There is a letter circulating on social media purportedly written by President Emmerson Mnangagwa to Great Zimbabwe University Vice Chancellor Professor Rungano Zvobgo.
In the letter, Mnangagwa praises Zvobgo for building and developing the institution ‘brick by brick’ in what portrays him as merely a ceremonial Chancellor who is not involved in the running of the university.
Is this Mnangagwa’s handwriting?
By Farai D Hove | ZANU PF leader Emmerson Mnangagwa is getting military advice from Ethiopia’s former brutal dictator, a top former minister has hinted.
The development might explain the reign of terror that has seen over 25 people killed and more than 50 women raped during the first two years after the removal of former president Robert Mugabe.
Speaking on the day Mnangagwa’s regime announced it wants former G40 ministers to return to Zimbabwe and clear themselves, the former Foreign Affairs Minister during Robert Mugabe days, Eng Walter Mzembi hinted saying Mnangagwa has skeletons in his closet.
Mzembi’s colleague who is the former Local Government minister, Saviour Kasukuwere, scoffed at the calls to return home saying Mnangagwa wants to ,”clear us out of existence I guess!”
Mzembi wrote back responding to statements by Home Affairs Minister Kazembe Kazembe who yesterday said the G40 ministers must come back and clear their names.
On the other hand, Mzembi reacted saying:
“Did Mnangagwa come back to clear his name after he ran away to South Africa(?) Read his response letter when a similar invitation was issued to him!”
He continued saying:
“Zimbabwe Government has hosted Mengistu as its Military Advisor & REFUSED TO HAND HIM OVER since his deposition in 1991. Under his Red Terror reign up to 750000 people died, he was convicted in absentia in 2007/8 for his personal role in this. Ndapedza!
“I am not Mengistu have never killed even a goat in my life , disagreeing politically and not supporting the ascension of @edmnangagwa into office of President is not a crime , this should not result in framing of charges against opponents. Goodnight! “
Mengistu’s administration is alleged to have killed an estimated half a million people, including the country’s last emperor of Ethiopia, Haile Selassie.
After the Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) came to power, a court sentenced Mengistu to life in prison in absentia. Although the Ethiopian government requested his extradition in 2006, the late President Robert Mugabe reportedly refused to hand over the ex-leader, who was at the time his adviser on Ethiopia’s security affairs.
By A Correspondent| Information Secretary Nick Mangwana has blamed returning Zimbabweans from South African prisons who were released during the lockdown, for the recent spike in crime in the country.
This is despite the fact that some of the criminals involved in armed robberies being unmasked as either members of the military or police with some of them using AK47 guns commonly used by the state security.
“During Lockdown we had no option but accept over 500 hardcore criminals who were detained at Lindela Holding Facilities in South Africa because they were our citizens. The consequence is a spike in violent crime in our country but our Security Forces are up to the task,” said Mangwana.
Zimbabwe has witnessed a recent spike in armed robberies in major cities such as Harare and Bulawayo believed to be caused by the tight economic situation in the country.
THE Premier Soccer League (PSL) released the 2020-21 DStv Premiership fixtures yesterday.
Kaizer Chiefs and Mamelodi Sundowns, the two clubs that fought for the championship until the last minute of the previous season, will feature in the opening act of the DStv Premiership at FNB Stadium on Saturday, 24 October.
At the same time, Baroka FC will be at home against Maritzburg United at Peter Mokaba Stadium and Lamontville Golden Arrows will travel to the Free State to play Bloemfontein Celtic at Dr. Molemela Stadium.
At 1800, Cape Town City hosts Chippa United at Cape Town Stadium.
There are two matches at 2015: AmaZulu are at home against Orlando Pirates at Jonsson Kings Park while SuperSport United will be playing against Black Leopards at Lucas Moripe Stadium.
On Sunday, 25 October, Swallows FC will play their first match in the professional ranks since the 2014-15 season when they were relegated. They will travel to Stellenbosch to play Stellenbosch FC at Danie Craven Stadium at 1530.
In Thohoyandou at the same time, history will be made when both Tshakhuma FC and TS Galaxy play their first match in the top-flight league. — SuperSport
– madness, hurting blacks not whites
By Patrick Guramatunhu | One of the most offensive and exasperating things the white colonial oppressors did was to deny blacks their voice and their dignity. In the workplace blacks were called “boyi” and were expected to grovel before the whites, to show respect, and to do as they were told.
The print and electronic media was there to give the whites a voice. The few independent newspapers and magazines serving the blacks were expected to help keep Law and Order by not questioning the racial injustice.
And so such publications as Moto, a Roman Catholic Church backed magazine, were harassed and censored by the white regime for publishing strongly held views by blacks. The whites could not tolerate any black person who dared to think for themselves; they were considered radicals and dangerous.
In white ruled Rhodesia, blacks had no meaningful say in the governance of the country. They had no vote; period.
Zimbabwe’s independence in 1980 has brought an end to white colonial oppression but only to replace it with black ruling elite oppression. All pretence of Zimbabwe being a multi-party democracy completely evaporated with the signing of the Zanu PF and PF Zapu Unity Accord in 1987; merging the two parties to form the de facto one-party, Zanu PF, dictatorship.
Zanu PF assimilated the laws and practices designed to silence and oppress the blacks, lock, stock and barrel, and keep the white in power; only this time they were to keep the Zanu PF dictatorship in power.
In Zanu PF ruled Zimbabwe, blacks had a vote in theory but not in practice. Starting with the 1980 elections Zanu PF has blatantly cheated and used violence varying from subtle intimidation to beatings, rape and even cold-blooded murder to secure electoral victory. Zimbabwe has never ever held free, fair and credible elections.
The root cause of Zimbabwe’s economic mess is the failure to hold free and fair elections. The country has been stuck with a corrupt and incompetent Zanu PF regime for 40 years now. 40 years of gross mismanagement and rampant corruption have left the country in economic ruins and millions are now living in abject poverty.
The economic situation in Zimbabwe has reached alarming levels, unemployment has soared to 90% plus, basic services such as education and health care have all but collapsed. 34% of the population, according to WB 2019 report, were living in extreme poverty. The corona virus pandemic has made the health and economic situation even worse. The human suffering caused by the economic meltdown has become intolerable.
It is extremely annoying therefore that instead of the nation addressing the country’s economic mess and the underlying cause of rigged elections the nation being forced to discuss a side show.
“Zanu-PF takes strong exception to being lectured on issues of human rights by citizens of countries which perpetrated the brutalities accompanying the Atlantic African Slave Trade and colonial conquest of Africa, and who refuse to render apologies or pay reparations,” said Patrick Chinamasa, Zanu PF’s acting spokesperson.
“As a consequence of seeking to redress the brutalities that occurred in the colonisation of Zimbabwe, accompanied by dispossession of our land and brutal confiscation of livestock by colonialists, the country has suffered 20 years of naked bullying, economic isolation and severe sanctions regime by the former colonial powers now acting in concert as economic and political powers in support of what they allege are rights of 4 500 white former farmers,” he said.
Ordinary Zimbabweans have been calling for the restoration of their basic freedoms and human rights including the right to a meaningful vote and the right to life itself. Of course, they have been crying for freedom, peace, justice and human dignity all their lives; they are at the coal face of Zanu PF oppression just as they were at the coal face of white colonial oppression.
Last month President Cyril Ramaphosa of SA send envoys to Zimbabwe whose mission was to encourage Zanu PF to accept meaningful democratic changes and end the country’s worsening economic and political crisis. SA was told in no uncertain terms to mind its own business.
“We are an independent sovereign country. We agreed in our meeting that we are equal sovereign States. South Africa has no mediatory role to play in Zimbabwe. We know that the South African government is controlled by white men,” remarked Patrick Chinamasa.
So Zanu PF has completely ignored the ordinary Zimbabweans who have crying for their freedoms and rights because the regime is indifferent to their suffering. And, more significantly, Zanu PF, just like the white colonial regime before it, does not recognise ordinary Zimbabweans as human beings entitled to the same freedoms and rights as other human being.
“That at the time of abolition of the Atlantic African slave trade the British through the British Parliament approved and paid 20 million pounds to slave owners already rich through the labour of the slaves,” concluded Chinamasa.
This is just madness! And so, ordinary Zimbabweans be denied their basic freedoms and rights because the British compensated the slave owners but not the slaves. What has that got to do with me? – SOURCE: zimbabwelight.blogspot.com
Khupe,Mwonzora et Al subverting the Supreme Court Judgement: Abednego Bhebhe
16 October 2020
By
Mandava Blessing
The 2014 MDC-T Organising Secretary Hon Abednego Bhebhe attacked Thokozani Khupe and the judicially constructed MDC-T Presidium for unconstitutional and irregular conduct.
Bhebhe made the remarks in his Court affidavit after the MDC-T Acting President Thokozani khupe,Mr Komichi and Bhebhe were taken to court by National Executive Member Gilbert Kagodora and Naison Mamuse.
In his Court Affidavit,he exposed how the Khupe cabal are using fake 2014 MDC-T structures to undertake the business of the 2014 MDC-T party.He queried Khalipani Phugeni’s role in the 2014 MDC-T structures.
He further exposes the high level of unconstitutionalism and unilateralism which has seen the Thokozani khupe and Mwonzora making personal decisions without consulting the National Council.
Hon Bhebhe’s remarks comes in the wake of Provincial Assemblies of the 2014 MDC-T structures who are now coalescing to finish the unfinished business of the MDC-T as directed by the Supreme Court Judgement.He demanding a constitutional EOC with bonafide delegates not manufactured ones.
Investigations by The Change Radio revealed that the court resurrected MDC-T has never met its 2014 membership or party organs since the delivery of the Supreme Court Judgement in May.However,the Khupe led MDC-T has proceeded to make decisions on behalf of the MDC-T without the 2014 National Council’s blessings.The Party’s Secretary General Douglas Mwonzora has even threatened to bar bonafide EOC delegates perceived as Advocate Chamisa supporters from attending the EOC.
By
Mandava Blessing
The 2014 MDC-T Organising Secretary Hon Abednego Bhebhe attacked Thokozani Khupe and the judicially constructed MDC-T Presidium for unconstitutional and irregular conduct.
Bhebhe made the remarks in his Court affidavit after the MDC-T Acting President Thokozani khupe,Mr Komichi and Bhebhe were taken to court by National Executive Member Gilbert Kagodora and Naison Mamuse.
In his Court Affidavit,he exposed how the Khupe cabal are using fake 2014 MDC-T structures to undertake the business of the 2014 MDC-T party.He queried Khalipani Phugeni’s role in the 2014 MDC-T structures.
He further exposes the high level of unconstitutionalism and unilateralism which has seen the Thokozani khupe and Mwonzora making personal decisions without consulting the National Council.
Hon Bhebhe’s remarks comes in the wake of Provincial Assemblies of the 2014 MDC-T structures who are now coalescing to finish the unfinished business of the MDC-T as directed by the Supreme Court Judgement.He demanding a constitutional EOC with bonafide delegates not manufactured ones.
Investigations by The Change Radio revealed that the court resurrected MDC-T has never met its 2014 membership or party organs since the delivery of the Supreme Court Judgement in May.However,the Khupe led MDC-T has proceeded to make decisions on behalf of the MDC-T without the 2014 National Council’s blessings.The Party’s Secretary General Douglas Mwonzora has even threatened to bar bonafide EOC delegates perceived as Advocate Chamisa supporters from attending the EOC.
By A Correspondent| Home Affairs minister Kazembe Kazembe has warned social media users that government will be monitoring their activities to protect “peace and stability in the country” in what confirms the state’s intention spook on citizens freedoms.
Addressing the media in Harare today, Kazembe said abuse of social media and fake news was motivated by subversive intentions.
“The abuse of social media and the scourge of fake reportage, which are often motivated by subversive intentions, will remain closely monitored to protect peace and stability in the country. They are trying to subvert our economic revival efforts,” said Kazembe.
THE Sports and Recreation Commission has green lighted football to return after months of inactivity due to the Coronavirus outbreak that paralysed sporting activities on a global scale.
The approval is in line with provisions of Statutory Instrument 200 of 2020.
In a letter to Zifa secretary-general Joseph Mamutse, SRC director-general Prince Mupazviriho said football training had been okayed with effect from yesterday, while competition proper will be conducted in a bubble format, just like what happened across the Limpopo in South Africa.
“The Sports and Recreation Commission hereby gives you notice, following your application that the Minister of Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation approved the gradual and phased resumption of football activities effective 16th of October in line with the provisions of Statutory Instrument 200 of 2020,” reads the statement by Mupazviriho.
He said the approval was for the Premier Soccer League, Women’s Soccer League and all national teams.
He emphasised that the resumption will take the format of a mini-league using the bubble concept.
“The resumption of football activities shall take the format of the mini-league using the bubble concept adopted by yourselves. The football activities in addition to the requirements specified by World Health Organisation (WHO) for safe resumption of sport, Statutory Instrument 200 of 2020, your submitted protocols, other legislation and policy directives relating to the prevention and containment of Covid-19, be subject to the following conditions; strict adherence to the bubble concept, implementation of Standard Operating Procedures and Zifa and its affiliates to provide resources and finances to undertake those activities,” said the SRC.
It said resumption of the game was a phased approach and assessments will be done during the initial stage on whether or not all provisions are in place and adherence to set protocols in order to inform the complete resumption of all football activities.
“Please note that all protocols for the resumption and containment of Covid-19 must be observed at all times and SRC expect strict and full compliance by all your members,” said the Commission.
There was, however, no clarity on whether fans will be allowed into the stadia during friendly and official matches.-Chronicle
By Mandava Blessing| Teachers and teacher Unions have blasted the Government for being an insincere and uncaring employer which is not concerned about the workers’ plight or welfare whatsoever.
The government in a dramatic u-turn has made a major climb down from it’s vitriolic attacks on teachers and threats which saw the President Mr ED Munangagwa attacking and threatening teachers in his address in Mutare recently.Not to be left out in the attack were some high ranking Government Officials such as Nick Mangwana who threatened the unarmed teachers with war for allegedly arm twisting the Government to consider their welfare seriously.
Speaking to the Change Radio in Hurungwe,a senior teacher who requested anonymity accused the government of politicising the teachers’ welfare demands.Mr Bernad Of Masvingo noted that there is no political will by the Government to remunerate the teachers well or to improve their conditions of service.
Speaking to the Change Radio the Secretary for Mobilisation in the Professional Educators Union Of Zimbabwe Mr Maltin Mukusha described the move by the Public Service Commission to convert the teachers’ Covid19 allowance to RTGS as “nonsensical and a lack of seriousness by the Government”.He angrily retorted that,”teachers are not morons who can be taken for a ride”.The PEUZ President Mr Wilson Makanyaire simply noted the PSC deception as a circus.
The PTUZ responding to the Public Service Commission on its Twitter handle said,”The announcement is actually Hot air.The deception won’t work.Our members remain incapacitated”.
The Zimbabwe Rural Teachers Union in a communique issued by its Secretary General Mr Fambai Fambai echoed the PTUZ stance and noted that ,”teachers won’t be Hoodwinked into dropping the incapacitation action by piecemeal solutions which are not sustainable”.
The majority of teachers that were interviewed by this publication bemoaned the Government’s segregatory tendencies which has seen it prioritising the security sector ahead of the teachers.Many have showed no trace if fear of dismissal as they equated their current situation as far worse than that of the unemployed in the streets.
Investigations by The Change Radio have revealed that most teachers are now eking out a decent living from vending,fish mongering or by engaging in illegal mining activities.
The announcement by the Public Service Commission Secretary Ambassador J Wutawunashe unearthed the Government’s hypocrisy and monumental deception.The Government has not increased the civil servants salaries but has infact converted the workers’ existing Covid19 allowance into RTGS and will pay this allowance on the pay day.
The PTUZ President Dr Takavafira Zhou summed it up by sadly noting that the Government is “urinating on teachers and has not moved an inch to make thing better for both the pupils and the teachers”.
The teacher Unions are now calling on parents to withdraw their pupils from school as they are roaming freely without anyone to monitor them.
Efforts to get a comment from the Public Service Commission were fruitless.Other Teacher Unions had not responded to this publication by time of going to press.
AMID witchcraft allegations and death threats, a Zimunya couple has done the unthinkable.
They have told their relatives to maintain a 250-metre distance from them at all times.
The couple, Stanford and Eunice Mutambanengwe, are being accused of possessing goblins that are allegedly sexually abusing their male and female relatives in Dambakurimwa Village.
After receiving death threats from their relatives, the Mutambanengwes have now dragged their five cousins to Mutare Civil Court to seek protection.
Stanford’s cousins — Hardwork, Dontworry, Oncemore, Forget and Betty Mutambanengwe — last week appeared before Mutare magistrate, Ms Notebulgar Muchineripi.
Stanford begged the court to order his cousins to keep a distance of at least 250 metres from his family. He said his cousins are in the habit of visiting his homestead armed with axes, bows and arrows; threatening to kill his family.
“They want to kill us. They always threaten to wipe out my family. They have made several attempts on my family’s lives and we are now living in fear. They accuse us of being sorcerers and having a hand in the death of other family members,” said Stanford.
He described the five as very dangerous people who are capable of inflicting harm on his family.
“They should not visit my home anymore. I do not want to see them at all. They claim that they are being terrorised at night by my goblins, yet I do not possess any. I am a God fearing person,” said the man.
In response, the five said they have no problem staying away from Stanford’s family.
They, however, begged for a reduction of the distance to be maintained between them, arguing that some local paths pass close the couple’s homestead.-Manica Post
By A Correspondent| ZINASU President Takudzwa Ngadziore has warned government that they should respect the existence of students failure of which they will face resistance.
Addressing the press following his release from Chikurubi Maximum prison, Ngadziore said he was in prison before his arrest, something he said solidified him resolve to fight for the emancipation of students.
“There was a prison inside me before I was in prison. That should be noted, if they fail to respect our existence, then they should be assured of our resistance.” he said.
In a murder case that has left villagers near Shavambiri Business Centre shell-shocked, a Marange man fatally assaulted his younger brother after a beer binge.
The siblings — Nyashadzashe (35) and Mundawashe Chinamira (25) — fought for several hours before the former overpowered the latter and fatally struck him with an iron bar.
Manicaland provincial police spokesperson, Inspector Tavhiringwa Kakohwa, confirmed the case and said Nyashadzashe has since been charged with murder as defined in Section 47 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act, Chapter 9:23. Insp Kakohwa said on October 6, Nyashadzashe and the now late Mundawashe spent the whole day drinking an illicit brew at the business centre.
Later that night, the heavily intoxicated brothers had a fierce brawl.
At around 10pm, their uncle — Mr Tatenda Musoni — offered to accommodate them in his barbershop for the night.
The brothers were left sleeping in the barbershop while Mr Musoni went home.
However, Mr Musoni locked the screen door from outside as his nephews were drunk.
At around midnight, Mr Patrick Mutimbanyoka, a security guard at the business centre, heard some noise coming from the barbershop and went to investigate.
“He peeped through the screen door and saw the brothers fighting. Nyashadzashe threw an empty beer bottle at Mr Mutimbanyoka but missed him. The security guard ran for his life.
“When Mr Mutimbanyoka came back after about 30 minutes in the company of a Mr Tinashe Kangorongo, the two brothers were still fighting. The due tried to stop the brothers from fighting but they couldn’t do much since the screen door was still locked.
“Nyashadzashe attempted to strike Mr Mutimbanyoka with an iron bar so Messrs Mutimbanyoka and Kangorongo decided to leave,” said Inspector Kakohwa.
At around 5am the following morning, Mr Musoni came back to unlock the door. He found the two brothers lying on the floor.
However, there was blood all over the floor. Mundawashe had deep cuts on his head and was writhing in pain.
Mr Musoni quickly alerted other villagers.
Mundawashe was ferried to the nearby Bakorenhema Clinic for treatment.
He died around 7.30am.
Inspector Kakohwa said Nyashadzashe admitted that he committed the offence, claiming that his younger sibling had threatened to cut off his head for ritual purposes.-Manica Post
By Jane Mlambo| The Sports and Recreation Commission has informed the Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) that football activities have been cleared to resume on the 16th of October.
According to SRC, the initial stage will see the resumption of Premier Soccer League, Women’s Soccer League and National Soccer teams.
This will come as a major relief to soccer crazy fans who have been starved of football since March when government declared a total lockdown to fight the spread of COVID-19.
Kaizer Chiefs coach Gavin Hunt says the club’s fans must see the best of Khama Billiat in the upcoming season and there is need to play according to his strengths.
The four-time Premiership winner took over at Naturena in October after the club parted ways with German mentor Ernst Middendorp, under whom Billiat failed to spark, with the pint-sized winger managing just three goals the entire season.
Speaking on South African radio SAFM last night, Hunt said it is more than necessary for the Zimbabwean to get back to his best.
“Look, what is gone is gone. I have known him (Billiat) from a young boy from Zimbabwe before he went to Ajax and Sundowns. We need to get the best out of him but to do that, you need to play him according to his strengths,” said the coach.
Hunt takes charge of the Soweto giants for the first time when they take on Maritzburg United in the MTN 8 this weekend.-Soccer 24
THE World Health Organisation (WHO) has poured cold water on government’s recent decision to suspend byelections citing COVID-19 fears, saying elections could safely be held during pandemics as long as “proper measures are in place”.
Addressing a virtual Press conference on Wednesday, WHO executive director for health emergencies programme Michael Ryan said there was nothing to stop elections from taking place as they were an “essential part” of people’s lives.
He also said the world health body was ready to offer advice to countries going into elections to minimise risks of spreading the pandemic.
“It is possible to hold safe elections if the proper measures are put in place. Elections do many things. They are an essential part of our lives, and they are absolutely central to how many societies live, survive, and thrive,” Ryan said.
The utterances came as government has been taken to court for suspending parliamentary and council by-elections which were due in December this year, citing COVID-19 fears.
Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga, who also doubles as Health minister, last week gazetted Statutory Instrument 225A of 2020 which indefinitely suspended the holding of by-elections to replace 15 MDC Alliance legislators and over 80 councillors who were recently recalled by the Thokozani Khupe-led MDCT party.
Khupe recalled 32 MPs.
Some of the recalled MPs are party list legislators, and her party has since taken over the 15 slots, while she has landed the post of opposition leader in the House.
The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission also endorsed government’s decision to suspend the by-elections, but the move was widely condemned by the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission and other non-governmental organisations which felt the move violated the Constitution.
“They (elections) are very important parts of the cycle of life. However, they do tend to bring people together. We’ve seen many examples over the last nine months where elections have actually been held very safely and with appropriate measures and have been straightforward enough to manage and implement,” the WHO boss added.
“We do offer them advice on how to reduce those risks if inperson elections are the way forward. In fact, we are working right now and finalising specific guidance for countries that choose in-person elections, learning from the last eight, nine months as to what has worked in those circumstances. We will be issuing that guidance in the coming days.”
Malawi recently held its elections despite COVID-19 fears and other countries such as the United States, Ivory Coast and Tanzania are set to go to the polls soon.
“It takes effort. We have worked very closely in the past in the same way we have done for all types of mass gatherings. We have worked on a risk management approach. You cannot reduce the risk to zero, but what you can do is identify and manage those risks, especially where in-person voting is the choice of the country. We don’t specify to any country what the proper choice is for the type of election they need to run, that is based on their own risk assessment.”
Early this week, nine disgruntled Zimbabwean voters approached the High Court challenging government decision to suspend the by-elections.
The court application came at a time constitutional experts and human rights defenders accused the Harare administration of trampling on citizens’ rights under the guise of enforcing COVID-19 containment measures.
The matter spilled into Parliament yesterday with Speaker of the National Assembly Jacob Mudenda being quizzed by Mbizo MP Settlement Chikwinya (MDC Alliance) over the legality of statutory instruments (SIs) that did not pass through Parliament.
Mudenda admitted that SIs could only become law after being endorsed by the Parliamentary Legal Committee (PLC).
Chikwinya said: “I rise to seek clarity on the statement by the Speaker that the SIs do not necessarily become law unless they have passed through the PLC, but Mr Speaker, the majority of SIs that are promulgated by the ministers have a direct effect to the citizens and their contents are directly impacting on our citizens before Parliament has had a look at them. Is it in order for us to pass amendments to the provision so that SIs are first scrutinised by Parliament before they become effective to the citizenry?”
In response, Mudenda said: “Yes, in terms of the Standing Order numbers 20 and 28 that should be the position that they are scrutinised first by the PLC for their constitutionality so that nobody asks on them before Parliament has gone through them. So your point is noted.”
Chikwinya later said the SIs including the one that postponed the by-election, therefore, had no “force or effect”.
Source – NewsDay
Home Affairs Minister Kazemve Kazembe yesterday threatened to get G40 ministers deported.
Speaking during his press conference, Kazembe said authorities were also seized with securing the return of fugitives from justice that were scattered in various parts of the globe.
Wanted fugitives include @Hon_Kasukuwere @waltermzembi and others. Come back and clear your names": Kazembe Kazembe #Zimbabwe pic.twitter.com/eNzOYb21xM
— ZimEye (@ZimEye) October 16, 2020
“As law enforcement agencies, our role is to bring suspects to justice, then the normal procedures take effect. We urge the suspects to do themselves a favour by voluntarily returning to clear their names if they are innocent.”
“The abuse of social media and the scourge of fake reportage, which are often motivated by subversive intentions, will remain closely monitored to protect peace and stability in the country. They are trying to subvert our economic revival efforts,” said Minister Kazembe.
He said peace and stability were needed in the country’s quest to attain an upper middle income society by 2030.
“The peace and stability in Zimbabwe is what guarantees and secures the path to the attainment of Vision 2030, which we must all rally behind.”
“I call upon all peace-loving citizens to play their part in this journey and help fight violent crime, corruption and subversion spearheaded by malcontents whose only mission is to try to grab power unconstitutionally and violently for their own personal greed purposes and against the dictates of our democracy and constitutionalism.”
A daring woman has barred her husband from being intimate with her until he settles Lobola arrears, it has emerged.
For men sex can cause a blow to their ego and for that reason a man from Gokwe approached a traditional court lamenting how his wife was using sex as a bargaining chip, by barring him from having sexual intercourse with her until he paid the balance on the bride price.
It is reported that Eunice Chitangu from Marumisa village under Chief Nemangwe decided to punish her husband Nesbert Chitondo by denying him sex as punishment for allegedly demanding sex all the time even when she was not in the mood.
It was revealed to B-Metro that in January this year, Chitangu who felt her husband should not continue enjoying her affection without giving her parents their dues as an appreciation for raising a woman who bore him four children solemnly told him the comfort, he had enjoyed was equivalent to the lobola he had so far paid.
Irked by his wife’s “sufficient reason” to deny him his conjugal rights, Chitondo then approached Chief Nemangwe’s traditional court complaining that his wife was holding him at ransom by allegedly denying him sex on grounds that he had not yet finished paying lobola for her.
According to a source who claimed to have intimate details of the incident, Chitondo was now accusing his wife of having a boyfriend arguing that same boyfriend must be the one who has been issuing instructions to his wife so that he doesn’t get his conjugal rights.
“In his case which is yet to be heard before Chief Nemangwe, Chitondo is complaining about his wife saying since January this year, he has not had sex with her because every time he tries to stimulate her sexual desires, she would refuse saying he should pay the outstanding lobola.
“Despite the fact he wanted the chief to restore the conjugal rights, Chitondo was complaining that he was also fed up of living with a stingy and disrespectful wife,” the source said.
The source further said Chitondo tried his best to make his wife happy and he even preached to her on the dangers of leaving him sexually starved, but to no avail.
B-Metro also gathered that central to the dispute is the fact that Chitondo was constantly demanding sex to an extent that he would even set his alarm clock an extra 30-40 minutes early so that he could fit in some of his lovemaking sessions with his seemingly restive wife.
Contacted for comment Chief Nemangwe could neither confirm nor deny the incident.
“I am not at liberty to comment on that case now because I have a lot of cases before me, which accumulated after we suspended hearings in March as part of Government’s efforts to reduce the spread of the deadly Covid-19. I will however, only be able to do so after I have presided over it,” said Chief Nemangwe.B-Metro
The modest reduction in Zimbabwe’s gross domestic product this year of minus 4,5 percent due to Covid-19, will be counterbalanced by growth of 7,5 percent next year as the Zimbabwean and global economies cope with the pandemic, the Treasury has predicted.
“In 2021, the economy is predicted to recover from a projected contraction of -4,5 percent in 2020 to a growth of 7,4 percent, driven by consumption (2,6 percent) and investment (5,8 percent) improvements,” said Finance and Economic Development Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube yesterday.
Launching the 2021 Budget Strategy Paper in Harare, a document expected to guide wider consultations on the upcoming 2021 National Budget, the Minister said: “The recovery in consumption is mainly anchored on expected stabilisation of inflation through ongoing policy interventions which should aid restoration of purchasing power of consumers.
“Employers including Government will continue to review wages and salaries in line with inflation developments and budget capacity to restore eroded incomes as the economy recovers.”
The 2021 Budget Strategy Paper marks the transition from the Transitional Stabilisation Programme, which is coming to an end this December, paving way for the longer term National Development Strategy from 2021-2025.
The stabilisation programme was designed to sort out the major structural fiscal and monetary problems inherited by the Second Republic, with success now seen in stable market-driven exchange rates and resulting low monthly inflation.
With the fundamentals fixed and distortions removed, the Government can now switch to rapid economic growth based on real increases in production.
The 2021 Budget Strategy Paper is themed “Building Resilience and Economic Recovery Post Covid-19”.
“Government is launching the 2021 Budget Strategy Paper (BSP) in line with the New Dispensation’s commitment of ensuring broader stakeholder involvement in policy formulation processes, that way generating effective public participation in policy and programmes implementation,” said the Minister.
“Accordingly, the 2021 Budget Strategy Paper (BSP) constitutes a valuable tool, meant to guide consultative discussions and sharing of ideas on national priority policies, programmes and projects for the forthcoming 2021 National Budget,” reads part of the document.
“Under the theme “Building Resilience and Economic Recovery Post-Covid-19”, the Budget Strategy Paper focusses on strengthening the economy to withstand any potential climatic (drought, cyclones, floods, pests) and macro-economic shocks, as we focus on attaining inclusive and sustainable growth towards Vision 2030.”
Monthly inflation is now falling to almost trivial levels and this will be seen in revised annual inflation predictions with the 12-month rate by year-end now expected to be 134 percent, down from the initial prediction of 300 percent.
This is a result of the high monthly inflation recorded in the last five months of last year fall out of the calculation to be replaced by trivial monthly rates already seen and predicted for the rest of this year.
Annual inflation measures the rise in the cost of living over the previous 12 months. With monthly inflation rising steadily from February last year until July this year, when it peaked at 35 percent, the running 12-month figure also rose in line with the monthly rates to a peak of around 837 percent.
But since the introduction of the foreign currency auction system, which has brought about macro-economic stability, high monthly figures from August and September last year have already been replaced by very low figures from the same two months this year, which in turn has seen the resulting annual inflation figures falling to almost 660 percent.
Even the 134 percent now predicted by year-end will be largely due to the rising monthly figures between February and July this year, after an anomalous very low January figure.
“The slowdown in inflation will be attributed to deepening of the foreign currency auction market which is expected to sustain exchange rate stability,” said the Minister.
“Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe is also expected to continue to curtail growth in money supply, which is one of the major drivers of inflation.”
Prof Ncube said economic prospects for the coming year will be underpinned by “macro stability characterised by currency stability, declining annual inflation averaging 134 percent, and fiscal stability.”
The foreign currency auction system has brought about price stability as a good number of retailers and service providers are now utilising market-based pricing, and this is being reflected in recent inflation trends.
The stability has been predicated on the fiscal discipline of the Second Republic with Government living within its means, that is what it collects in taxes, instead of wild borrowing and then printing, in later years printing digitally, extra money and thus driving up money supply without corresponding increases in production.
The month-on-month inflation rate in September 2020 was 3,83 percent, reinforcing the dramatic fall seen in August, when it had fallen to 8,44 percent. -Herald
Farai Dziva|Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa’s desperate attempt to use guns to disrupt the people’s struggle literally confirms that he is an illegitimate leader who is afraid of the power of the citizens, President Nelson Chamisa has said.
President Chamisa also took a swipe at the jittery Zanu PF leader for using “excessive force and coercion against hapless citizens.”
“The incumbent’s illegitimacy is confirmed by the excessive use of force and coercion against citizens.
Faith in brute force often mislead unpopular rulers to mistakenly rely on guns, imprisonment, teargas and terror to subjugate and muzzle citizens.
Ultimately,citizens will always win,” President Chamisa said in a statement.
Farai Dziva|Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa’s desperate attempt to use guns to disrupt the people’s struggle literally confirms that he is an illegitimate leader who is afraid of the power of the citizens, President Nelson Chamisa has said.
President Chamisa also took a swipe at the jittery Zanu PF leader for using “excessive force and coercion against hapless citizens.”
“The incumbent’s illegitimacy is confirmed by the excessive use of force and coercion against citizens.
Faith in brute force often mislead unpopular rulers to mistakenly rely on guns, imprisonment, teargas and terror to subjugate and muzzle citizens.
Ultimately,citizens will always win,” President Chamisa said in a statement.
Farai Dziva|President Nelson Chamisa has described the death of the Movement for Democratic Change founding organising secretary, Esaph Mdlongwa as a terrible blow to the popular opposition party.
Said President Chamisa :
” Saddened..The passing on of the MDC founding National Organising Sec, Umdala Esaph Mdlongwa is a blow to us.
A man of integrity, courage and honour all wrapped in humility and simplicity.
We worked with him as we formed and built the great party that we have become. RIP Big man!”
Ministry of Health and Child Care Coronavirus Update :15 October 2020
New cases: 20
Locals: 17
Returnees: 3 (from South Africa)
Deaths: 0
Recoveries: 29
PCR Tests Done: 818
National Recovery Rate: 95%
Active Cases: 175
Total Cumulative Cases: 8075
Total Recoveries: 7669
Total Deaths: 231
WHILE many people are happy that the rainy season is upon us, a woman from Ntabazinduna is living in fear of losing her life after her estranged husband threatened to kill her by lightning while in her house.
Rhoda Dlodlo from Madlelenyoni Line claimed her ex-husband Elias Zondo from Dobha Line in ward 5, also in Ntabazinduna, threatened that he had the power to send lightning to kill her as punishment for deserting him. In a desperate bid to stop Zondo from carrying out his chilling threats, a fearful Dlodlo approached the Bulawayo Civil Court and sought a protection order against him.
“I want a protection order to be granted against my ex-husband Elias Zondo. We parted ways because he was an irresponsible man. He was failing to financially support me. He is a drunkard and would drink beer from morning till late at night.
“He would come home very drunk and start insulting me with vulgar language. On 17 September he followed me to my sister’s house where I’m now staying. He came armed with an axe and knobkerrie and was threatening to harm me.
“He also threatened to bewitch me saying he was going to send lightning to kill me together with those I’m staying with. He is also coming late at night at our home and lies in wait in the yard. He is a very dangerous man and I now feel insecure that he can harm me together with those people I’m staying with,” said Dlodlo.
Zondo didn’t, however, refute his ex-wife’s accusations. He said he carried out the threats in a bid to force Dlodlo to reconcile with him.
“Yes, I followed her to where she is now staying because I wanted her to come back home so that we can stay together. I was hurt that she deserted me so that is why I followed her to her place of residence. This is also because I didn’t expect her to leave me just like that,” protested Zondo.
His efforts to reconcile with Dlodlo seemed to have been dampened after the presiding magistrate Nkosinomusa Ncube sternly ordered him that for the next six months he should not to go to her house without her consent or to behave in a violent manner towards her.-B-Metro
Below an excerpt of the brief speech by the ZINASU President Takudzswa Ngadziore as he walked out of Harare Remand Prison:
Tawanda Muchehiwa … is just but a mere incident of the victim but the victim at large is not the students at MSU, but the students around the continent, around the world. What was abducted is all the mothers across the globe, across the continent, because he is born from a mother, from a woman. What was abducted is not Tawanda Muchehiwa, what was abducted is the labour movement, because his father is a worker, is a member of the proletariat, what was abducted is a religion because there is no religion without a worshipper and himself is a worshipper, thus a month in prison will never break me. There was a prison inside me before I was in prison. That should be noted, if they fail to respect our existence, then they should be assured of our resistance. They should know, the regime should know the khakistocracy of Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa…should know that the barometres of class consciousness stand resolved staunch on the position that justice for Tawanda Muchehiwa should be served. Impala Car Rental should be informed and should know that it should release information of those who abducted of Tawanda Muchehiwa, because there are several abduction cases that are known in Zimbabwe. We have an abduction case of Itai Dzamara. Where is Itai Dzamra right now? Impala might be willing to answer this question if it fails to provide information of those who abducted Tawanda Muchehiwa. I am very clear on this as the president of the students movement but however I am not alone. The movement at large includes the movement, the youth are included and on this I stand guided that we will never kneel down, we will never, we will never. One ZINASU, one union. We will kneel down to the tyranny of the khakistocracy
IMBIBERS scurried for cover when their drinking partner axed a man on the head after a heated argument over beer.
The attempted murder incident happened in Cowdray Park suburb last week on Sunday at a shebeen.
Speaking to B-Metro, Kelvin Manyathela said the whole fracas happened fast as they were taking wise waters at a shebeen in the suburb.
Manyathela said it started with usual shebeen talk but it suddenly took a u- turn when Thabani Nyathi accused him of showing off to the ladies.
“He accused me of refusing to buy him alcohol and showing off money by buying ladies beer. As a result we had a fierce argument. While we were arguing he reached for his axe in his pocket. He then axed me in the head declaring that he would kill me,” he said.
He added : “ As I was trying to stop the blood gushing from my head Thabani tried to flee as residents were baying for his blood. They pursued him and caught up with him and meted out instant justice on him.”
A source close to investigations said Thabani was escorted to a police station as residents had a free-for-all in battering him for almost killing Kelvin. They handed him over to the police leading to his arrest.
Kelvin was rushed to Mpilo hospital for treatment. He has been discharged and is recovering at home.-B-Metro
By Dorothy Moyo | The Zengeza MP Job Sikhala has thanked Zimbabweans for standing with him during times of tribulation.
Sikhala was violently arrested in August when he was charged for allegedly inciting violence.
He would later stay in maximum prison for nearly 6 weeks.
Writing on Friday evening, Hon Sikhala said
“True friends are seen standing with you throughout in good and bad times.
“The foundation of love given touches the nerves of under torment.
“Zimbabweans are loving people.
“The way they stood with me throughout my fight for social justice is unprecedented. I love you Zimbabweans.”
Some South Africans staged a peaceful protest in the country today urging the government to cancel special permits for Zimbabweans, Mozambicans and other foreigners.
The protesters carrying banners inscribed with the words ‘Put South Africa First’, demanded the cancellation of over 250,000 special dispensation given to some foreigners, the immediate termination of all contracts of foreign workers in the hospitality, building and other sectors.
They also demanded the placing of all refugees and asylum seekers in camps, saying they were setting up makeshift houses that were an eyesore.
The leader of the protesters, Mario Khumalo, said there are a lot of bad things being done by foreigners in South Africa.
“These foreigners are evil. They are raping our kids. They are killing our kids. They are grabbing our jobs. They don’t respect us. Some of them are border jumpers as they don’t have proper documents. So, we are asking them to leave today. The people that are supposed to come here are those that respect other human beings and not what we are facing right now.”
15 October 2020
By
Mandava Blessing
Teachers and teacher Unions have blasted the Government for being an insincere and uncaring employer which is not concerned about the workers’ plight or welfare whatsoever.
The government in a dramatic u-turn has made a major climb down from it’s vitriolic attacks on teachers and threats which saw the President Mr ED Munangagwa attacking and threatening teachers in his address in Mutare recently.Not to be left out in the attack were some high ranking Government Officials such as Nick Mangwana who threatened the unarmed teachers with war for allegedly arm twisting the Government to consider their welfare seriously.
Speaking to the Change Radio in Hurungwe,a senior teacher who requested anonymity accused the government of politicising the teachers’ welfare demands.Mr Bernad Of Masvingo noted that there is no political will by the Government to remunerate the teachers well or to improve their conditions of service.
Speaking to the Change Radio the Secretary for Mobilisation in the Professional Educators Union Of Zimbabwe Mr Maltin Mukusha described the move by the Public Service Commission to convert the teachers’ Covid19 allowance to RTGS as “nonsensical and a lack of seriousness by the Government”.He angrily retorted that,”teachers are not morons who can be taken for a ride”.The PEUZ President Mr Wilson Makanyaire simply noted the PSC deception as a circus.
The PTUZ responding to the Public Service Commission on its Twitter handle said,”The announcement is actually Hot air.The deception won’t work.Our members remain incapacitated”.
The Zimbabwe Rural Teachers Union in a communique issued by its Secretary General Mr Fambai Fambai echoed the PTUZ stance and noted that ,”teachers won’t be Hoodwinked into dropping the incapacitation action by piecemeal solutions which are not sustainable”.
The majority of teachers that were interviewed by this publication bemoaned the Government’s segregatory tendencies which has seen it prioritising the security sector ahead of the teachers.Many have showed no trace if fear of dismissal as they equated their current situation as far worse than that of the unemployed in the streets.
Investigations by The Change Radio have revealed that most teachers are now eking out a decent living from vending,fish mongering or by engaging in illegal mining activities.
The announcement by the Public Service Commission Secretary Ambassador J Wutawunashe unearthed the Government’s hypocrisy and monumental deception.The Government has not increased the civil servants salaries but has infact converted the workers’ existing Covid19 allowance into RTGS and will pay this allowance on the pay day.
The PTUZ President Dr Takavafira Zhou summed it up by sadly noting that the Government is “urinating on teachers and has not moved an inch to make thing better for both the pupils and the teachers”.
The teacher Unions are now calling on parents to withdraw their pupils from school as they are roaming freely without anyone to monitor them.
Efforts to get a comment from the Public Service Commission were fruitless.Other Teacher Unions had not responded to this publication by time of going to press.
16 October 2020
By
Mandava Blessing
The 2014 MDC-T Organising Secretary Hon Abednego Bhebhe attacked Thokozani Khupe and the judicially constructed MDC-T Presidium for unconstitutional and irregular conduct.
Bhebhe made the remarks in his Court affidavit after the MDC-T Acting President Thokozani khupe,Mr Komichi and Bhebhe were taken to court by National Executive Member Gilbert Kagodora and Naison Mamuse.
In his Court Affidavit,he exposed how the Khupe cabal are using fake 2014 MDC-T structures to undertake the business of the 2014 MDC-T party.He queried Khalipani Phugeni’s role in the 2014 MDC-T structures.
He further exposes the high level of unconstitutionalism and unilateralism which has seen the Thokozani khupe and Mwonzora making personal decisions without consulting the National Council.
Hon Bhebhe’s remarks comes in the wake of Provincial Assemblies of the 2014 MDC-T structures who are now coalescing to finish the unfinished business of the MDC-T as directed by the Supreme Court Judgement.He demanding a constitutional EOC with bonafide delegates not manufactured ones.
Investigations by The Change Radio revealed that the court resurrected MDC-T has never met its 2014 membership or party organs since the delivery of the Supreme Court Judgement in May.However,the Khupe led MDC-T has proceeded to make decisions on behalf of the MDC-T without the 2014 National Council’s blessings.The Party’s Secretary General Douglas Mwonzora has even threatened to bar bonafide EOC delegates perceived as Advocate Chamisa supporters from attending the EOC.
ZCTU has urged the government to close down schools till striking teachers return to work because of reports of students being involved in undesirable activities in schools and there is no one to chastise them because there are no teachers to control them.
This was after a video of a nasty fight in a school where students are seen fighting each other with chairs in a classroom circulated.
ZCTU in a tweet said:
Close schools until teachers are back after resolving their legitimate grievances. We are going to witness fatalities in these schools without teachers. Parents why are you sending children to school?
Teachers have been on strike since schools opened on 28 September.
BREAKING: ZINASU leader, Taku Ngadziore has finally been released from prison.
BREAKING: @ngadziore has finally been released from prison. He is walking out of Newlands Remand Prison right now. More details on https://t.co/RMz9FsvEJW pic.twitter.com/liaSGcS3NN
— ZimEye (@ZimEye) October 16, 2020
POLICE Commissioner General Godwin Matanga has admitted his subordinates messed up when they threw teargas cannisters into a bus full of passengers at a bus stop near the Harare showgrounds early this week.
Home Affairs Minister Kazembe Kazembe also reaffirmed authorities’ commitment to bring to account the seven police operatives.
The two were addressing a joint press briefing in Harare Friday on the increase in gun crime in the country currently.
Zimbabweans were outraged to see video recorded images of panicking passengers jumping off through windows of a stationary bus on social media.
Kazembe said the concerned police details were still being investigated.
“Investigations are on-going to understand what exactly transpired but no one is above the law,” said the minister.
“If there was an excessive force that was applied when it was not supposed to be applied, I can tell you those police officers have been arrested to explain that conduct.”
Matanga also said his seven subordinates were still being investigated.
“We have arrested seven officers. We are going to charge them under Police Act and what then happens, the officers who are carrying out investigations are the ones who are going to pick the appropriate charge from the Police Act and definitely charge them,” Matanga said.
“But as far as I am concerned right now, I can generally say they performed their duty improperly. So, don’t worry everything is being handled properly.”
Zimbabwe Peace Project director Jestina Mukoko said “it was inhuman for the responsible police details to subject people on the bus to such treatment.”
She added, “We had hoped to have known the identities of the responsible details but up to now it seems it is not clear what they will be charged with.
“They have not even made an appearance in court. By the way it is the lives of citizens that was put at risk on the bus and an even more serious risk when people were rushing to get off through the windows.”
Tsitsi Dangarembga, who was recently announced as the University of East Anglia’s (UEA) inaugural International Chair of Creative Writing, is awaiting a decision by the Zimbabwean justice system after being arrested at the end of July.
In the same week she was long listed for the 2020 Booker Prize she was charged with inciting public violence and has been freed on bail ahead of an appearance in court on October 22.
Students and staff of UEA’s Creative Writing programme have called for her acquittal, citing her right to peaceful protest, right of assembly and free expression of her views, under the law of Zimbabwe and international law.
A statement of support said: We write out of concern for and in solidarity with Tsitsi Dangarembga and the right to peacefully protest. Peaceful protest is a human right and a freedom, one of expression, and one that we as creative writers on the MA course at UEA enjoy. The Literature, Drama, and Creative Writing School, and UEA as a whole, benefit from Ms. Dangarembga’s position as International Chair for Creative Writing and this right to free expression.
“We stand behind and beside Ms. Dangarembga during this challenge to her right to free expression and hope for a favourable resolution to her case so that she may continue to raise and express her creative voice in a peaceful manner.”
UEA announced the author’s appointment on October 1 as part of the creative school’s 50th anniversary celebrations.
The role was set up to encourage new writing from the African continent, and to head up its Global Voices scholarship programme, which will fund 10 places over five years for students from African countries to study at UEA.
Professor Jean McNeil commended the students for taking action.
“It’s been an ordeal for her, August, September and now it is October and there have been several statements of support, her publishers, the Booker Prize and English PEN, we are one more voice,” she said.
“The students haven’t met her, they do not know her and they might not meet her because she is coming next year in 2021 and they have said we would like to say something.”
The Sports and Recreation Commission has green lighted football to return after months of inactivity due to the Coronavirus outbreak that paralysed sporting activities on a global scale.
The approval is in line with provisions of Statutory Instrument 200 of 2020.
In a letter to Zifa secretary-general Joseph Mamutse, SRC director-general Prince Mupazviriho said football training had been okayed with effect from yesterday, while competition proper will be conducted in a bubble format, just like what happened across the Limpopo in South Africa.
“The Sports and Recreation Commission hereby gives you notice, following your application that the Minister of Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation approved the gradual and phased resumption of football activities effective 16th of October in line with the provisions of Statutory Instrument 200 of 2020,” reads the statement by Mupazviriho.
He said the approval was for the Premier Soccer League, Women’s Soccer League and all national teams.
He emphasised that the resumption will take the format of a mini-league using the bubble concept.
“The resumption of football activities shall take the format of the mini-league using the bubble concept adopted by yourselves. The football activities in addition to the requirements specified by World Health Organisation (WHO) for safe resumption of sport, Statutory Instrument 200 of 2020, your submitted protocols, other legislation and policy directives relating to the prevention and containment of Covid-19, be subject to the following conditions; strict adherence to the bubble concept, implementation of Standard Operating Procedures and Zifa and its affiliates to provide resources and finances to undertake those activities,” said the SRC.
It said resumption of the game was a phased approach and assessments will be done during the initial stage on whether or not all provisions are in place and adherence to set protocols in order to inform the complete resumption of all football activities.
“Please note that all protocols for the resumption and containment of Covid-19 must be observed at all times and SRC expect strict and full compliance by all your members,” said the Commission.Bv
There was, however, no clarity on whether fans will be allowed into the stadia during friendly and official matches.
Tell us about the money for Kunzvi Dam works donated in 1990 which works were supposed to be finished by 1996. Has another Supreme Court ruling pushed back the MDC party's existence to 1990 when the Kunzvi Dam works money disappeared Nick?
— Simba Chikanza (@schikanza) October 16, 2020
…..
https://twitter.com/ZimEye/status/1317123316268806144?s=19
PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwa’s Chief of Staff, Misheck Sibanda has been fingered in a corruption scandal in which he allegedly influenced Mines minister Winston Chitando to give a special grant to a former workmate Cynthia Maadza.
Maadza is allegedly trying to use her political influence to grab a mine through an offer letter granted by the Ministry of Land for agricultural purposes in 2015 and later applied for a special grant.
Below is the letter in question:
By A Correspondent- The Harare Mayor Advocate Jacob Mafume has said interference from the national government is crippling local councils.
This was after Infomation Ministry Permanent Secretary Nick Mangwana had said cities that are run by the opposition particularly the MDC have been run down.
Mangwana tweeted:
Our Cities have been totally run-down. What’s interesting is that in 20 years(1980-2000) we had great services. One wonders what has happened in the last 20(2000-2020) for us to be in this mess. Those who can’t run smaller things can’t surely run things at a National Scale.
In response the Harare Mayor said no one can run the city on a part-time basis because of government interference:
You cant run big cities on part time basis. The powers & interference from national gvt is crippling. Budgets& staff are not approved. Rates forgivenby Gvt. Land is invaded by your cooperatives, zupco pretends to transport people. It’s bad taste this crude attack by a perm sec
The government delayed approving the City Of Harare’s 2020 budget which saw the city fathers charging ratepayers rates that were in some instances equivalent to US $2 per month during hyperinflation.
The government has always blamed the city fathers for poor service delivery.-twitter
Kaizer Chiefs coach Gavin Hunt says the club’s fans must see the best of Khama Billiat in the upcoming season and there is need to play according to his strengths.
The four-time Premiership winner took over at Naturena in October after the club parted ways with German mentor Ernst Middendorp, under whom Billiat failed to spark, with the pint-sized winger managing just three goals the entire season.
Speaking on South African radio SAFM last night, Hunt said it is more than necessary for the Zimbabwean to get back to his best.
“Look, what is gone is gone. I have known him (Billiat) from a young boy from Zimbabwe before he went to Ajax and Sundowns. We need to get the best out of him but to do that, you need to play him according to his strengths,” said the coach.
Hunt takes charge of the Soweto giants for the first time when they take on Maritzburg United in the MTN 8 this weekend.-Soccer 24
By A Correspondent- Addressing the media Friday afternoon, a senior police official revealed that 7 police details who teargased a Rimbi bus full of passengers last week at a pick up point near Harare Agricultural show have been arrested and will be charged under the Police Act.
Police Commissioner General Godwin Matanga however refused to disclose the names of the police details saying that the law would take its course.
“No- one is above the law…..They will be charged under the Police Act.”
Watch the video loading below……
Warriors striker
Prince Dube‘s impressive form in front of goal continues after he netted again in Azam’s 3-0 win over Mwadui FC in the Tanzanian Premier League on Thursday.
The 23-year-old has been in scintillating form for Azam in the early stage of the season and had scored five goals in five league matches prior to today’s game.
The former Highlanders gunslinger scored Azam’s second goal of the game on the hour mark, taking his tally for the season to six, with three assists as well.-Soccer 24
TTM chairman Lawrence Mulaudzi has explained their side of the story on why Norman Mapeza refused to sign a contract with the club.
The Zimbabwean gaffer spent a few days with the team but did not take charge of any training session at the SA Premier Soccer League newcomers.
Mapeza said he turned down the contract offer after realising that it was impossible to fine-tune the team to the standard and level of his liking before the season gets underway.
Speaking at a presser on Thursday, Mulaudzi explained their side and said that he tried to persuade the coach to stay and iron out their differences, but he refused.
“Mr Mapeza was in the forefront,” the chairman said, as cited by KickOff.com. “What then happened is that we invited Mr Mapeza to come and join the team.
“Before he came, we sent him the contract after agreeing on the terms and conditions. We sent him the contract when he was still in the neighbouring country.
“We were hoping for Mr Mapeza to hand us the contract on his arrival. So the contract was not forthcoming for quite some time. I then followed up with the CEO [Sello Chokoe] to say, ‘Where is the contract for the coach? We need [work] permits for the coach, we don’t have time.’
“And one of the conditions to appoint him was that he fulfils all the conditions, including a working permit. So the working permit was not coming forth. Apparently, I sent another team to support the CEO or further the investigation of what is really going on.”
Mulaudzi said Mapeza left his hotel without notice, and he tried to convince him to stay at his house in Jo’burg, but the Zimbabwean refused.
The boss added: “The next thing I was surprised when I got a call that Mr Mapeza’s hotel rooms were locked. The management then took a resolution that they are not going to keep Mr Mapeza in these circumstances. I then said, ‘That’s fine, I respect your decision as the manager of the club.’
“I phoned Mr Mapeza. Mr Mapeza was on his way from Tshwane to Johannesburg. I said to Mr Mapeza, ‘What’s going on? Can we try to sit down and resolve this matter?’ Mr Mapeza was going to his sister-in-law in Johannesburg. I said, ‘Mr Mapeza, go and stay in my house somewhere in Joburg, I will deal with this matter the next day.’
“Mr Mapeza he said he’s fine he will go back to his sister-in-law. Then I followed up with Mr Mapeza, and he told me that he was in Zimbabwe. Then I rest my case.
After noting Mapeza will not return, TTM then appointed Joel Masutha as their head coach.
“The answer is that Mr Mapeza is no longer with us. Mr Mapeza, he won’t be with us anytime soon. And Mr Mapeza is history to us. Joel Masutha, one of our own, will take the baton and move forward. I thank you,” Mulaudzi said.-Soccer 24
Farai Dziva|Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa’s desperate attempt to use guns to disrupt the people’s struggle literally confirms that he is an illegitimate leader who is afraid of the power of the citizens, President Nelson Chamisa has said.
President Chamisa also took a swipe at the jittery Zanu PF leader for using “excessive force and coercion against hapless citizens.”
“The incumbent’s illegitimacy is confirmed by the excessive use of force and coercion against citizens.
Faith in brute force often mislead unpopular rulers to mistakenly rely on guns, imprisonment, teargas and terror to subjugate and muzzle citizens.
Ultimately,citizens will always win,” President Chamisa said in a statement.
Kaitano Tembo says he is seeing progress in his SuperSport United team and has set new targets for the 2020/21 season.
The Zimbabwean gaffer guided Matsantsantsa a Pitori to the MTN8 triumph in the last term before ending the league campaign on number 5.
Speaking ahead of the season opener in the MTN8 semifinal clash against TTM this weekend, Tembo said he wants to finish with better records this time.
“What’s important for me is progress. When I took over the club, as a caretaker coach, we were 14th and two points above relegation, but we ended up finishing seventh,” he said.
“In the following term, when I was appointed as a full-time coach, we lost the MTN8 final on penalties to Cape Town City and finished sixth.
“In the past season, we won the MTN8 Cup and finished fifth. So, for me, I see progress and building.”-Soccer 24
Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, many countries were making steady progress in tackling tuberculosis (TB), with a 9% reduction in incidence seen between 2015 and 2019 and a 14% drop in deaths in the same period. High-level political commitments at global and national levels were delivering results. However, a new report from WHO shows that access to TB services remains a challenge, and that global targets for prevention and treatment will likely be missed without urgent action and investments.
Approximately 1.4 million people died from TB-related illnesses in 2019. Of the estimated 10 million people who developed TB that year, some 3 million were not diagnosed with the disease, or were not officially reported to national authorities.
The situation is even more acute for people with drug-resistant TB. About 465 000 people were newly diagnosed with drug-resistant TB in 2019 and, of these, less than 40% were able to access treatment. There has also been limited progress in scaling up access to treatment to prevent TB.
“Equitable access to quality and timely diagnosis, prevention, treatment and care remains a challenge,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of WHO. “Accelerated action is urgently needed worldwide if we are to meet our targets by 2022.”
About 14 million people were treated for TB in the period 2018-2019, just over one-third of the way towards the 5-year target (2018-2022) of 40 million, according to the report. Some 6.3 million people started TB preventive treatment in 2018-2019, about one-fifth of the way towards the 5-year target of 30 million.
Funding is a major issue. In 2020, funding for TB prevention, diagnosis, treatment and care reached
US$ 6.5 billion, representing only half of the US$ 13 billion target agreed by world leaders in the UN Political Declaration on TB.
The COVID-19 pandemic and TB
Disruptions in services caused by the COVID-19 pandemic have led to further setbacks. In many countries, human, financial and other resources have been reallocated from TB to the COVID-19 response. Data collection and reporting systems have also been negatively impacted.
According to the new report, data collated from over 200 countries has shown significant reductions in TB case notifications, with 25-30% drops reported in 3 high burden countries – India, Indonesia, the Philippines – between January and June 2020 compared to the same 6-month period in 2019. These reductions in case notifications could lead to a dramatic increase in additional TB deaths, according to WHO modelling.
However, in line with WHO guidance, countries have taken measures to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 on essential TB services, including by strengthening infection control. A total of 108 countries – including 21 countries with a high TB burden – have expanded the use of digital technologies to provide remote advice and support. To reduce the need for visits to health facilities, many countries are encouraging home-based treatment, all-oral treatments for people with drug-resistant TB, provision of TB preventive treatment, and ensuring people with TB maintain an adequate supply of drugs.
“In the face of the pandemic, countries, civil society and other partners have joined forces to ensure that essential services for both TB and COVID-19 are maintained for those in need,” said Dr Tereza Kaseva, Director of WHO’s Global TB Programme. “These efforts are vital to strengthen health systems, ensure health for all, and save lives.”
A recent progress report from the UN Secretary General outlines 10 priority actions for Member States and other stakeholders to close gaps in TB care, financing and research, as well as advance multisectoral action and accountability, including in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Note for the editors
Global targets
In 2014 and 2015, all Member States of WHO and the UN adopted the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and WHO’s End TB Strategy. The SDGs and End TB Strategy both include targets and milestones for large reductions in TB incidence, TB deaths and costs faced by TB patients and their households.
TB is included under Goal 3 Target 3.3 of the SDGs which aims to “end the epidemics of AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria and neglected tropical diseases” by the year 2030.
The WHO End TB Strategy aims for a 90 per cent reduction in TB deaths and an 80 per cent reduction in the TB incidence rate by 2030, compared to the 2015 baseline. Milestones for 2020 include a 20% reduction in the TB incidence rate and a 35% reduction in TB deaths.
Efforts to step up political commitment in the fight against TB intensified in 2017 and 2018 culminating, in September 2018, in the first-ever high-level meeting on TB at the UN General Assembly. The outcome was a political declaration in which commitments to the SDGs and End TB Strategy were reaffirmed. The UN Political Declaration on TB also included 4 new targets for the period 2018-2022:
Treat 40 million people for TB diseaseReach at least 30 million people with TB preventive treatment for a latent TB infectionMobilize at least US$13 billion annually for universal access to TB diagnosis, treatment and careMobilize at least US$2 billion annually for TB research…
Source :World Health Organization
Inserted by
Zimbabwe Online Health Centre
For more information follow /like our Facebook page :Zimbabwe Online Health Centre
email :[email protected]
Twitter :zimonlinehealthcentre
@zimonlinehealt1
YouTube: zimbabwe online health centre
ByA Correspondent- The profligate President Emmerson Mnangagwa administration is spending millions of dollars per month on double salaries and allowances for senior officials in the Ministry of Health and Child Care despite a cleanup operation promised by Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga. Chiwenga also oversees the operations of the health sector.
Investigations by the Zimbabwe Independent show that directors who were sent on forced leave to pave way for corruption investigations over three months ago are still receiving their full salaries, while at the same time those who were elevated to act in their positions are enjoying similar perks.
Chiwenga has been superintending over the extensive restructuring process since last month when he was appointed Health minister after Obadiah Moyo was sacked from the position on July 7, at a time Zimbabwe is battling to contain the novel coronavirus.
Moyo’s sacking from cabinet arose from allegations that he unprocedurally awarded a shadowy company called Drax
International a US$60 million contract for the procurement of personal protective equipment (PPE) in the fight against Covid-19. Mnangagwa’s sons, Emmerson Jr and Collins were linked to the multi-milliondollar scandal through Drax International local representative Delish Nguwaya.
In the wake of the scandal, now commonly referred to as Draxgate, seven senior officials at national drug supplier, NatPharm, were fired.
The ongoing costly restructuring initiative, which is meant to “achieve greater efficiency as envisaged in the National Health Strategy”, has so far seen 27 directors and deputy directors placed on indefinite paid leave, as Chiwenga reshuffles the scandalridden portfolio. Most of the staffers put on paid leave served during Moyo’s tenure.
A recent Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (Zacc) dossier seen by this newspaper, reveals that during the course of the restructuring exercise, Health Deputy minister John Mangwiro potentially violated public procurement procedures by directing the NatPharm acting general manager and the adjudicating committee to award an undeserving entity Young Health Care a US$6 million contract to procure Covid-19 consumables.
Members of the adjudicating team that arbitrated in favour of Young Health Care comprise of the newly elevated staff. The contract, through which the country could have been prejudiced US$2 million, has since been re-tendered.
In an interview with this newspaper, Mangwiro denied any wrongdoing and advised the Zimbabwe Independent to get answers from Zacc.
He said: “Handiti Zacc ndiyo irikutitonga? Handina kana chandinombotaura neveZacc ivava. Ngavarambe vachikupayi news muchinzwa kuti ndakaita seyi.” (Is it not Zacc which is judging us? Zacc must continue giving you news so that you know what I’m supposed to have done in this matter).
The ongoing reorganisation exercise and the US$6 million controversial contract awarded to Young Health Care reportedly at the behest of Mangwiro has cast light on the pillaging of Covid-19 funds by top government officials and the apparent raging battle pitting Mnangagwa and Chiwenga for control of the levers of state power.
The investigation reveals that shortly before Chiwenga assumed the reins at the influential portfolio, Mangwiro, through the Health Services Board (HSB) rolled out far reaching changes which saw 27 directors and deputies, among other personnel sent on indefinite paid leave. Mangwiro is Chiwenga’s personal doctor.
Subsequently, new personnel were elevated to act in the positions of those sent on paid leave. The paid leave, according to documents seen by the Independent is indefinite.
Staffers on paid leave include director and deputy director laboratory services, director and deputy director pharmacy services, director procurement and procurement officer, director finance and administration services, deputy director administration and logistics and chief scientist Microbiology Laboratory. The human resources director, deputy human resources director, chief engineer and Hospital management services directors are also on paid leave.
Operations directors and procurement officers at the country’s Central hospitals were also sent on paid leave when the indefinite restructuring process commenced.
A salary schedule within the ministry seen by this newspaper shows that the monthly net salary of a medical director currently stands at ZW$25 000 while that of a non-medical director varies between ZW$16 000 and ZW$18 000. Both receive a weekly 40 litres fuel allocation.
Monthly salaries for a medical deputy director ranges between ZW$12 000 and ZW$13 000 while a non-medical deputy director earns ZW$7 000.Both medical and non-medical deputy directors receive 20 litres of fuel every week.
“Please be advised that the Ministry of Health and Child Care is undertaking a restructuring exercise aimed at refocussing its operations in order to achieve greater efficiency as envisaged in the National Health Strategy. Your function has been identified as one that needs realignment,” a letter to one of the affected directors sent on paid leave seen by this newspaper reads.
“This letter serves to inform you that effective July 10, you are hereby put on indefinite leave to facilitate the restructuring exercise. You will not be required to report for duty unless called back to office.”
The letter, undersigned by HSB executive chairman Paulinas Sikosana was dated July 10. Staffers assigned to assume the positions of the 27 directors and deputy directors among other public health workers sent on paid leave in an acting capacity have since been accommodated at a three-star hotel (name supplied) in the capital since July.
A suite at the luxurious hotel costs US$200 per night or the equivalent using the official weekly auction exchange rate. Staffers are staying at the hotel on full board, meaning that government is footing the cost of their meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner).
A source close to the extensive restructuring exercise told the Independent that government’s bill at the hotel, where the fresh personnel roped in by Mangwiro to preside over influential positions within the ministry has since shot to ZW$5 million, with the amount set to balloon as they continue to lodge there.
The source said: “When Moyo was fired, Mangwiro immediately instituted a restructuring exercise which resulted in 27 directors and their deputies ordered to go on paid leave. In their place, staffers were
appointed to take their positions in an acting capacity. Those on paid leave have been receiving their full salaries, the US$75 Covid allowance awarded to civil servants and fuel allocations, among other benefits. Similarly, the staffers in an acting capacity have been staying at a hotel in the city on full board while they now enjoy improved salaries and benefits in line with their new appointments.”
Health and Child Care secretary Jasper Chimedza told the Independent to get comprehensive answers on the nature of the restructuring exercise from the ministry’s public relations manager Donald Mujiri.
In an interview, Mujiri committed to respond to questions posed by this newspaper after consultation with Chiwenga, who is overseeing the far-reaching restructuring exercise. However, at the time of going to print, he had not responded.
Among the questions posed, the Independent sought to understand the cost of the restructuring exercise, the duration of the restructuring exercise, the number of staffers sent on paid leave and the quantum of the bill picked by government at the hotel.
HSB communications manager Tryfine Dzukutu requested for questions in writing but did not respond.
Sources told this newspaper in separate briefings that the restructuring process, apart from draining limited resources from the fiscus, could trigger a fresh headache for government as it potentially violated labour laws by placing individuals on paid leave indefinitely.
In the case of the affected, as documents seen by the Independent indicate, staffers sent on paid leave have not been accused of any wrong doing.
A source within the Health ministry said AttorneyGeneral Prince Machaya advised that the manner in which the restructuring process was being handled, particularly relating to indefinitely keeping staffers on paid leave, presented grave legal ramifications, if the matter spilled into court.
“The Attorney-General clearly warned that keeping workers on paid leave indefinitely was both costly to government and could backfire if the matter went to court,” a source close to the restructuring exercise said.
In 2019, Chiwenga arbitrarily fired nurses and doctors at public health institutions who had downed tools in protest over poor remuneration.-ZimIndependent
Farai Dziva|President Nelson Chamisa has described the death of the Movement for Democratic Change founding organising secretary, Esaph Mdlongwa as a terrible blow to the popular opposition party.
Said President Chamisa :
” Saddened..The passing on of the MDC founding National Organising Sec, Umdala Esaph Mdlongwa is a blow to us.
A man of integrity, courage and honour all wrapped in humility and simplicity.
We worked with him as we formed and built the great party that we have become. RIP Big man!”
Farai Dziva|Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa’s desperate attempt to use guns to disrupt the people’s struggle literally confirms that he is an illegitimate leader who is afraid of the power of the citizens, President Nelson Chamisa has said.
President Chamisa also took a swipe at the jittery Zanu PF leader for using “excessive force and coercion against hapless citizens.”
“The incumbent’s illegitimacy is confirmed by the excessive use of force and coercion against citizens.
Faith in brute force often mislead unpopular rulers to mistakenly rely on guns, imprisonment, teargas and terror to subjugate and muzzle citizens.
Ultimately,citizens will always win,” President Chamisa said in a statement.
By A Correspondent- Labour minister Paul Mavima was on Wednesday grilled by MPs over continued recruitment of State security agents at a time the country is not at war, thus raising fears that government might be preparing to quash dissenting voices.
The thorny issue was discussed during the question-and-answer session in the National Assembly, with Kadoma Central MP Muchineripi Chinyanganya (MDC Alliance) taking Mavima to task over the recruitment of more security agents at a time other civil service posts were frozen.
“My question is directed to the Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare. What is government policy on the recruitment of critical staff such as medical personnel vis-a-vis those in the police force and the defence forces? I thank you?” the Kadoma MP asked.
At first, Mavima tried to evade the question, saying it should be directed to a different ministry.
“That question should be directed differently. The ministry that I superintend over deals with issues of civil servants. The remuneration of the security forces falls under commissions that are not under my ministry. So that is a question that I am not able to answer,” he said.
However, Chinyanganya could not be deterred and he further asked Mavima to explain the freeze of critical nursing and teaching posts.
“When it comes to the police and army, the recruitment timetable never ceases and there is money to pay the new recruits, yet there is no money to pay new teachers and nurses although we are at peace in this country,” the MP said.
Mavima also tried to downplay the issue of prioritising the State security sector.
“Hon Speaker, I think just today in this House, the Hon Minister of Primary and Secondary Education was indicating that they just recruited 5 300 teachers and they have plans to recruit more teachers, especially given the need for social distancing in schools. This is a matter that has been discussed in the COVID-19 taskforce and it is a matter that even His Excellency has indicated should be dealt with in terms of recruitment of teachers. Like I said, I cannot do the comparisons because the other sectors he is referring to are not under my purview,” Mavima said.
On the salary impasse with teachers, Mavima said negotiations were still ongoing with the Apex Council.
“They should give negotiations a chance while they are attending to their duties,” Mavima said.
Farai Dziva|The transparency indicated by the MDC Alliance audit results proves that the party has the potential to turn around the country’s economy.
This was said by MDC Alliance Namibia in a statement on the party’s audit results.
Read full statement below:
MDC ALLIANCE NAMIBIA IMPRESSED BY THE HIGH LEVEL OF TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY IN THE POLITICAL BEHEMOTH, MDC ALLIANCE
As an external district in the Movement for Democratic Change Alliance (MDC-A), we can’t conceal our wild excitement after witnessing a historic financial audit of party funds implemented as one of the May 2019 Congress resolutions. Mdc Alliance Namibia district is jovial since it is the initial time the party has conducted an audit of this nature and it is the first time any political outfit in Zimbabwe has ever subjected itself to such an audit. We applaud the people’s party’s treasury department for the professional manner that resembles openness bereft of the insatiable appetite to rob the taxpayers’ monies through looting and misappropriation of funds.
We continue to congratulate Senator David Coltart on the audited financials.
It indisputable that the gesture from the alternative government (Mdc-A) emanated from the 2019 Congress resolutions against the satanic attempts by overambitious sectors of the media houses who had claimed that huge amounts of money were not accounted for in the Mdc Alliance party.
The futile exercise to assassinate the quality characters of our political mountain, President Advocate Nelson Chamisa and Secretary General Charlton Hwende did not come to fruition.
After the thorough financial audit undertaken by Auditax International, it has come clear that no money was abused by the Mdc Alliance from the period of the opposition’s Gweru Congress up until December last year.
Moreso, the audit report by the international firm gave our great Mdc Alliance party’s coffers a fresh leaf and clean bill of health. The financial statement mirrors a true and fair view of the financial position of the Mdc Alliance as at 31st December 2019, and the repercussions of its operations as well as its cash flows for the year then ended in accordance with the International Financial Reporting Standards, read a comment by the company. This unravels the extraordinary commitment and dedication of our leaders to ensure that there are smart governance policies that enhance transparency and accountability. These are core values in social democracy. The effort by some wayward elements to label the financial audit as some kind of witch- hunt into an alleged theft could not suffice.
Moreover, Mdc Alliance Namibia supposes that all political parties should emulate the identical manner in the interests of transparency and accountability because these are taxpayers’ funds received by political parties under the Political Parties Finances Act.
This will go a long way in combating corruption, greedy and graft in our political parties and government. We are jocund that the party has implemented adequate systems that party funds are used in a transparent and professional manner for the good of the party.
Mdc Alliance Namibia encourages the party to soldier on the distinct path of participatory democracy, listening to the voice of the party and respecting Congress resolutions.
Furthermore, Mdc Alliance Namibia district understands that the cutting off of government funding(a complete abuse of constitutional democracy) from a party with a membership support base running into millions and transferring it to a captured party that has at best 45 000 supporters had a critical, a detrimental effect obviously on our cash flow. It is now imperative to sponsor our own national democratic revolution through donations and subscriptions. According to our vibrant Treasurer General, David Coltart, the delay in publishing the report was marred by the absence of funding after our money was illegally surrendered to Zanupf surrogates.
This was a sadist measure to decimate a genuine political alternative siding with the judicially-sponsored Mdc-Thokozani but it dismally failed because the freedom train could not allow derailment.
Despite all Zanupf shenanigans, the Treasurer General thanked supporters and members worldwide who raised sufficient funds to pay the firm of accountants. We want to commit ourselves to the struggle for socio-economic transformation therefore we shall emancipate the citizenry going deeper into our pockets to fund our independence from Zanupf terrorists.
In a nutshell, Mdc Alliance Namibia would like to salute the leadership of President Nelson Chamisa for walking the talk.
Transparency and accountability become very key in public institutions. Let it continue our Treasurer General, we salute you for your smart financial management. We are pretty sure that our finances are safe and we are keen to give more.
Mdc Alliance Namibia
Rundu Branch Spokesperson
Robson Ruhanya
By A Correspondent- MDC-T 2014 national organising secretary Abednico Bhebhe has distanced himself from the political dynamics in the party saying the interim leader and chairperson, in that order, Thokozani Khupe and Morgen Komichi were responsible.
He made the revelations in his court affidavit after interim Khupe, Komichi and himself were taken to court by disgruntled party members – Gilbert Kagodora and Nason Mamuse – for hiding critical information regarding the congress.
Bhebhe said the applicants’ concerns were justified as the party leaders were not being faithful in their handling of congress details. He said:
I am not surprised, in light of the foregoing, that first and second applicants are before this honourable court. Second and third respondents (Khupe and Komichi) have failed, neglected, omitted or one way or the other have not been able to convene both the national executive and/or the national council meetings.
Bhebhe accused Khupe and Komichi of openly disregarding the MDC-T constitution and abusing the national standing committee by pushing through committee decisions that are under the purview of the national executive and/or the national council meeting.
Kagodora and Mamuse approached the courts after interim secretary-general Douglas Mwonzora had indicated that MDC Alliance legislators and councillors that were recently recalled by MDC-T were not eligible to contest at the congress despite being in the party’s 2014 structures.
MDC-T is expected to hold the Supreme Court sanctioned Extraordinary Congress in December to elect the successor to the party’s founding leader Morgan Tsvangirai who succumbed to cancer in 2018.-Newsday
Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, many countries were making steady progress in tackling tuberculosis (TB), with a 9% reduction in incidence seen between 2015 and 2019 and a 14% drop in deaths in the same period. High-level political commitments at global and national levels were delivering results. However, a new report from WHO shows that access to TB services remains a challenge, and that global targets for prevention and treatment will likely be missed without urgent action and investments.
Approximately 1.4 million people died from TB-related illnesses in 2019. Of the estimated 10 million people who developed TB that year, some 3 million were not diagnosed with the disease, or were not officially reported to national authorities.
The situation is even more acute for people with drug-resistant TB. About 465 000 people were newly diagnosed with drug-resistant TB in 2019 and, of these, less than 40% were able to access treatment. There has also been limited progress in scaling up access to treatment to prevent TB.
“Equitable access to quality and timely diagnosis, prevention, treatment and care remains a challenge,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of WHO. “Accelerated action is urgently needed worldwide if we are to meet our targets by 2022.”
About 14 million people were treated for TB in the period 2018-2019, just over one-third of the way towards the 5-year target (2018-2022) of 40 million, according to the report. Some 6.3 million people started TB preventive treatment in 2018-2019, about one-fifth of the way towards the 5-year target of 30 million.
Funding is a major issue. In 2020, funding for TB prevention, diagnosis, treatment and care reached
US$ 6.5 billion, representing only half of the US$ 13 billion target agreed by world leaders in the UN Political Declaration on TB.
The COVID-19 pandemic and TB
Disruptions in services caused by the COVID-19 pandemic have led to further setbacks. In many countries, human, financial and other resources have been reallocated from TB to the COVID-19 response. Data collection and reporting systems have also been negatively impacted.
According to the new report, data collated from over 200 countries has shown significant reductions in TB case notifications, with 25-30% drops reported in 3 high burden countries – India, Indonesia, the Philippines – between January and June 2020 compared to the same 6-month period in 2019. These reductions in case notifications could lead to a dramatic increase in additional TB deaths, according to WHO modelling.
However, in line with WHO guidance, countries have taken measures to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 on essential TB services, including by strengthening infection control. A total of 108 countries – including 21 countries with a high TB burden – have expanded the use of digital technologies to provide remote advice and support. To reduce the need for visits to health facilities, many countries are encouraging home-based treatment, all-oral treatments for people with drug-resistant TB, provision of TB preventive treatment, and ensuring people with TB maintain an adequate supply of drugs.
“In the face of the pandemic, countries, civil society and other partners have joined forces to ensure that essential services for both TB and COVID-19 are maintained for those in need,” said Dr Tereza Kaseva, Director of WHO’s Global TB Programme. “These efforts are vital to strengthen health systems, ensure health for all, and save lives.”
A recent progress report from the UN Secretary General outlines 10 priority actions for Member States and other stakeholders to close gaps in TB care, financing and research, as well as advance multisectoral action and accountability, including in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Global targets
In 2014 and 2015, all Member States of WHO and the UN adopted the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and WHO’s End TB Strategy. The SDGs and End TB Strategy both include targets and milestones for large reductions in TB incidence, TB deaths and costs faced by TB patients and their households.
TB is included under Goal 3 Target 3.3 of the SDGs which aims to “end the epidemics of AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria and neglected tropical diseases” by the year 2030.
The WHO End TB Strategy aims for a 90 per cent reduction in TB deaths and an 80 per cent reduction in the TB incidence rate by 2030, compared to the 2015 baseline. Milestones for 2020 include a 20% reduction in the TB incidence rate and a 35% reduction in TB deaths.
Efforts to step up political commitment in the fight against TB intensified in 2017 and 2018 culminating, in September 2018, in the first-ever high-level meeting on TB at the UN General Assembly. The outcome was a political declaration in which commitments to the SDGs and End TB Strategy were reaffirmed. The UN Political Declaration on TB also included 4 new targets for the period 2018-2022:
Treat 40 million people for TB diseaseReach at least 30 million people with TB preventive treatment for a latent TB infectionMobilize at least US$13 billion annually for universal access to TB diagnosis, treatment and careMobilize at least US$2 billion annually for TB research…
Source :World Health Organization
Inserted by
Zimbabwe Online Health Centre
For more information follow /like our Facebook page :Zimbabwe Online Health Centre
email :[email protected]
Twitter :zimonlinehealthcentre
@zimonlinehealt1
YouTube: zimbabwe online health centre
Farai Dziva|The transparency indicated by the MDC Alliance audit results proves that the party has the potential to turn around the country’s economy.
This was said by MDC Alliance Namibia in a statement on the party’s audit results.
Read full statement below:
MDC ALLIANCE NAMIBIA IMPRESSED BY THE HIGH LEVEL OF TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY IN THE POLITICAL BEHEMOTH, MDC ALLIANCE
As an external district in the Movement for Democratic Change Alliance (MDC-A), we can’t conceal our wild excitement after witnessing a historic financial audit of party funds implemented as one of the May 2019 Congress resolutions. Mdc Alliance Namibia district is jovial since it is the initial time the party has conducted an audit of this nature and it is the first time any political outfit in Zimbabwe has ever subjected itself to such an audit. We applaud the people’s party’s treasury department for the professional manner that resembles openness bereft of the insatiable appetite to rob the taxpayers’ monies through looting and misappropriation of funds.
We continue to congratulate Senator David Coltart on the audited financials.
It indisputable that the gesture from the alternative government (Mdc-A) emanated from the 2019 Congress resolutions against the satanic attempts by overambitious sectors of the media houses who had claimed that huge amounts of money were not accounted for in the Mdc Alliance party.
The futile exercise to assassinate the quality characters of our political mountain, President Advocate Nelson Chamisa and Secretary General Charlton Hwende did not come to fruition.
After the thorough financial audit undertaken by Auditax International, it has come clear that no money was abused by the Mdc Alliance from the period of the opposition’s Gweru Congress up until December last year.
Moreso, the audit report by the international firm gave our great Mdc Alliance party’s coffers a fresh leaf and clean bill of health. The financial statement mirrors a true and fair view of the financial position of the Mdc Alliance as at 31st December 2019, and the repercussions of its operations as well as its cash flows for the year then ended in accordance with the International Financial Reporting Standards, read a comment by the company. This unravels the extraordinary commitment and dedication of our leaders to ensure that there are smart governance policies that enhance transparency and accountability. These are core values in social democracy. The effort by some wayward elements to label the financial audit as some kind of witch- hunt into an alleged theft could not suffice.
Moreover, Mdc Alliance Namibia supposes that all political parties should emulate the identical manner in the interests of transparency and accountability because these are taxpayers’ funds received by political parties under the Political Parties Finances Act.
This will go a long way in combating corruption, greedy and graft in our political parties and government. We are jocund that the party has implemented adequate systems that party funds are used in a transparent and professional manner for the good of the party.
Mdc Alliance Namibia encourages the party to soldier on the distinct path of participatory democracy, listening to the voice of the party and respecting Congress resolutions.
Furthermore, Mdc Alliance Namibia district understands that the cutting off of government funding(a complete abuse of constitutional democracy) from a party with a membership support base running into millions and transferring it to a captured party that has at best 45 000 supporters had a critical, a detrimental effect obviously on our cash flow. It is now imperative to sponsor our own national democratic revolution through donations and subscriptions. According to our vibrant Treasurer General, David Coltart, the delay in publishing the report was marred by the absence of funding after our money was illegally surrendered to Zanupf surrogates.
This was a sadist measure to decimate a genuine political alternative siding with the judicially-sponsored Mdc-Thokozani but it dismally failed because the freedom train could not allow derailment.
Despite all Zanupf shenanigans, the Treasurer General thanked supporters and members worldwide who raised sufficient funds to pay the firm of accountants. We want to commit ourselves to the struggle for socio-economic transformation therefore we shall emancipate the citizenry going deeper into our pockets to fund our independence from Zanupf terrorists.
In a nutshell, Mdc Alliance Namibia would like to salute the leadership of President Nelson Chamisa for walking the talk.
Transparency and accountability become very key in public institutions. Let it continue our Treasurer General, we salute you for your smart financial management. We are pretty sure that our finances are safe and we are keen to give more.
Mdc Alliance Namibia
Rundu Branch Spokesperson
Robson Ruhanya
By A Correspondent- Zanu PF has told Western countries, especially Britain and United States, “to shut up” and stop pontificating about democracy and human rights, adding that Britain and the US’s hands were historically dirty.
Party acting spokesperson Patrick Chinamasa said Western countries could not lecture Zimbabwe on democracy when they were responsible for denying the people of Zimbabwe their freedom.
“Zanu-PF takes strong exception to being lectured on issues of human rights by citizens of countries which perpetrated the brutalities accompanying the Atlantic African Slave Trade and colonial conquest of Africa, and who refuse to render apologies or pay reparations,” Chinamasa said.
Zimbabwe is under international spotlight over human rights violations, closing of the democratic space and clamping down on opposition political parties, resulting in the imposition of sanctions against top government figures.
Chinamasa said this was a form of slavery and bullying by the Western powers, which were also yet to come clean on their role on slavery.
“As a consequence of seeking to redress the brutalities that occurred in the colonisation of Zimbabwe, accompanied by dispossession of our land and brutal confiscation of livestock by colonialists, the country has suffered 20 years of naked bullying, economic isolation and severe sanctions regime by the former colonial powers now acting in concert as economic and political powers in support of what they allege are rights of 4 500 white former farmers,” he said.
The British have since dismissed the letter brandished by Chinamasa at his Press conference as fake photoshop replete with errors, but Zanu-PF insists it was genuine.
Zanu-PF also demanded that all Western countries which were involved in colonialism and slavery should pay compensation and offer apologies to those that they wronged.
Chinamasa said instead the British found it worthwhile to compensate the slave owners instead of the slaves.
“That at the time of abolition of the Atlantic African slave trade the British through the British Parliament approved and paid 20 million pounds to slave owners already rich through the labour of the slaves,” he said.
Despite Chinamasa’s utterances, the Zanu-PF-led government is pursuing re-engagement with the West after being left in the cold over alleged human rights violation.
Chinamasa said sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe were unjustified and should be removed because there were an extension of slavery and colonialism.-Newsday
THE World Health Organisation (WHO) has poured cold water on government’s recent decision to suspend byelections citing COVID-19 fears, saying elections could safely be held during pandemics as long as “proper measures are in place”.
Addressing a virtual Press conference on Wednesday, WHO executive director for health emergencies programme Michael Ryan said there was nothing to stop elections from taking place as they were an “essential part” of people’s lives.
He also said the world health body was ready to offer advice to countries going into elections to minimise risks of spreading the pandemic.
“It is possible to hold safe elections if the proper measures are put in place. Elections do many things. They are an essential part of our lives, and they are absolutely central to how many societies live, survive, and thrive,” Ryan said.
The utterances came as government has been taken to court for suspending parliamentary and council by-elections which were due in December this year, citing COVID-19 fears.
Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga, who also doubles as Health minister, last week gazetted Statutory Instrument 225A of 2020 which indefinitely suspended the holding of by-elections to replace 15 MDC Alliance legislators and over 80 councillors who were recently recalled by the Thokozani Khupe-led MDCT party.
Khupe recalled 32 MPs.
Some of the recalled MPs are party list legislators, and her party has since taken over the 15 slots, while she has landed the post of opposition leader in the House.
The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission also endorsed government’s decision to suspend the by-elections, but the move was widely condemned by the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission and other non-governmental organisations which felt the move violated the Constitution.
“They (elections) are very important parts of the cycle of life. However, they do tend to bring people together. We’ve seen many examples over the last nine months where elections have actually been held very safely and with appropriate measures and have been straightforward enough to manage and implement,” the WHO boss added.
“We do offer them advice on how to reduce those risks if inperson elections are the way forward. In fact, we are working right now and finalising specific guidance for countries that choose in-person elections, learning from the last eight, nine months as to what has worked in those circumstances. We will be issuing that guidance in the coming days.”
Malawi recently held its elections despite COVID-19 fears and other countries such as the United States, Ivory Coast and Tanzania are set to go to the polls soon.
“It takes effort. We have worked very closely in the past in the same way we have done for all types of mass gatherings. We have worked on a risk management approach. You cannot reduce the risk to zero, but what you can do is identify and manage those risks, especially where in-person voting is the choice of the country. We don’t specify to any country what the proper choice is for the type of election they need to run, that is based on their own risk assessment.”
Early this week, nine disgruntled Zimbabwean voters approached the High Court challenging government decision to suspend the by-elections.
The court application came at a time constitutional experts and human rights defenders accused the Harare administration of trampling on citizens’ rights under the guise of enforcing COVID-19 containment measures.
The matter spilled into Parliament yesterday with Speaker of the National Assembly Jacob Mudenda being quizzed by Mbizo MP Settlement Chikwinya (MDC Alliance) over the legality of statutory instruments (SIs) that did not pass through Parliament.
Mudenda admitted that SIs could only become law after being endorsed by the Parliamentary Legal Committee (PLC).
Chikwinya said: “I rise to seek clarity on the statement by the Speaker that the SIs do not necessarily become law unless they have passed through the PLC, but Mr Speaker, the majority of SIs that are promulgated by the ministers have a direct effect to the citizens and their contents are directly impacting on our citizens before Parliament has had a look at them. Is it in order for us to pass amendments to the provision so that SIs are first scrutinised by Parliament before they become effective to the citizenry?”
In response, Mudenda said: “Yes, in terms of the Standing Order numbers 20 and 28 that should be the position that they are scrutinised first by the PLC for their constitutionality so that nobody asks on them before Parliament has gone through them. So your point is noted.”
Chikwinya later said the SIs including the one that postponed the by-election, therefore, had no “force or effect”.
Source – NewsDay
Farai Dziva|A daring woman has barred her husband from being intimate with her until he settles Lobola arrears, it has emerged.
See full article below :
SEX is arguably one of the most intimate expressions of love for married couples. So, what happens when one partner constantly says no to sex?
For men it can cause a blow to their ego and for that reason a man from Gokwe approached a traditional court lamenting how his wife was using sex as a bargaining chip, by barring him from having sexual intercourse with her until he paid the balance on the bride price.
It is reported that Eunice Chitangu from Marumisa village under Chief Nemangwe decided to punish her husband Nesbert Chitondo by denying him sex as punishment for allegedly demanding sex all the time even when she was not in the mood.
It was revealed to B-Metro that in January this year, Chitangu who felt her husband should not continue enjoying her affection without giving her parents their dues as an appreciation for raising a woman who bore him four children solemnly told him the comfort, he had enjoyed was equivalent to the lobola he had so far paid.
Irked by his wife’s “sufficient reason” to deny him his conjugal rights, Chitondo then approached Chief Nemangwe’s traditional court complaining that his wife was holding him at ransom by allegedly denying him sex on grounds that he had not yet finished paying lobola for her.
According to a source who claimed to have intimate details of the incident, Chitondo was now accusing his wife of having a boyfriend arguing that same boyfriend must be the one who has been issuing instructions to his wife so that he doesn’t get his conjugal rights.
“In his case which is yet to be heard before Chief Nemangwe, Chitondo is complaining about his wife saying since January this year, he has not had sex with her because every time he tries to stimulate her sexual desires, she would refuse saying he should pay the outstanding lobola.
“Despite the fact he wanted the chief to restore the conjugal rights, Chitondo was complaining that he was also fed up of living with a stingy and disrespectful wife,” the source said.
The source further said Chitondo tried his best to make his wife happy and he even preached to her on the dangers of leaving him sexually starved, but to no avail.
B-Metro also gathered that central to the dispute is the fact that Chitondo was constantly demanding sex to an extent that he would even set his alarm clock an extra 30-40 minutes early so that he could fit in some of his lovemaking sessions with his seemingly restive wife.
Contacted for comment Chief Nemangwe could neither confirm nor deny the incident.
“I am not at liberty to comment on that case now because I have a lot of cases before me, which accumulated after we suspended hearings in March as part of Government’s efforts to reduce the spread of the deadly Covid-19. I will however, only be able to do so after I have presided over it,” said Chief Nemangwe.B-Metro
By A Correspondent- The tribunal record containing proceedings and a determination which absolved former chief magistrate, Mishrod Guvamombe on a charge of criminal abuse of office has gone missing, Justice Felistas Chatukuta heard yesterday as the trial of the former top magistrate continued at the High Court.
Guvamombe is facing charges of criminal abuse of office, and/or alternatively defeating the course of justice during his tenure as the country’s top magistrate.
Proceedings were adjourned on three occasions yesterday as the State and the defence tried to find common ground on the way forward after it emerged that the full record of tribunal proceedings conducted by Justice Herbert Mandeya, was missing with only a few pages made available by the State.
Guvamombe’s lawyer Jonathan Samukange then applied for the trial to focus on the second count which was also marred by controversy as the State sought to seek admission of a bundle of documents purportedly supplied by the defence. But Samukange again challenged their production.
Justice Chatukuta, however, expressed concern over the manner in which the matter had been handled, highlighting that the court was not pleased with the delays.
The State called its first witness, regional magistrate Elijah Singano to testify on what transpired regarding the attachments of former Cabinet ministers Saviour Kasukuwere and Supa Mandiwanzira who were law students with the University of Zimbabwe (UZ).
Posted
Singano said he was the provincial magistrate for Harare province when Mandiwanzira and Kasukuwere were deployed for attachment by the UZ, adding that since both were facing criminal charges, they were posted to the civil courts where they were later withdrawn after concerns had been raised about them.
He said there was no anomaly in accepting them, adding the two were part of over 40 students who had been referred by the university for attachment.
He further said there was nothing barring the duo from being attached to the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) as students because the Constitution said they were presumed innocent until proven guilty by a court of law.
The second witness to testify was the deputy secretary for the JSC Thembinkosi Msipa who told the court that students from universities apply for attachment in various departments and the secretary then decides if there was capacity for them to be taken on board.
Msipa said when Guvamombe received a letter from UZ for student attachment, he should have referred the matter to the JSC for consideration, but he failed to do so.
The trial continues today.-Newsday
Ministry of Health and Child Care Coronavirus Update :15 October 2020
New cases: 20
Locals: 17
Returnees: 3 (from South Africa)
Deaths: 0
Recoveries: 29
PCR Tests Done: 818
National Recovery Rate: 95%
Active Cases: 175
Total Cumulative Cases: 8075
Total Recoveries: 7669
Total Deaths: 231
By A Correspondent- The owner of a rooster that recently attacked a Chigodora woman is at it again.
This time, Zvikomborero Takarinda is being accused of stealing two solar panels from a Chigodora farmer.
Manicaland provincial police spokesperson, Inspector Tavhiringwa Kakohwa, confirmed the incident that happened last week in Cloudlands, Vumba.
“The incident happened at Mr Graham Wilson’s place in Cloudlands, Vumba. He allegedly stole two solar panels after sneaking into the yard through the fence. He was arrested and the solar panels were recovered,” said Inspector Kakohwa.-
Takarinda is also set to appear before Chief Zimunya’s court to shed more light on the mysterious incident that led to the death of Chandapiwa Makaza, nee Bushu.
Acting Chief Zimunya said he would soon summon Zvikomborero to his court to explain how his rooster allegedly caused Makaza’s death .
“We could not hold our usual court sessions due to the Covid-19 lockdown, but business is slowly getting back to normal.
“We want to get to the bottom of this issue. Many people thought the matter had died a natural death, but we will probe it further and hear the case in full. What happened is taboo, an abomination. Justice should prevail,” said Acting Chief Zimunya.-statemedia
By A Correspondent- Police have picked up a traditional healer for questioning over the missing head of the seven-year-old Murehwa boy, Tapiwa Makore, suspected to have been murdered for ritual purposes.
Body parts taken in a ritual murder which occurred at Makore Village under Chief Mangwende, would have to be processed in particular ways, the superstitious believe, so that they bring good fortune and riches.
Police started hunting for the traditional healer they believed was implicated in this killing soon after they arrested the two men they suspect were the actual killers. Only a torso and legs were recovered from the dismembered body, but the head is still missing.
In their investigations, police recovered the head of another child, a 12-year-old, in the same village, but think it may have been exhumed from a grave.
Although the police did not disclose the name of the traditional healer, they confirmed he was being questioned.
National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said police have established that they had been given a lot of misleading information on the death of the boy and people were hiding crucial information.
“We have realised that some people are not telling the truth and they are hiding crucial information. But we will surely get to the bottom of the matter and the truth will come out,” said Asst-Comm Nyathi.
Tapiwa was allegedly murdered for ritual purposes by his uncle Tapiwa Makore (Senior) who used his own domestic worker, Tafadzwa Shamba (40). The boy was kidnapped in the family garden in the village.
Shamba, a herdsman, and the boy’s uncle have since been arrested and taken to court facing murder charges.
They now await trial while in remand prison. They were remanded in custody to October 26 in absentia yesterday, as they are still assisting police with investigations.
Meanwhile, police have taken the head of a 12-year-old child recently found in the same village for forensic analysis.
There has been no report of another missing child in that age group, creating room for suspicion that the head could have been exhumed from a grave.
“The other head found in Makore village is now subject to forensic analysis. So far no report of a missing person falling in that category has been received by the police. We are still investigating that matter,” said Asst-Comm Nyathi.
During investigations, Shamba recently 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.
Shamba said after the alleged murder, he carried a black plastic bag containing the head and the dismembered body while his employer, who is the boy’s uncle, carried another bag containing the arms and legs.
He 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.
Shamba said he met the boy’s uncle around midnight and took the boy to a nearby mountain, where they allegedly 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 back to Makore’s homestead, he felt the load was becoming heavier before dumping the torso near Mr Summer Murwira’s homestead.
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. -Herald
The seven police officers who teargased a bus full of passengers have been charged under the Police Act, Police Commissioner General Godwin Matanga has said.
Watch video loading below…
By A Correspondent| Following social media noise after Gweru Magistrates Court Prosecutor Namatai Chipere won in the Zanu PF DCC elections, yet another top civil servant who is Mash West Provincial Education Director Gabriel Mhuwa has thrown his hat into the party ring raising another outcry over state party conflation.
Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services later confirmed that Chipere had resigned from her post but will have to address Mhuwa’s issue.
Below is Mhuwa’s campaign poster;
By A Correspondent| ZINASU President Takudzwa Ngadziore has finally been granted ZWL$5000 bail by High Court judge, Justice Davison Foroma.
The youthful ZINASU leader was languishing behind bars since September 18 and had ieen denied bail by the regional Harare magistrates court.
The High Court told Ngadziore to stay 500 metres away from Impala Car Rental, surrender his passport and report once every week at Harare Central Police Law and Order.
He was also ordered not to attend any political gathering until his matter has been concluded.
Ngadziore was arrested while addressing a press conference near Impala Car Rental.
He was assaulted by plain clothed assailants who later handed him over to the police.
By A Correspondent- Despite the fact that Harare City Council has been ordered by the High Court of Zimbabwe under Chief Justice Mushore on the 7th of October 2020 to open all its forty- two council polyclinics within seven days, it has not yet complied.
Acting Health Director, Doctor Masunda, had this to say, “As council we still have only eight clinics which are operational and we being affected by industrial action by council nurses and some of them are resigning”
A snap survey done by the CHRA Information Department indicates that Mbare Matapi, Mbare Hostels, Marlborough, Warren Park and Sunningdale clinics are completely closed and a few namely Tafara, Mabvuku, Mufakose and Highfields and Dzivarasekwa clinics are open but not operational.
“The council clinic gates are opening but there is no one to attend to patients, we are stuck and we do not know where to go to access medication”, said CHRA Welfare Chairperson Ms. Fatima Madamombe in Dzivarasekwa.
CHRA condemns the excuses given by Harare City Council as it is its duty to motivate its employees and provide them with a satisfactory remuneration.
CHRA calls for Harare City Council to comply with the High Court order failure to do so CHRA will not hesitate to approach the courts on contempt of court within seven days
By A Correspondent- Zimbabwe’s gold deliveries in September fell by 73% to close at 1.36 tonnes from 2.8 tonnes in the comparative period in prior year.
The decline is attributed to a number of variables chief among them smuggling and the coronavirus pandemic which affected production.
Fidelity Printers and Refiners (FPR)’s general manager, Fradreck Kunaka, blamed Covid-19 pandemic as the major contributor to decline in gold deliveries and the late payments to gold producers. Kunaka Kunaka told Business Times:
Gold deliveries have gone down 73% to reach 1.36 tonnes during September 2020 from 2.8 tonnes last year due to restrictions imposed by Covid-19 pandemic which hampered operations as it restricted the movement of mining raw materials and people especially the small scale miners.
Gold Miners Association of Zimbabwe chief executive Irvine Chinyenze suggested that miners were not delivering gold to FPR due to late payment and unattractive prices. Chinyenze said: We can’t deny the effects of Covid-19 as it delayed the shipping in of raw materials from China and other countries but the major reason for the fall in gold deliveries was that FPR continues with some talk shows telling people that their money will be paid, the way to go is just look for the US dollars then clear the backlogs and begin paying on spot.
As long as small scale miners do not get paid instantly the country will lose a great deal of minerals and revenue as miners search for alternative markets for their precious minerals.
This comes after Finance and Economic Development Minister Mthuli Ncube and Home Affairs Minister Kazembe Kazembe have concurred that Zimbabwe was losing more than US$100m worth of gold due to smuggling.
Gold is one of Zimbabwe’s largest foreign currency earners and the decline spells a huge economic crisis.-MiningZimbabwe
By A Correspondent- Eleven (11) nurses who were arrested in June this year for violating coronavirus lockdown regulations after they demonstrated over poor salaries and working conditions have been set free.
The development was announced by the Zimbabwe Lawyers For Human Rights (ZLHR) on its social media pages.
The association said:
Eleven (11) arrested nurses who had been on trial following a protest over poor salaries and working conditions at Sally Mugabe Central Hospital, on July 6, 2020, were yesterday acquitted by the Mbare Magistrate Shelly Zvenyika.
The nurses were accused of participating in an illegal demonstration which contravened section 5(3)(a) of Statutory Instrument 83 of 2020 Public Health (COVID 19 Prevention, Containment, and Treatment Regulations National Lockdown) Order, 2020.
The magistrate acquitted the nurses at the close of the prosecution case after their lawyers Rudo Bere and Tinashe Chinopfukutwa of @ZLHRLawyers applied for them to be discharged arguing that the nurses had not committed an offense warranting them to be prosecuted.
Over a thousand people including MDC Alliance trio, Joana Mamombe, Cecilia Chimbiri and Netsai Marova have been arrested since the initial imposition of the lockdown in March.
Some observers say the government is now using the lockdown as a political tool to crack down on critics including opposition members, journalists and human rights defenders.-ZLHR
By A Correspondent- The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has projected that the Zimbabwean economy will this year contract by 10,4%, much higher than its earlier prediction of 7,4%.
The international financial institution also expects the annual inflation rate to close the year at 495% and predicts an economic rebound of 4,6% in 2021.
In its new World Economic Outlook titled A Long and Difficult Ascent released during the current Annual Spring Meetings in the United States, the Bretton Woods institution said:
In 2019 Zimbabwe authorities introduced the Real-Time Gross Settlement dollar, later renamed the Zimbabwe dollar, and are in the process of re-denominating their national accounts statistics. Current data are subject to revision.
This comes as Zimbabwe’s statistics agency, Zimstat has reported that the country’s year on year continued on a downward trend in September.
Zimbabwe’s Minister of Finance and Economic Development, Professor Mthuli Ncube has however dismissed IMF’s projections as mere opinion.
He, however, admitted that the country was in the negative, like “all the economies around the world” citing the coronavirus pandemic as the causal factor.
In response to questions by Zimbabwe Independent at a cabinet event on Wednesday, Ncube suggested that a recent “assessment shows that the situation is not as bad as initially thought.”
He added:
We had projected a growth of -4,5%. Our teams are busy on the ground again trying to further analyse that growth.
We also have our own numbers. We have got our own batch of statistics — we have got the central bank and Treasury who look after these numbers. These numbers are not imposed on countries by the way. It’s an opinion by just one institution out there, albeit, an important institution.
He added that there were other institutions which were also providing varying statistics which suggests that there is no projection which is 100 percent accurate.
Zimbabwe’s economy has been on a downward trajectory for the past 24 months following the government’s adoption of austerity measures which were meant to kickstart the economy.-ZimIndependent
By A Correspondent- The trial of former Tourism Minister Prisca Mupfumira and her co-accused Ngoni Masoka failed to kick off today because her lawyer is not feeling well and could not attend court this morning, The Herald reports.
According to the publication:
Advocate Thembinkosi Magwaliba, who is representing Mupfumira, wrote to the court saying he was not feeling well and could not attend court for the hearing.
Mupfumira’s trial failed to kick-off last year because her lawyers said the former cabinet minister was mentally unstable to attend the trial.
Mpfumira was arrested in July last year for defrauding NSSA of close to US$100 Million dollars.
By Tinashe Eric Muzamhindo| Edgar Lungu, the current Zambian President contested the 2015 by-election after campaigning for only two weeks and managed to beat his arch-rival Hakainde Hichilema with a margin of about 100, 530 votes. Hichilema, a six-time losing presidential candidate had over 90 days to campaign whilst Lungu’s ruling party was embroiled in intense factional wars to replace the late Michael Sata, the fifth Zambian president who died at the age of 77.
Lungu had little resources but he applied a well-knit strategy and won with 50.35% of the total votes against Hichilema’s 47.63. These by-elections in Zambia were a wake-up call for Hichilema who used to draw prodigious crowds to his rallies. Hichilema was tipped to win the elections owing to his popularity. Sadly, he woke up to a rude shock as the Election Commission of Zambia announced Lunga the winner.
Hakainde Hichilema would spend most of his time on social media instead of being visible on the ground. Over reliance on social media is proving costly for many African presidential aspirants who have potential to win the presidency.
Politicians need to have a great appeal to the people and know them well, understand their needs and interests so that they can win their hearts and votes with little or no money.
What opposition leaders need to understand is that grassroots politics and strategy are critical to assume presidency in any given context.
The late Morgan Tsvangirai used to pull phenomenal crowds. In 2013 he pulled an extraordinarily huge crowd at Robert Square on the eve of the election day. Regrettably he lost that election. At his wife’s funeral in Buhera, more than 100 000 people thronged the Humanikwa village to pay their last condolences. Everywhere Tsvangirai went, he drew gigantic crowds. With all these bumper crowds, Tsvangirai failed to get to the state house.
I have since warned opposition politicians against spending much time on social media in one of my many articles. My advice is free to both ZANU PF and MDC.
I find it a bit intriguing that opposition leaders spend much of their time on Twitter. Zanu PF is busy with Pfumvudza program in rural areas and rural folks who participate in that program will vote for Zanu PF come 2023. It is a fact that the opposition controls urban stake. It is a fact that many people are tired of Zanu pf. It is a fact that Zanu PF has failed to live up to its promise. It is a fact that Zanu pf has run down the country. But what is worrying at the moment is the failure by the opposition to take advantage of the current economic mess to offer tangible solution to the despondent nation. What is even more worrying is the failure by the opposition to introduce its own “Pfumvudza” to the urban denizens.
In my next article I will shed more light on the Pfumvudza concept and the chemistry behind it. Nevertheless, my advice to the opposition is; don’t criticize Pfumvudza but come up with something that can outsmart Pfumvudza and put in place urban and rural policies. The fact is Pfumvudza is roaring in rural areas and Zanu PF is taking advantage of this program to drum up support ahead of elections 2023.Zanu PF will not afford to lose elections consecutively
The struggle needs schemers. Look at how Zanu pf invests in spin doctors and other social media guerillas well known as Varakashi. Zanu pf would rather starve the nation and underpay civils servants to just invest in projects that will help them retain power. It is the opportune time for opposition to consider investing in schemers that will help them with counter strategies to navigate the cumbersome political terrains.
When Chamisa took over as MDC president in 2018, many people especially the youths rallied behind him. He gave the people a reason to hope again. The MDC Alliance was supposed to grab the opportunity to translate their popularity into power. Sadly the party plunged into ugly factional wars that are threatening to totally decimate the party.
What I want to warn the opposition is that you can’t be crybabies in politics. Be strategic and organize yourselves. Go back to the drawing board and come up with rejuvenating message to tell your supporters. This “Tinosvika Chete” slogan is now tired, people have waited more than enough and they now need action. Time is moving, people need action and tangible things. Deploy strategy in key areas of governance.I repeat, Zanu PF does not lose elections consecutively. Every step and process in politics requires strategic intelligence. Look at the Malawians experience, they were well positioned, and they had plan A and B, and this worked well for them and today Chakwera is at State House. He managed to infiltrate state apparatus. Wy can’t the opposition in Zimbabwe do the same?
Opposition should be ahead of the game. You need to outfox Varakashi and put in place programs that appeal to the electorate more than Zanu pf’s Pfumvudza. ZANU PF is not finished yet, it is working hard on the ground and mobilizing as many people as possible. Remember they are targeting 5 million voters in 2023. It may seem laughable but they are making inroads.
Whilst it is important for Nelson Chamisa as the MDC Alliance President to maintain the face of opposition politics, some of his luitenants are not doing the best for him by contradicting themselves on social media regarding party positions. You must keep cards close to your chest.
Last but not least, Zanu PF supporters in rural areas vote overwhelmingly. Yes, there is intimidation but there is need for opposition to thoroughly conduct civic education to counter some old Zanu pf tactics. In urban areas, you find youths playing golf or cricket on the voting day. You need to mobilize these youths with enlivening message so that they understand the importance of their vote.
Rigging is countered with strategic intelligence
You must be ahead of your political nemesis. Plan ahead
Tinashe Eric Muzamhindo is the Head of Zimbabwe Institute of Strategic Thinking – ZIST and he can be contacted at [email protected]
By Jane Mlambo| ZINASU President Takudzwa Ngadziore has been granted ZWL$5000 bail by High Court judge, Justice Davison Foroma this morning.
The High Court told Ngadziore to stay 500 metres away from Impala Car Rental, surrender his passport and report once every week at Harare Central Police Law and Order.
He was also ordered not to attend any political gathering until his matter has been concluded.
Ngadziore has been languishing in remand prison since 18 September when he was arrested while addressing a press conference near Impala Car Rental.
He was assaulted by plain clothed assailtants who later handed him over to the police.
By A Correspondent | The ZINASU leader Takudzwa Ngadziore has been granted $5,000 bail.
He was ordered to surrender his passport and to stay at least 500 metres away from the Impala Car Rental offices. More to follow
Luke-king the Beast in the Eye
By Luke Tamborinyoka| As Zimbabwe stands on the cusp of crucial by-elections and a watershed plebiscite in 2023, it is important that media reforms be implemented as part of a comprehensive reform package that must equally ensure the public media conform to the cardinal Constitutional obligation for impartiality and presentation of divergent views.
The ZBC and the Zimpapers group form part of the country’s public media that are funded by the taxpayer and have a higher obligation to comply with the Constitution and to prudently and impartially serve the diverse spectrum of Zimbabweans. Historically, the public media have operated as an extension of Zanu PF, dismally failing to give equal coverage to other political parties, a development that has become patently illegal with the advent of the new Constitution in May 2013.
Yet notwithstanding the new Constitution’s explicit provisions demanding that the public media be impartial, flight divergent views and grant equal coverage to all parties contesting in elections, the ZBC and Zimpapers have continued to behave as if the supreme charter of the of the land did not even exist. Only recently, the public media willingly became Zanu PF’s propaganda megaphone by invading the privacy of Harare West MP Joannah Mamombe all in a vain hatchet job to lie to the world that she and her two colleagues had not been abducted.
For purposes of this instalment, it is pertinent to state that in July 2019, the High Court handed down a landmark judgement that pronounced that Zimbabwe’s public media were biased in favor of ZANU PF in the July 2018 elections and should strive to ensure that they comply with the Constitutional obligation that exhorts them to be impartial and to present divergent views.
It is trite to point out that in every election, the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) and the Zimbabwe Newspapers parrot the ZANU PF voice, even though they are required by the Constitution to be impartial as they are funded by the taxpayer.
Zimpapers and the ZBC are are by the far the largest media concerns in the country, owning several newspapers and broadcasting stations between them. The two media houses are publicly-owned and they have an obligation to reflect the diversity of the very public that owns them by being impartial so as to ensure that Zimbabweans make informed choices, especially during elections.
At the centre of the demands by the MDC and Zimbabweans in general ahead of the next elections is the strident call for the implementation of a comprehensive reform agenda, including media reforms. Media reform must ensure that the public media do not embed themselves with ZANU PF but that they comply with the Constitution to truly become impartial and reflect the diversity of the very Zimbabweans who fund them and who they ought to prudently serve.
The advent of a new Constitution in 2013, made and affirmed by the people in a referendum, came with clear and explicit provisions that exhorted the public media to conform to the cardinal obligation to impartiality and presentation of divergent views. While the Constitution is clear, the public media have fallen far short when it comes to compliance.
The High Court last year ordered the public media to stick to the sacred strictures of Constitutionalism. In a landmark ruling, High Court judge Justice Joseph Mafusire ruled that Zimpapers and the Zimbabwe Newspapers had failed their Constitutional obligation for impartiality and presentation of divergent views in the election of 2018.
In fact there was nothing landmark about that judgment. Justice Mafusire was simply restating what is in the Constitution when he ordered the public media to exercise impartiality and independence in the editorial content of their broadcasts and other communication. He said the public media should ensure that their communication do not show bias in favour of one political party and its candidates against the others.
Mafusire’s judgement reflects the simple demand of the MDC since 2013; that the public media must remove themselves from the firm clutches of ZANU PF and must conform to the letter and spirit of Constitutionalism.
Even the region, SADC, had given the same order at its summit in Maputo on 15 June 2013 that Zimbabwe must not rush into an election until a conducive environment had been created in the country. The summit unambiguously urged the implementation of reforms, including media reforms, as a prerequisite for the 2013 plebiscite to be held credibly. However, ZANU PF had contrived the much-vaunted Mawarire case to stampede the nation into a rushed election without the institution of the requisite reforms.
At the centre of any truly free and fair election is a neutral and impartial public media that presents all the divergent political views to enable the electorate to make informed choices. However, in Zimbabwe, the public media have thrown best international practice out of the window and have embarrassingly been mere propaganda wings of ZANU PF—in flagrant and brazen violation of the supreme law of the land.
The Constitutional stipulations for impartiality
The Zimbabwe Constitution (2013) is clear that the public media ie. Zimpapers and the ZBC, must be impartial and must present divergent views. The ZBC is the country’s biggest broadcaster with a television channel and several radio stations. ZImpapers is the biggest print media house with two daily newspapers and several weekly titles, including provincial newspapers, as well as a radio station. Zimpapers are also among the frontrunners for a TV license if current indications are anything to go by.
Section 61 of the Constitution makes it clear that all broadcasting and other electronic media of communication have to be independent of control by government or any political or commercial interests. Section 61 (4) (b) and (c) of the Constitution are explicit that publicly-owned media of communication, such as the ZBC and Zimpapers, must be impartial and must present divergent views.
However, despite these clear and explicit provisions, the ZBC and Zimpapers have parroted the ZANU PF voice ad nauseam , ad infinitum , as if the sacred law of the land did not even exist. It is pertinent to point out that the 2018 election, to which Justice Mafusire’s judgment makes reference, was held under the so-called new dispensation that has tried to mislead Zimbabweans and the world that government has now adopted a new culture. In fact the regime has publicly committed itself to implementing a basket of reforms but current indications are that there are better chances of the Pope getting pregnant than anything like that happening.
Added to the provisions under section 61 is yet another provision under section 155 (2) (d) that specifically urges the State to:
provide all political parties and candidates contesting an election or participating in a referendum with fair and equal access to electronic and print media .
Thus, the behaviour and deportment of Zimpapers and the ZBC is steeped in clear, explicit and unambiguous Constitutional provisions. What we have seen over the years is a nauseating Zanufication of public media houses funded by the taxpayer, despite clear provisions that they must be fair, impartial and must present divergent views.
Justice Mafusire’s ruling has simply echoed these cardinal provisions and going forward, there has to be robust political pressure to ensure compliance with the exhortations of the sacred charter of the land. Any half-hearted, scarfed attempt will not wash.
That is the sole reason why the MDC is now urging peaceful but robust political pressure to ensure the full implementation of a comprehensive reform package that, among other things, ensures strict compliance with the supreme law of the land.
The dictates of regional and international protocols
Zimbabwe is a member of the United Nations, the African Union and SADC. This makes the country a party to protocols such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Windhoek Declaration, the African Charter on Broadcasting and the SADC Protocol on Culture, Information and Sport. These declarations and protocols require that member States and public institutions respect human rights; especially freedom of expression, impartiality and reflection of divergent views.
The protocols also call for member States to create an enabling environment for media freedom, impartiality, pluralism and diversity. More importantly, most of the above protocols and declarations set minimum standards for the transformation of State broadcasters into genuine public service broadcasters (PSBs) that are protected against partiality and political interference and whose programming serve not the State but the public interest in its diversified sense. In this respect, the Mass Media Trust used to own all Zimpapers titles on behalf of the people of Zimbabwe. But the MMT was unprocedurally disbanded so that government could have direct, unfettered control to achieve partisan ends.
It is important to state that there is a world of difference between a State broadcaster and a public service broadcaster. A State broadcaster is owned and controlled by the State while a public broadcaster is owned and controlled by the tax-paying public. And the ZBC and Zimpapers are public-owned and not State – owned media houses. Or at least they are supposed to be.
In other countries such as South Africa, the board and senior management of a public broadcaster are employed through a public process that involves Parliament while in Zimbabwe, the State has taken over what in essence should be public as opposed to State institutions, in this case Zimpapers and the ZBC.
The MDC’s tenuous experience with the public media
The MDC’s experience with the public media has been grueling and tortuous. The public media, ie the ZBC and Zimpapers, have overtly and brazenly supported ZANU PF while excoriating and denigrating other political parties, even after the advent of a new Constitution in 2013 with its clear and explicit provisions urging them to be impartial and to present divergent views.
For example, in its survey of the 2018 elections, the Zimbabwe Election Support Network revealed that 91 percent of the stories in the public media gave positive coverage to ZANU PF, 9 percent of the coverage was neutral while negative coverage of Zanu PF was zero. Of the stories that covered the MDC, 89 percent were negative, 11 percent represented neutral coverage while positive coverage of the MDC stood at zero percent.
This represents unadulterated and embarrassing partiality.
During the 2013 election, some of the MDC’s paid adverts were never flighted for no apparent reason. We engaged in running arguments with the ZBC after the adverts we had developed and submitted to the ZBC through our advertising agency were never flighted. Even though we had paid, they were not flighted and to date, the court case we filed against the ZBC has not been heard!
In some cases, the adverts we wanted flighted on specific days were delayed by several days. I was to learn through my moles at ZBC that the adverts were first submitted to a ZANU PF team then led by Jonathan Moyo to enable them to first develop counter-adverts before our own electronic adverts could be flighted. When they were eventually flighted, the ZBC would then immediately flight a counter Zanu PF advert admonishing the content in our advert , even in instances where our advert was appearing on radio or television for the very first time.
On 5 July 2013, the ZBC covered live ZANU PF’s election campaign launch at Gwanzura stadium in Highfield, Harare. On 6 July 2013, in my capacity as the presidential spokesperson of the MDC and in the spirit of fair and equal coverage, I wrote to the ZBC requesting the same live coverage for our party’s election campaign launch at Rudhaka stadium in Marondera. The ZBC turned down the request before later agreeing to grant us live coverage provided we paid US$165 000, even though ZANU PF’s campaign launch had been covered for free.
We refused to pay. And we did not receive the live coverage, in blatant violation of the Constitution that calls for fair and equal coverage to all contesting parties and candidates.
Ironically, in its verdict after the 2013 polls, the African Union Election Observer Mission (AUEOM) report curiously deemed the poll free, fair and credible even after it had made the following damning assessment in its report:
The AUEM’s emphasis was on the function of the public broadcaster which has a central role in elections in terms of the AU Charter (2007) , to provide a platform for airing political messages or news coverage emanating from all political contestants .
Further , the Constitution of Zimbabwe provides fair opportunity for the presentation of divergent political views and opinions . In this regard , the AUEM noted that the national broadcaster tended to provide live and in-depth coverage largely to a single political party , Zanu PF .
Surprisingly, even after making this poignant observation of partisanship about the country’s sole broadcaster, the African Union still branded the 2013 polls as having been free, fair and credible.
The public media’s bias has been a long-drawn story even in previous elections. Ahead of the next plebiscite, the public media have to be stampeded into abiding by the supreme law of the land, whatever it may take. After all, one of our key five fights is defending the Constitution and Constitutionalism.
In 2018, even after the advent of a new Constitution with its explicit provisions calling for impartiality, the ZBC and Zimpapers operated simply as ZANU PF megaphones.
The MDC Alliance and President Nelson Chamisa were given scant coverage, if any at all while all prime time viewing on ZBC and acres of space in the Zimpapers titles were accorded to Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa and ZANU PF.
This must stop now.
The public media’s embededness in ZANU PF
Not only did the ZBC and Zimpapers give more than ample coverage to ZANU PF and the ZBC. We even had the embarrassing situation in 2018 where journalists in these stables submitted their CVs expressing their wish to contest as candidates in Zanu PF primary elections against the ethics of journalism.
Journalists Tendai Munengwa and Andrew Neshamba both of the ZBC and Garikai Mazara of The Sunday Mail submitted their CVs and ran as candidates in Zanu PF primary elections. How could practising journalist claim neutrality in cases where they seek to run as candidates of political parties?
Once you decide to join a political party, you must leave this sacred profession, as I did on 28 October 2005 when I left my Chief News Editor’s role with The Daily _News_to join the MDC. That is what ethical and self-respecting journalists do.
The Way forward
The way forward is that we will be doing all it takes to ensure the public media complies with the Constitution. When we served as MDC spokespersons, Fortune Daniel Molokele and I moved around various media houses, including the ZBC, where we engaged them on a host of issues, including the unambiguous Constitutional dictates for impartiality and presentation of divergent views. They pretended to listen, but it was clear that compliance would take more than meetings and sermons.
The public media must simply serve the public in its diversity, without fear or favor. They must not only provide fair and equal coverage but must ensure the expression of divergent views.
Twelve years ago, even before the advent of a new Constitution, the Media Institute of Southern Africa-Zimbabwe chapter exhorted our public media to present divergent views in line with international best practice:
Zimbabwe is a country with many voices and these must be allowed to express themselves as part of a holistic nation-building project that does not hold one view as better than the rest . The basic principle of election coverage or political reporting is that all contesting parties and candidates must be given equal opportunities to spell out their programmes to the electorate . In line with this principle , we recommend that in the coverage of plebiscites , the ZBC must give reasonable and equal opportunities to all political parties contesting the elections (MISA 2007:7).
Indeed, this is as it should be.
Conclusion
We are on the brink of a decisive moment in Zimbabwe. The citizens shall be taking robust practical steps to clamour for their rights.
Indeed, we shall be peacefully and constitutionally instituting various methods of political pressure to encourage the addressing of a host of issues, including a comprehensive reform agenda in the country.
We want genuine reforms, not a half-hearted scarfed attempt to hoodwink Zimbabweans and the international community. No to these feeble attempts to manicure and pedicure repressive laws in the name of reform.
They lied to the world that they were reforming POSA but the Maintenance of Public Order Act has turned out to be just but another POSA in a scarf!
Scarfed reforms will not wash. They are now claiming to be repealing AIPPA but the successor Bills are just as repressive, if not worse. As the late Eddison Zvobgo would say, the proposed legislation is bristling with arrows aimed at the very heart of freedom.
And as we have always done, we are about to lose an opportunity to usher in multiple voices in the media if the charade at the TV licences hearings is anything to go by. The usual suspects will definitely get the licences. Sameness is not diversity. Like POLAD, it’s turning out to be all about surrogates, about acolytes. Supa Mandiwanzira, Zimpapers and others closely linked to Zanu PF are likely to be granted TV licenses. It does not help matters that it is the same characters who were given community radio licenses. The only difference is the addition of those in the so-called private press who now appear to have sold out their hearts and soul to the regime!
Talk about the POLAD-isation of the country’s media terrain!
However , the pith of this instalment is that the ZBC and Zimpapers are compelling cases for Constitutional compliance and comprehensive reform.
And yet there used to be great men of the pen in the public media, great journalists such as Geoff Nyarota and the late Willie Dzawanda Musarurwa who understood that the true remit of the public media was to tell truth to power.
In one of his stinging editorials, Musarurwa wrote in a Sunday Mail editorial:
” A psychophantic press , which showers government leaders with undeserved and worshipful adulation , is as good as Judas Iscariot . It eventually betrays those that it flatters and lulls them into a stupor of complacence and a false sense of infallibility .”
Rest in peace, gallant warrior of the pen!
In the meantime, we shall do all we can, including engaging in robust political pressure, to ensure comprehensive reforms are implemented ahead of the next election and that the public media strictly comply with the letter and spirit of the dictates of the supreme law of the land.
We owe it to ourselves and to future generations!
Luke Tamborinyoka is the Deputy Secretary for Presidential Affairs in the MDC Alliance led by Advocate Nelson Chamisa . He is a multiple award-winning journalist who was once elected and served as the secretary-general of the Zimbabwe Union of Journalists . Tamborinyoka also served as spokesperson for almost 10 years to the country’s democracy icon , Morgan Tsvangirai , until the latter’s death in 2018 . He is an ardent political scientist who won the Book Prize for Best Student when he graduated with a Bachelor of Science Honours degree in Political Science at the University of Zimbabwe . You can interact with him on Facebook or on the twitter handle @ luke-tambo .
Zanu PF has called for reparations from Western countries that enslaved and looted resources from Africa years ago.
The party make the call at a time when goverment is also under pressure from Gukurahundi Victims and survivors for a similar reparation from it.
Speaking at a weekly press briefing in Harare yesterday, Zanu PF acting Secretary for Information and Publicity Patrick Chinamasa said the party is lending its weight to the clarion call.
Chinamasa said that the party bemoans the fact that Africa’s development history since the 15th century is one of slavery in three distinct physical forms namely Captive, Colonial and Neo Colonial slavery.
Untold atrocities committed during the era of the Atlantic African Slave Trade, he said are part of a long chain of human suffering that Zanu PF would not want to be forgotten or just washed away.
Millions of Africans, Chinamasa said, were killed in the slave raids, millions died on the long march to the slave ports and millions perished in the voyage from Africa to the respective destinations
“These deeply embedded issues from history refuse to and will not go away from modern consciousness,”.
He added that the brutalities that occurred before the creation of modern African Independent states and which accompanied the process of conquest, pacification and the establishment of effective administrations of colonial occupation were experienced by citizens of African modern states
The subjugation experienced by citizens of these states, he said carry and reproduce collective memories of the painful past.
“As everybody knows the attainment of independence and total sovereignty by each such new state, state formation and constitution was invariably a forced rather than a negotiated matter. In the case of Zimbabwe Independence and restoration of basic human rights were attained after a 16 year of protracted armed struggle. In other words, there were massive violations of human and people’s rights committed during the ear of conquest and the establishment of colonial rule which turned out not to be a civilising mission at all but another form of slavery,” said Chinamasa.
In the case of Kenya, he said brutalities were committed by the British Colonial Administration against Kenyan population during the Mau Mau insurrection.
“No apology or reparations were paid to the Kenyans,” he said.
In Zimbabwe, Chinamasa said, the modern parallel to the slave raids is the orchestrated social media onslaught against the country.
“Zanu PF, is lending its revolutionary support to recent efforts at dialogue. The Namibians and Germans are talking about acts of genocide committed on the Herero and Nama people of Namibia and which arose in the first decade of the 20th century.
“The Democratic Republic of Congo together with the Burundians are talking to the Belgians about issues of human barbarity that occurred in King Leopold, so called Congo Free State and the colonisation of Burundi and Rwanda and their balkanization along ethnic lines”.
Chinamasa added that as a consequence of seeking to redress the brutalities that occurred in colonisation of Zimbabwe accompanied by dispossession of land and brutal confiscation of livestock by colonialists the country has suffered 20 years of naked bullying, economic isolation and a severe sanctions regime by the former colonial powers now acting in concert as economic and political powers in support of what they allege are the rights of 4 500 former white farmers.
“….there will come a time that you will have to pay, but as of now we are going to make sure that as citizens we impose our own sanctions..”
By A Correspondent | The company at the center of several kidnappings, Impala Car Rental, was yesterday slapped with local community sanctions.
Impala, which has a long history of abductions in which over 10 vehicles are listed with the Zimbabwe Republic Police for kidnappings, recently got the Zimbabwe National Students Union leader Taku Ngadziore arrested as punishment for asking for the details of its client who hired the vehicle that participated in the abduction and torture of journalism student, Tawanda Muchehiwa earlier in July.
The abduction was captured on CCTV.
To date, the company has commented saying it cannot release the data because the client file was handed over to the police.
But there is a standing High Court order instructing that the company must release the said identity details. This development has cast doubt on the company’s sincerity and its commitment to social and legal responsibilities.
Yesterday, the company was slapped with sanctions as citizens comprising mainly young students declared as follows (video):
We are in charge.
You Impala you are in the business of abducting people and disobeying Court orders.
And we are here to send a message, the people you are abducted, such as Tawanda Muchehiwa, they are someone’s brother, they are someone’s sister.
So we are here to make a statement that you got him locked up so in that case we have also locked you up.
We are also in charge and we are giving you an ultimatum, if you continue coming here and enabling abductions in Zimbabwe, we are also making sure that you also stop operating.
So we are giving you an ultimatum. Number one- you should go and withdraw the charges against Takudzwa Ngadziore.
Number Two, you must obey the High Court Order and release the information of the people you are abducting, citizens of Zimbabwe, young people of Zimbabwe.
Today we have locked it, we in charge of the keys.
You locked Takudzwa Ngadziore in prison, we have also locked you inside there.
We as students, we are going to the schools and shut them down all, then they will have to release our commander now. If they don’t do that we are going to shut down all colleges and all universities.
The abductions are a crime against humanity, you may think you are clever but it happened in Rwanda, even in Germany. You the people who are in enabling, there will come a time that you will have to pay, but as of now we are going to make sure that as citizens we impose our own sanctions.
Here are the keys.
We have the keys the Impala, we are in charge.
The below is an open letter, that has remained unchallenged 3 months later, proving that contrary to denials by the judicial services commission, on the Job Sikhala Verdict involving Justice Erica Ndewere, Chief Justice Luke Malaba truly wants to control High Court judgements.
It was written and signed by all the judges of the High Court 22nd July 2020.
DIRECTIVE ON HANDING DOWN AND DISTRIBUTION OF
JUDGMENTS AND ORDERS
1 Reference is made to the Memorandum from the Hon Chief Justice dated 16 July 2020, and the subsequent amendment dated 17 July 2020.
2 The Memorandum gives directives on the procedure to be followed by Judges of the High Court and the Labour Court in the handing down of judgments or orders in certain situations. The substance of the directive is that a judgment that has been handed down cannot afterwards be withdrawn for any reason and that once issued it must be accessible to both the parties and members of the public
3 All the Judges of the High Court identity and agree with the substance of the Memorandum. In fact, it was a subject about which they had been previously consulted arid had aired their own views, including on the issue of to !earpore judgments, addressed in Paragraph 2 (vii) of the Memorandum. In their input, the Judges had expressed their strong support for those positions. This was then communicated to the Hon Chief Justice_
4 However, when the directive was issued in the form of the above Memorandum. It contained completely new issues in Paragraph 2 (iv) and (v) to the effect that.
• before a judgment or an order of the High Court or Labour Court is issued or handed down, it should be ‘seen and approved’ by the head of court or division, and that
• Judges should forthwith desist from the practice of issuing orders with the undertaking to give reasons later, the only exception being in relation to orders on points in & nine.
5 The subsequent amendment removed the word “approved in Paragraph 2 (iv) to
read.
‘Before a judgment or an order of the High Court Of Labour Court is issued or handed down, it should be seen by the head of court /docb,on.’
6 Quite apart from the impracticality of the directive that the head of court or the heads of divisions should ‘see’ every judgment or order before they are handed down (presumably including those made in motion court proceedings, or in bail applications), Judges of the High Court, at all the stations, wish to bring it to the attention of the Hon Chief Justice that. Paragraph 2 (iv) and (v) of the directive, even as amended, is highly objectionable and completely unacceptable for a number of reasons, not least.
• by some administrative fiat, it ;s effectively sought to impugn and seriously undermine the independence of a Judge who, in terms of the Constitution, is appointed as an individual to exercise, without fear or favour, such of the functions as are reposed by law;
• in the exercise of his or her judicial functions, such as making decisions and handing them down, a Judge does not operate under any other Judge or person or body.
• the directive to have the head of court or division ‘see’ a judgment or order before they are handed down lacks precision as to what this means practically, and what the ‘seer’ ought to do after ‘seeing’_
Zimbabwe Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC) coronavirus situation report as of 15 October 2020:
Guardian
A campaign focusing on the detention of 22-year-old Takudzwa Ngadziore, who has been held for 30 days in a remand prison, is gaining momentum in Zimbabwe, putting pressure on President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government to release the student.
Ngadziore, president of the Zimbabwe National Students Union (Zinasu), was arrested and jailed last month for protesting outside a car hire company, Impala Car Rental. The company has been under pressure from campaigners to release details of the alleged use of one of their vehicles in the suspected abduction of another student activist, Tawanda Muchehiwa.
Muchehiwa was snatched in July by suspected state agents in Bulawayo and was tortured for three days. His abduction appeared to have been caught on CCTV.
The hashtags #freetaku and #FreeTakudzwaNgadziore are attracting wide international attention, as supporters call for his release.
The arrest of Ngadziore is the latest in a series of actions against opposition figures in Zimbabwe. Fadzayi Mahere, from the opposition electoral bloc Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) Alliance, is among the prominent politicians to demand his release.
“Takudzwa Ngadziore is still languishing in prison. He is innocent. Demanding justice and accountability for the abduction is not a crime. We demand his immediate release #FreeTaku,” Mahere wrote on Twitter.
Prominent journalist Hopewell Chin’ono, jailed for 45 days at Chikurubi prison on allegations of inciting violence in July, said Ngadziore was a prisoner of conscience.
Chin’ono had published documents raising concerns that powerful individuals in Zimbabwe were profiting from multimillion-dollar deals for essential supplies to fight the coronavirus pandemic.
On Wednesday he called on the international community to add their voice in demanding Ngadziore’s release.
“The world should not forget this young man, a student leader who is a political prisoner of conscience in Mnangagwa’s jail,” Chin’ono, a respected documentary maker, wrote on Twitter.
Ngadziore’s bail hearing has been postponed repeatedly and Zimbabweans expressed their outrage on social media when images of the activist in prison clothing were published.
The Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition, a pressure group, also urged authorities to release Ngadziore, while MDC Alliance politician David Coltart said his imprisonment was illegal.
“The ongoing incarceration of student leader Ngadziore is illegal and vindictive. His ‘crime’ was to protest against the crime against humanity committed by the regime,” Coltart wrote on Twitter.
Ngadziore was first arrested in February this year for organising a protest to free activist Makomborero Haruzivishe. In September, as he left court at the start of his trial, he was suddenly re-arrested by armed police and charged with participating in a public gathering.
He was held for four days then released, on order not to go within 100m of Impala Car Rentals offices.
After addressing a press conference on 18 September, 101m outside the car hire company, Ngadziore was allegedly assaulted by unknown assailants in unmarked cars and before being taken away by police.
Zimbabwe has witnessed a sharp rise in human rights violations, with opposition activists arrested, imprisoned and abducted.
In July, the police arrested Booker prize shortlisted author Tsitsi Dangarembga for engaging in a one-woman protest, among other activists.
Opponents say Mnangagwa is exploiting Covid-19 restrictions to stifle dissent.
The below is an open letter, that has remained unchallenged 3 months later, proving that contrary to denials by the judicial services commission, on the Job Sikhala Verdict involving Justice Erica Ndewere, Chief Justice Luke Malaba truly wants to control High Court judgements.
It was written and signed by all the judges of the High Court 22nd July 2020.
DIRECTIVE ON HANDING DOWN AND DISTRIBUTION OF
JUDGMENTS AND ORDERS
1 Reference is made to the Memorandum from the Hon Chief Justice dated 16 July 2020, and the subsequent amendment dated 17 July 2020.
2 The Memorandum gives directives on the procedure to be followed by Judges of the High Court and the Labour Court in the handing down of judgments or orders in certain situations. The substance of the directive is that a judgment that has been handed down cannot afterwards be withdrawn for any reason and that once issued it must be accessible to both the parties and members of the public
3 All the Judges of the High Court identity and agree with the substance of the Memorandum. In fact, it was a subject about which they had been previously consulted arid had aired their own views, including on the issue of to !earpore judgments, addressed in Paragraph 2 (vii) of the Memorandum. In their input, the Judges had expressed their strong support for those positions. This was then communicated to the Hon Chief Justice_
4 However, when the directive was issued in the form of the above Memorandum. It contained completely new issues in Paragraph 2 (iv) and (v) to the effect that.
• before a judgment or an order of the High Court or Labour Court is issued or handed down, it should be ‘seen and approved’ by the head of court or division, and that
• Judges should forthwith desist from the practice of issuing orders with the undertaking to give reasons later, the only exception being in relation to orders on points in & nine.
5 The subsequent amendment removed the word “approved in Paragraph 2 (iv) to
read.
‘Before a judgment or an order of the High Court Of Labour Court is issued or handed down, it should be seen by the head of court /docb,on.’
6 Quite apart from the impracticality of the directive that the head of court or the heads of divisions should ‘see’ every judgment or order before they are handed down (presumably including those made in motion court proceedings, or in bail applications), Judges of the High Court, at all the stations, wish to bring it to the attention of the Hon Chief Justice that. Paragraph 2 (iv) and (v) of the directive, even as amended, is highly objectionable and completely unacceptable for a number of reasons, not least.
• by some administrative fiat, it ;s effectively sought to impugn and seriously undermine the independence of a Judge who, in terms of the Constitution, is appointed as an individual to exercise, without fear or favour, such of the functions as are reposed by law;
• in the exercise of his or her judicial functions, such as making decisions and handing them down, a Judge does not operate under any other Judge or person or body.
• the directive to have the head of court or division ‘see’ a judgment or order before they are handed down lacks precision as to what this means practically, and what the ‘seer’ ought to do after ‘seeing’_
Tell us about the money for Kunzvi Dam works donated in 1990 which works were supposed to be finished by 1996. Has another Supreme Court ruling pushed back the MDC party's existence to 1990 when the Kunzvi Dam works money disappeared Nick?
— Simba Chikanza (@schikanza) October 16, 2020
…..
President Mnangagwa yesterday swore-in members of five commissions, two of which are tribunals to investigate allegations of impropriety against three members of the Zimbabwe Land Commission and the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC).
In some of these appointments he has appointed people with police and military backgrounds as commissioners, this is coming at the time the country’s security forces have been accused of brutality and various human rights abuses.
Angeline Guvamombe, the former Officer Commanding ZRP Support Unit, notoriously referred to as the Black Boots & known for violent policing methods which contravene human rights has been appointed to the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission.
The swearing-in ceremony took place at State House and was witnessed by Vice President Constantino Chiwenga, Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi and other senior Government officials.
Three commissions whose members took oaths of office are the Zimbabwe Media Commission, the Civil Service Commission and the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission.
Professor Ruby Magosvongwe, who will chair the Zimbabwe Media Commission, was the first to take her oath of office followed by the other commissioners — Ms Dumisani Mashingaidze, Mrs Susan Makore, Ms Miriam Tose Majome, Major Edward Mbewe (Retired), Mr Tanaka Muganyi, Dr Phillip Pasirayi, Mr Jasper Maposa and Mr Aleck Ncube.
Prof Magosvongwe holds a Doctor of Philosophy Degree from the University of Cape Town.
She is also a holder of a Graduate Certificate in Education, BA General and Master of Arts degrees from the University of Zimbabwe (UZ).
She is currently the director of information and public relations at UZ.
Ms Mashingaidze, a lawyer by profession, holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA), a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) and a Post Graduate Diploma in Women’s Law, all from UZ.
Mr Muganyi and Ms Majome also hold law degrees, among other qualifications.
Mrs Makore, the group chief executive for AB Communications, holds a Master of Arts degree in Media and Cultural Studies from the University of Natal, a Bachelor of Arts Degree (UZ) and a post graduate Diploma in Media and Communications Studies (UZ), among others.
Mr Maphosa is a lecturer at Great Zimbabwe University (GZU), who holds a Master of Science degree in Media and Society Studies and a BSc Media and Society Studies Honours degree.
More in Home
Murehwa ritual murder: Police quiz n’anga
Murehwa ritual murder: Police quiz n’anga
All-weather friend China stands by Zim
All-weather friend China stands by Zim
UPDATED: Parly opening, SONA on Thursday
UPDATED: Parly opening, SONA on Thursday
Time up for land barons — VP Mohadi
Time up for land barons — VP Mohadi
Conduct online lessons, schools told
Conduct online lessons, schools told
Major Mbewe (Retired) holds a Master of Science degree in Development Studies, BA degree in English and Communications among others while Dr Pasirayi holds a Doctor of Philosophy (DPhil) Degree in International Development from the University of Oxford (UK) and a Master of Law (LLM) in International Human Rights and Humanitarian Law from the University of Lancaster (UK).
Play Video:
In an interview, Prof Magosvongwe said the commission would work to reduce polarisation in the media industry.
“My desire is that we promote greater cohesion and peace in our country through the media because there has been so much polarisation in the press,” she said.
She added that there was need to promote in the media all 16 official languages as provided for in the Constitution to reduce marginalisation of some communities.
Members of the ZHRC that were sworn-in are Commissioners Angeline Guvamombe, Dorothy Moyo, Beauty Kajese, Owen Dziva and Brian Penduka.
Speaking on behalf of the commissioners, Mrs Guvamombe said they would do their work diligently as provided for by the Constitution.
The new deputy chairperson of the Civil Service Commission, Dr Nomathemba Ndiweni Masuku, also took her oath of office.
She said she was honoured to be appointed to the position.
“It’s a very heavy appointment but I will do my best to step and serve the nation. The CSC is looking particularly at Government capacitation of the human resources and that we don’t have a wasteful civil service but rather we have appropriate appointments at the appropriate level and doing the right job,” Dr Ndiweni-Masuku said.
She also said promoting gender parity in the civil service was a critical task she would work on achieving.
Retired Justice Maphios Cheda was appointed chairperson of the tribunal to investigate the deputy chairperson of the Zimbabwe Land Commission, Mr Tadious Muzoroza and commissioner Jeanette Marrie Manjengwa.
Muzoroza and Manjengwa are accused of allegedly co-authoring and uploading onto the World Bank Conference website, an abstract which painted a negative picture of the country’s land reform programme in respect of the land tenure and allocation of land to women, youths and farm workers.
It is alleged the abstract made reference to the Zimbabwe Land Commission’s National Comprehensive Land Audit Phase One Report.
The other members of the tribunal are Telecel Zimbabwe chief executive Ms Angeline Vere and Gweru lawyer Mr Godfrey Mutseyekwa.
Retired High Court Judge Justice Nicholas Ndou, who will chair the tribunal to investigate allegations of misconduct against ZACC commissioner Frank Muchengwa, also tookhis oath of office.
University of Zimbabwe law lecturer Dr Tarisai Mutangi and lawyer Ms Clara Mapota are the other members of the tribunal who were also sworn-in.
By Jane Mlambo| Mbizo legislator Settlement Chikwinya has announced that SI225 of 2020 which nullified by-elections until the COVID-19 is over has been declared unconstitutional by the Parliamentary Legal Committee.
Health and child care minister Constantino Chiwenga recently enacted Statutory Instrument 225 of 2020 effectively banning the impending by-elections to replace recalled MDC Alliance legislators.
Below is Honourable Chikwinya’s full message:
“The speaker of Parliament has just announced that SI 225A/2020 has been deemed unconstitutional by the Parliamentary Legal Committee. This is critical in that the SI is immediately struck off and had no force or effect. This means that ZEC remains challenges to set out dates for By Elections as per dictates of the Constitution. The cases challenging this SI which are now before the courts now have more than a bright chance to succeed if ever the gvt still wants to oppose which I do not see how.”
By Farai D Hove | President Nelson Chamisa on Friday dropped a bombshell on his counterpart Emmerson Mnangagwa who has been abusing citizens since the 2018 elections.
Having used the security forces against citizens and killing over 25 people since 1 Aug 2018, Mnangagwa has continued to utilize the state aparratus to intimidate civilians. Mnangagwa has also continued to blame the opposition for causing the economy to fail, at the time however when his military crackdown against civilians has cost the nation billions of US dollars. The 1 Aug shootings alone cost the country 16 billion US dollars according to figures at the Finance Ministry presented before the Motlanthe Commission in 2018.
Last week the state security minister Owen Ncube rose up to issue a statement accusing the opposition of trying to push back the country to the 2018 polls, saying the economy is being held back by the MDC Alliance, which albeit has less than a third of seats in parliament.
Writing early morning, President Chamisa said Mnangagwa will lose the war to citizens. He said:
“The incumbent’s illegitimacy is confirmed by the excessive use of force & coercion against citizens, ” he said.
He continued warning that, “faith in brute force often mislead unpopular rulers to mistakenly rely on guns, imprisonment,teargas and terror to subjugate & muzzle citizens. Ultimately,citizens will always win! “
By Dorrothy Moyo | A picture of the MDC renegade Douglas Mwonzora aparrently falling off a raised hut, has broken the internet. The undated pic which has gone viral, has Mr Mwonzora struggling to get to the ground after entering the enclosure. – WHAT DO YOU THINK WAS GOING ON HERE? PIC BELOW
By Tinashe Eric Muzamhindo | Edgar Lungu, the current Zambian President contested the 2015 by-election after campaigning for only two weeks and managed to beat his arch-rival Hakainde Hichilema with a margin of about 100, 530 votes.
Hichilema, a six-time losing presidential candidate had over 90 days to campaign whilst Lungu’s ruling party was embroiled in intense factional wars to replace the late Michael Sata, the fifth Zambian president who died at the age of 77.
Lungu had little resources but he applied a well-knit strategy and won with 50.35% of the total votes against Hichilema’s 47.63%. These by-elections in Zambia were a wake-up call for Hichilema who used to draw prodigious crowds to his rallies. Hichilema was tipped to win the elections owing to his popularity. Sadly, he woke up to a rude shock as the Election Commission of Zambia announced Lungu the winner.
Hakainde Hichilema would spend most of his time on social media instead of being visible on the ground. Over reliance on social media is proving costly for many African presidential aspirants who have potential to win the presidency.
Politicians need to have a great appeal to the people and know them well, understand their needs and interests so that they can win their hearts and votes with little or no money.
What opposition leaders need to understand is that grassroots politics and strategy are critical to assume presidency in any given context.
The late Morgan Tsvangirai used to pull phenomenal crowds. In 2013 he pulled an extraordinarily huge crowd at Robert Square on the eve of the election day. Regrettably he lost that election. At his wife’s funeral in Buhera, more than 100 000 people thronged the Humanikwa village to pay their last condolences. Everywhere Tsvangirai went, he drew gigantic crowds. With all these bumper crowds, Tsvangirai failed to get to the state house.
I have since warned opposition politicians against spending much time on social media in one of my many articles. My advice is free to both ZANU PF and MDC.
I find it a bit intriguing that opposition leaders spend much of their time on Twitter. Zanu PF is busy with Pfumvudza program in rural areas and rural folks who participate in that program will vote for Zanu PF come 2023. It is a fact that the opposition controls urban stake. It is a fact that many people are tired of Zanu pf. It is a fact that Zanu PF has failed to live up to its promise. It is a fact that Zanu pf has run down the country. But what is worrying at the moment is the failure by the opposition to take advantage of the current economic mess to offer tangible solution to the despondent nation. What is even more worrying is the failure by the opposition to introduce its own “Pfumvudza” to the urban denizens.
In my next article I will shed more light on the Pfumvudza concept and the chemistry behind it. Nevertheless, my advice to the opposition is; don’t criticize Pfumvudza but come up with something that can outsmart Pfumvudza and put in place urban and rural policies. The fact is Pfumvudza is roaring in rural areas and Zanu PF is taking advantage of this program to drum up support ahead of elections 2023.
Zanu PF will not afford to lose elections consecutively
The struggle needs schemers. Look at how Zanu pf invests in spin doctors and other social media guerillas well known as Varakashi. Zanu pf would rather starve the nation and underpay civils servants to just invest in projects that will help them retain power. It is the opportune time for opposition to consider investing in schemers that will help them with counter strategies to navigate the cumbersome political terrains.
When Chamisa took over as MDC president in 2018, many people especially the youths rallied behind him. He gave the people a reason to hope again. The MDC Alliance was supposed to grab the opportunity to translate their popularity into power. Sadly the party plunged into ugly factional wars that are threatening to totally decimate the party.
What I want to warn the opposition is that you can’t be crybabies in politics. Be strategic and organize yourselves. Go back to the drawing board and come up with rejuvenating message to tell your supporters. This “Tinosvika Chete” slogan is now tired, people have waited more than enough and they now need action. Time is moving, people need action and tangible things. Deploy strategy in key areas of governance.
I repeat, Zanu PF does not lose elections consecutively. Every step and process in politics requires strategic intelligence. Look at the Malawians experience, they were well positioned, and they had plan A and B, and this worked well for them and today Chakwera is at State House. He managed to infiltrate state apparatus. Wy can’t the opposition in Zimbabwe do the same?
Opposition should be ahead of the game. You need to outfox Varakashi and put in place programs that appeal to the electorate more than Zanu pf’s Pfumvudza. ZANU PF is not finished yet, it is working hard on the ground and mobilizing as many people as possible. Remember they are targeting 5 million voters in 2023. It may seem laughable but they are making inroads.
Whilst it is important for Nelson Chamisa as the MDC Alliance President to maintain the face of opposition politics, some of his luitenants are not doing the best for him by contradicting themselves on social media regarding party positions. You must keep cards close to your chest.
Last but not least, Zanu PF supporters in rural areas vote overwhelmingly. Yes, there is intimidation but there is need for opposition to thoroughly conduct civic education to counter some old Zanu pf tactics. In urban areas, you find youths playing golf or cricket on the voting day. You need to mobilize these youths with enlivening message so that they understand the importance of their vote.
Rigging is countered with strategic intelligence
You must be ahead of your political nemesis. Plan ahead
Tinashe Eric Muzamhindo is the Head of Zimbabwe Institute of Strategic Thinking – ZIST and he can be contacted at [email protected]
By A Correspondent| A Harare elderly woman was told to sell her posh flat in the Harare CBD having been forced to purchase in its place, one of the controversial preacher Walter Magaya’s scheme properties, a fake mansion.
ZimEye today exclusively explores how the self proclaimed prophet forced the vulnerable elder, who is a pensioner, to trade off her residence for a non existent mansion.
To force through his sale, Magaya had shown her a place where he announced he is building new flats, in Wonderland Estates (after Westgate along Lomagundi road).
This is a scheme first exposed by ZimEye three years ago.
ZimEye remains dedicated to expose more of Magaya’s frauds, to give victims a voice so they can recover their money’s.
At one point Magaya had already taken the woman to a fake property “saying this is yours.” She would discover 3 years later that it was all fake and the whole piece of land is actually owned by some Chinese businesspersons.
At one time during court hearings, the elder’s lawyer tried to obtain restitution from an unfinished property at the estate, only to be told that the so called MAGAYA estate has since been sold off to some undisclosed Chinese businessmen, as the complainant narrates.
“My client was concerned saying she might be killed by MAGAYA’s people. According to her MAGAYA kills those who exposes him,” the lawyer tells ZimEye.
He continues saying, “all along she was scared if the matter being published… If he kills me let him kill me.
“It was MAGAYA who persuaded her saying you can actually sell this flat and invest in this bigger thing,” he tells ZimEye.
Magaya had shown her 20 houses.
Magaya’s defence was the elderly had paid USD 70,000 and he says this was a deposit, she is supposed to pay USD 140,000 so she must pay him USD70,000 and he will refund her USD70,000 in bond note value.
A writ of execution has since been obtained to attach Magaya’s property.
This case will be exclusively explored today 16th October 2020.
Paul Nyathi
THE profligate President Emmerson Mnangagwa administration is spending millions of dollars per month on double salaries and allowances for senior officials in the Ministry of Health and Child Care despite a clean-up operation promised by Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga. Chiwenga also oversees the operations of the health sector.
Investigations by the Zimbabwe Independent show that directors who were sent on forced leave to pave way for corruption investigations over three months ago are still receiving their full salaries, while at the same time those who were elevated to act in their positions are enjoying similar perks.
Chiwenga has been superintending over the extensive restructuring process since last month when he was appointed Health minister after Obadiah Moyo was sacked from the position on July 7, at a time Zimbabwe is battling to contain the novel coronavirus.
Moyo’s sacking from cabinet arose from allegations that he unprocedurally awarded a shadowy company called Drax International a US$60 million contract for the procurement of personal protective equipment (PPE) in the fight against Covid-19. Mnangagwa’s sons, Emmerson Jr and Collins were linked to the multi-million-dollar scandal through Drax International local representative Delish Nguwaya.
In the wake of the scandal, now commonly referred to as Draxgate, seven senior officials at national drug supplier, NatPharm, were fired.
The ongoing costly restructuring initiative, which is meant to “achieve greater efficiency as envisaged in the National Health Strategy”, has so far seen 27 directors and deputy directors placed on indefinite paid leave, as Chiwenga reshuffles the scandal-ridden portfolio. Most of the staffers put on paid leave served during Moyo’s tenure.
Source: Zimbabwe Independent
