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

State Media

PRESIDENT Mnangagwa has fired Supreme Court Judge, Justice Francis Bere, for gross misconduct following recommendations by the tribunal set up to inquire into his fitness to hold the office of a judge.

Justice Bere, who was on suspension pending conclusion of investigations, was fired for interfering with a Harare lawyer involved in a matter in which he had conflict of interest.

Retired Judge Justice Simbi Mubako chaired the three-member tribunal which investigated the judge’s conduct.

The tribunal presented its findings and recommendations to President Mnangagwa at State House yesterday after which the report was actioned and the decision made to sack the judge immediately.

Other members of the tribunal were Advocate Takawira Nzombe and veteran lawyer Ms Rekayi Maposa.

In a statement, the Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet, Dr Misheck Sibanda, said President Mnangagwa’s decision to fire the judge followed due process.

He said following advice from the Judicial Service Commission (JSC), that Justice Bere’s conduct needed investigation, President Mnangagwa, acting in terms of the Constitution, appointed through Proclamation Number 1 of 2020, a tribunal to inquire into the question of removal from office of the judge.

“The tribunal has completed its investigations and has recommended that Honourable Justice Bere JA be removed from office for acts of gross misconduct,” said Dr Misheck Sibanda.

“His Excellency the President, accordingly acting in terms of Section 187(8) of the Constitution, has removed the Honourable Judge from office with immediate effect.”

Justice Bere

This means the tribunal made adverse findings and recommendations leading to the judge losing his post. If it had cleared him of any wrongdoing, he could have returned to the bench.

The tribunal is not a criminal court, but can report that certain conduct is not consistent with holding judicial office.

Investigations were concluded in the absence Justice Bere and his legal team after they walked out on the proceedings in protest over the tribunal’s refusal to have one of its members, Advocate Takawira Nzombe, recuse himself because of his alleged links to the lawyer who was a crucial witness in the inquiry.

Defence lawyers were also not happy with the extension of the tribunal’s tenure by another six months after the expiry of its initial tenure of four months.

Lead defence counsel Advocate Froze Girach, Advocate Lewis Uriri and Prof Lovemore Madhuku walked out of the hearing protesting what they claimed to be a “violation of legal procedure”.

President Mnangagwa set up the tribunal inquiry on the recommendation of the Judicial Service Commission after the lawyer accused Justice Bere of interference in a civil case involving the Zimbabwe National Road Administration (Zinara) and his relatives.

The judge allegedly telephoned the lawyer, who was representing Zinara, asking him to consider settling a civil dispute pitting Zinara against Fremus Enterprises.

Justice Bere was serving on both the Constitutional Court and Supreme Court benches when he was suspended in March this year.

The tribunal sought to establish whether or not Justice Bere conducted himself improperly in violation of the oath of office and the Constitution by interfering in the matter at the centre of the inquiry

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

Gibson Mhaka
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

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

Angry youths besieged the Impala Car Rental offices in Harare, demanding the immediate release of ZINASU leader Takudzwa Ngadziore.

The youths also condemned the abduction of Tawanda Muchehiwa…

Watch video below :

Farai Dziva|Bees are giving cops at Chikato Police Station in Masvingo a torrid time.

The bees are stinging the cops and their families, triggering widespread speculation on where they came from. ..

The bees are in a chimney at one of the flats.

“We are having a torrid time at Chikato Police Station. The bees are attacking us even without being provoked. We don’t know where they came from -this is very strange,” a police officer who declined to be named told ZimEye.com.

The Masvingo Mirror reports how Ass Insp Forbes Musora was not only bitten but lost 17 chickens to the bees.

When asked for a comment, Insp Musora referred all questions to the Police Public Relations department, the paper says.

The PR department was however not taking any calls.

The development follows a separate incident back in July when soldiers and police details were attacked by a swarm of killer bees in Kuwadzana 4, Harare.

Of that incident, a witness narrated in full saying:

“There came a lorry full of police details and soldiers in Kuwadzana 4 Harare so everyone ran away.

Some of the soldiers were in civilian clothes and they were just arresting everyone and for you to run away, you ended up just being arrested.

In the past you would just notice that this person who has arrested me is a soldier or a police officer and that you have been arrested and are being taken to the police truck when you saw their boots.

Police boots
But today, they were just arresting everyone …so when they arrived at Kuwadzana 4 shops, people ran away leaving their groceries, the ones that they were selling including their firewood.

So there were bees that came from nowhere,they just flew and went underneath a cart.

The cart was like the ones that are used by vendors in towns when they are selling their wares. No one knows what time these bees made this cart their haven, but it should be today because this cart was at home last night and was taken to the shops this morning for it’s daily business.

So when people ran away after seeing that the soldiers in plain clothes were arresting people and taking them to their truck, they left their wares.

So these soldiers started confiscating people’s groceries and that is when they saw the cart and they started loading the confiscated goods and firewood into that cart.

Trouble began when they started to push the cart. The bees left their haven ,underneath the cart and started biting the soldiers. They were bitten so bad that they left the cart and started running away.

The soldiers were bitten and they ran back to their truck and they were wailing while the swarm of bees continued biting them. It was a swarm of bees. And when these soldiers who were fleeing the bees got to their truck, the bees continued biting them and those who were inside the truck were not spared either. They were all bitten.

The driver of the truck sped off but this did not help, the bees continued biting them.

I doubt these bees are a natural species. They must be someone’s bees. In Kuwadzana 4 today, we witnessed a rare occurence.

The soldiers were bitten so bad. They were wailing and crying.

Please do not take people’s property. This happened around 12pm in Kuwadzana 4, Harare.

The firewood that they wanted to take belonged to one granny whom we call gogo Ndunge. The soldiers were bitten so bad.”

..

The Speaker of Parliament Jacob Mudenda, pictured, has announced that the Statutory Instrument 225A/2020 has been deemed unconstitutional by the Parliamentary Legal Committee.

This follows the recent announcement by the Vice President and Health Minster, Constantino Chiwenga that by-elections had been shelved indefinitely due to the current COVID-19 pandemic.

However, the decision was met with widespread resentment from all quarters alleging that it was unconstitutional and undemocratic.

Mbizo Member Of Parliament, Settlement Chikwinya said the decision by Mudenda is a step in the right direction as now the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission can pronounce new dates for the by-elections.

“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 government still wants to oppose which I do not see how,” he said.

Yesterday, the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission expressed concern over the suspension saying it was an infringement on the democratic spaces.

“The ZHRC is worried by the recent pronouncement by the Minister of Health and Child Care Vice President C.G Chiwenga in terms of SI 225A /2020 of the Public Health COVID-19 prevention, Containment and Treatment) (Amendment) Regulations 2020, No. 4.

“Article 25 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights to which Zimbabwe is a party provides that citizens have the right and opportunity to take part in the conduct of public affairs directly or through freely chosen representatives meaning the right to vote through electoral processes. The ZHRC underscores the fact that the right to vote in all elections and referendums to which this Constitution or any other law applies should therefore be observed and respected,” read the statement.

The Commission urged the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) and other stakeholders exercise their obligations in upholding the Constitution.

Farai Dziva|Bees are giving cops at Chikato Police Station in Masvingo a torrid time.

The bees are stinging the cops and their families, triggering widespread speculation on where they came from. ..

The bees are in a chimney at one of the flats.

“We are having a torrid time at Chikato Police Station.The bees are attacking us even without being provoked. We don’t know where they came from -this is very strange,” a police officer who declined to be named told ZimEye.com.

No official comment could be obtained from the police.

Farai Dziva|The man who defeated Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa twice in the Kwekwe Central Parliamentary elections, Hon Blessing Chebundo, has described the MDC Alliance primary elections in the constituency as peaceful.

However, Hon Chebundo indicated that the figures were somehow exaggerated.

See statement below:

CORRECTING FIGURES ON AN ARTICLE BY ONE, SEARCHMORE MURINGANI, ON THE ‘FIGURE FACTS’ OF THE MDCA KWEKWE CENTRAL PRIMARY ELECTIONS HELD ON THE 10Th OCTOBER 2020 AT THE PARTY’S OFFICES IN KWEKWE, WHERE I WAS INVOLVED AS A CONTESTANT

Indeed the Primary Elections, for the people’s party were peaceful by all standards on this day. Issues arising from the processes prior to the primary election day, and pertaining to internal management, admin and communications were addressable and taken NOTE of.

The mischief to be corrected is with due respect to the ‘Votes figures’, ( ‘Judith Tobaiwa : 1328. Blessing Chebundo – 495. Henry Madzorera : 43, Admore Marongwe : 22) whose misrepresentation has a negative bearing on the part of the contestants, and for posterity.

The primaries were open for all those in the ZEC voters roll; though it was not very clear to many until evening on the eve. The correct version is as follows:-

A total of 359 people voted (validated) :

Judith Tobaiwa : 211
Blessing Chebundo : 140
Henry Madzorera : 5
Admore Marongwe : 3

                                            359

B. CHEBUNDO

Two women from Mabvuku, Harare have been arrested and arraigned before the courts for killing a robber who had attacked them.

It is alleged that on October 10 at around 5 am, Phoebe Tembo and Petronella Ndlovu were on their way home from fetching water from a well in Mabvuku when they were attacked by Gunungo who demanded cellphones.

The duo refused to give their phones to Gunungo who proceeded to drag Ndlovu prompting Tembo to intervene thereby triggering a fight.

Gunungo reportedly hit Tembo on the mouth with an iron bar and she lost her teeth before she pulled his privates. He managed to shove her to the ground and sat on her stomach trying to strangle her.

Ndlovu then disarmed Gunungo of the iron bar and allegedly hit him several times on the head, leading to his death.

The women were not asked to plead to the allegations before Harare magistrate Judith Taruvinga who granted them $500 bail each.-Daily News

A BOY, last seen kicking a football up a street on October 3, has not been seen since then.

The disappearance of 16-year-old Prince Sibanda, a Form Three pupil at Bulawayo’s Milton High School, has left his parents, Ms Sinothando Ncube and Mr Trevor Sibanda worried.

What was bizarre about his disappearance was that Prince ran ahead of his mother, up a sloppy road and then disappeared going down.

When his mother got to the top, there was no sign of him.

“My son and I were coming from church (12 Apostles Church) on October 3 accompanied by his siblings. There is a road that leads to our house that passes by Parrot Lodge in Matsheumhlophe suburb (along Valeview Road) and it has a steep slope. So, we were going up the slope and he ran forward kicking his plastic ball. He went over the hill and when we got there about a minute later, we couldn’t see him,” said a solemn looking Ms Ncube.

While she spoke, her husband, Mr Sibanda sat there in silence, perhaps still in shock that their son has been missing for 10 days.

Ms Ncube said she thought that Prince, an aspiring volleyball player at school, had run home.

“When we couldn’t see him, his siblings started laughing saying Prince has run home, but they had the house keys.

When we got home (in Sunninghill suburb), Prince wasn’t there. We called him on his cellphone and it wasn’t going through,” said Ms Ncube.

Soon they started getting worried as Prince did not return home that night.

The next day Ms Ncube said with her husband they went to report Prince as missing at the Zimbabwe Republic Police Hillside Station. They are appealing to members of the public to help find him.

Prince was last seen wearing a black and white long sleeve t-shirt, a blue Adidas cap with matching blue Nike takkies and a brown face mask.

Anyone who can help find Prince can contact their nearest police station or call or WhatsApp 0779139961 or 0778607723, said Ms Ncube.-Chronicle

State Media

Police in Beitbridge spent the whole day on Thursday held up in a a standoff with a suspected armed robber in Dulivhadzimu suburbs, Beitbridge.

The suspect is reported to have evaded an early arrest on Wednesday before being tracked to a house where he locked himself and had been firing wild shots from 1 am.

The police surrounded the house. One police source said they spent the day giving him room to finish up his ammunition so they could safely arrest him.

Additional special tactical team members had to be dispatched from Bulawayo.

More details to follow.

A confirmed ZANU PF Member who was last week shot at by security details at a retire army general’s house in Harare has died in police cells at Harare Central Police Station according to ZimEye.com sources.

The ZANU PF member whose party membership card was dropped off at the scene and identified as Kudakwashe Mupedzazvose, whose Zanu PF Youth League membership card was found at the crime scene died after being captured by police and kept at a police station without medical attention.

He is the second person to die after another man – previously thought to be Mupedzazvose because of the Zanu PF card – was killed at the home of Retired Lieutenant General Engelbert Rugeje in what police said was a gunfight between armed robbers and soldiers guarding Rugeje’s home.

Mupedzazvose was known to the police after he was previously arrested in 2017 accused of the theft of power cables.

State Media

A 70-YEAR-OLD man from Bulilima drowned while he was fishing in a dam.

Matabeleland South provincial police spokesperson, Chief Inspector Philisani Ndebele confirmed the incident which occurred at Kariba Dam in Fairview Village on Tuesday at around 11AM.

He said Emmanuel Mudzingwa from Nketa 6 Suburb in Bulawayo was fishing at the dam in the company of others when he drowned.

“I can confirm that we recorded a case of drowning which occurred at Kariba Dam in Fairview Village. Emmanuel Mudzingwa was fishing with others when he caught a big fish which pulled the fishing line and drifted with it further into dam. Mudzingwa tried to pursue the fish by following the fishing line. He dived inside the dam and drowned after failing to swim.

“His peers tried to rescue him but failed. Mudzingwa’s body was retrieved from the dam and the matter was reported to the police who attended the scene,” he said.

Chief Insp Ndebele urged members of the public to be careful when around water bodies. He said a number of lives have been lost during fishing expeditions. Chief Insp Ndebele said now that the rainy season had started people should desist from attempting to cross flooded rivers.

A workshop manager with Merchant Investment Company has appeared in court on allegations of defrauding Zanu-PF of $401 200 in a botched vehicle service deal.

Tinotenda Nigel Rusere (35) appeared before Harare magistrate Mrs Judith Taruvinga facing fraud charges and was remanded to November 25 without having to pay bail.

Allegations are that on August 16, the party’s representative Mr Steward Mutizwa went to Merchant Auto Services Company workshop to have an accident-damaged Isuzu D-Tec repaired.

The court heard that Rusere prepared a quotation for $401 200 on the same date for the complete job and that Rusere started repairing the vehicle at Merchant Investment Company, trading as Merchant Auto Services, until he was dismissed.

The court heard that on August 23 Rusere went back to Merchant Investment Company and collected the Isuzu D-Tec motor vehicle and took it to his new workshop.

Mr Mutizwa later realised that the party vehicle was not repaired properly and decided to take it back to Merchant Investment Company and to lodge a complaint.

He was advised to bring proof of payment. It was then discovered that Rusere unlawfully instructed Mr Mutizwa to deposit $401 200 into his own account as payment. The court heard that Rusere misrepresented facts to Mr Mutizwa that he was able to do the job on time but failed to do so and prejudiced Zanu PF of $401 200.

President Mnangagwa has sworn in members of the Zimbabwe Media Commission at the State House in Harare.

The swearing in ceremony was attended by President Mnangagwa’s two deputies Dr Constantino Chiwenga and Cde Kembo Mohadi among other senior Government officials.

The commission, chaired by Professor Ruby Magosvongwe, also comprises Ms Dumisani Mashingaidze, Mrs Susan Makore, Ms Miriam Tose Majome, Rtd Major Edward Mbewe, Mr Tanaka Muganyi, Dr Phillip Pasirayi, Mr Jasper Maphosa and Mr Alec Ncube.

Caledonia, a sprawling informal settlement to the east of Harare, may get its own local board as Government has ordered the three surrounding councils to set up a caretaker local authority to assist in the regularisation of the chaotic area.

Harare, Ruwa and Goromonzi local authorities have been directed to each second five councillors plus critical staff to join a Government team to enable the setting up of a caretaker local authority.

The seconded team is scheduled to hold its first meeting today. Caledonia could eventually stand alone as a local board just like Epworth, or could be incorporated into an existing authority.

But first it needs to be fixed up. Caledonia Farm has no roads, electricity, clinics, schools, water and sewer reticulation facilities and other essential social amenities for proper human habitation.

Speaking during a recent Harare full council meeting, Mayor Jacob Mafume said Local Government and Public Works Minister Cde July Moyo had ordered for the creation of the caretaker local authority in line with the Urban Councils Act.

“Minister Moyo indicated that there be created a caretaker local authority for Caledonia which is going to be gazetted in terms of the Urban Councils Act,” he said.

“The staff will be seconded from Government and three councils that is Harare, Ruwa and Goromonzi will separately second five each councillors as well as some staff members.”

Mayor Mafume said the committee will make recommendations to Government.

“Part of the recommendations will either to make Caledonia a stand-alone local authority as it has a sizable population of over 150 000, 200 hectares of land and 30 000 stands,” he said.

“The other option might be that of just incorporating Caledonia into an existing local authority.”

Caledonia, a sprawling settlement east of Harare on a farm of the same name, has been synonymous with chaos, poor sanitation and irregular settlement.

THE trial of former Cabinet Minister Prisca Mupfumira and ex-Public Service Commission secretary Ngoni Masoka failed to kick-off again this morning after the former’s lawyer failed turn up because of ill-health.

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 and Masoka are being tried on allegations involving a $90 000 debt acquired from NSSA and used to purchase a Land Cruiser and more than R10 000 used in the purchase of air tickets to South Africa.

The matter was postponed to November 4 for trial continuation.

Mupfumira and Masoka are denying the charges.

They appeared before Chief Magistrate Munamato Mutevedzi.

Former Health Minister Obadiah Moyo today approached the court seeking relaxation of his bail reporting conditions saying they were costly and inconvenient to him.

Moyo, through his lawyer, said there were changed circumstances since his initial appearance on July 6 this year which warrants variation of his reporting conditions.

He was ordered to report thrice a week as part of his bail conditions.

The former Cabinet Minister is facing criminal abuse of office as a public officer.

Prosecutor Mr Michael Reza opposed the application saying nothing has changed since his first appearance in court.

Mr Reza also argued that Moyo did not challenge the conditions when they were imposed by the court on the day he was granted bail.

He also told the court that the conditions imposed were the ones which are compelling Moyo to return to court and they were still serving the purpose.

Magistrate Mr Trynos Utahwashe is expected to make a ruling on Moyo’s application on October 27.

President Mnangagwa will deliver a State of the Nation Address next Thursday as well as officially open the Third Session of the Nineth Parliament where he will set Government’s legislative agenda for the coming Session.

This was said by Speaker of the National Assembly, Advocate Jacob Mudenda this afternoon in the Chamber. Adv Mudenda said the official opening of the Third Session of the Nineth Parliament was consistent with the Constitution.

He said the Head of State and Government will deliver an address of a virtual joint sitting of both the National Assembly and Senate.

The Speaker of Parliament Jacob Mudenda, pictured, has announced that the Statutory Instrument 225A/2020 has been deemed unconstitutional by the Parliamentary Legal Committee.

This follows the recent announcement by the Vice President and Health Minster, Constantino Chiwenga that by-elections had been shelved indefinitely due to the current COVID-19 pandemic.

However, the decision was met with widespread resentment from all quarters alleging that it was unconstitutional and undemocratic.

Mbizo Member Of Parliament, Settlement Chikwinya said the decision by Mudenda is a step in the right direction as now the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission can pronounce new dates for the by-elections.

“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 government still wants to oppose which I do not see how,” he said.

Yesterday, the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission expressed concern over the suspension saying it was an infringement on the democratic spaces.

“The ZHRC is worried by the recent pronouncement by the Minister of Health and Child Care Vice President C.G Chiwenga in terms of SI 225A /2020 of the Public Health COVID-19 prevention, Containment and Treatment) (Amendment) Regulations 2020, No. 4.

“Article 25 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights to which Zimbabwe is a party provides that citizens have the right and opportunity to take part in the conduct of public affairs directly or through freely chosen representatives meaning the right to vote through electoral processes. The ZHRC underscores the fact that the right to vote in all elections and referendums to which this Constitution or any other law applies should therefore be observed and respected,” read the statement.

The Commission urged the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) and other stakeholders exercise their obligations in upholding the Constitution.

Paul Nyathi

Hope could just be lost for Justice Erica Ndewere after president Emmerson Mnangagwa this Thursday fired seasoned Judge Francis Bere.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa today removed Supreme Court Judge Justice Francis Bere from the bench over allegations of abuse of office.

This comes after a tribunal probing the suspended Supreme Court Judge established that the learned judge was unfit for office.

The three-member tribunal chaired by retired Simbi Mubako found Bere guilty of interference in a civil case involving the Zimbabwe National Road Administration and his relatives.

The tribunal which was investigating Bere’s suitability to hold office on Thursday recommended his removal for acts of gross misconduct before Mnangagwa endorsed the recommendation.

“Following the advice of the Judicial Service Commission that the question of removing honourable Justice Francis Bere ought to be investigated, the President, acting in terms of section 187(3) of the constitution, appointed, through proclamation number 1 of 2020, a tribunal to inquire into the question of removal from office of the said judge,” read a statement issued by Misheck Sibanda, Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet

“His Excellency the President, accordingly, acting in terms of Section 187(81 of the Constitution, has removed the Honourable Judge from office with immediate effect.

A judge who recently granted l to MDC vice chairman Job Sikhala has also been suspended in a similar fashion by the Judicial Service Commission headed by Chief Justice Luke Malaba.

Justice Erica Ndewere of the Harare High Court is accused of “misconduct and conduct inconsistent with being a judicial officer,” said Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs secretary Virginia Mabhiza.

The JSC has also been referred the matter to President Emmerson Mnangagwa to appoint a tribunal to “inquire into the question of removal from office of Justice Erica Ndewere,” Mabhiza added.

Sikhala, charged with incitement of violence, was granted bail on appeal by Justice Ndewere on September 22 after spending a month at the notorious Chikurubi Maximum Security Prison.

By Jane Mlambo| Students have shut down Impala Car Rental Offices demanding the release of ZINASU President Takudzwa Ngadziore who has been languishing in remand prison since his arrest on the 18th of September 2020.

Watch video below….

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.”

Farai Dziva|The man who defeated Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa twice in the Kwekwe Central Parliamentary elections, Hon Blessing Chebundo, has described the MDC Alliance primary elections in the constituency as peaceful.

However, Hon Chebundo indicated that the figures were somehow exaggerated.

See statement below:

CORRECTING FIGURES ON AN ARTICLE BY ONE, SEARCHMORE MURINGANI, ON THE ‘FIGURE FACTS’ OF THE MDCA KWEKWE CENTRAL PRIMARY ELECTIONS HELD ON THE 10Th OCTOBER 2020 AT THE PARTY’S OFFICES IN KWEKWE, WHERE I WAS INVOLVED AS A CONTESTANT

Indeed the Primary Elections, for the people’s party were peaceful by all standards on this day. Issues arising from the processes prior to the primary election day, and pertaining to internal management, admin and communications were addressable and taken NOTE of.

The mischief to be corrected is with due respect to the ‘Votes figures’, ( ‘Judith Tobaiwa : 1328. Blessing Chebundo – 495. Henry Madzorera : 43, Admore Marongwe : 22) whose misrepresentation has a negative bearing on the part of the contestants, and for posterity.

The primaries were open for all those in the ZEC voters roll; though it was not very clear to many until evening on the eve. The correct version is as follows:-

A total of 359 people voted (validated) :

Judith Tobaiwa : 211
Blessing Chebundo : 140
Henry Madzorera : 5
Admore Marongwe : 3

                                            359

B. CHEBUNDO

By A Correspondent| A suspect in last weekend’s shooting incident at former Zanu PF National Commissar Engelbert Rugeje’s home Kudakwashe Mupedzazvose has reportedly died in police holding cells at Harare Central Police Station overnight Wednesday.

Mupedzazvose, whose Zanu PF Youth League membership card was found at the crime scene in Harare’s Mt Pleasant suburb in the early hours of October 11.

He is the second person to die after another man – previously thought to be Mupedzazvose because of the Zanu PF card – was killed at the home of Retired Lieutenant General Engelbert Rugeje in what police said was a gunfight between armed robbers and soldiers guarding Rugeje’s home.

Police said at least six suspects tried to enter Rugeje’s home on Cheshire Road.

Police sources have told ZimLive that contrary to police claims, there was in fact no exchange of gunfire because the so-called suspects were unarmed.

“In fact our investigations show that these men were copper thieves who were in the process of stealing ZESA cables because there was a power outage at the time. They were busy ripping power lines at the time,” a police source said.

Mupedzazvose was known to the police after he was previously arrested in 2017 accused of the theft of power cables.

Police spokesman Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said he was in a meeting when his comment was sought on Thursday morning.

-ZimLive

Farai Dziva|Bees are giving cops at Chikato Police Station in Masvingo a torrid time.

The bees are stinging the cops and their families, triggering widespread speculation on where they came from. ..

The bees are in a chimney at one of the flats.

“We are having a torrid time at Chikato Police Station.The bees are attacking us even without being provoked. We don’t know where they came from -this is very strange,” a police officer who declined to be named told ZimEye.com.

No official comment could be obtained from the police.

The Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition (CiZC) notes with great concern a renewed coordinated campaign by the government of Zimbabwe to further shrink the democratic space through draconian legislation and clampdown on Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) operating in the country.

On October 12, 2020 President Emmerson Mnangagwa, while addressing a ZANU PF meeting, confessed that he was stalking and spying the daily movements of his perceived opponents and critics and further threatened to shut down NGOs that are alleged to be critical to the regime.

To add on to this, the Harare administration is speeding up the Patriotic Bill which, if enacted, will impose ‘stiff penalties’ on individuals and organisations ‘campaigning against the country’.

As the Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition, we view this Patriotic Bill as a desperate attempt to silence political dissent while working against efforts by Civic Society Organisations (CSOs) who have been calling for regional support to press for dialogue to end the multi faceted crisis in Zimbabwe.

Zimbabwe is signatory to various International Statutes on Human Rights, like the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) and it is incumbent upon CSOs to continuously monitor the conformity of the Zimbabwean government to these statutes while updating the international community on rights violations in the country.

We further note with concern that President Mnangagwa’s recent threats against NGOs operating in the country have a potential of fuelling further attacks against civic society actors in the country.

If anything, President Mnangagwa’s recent sentiments prove that Zimbabwe, despite promises of a new dispensation, remains stuck in the dark past characterised by gross human rights violations and persecution of civic society and opposition activists.

Army shootings, arbitrary arrests, torture and abductions of civic society and opposition activists have proved beyond reasonable doubt that the ‘new dispensation’ is seeking to entrench authoritarian rule and a one party state system of governance.

Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition implores the Zimbabwean government to uphold key tenets of democracy as well as to acknowledge the role of civic society in democracy, prosperity and stability.

The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe will soon introduce a $50 note as it seeks to double cash in circulation to ZWL$3 Billion, a member of the Monetary Policy Committee, Eddie Cross has said.

This was revealed by business journalist, Happiness Zengeni while posting on Twitter.

“Zim set to introduce a $50 note as it seeks to double cash in circulation to $3 bln, says Eddie Cross,” posted Zengeni.

The smaller Zimbabwe dollar denominations including 5c, 10c, 20c, 50c, $1 and $2 have been rejected by the market and have since disappeared leaving only $5, $10 and $20 notes.

The move to introduce higher denominations have previously been discouraged on the grounds that it was believed to cause inflation to resurface, so it remains to be seen how the market will receive this new $50 note when it hits the market.

By A Correspondent| A suspect in last weekend’s shooting incident at former Zanu PF National Commissar Engelbert Rugeje’s home Kudakwashe Mupedzazvose has reportedly died in police holding cells at Harare Central Police Station overnight Wednesday.

Mupedzazvose, whose Zanu PF Youth League membership card was found at the crime scene in Harare’s Mt Pleasant suburb in the early hours of October 11.

He is the second person to die after another man – previously thought to be Mupedzazvose because of the Zanu PF card – was killed at the home of Retired Lieutenant General Engelbert Rugeje in what police said was a gunfight between armed robbers and soldiers guarding Rugeje’s home.

Police said at least six suspects tried to enter Rugeje’s home on Cheshire Road.

Police sources have told ZimLive that contrary to police claims, there was in fact no exchange of gunfire because the so-called suspects were unarmed.

“In fact our investigations show that these men were copper thieves who were in the process of stealing ZESA cables because there was a power outage at the time. They were busy ripping power lines at the time,” a police source said.

Mupedzazvose was known to the police after he was previously arrested in 2017 accused of the theft of power cables.

Police spokesman Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said he was in a meeting when his comment was sought on Thursday morning.

-ZimLive

By A Correspondent- Popular Mutare bouncer Pension Gwinyai appeared in court early this week for attempted murder after knocking down a soldier with his vehicle following a scuffle at a night club.

Gwinyai (52), who is popularly known as Master Payee in the eastern border city, appeared before magistrate Nyasha Kuture, who remanded him in custody to October 26.

His lawyer Chris Ndlovu indicated that the bouncer sustained head injuries after the complainant, Kudzai Nedziwe, struck him with a stone during the scuffle.

The court heard that on October 10, 2020, Nedziwe refrained Gwinyai from assaulting an unidentified patron, leading to a brawl.

Gwinyai then allegedly punched Nedziwe in the face, leading to a fistfight. Gwinyai then got into his vehicle and sped towards Nedziwe who was walking back home, knocking him down headlong.

Nedziwe is currently admitted at 3 Field Hospital in Mutare with his condition said to be critical.-Newsday

By Jane Mlambo| Government has announced that the Gweru Prosecutor Namatirai Chipere who contested and won in the Zanu PF District Coordinating Committee elections had already resigned from her government position.

Posting on Twitter following what they said were media inquiries regarding Chipere’s issue, Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services said she resigned from the National Prosecution Authority.

“We received a number of Media Inquiries regarding Gweru Prosecutor, Namatirai Chipere who we understand contested and won Zanu PF DCC Elections. Govt wishes to advise that in line with constitutional requirements, the Prosecutor resigned from the National Prosecution Authority,” the ministry said.

Chipere’s poster campaigning for a Zanu PF DCC elections caused a stir on social media after it was revealed that she is a Prosecutor at the Gweru Magistrates Court.

By A Correspondent- Civil servants yesterday reacted angrily to government’s pronouncement that the US$75 monthly COVID-19 allowance would now be enjoined to their salaries and accused the Public Service Commission (PSC) of trying to hoodwink them into believing that they had been awarded a salary increment.

The PSC announced yesterday that payment of the US$75 allowance would now be done monthly and indexed to the existing exchange rate.

This effectively means that the lowest paid civil servant will get $11 350, about US$100, a far cry from the US$520 demanded by the public servants.

“The PSC is pleased to advise government workers that the US$75 COVID-19 allowance for September, 2020 is being paid today. Going forward, the US$75 COVID-19 allowance will be paid on pay days. This effectively means that the least paid worker (B1) is now earning $11 350 monthly, while a teacher at entry grade (D1) earns a total of $12 591,15. The US$75 allowance is indexed to the prevailing RBZ foreign exchange rate,” PSC secretary Jonathan Wutawunashe said in a statement.

He then saluted civil servants for religiously rendering their services despite the low pay, adding that he hoped negotiations for improved their salaries between government and their unions would be concluded soon.

Apex Council spokesperson David Dzatsunga said: “It is their unilateral decision and not negotiation and it reads as if they are just calculating the US$75 in local currency terms and then add it on to what we have been getting before.

“The correct thing is to talk about it, but we realise they are acknowledging that all is not well and they are now firefighting. We expect what we should have negotiated. The circular seems to be saying you guys are saying you are getting this, but in actual fact, you are getting $11 000 and, therefore, we are going to negotiate from that figure which I also find problematic.”

The Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ) said nothing had changed and vowed that teachers would continue with their boycott.

“What they have done is to convert our nostro salaries into local currency and then added the 40% that they gave us. If you add US$75 and about $4 000, you get to $11 000 to $12 000, so there is nothing that they have done,” PTUZ president Takavafira Zhou said.

This is not what we asked for and you don’t give a catapult to a child who asks for fish. We never asked for such an increase or whatever, what we want is the restoration of salaries that we were getting in October 2018.”

He described the move as an “unfair labour practice which is callous and a monument for Zimbabwean injustice.”

In a statement, the organisation said: “If it is true that the figure includes nostro, nothing has changed. Our members will not go to work on the back of deception. Mark our words.

“The insult against our members will have negative repercussions that will be felt for a long time. There are no negotiations going on. There has been no change in the salary figure. The announcement is intended primarily to hoodwink desperate parents and students.”

The Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe said the move by the government was meant to deceive the workers.

“There is nothing new here. Teachers have been earning the same inadequate income which falls short of both our expectations and the modest monthly budget for a low income earner. The Consumer Council of Zimbabwe pegged the monthly breadbasket at over $20 000. The COVID-19 allowances expire in December, 2020,” the rural teachers said.

“This is a joke. The government intends to deceive the world into believing that they adjusted our salaries. To the contrary, they simply added current teacher incomes to the COVID-19 allowance and announced the total figure. Teachers have been earning the same inadequate income since July.”

Meanwhile, in Parliament, former Finance minister Tendai Biti (Harare East MP MDC Alliance) said government should pay teachers the US$520 salaries they used to get before the re-introduction of the Zimbabwe dollar.

Government has steadfastly maintained the use of the Zimdollar at a time rentals, goods and services are charged in hard currency.-Newsday

By A Correspondent- The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe is expected to introduce higher denomination notes, which will see the amount of physical cash in circulation double to $3 billion.

A member of the RBZ’s MPC Eddie Cross said the new notes would soon hit the market after a lengthy deliberation by the authorities.

This was after the realisation that there are more US dollars in the economy than local currency.

Cross also said the country has a physical surplus of Rands which are sold monthly back to the South African Reserve Bank.

More to follow…

-FinGaz

By A Correspondent- Teachers yesterday scoffed at government threats to withhold their salaries for refusing to report for duty, saying they will not be cowed into submission after declaring incapacitation due to poor remuneration.

Different teachers’ unions said their members would continue with their industrial action and they described the threats of withholding their salaries as “acts of political bigotry” which will not solve problems in the education sector.

This comes after President Emmerson Mnangagwa and his ministers last week said government would not be held to ransom by teachers.

Teachers’ unions said after the government threats to teachers, a group of militia and “rogue headmasters” began threatening teachers across the country in attempts to intimidate them into submission.

Zimbabwe Teachers Association (Zimta) president Richard Gundane said: “Our members who have bought into this anomalous reference to incapacitation have now fallen into the fear trench and are now in cyclic paranoia of vulnerability.

“Zimta repeats, teachers are not on strike but incapacitated. The following are not panacea to getting teachers back to their classrooms…threats associated with political bigotry, token incentives, wrong application of regulations, appealing to emotional sympathies. All these tactics fail on the tests of sustainability and reasonableness,” Gundane said.

He urged teachers to remain resolute, adding that they would not be frog-marched back to classrooms by any form of threats, but only if their incapacitation was addressed.

Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe president Takavafira Zhou said: “We are watching a sad development where youth militia and rogue elements and a few rogue headmasters are conniving to bring people to schools to eject teachers from staff quarters claiming that if they are not teaching, they must not stay in staff accommodation. That is very unfortunate because in terms of policy, no outsider must approach teachers except through ministry officials. That is where they report their case.”

The PTUZ said the impasse between government and teachers could only be resolved through dialogue rather than threats.-Newsday

By A Correspondent- Former Finance minister Tendai Biti (Harare East MP MDC Alliance) said government should pay teachers the US$520 salaries they used to get before the re-introduction of the Zimbabwe dollar.

Government has steadfastly maintained the use of the Zimdollar at a time rentals, goods and services are charged in hard currency.

The Public Service Commission (PSC) announced yesterday that payment of the US$75 allowance would now be done monthly and indexed to the existing exchange rate.

This effectively means that the lowest paid civil servant will get $11 350, about US$100, a far cry from the US$520 demanded by the public servants.

“The PSC is pleased to advise government workers that the US$75 COVID-19 allowance for September, 2020 is being paid today. Going forward, the US$75 COVID-19 allowance will be paid on pay days.

This effectively means that the least paid worker (B1) is now earning $11 350 monthly, while a teacher at entry grade (D1) earns a total of $12 591,15. The US$75 allowance is indexed to the prevailing RBZ foreign exchange rate,” PSC secretary Jonathan Wutawunashe said in a statement.

He then saluted civil servants for religiously rendering their services despite the low pay, adding that he hoped negotiations for improved their salaries between government and their unions would be concluded soon.

Apex Council spokesperson David Dzatsunga said: “It is their unilateral decision and not negotiation and it reads as if they are just calculating the US$75 in local currency terms and then add it on to what we have been getting before.

“The correct thing is to talk about it, but we realise they are acknowledging that all is not well and they are now firefighting. We expect what we should have negotiated.

The circular seems to be saying you guys are saying you are getting this, but in actual fact, you are getting $11 000 and, therefore, we are going to negotiate from that figure which I also find problematic.”

The Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ) said nothing had changed and vowed that teachers would continue with their boycott.

“What they have done is to convert our nostro salaries into local currency and then added the 40% that they gave us. If you add US$75 and about $4 000, you get to $11 000 to $12 000, so there is nothing that they have done,” PTUZ president Takavafira Zhou said.

“This is not what we asked for and you don’t give a catapult to a child who asks for fish. We never asked for such an increase or whatever, what we want is the restoration of salaries that we were getting in October 2018.”

He described the move as an “unfair labour practice which is callous and a monument for Zimbabwean injustice.”

In a statement, the organisation said: “If it is true that the figure includes nostro, nothing has changed. Our members will not go to work on the back of deception. Mark our words.

“The insult against our members will have negative repercussions that will be felt for a long time. There are no negotiations going on. There has been no change in the salary figure. The announcement is intended primarily to hoodwink desperate parents and students.”

The Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe said the move by the government was meant to deceive the workers.

“There is nothing new here. Teachers have been earning the same inadequate income which falls short of both our expectations and the modest monthly budget for a low income earner. The Consumer Council of Zimbabwe pegged the monthly breadbasket at over $20 000. The COVID-19 allowances expire in December, 2020,” the rural teachers said.

“This is a joke. The government intends to deceive the world into believing that they adjusted our salaries. To the contrary, they simply added current teacher incomes to the COVID-19 allowance and announced the total figure. Teachers have been earning the same inadequate income since July.”-dailynews

By A Correspondent- Norton legislator Temba Mliswa (Independent) on Tuesday warned newlysworn MDC-T proportional representative MP Thokozani Khupe against walking out on President Emmerson Mnangagwa when he is addressing the august House.

In apparent reference to MDC Alliance members who have been walking out in protest whenever Mnangagwa addresses Parliament, Mliswa said there was need for maturity from the opposition.

He said they should desist from walking out when the President is addressing.

MDC Alliance legislators have in the past justified their behaviour saying they did not recognise Mnangagwa, accusing him of manipulating the 2018 presidential election results following his defeat by Nelson Chamisa.

Khupe was sworn in as MP last week together with 14 others to replace recalled members from the Chamisa-led party.

She was immediately assigned to serve on the Portfolio Committee on Budget, Finance and Economic Development.

“I would like to congratulate Khupe and other MPs. May I say to them; I hope you shall serve national interests and not walk out when the head of State is here,” Mliswa said.

“I know Khupe is a seasoned politician who is mature. I hope she leads in that manner. I think we are here for national interests and a lot of time has been wasted resulting in this Parliament losing credibility because of us not putting national interests first.

The President remains the head of State and Parliament is one of the institutions. I am hoping that during the State of the Nation Address (Sona), you shall be exemplary in showing the nation that national interests bind us.”

Mnangagwa is soon expected to present the Sona and officially open the Third Session of the Ninth Parliament on the same day.

While Mliswa claimed that MPs were not putting national interests first, last week the Zanu-PF chief whip Pupurai Togarepi praised opposition MPs saying that in the past months there was unanimity in Parliament, with both sides of the House debating issues of national interest.

MISA Zimbabwe has expressed concern over the proposed Patriotic Bill which it says was influenced by the #ZimbabweanLivesMatter campaign, which was centred on demanding respect for human rights in Zimbabwe.

The Patriotic Bill, according to government officials, is meant to criminalise campaigning against one’s own country. The Principles for the Patriot Bill have already been drafted and that the Ministry of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs,  is expected to table them in Parliament. The proposed law will criminalise and impose stiff penalties for private correspondence by what was termed as ‘self-serving citizens’, with foreign governments or any officer or agent. Below is MISA Zimbabwe’s position on the Bill.

MISA Zimbabwe is greatly concerned by this proposed law which has the potential of curtailing the exercise of rights such as media freedom and freedom of expression, right to privacy,  access to information, freedom of conscience, political rights, freedom to demonstrate and petition,  and freedom of assembly and association.

Of equal concern is that this law will potentially cripple the work and mandate of non-governmental organisations that also work with foreign governments, embassies or similar organisations in foreign countries, among others.

It should be noted that in exercising freedom of expression, it is lawful for citizens to:

• Demand the prosecution of perpetrators of gross human rights violations.
• Request information with regards to the investigation and prosecution of police officers involved in media violations.
• Demand accountability with regards to abductions purported to have been state-sponsored
• Demand prosecution of high ranking officials alleged to have engaged in corrupt activities.
• Demand equal application of the law in Zimbabwe.

The above is centred on the exercise and enjoyment of fundamental rights for the betterment of Zimbabwe, which any patriotic citizen would be keen to support.

When citizens exercise their constitutional rights for purposes of transparency and accountability, such conduct should not be perceived as attacks on the government, the ruling party or any specific individuals.

In that regard, Zimbabwe should embrace the exercise of freedom of expression in its diverse forms.

Putting in place such a law will severely infringe the right to privacy as it creates further avenues for surveillance, tracking of internet usage and accessing of private communication records. Any mass and indiscriminate surveillance of citizens is unconstitutional and should not be sanitised through any piece of legislation.

Even in the United States where a similar law was enacted, several concerns were raised on its provisions and enforcement.

In defence of the US Bill of Rights in the case of West Virginia State Board of Education v Barnette, Justice Jackson highlighted that:

If there is any fixed star in our constitutional constellation, it is that no official, high or petty, can prescribe what shall be orthodox in politics, nationalism, religion, or other matters of opinion or force citizens to confess by word or act or faith therein.

In other words, the love, devotion and strong support for one’s country should not be forced on citizens through legislation. Neither should honesty about one’s country’s shortcomings be considered to be unpatriotic or campaigning against one’s own country.

This frowns upon the basic tenets of democracy and respect for fundamental rights.

By Nomusa Garikai- “The Public Service Commission is pleased to advise Government workers that the USD 75 Covid 19 allowance for September 2020 is being paid today. Going forward, the USD 75 Covid allowance will be paid on pay days.

This effectively means that the least paid worker (B1) is now earning ZWL 11 350.16 (or US$ 141 at ZWL 80: US$1 monthly), while a teacher at entry grade  (D1) earns a total of ZWL 12 591.15 or US$157),” government announced.

This is a very generous offer indeed considering a teacher at entry grade (D1) was earning a mere US$ 30 per month! This constitutes a 500% wage rise. Should the teachers now go out and celebrate? The answer is no for two reasons:

1. Even with the new wage, teachers are still earning way below Poverty Datum Line (PDL)

The PDL in Zimbabwe is US$650 per month and the new wage increase is only a quarter of the way up. It underlines just how far the teachers are sunk!

• The wage rise is already being eroded away because of the high inflation

Government has not discovered an unknown source of revenue to pay for these 500% wage increase for the civil servants, it is going to print money. And printing money is one sure way of fuelling inflation. Inflation is already running at 838% year on year and so it is a certainty that inflation is going to soar.

But even if we assume inflation remains where it is at 838% year on year; this means in just over six months the teacher earning US$157 per month today will be earning US$ 30 per month. Back where they started!

A 500% wage rise, inflation rate of 838%, etc. these are the symptoms of an economy in serious trouble.

The people of Zimbabwe did not elect this Zanu PF government in July 2018. Zanu PF blatantly rigged the elections just as the party had done ever since the country’s independence in 1980. Zanu PF rigged the election and was confident the party will rig economic recovery.

President Mnangagwa was cocksure his “Zimbabwe is open for business!” clarion call would open the floodgate of investors. It is now crystal clear that no investors are ever going to come. “Zimbabwe is open for business!” is dead in the water. Zanu PF has failed to rig economic recovery. 

Like it or not we must accept the reality that Zanu PF has no clue what to do to revive the economy and, most important of all, that the party will not acknowledge it has failed much less accept the right of every Zimbabwean to a meaningful say in the governance of the country.

For the last 40 years Zimbabwe has sunk deeper and deeper into this economic and political crisis because the nation was stuck with a corrupt, incompetent and tyrannical Zanu PF regime that rigged elections to stay in power.

The need for free, fair and credible election is not just a human right it is the cure to Zimbabwe’s curse of rigged elections and bad governance. We must take it or the nation will, one of these day, sink beyond the point of no return – if we have not done so already. A 500% wage increase is proof of our already breakneck speed into the abyss!

“The Chief Justice does not have the authority to direct the Judicial Service Commission to attend to any complaint against a sitting judge of the High Court,” reads Justice Erica Ndewere’s letter dated September 30, 2020.

By Farai D Hove | The Judicial Service Commission has officially confirmed that the Chief Justice Luke Malaba is the one behind the suspension of the High Court Judge who granted the Zengeza MP Job Sikhala.

The revelations came out as the JSC sought to clarify that in all the deliberations and decisions relating to the allegations against Justice Erica Ndewere by the commission, Chief Justice Luke Malaba and the Judge President George Chiweshe did not participate because they were involved in the initial investigations on the allegations made against the judge.

The development comes as a journalist who refused to be named narrated the High Court Case fracas saying,

“I remember on the day when the hearing for Job Sikhala’s bail appeal in the High Court was to be heard, we were shuffled from one Court to another until we were told that the bail hearing by the Judge will be heard their arguments from lawyers of Job Sikhala and prosecutors in Court J. The Judge opted for Court J instead of the usual bail court F because she wanted a Court with recorders. The bail hearing scheduled to commence at 14:15 hrs started late around 15:30hrs. Everyone was worried on the cause of the inordinate delay.

“When the matter started the Court room was full and journalists had to stand in the corridor to follow proceedings. After arguments by lawyers from both sides Justice Ndewere went back to her office.

“We noticed strange things happening and we whispered among ourselves as journalists about, who the people who followed Justice Ndewere to her offices. We later understood that these were not ordinary people. They were state security agents from Munhumutapa Building, who we gathered threatened Justice Ndewere on the dire consequences if she dare grant Job Sikhala bail.

“They went to show her some documents outlining her transgressions during her tenure as a judge, some of them ridiculous to contemplate or believe. They alleged that she used her Assistant to write judgements on her behalf and that they will come for her if she grants Job Sikhala bail.ht

“We wanted to break the news but my Editor told us that the story might jeopardize Job Sikhala’s chances of getting bail. We left it there.

“Again something strange happened: the Judge hesitated to give her ruling on the bail appeal for a period spanning a week and a half. Bail judgements are generally given immediately after arguments by lawyers and prosecutors, but Job Sikhala’s bail ruling was delivered after one and half weeks. This should have attracted the inquisitive mind of Zimbabweans.

“On the day of the bail ruling, Justice Ndewere announced that she will deliver her judgment at 1400hrs. People who came were directed to go to Court A, the largest Court room at the High Court. The Court was full to the gallery by the time announced for the ruling. All Job Sikhala’s family, friends and colleagues were waiting for the judgement only for another inordinate delay to take place. The Judge invited Job Sikhala’s lawyers and the state public prosecutor to come to her office. They came back and told everyone to wait as the judge was finishing editing her judgment putting comas and full stops. People had to wait until 16:46hrs for the Judge to enter the Courtroom. From her first sentence to the last full stop she was castigating the police and the Magistrate who heard the matter at Rotten Row for serious misdirections committed.

It could be noticed that the Judge was hiding her judgment from uninvited external forces. After the delivery of her judgment we obtained information that, she received a telephone call from the Chief Justice Malaba who shouted at her over her judgment. Her life was never the same since then. She became a loner at the Court hounded by the threats thrown at her by the Chief Justice Malaba.”

In their response however, the JSC said:

“The synopsis of events given shows that there is no connection between the two decisions by the JSC and that of the judge in Sikhala’s matter,” said the JSC.

Through her lawyers, Sawyer and Mkushi Legal Practitioners, Justice Ndewere wrote to the JSC responding to the allegations.

She referred to Sections 163(2) and 163(3) of the Constitution, arguing that the Judge President (Justice Chiweshe) was in charge of the High Court, while the Chief Justice was in charge of the Supreme Court.

She said JSC did not have the legal authority to deal with complaints raised against her.

“We direct your attention to Statutory Instrument 107 of 2012 and the provisions contained therein.

“The Chief Justice does not have the authority to direct the Judicial Service Commission to attend to any complaint against a sitting judge of the High Court,” read the letter dated September 30, 2020.

She implored the Chief Justice to follow laid down procedures for dealing with complaints against a sitting judge.

State Media

FORMER chief magistrate Mishrod Guvamombe yesterday said the criminal abuse of office charges against him were inspired by malice on the part of his colleagues whom he had reprimanded for sexually harassing female members of staff, including magistrates.

Guvamombe is facing charges of defeating the course of justice after he allegedly directed a subordinate, Mr Elijah Makomo, to recuse himself in a trial involving his alleged business partner’s son.

On the second charge, he is being accused of offering internship to former ICT Minister Supa Mandiwanzira and former Local Government Minister Saviour Kasukuwere, who were both studying law at the University of Zimbabwe.

Guvamombe was yesterday formerly charged with the two counts when his trial commenced before Anti-Corruption Judge of the High Court Justice Felistus Chatukuta.

The judge adjourned the trial to today to allow the defence to peruse a record of tribunal proceedings on the inquiry into Guvamombe’s alleged misconduct of similar allegations two years ago.

A judicial committee on ethics and conduct that was set up by Chief Justice Luke Malaba then, to investigate Guvamombe in March 2018, cleared him of any wrongdoing regarding charges that he allegedly influenced a subordinate to recuse himself in a matter he had interest in.

Guvamombe is denying both charges and questioning the prosecution’s motive to bring the same allegations he had been cleared of, arguing his conduct did not constitute abuse warranting criminal sanctions.

Through his lawyer, Mr Jonathan Samukange, Guvamombe claimed that his erstwhile colleagues are behind his prosecution.

“These are trumped up allegations motivated by malice on the part of his erstwhile colleagues who are being vindictive after having reprimanded them on diverse occasions from committing sexual harassment on female members of staff including magistrates. There were irregular payments of allowances to the secretariat and to the exclusion of magistrates and failure to use retention funds to improve operations in the department,” said Mr Samukange.

“For example, at Harare Magistrates Court, litigants use the bucket system in all the toilets as there is no running water. This was replicated at most magisterial stations in the country.”

Mr Samukange also told the court that Guvamombe instructed one key witness, Mr Makomo, then regional magistrate to recuse himself from the case involving a complainant Mr Nighert Parween Savania after he received a complaint from one Nathan Mnaba that Makomo had been bribed with US$8 000 by Savania to convict Mnaba.

The money, said the lawyer, was handed to Makomo by one Sappa.

Prosecutor Mr Whisper Mabhaudi told the court that charges against Guvamombe arose sometime in June 2017, when former regional magistrate Elijah Makomo was assigned a criminal case in which one Nathan Mnaba was the accused and Nighert Savania the complainant.

During the trial, it is alleged, numerous applications were made by the defence which were dismissed due to lack of merit. This, however, provoked the defence to approach Makomo, who was presiding over the matter on June 26, 2017 demanding his recusal from the case.

But Makomo allegedly turned down the request and advised the parties to file their application at the High Court.

Makomo was later advised to report to Guvamombe’s office with Nathan’s court record and was told that he was mishandling the matter and as such, should disqualify himself. Guvamombe allegedly went on to handle the complainant’s case despite the fact that he had a previous business relationship with Mnaba’s father.

On the second charge, the prosecution accused Guvamombe of approving the internship of Mandiwanzira and Kasukuwere at the Magistrates Court at a time when they were facing criminal charges emanating from their days in power.

It is alleged that Guvamombe, while aware that the two ex-ministers had pending criminal cases before the courts, approved their internship, putting the integrity of the judicial system into disrepute.

He allegedly authorised the attachment of the duo by appending his signature and referred the correspondence to the deputy chief magistrate for action without any comments or reservations.

Mandiwanzira and Kasukuwere were attached at the magistrates’ courts for internship although they had allegations of corruption being levelled against them.

By A Correspondent- President Emmerson Mnangagwa has reportedly tasked the principal of the Herbert Chitepo School of Ideology, Munyaradzi Machacha, to bring former Zanu PF stalwarts Joice Mujuru and Nicholas Goche back to their party, the Daily News reports.

This was revealed by a party insider who said the president’s bid to have Mujuru and Goche back was because G40 is planning to lure them into their camp in its broader plan to come back to power.

The source that wanted to remain anonymous told the Daily News that:

The G40 cabal wants to take charge of Mashonaland Central Province as part of their broader strategy to creep back into power. They want Mai Mujuru, Goche and some politburo members in the province to be on their side.

Of late Goche has gone very, very quiet and is no longer attending party meetings and functions like he used to do despite having lost his Cabinet post.

This is worrying and the president (Mnangagwa) is concerned. The president has asked Machacha to ensure that Mujuru returns to the party. The president also wants Goche to bounce back into the central committee.

Joice Mujuru was expelled from the party by former president Robert Mugabe in 2014 after the latter accused her of trying to topple him from power.

Goche who also suffered the same fate as Mujuru was last week arrested for allegedly stealing 18 cattle from a local farmer a case his lawyers described as a civil matter, not a criminal matter.

By A Correspondent- ZRP has expressed deep concern over the increasing number of people with unlicensed guns in Zimbabwe. the Daily News reports.

The matter came to light as ZRP Police Spokesperson Paul Nyathi was speaking to the publication when he spoke about the incident that occurred at retired army official Lieutenant General Rugeje’s house where a robber was shot dead during a break-in.

Assistant Nyathi said:

There is a rise in the number of people with firearms (guns) and we are keen to establish their source and make sure that the law takes its course.

Assistant Nyathi also explained how the robbers got access to the general’s house in the first place:Investigations are ongoing. We have learnt that the suspects attacked one of the security guards who patrol the area during the night.

The guard, Constain Chinoda, was axed in the head before they dispossessed him of his baton which they later used in the robbery at General Rugeje’s home.

We urge members of the public to prioritise their security when they are at home,” Nyathi told the Daily News.

…..We are happy that at the moment we are on top of the situation because in most of the robbery cases we have received, arrests have been made.-DailyNews

By A Correspondent- Zanu PF Manicaland District Coordinating Committee (DCC) elections have reportedly turned chaotic after it emerged that some candidates have started campaigning while the ruling party is still vetting the candidates, ZimMorning Post reports.

This was reportedly confirmed by Zanu PF Manicaland provincial chairman Mike Madiro on Tuesday who said

It’s advisable for the cadres to wait and stop premature campaigning, they must wait for the national electoral directorate since we are still in the vetting process.

The chaos in Mutare is not an isolated incident as allegations of vote-buying have been made in other parts of the country. President Mnangagwa reportedly called a meeting with Provincial executives to try and address the allegations according to the publication:

So intense has the allegations of vote-buying been in the ruling party that President Emmerson Mnangagwa who is the party’s First Secretary convened a special meeting with provincial executive members.

Mnangagwa used the platform to send a stern warning to party members against “manipulating the party constitution by imposing preferred candidates through vote buying.”

The Zanu PF primary elections in Kuwadzana in Harare and in Kwekwe turned bloody as the party decided to choose candidates to replace deceased MPs in both constituencies.-ZimMorningPost

BBC

Uganda’s opposition MP Robert Kyagulanyi, popularly known as Bobi Wine, was arrested during a police raid at his party’s office on Wednesday, his lawyer has told AFP news agency.

The lawyer, Anthony Wameli, said officials of Bobi Wine’s party, National Unity Platform, were also arrested.

“This is despicable and an attack on democracy by the partisan police and the army,” Mr Wameli is quoted as saying.

The party office was raided by dozens of armed soldiers and police officers.

Bobi Wine, who is running for the presidency, said documents to secure his nomination went missing during the raid. The elections will be held in January 2021.

Police said the raid was not political but an operation on misuse of uniforms and accoutrements that are gazetted.

By A Correspondent- A Harare man has been hauled to court for fraud after he pretended to be President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s son before duping a South Africa-based Zimbabwean businessmen of his R136 000.

The matter came to light in court when the alleged impostor Charles Nyanguwo stood accused of fraud. It is the state’s case that Nyanguwo defrauded Trymore Madzire by telling him he was Collins Mnangagwa and he needed money to refuel his private jet and trucks. :

On September 28 this year, Nyanguwo called Madzire while passing himself as Mr Collins Mnangagwa, who had just arrived in South Africa. Nyanguwo is said to have told Madzire that his private jet had run out of fuel and wanted some money for refuelling.

It is said Nyanguwo asked Madzire to deposit the money into a South African Capitec Bank and he deposited the money on September 29. Nyanguwo went into hiding and switched off his cellphones.

The offence came to light when Madzire asked his friend, Cosmas Mushaninga, about Collins’ supposed visit to South Africa and about the money. Collins is said to have denied ever being in South Africa, prompting Madzire to lodge a complaint with the police leading to Nyanguwo’s arrest.

In opposing bail the state said Nyanguwo is so tactful he will likely commit another offense if he is freed on bail:

His modus operandi is so sophisticated that once he is freed, he is likely to commit similar offences. The investigating officer in the matter clearly revealed that there was serious expertise in the manner he committed the offence.

The accused had the audacity to use names of top Government officials and prominent individuals which means he can interfere with witnesses and also dupe other people

However Nyanguwo through his lawyers said he was not feeling well and he wanted to be tried from home, Harare Magistrate  Mr Trynos Utahwashe denied him bail and said he was a flight risk.-statemedia

Business Times

Former Harare mayor Herbert Gomba could face a fresh wave of abuse of office charges following allegations that he illegally sold a Harare City Council (HCC) swimming pool in Avondale for an undisclosed amount, Business Times has learnt.

It is understood that the proceeds were allegedly channelled towards his personal use. Gomba has been at the centre of various land corruption allegations which saw him getting arrested this year.

He is currently out on bail.

Well-placed sources told Business Times this week that an investigation is currently underway.

“(Herbert) Gomba is facing allegations of selling HCC swimming pool located in Avondale.

The proceeds of the sale are said to have been channelled towards his personal benefit and funding the recent takeover of Harvest House by MDC Alliance youths,” one source said.

The sources said Gomba was also likely to face charges on allegations of selling HCC land in Mufakose suburb. Gomba was not picking calls.

He also did not respond to text messages sent to him. Business Times can report that the Special Anti-Corruption Unit (SACU) in the Office of the President has since assigned a team of detectives to investigate the matter. Head of SACU, Thabani Mpofu confirmed Gomba was being pursued on fresh charges.

But he declined to give further details.

“There is an investigation on allegations being raised against former mayor Gomba,” Mpofu told Business Times yesterday. Gomba was recently arrested over various land corruption allegations.

He is currently out on bail. Several other HCC officials and some Deeds Office officials were also implicated in alleged land grabbing around Harare especially in the Grange area.

Over a dozen Harare City Council officials, including human resources and housing director Matthew Marara, town planner Samuel Nyabeze and surveyor Munyaradzi Bowa have been arrested on several allegations that include criminal abuse of office and corruption.

HCC has since suspended Marara and 13 others to pave way for investigations into corruption allegations.

A senior police officer, Superintendent Naboth Nyachega, was recently arrested on allegations of abuse of office and bribery connected to the sale of stands worth US$1 million in Kuwadzana.

It is believed that he connived with HCC officials. A manhunt has since been launched for a fourth council official, Charles Sigauke, who was employed as senior clerical officer at Marlborough District Offices who has since gone into hiding. City of Harare director of housing Admore Nhekairo was also arrested in connection with the case.

It is alleged that Nhekairo approved the allocation of the Westlea stands.