By A Correspondent- A tussle over the Deelfontein farm has reached unprecedented levels with ZANU PF Chipinge District Vice Chairperson Dorothy Manila pulling all stops to avoid three ZANU PF Youth League members from occupying it.

Mabika says the Deelfontein farm was grabbed from her by Manicaland province Resident Minister Ellen Gwarazimba who gave it to her son Rememberance Mbudzana and two other Zanu PF youth league members Ashirai Mtirikwi Mawere and Bernard Mhlanga.

Mabika disputes the allocation of land saying that offer letters were awarded unprocedurally through the blessings of Minister Gwarazimba.

According to Mabika the farm belongs to her late Mom Alice Chitima who she claim had an offer letter for 250h of the land.

Mabika says the Youth League trio used the proximity to the Resident Minister for Manicaland province Ellen Gwarazimba to get offer letters.

According to the offer letters,Mawere occupies Plot 10 which has 30 hactares, Benard Mhlanga Plot 9 again 30 hactares and Mbudzana has 206 hactares.

However, Mawere shot down the claims by Mabika that there were allocated an already occupied land saying that the Deelfontein farm estate had never been allocated to any person since it was gazetted by the government.

Mawere said respective allocations were the initial ones.

” Ever since this farm was gazetted it hasn’t been allocated to anyone, we are the ones who are getting offer letters for this estate for the first time” said Mawere.

He said the allocation was above the board, adding that they had pending applications for farms.

” I am contend that there’s no double allocation of this estate”,

“The three of us had pending application for land with the ministry”,

“Remembrance Mbudzana had his Farfel Estate farm lease offer letter reversed by government and had to recommend that he be given a farm in the same district of Chipinge” he said.

Mawere added that Mabika wants to hound them out of their allocated plots to pave way for her son Munashe Mabika to occupy it.

” We have gathered that Mabika wants to push us out of this land so that she will give it to her son Munashe Mabika”

” Her claim is that her late mother Alice Chitima had the offer letter to this farm so they want to roll it over to a family member. If it’s so,we have a question to her when did State land became willable?”

” We feel this is just greedy for land” said Mawere.

Reports say Mabika has 250 hactares of land (at Woolvedraai farm),her bother Biggy Chitima has 250hactares on (RE of Deelfontein Estate) and another family member Lucky Chitima has a farm (New Castle Farm) also 26km Deelfontein.

Their late mother Alice Chitima former ZANU PF legislator for Chipinge North constituency also has a farm (2km away from Wolvadraai farm.-online

1/2 Members of the public are warned against engaging in adulterous affairs. A man (36) lost his life in Wedza on 29/9/20 after he was found being inmate with another man’s wife at a homestead he had gone to drink beer.

2/2 The woman’s husband caught them in the act, assaulted the man with a log on the head and he died moments later. Members of the public are also urged not to take the law into their own hands whenever misunderstandings occur.

State Media

Investigations into the matter in which MDC Alliance vice chairperson Job Sikhala is charged with inciting public violence are almost complete with the National Prosecution Authority expected to receive his docket by November 16.

The State led by Mrs Constance Ngombengombe told Harare magistrate Mr Trynos Utahwashe that they expect to set his trial when he returns to court on November 30.

Through his lawyer Mr Harrison Nkomo, Sikhala said he will apply for refusal of further remand if the State fails to set the matter for trial on the day in question.

Paul Nyathi

Criminal Investigations Department (CID) director Commissioner Chrispen Charumbira has been granted $10 000 bail pending trial on charges of criminal abuse of office, by the High Court.

Charumbira 49, who is facing three counts of attempting to defeat the course of justice was on Saturday remanded in custody to October 8 when he appeared before Harare magistrate Marehwanazvo Gofa on Saturday.

His lawyer Advocate Sylvester Hashiti instructed by Mr Tabison Bvekwa, opted to apply for bail at the High Court after the State indicated its intention to oppose his application.

Justice Pisirayi Kwenda allowed Charumbira’s application for bail saying the State had failed to establish compelling reasons to deny the top cop bail.

Paul Nyathi

Parliament has this afternoon expelled 10 MPs from the MDC-T after their party wrote to the House saying they were no longer representing it.

Speaker of the National Assembly Advocate Jacob Mudenda made the announcement this afternoon. The 10 are Eric Murai, Concilia Chinanzvavana, Earthrage Kureva, Dorcas Sibanda, Unganai Tarusenga, Lynette Karenyi-Kore, Prince Sibanda and Wellington Chikombo.

Adv Mudenda said he will soon inform President Mnangagwa and the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) on the existence of vacancies in terms of the Constitution. The recall of the 10 is a culmination of 21 MPs the opposition party has recalled to date following leadership wrangle affecting the party.

The recalling of MDC-T MPs followed a Supreme Court ruling in April this year confering legitimacy to Dr Thokozani Khupe as the leader of the party.

Farai Dziva|President Nelson Chamisa has dismissed claims that the MDC Alliance is plotting to carry out acts of banditry.

On Monday State Security Minister, Owen Ncube accused the MDC Alliance and NGOs of plotting to remove Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa from power through unconstitutional means.

Responding to Ncube’s utterances, President Chamisa said:

“We must silence the guns in Africa. In the 2018 elections we got 2.6 m ballots (votes) not 2.6m bullets.

We carry ideas not guns. We bring ideas not weapons. Guns are not our language.

Peace is our language. Our language is ideas, disruptive technologies and thought leadership to transform our beautiful Zimbabwe!

We carry no swords, only words against dictatorship and bad governance in Zimbabwe.

Hatina bakatwa uya nemuseve tinofamba naJesu!”

Farai Dziva|The MDC Alliance has challenged the government to consider the plight of people with speech and hearing impairments.

Below is the MDC Alliance statement on the International Week of The Deaf :

The International Week of the Deaf is celebrated each year during the last week of September.

It is a time where we join hands with people across the globe to raise awareness, showcase talent and display the skills and achievements of people with hearing and speech impairments. We also celebrate sign language, which is the mode of communication used by the deaf.

Through sign language we use our hands and forgers to make shapes symbols. signs and gestures to communicate. Basic sign language is the most widely used form of sign language in Zimbabwe. However there are more advanced forms of sign language such as standard and international sign language.

Sign language is one of the sixteen official languages recognized in the Constitution of Zimbabwe.

The major challenges faced by the deaf relate to barriers in communication which make it difficult for them to access services, particularly in government institutions. In health institutions, nurses and doctors are generally not sign language literate which leads to deaf people not being properly attended to and often wrongly diagnosed. Deaf people ford it difficult to make police reports exposing them to rights abuses and limiting their access to justice. In court, there are no readily available sign language interpreters which often delays court proceedings that involve deaf people. Deaf people heavily rely on sign language interpreters which means that they are at the mercy of second-hand, summarized and sometimes distorted information.

Many deaf people in Zimbabwe have limited access to education. They work in the informal market as vendors due to limited opportunities. This is because most teachers are not specially trained in sign language at teacher training colleges and other tertiary institutions. They suffer stigma in the job market.

The MDC Alliance calls for the adoption of sign language as a compulsory language in all educational institutions from primary level to tertiary level.

This will ensure inclusivity and disability awareness by all persons and service providers from an early age and will cultivate a disability inclusive society and better educational prospects for the deaf.

We further call for sign language interpreters in all government institutions to avoid wrong diagnoses delayed justice or serious criminal cases going unreported. We demand stronger policies for the deaf who are in the informal sector to ensure that their selling points are accessible and disability-friendly. All of these demands will be realized under an MDC Alliance government in line with our comprehensive Disability Policy.

The MDC Alliance celebrates and values the Deaf Community in Zimbabwe!

MDC T Secretary General, Douglas Mwonzora has recalled 10 MDC Alliance legislators including Lynnette Karenyi Kore and Concila Chinzvavana among others.

Speaker of Parliament, Jacob Mudenda made the announcement in Parliament today.

More to follow….

By A Correspondent- Legislators yesterday accused President Emmerson Mnangagwa of appointing incompetent ministers who were incapable of giving lucid responses in Parliament.

Norton MP Temba Mliswa demanded that Mnangagwa should be summoned to Parliament to explain why his ministers were incompetent and disrespectful to him by continuing to dodge questions from MPs.

Mliswa said the current crop of ministers were not loyal to the appointing authority, adding that the late former President Robert Mugabe’s appointees were loyal to him.
He further said Mnangagwa’s ministers were “dogs that do not bite”.

The issue arose after opposition MPs raised points of order with the Speaker of the National Assembly Jacob Mudenda every Wednesday over truancy by ministers during question-and-answer sessions.

“They do not apologise and for a long time we have spoken about this issue and Parliament is proving to be a toothless bulldog so what power do we have because we continue to be disrespected as they do not come to respond to questions from our constituencies and make government accountable because people are suffering,” Mliswa said.

“Tomorrow (today) I will move a motion where I will invite the President to this House to respond about his useless incompetent ministers who he is loyal to but are not loyal to him.

“Mugabe appointed ministers that were very loyal to him, but Mnangagwa’s ministers are very disloyal to him. He has appointed dogs that do not bite.”

Mbizo MP Settlement Chikwinya added: “In line with the Speaker’s ruling last week, I will also move a motion that ministers that have not been coming for the past three weeks be charged with contempt of Parliament.”

Mutare Central MP Innocent Gonese said it was now time to draw a line in the sand so that they are charged with contempt of Parliament.

Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly Tsitsi Gezi ruled that the MPs can move their motions about ministers on a day that is not a Wednesday.

This irked the opposition MPs who interjected vociferously demanding that State Security minister Owen Ncube should avail himself before the House to be grilled over his allegations that the MDC Alliance was smuggling arms into the country and preparing to cause disturbances.

“Where is the Minister of State Security? He issued a statement that he needs to explain to the House that there are people that are smuggling guns. Why is it that those people are not being arrest-ed? He must come to explain,” shouted Mliswa.

Zengeza West MP Job Sikhala added: “We are tired of being accused and our names being soiled. He must come and explain!.”

The interjections subsided after Gezi threatened to throw Sikhala out of the House.

When Speaker of the National Assembly Jacob Mudenda entered the House, Mliswa demanded that a Privileges Committee be set up to investigate the ministers’ contempt, insubordination and misconduct.

“You need to move a proper motion in that respect and also identify the ministers. I am equally disappointed that even the ministers that had attended have now disappeared,” Mudenda said.

Meanwhile, Finance deputy minister Clemence Chiduwa was yesterday quizzed by MPs over the COVID-19 social assistance packages.

Chiduwa said of the $18,2 billion COVID-19 recovery package, $6,1 billion was allocated towards the recovery of agriculture, $3,1 billion as working capital for industry, among other allocations that $3,2 billion was allocated for winter wheat production.-Newsday

By A Correspondent- Primary and Secondary Education minister Cain Mathema is today expected to issue a ministerial statement in the National Assembly on the problems in the education sector where teachers have refused to go back to school despite government ordering examination classes to open.

Schools reopened on Monday for examination classes, but most teachers refused to go back to work or staged sit-ins, demanding a salary increase and personal protective equipment which government has failed to provide.

Yesterday, Mathema was quizzed by Mbizo MP Settlement Chikwinya (MDC Alliance) over the stalemate between the government and the educators, but Speaker of the National Assembly Jacob Mudenda quashed the questions saying that Mathema would issue a comprehensive statement.

Chikwinya asked:

“As we speak minister, students that will write ‘O’ and ‘A’ Level examinations went to school, but their teachers did not attend.

“You (Mathema) then said that the striking teachers will be replaced by 10 000 teachers to be employed. So, is it government policy to substitute them with teachers that are unemployed to solve their salary issues?”

Mathema responded: “What was mentioned in newspapers with regards to unemployed teachers was that, we want our learners to go back to school and we do have a duty to ensure that they go back to school.

“In any case, the matter is being handled with regards to the challenges that we are facing regarding teachers that decided not to return to work.”

Chikwinya then tried to pose the question of striking teachers to Labour minister Paul Mavima, but Mudenda instructed Mavima to give his responses on the job action to the Primary and

Secondary Education minister so that he briefs the House on the issue in his ministerial statement today.

On Tuesday, Mathema expressed ignorance over the problems bedevilling the education sector, threatening to replace the striking teachers with unemployed qualified teachers.

Meanwhile, teachers yesterday scoffed at Mathema’s threats to replace them.

Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe president Obert Masaraure said the threats were baseless and that Mathema was out of touch with reality.

Masaraure said Mathema should know that about 136 000 teachers were on strike and could not be replaced by a mere 10 000.

“The out of sorts minister claims that he can fire 136 000 striking teachers and replace them with the 10 000 unemployed teachers. The threat of firing teachers exposes a man out of touch with reality,” Masaraure said.

He said Mathema should be reminded that teachers were not afraid of being fired.

Striking teachers are demanding the restoration of their October 2018 salaries, which were pegged at a minimum of US$520. Teachers are currently earning an equivalent of US$30 per month.

Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe president Takavafira Zhou also lambasted Mathema over the threat to fire striking teachers.

“Hon minister, you certainly think putting one teacher per school would threaten incapacitated teachers. Dismissing incapacitated teachers is like an attempt to kill a corpse,” Zhou said.

“The best the minister can do is to engage teacher union leaders instead of giving empty threats. (This) command approach will not work in the education system and the earlier the minister is apprised of this reality, the better

https://youtu.be/qKwMJ6LuXMs

By A Correspondent| Harare senator Elias Mudzuri has confirmed that he has now tested COVID-19 negative after testing positive on the 16th of September.

When he tested positive, Mudzuri who is also the MDC-T vice president pleaded for prayers after being hospitalized.

Today, Mudzuri posted on Twitter that he has now tested negative.

“Good morning. I have some good news. Today I tested negative for COVID 19. I want to thank all my friends and relatives for the moral and material support. Thank you hospital staff. Above all thank you all for your prayers,” said Mudzuri.

As of yesterday, Zimbabwe has recorded 7838 cases, 6303 recoveries and 228 deaths.

By A Correspondent- Police in Karoi have allegedly invited NewsDay correspondent Nhau Mangirazi for interrogation over a story that exposed their colleague who, in the company of Zanu-PF youths in the area, raided shopowners at night demanding bribes.

Mangirazi yesterday confirmed being called by the district police boss who did not disclose the cause of the summoning.

“I will present myself to the police tomorrow (today) in the company of my lawyers,” Mangirazi said.

The summoning comes after a junior police officer threatened to lay criminal charges against Mangirazi after their workmate was exposed in a scam in which he was demanding bribes from shop owners in the farming town.

NewsDay last week carried a story in which one Constable Bwanali, who in the company of two ruling party youths, went about demanding bribes from shop owners who open after designated closing times.

But some officers in Karoi Urban Police Internal Security Intelligence section have allegedly claimed that the story was a “declaration of war” between police and journalists.

This is despite officers from the same department conducting two investigations that saw three victims invited to give statements.

Zimbabwe Union of Journalists secretary-general Forster Dongozi pleaded with the police to stop harassing journalists.

“The police details who are threatening journalist Nhau Mangirazi are renegades who have no space in a Zimbabwe that is trying to find space in the family of nations. Such rogue policing is unacceptable, this is why some people are distancing themselves from such disgraceful conduct,” Dongozi said.

Mashonaland West police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Ian Kohwera said it was unfortunate that some officers wanted to take law into their hands.

“As media, you are free to report and if you verify from relevant authorities, we look forward to see balanced stories. We expect members of the public to report any misconduct by any law enforcement agencts so that the law takes its course,” Kohwera said.

Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum executive director Mussa Kika said: “Interference with journalists and reprisals over the stories they publish amount to infringement and hinders truth telling.”-Newsday

Trial date has been set:
*
By Hon Job Wiwa Sikhala :*

MP for Zengeza West.

The trial date for my alleged offence of inciting Public Violence on the 31st of July 2020, has been set for 30 November 2020.

Today on my remand date the State submitted that the docket will be ready on the 15th of October and State papers will be served to me on the 16th of October for the consummation of trial on the 30th of November.

I am ready to clear my name on the persecuting illusions of the failed regime of Emmerson Mnangagwa. I want them to show me where I ever called the people of Zimbabwe to violence.

Any attempt to allocate Special Projects officers on my case will be viciously and embarrassingly resisted and exposed. We have done a good job to investigate the Special Projects persons and we now have the list.

We are going to expose all of them name by name. Let the wheels of justice roll without interference. Bring on the trial. Happy to be given the opportunity to expose the rot in our country through this trial.

Don’t miss to follow it.

WATCH LIVE- Woman Escapes Death By A Whisker. Help us identify this woman……#Zimbabwe #ZimbabweansLivesMatter pic.twitter.com/1bcR6O8uvG

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) October 1, 2020

FULL TEXT- Recruitment of junior resident medical officers under the Zimbabwe Defence Forces service commission #Zimbabwe #ZimbabweansLivesMatter #DoctorsLivesMatter @SeniorDoctors pic.twitter.com/O7a6mIKGq3

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) October 1, 2020

Watch the live video loading below…..

Julie says: Mwonzora, Komichi how far? pic.twitter.com/p0nugjuzwu

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) October 1, 2020

By A Correspondent- Police have launched a manhunt for about seven armed robbers, who allegedly killed a 60-year-old man at his home in Rusape and stole US$7 and an undisclosed amount in local currency.

Reports indicated that the gang members, who were armed with knives, machetes and wooden sticks, pounced on Boas Mamutse and his family on Sunday at around 7pm.

They allegedly demanded money from the family and were told there was none. They quarrelled with Mamutse, saying they knew that his daughter got married recently and told him to surrender the money he received as bride price.

The gang reportedly told Mamutse that they knew he was the custodian of contributions for a burial society as the treasurer and started assaulting him with sticks before they took an axe and struck him on the nose.

The gang reportedly searched in the bedroom where they took US$7 and some local currency before fleeing the scene.

Mamutse’s two daughters and his wife, who were assaulted during the alleged robbery screamed for help and neighbours rushed to the house and helped the family to take the now deceased to hospital, where he was pronounced dead upon arrival.

Police confirmed the incident in a statement.

“The men, who wore masks and were armed with knives, machetes and wooden sticks demanded money from the man and his family, but were told there was none. They tied the man’s wife and two children with a rope and later dragged the man outside and struck him on the head.

“They stole US$7 and an undisclosed amount in local currency and made good their escape. The man, who sustained cuts on the head, nose and arms was pronounced dead on arrival at Rusape General Hospital.

Watch the live video loading below……..

By A Correspondent- The opposition MDC-T reportedly held a hastily-arranged meeting of its standing committee in Harare with officials alleging that it was in preparation for re-unification talks with the Nelson Chamisa-led MDC Alliance.

This comes when tensions between the two MDC outfits are rising due to a number of issues including Khupe’s recalling of MDC Alliance councillors and legislators and the seizure of Harvest House by MDC-A youths.

MDC youth assembly chairperson for Harare, Paul Gorekore — who led the takeover of the Harvest House told the Daily News on Tuesday that they were determined to achieve a dialogue between Khupe and Chamisa.

He said:

The standing committee, which is here today (yesterday), will be attended by the MDC leadership, and from that meeting we expect them to come up with a resolution to redirect the engagement process … but the fact is that we are really desperate for unity.

We are trying by all means to push our leaders to find each other, sit down and solve their differences, which we believe can be resolved amicably.

When I talk about leaders, I am referring to those who held various positions when President Morgan Tsvangirai died in 2018. MDC-T’s reinstated interim chairperson, Morgen Komichi confirmed the meeting saying the agenda was to discuss “all those issues, including the fate of the expelled leaders.”

The former MP for Highfield West Happymore “Bvondo” Chidziva claimed that youths from both camps were fed up by their leaders’ brawling.

He said the MDC should “go back to the 2014 structures and start working together without apportioning factions to each other.” The prolonged leadership crisis in the MDC started to manifest in 2018 when the party’s founding leader, Morgan Tsvangirai was on his deathbed. Khupe and Chamisa are leading the race to succeed the late former Prime Minister of Zimbabwe.-Daily News

By A Correspondent= Zimbabwe is expecting a minimum of about 50 000 job losses this year as the economic recession continues unabated.

Even before the coronavirus pandemic outbreak, the Zimbabwean economy was already on a downward trend mainly because of drought, electricity and fuel crisis.

Speaking to Business Times, Economist Tony Hawkins said the coronavirus pandemic has resulted in the retrenchment of a huge number of temporary workers while some took huge pay cuts despite a difficult operating environment.

Hawkins said:

We expect over 50,000 employees to lose their jobs by year-end due to the impact of Covid-19 pandemic to business compounded by perennial challenges such as forex challenges, power outages, droughts and rampant inflation.

From the recent survey carried out, 23% of the registered companies have trimmed permanent employees while 50% of the companies have laid-off temporary employees to relieve pressure on the balance sheets which struggled to meet operational costs and wage bills

The government announced a national lockdown in March this year as a measure to curb the spread and transmission of the coronavirus.

As the number of coronavirus cases is going down, Zimbabwe is slowly loosening the lockdown restrictions in a bid to save the drowning economy.

The Zimbabwean industry is collapsed, for decades, therefore, the economy relies on imports. Therefore, the COVID-19 lockdowns which have been in effect globally have had a huge adverse impact of the Zimbabwean economy.

By Jane Mlambo| The Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport will today resume international flights with Fastjet, Ethiopian, Kenyan and Emirates airlines all landing and flying from Harare.

This was confirmed by Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe Spokesperson Nunurai Ndawana.

“Today, we resume international flights after almost 6 months.

“Fastjet, Ethiopian, Kenya Airways and Emirates will all resume flights to/from Harare today,” he said.

Zimbabwe closed its port of entries in the wake of COVID-19 in March this year and the resumption of flights is exactly six months after the blanket ban on movement of people to contain the spread of the deadly pandemic.

Zimbabwe’s health minister (the same person who is supposed to be leading by example in enforcing coronavirus health and safety rules), Constantino Chiwenga was conspicuously without a mask at state house on Thursday morning… VIDEO

Chiwenga at State House un-masked | Thur morning pic.twitter.com/iPqmnP2eJ3

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) October 1, 2020

Zimbabwe’s borders remain closed to general human travel and the lockdown regulations as announced by the Government have not changed despite South Africa announcing the opening of its borders, including Beitbridge.

There was hype among the generality of Zimbabweans, particularly cross-border traders when South Africa announced the reopening of its borders, including Beitbridge Border Post, for tourists and travellers effective today.

South Africa announced that Beitbridge Border Post, which was part of the 18 inland ports of entry, which were partially operational, will be fully operational while 35 border posts currently closed will remain closed.

Zimbabwe and South Africa closed their borders to general human traffic, including Beitbridge Border Post, in March when they effected their first 21-day lockdowns to curb the spread of Covid-19. The closure of Beitbridge Border Post, the busiest inland port of entry in sub-Saharan Africa that is shared by Zimbabwe and South Africa, affected mostly Zimbabweans who relied on cross-border travel.

Government recently lifted the ban on domestic and international air travel. Domestic and foreign travel, which were banned on March 30 as Government imposed measures to curb the spread of Covid-19, are set to resume today. However, strict Covid-19 measures will be adhered to in the opening up of the aviation sector.

In a telephone interview yesterday, Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Minister Kazembe Kazembe said only commercial traffic, diplomats and returning residents are allowed passage through the country’s borders.

He said Zimbabwe remains guided by the Public Health (Covid-19) Prevention, Containment and Treatment, Statutory Instrument 77 of 2020.

“We haven’t opened Beitbridge Border Post and other borders as yet. Our borders are open to commercial cargo, diplomats and returning residents. In fact, the regulations as stipulated by the current SIs still stand and the issue will be discussed in due course,” said Minister Kazembe.

A total of 9 331 Zimbabweans have between March and September returned by road via Beitbridge Border Post and put in various provincial quarantine and isolation centres countrywide.

Before the start of the lockdown in March, half a million people would use the port of entry to access South Africa and Zimbabwe.

In a statement, the South African Revenue Service (SARS) head of border operations, ports of entry and customs compliance, Mr Beyers Theron said upon arrival, a traveller will be required to present a negative Covid-19 test result not older than 72 hours from time of departure.

“Where a traveller has not done a Covid-19 test prior to departure, they will be required to remain in mandatory quarantine at their own cost for the period of 10 days. All travellers will be subjected to screening by Port Health officials upon arrival and departure,” he said.

Travellers detected with symptoms will be required to remain in quarantine until a repeat Covid-19 test is conducted at their own cost.

Mr Theron said all travellers will be subjected to screening by Port Health officials upon arrival and departure. Travellers will also be required to complete traveller health questionnaire prior to arrival or upon arrival at the port of entry.

Besides the health protocols, travellers will still be subjected to other formal border processes.

“All travellers should wear masks at all times whilst within the ports of entry-controlled area. Port officials are to ensure that port users adhere to social distancing as part of queue management protocol,” said Mr Theron.

Truck drivers are also required to present Covid-19 negative results upon departure from and arrival in South Africa.

For truck drivers, crew members and frequent travellers, the Covid-19 test results remain valid for 14 days after the first movement.

-State Media

LEGISLATORS yesterday accused President Emmerson Mnangagwa of appointing incompetent ministers who were incapable of giving lucid responses in Parliament.

Norton MP Temba Mliswa demanded that Mnangagwa should be summoned to Parliament to explain why his ministers were incompetent and disrespectful to him by continuing to dodge questions from MPs.

Mliswa said the current crop of ministers were not loyal to the appointing authority, adding that the late former President Robert Mugabe’s appointees were loyal to him.
He further said Mnangagwa’s ministers were “dogs that do not bite”.

The issue arose after opposition MPs raised points of order with the Speaker of the National Assembly Jacob Mudenda every Wednesday over truancy by ministers during question-and-answer sessions.

“They do not apologise and for a long time we have spoken about this issue and Parliament is proving to be a toothless bulldog so what power do we have because we continue to be disrespected as they do not come to respond to questions from our constituencies and make government accountable because people are suffering,” Mliswa said.

“Tomorrow (today) I will move a motion where I will invite the President to this House to respond about his useless incompetent ministers who he is loyal to but are not loyal to him.

“Mugabe appointed ministers that were very loyal to him, but Mnangagwa’s ministers are very disloyal to him. He has appointed dogs that do not bite.”

Mbizo MP Settlement Chikwinya added: “In line with the Speaker’s ruling last week, I will also move a motion that ministers that have not been coming for the past three weeks be charged with contempt of Parliament.”

Mutare Central MP Innocent Gonese said it was now time to draw a line in the sand so that they are charged with contempt of Parliament.

Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly Tsitsi Gezi ruled that the MPs can move their motions about ministers on a day that is not a Wednesday.

This irked the opposition MPs who interjected vociferously demanding that State Security minister Owen Ncube should avail himself before the House to be grilled over his allegations that the MDC Alliance was smuggling arms into the country and preparing to cause disturbances.

“Where is the Minister of State Security? He issued a statement that he needs to explain to the House that there are people that are smuggling guns. Why is it that those people are not being arrest-ed? He must come to explain,” shouted Mliswa.

Zengeza West MP Job Sikhala added: “We are tired of being accused and our names being soiled. He must come and explain!.”

The interjections subsided after Gezi threatened to throw Sikhala out of the House.

When Speaker of the National Assembly Jacob Mudenda entered the House, Mliswa demanded that a Privileges Committee be set up to investigate the ministers’ contempt, insubordination and misconduct.

“You need to move a proper motion in that respect and also identify the ministers. I am equally disappointed that even the ministers that had attended have now disappeared,” Mudenda said.

Meanwhile, Finance deputy minister Clemence Chiduwa was yesterday quizzed by MPs over the COVID-19 social assistance packages.

Chiduwa said of the $18,2 billion COVID-19 recovery package, $6,1 billion was allocated towards the recovery of agriculture, $3,1 billion as working capital for industry, among other allocations that $3,2 billion was allocated for winter wheat production.

ZBC

Mazowe River rises north of Harare and flows northeast past Bindura Town, and thereafter forms part of the border of Zimbabwe and Mozambique on its final journey to the Zambezi River.

Misnamed Mazoe by white settlers who failed to pronounce its original Shona name Manzou, in the wet season, the river was known for becoming a raging torrent, often breaking its banks and causing damage to local communities and farms.

Today, the river has dried up owing to more than 20 years of being ripped, raped and violated by gold panners. In its silence, it protects and holds back the precious liquid.

Environmental degradation along the Mazowe Dam basin has increased due to mining activities forcing stakeholders to undertake urgent corrective measures.

The move comes as surrounding farmers are failing to irrigate their crops due to insufficient water.

Mazowe Dam is currently 21 per cent full, and its water retention capacity has decreased due to siltation caused by mining activities, thus raising concern as rains are fast approaching.

Minister of State for Provincial Affairs in Mashonaland Central Honourable Monica Mavhunga assessed the dam on Wednesday afternoon tasking a technical committee of the Upper Mazowe Sub catchment to adopt permanent corrective measures.

“Let us find a permanent solution than to ask each other what to do. No one will come and save the dam for us.”

Upper Mazowe Sub-catchment Council Chairman Mr Flemming Dhlamini said the priority is to ensure the dam fills ups to sustain various economic activities.

“Our target is to ensure that when we receive reasonable rainfall this dam fills up, farmers right now could have been irrigating green mealies, beans and potatoes but that is not possible.”

Illegal settlements have since sprung up right on the river basin of Mazowe Dam which was built in 1920.

At full capacity, the dam holds 39 thousand megalitres.

Paul Nyathi

MDC Alliance vice president Lynette Karenyi has raised concerns to the Sppeaker of Parliament over continued persecution of fellow party parliamentarian Joanna Mamombe by the state besides her health status.

Karenyi said the harassment on Mamombe will scare away other young women from taking part in national politics.

Mamombe who is the country’s youngest parliamentarian was bundled into prison last week by a Harare Magistrates Court under unclear circumstances.

“I have realised that the issue of victimisation and the subjection to torture is also one of the key problems whereby women are not going to be encouraged to stand up to be in local government, to be in Parliament.

“Mr. Speaker, may I also draw your attention on the issue of the right to health.

“Honourable Speaker, we are encouraging young women to be Members of Parliament and we have got one of our members of Parliament, Honourable Joanna Mamombe.

“May I also draw your attention on the issue of the right to health, Honourable Speaker, we are encouraging young women to be Members of Parliament and we have got one of our Members of Parliament, Honourable Joanna Mamombe…” said Karenyi before the speaker ordered her to raise her issue through a motion.

She continued, “Mr. Speaker, but I was trying to draw your attention on her health because it is more important before we raise the motion.”

This did not go down well with Zengeza MP Job Sikhala who intervened.

“I want to raise my concerns over the manner in which you (speaker) dismissed a very important issue which Honourable Karenyi wanted to raise.

“Mr. Speaker Sir, the issue which Honourable Karenyi wanted to raise is an issue concerning one of the Members,” Sikhala’s interjection came to a halt as the speaker ordered him to take his seat.

Business Times

A crack unit in President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s office has instructed the police to arrest a top magistrate on corruption allegations after passing a judgment which allegedly undermines the criminal justice system, Business Times can report.

Magistrate Morgan Nemadire was put on the spotlight after he ordered a ZWL$700 fine on a Venezuelan national, Delcy Daymar Rodriguez Guererro, who was convicted of possessing more than 5kg of cocaine worth US$500,000 (ZWL$40m).

Special Anti-corruption unit head Thabani Mpofu told Business Times this week there has been a strong case of corruption.

“We have since instructed the Police to look into the matter and effect arrest as we believe there is a strong case of corruption there.

There have been delays but an arrest has to be made,” Mpofu said. Nemadire has been under investigation since last year for alleged gross misconduct.

In an earlier letter by Mpofu addressed to ZRP Deputy Commissioner General Stephen Mutamba, the unit said the ruling by the magistrate had “grave implications on the integrity of our entire criminal justice system and the well-being of the economy”.

“The sentence passed by Nemadire on Guerrero amounts to an act of corruption.

For that reason, the Prosecutor General has directed that a formal complaint of corruption be lodged with the police against Nemadire for contravening Section 174 of the Code,” Mpofu said.

The sentence was largely seen as light given some convicts had previously served for three years for possession of less than $10 worth of drugs.

The matter, insiders say, is just a tip of the iceberg as other judgments are deemed to be dubious amid indications of a move to clean up the judiciary system.

Nemadire convicted a Venezuelan woman arrested for possession of more than 5kg of cocaine valued at US$500,000 and passed a wholly suspended sentence and a $700 fine.

Information gathered by Business Times shows that SACU is questioning the sentence in light of the gravity of the case that the accused was convicted of.

According to the letter to Mutamba, compared to other sentences handed for drug related offences of the same magnitude, the sentence handed by Nemadire sends wrong precedence and defeats the course of justice.

“For someone to be found in possession of two plants of cannabis, that person is getting a minimum of three years in jail and there was also another matter involving a Peruvian citizen found in possession of 1kg of cocaine, he was sentenced to about 15 years behind bars.

So it raises eyebrows when someone who had 5kg of cocaine got a $700 fine.”

The courts in 2018 sentenced a Mbare woman, Veronica Matongo, to 15 years’ imprisonment for illegal possession of 2.3kg of cocaine with a street value of US$185,464 while another Peruvian drug trafficker found in possession of 1kg of cocaine worth US$91,520 on the streets was also sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment in December 2018.

Paul Nyathi

Energy Ncube a nephew to State Security Minister Owen Ncube is set to challenge long-time ZANU PF losing candidate at the party’s primary elections to choose a candidate to represent Zanu PF in by-elections set for December this year in Kwekwe Central Constituency.

The seat fell vacant following the death of MP “Blackman” Masango Matambanadzo.

Ncube is preparing to take on gold mining magnet and an Archbishop of Zvipo Zvemweya Church, Kandross Mugabe in the party’s polls at the weekend.

Mugabe lost at the national polls in 2018 to Matambanadzo in the constituency seat which was once occupied by President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

Kwekwe is President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s hometown.

“It’s true I am interested in representing Kwekwe Central Constituency in the coming by-elections,” Ncube said.

Two distinct factions have since emerged within the governing party with one camp backing Mugabe while Ncube is believed to enjoy support from party bigwigs.

“According to Zanu PF Green Book, which is the party’s constitution, I am the party’s shadow MP. I lost in 2018 elections to Matambanadzo but it has been a learning experience. For me it’s not about the position but it is about service,” Mugabe said.

The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission has since indicated that by-elections will be held by 5 December.

Paul Nyathi

A dark horse has won the ZANU PF Chivi South primary elections too choose a candidate who will represent the party in the upcoming by election.

Virtually unknown and regarded as never likely to win against popular party heavyweights, the activist considered a political novice has been elected to replace sacked Chivi South MP Killer Zivhu.

Nine party candidates contested the primaries on Wednesday.

Announcing results of the internal poll, party provincial commissar Jevas Masosota said a total of 5 135 members cast their votes in the by-election where the little known Munyaradzi Zizhou emerged winner, garnering 1 857 votes.

Zizhou defeated former legislator for the same constituency Mafios Utete, Enock Shindi, Naledi Maunganidze, Anson Madusise, Denis Masomere, Rikios Hlambelo and Peter Matuke.

Naledi Maunganidze, the only female candidate in the race, came fourth with 723 votes while Mafios Utete who once represented the constituency from 2013-2018, got a paltry 170 votes.

State Media

A MAN was allegedly killed and dumped along the railway where he was later run over by a goods train in Gwanda.

Matabeleland South provincial police spokesperson, Chief Inspector Philisani Ndebele confirmed the incident which occurred just outside the Gwanda CBD in the early hours of Tuesday.

He said the driver of the train who was coming from Beitbridge reported on Tuesday at around 2AM that he had run over the body of a man who was lying lifeless on the railway line.

“I can confirm that we recorded a suspected murder case where an unidentified male adult was found lying on the railway line. A train driver who was coming from Beitbridge reported at the police station that he came across a body of a man who was lying on the railway line. The train went over the man before the driver brought it to a standstill.

“His head was dislodged from the rest of his body and he had multiple injuries all over his body. A national identity card was found close to his body but investigations are underway to ascertain whether it belongs to him. We appeal to members of the public who are missing their relative to contact the Gwanda Urban Police Station,” he said.

State Media

Tapiwa Makore (Senior) (57), accused of murdering his brother’s seven-year-old child with the help of his herdsman, Tafadzwa Shamba, has been remanded in custody.

Makore is an elder brother to the victim’s father.

He appeared before Murehwa magistrate Ms Chiedza Gatsi facing charges of murder and was remanded in custody to October 13.

Prosecuting, Ms Paidamoyo Gutu told the court that on September 17 at around midday, Shamba reportedly proceeded to a garden which Tapiwa (junior) was watching over.

It is alleged that the accused person had earlier given Shamba the keys to his house.

Shamba reportedly lured the now deceased from the garden to Makore’s homestead where he detained him in the living room after giving him sadza.

Makore was alerted that the boy was missing and reportedly joined other villagers in searching for him till midnight to remove suspicion.

He later went home and found the boy asleep, under the guard of Shamba. At 1am, the pair reportedly carried the boy to a secluded area in the company of Makore where they killed him.

Makore allegedly pinned the boy to the ground while Shamba used a knife to cut off the head, arms and limbs.

The remains were packed into two different bags with limbs and arms in one pack.

Makore carried the pack which had limbs and arms, while Shamba carried a pack containing the abdomen and head.

The abdomen was dumped near Mr Summer Murwira’s homestead, but Shamba took the other parts to Makore’s homestead.

On the same day, Mr Murwira discovered the abdomen which was being eaten by his dogs.
It is also alleged that on the same day, Shamba removed his blood-stained pair of trousers and placed them in Makore’s kitchen hut.

On September 20, detectives recovered the pair of trousers belonging to the deceased after searching Makore’s house.

On September 23, Shamba was arrested and a search was conducted in his bedroom, leading to the recovery of a white blood-stained vest.

He confessed to committing the murder with Makore.

State Media

Herdsman, Tafadzwa Shamba (40) who was recently arrested over the ritual murder of Tapiwa Makore (7) at Makore Village in Murehwa yesterday told detectives he killed the boy by cutting off the head with a knife in the dead of the night, while the boy’s uncle was holding a torch. Watch video as he graphically explains what happened on the fateful day.

State Media

Zimbabwe has only opened international airports to passenger traffic while land borders remain closed to human traffic for the time being.

Only commercial traffic, diplomats and returning residents are allowed passage across the land borders, Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Minister Kazembe Kazembe confirmed yesterday, with the public health regulations put in place at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic still in place.

With most sectors including schools and the wider economy being opened up, Government is expected to give direction on the reopening of land borders at some stage once all necessary measures are in place.

“We haven’t opened the border at Beitbridge as yet. The border is open to commercial cargo, diplomats and returning residents. In fact, the regulations as stipulated by the current lockdown precautions still stand. However, the issue will be discussed in due course,” said Minister Kazembe.

Environment, Climate Change, Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister Mangaliso Ndlovu also said only airports were open for tourist arrivals.

“As far as we are concerned we have only opened airports for tourists and the rest of the borders remain open only to commercial not general human traffic,” he said.

A total of 9 331 Zimbabweans have between March and September returned by road via Beitbridge Border Post and were tested and quarantined in provincial centres countrywide.

Before the start of the lockdown in March, half a million people a year crossed the Limpopo at Beitbridge. Lately there has been a lot of hype among people in Sadc countries on the re-opening of Beitbridge Border Post, after South African President Cyril Ramaphosa announced recently that South Africa would reopen some borders today for business and tourism travel, but under stringent conditions and health checks.

Chirundu and Kariba border post authorities have been looking at their systems so these posts can be opened fairly quickly once the go-ahead is given forpassenger traffic through land border posts.

Regional immigration officer Mr Joshua Chibundu said they are waiting for instructions from their head office for any developments to take place.
“We are operating as we have always been. If there are any changes regarding opening of the borders, they will have to come from our head office and as of now there has not been any communication,” he said.

Authorities from Zambia and Zimbabwe met recently to evaluate the impact of Covid-19 and come up with recommendations on systems to be put in place on both sides of the border before the borders can be opened for passenger traffic.

The cross border coordination and training workshop was facilitated by the International Organisation for Migration at the Chirundu One Stop Border Post.

It looked at the challenges faced owing to the Covid-19 pandemic and sought to find ways of strengthening cross-border coordination of stakeholders such as immigration, customs, local government, social welfare and the health ministries.

Even when land border posts are reopened to human traffic, border crossings will be more complicated and far more expensive. South Africa’s National Borders Management Coordinating Committee chairperson Elvis Manyaka said in a circular to all port of entry managers that travellers entering South Africa will need to present a negative Covid-19 test results not older than 72 hours from time of departure.

“Where a traveller has not done a Covid-19 test prior to departure,they will be required to remain in mandatory quarantine at their own cost for a period of 10 days. All travellers will be subjected to screening by Port Health Officials upon arrival and departure and those detected with symptoms will be required to remain in quarantine until a repeat Covid-19 test is conducted at their own cost,” he said.

Travellers would need to complete a Traveller Health Questionnaire prior to arrival or upon arrival at any port of entry.

Zimbabwe has already put in place similar testing requirements for those using airports.

Before each land border post is reopened to passenger traffic, identical measures will have to be agreed with the authorities on both sides, along with lists of approved testing facilities. International travellers will normally require two tests, one before they go and one before they return and such tests are expensive at the approved private facilities that will have to be used by travellers.

At the same time the adjoining border post authorities will need to agree on measures to protect staff on both sides and on how the increasingly common one-stop facilities will operate.

Business Times

The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (Zacc) has summoned top Zesa Holdings officials as it investigates allegations of abuse of office and corruption at the power utility.

The investigation by the anti-graft body comes after it cleared Zesa executive chairman Sydney Gata in four of the six charges he was facing paving the way for his return to the power utility.

Gata was suspended for one-month alongside other board members to pave the way for investigations into alleged abuse of office.

Business Times heard this week that head of risk and audit, Obson Matunja was summoned and was questioned by mid-morning Tuesday.

It is understood that Zesa finance director Eliab Chikwenhere was also questioned although he denied he was summoned by the anti-graft body.

It is understood that former Zesa public relations manager Fullard Gwasira has also been questioned by Zacc.

Zacc spokesperson John Makamure could neither confirm nor deny the summoning of the Zesa officials but noted that there were investigations going on.

“I am not denying or confirming their presence at Zacc. We have so many investigations going on at the same time. So it is impossible to keep tabs on each and every investigation,” Makamure said.

The latest probe comes after Zesa fired eight top managers, demoted two and suspended three while the other is serving three months’ notice pending dismissal over malpractices picked up in the forensic audit published last year.

A number of other managers have since been transferred to posts in other provinces.

Matunja, who is under investigation, was put on suspension but was recently reinstated on his previous position following an internal hearing which cleared him of any wrongdoing.

Most executives were fired, suspended or demoted over accusations of involvement in shoddy deals, ineptitude or following recommendations of a forensic audit into the operations Zesa and its subsidiaries, conducted by PriceWaterhouseCoopers (PwC).

The audit report called for disciplinary action against managers suspected to have milked the power utility of millions of dollars including misuse of resources such as fuel.

The shakeup came at a time when the power utility has been under scrutiny from the government, the sole shareholder of the company that has been reeling under heavy losses for years.

The audit exposed several irregularities that cost the power utility millions of dollars amid revelations top managers were responsible for the losses.

There were allegations of out of line procurement procedures and services provided by bogus and unregistered companies prejudicing the power utility and its subsidiaries.

Gata bounced back after President Emmerson Mnangagwa lifted his suspension and that of his board.

The investigations on Gata were ordered by the President on August 6, 2020 after a slew of allegations were raised against Gata by former Energy Minister Fortune Chasi.

Chasi was fired in August as minister for “conduct incompatible” with President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s expectations.

Some of the allegations investigated by Zacc involved Mutare Peaking Plant Project, Intratrek Gwanda Solar Project, the conduct of Chasi in his dealings with Zesa and the conduct of the officials in the ministry of Energy in their dealings with Zesa.

Zacc also examined corporate governance at Zesa and recommended that Gata be cleared of four accusations and the other two are still going on.

Farai Dziva|The MDC Alliance has challenged State Security Minister Owen Ncube to stop lying to the nation and concentrate on resolving issues affecting ordinary citizens.

Read full statement below:

29 SEPTEMBER 2020

MDC ALLIANCE NAMIBIA RESPONDS TO STATE SECURITY MINISTER’S REMARKS

Mdc Alliance Namibia is absolutely perplexed to hear the State Security Minister , Owen Ncube falsely accusing the People’s Party of plotting to topple Zanupf party unconstitutionally.

It is quite hypnotising to receive such news at this critical juncture when our leaders and members are at the mess of Zanupf-sponsored abductions, torture, arbitrary arrests, rape and gross abuse of human rights. We are clear that the Mdc Alliance amassed 2.6 million votes in 2018 harmonised elections. The issue of a stolen election is a priority in our fight for a people’s government.

Authoritarians continue robbing elections,repressing political opponents and staging coups.

We are a democratic party , we exploit constitutional mechanisms to challenge dictatorship and we don’t need arms of war.

The press conference by the State Security Minister is a reflection of security forces who value their own institutional interests and their participation in the politics of rhetoric and self-enrichment. The military and state security agents should not delve into national politics. Soldiers must be ultimately banned from political activities and rarely used to put down popular upheaval. Security forces have been dominant political players in Zimbabwe, they are closely networked into the ruling rogue regimes, illegally profiting from the corrupt system with impunity. This is a clear declaration of war to the people of Zimbabwe, social democrats who subscribe to Constitutional Democracy are being painted with horrible terrorist colours. The evil intention is to escalate terror on innocent citizens.

The false allegations epitomise Zanupf’s plan to crackdown on any voice of dissent. In Zimbabwe, the despotic Zanupf’s symbiotic interdependence with the military, the police and state security agents has suffocated social democrats from within and outside the regime who desire to reduce the security’s stinking corruption, economic decay and political influence.

As Mdc Alliance Namibia, we advocate for a security that contributes to democracy and harmony by putting down their arms or resist satanic orders to fire live ammunition against their own people. A repetition of the ugly and terrible shooting of innocent citizens on the 1st of August 2018 where at least seven citizens were butchered in the streets of Harare.

The same occurred in January 2019, when people expressed their discontentment with sky-rocketing prices of fuel and basic commodities in the country. At least 17 people lost their dear lives on account of politics with soldiers at the apex perpetrating violence on behalf of Zanupf.

In a nutshell, it is a lifetime dream to glance an independent national security sector where the democratic will of the people of Zimbabwe is a priority. It is imperative to promote and work diligently towards the establishment of security sector reforms democratising the police , the army and state security agents who are captured by an authoritarian regime.

Mdc Alliance Namibia
Rundu Branch Spokesperson
Robson Ruhanya

Farai Dziva|President Nelson Chamisa has dismissed claims that the MDC Alliance is plotting to carry out acts of banditry.

On Monday State Security Minister, Owen Ncube accused the MDC Alliance and NGOs of plotting to remove Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa from power through unconstitutional means.

Responding to Ncube’s utterances, President Chamisa said:

“We must silence the guns in Africa. In the 2018 elections we got 2.6 m ballots (votes) not 2.6m bullets.

We carry ideas not guns. We bring ideas not weapons. Guns are not our language.

Peace is our language. Our language is ideas, disruptive technologies and thought leadership to transform our beautiful Zimbabwe!

We carry no swords, only words against dictatorship and bad governance in Zimbabwe.

Hatina bakatwa uya nemuseve tinofamba naJesu!”

Farai Dziva|President Nelson Chamisa has dismissed claims that the MDC Alliance is plotting to carry out acts of banditry.

On Monday State Security Minister, Owen Ncube accused the MDC Alliance and NGOs of plotting to remove Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa from power through unconstitutional means.

Responding to Ncube’s utterances, President Chamisa said:

“We must silence the guns in Africa. In the 2018 elections we got 2.6 m ballots (votes) not 2.6m bullets.

We carry ideas not guns. We bring ideas not weapons. Guns are not our language.

Peace is our language. Our language is ideas, disruptive technologies and thought leadership to transform our beautiful Zimbabwe!

We carry no swords, only words against dictatorship and bad governance in Zimbabwe.

Hatina bakatwa uya nemuseve tinofamba naJesu!”

Borniface Nyadenga, a civil servant and an Agricultural Extension Worker in Ward 21 caused commotion at an MDC A executive meeting at Zvavahera Business Centre in Gutu on Sunday after he and a colleague ordered delegates to disperse because he had not been told of the meeting.

The meeting was being addressed by Sarah Mwatenga, an MDC Alliance Provincial councillor.

Nyadenga who is also the young brother to the MDC councillor for Ward 9, Medicine Nyadenga arrived at the meeting in the company of an unemployed youth Clephas Masora with beer bottles in their hands.

They told the meeting which was taking place under a tree that they were members of Chief Munyaradzi’s family and no meeting takes place in the area without their knowledge and permission. It however, turned out that they were not even remotely related or linked to Chief Munyaradzi.

Some members of the executive tried to negotiate with the two and party youth confronted them after realising that the duo was not prepared for talks. The no-nonsense MDC A youth told them to leave or they would face their full wrath.

The two left the venue in a huff shouting that Mnangagwa is the only ruler for Zimbabwe.

Nyadenga was not reachable up to the time of going to Press.-

Source :Masvingo Mirror

THE herdsman, Tafadzwa Shamba, who was recently arrested over the ritual murder of Tapiwa Makore (7) at Makore Village in Murehwa yesterday told detectives he killed the boy by cutting off the head with a knife in the dead of the night, while the boy’s uncle was holding a torch.

He was taken by detectives to Makore Village in Murehwa yesterday for an inspection in loco.

Shamba said after the murder, he carried a black plastic bag containing the head and the dismembered body while his employer, who is the boy’s uncle, Tapiwa Makore (Senior), carried another bag containing the arms and legs.

Makore has since also been arrested and he appeared in court yesterday where he was remanded in custody on murder charges.

Clad in prison garb, Shamba, who was visibly jittery, led the police to the garden where he kidnapped the boy allegedly under the instructions of the boy’s uncle.

From there, Shamba led the team of detectives to the uncle’s homestead where he said he fed the boy, drugged him with kachasu and locked him up in a room for hours.

“I went to the kitchen hut and brought the boy sadza and dried fish. I washed his hands before giving him the food. After eating, I went to Mrs Katsande’s homestead where I bought five litres of illicit brew (kachasu).

“I drank the beer to gather courage. I also put a bit of sugar into the brew and offered it to the boy who took it until he got drunk and slept. I then locked him up in the room before going back to Mrs Katsande’s homestead for more beer,” he said.

While at the Katsande homestead, village watchmen broke the news of the missing boy. Makore (Snr) joined the boy’s father Mr Munyaradzi Makore on the search party, but at midnight they had to halt.

Shamba said he met the boy’s uncle around midnight and took the boy to a nearby mountain where they killed him.

“Around midnight, we opened the door and I carried the boy, who was still in deep slumber to a mountain in the village.

“Mr Makore carried the knives and the plastic bags. While here (in the mountain), I pressed the boy to the ground and cut off his head with a sharp knife, while his uncle was holding a torch for lighting.

“I also cut off the hands and legs, but we packed the parts in different plastic bags. I carried the one with the torso and the head while Mr Makore carried another one containing the legs and hands,” he said.

At the scene, investigators saw human waste, believed to have been excreted by the boy during the murder.

Shamba told detectives that he cleaned the scene of the blood and set the grass on fire to destroy evidence.

He said while walking to Makore’s homestead, he felt the load was becoming heavier before dumped the torso near Mr Summer Murwira’s homestead.

“The bag was now heavier and dogs were barking. I had to quickly drop the torso and proceeded with the head,” he said.

While at Makore’s homestead, Shamba said he was instructed to put the head in one of the rooms, which he did.

The following day, Shamba said he dumped the arms and legs at a nearby grave as police investigations were intensifying.

Villagers, eager to follow the proceedings, could be seen watching from a distance.

Police are still hunting for a third man, described as a witchdoctor, to whom the head was allegedly delivered.-The Herald

Drummer Delroy “Scara” Maripakwenda was laid to rest at Warren Hills Cemetery yesterday at a funeral attended by top names in the arts sector.

Scara — who was considered one of the foremost instrumentalists in the country — succumbed to heart complications on Sunday morning.

He was 29.

His funeral brought together the entertainment industry, a testament of the impact he had in showbiz.

Winky D, Stunner, Vokal, DJ Iroq, Bridges Chimanga, Layaan and other prominent figures were in attendance.

At the time of his death, he had just finished setting up a music collective known as Tha NuVyb in which he was the drummer, working with DJ Burtler and Mc Tatts.

They were performing in clubs and corporate events fusing live music and deejay sets.

In recognition of the work he did at Tha NuVyb, Judgment Yard emcee Abisha Palmer described Scara as a pioneer.

“He had introduced a new style, besides having worked with a number of bands, he was venturing into being a drummer for the club scene. This was something which was yet to be tried in Zimbabwe and Scara was brave enough to pioneer the idea. He could have easily joined another band, but he felt it was time to try his own thing,” said Palmer.

Rapper Stunner struggled to come to terms with the drummer`s sudden departure.

“I am hoping someone will come and say it was a prank. Up to now, it is still hard to believe that Scara is no more.

He used to play drums for me when I performed and truly this is a blow. We always assumed we have all the time in the world. No one could imagine that we would be robbed of such a young genius in this way,” said an emotional Stunner.

Prior to his death, he hadprojects that were in the pipeline and collaborators could not fathom completing them in his absence.

He was co-hosting an annual festival in Karoi with DJ Langton B.

Music promoter, Spencer ‘Boss Spencer’ Madziya bemoaned the deaths of young artistes in the industry.

“It is painful, when young promising talent is taken away from us in such a manner. Of course these things cannot be predicted, but it difficult to handle losing someone with an evidently promising future,” Madziya said.-The Herald

Own Correspondent|Controversial Masvingo based cleric, Isaac Makomichi has vowed to challenge Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa in the 2023 Presidential Plebiscite.

Makomichi has launched a political movement called Simuka Zimbabwe Democrats.

The controversial preacher is in the process of registering the political party with ZEC.

Makomichi said Simuka Zimbabwe Democrats party will challenge Zanu PF in the 2023 elections.

“Simuka Zimbabwe Democrats party will make sure that there is peace and harmony in the country. Our thrust is to build a strong economy.

We need a free Zimbabwe for every citizen.

We are strongly against tribalism.We need leaders who love the people more than their pockets.

As Simuka Zimbabwe Democrats, we don’t hate Zanu PF.

All we want is a better Zimbabwe, it’s better to fight poverty than to fight other politicians,” said Makomichi in a statement.

Makomichi added:
“Our target before the 2023 elections is to bring Mnangagwa and Chamisa to the negotiating table for the sake of our nation.”

Own Correspondent|Controversial Masvingo based cleric, Isaac Makomichi has vowed to challenge Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa in the 2023 Presidential Plebiscite.

Makomichi has launched a political movement called Simuka Zimbabwe Democrats.

The controversial preacher is in the process of registering the political party with ZEC.

Makomichi said Simuka Zimbabwe Democrats party will challenge Zanu PF in the 2023 elections.

“Simuka Zimbabwe Democrats party will make sure that there is peace and harmony in the country. Our thrust is to build a strong economy.

We need a free Zimbabwe for every citizen.

We are strongly against tribalism.We need leaders who love the people more than their pockets.

As Simuka Zimbabwe Democrats, we don’t hate Zanu PF.

All we want is a better Zimbabwe, it’s better to fight poverty than to fight other politicians,” said Makomichi in a statement.

Makomichi added:
“Our target before the 2023 elections is to bring Mnangagwa and Chamisa to the negotiating table for the sake of our nation.”

Paul Nyathi

MDC-T National Chairman Morgan Komichi has revealed that the party is planning to recall about 38 more legislators from Parliament, as well as hundreds of councillors across the country.

Komichi confirmed the mooted bloodbath to the Daily News yesterday, saying the party’s standing committee had resolved on Wednesday to sack all legislators and councillors opposed to Khupe’s leadership.

Among the bigwigs who could be jettisoned as soon as from next week, in this latest party carnage, are MDC Alliance vice president Lynette Karenyi-Kore and the coalition’s firebrand deputy national chairperson Job “Wiwa” Sikhala who have remained loyal to Nelson Chamisa.

Komichi told the Daily News yesterday that the party’s interim leadership had resolved at its meeting on Wednesday to fire all legislators and hundreds of councillors across the country who are opposed to Khupe’s group.

He said the move was informed by the desire of the interim leadership to “realign the party and focus it on the needs of Zimbabweans”.

“We have reached a point where we are saying we cannot continue with members who have chosen to be stubborn.

“There is no way you can be Zanu PF and be MDC-T at the same time, and any party that is serious is bound to take action. So, the letters will be written to Parliament soon.

“It would not be strategic to tell the media the exact recall date,” Komichi told the Daily News.

“The affected MPs have chosen not to align with the MDC-T, the major party in the MDC Alliance. They are siding with Chamisa and the national standing committee resolved that we have to take action,” he added.

Khupe’s spokesperson Khaliphani Phugeni also told the Daily News yesterday that the MDC’s standing committee had resolved that all elected officials — including legislators and councillors — who had ceased to be members of the party should be recalled forthwith.

“The general position taken by the party is that all those who have since ceased to be our members will be recalled. But this is going to be done on a case by case basis.

“It is all dependent on the individual actions of MPs and councillors,” he said.

Besides Karenyi-Kore and Sikhala, other prominent legislators targeted for the chop include Joana Mamombe (Harare West), Caston Matewu (Marondera Central), Ethrage Kureva (Epworth), Starman Chamisa (Mbare), Costa Machingauta (Budiriro), Eric Murai (Highfield East) and Brian Dube (Gweru Urban).

The MDC-T has so far recalled 21 legislators out of a total of 110 party representatives in both the national assembly and the senate — as well as dozens of councillors around the country.

All this also comes as Khupe and Chamisa are reputedly considering to sit down and talk over their differences.

Professor of world politics at the London School of Oriental and African Studies Stephen Chan said this week that the MDC fights were benefiting Zanu PF immensely.

“The various factions of the MDC are doing the work of Zanu PF and … the ruling party can barely hide its delight that the once formidable opposition is now splintered into two feuding half-parties, neither of whom would be strong enough to win an election.

— DailyNews

Paul Nyathi

Travellers exhibiting Covid-19 symptoms will be tested and charged US$60 at ports of entry even if they are in possession of a Covid-19-free certificate.

The move is meant to curb the spread of the virus through imported cases.

International flights are expected to resume on Thursday (October 1). Metered taxis have also been given the greenlight to resume to facilitate the easy movement of tourists.

“Cabinet wishes to reassure the public that the resumption of international flights and the imminent re-opening of Victoria Falls International Airport on 1 October 2020 is well on course and that the assessments of other major airports have been completed,” read the post-Cabinet meeting briefing statement on Tuesday.

“As a measure to guarantee the safety of travellers, Cabinet further resolved that in line with Statutory Instrument 216(5) Section 8, which requires travellers showing Covid-19 symptoms, whether or not they have a Covid-19-free certificate, to be tested, (and) a nominal fee of US$60 be levied on travellers tested at ports of entry, and that the proceeds be used to replenish laboratory commodities. Metered taxi operations have been allowed to resume services to allow for the movement of tourists and citizens who are unable to use public transport.”

Paul Nyathi

Trainee Health Professionals who finish their studies will no longer be employed by the Ministry of Health and Child Care’s Health Services Board but will have to be appointed under the Defence Forces Service Commission in-order to be appointed Junior Resident Medical Officers, Government has said.

The move sees Vice President Constantino Chiwenga’s Health ministry deliberately militarise the health sector on order for the staff members to be easily controlled.

See the letter below:

AFTER years of engaging in futile internal wars, MDC leaders now appear ready to ditch their suicidal factional battles and work together in the interest of the party, the Daily News reports.

Yesterday, the party’s interim leadership led by Thokozani Khupe held a hastily-arranged meeting of its standing committee in Harare, which officials said was meant to clear the ground for re-unification talks with the Nelson Chamisa group.

A slight complication of any such talks is that these would have to accommodate MDC Alliance vice presidents Welshman Ncube and Tendai Biti — who joined the coalition when it was launched by the late and much-loved Morgan Tsvangirai in August 2017.

This comes after party youths seized the MDC’s iconic national headquarters in Harare, Morgan Richard Tsvangirai (MRT) House, in a desperate bid to force dialogue between Khupe and Chamisa.

The two have been involved in a vicious tussle for the control of the country’s largest opposition party ever since the revered Tsvangirai succumbed to cancer of the colon on Valentine’s Day in 2018.

MDC youth assembly chairperson for Harare, Paul Gorekore — who led the takeover of MRT House — told the Daily News yesterday that they were determined to achieve dialogue between Khupe and Chamisa.

“The standing committee, which is here today (yesterday), will be attended by the MDC leadership, and from that meeting we expect them to come up with a resolution to redirect the engagement process … but the fact is that we are really desperate for unity.

“We are trying by all means to push our leaders to find each other, sit down and solve their differences, which we believe can be resolved amicably.

“When I talk about leaders, I am referring to those who held various positions when President Morgan Tsvangirai died in 2018,” Gorekore told the Daily News.

“According to what we agreed as the youths, the leaders must follow the constitution. So, when they say they have suspended or expelled so and so, the procedure must be followed to the extent that the decisions must be ratified by the national executive committee and the national council.

“So, the leaders have not been expelled yet until those organs of the party have met. If they endorse that, or do not, then that will be the final decision,” he added.

Gorekore was apparently referring to the sacking of Chamisa from the 2014 structures by Khupe, as well as the many recalls of legislators and councillors around the country — which other members of the Khupe team such as organising secretary Abedinico Bhebe have strongly objected to.

On his part, MDC chairperson Morgen Komichi said he would only comment after yesterday’s crucial meeting.

“There is an emergency standing committee meeting today (yesterday) where all those issues, including the fate of the expelled leaders, will be discussed. So, a statement will be released afterwards,” Komichi told the Daily News.

This comes as MDC youths seized MRT House on Monday, amid chaotic scenes — before vowing to force dialogue between Khupe and Chamisa.

In addition to commandeering the building, the discontented youths said their desperate action was meant to save the party from collapsing, as their leaders’ mindless bloodletting continued to escalate.

The move came as political analysts warned at the weekend that the ugly infighting had now taken the once formidable party to the brink of political oblivion.

Addressing the media, former MP for Highfield West Happymore “Bvondo” Chidziva said bluntly that youths from the party’s current two main factions had had enough of their leaders’ brawling.

“We have decided to go back to the 2014 structures and start working together without apportioning factions to each other.

“From there, we want all processes done properly — starting with the meeting of the national standing committee, national executive and the national council.

“We are sick and tired of the factional fights and for the past 21 years the youths have suffered the most. Some died along the way and we have realised that we have reached a point where the name MDC was about to be buried,” Chidziva told journalists outside MRT House.

“We, therefore, want to have the past mistakes resolved like the Supreme Court directed and from there we come back and work as the MDC-Alliance in peace.

“The MDC-T is a component of the Alliance, but there were mistakes which need to be resolved by electing Tsvangirai’s successor. The leaders must find each other. That is the only thing we must do. We are past that time when we labelled each other Zanu PF,” Chidziva, who was youth leader in the 2014 structures, further told journalists.

“I have been engaging leaders in the party and we agree that Khupe is the acting president, with Morgen Komichi as the chairperson and Douglas Mwonzora as the secretary-general, while Lynnette Karenyi-Kore heads the women’s’ assembly in that order, so that we close all space for Zanu PF.

“The MDC-Alliance will still exist because it was started by Tsvangirai. So, it is only about the MDC-T component sorting its own things,” Chidziva added.

On his part, Gorekore said then that they had taken over the symbolic party headquarters to unite the leadership and save the party from being hijacked by Zanu PF.

“Individuals have been making unconstitutional and illegal decisions without the mandate of the Zimbabwean voters, party organs from branches, wards, districts, provinces, the national executive and national council organs — which have not met since the Supreme Court judgment.

“The party has been infiltrated by sell-outs with an agenda to derail our freedom. It, therefore, follows that we must act to unite our leadership, our support base and Zimbabweans at large, and ensure the vision of Dr Morgan Tsvangirai MDC founding president, Morgan Tsvangirai Tsvangirai lives on across generations,” Gorekore said.

“As the first line of defence of the party, the vanguards of democracy and the custodians of the party and its future, we have assumed all security duties of the party HQ, MRT House.

“This was necessitated by our realisation on the need to unite the people in the fight for a better Zimbabwe and defend the civilian space in the face of military state capture.

“We as the youths of the party as per 2014 structures, we have decided to go beyond our differences and unite to resolve the current crisis,” Gorekore said further.

This comes as the Daily News has reported on the MDC’s senseless brawls consistently, fairly and accurately over the past two years — calling out the futility of the anarchy.

At the weekend, political analysts also warned that the party’s futile infighting was driving the MDC to its death bed.

They also repeated their other warnings that the divided opposition would find it exceedingly difficult to compete with Zanu PF in the fast-approaching 2023 national elections.

The MDC has been ravaged by its futile ructions since Tsvangirai died from colon cancer in February 2018.

The infighting went a notch up after the Supreme Court judgment earlier this year which upheld last year’s ruling by the High Court that nullified Chamisa’s ascendancy to the leadership of the party. Daily News

State Media

Government has released a school calendar which will see primary and secondary schools closing in December with learners proceeding to the next level in 2021 despite the challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The statement said schools will close on 18 December and open on 4 January 2020. This was confirmed by the Primary and Secondary Education Minister, Ambassador Cain Mathema at a post-cabinet media briefing held this Tuesday in Harare. Speaking to our sister paper The Herald, the Education Minister also confirmed that Government has put around 10 000 qualified, but unemployed, teachers on standby to replace those that are holding the State to ransom by engaging in an illegal industrial action.

He said that measures had been put in place to employ the bulk of qualified, but jobless, teachers. Some teachers did not report for duty when examination classes resumed on Monday, citing incapacitation and lack of personal protective equipment (PPEs) at schools.

Although the first phase of the reopening of schools started safely this week, with no pupil testing positive for Covid-19 following sound measures to insulate stakeholders from contracting the deadly virus, some teachers continued with their class boycott yesterday.

This prompted the Government to come up with emergency measures to ensure learning was not disrupted. Ambassador Mathema said the Government would not allow a situation where pupils who had lost precious time during the Covid-19 lockdown, continued to be disenfranchised.

“Negotiations between Government and its workers are ongoing and we hope that they will soon find common ground to improve the lives of civil servants. Some teachers might want to hold the Government to ransom by not reporting for duty waiting for the completion of these negotiations. What we are saying is that learners have not been going to school since March and the Government will not allow a situation where they continue to be disadvantaged.

“We have at least 10 000 teachers who are unemployed and if the crunch comes, we will be left with no option but to quickly employ some of those teachers. Schooling has to go on and we will employ if there is a need to,” said Ambassador Mathema.

The government recently availed a total of $600 million for disbursement to needy schools to improve sanitation and enable them to reopen safely without risking a spike in Covid-19 infections.

It also ordered those who did not meet the prescribed standards not to re-open.

Ambassador Mathema said the June public examinations were held successfully, and to date after this week’s re-opening, no student had tested positive for Covid-19, a sign of adequate adherence to the prescribed protocols.

-The Herald/ZBC

Paul Nyathi

BULAWAYO Magistrate Shepherd Mjanja on Monday acquitted Muzingaye Thaka, a 22 year-old pro-democracy campaigner, who had been on trial after he was arrested in July for allegedly embarking on a one-man protest against the arrest and detention of freelance

journalist Hopewell Chin’ono and opposition Transform Zimbabwe political party leader Jacob Ngarivhume and also demanding an end to corruption.

Muzingaye was arrested on 30 July and charged with inciting public violence as defined in section 36 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act for allegedly inciting public violence, when he was carrying a placard written “Free Hopewell and Jacob, journalism is not a crime, kasifuni bumbulu, sesidiniwe, we are tired, we deserve better. Stop corruption. We want better. Stop police brutality, we want better. Respect the Constitution. We want a living wage, free Zimbabwe.”

Muzingaye was acquitted at the close of the prosecution case after his lawyer Lison Ncube of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights applied for discharge arguing that the pro-democracy campaigner had not committed an offence warranting him to be put on trial.

Magistrate Mjanja ruled that prosecutors dismally failed to prove the offence during trial and that police officers who arrested Muzingaye were overzealous and acted prematurely in apprehending him.

Apart from Muzingaye, several people across the country are appearing in court facing similar charges as the Bulawayo-based pro-democracy campaigner after they were arrested in July and early August for allegedly protesting against the detention of Chin’ono and Ngaruvhume and also demanding that government takes action on rampant corruption in Zimbabwe.

ZLHR

ZIMBABWE recorded 21 new Covid-19 cases in the last 24 hours bringing the total number of cases since the outbreak of pandemic to 7 837.

No new deaths were reported and the country’s cumulative death toll is at 228.

According to the Ministry of Health and Child Care all 21 new cases are local and were recorded in Bulawayo, Mashonaland East and Mashonaland West and Masvingo.

However, of note is an increase on the seven-day rolling average for new cases which went up from 16 to 18 in the last 24 hours.

“As of 29 September 2020, Zimbabwe has recorded 7 837 confirmed cases including 6 122 recoveries and 228 deaths. Twenty one new cases, all local, and no deaths were reported in the last 24 hours. Ten new recoveries were reported while the national recovery rate stands at 78 percent. Active cases went up to 1 487,” reads the Ministry statement.

A total of 467 Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) tests were done in the last 24 hours.

Bulawayo now has a total of 1 447 confirmed cases including 1 303 recoveries and 44 deaths, while active cases have gone down to went up to 100.

Matabeleland North has 134 confirmed cases including 128 recoveries and three deaths while active cases have gone down to three.

Matabeleland South has a total of 777 confirmed cases including 587 recoveries and seven deaths and 183 active cases.

Midlands province has a total of 591 confirmed cases 582 recoveries and nine deaths while active cases have dropped to zero.

By Paul Nyathi

The country’s premier annual mining gathering for the civil society and community based organisations kicked off in Bulawayo on Wednesday morning with dampened spirits after one of the key figures in the event Reverend Samuel Sifela died in a freak accident on Tuesday evening.

The Zimbabwe Alternative Mining Indaba (ZAMI) 9th edition is jointly organized by the Zimbabwe Environmental Law Association, Zimbabwe Coalition on Debt and Development (ZIMCODD) and the Zimbabwe Council of Churches (ZCC) which Reverend Sifelani was the Chief Liaison Officer.

The indaba will run from 30 September to 2 October.

Participants at the event were shell shocked on Tuesday morning when the announcement of Sifela’s death was made.

Because of Sifelani’s death, all discussions and programmes that were meant to be coordinated by the ZCC were immediately cancelled.

“We were meant to host this year’s event in a different format where partners are hosting concurrent side sessions due to the Covid-19 regulations we made since called off all side session under the ZCC,” said Nyaradzo Mutonhori, ZELA’s programs officer to attendants.

She said the ZAMI provides an opportunity for communities, civic society players to reflect on the developments in the mining sector and exposing community vulnerabilities that are coming from the impact of mining.

“This year’s ZAMI comes at a time when we are faced with the global COVID-19 pandemic which has affected the economy and the livelihoods of thousands, not just in Zimbabwe but across nations. The mining sector is expected to spur economic growth especially on our drive towards the Upper Middle-Income Agenda (Vision 2030).

“Therefore, the 2020 ZAMI will see us interrogating whether we are on track as we strive to achieve the USD12 billion mining industry by 2023. The ZAMI is a space dedicated to amplifying community voices and this year because of COVID19 we will have different side sessions which will also be broadcasted live”.

ZIMCODD’s Executive Director, Janet Zhou said ZAMI provides a platform where stakeholders can deliberate and influence policy change.

“We are deliberating on how we can ensure the USD12 billion economy is anchored on sustainable mineral resource management. It is important to discuss such issues because we do not want to discuss economic growth without a human face,” said Zhou.

She added, “This year, the alternative space created for communities living in resource rich areas, is being held under a decentralized format, where partners are hosting technical side sessions, to comply with the Covid 19 public gathering regulations.”

ZIMCODD programs manager John Maketo, said it is a paradox that communities living in areas endowed with natural resources are still living in poverty, as he urged for upscaling of advocacy work.

“We need to ensure that we transform the lives of communities that host big mining conglomerates and ensure that they benefit from the natural resource endowments to impact positively on their livelihoods.

“As CSOs and communities we need to hold local and foreign mining investments to highest ethical standards to change the narrative of mining communities,” said Maketo.

It is evident that from the research findings of ZELA, we have a plethora of legislations and policies that promote transparency and accountability there is a missing link in terms of implementation.

Chair of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Mines, Edmund Mukaratigwa said the role of parliament has been more pronounced by the reliance of the country on mining, to ensure compliance and holding the executive to account.

He said the platform provided by ZAMI would be used as a critical reflection of the policy implementation gaps, accept recommendations for review of policies and ensure that community issues are escalated.

“We take seriously the concerns of the mining communities emanating from policy gaps within the mining sector and this interface is healthy because it helps us engage the executive from an informed perspective.

“As Parliament we have a mandate to hold mining companies accountable and ensure that they also comply with the legislative framework in Zimbabwe. Parliament is the custodian of the constitution that should ensure that the laws is followed and upheld,” said Mukaratigwa.

ZAMI 2020 is running under the theme “Towards an inclusive and equitable US$12 billion mining industry anchored on sustainable mineral resource management” and is a part initiative of the Alternative Mining Indaba (AMI) platforms that have been facilitated by various organisations across the globe.

At the local level, ZAMI is a build-up event from the Ward Alternative Mining Indabas, Constituency Alternative Indabas, and District Alternative Mining Indabas (DAMIs) and Provincial Alternative Mining Indabas (PAMIs) held in different parts of the Country.

In 2020, two Provincial Alternative Mining Indabas were held in Midlands and Manicaland, to interrogate the US$12 billion strategy of government to grow the mining sector to ensure inclusion of communities.

Additional reporting by 263chat

Media Statement

Today the MDC-T secured a court order for the eviction of the G40 sponsored anarchists who had unlawfully occupied MRT House.

It is clear that the reactionary forces are determined to distort our mission. It is also clear that the reality of the Supreme Court judgement, which many dismissed as moot is sinking, and resultantly causing panic in our erstwhile colleagues in the so-called Alliance party. Their narrative of a moot judgement was not only a figment of their imagination but a disastrous lie which they can no longer sustain.

Through a vicious miscalculated campaign of this lie, they have misled many MPs, Councillors and the general public. We assure our membership that these forces of darkness and confusion will not succeed in their plans to highjack the people’s project.

We reaffirm our zero tolerance to indiscipline and lawlessness and call upon our youths not to be used to perpetrate violence and engage in lawless behaviour at the instigation of leaders seeking to advance selfish personal agendas.

We will not be swayed by those who seek to cause confusion in our endeavour to return the party to legitimacy. The MDC-T is a law-abiding party anchored in values of constitutionalism, rule of law and respect of basic fundamental freedoms.

We call upon our right thinking membership to remain resolute in this tortuous journey towards the restoration of legitimacy and founding values of the party. As the preparation for the Extra-Ordinary Congress gathers momentum we remain fortified in our resolve to bring back the party to constitutionalism and rule of law.

As we confront these challenges let us remain strong and determined to achieve the people’s agenda for a better Zimbabwe. We urge our ward, district, provincial and national leadership to remain focused on the preparations for the Extra-Ordinary Congress to replace our late iconic leader Dr Richard Morgan Tsvangirayi.

Together victory is certain.

MDC Information and Communication Department.

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