties and responsibilities.
Resultantly, they have since last year embarked on a series of protests to force the government to restore their 2018 salaries.
By Masimba Mavaza- “Man sitting on outdoor wooden stairwell, cupped hand wrapped around clenched hand, both hands held to mouth, a pained gaze.”
This is the everyday posture most men in the UK adopt under pressure from their partners and spouses.
Domestic violence against men is rampant in the UK. The laws in the UK tilts towards women thus many men have become victims. Many men are in an abusive relationship. Zimbabwean men are shocked by the behaviour of their women once they come to England.
Abuse of men happens far more often than you might expect in most relationships. It happens to men from all cultures and all walks of life regardless of age or occupation.
Figures suggest that as many as one in three Zimbabwean victims of domestic violence are male. However, men are often reluctant to report abuse because they feel embarrassed, fear they won’t be believed, or are scared that their partner will take revenge.
Maxwell Mutungwazi is a Zimbabwean man who joined his wife in the United Kingdom. He narrates his story with tears running down his cheeks.
“I was a manager in one of the factories in Harare. Life was not that bad. I was managing. I had stayed two years with my minor children my wife had gone to the Uk. She would call me everyday we would talk. All was well. She got a job as a nurse and she would send money. So we applied for our visa that is me and my children. The kids were excited to see their mother after two years. The thought of flying for the first time the dreams of being in the arms of my wife again made me glow with expectations. We were on the top of the clouds literally as we flew into the Uk. Our first month was perfect a scene cut out of a romantic movie.”
Maxwell paused for a minute the tears on his cheeks had dried leaving two bold white lines which ran from the eyes down the cheeks. He looked at me and said:
“My life has turned upside down. My wife started not coming home saying she was having long days and nights. She had developed ways of answering her phone away from me. When on a voice call, she would go lock herself in the car.
She would say they are private work calls. If I demanded to see only the number which called her, she became an abusive partner. She would hit, kick, bite, punch, spit, throw things, or destroy my possessions. She would tell me that “Boarder ndi maenzanise ” if I tried to stand up to her. She would call the police on me.”
To make up for any difference in strength, she attacked me while I was asleep or otherwise catch me by surprise. She started using weapons such as pots or knives, or strike me with an object, abuse or threaten our children.
She then would tell me that If I tried to retaliate, she would take me off her visa.”
Maxwell paused again now his tears had started to flow. This time his nose gave way. He was so powerless to wipe them out. He continued now with a shaky voice.
“You know I left my job. I sold my property and we even sold the house. There is nothing back home. I am trapped in this country. My wife does what she wants. The little time she is home she is on WhatsApp.”
Of course, domestic abuse is not limited to violence. Emotional and verbal abuse can be just as damaging. As a male, your spouse or partner may:Verbally abuse you, belittle you, or humiliate you in front of friends, colleagues, or family, or on social media.
Maxwell explained how his wife can call her relatives dissing him”. However, when Maxwell is on the phone with his shift manager, the wife becomes possessive, acts jealous, or harasses him with accusations of being unfaithful.
“One day she took away my car keys and told me that she bought it and she does what she wants. She tries to control where i go and who I see. Despite the fact that she is never at home. The little times we see each other, its always horror and disaster.”
He continued:
“She tries to control how i spend the little money i earn or deliberately default on joint financial obligations saying “You are now working, look after the family.”
When she meets the few friends I have made, she makes false allegations about me to my friends, employer, or the police, or find other ways to manipulate and isolate me. She threatened to leave me and prevent me from seeing my kids if I was to report the abuse.”
He continued this time visibly dejected
“As an abused man, I faced a lot of challenges including shortage of resources, a lack of understanding from friends and family, and legal obstacles, especially if trying to gain custody of my children from an abusive mother.”
All this gave me a very deep anger so one day I left the house i took my kids with me. Thats when the police came and charged me with abduction.”
He started sobbing.
“I have lived with my kids alone all these years until this woman called the police on me. They took my kids from me I don’t even know where my kids are. The police took me and instructed that i be examined under mental health act. I was then forcefully kept at a home for being mentally disturbed. I have no access to my children and i can not work. But I am not insane”
The more I tried to reason the more I was sedated and forced to be in a sleepy mode. My wife being a nurse convinced the police that I was insane. I was only released back to an assisted living accommodation.”
Maxwell looked up and cried again.
This is one of the sad stories Zimbabwean men are facing in the UK.
Matimbe another Zimbabwean man in Leicester said the ladies have assumed power against their men. They now feel empowered to treat their men like trash. Most men have gained courage in their circumstances, they seek to overcome these challenges and escape the violence and abuse.
Most Zimbabwean men don’t leave abusive relationships.
Regardless of gender, ending a relationship, even an abusive one, is rarely easy. It becomes even harder if you’ve been isolated from friends and family, threatened, manipulated, and controlled, or physically and emotionally beaten down.
You may feel that you have to stay in the relationship because you have no alternative, John Masaka a social worker commented.
He pointed further that one feels ashamed.
“Many men feel great shame that they’ve been abused, been unable to stand up for themselves, or somehow failed in their role as a male, husband, or father.
Most men suffer because they have they are afraid to be embarrassed at church. Their religious beliefs dictate that they stay or their self-worth is so low that they feel this abusive relationship is all they deserve.
Many men worry they’ll have difficulty being believed by the authorities, or that their abuse will be minimized because they’re male, or find there are few resources to specifically help abused men.
The tragedy to this is that many men are in denial. Just as with female domestic violence victims, denying that there is a problem in their relationship will only prolong the abuse. They may still love their partner when they’re not being abusive and believe that they will change or that they can help them.
In all these abused situations it is the children who suffer the most. The abused men worry that if they leave, their spouse will harm their children or prevent them from having access to them.
Obtaining custody of children is always challenging for fathers, but even if they are confident that they can do so, they may still feel overwhelmed at the prospect of raising them alone.”
He added that many men leave in perpetual bondage.
“Women have become monsters and break their families and many hearts along the way.
Because these women are bread winners their parents will always support them. They will never correct them. The “Ane mari ndiye mukuru” syndrome meaning the one who has money is believed has destroyed the institution of marriage.
By A Correspondent- Zimbabwe’s minister of Primary and Secondary Education Ambassador Cain Mathema has directed schools to start conducting lessons online amid teachers’ protests over poor salaries.
Mathema made the remarks after his presentation on the role of education in nation-building and development at the Zimbabwe National Defence University.
He said:
Once you have online learning, it means the child has to be assisted at home. I cannot accept that public schools at this moment do not have online learning facilities, there is absolutely no reason at all. Each school has enough land for commercial activity.
Commenting on reports that over 400 learners have dropped out of school due to pregnancy or illnesses and that videos of learners exhibiting naughty behaviours, he said schools, communities, and parents or guardians should partner to help in the upbringing of children.
Teachers have not returned to works since the reopening of schools for writing classes on the 28th of October and are adamant they will not go to work until the government has restored their 2018 salaries.
They are currently earning an equivalent of US$30 on average down from about US$500 in 2018.
The teachers say they are incapacitated to execute their duties and responsibilities as their salaries are way too low and also considering that Zimbabwe is an inflationary economy.
Mathema also speaks when the issue of electronic learning has since caused divisions amongst stakeholders with some saying the government should first close the digital divide between urban and rural schools.
Meanwhile, the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions has advised that schools should be closed in light of the absence of teachers in schools.-statemedia
By A Correspondent- The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe has reported that Banking sector deposits at the central bank increased by ZW$1.4 billion, while currency issued increased by ZW$69.5 million.
This resulted in reserve money rising by ZW$1.1 billion, to ZW$15.4 billion over the week ending 9 October 2020.
Government deposits at the Central Bank declined by ZW$1.7 billion, which had the impact of injecting liquidity at banks, thus contributing to the increase in reserve money during the week under review.
