By Jane Mlambo| Minister of Health and Child Care Constantino Chiwenga has indefinitely suspended by-elections to fill vacant parliamentary and council seats created by the recall of MDC Alliance legislators and Killer Zivhu by Zanu PF citing the declaration of COVID-19 as a pandemic for the move.

According to the gazetted SI 225 of 2020, Chiwenga invoked the Public Health Act to block by-elections which had earlier been earmarked for the 5th of December.

“Pursuant to subsection (2), the holding of any by-elections to fill a casual vacancy in parliament or in a local authority is for the duration of the period of the declaration of COVID-19 as a formidable epidemic, suspended, and if such a vacancy occurred while such declaration is in force, no part of the period from the date of such vacancy to the date of the end of the declaration shall be counted for the purposes of section 158(3) of the constitution,” reads SI 225 of 2020.

Infightings within the opposition MDC-T has resulted in the recall of more than 40 legislators and councillors by a rival faction led by Dr Thokozani Khupe.

The recalled legislators and councillors were hoping to bounce back soon but it appears they have to wait longer to return to parliament and council.

By A Correspondent- The Supreme Court has granted opposition MDC-T interim leadership a further extension up to November 30 to hold an extraordinary congress.

The court had in March ordered that the party holds the congress not later than the 31st of July this year but the party currently led by Thokozani Khupe argued that the coronavirus lockdown made it impossible for them to comply with the ruling.

The congress is meant to elect the successor to MDC’s founding leader the late Morgan Tsvangirai who succumbed to cancer in 2018.

His demise has left a power vacuum that has created a prolonged gruesome leadership crisis which has since spilt into courts.

Thokozani Khupe accuses her nemesis, Nelson Chamisa of MDC Alliance of usurping power in the runup to the 2018 elections.

Meanwhile, Chamisa and his allies accuse Khupe of being a ZANU PF mole created to destabilise the biggest opposition in the country.

Government has said it will continue working with international financial institutions (IFIs), including the International Monetary Fund (IMF) after its aborted Staff-Monitored Programme (SMP) with the Bretton Woods institution.

In a wide-ranging interview, Finance minister Mthuli Ncube said it will work with IFIs to enable it to come up with the right policy mix for the country.

“Government continues to work to address economic challenges to promote stability using homegrown solutions wherever possible,” Ncube said.

“We are also working closely with development partners, including the IMF, WB (World Bank), AfDB (African Development Bank), amongst others, for provision of technical assistance and guidance on international best practices which enable us to come up with the optimal policy mix for the country.”

The IMF revealed in a report on its 2020 Article IV Consultation with Zimbabwe, following its board meeting in Washington earlier this year, that the SMP, which was adopted in May last year, is now “off track” after government’s failure to meet set targets.

“The government that came into office following the 2018 elections adopted an agenda focussed on macro-economic stabilisation and reforms. This was supported by a Staff-Monitored Programme from the IMF, adopted in May 2019, but is now off track as policy implementation is mixed,” the Bretton Woods institution noted.

Ncube revealed that government will continue to work towards the repayment of its debts to IFIs. The country has an external debt of just over US$8 billion.

“Government is continuing with token payments to settle the country’s foreign debt obligations,” Ncube said.

He pointed out that reforms of state owned enterprises and parastatals (SOEs) are being accelerated as outlined in the 2020 National Budget.

“Having approved the implementation framework for 43 SOEs and parastatals in 2018, government has targeted five public enterprises, namely TelOne, NetOne, Telecel, Zimpost and POSB for immediate reforms and work is already underway to identify transaction advisors. Projections are that government will realise at least US$350 million from this initial process,” Ncube revealed.

“In addition, turnaround strategies for at least 20 public enterprises are being supported by various development partners. The SOEs reform process will, therefore, ensure that parastatals and their restructuring are fully accountable, transparent, efficient, effective, and viable, complementing Government efforts in promoting economic growth and improved service delivery to the general public.”

The Finance minister said now that inflation is stable and rapidly declining, government will work gradually to adjust civil servant’s wages towards real wages, including non-monetary benefits which will increase their buying power.

Civil servants have become restive as a result of the decimation of their wages paid in local currency due to inflation, which stood at 761% for August. Health workers downed their tools recently in protest in a strike that lasted more than two months with teachers also going on strike this week.

Ncube revealed that the US$75 Covid-19 allowance Treasury is paying civil servants is derived from taxes it receives in forex.

“The country’s tax laws require tax payers to remit taxes on transactions in the currency of trade. Government therefore receives its foreign currency revenues from the taxes, duty, levies, royalties and part of these proceeds are being used to pay for civil servants’ Covid-19 allowances, which have been benchmarked in US dollars,” he said.

As government winds up the Transitional Stabilisation Programme (TSP), Ncube said the programme was conceived as the first step of a 12-year economic development plan which leads to the achievement of Vision 2030. The plan was broken into the TSP (two years 2018-2020), National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1) (five years, 2021 2025) and NDS2 (five years, 2026-2030).

“The TSP was launched against a background of rising inflation, unemployment, high fiscal and trade deficits, low foreign currency reserves etc and in this regard, there was need for a stabilisation plan. The major objectives of the TSP are to stabilise the macro-economic environment, inclusive of the financial sector by introducing necessary policy and institutional reforms for transformation towards a more private sector led economy, addressing utility and infrastructure shortfalls, and launching quick-win initiatives to stimulate growth,” he said.

“Reforms implemented under TSP included fiscal consolidation, restoration of monetary policy, liberalisation of the foreign exchange markets, the undertaking of governance reforms, entrenched re-engagement with the international community, facilitation of investment, and infrastructure development.”

Ncube added that: “Having now realised stability under the TSP, government now moves under the National Development Strategy (NDS1) to leverage on the successes registered to grow the economy and to reinstate the country on a sustainable growth trajectory.”

Source – the independent

By A Correspondent- Malawian President Lazarus Chakwera has said he did not rebuke his Zimbabwean counterpart President Emerson Mnangagwa, whose Government has come under international spotlight for human rights abuses, saying there were proper processes that need to be followed in tackling such issues.

Two civil society organisations, Youth and Society and Centre for Human Rights and Rehabilitation- on Tuesday wrote Chakwera, asking him to use his two-day official visit in Harare to discuss with Presidemt Mnangagwa on the need for his regime to stop attacking human rights defenders and respect human rights.

Speaking on Thursday on arrival at Kamuzu International Airport in Lilongwe said he has had fruitful bilateral talks with Zimbabwean President but did not censure him on human rights abuses.

He, however, said the topic on human rights came up during the discussions.

“You know that there is a process that takes place. I am a new kid on the block. I am learning in order to know what is going on with our neighbours.”

President Mnangagwa himself last night responded to some of the issues,” Chakwera said.

He, however, could not divulge more, only adding that he had “lengthy discussions” in private as well as in the presence of others “particularly to do with human development and prosperity in the region. Integrating trade, making sure that our people relate well and issues to do with security in our region.”

President Chakwera, who will assume the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) Chairmanship next year, also had discussions with SADC ambassadors based in Zimbabwe.

Malawi and Zimbabwe share historical ties and before, both countries gained independence from Britain, they were under what was referred to as the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland.

During his arrival, Chakwera was welcomed by the country’s second-in-command Saulos Chilima and supporters of the Tonse Alliance led government from MCP, UTM Party and People’s Party

-NyasaTimes

By A Correspondent- Police are seeking information leading to the arrest of three touts who kicked a 63-year-old Chitungwiza man to death along High Glen Road in Harare after he refused to board their unregistered kombi.

Mr Anias Chiyangwa of Zengeza 1 was pronounced dead at Parktown Clinic in Waterfalls where he had been taken by his relatives.

He was walking near Mashwede Service Station when he was approached by the touts who were travelling in an unregistered Nissan Caravan.

They tried to force him to board their vehicle, but he resisted and they started kicking him until some passers-by intervened. The touts jumped into their vehicle and sped off, leaving Mr Chiyangwa unconscious.

His rescuers searched his pockets and found his mobile phone, which they used to contact one of his relatives who attended the scene.

National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi yesterday said investigations on the case were still continuing and they were still appealing for information.

Taponeswa Mavunga has been appointed Director of Africa at Sony Music UK, a newly created position that will expand the company’s scope within African music.

She will report directly to Jason Iley, Chairman and CEO of Sony Music UK & Ireland.

Mavunga will be responsible for amplifying UK signed artists across Africa, as well as supporting artists within Africa to develop relationships, identify opportunities and increase visibility within the UK.

She will work in close alignment with Mark Collen (EVP of UK International), the Sony Music UK labels and Sony Music Africa on artist strategy and will be the UK gateway for identifying local talent and opportunities within the region.

Mavunga joined Sony Music as Head of Publicity for Columbia UK in 2015, where she oversaw press strategy across the label’s roster and spearheaded campaigns for artists including Childish Gambino, Koffee, Wizkid, Davido and Rosalia.

Previously based in Johannesburg, Mavunga was Head of Talent and Music for Viacom Africa working on MTV Base, BET Africa and Nickelodeon channels.

She also worked on the 2015 edition of the of the Mamas (MTV Africa Music Awards) hosted in Durban.

-Music Business Worldwide

“She has incredible relationships with artists and there is no one more suited to represent Sony Music UK in Africa’s accelerating market.

“Tapi’s first-hand experience of working in African music and entertainment and her enthusiasm to connect artists locally and globally is unmatched.”

“TAPI UNDERSTANDS WHY BRIDGES BETWEEN OUR MARKETS ARE KEY TO GROWING THE BUSINESS, WHETHER PROMOTING AFRICAN ARTISTS OUTSIDE OF THE CONTINENT OR HELPING GLOBAL ARTISTS FIND NEW GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES IN AFRICA.”

SEAN WATSON, SONY MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT AFRICA

Sean Watson (Managing Director, Sony Music Entertainment Africa) said: “Tapi has long been one of the most passionate champions in the UK of our African artists, so to have her working more closely and formally with the African team at Sony Music is fantastic!

“Tapi understands why bridges between our markets are key to growing the business, whether promoting African artists outside of the continent or helping global artists find new growth opportunities in Africa.”

The Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Union (ZCTU) has urged Zimbabweans to prepare for a general strike to force government to pay its workers in United States Dollars.

Posting on Twitter, ZCTU said government should not be allowed to destroy the education by refusing to adequately pay teachers.

Teachers have declared incapacitation despite schools re-opening.

By A Correspondent- The Special Anti-Corruption Unit (SACU) has authorised the police to investigate and arrest a top magistrate in connection with corruption.

The magistrate, Morgan Nemadire, raised concerns when he ordered a Venezuelan national, Delcy Daymar Rodriguez Guererro, to pay a ZWL$700 fine after he was convicted of possessing over 5kg of cocaine worth US$500,000 (ZWL$40m).

Speaking to Business Times this week, SACU head Tabani Mpofu (not Nelson Chamisa’s lawyer) said there has been a strong case of corruption.

Mpofu said:

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

There have been delays but an arrest has to be made.

Mpofu earlier wrote to the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) Deputy Commissioner General Stephen Mutamba saying the ruling by the magistrate “amounts to an act of corruption.”

He also said that the sentence had “grave implications on the integrity of our entire criminal justice system and the well-being of the economy”.

Observers viewed the sentence as not commensurate with the crime committed and also as light compared to three years sentences handed to some convicts in the past for possession of drugs worth less than $10.-BusinessTimes

By Jane Mlambo| President Emmerson Mnangagwa has extended his best wishes to US President Donald Trump and his wife Mellanie Trump as they recover from COVID-19.

Trump broke the news that he had tested positive to COVID-19 together with his wife.

“My best wishes to President Trump @realDonaldTrump and the First Lady @FLOTUS as they make a full recovery from COVID-19,” said Mnangagwa.

By A Correspondent- Education minister Cain Mathema has warned teachers that they risk being replaced over failure to report for duty.

Presenting a ministerial statement before parliament, Mathema said schools opening was characterised by low teachers turn out, adding that government may be forced to employ the over 20 000 qualified but unemployed teachers to cater for the learners’ needs.

Below is the full ministerial statement by Mathema:

Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir.  As the nation is now aware, Government made the decision to re-open schools for the 2020 examination classes on 14^th September, 2020 for schools writing Cambridge examinations and on 28^th September, 2020 for schools writing Zimsec examinations.  The decision was made following the expert assessment of the improving situation with respect to the national efforts to combat Covid 19.  

May I take this opportunity to thank His Excellency, the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, Cde. E.D. Mnangagwa for leading the national efforts with foresight, courage and determination. 

May I also commend Hon. Members for your contribution in the fight against this deadly pandemic as well as the education sector which has also made a significant contribution.  

We are all aware that almost all countries went into lockdown in various valiant efforts to eradicate the Coronavirus pandemic.  Nations have gradually started to ease restrictions.  It is true that no nation can remain in lockdown forever.  

While we are witnessing some improvement in COVID 19 pandemic situation in Zimbabwe, I would like to hasten to add that the situation of low risk does not mean no risk.  We all need to maintain utmost vigilance in order to protect each other.  We remain most conscious that we need to do everything possible as a nation to protect our leaders, teachers and school communities. 

As you are no doubt aware Hon. Members, schools offering Cambridge and Zimsec examinations re-opened for the 2020 examination classes on 14^th September, 2020 and 28^th September, 2020 respectively. 

 Prior to the re-opening, Government and the Ministry made sure that safe and secure an environment as possible was created in the schools.  Among the measures undertaken include the following:

         i.            The development and distribution of the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), which clearly guide the school management, learners and school parents assemblies on the dos and don’ts with respect to efforts to combat the Coronavirus; 

      ii.            The development and distribution of the Secretary’s Circular Number 10 of 2020 which articulates the SOPs, as well as key inputs and processes that must obtain at each school on a daily basis;

   iii.            Procurement by Government of Personal Protective Equipment for 8500 schools out of 9625 schools.  Those supported are Government schools, council schools and not for profit mission schools;

   iv.            The setting up of social distance markers at each school covering all areas where learners gather;

      v.            The training of all teachers before they can begin teaching and learning.  This was done in collaboration with the Minister of Health and Child Care.  Training was interrupted by the lockdown but it went through;

   vi.            The training of all learners on the first day at school so that they appreciate how they should conduct themselves in the new norm;

vii.            The setting up at each school of temporary holding bays for learners who fall sick; and

viii.            The deployment of information, education and communication materials on COVID 19 among others.

Mr. Speaker Sir, any school that has some essential PPEs outstanding was required to defer opening until all the essentials were in place.  As you are also aware, the re-opening of schools is not a subject that has received 100% consensus, either here in Zimbabwe or globally but for any nation to wait for a perfect situation when the virus is completely eradicated may mean waiting forever. 

 We are learning and we will establish the accurate figures when all learners return to school.  Some of our learners have since fallen pregnant, while others have joined various economic activities during the period of the lockdown. 

Studies have shown that the longer the learners stay out of school, the more the chances that a significant number will be lost to education.  From a few experiences of the past two days, even among those who returned to school, a significant number have lost some of the education gains that they had achieved.  

Such regression has the danger of exacerbating should the learners continue to miss school for too long a period. 

Attendance on the opening day for the schools offering Cambridge examinations was high for both teachers and learners.  The situation for the re-opening of schools on Monday, 28^th September, 2020 was characterised by a high turnout for learners and a low turnout for teachers.  

The situation improved slightly on the second day and we are hoping that teachers will return to work while any grievances that they may have get addressed through the right channels.  We understand some teachers have cited incapacitation but a teacher cannot have received his or her salary and be unable to report to work even on the first day. 

 Where will be the rationale for Government to continue paying an employee who is giving no service at all?  I would like to urge teachers to reflect and ensure that we find each other. Currently, there are over 20 000 qualified teachers who are looking for work and hundreds of thousands of learners who are looking for teachers.  Government may have no alternative other than to ensure that the learners are supported with teachers so that they are ready for examinations whose dates have now been determined, that is the first of December 2020 to the 26^th January 2021. 

          In conclusion, I recognise that while education is a key foundation for the lives of our children, our first responsibility is to save life and we therefore, all need to work together to ensure that we protect our children, teachers and communities from this Coronavirus.  I thank you.

The Supreme Court has granted MDC-T leader Thokozani Khupe a further extension up to November 30 to hold an extraordinary congress to elect new leadership. She was previously given 3 months in March, but she argued saying the coronavirus lockdown caused failure to comply.

More to follow…

By Wilbert Mukori| Let’s face it, the Tuesday 29 September 2020 Trump vs Biden USA presidential debate, first with two more to come, was a melee, chaotic and a total waste of time and disgrace. Democracy itself was on the ropes and the pugnacious culprit hell bend on delivering the knock-out punch President Trump – the President of the United States of America, the undisputed leader of the free and democratic world!

The Greeks, the nation that bequeathed democracy to the world 2 500 years ago, accepted that for democracy to work the people must be educated and hence the reason they promoted freedom of expression and freedom of association. No doubt the USA presidential debates were meant to help educate the American electorate so they will make an informed choice of the man/woman to hold the highest office in the land for the next four years. The one thing the Tuesday debacle was not was informative. 

Within a few minutes of the 90 minutes debate, it was clear President Trump’s agenda was not be as disruptive as he could. He constantly interrupted Joe Biden. The listeners wanted to know what each candidate was going to do not end the corona virus in America and in follow up question why their opponent’s plan would not work, for example. 

Chris Wallace, of “Fox News Sunday” who was anchor and  moderator of the debate was forced to intervene. “Please don’t interrupt!”  then “Please obey the rules!” and finally “This isn’t serving the country well!” in sheer exasperation. 

President Trump did not only undermine the very essence of democracy by interrupting the debate but worse still by raising doubt in the validity of the election process itself! Should he lose the election, he has repeatedly refused to accept the results; implying that could only happen because the elections were rigged.

“As you know today, there was a big problem,” said Mr. Trump during Tuesday’s debate. “In Philadelphia, they went in to watch, they were called poll watchers, a very safe, very nice thing. They were thrown out, they weren’t allowed to watch. You know why? Because bad things happen in Philadelphia, bad things.”

As usual, he did not elaborate or provide any evidence. It is all innuendo and suppositions! 

On this occasion, it turns out the officials in Philadelphia were enforcing an existing law designed to stop poll watchers, from all the political parties, observing voter registration activities for fear of “intimidating the voters”.

The Proud Boys, a white supremacist group and ardent Trump supporters, have been involved in disruptive and intimidating activities. When President Trump was asked to publicly denounce the group, all he could master was “stand back and stand by”.

No doubt President Mnangagwa and his Zanu PF cronies have watched the Tuesday US debate with renewed interest and will be thrilled to bits to see President Trump back in White House. They will expect him to tear up Zimbabwe Democracy and Economic Recovery Act (ZDERA) and lift the sanctions imposed on Zanu PF leaders. It would be very hypocritical of President Trump to do otherwise when, to win the US elections, he borrowed heavily from Zanu PF’s own vote rigging manual! 

“I’ve been involved in a certain amount of soul-searching.” concluded Mr Wallace. “I’m just disappointed with the results. For me, but much more importantly, I’m disappointed for the country, because it could have been a much more useful evening than it turned out to be.” 

The Commission on Presidential Debates, the body overseeing the conduct of the presidential debates is “considering changes to the format of this year’s remaining debate, a clear sign of its frustration with the results of Tuesday evening”, reported the New York Times.

SOURCE: zimbabwelight.blogspot.com

By Hon Job Sikhala- Let the world be informed that junior prison officers at Chikurubi Maximum Prison are under siege for allegations that they were treating me nicely and not adhering to the instructions of their bosses.

I have received unusual visits both at home and at my office from several prison officers who have been victimized for showing alleged favoritism to me. They were called to some kangaroo courts at the Prisons Headquarters and accused of failure to execute instructions, some of them bizzare.

They are accused of having failed to control journalists at the High Court after i was granted bail by Justice Ndewere. They are accused of allowing journalists to film me and allowing me to talk to friends and relatives who had come to give me solidarity.

The other allegation is that they allowed Hopewell Chin’ono to visit me in the holding cell at the High Court and took some pictures of me looking tormented which Hopewell splashed to the world.

In addition it is allegedly that I was allowed to humiliate the State when I asked to be unchained for me to be able to climb the back stairs of the prison magumedhe. They are accused of allowing my wife to bring me food when I was supposed to eat prison food.

Part of the plot to inject us with a lethal substance is a subject for another day. I can’t reveal the details today. Some of the officers have been defrothed of their duties as intelligence and security personnel and have been transferred to Mazowe.

One has been downgraded to be a guard at the prison medical stores. Another one is going to be transferred to Binga. I will not mention the names of these officers under siege at this moment but if the persecution continues I will be left with no option but to reveal them.

I witnessed it one day when one officer Sergent Chitsa was called into the office of Superitendent Mlambo and insulted left, right and centre. He was accused of being an MDC stalwart and told to produce his MDC party card for allowing me to properly climb into the prison truck.

He was accused of allowing me to move slowly under leg irons. This is a very old woman, who has long reached retirement time and is renewing her contract annually but should rather be playing with grandchildren in the village.

She humiliated and insulted an adult, a father of many children, for not practicing enough cruelty on my person. Chitsa came back in the magumedhe tears rolling, only for us to be told by those who overhead the abuse telling us what happened.

The one who is selling false information to prison authorities is one person I can’t mention by name at the present moment but is nicknamed Long and Short sleeves by his colleagues behind his back for the massacre of MDC supporters in Uzumba Maramba Pfungwe during the one man 2008 presidential run off which saw Robert Mugabe contest alone.

His single star rank is said to have been obtained after he begged it from the former Commissioner General of Prisons and Correctional Services for faithfully saving the party through his sellout role. He is so well known of it.

He got the job after being the most cruel Border Gezi Training College graduate.

To my brothers, I have heard your cries. I will not hesitate to approach the Courts if you gather enoughcourage if the persecution persists.

I thank you….

Zimbabwe’s energy regulator has allowed the state power company to increase tariffs by 50% from Thursday while another hike by the same margin would come into effect next month.

The Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC) had already raised tariffs by 50% on Sept. 23 to bring its rates in line with inflation running above 700%.

The increase would hit residents whose salaries have lagged inflation, while businesses could pass on the cost to consumers.

Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (ZERA) said in a letter to ZETDC that the government had okayed the “outstanding tariff adjustments.”

ZERA chief executive Edington Mazambani confirmed the increases.

Last year in October, the power company hiked the average electricity tariff by 320% in a bid to ramp up production and improve supplies.

Zimbabwe has managed to keep the lights on since March after businesses were either shut or cut production after a government imposed lockdown to curb the COVID-19 pandemic.

Reuters

Paul Nyathi

The MDC T led by Dr Thokozani Khupe on Thursday recalled 10 more MDC Alliance legislators including opposition leader Nelson Chamisa’s deputy Lynette Karenyi Kore.

The announcement was made by speaker of parliament Jacob Mudenda while issuing notices to legislators.

The move comes as a time when the MDC-T interim leader Thokozani Khupe held a hastily arranged meeting of the party’s standing committee early this week which officials said was meant to clear the ground for reunification talks with Nelson Chamisa.

MDC-T youth assembly chairman for Harare, Paul Gorekore said that the youths were determined to push for dialogue.

Meanwhile, MDC youths appeared fed up with the factional wars in the main opposition after they seized the iconic Harvest House before vowing to force dialogue between Thokozani Khupe and Nelson Chamisa.

The youths said the action was meant to save the party from collapse as its leaders’ bloodletting escalates.

Below is a list of the recalled MPs:

Eric Murai (Highfield East),

Wellington Chikombo (Glen Norah),

Etheridge Kureva (Epworth),

Dorcas Sibanda (Proportional Representation Bulawayo),

Caston Matewu (Marondera),

Lynette Karenyi Kore (Proportional Representation Manicaland)

Concilia Chinanzvavana (Proportional Represntation Mashonaland West),

Susan Matsunga (Mufakose),

Prince Dubeko Sibanda (Binga North) and

Vunganai Tarusenga (St Mary’s)

VIDEO LOADING BELOW….

Media Statement

Joint Update by Teachers’ Unions of Zimbabwe on Teachers’ Incapacitation, Opening of Schools and Writing of Public Examinations.

01 October 2020

Introduction

On the 22nd of September 2020, all the eight Teachers’ Unions in Zimbabwe met at ZIMTA House, as key stakeholders in the education sector, and made a bold statement about Teachers’ plight and the trajectory to be adopted by Government in order to guarantee quality public education in Zimbabwe. However, the Government proceeded to open schools on the 28th of September 2020 against the advice by Unions. The Government also ignored the fact that the teachers are really incapacitated to report for duty because their September salaries had long been wiped out by the highly inflationary economic environment. Therefore, this communique seeks to give an update to our members and all concerned stakeholders who want to see a better education system in our country.

Observations

• The incapacitation action started on a high note and has since escalated to higher levels since the 28th of September. More than 100 000 teachers have now joined the action and more are expected to partake because their poverty is a reality.

• There is no meaningful teaching and learning taking place in schools because the few teachers who decided to report for duty have adopted the clock in – sit in – walk out style due to fear of victimisation.

• Government is lying to the world that they have done everything to protect the Teachers and learners against Covid-19. There PPEs provided by Government are not enough. Schools are yet to receive the Covid-19 abatement equipment.

• No testing of Teachers and learners for Covid-19 has been done. Teachers and learners were made to congregate without ascertaining if they were Covid-19-free.

• The Minister of Primary and Secondary Education, Cain Mathema, has threatened to fire incapacitated Teachers and replace them with 10 000 unemployed Teachers without making effort to engage the Unions to hear the Teachers’ grievances.

That being the case, we, the undersigned Teachers’ Unions of Zimbabwe appeal to the following:

• To our members the Teachers, this is not the time to agonise but to organise, mobilise, recruit and activate for a United Incapacitation Action. We want to assure our members in particular and Teachers in general that there is nothing to fear because all the necessary steps of informing the Government and the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education (MoPSE) about our plight were taken. Therefore, all our members are legally covered. To the free-riders, a Clarion call we are making is that this is the time to join any Union of your choice and be counted as part of the solution rather than problem to the challenges being faced by Teachers.

• Teachers should also desist from the clock in-sit in and or walk out style because that is very dangerous and very a serious offence. Unions will find it difficult to defend such Teachers if found wanting.

• To all level-headed Zimbabweans, Churches and Parliamentarians, you cannot afford to fold your hands during these trying times where the education and future of your children and the country is being tampered with. Please, implore the Government to pay Teachers a living wage. The Teachers are languishing in abject poverty and have fallen from grace to grass with monotonous regularity so much that they have no capacity to teach their students. If this impasse is not resolved, it will haunt our society.

• To Minister Mathema, this is the time to engage the relevant stakeholders, especially Teachers’ Unions rather than bellowing out threats. These threats will not solve the problems at hand but rather exacerbate the situation. Instead of addressing the labour issues raised by Teachers, you have threatened to fire the incapacitated Teachers. It is very dangerous to view every problem as a nail where a hammer should be applied. A free warning we are offering you is that the route you want to take will leave you bruised. It’s not too late to engage us.

• To our students, as your Teachers, we love you so much but the situation is not yet conducive. We also want to call upon you to amplify our plea for better treatment from Government. If the Soweto Students did it in the 1970s against the Apartheid Regime in South Africa, you can also do it here. The voices of the students may send a bold message to our arrogant Minister of Primary and Secondary Education. Once the sticking issues are dealt with, your Teachers will adequately prepare you for your examinations.

• To the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Education, this is the time to engage the Teachers’ Unions once again because we have reached a stage where we cannot afford to ignore engagement with the view to finding lasting solution.

• To the President HE E. D. Mnangagwa, what is happening in the education sector should have moved you by now. Your silence, Your Excellency, is shocking. We don’t want to believe that you want to be remembered for destroying the education system of this country when you are gone. The Teachers need your attention and the time for positive intervention is now.

Signed by:

ARTUZ – Chere R.

PTUZ – Zunde L.

TUZ – Phiri R.

ZDTU – Tasaranarwo F.

ZIMTA – Sibanda N. T.

ZINATU – Nyawo M.

ZINEU – Chinosengwa C.

ZRTU – Fambai F.

State Media

Police are seeking information leading to the arrest of three touts who kicked a 63-year-old Chitungwiza man to death along High Glen Road in Harare after he refused to board their unregistered kombi.

Mr Anias Chiyangwa of Zengeza 1 was pronounced dead at Parktown Clinic in Waterfalls where he had been taken by his relatives.

He was walking near Mashwede Service Station when he was approached by the touts who were travelling in an unregistered Nissan Caravan.

They tried to force him to board their vehicle, but he resisted and they started kicking him until some passers-by intervened. The touts jumped into their vehicle and sped off, leaving Mr Chiyangwa unconscious.

His rescuers searched his pockets and found his mobile phone, which they used to contact one of his relatives who attended the scene.

National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi yesterday said investigations on the case were still continuing and they were still appealing for information.

Meanwhile, police have so far impounded 3 859 unregistered vehicles, while 13 943 motorists have been arrested for operating public transport without exemption countrywide during the ongoing blitz to enforce the Covid-19 lockdown rules and ensure all vehicles have number plates.

According to the Vehicle Registration and Licensing Act, vehicles should be registered and always display their registration marks and numbers.

Asst Comm Nyathi warned the public that it was an offence to drive unregistered vehicles on the roads.

State Media

HORDES of people were yesterday turned away at the Beitbridge Border Post through which they had intended to travel to South Africa following false reports that the port of entry had opened for general human travel.

South Africa opened 18 land borders including Beitbridge and three airports as the neighbouring country moved to alert level one.

However, Zimbabwe is yet to open its land borders to general human traffic.

Zimbabwe and South Africa had closed borders to all but commercial cargo, returning residents and human remains being repatriated for burial in the country, following the outbreak of the deadly Covid-19 pandemic in March.

According to Home Affairs, Culture, and Heritage Minister Kazembe Kazembe, the land borders are still closed to general human traffic.

There has been a hype about the border reopening in the last few weeks and by midnight on Wednesday, some people had arrived at the border on the Zimbabwean side intending to cross into the neighbouring country.

They were turned away by border officials during screening.

“I was not aware that the border is still closed to ordinary travellers. I intended to travel to Western Cape to visit my daughter who is not well when I was informed of the current position. So, I am going back to Mberengwa until things return to normal at the border,” said Ms Sibongile Ncube

Ten other people who wanted to enter in three vehicles from South Africa were turned away by Zimbabwean officials.

The trend continued until around 9AM when word had spread that general human travel was still suspended.

Besides people being turned away there was a slow movement of commercial cargo leaving the country with the South Africans demanding Covid-19 clearance certificates from commercial truck drivers in line with the new regulations.

Under the new Standard Operations Procedures (SOP), truck drivers, crew members, and frequent travellers will have to produce Covid-19 test results.

The results will be valid for 14 days after the first movement and all positive truck drivers will be handled as per the Department of Health Guidelines.

Paul Nyathi

The Nelson Chamisa’s led MDC Alliance is on countrywide crusade to consult members over the name to use in future elections after rival Thokozani Khupe snatched the party’s name.

MDC Alliance secretary general Charlton Hwende said the party was consulting members on the name the party should use.

“Some of our party members want us to continue with the name despite Khupe claiming ownership to it.

“We also have other members who are saying that let’s change the name and adopt a new name because of the problems being associated with it by Khupe working with Zanu PF.

This group is mainly composed of some of our party elders and founding members but we are discussing the issue,” Hwende said.

Paul Nyathi

Government has immediately dumped a 40 percent Cost Of Living Adjustment on its workers in a desperate bid to try a get striking teachers back at work.

Teachers have not reported for duty since Monday when schools reopened due to some contentious issues with their employer, the goverment.

The schools were shut down in March due to the COVID-19 lockdown.

Government had set September 14 and Sept. 28 as the opening dates for British-run Cambridge and locally run Zimbabwe Schools Examinations Council (ZIMSEC) examination classes respectively.

It also set Dec. 1, 2020, as the date for commencement of ZIMSEC public examinations.

Private Schools offering Cambridge examinations, commenced classes smoothly last week.

In a joint statement the teacher unions requested for an urgent meeting with government to resolve contentious issues before schools reopen but the effort failed.

The teacher unions demanded restoration of their salaries to US$520 per month, payment of a COVID-19 allowance and more time for teachers and learners to cover syllabi before examinations, among other demands.

Government has however gone ahead and effected the cost of living adjustment without engaging the unions on it.

The latest 40 percent cost-of-living salary adjustment will be paid into the bank accounts of civil servants starting today.

The adjustment, and the continuation of the US$75 a month Covid-19 allowance, are interim steps taken by the Government to help cushion its employees while the negotiations are in progress.

“The Government would continue negotiating an agreement in good faith,” Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Senator Monica Mutsvangwa said yesterday.

“Normally, Government does not effect salary adjustments without a signed agreement, but we have had to go out of our way to cushion our dedicated workers.

“Government has had a long history of negotiating with its workers in good faith and increases negotiated should not work against the stability that has been achieved on the financial markets and price stability as this will fuel inflation again and erode the gains we have achieved,” said the minister.

Meanwhile, Minister Mutsvangwa has clarified the issue of Covid-19 testing at the ports of entry.

“In order to facilitate faster and easier discharge of returnees, it was decided that those travellers who presented Covid-19 free certificates issued 48 hours from departure would be discharged for self-quarantine.

“However, those travellers who displayed Covid-19 symptoms regardless of having a valid Covid-19 free certificate will have to be tested at ports of entry, along with those who do not have Covid-19 certificates.

“The cost of this testing, which is US$60, will be borne by the traveller,” said Minister Mutsvangwa.

Watch video downloading below:

Zimlive

Health minister Constantino Chiwenga has amended Covid-19 regulations to stop the holding of parliamentary and municipal by-elections due to be held on December 5.

The Public Health (Covid-19 Prevention, Containment and Treatment) Regulations 2020 have been amended to say that “the holding of any by-election to fill a casual vacancy in parliament or in a local authority is, for the duration of the period of declaration of Covid-19 as a formidable epidemic disease, suspended…”

The decision is a hammer blow to the MDC Alliance which was hoping to use the by-elections to quickly get its elected representatives – controversially recalled by a rival faction – re-elected and returned to parliament and municipalities.

The MDC-T has caused the recalls of 31 MDC Alliance MPs and senators, and 45 councillors including four mayors.

“The suspension of by-elections in circumstances where Zanu PF and its proxies continue to recall lawfully elected MPs and councillors is a vicious assault on the will of the people and the greatest threat to our democracy. This is fascism. Democracy is dead,” the MDC Alliance said in a statement reacting to the announcement.

MDC treasurer general David Coltart said the development was evidence of a “brazen collaboration between Zanu PF and its surrogates in the MDC-T.”

“They have removed elected MPs, postponed an extraordinary congress to avoid the embarrassment of a low turnout and delayed by-elections indefinitely. Their utterly nefarious plot is now plain for all to see,” Coltart blasted.

The MDC Alliance says the government is insincere about the public health emergency after opening churches, schools, gyms, airports and lifting a ban on inter-city travel while extending working hours.

Zimbabwe went into a lockdown in March and President Emmerson Mnangagwa later imposed an overnight curfew to curb the spread of the coronavirus.

The country of 14 million people, which was already reeling under hyperinflation and a looming scarcity of basic amenities, before the pandemic struck, avoided the worst of the disease. Officials have declared 7,838 cases and 228 deaths so far.

Lawyers suggested Chiwenga’s attempts to stop by-elections were unconstitutional.

“This is dictatorship at its stinking worst. It only saves to underscore the fact that the regime in Harare is rogue and cannot be restrained by anything, no, not even by its own constitution,” prominent legal eagle Advocate Thabani Mpofu said.

“The hierarchy of laws is clear that the apex is the constitution which is the grundnorm. Below it are Acts of parliament made by parliament. Acts of parliament must be consistent with the constitution. Then we have statutory instruments. These are made in terms of Acts of Parliament. They are made for purposes of giving effect to Acts of parliament. They must for that reason be consistent with not only Acts of Parliament but the Constitution which is the ultimate authority from which they derive their validity.

“The logical legal consequence of that is this: the constitution can only be amended by parliament and in terms of its provisions and no statutory instrument can amend the constitution much the same way as no Act of Parliament may amend the constitution.”

Mpofu said statutory instrument 225A of 2020 purports to amend section 158(3) of the constitution which provides that “polling in by-elections to parliament and local authorities must take place within 90 days after the vacancies occurred…”

“You don’t need a brain for you to be able to understand that this instrument is perniciously invalid for its or any other purpose; is undemocratic and represents an unwarranted act of political mischief,” the lawyer added.

MDC-T leader Morgan Tsvangirai died in February 2018 sparking intense jostling to replace him between his three deputies – Khupe, Nelson Chamisa and Elias Mudzuri.

Chamisa engineered a vote of the MDC-T’s National Council which gave him interim leadership, but Khupe boycotted.

Chamisa led a coalition of parties into elections in July that year, while Khupe kept the MDC-T name and ran as a rival.

The MDC Alliance secured over 100 seats in parliament while the MDC-T got two through proportional representation, and Chamisa ran President Emmerson Mnangagwa close with over 2.2 million votes compared to Khupe’s 45,000.

The Supreme Court in March this year ruled that Tsvangirai broke the MDC-T constitution when he appointed Mudzuri and Chamisa as his co-deputies, and therefore the MDC-T had only one vice president at the time of Tsvangirai’s death – Khupe – who should have gone on as interim leader before an extraordinary congress to elect new leadership.

The court also directed that Khupe should take interim charge of the MDC-T until that congress to be held within three months, and that the party structures that existed at the last congress in 2014 should be re-instated.

Chamisa says his party is the MDC Alliance and not the MDC-T, but this has not stopped Khupe from seeking to take control of the Alliance, including appropriating its elected officials, offices and finances due to the party from the government based on its electoral performance.

Meanwhile, Khupe announced Friday that their extraordinary congress would be held from December 18-20 after obtaining a Supreme Court extension. Nominations by provinces would be held between November 24 and 28, she said.

NewsDay

ELECTIONS for Gwanda mayor were yesterday deferred to next week amid reports that rival groups from Zanu PF and MDC Alliance had mutually agreed that they needed more time to campaign, Southern Eye can reveal.

The post fell vacant recently after Thokozani Khupe’s MDC-T’s recalled councillor Jastone Mazhale for declaring his support for MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa.

Mazhale had been Gwanda’s mayor since 2018 and elections to replace him had been set for yesterday.

Chamber secretary Hlupo Mhlanga told Southern Eye that the polls would be held next week.

“According to the notice we have issued, the elections for mayor will be held on Monday at 10am at the council chambers,” he said.

While Mhlanga could not be drawn into giving reasons for the postponement, sources revealed that there was bickering over the elections which are likely to be tightly contested as both Zanu PF and opposition MDC formations are eager to control the town.

“However, both camps asked for more time to prepare. Zanu PF wants the position of mayor. MDC Alliance also wants to control the town as before while Khupe’s MDC-T also wants its candidate to win.

“On Sunday, Douglas Mwonzora (MDC-T acting secretary-general) and KP (Khaliphani Phugeni, acting spokesperson) will be coming down here to campaign for their candidate. So, a compromise to defer the polls was made by all the

parties.”

MDC Alliance has five councillors, while Zanu PF has four.

The MDC-T is fielding ward 5 councillor Gilbert Dube, while Zanu PF is backing ward 3 councillor Knowledge Ndlovu.

Chamisa’s party is yet to announce its candidate, possibly opting to announce on the eve of the polls so that the candidate will not be recalled by Khupe before the polls.

Paul Nyathi

The late senior Zimbabwe National Army officer, Brigadier General Ruphus Chigudu has been declared a National Hero.

Brigadier General Chigudu died last week on Thursday at Parirenyatwa General Hospital in Harare at the age of 64.

Minister of State for Midlands Provincial Affairs and Devolution Larry Mavima delivered the news at the family residence in Lundi Park, Gweru, yesterday.

“I was sent by His Excellency the President (Cde Mnangagwa) to relay the message that Brigadier-General Chigudu has been declared a national hero. He will be interred at the National Heroes Acre on a date to be advised,” said Minister Mavima.

“The family was happy that he was honoured and I am also very grateful to the President and the Politburo, for honouring Cde Chigudu. He sacrificed for his country by going to war at a young age and was also instrumental in the integration of the forces after independence.

“It is sad that he died this year soon after his promotion in June from Colonel to a Brigadier-General.”

Brig-Gen Chigudu was awarded seven medals during his distinguished military career, including the Independence Medal, Liberation Medal, Service Medal, Long and Exemplary Service Medal, Mozambique Campaign Medal, Democratic Republic of Congo Campaign Medal and the Commander of the Zimbabwe Order of Merit Award.

Brig-Gen Chigudu joined the liberation struggle in 1976 and received military training at Doroi Camp in Mozambique, before receiving further training in Romania.

The late freedom fighter was attested into the Zimbabwe National Army on April 1, 1981 and was given several responsibilities in the military including army inspections, research and development.

He was promoted to the rank of Brig-Gen on June 11 this year. Brig-Gen Chigudu’s Chimurenga name was Cde Promise Chombo. He is survived by his wife Vimbai and three children, two boys and a girl, Kudzai Matthew, Lenin Munashe and Chido Beauty.

Brigadier General Chigudu, whose Chimurenga name was Promise Chombo, is survived by his wife Vimbai Chigudu (nee Goboza) and three children.

Mourners are gathered at Number 1137 Takura Road Houghton Park, Harare.

Munyaradzi Zizhou won Chivi South Zanu PF hotly contested primary elections yesterday…

As 2014 MDC T Masvingo Provincial structure call for immediate extraordinary congress as per supreme court ruling.

1 October 2020

Wezhira Munya

Yesterday, Zanu PF held hotly contested primary elections in Chivi South.

The Chivi South primary election was necessitated after ZANU PF fired 2018 Chivi South member of parliament Mr Killer Zivhu.

Mr Killer Zivhu was fired from ZANU PF party after he called for a meeting between MDC Alliance President Nelson Chamisa and ZANU PF president Emmarson Mnangagwa.

Killer Zivhu argued that, Zanu PF led government has failed to solved economic crisis in Zimbabwe alone. There is need for MDC Alliance President Nelson Chamisa to assist in reviving Zimbabwe economy.

Below are the results:

HLAMBELO Rikios 80
MADUSISE Abson 202
MASOMERE Denis 165
MATUKA Peter. 44
MAUNGANIDZE Naledi 723
MUTSAMBA Samson 923
SHINDI Enock. 971
VUTETE Mafios. 170
ZIZHOU Munyaradzi 1857

Zizhou Munyaradzi will contest by election with MDC Alliance candidate and others.

MDC Alliance party is yet to hold primary elections in Chivi South Constituency.

Political analyst Kimberely Tariro Mamhende said, “The hotly contested Zanu PF by election in Chivi South yesterday may cause Zanu PF to loss Chivi South to MDC Alliance party led by President Nelson Chamisa. In Chivi South there is highly level of factionalism after Killer Zivhu was expelled from Zanu PF after committing a sin of calling for talks between ZANU PF and MDC Alliance.”

Zivhu’s call for talks between President Chamisa and President Mnangagwa shows that ZANU PF needs helping hand in solving Zimbabwe’s crisis.

On another story, 2014 MDC T Masvingo youth structure support the great initiative by MDC T Harare youth led by fearless chairperson Mr Paul Goregore to restore legacy at Harvest House and in MDC T.

2014 Masvingo youth provincial chairperson Mr Chingini issued a statement on behalf of Masvingo youth, “We as 2014 MDC T Masvingo youth support the take over of Harvest House and call for unity in MDC.”

2014 MDC T Masvingo youth demand immediate extraordinary congress to elect president as per supreme court ruling.

In addition, 2014 Masvingo MDC youth district chairperson Mr Peacemaker “Mupositori” Mapope said, “We demand that Secretary General Mwonzora must immediately call for 2014 Standing commitee, National Excutive Council and National council. We want a clear road map to extraordinary congress.

Masvingo urban district youth organiser John Murairwa is mobilising Masvingo urban youth to visit SG Mwonzora with a pettion to convey Standing committee and other meetings urgently. “

In addition, MDC T 2014 provincial youth deputy Secretary Mr Kingsley Sibanda said, “MDC T was captured by ZANU PF through few leaders who were making decisions such as recalling our elected councillors and members of Parliament. As 2014 MDC T youth structure we are solidly behind call for unity.”

Mr Paul Rimai, 2014 MDC T Masvingo youth provincial organiser said, “We as MDC T Masvingo youth structure we are ready to defend our party from infiltrators, how can one recall our member of parliament and councillors? These recalls are aimed at giving power to Zanu PF through winning by-elections. However, we are going to campaign to win back our seats in these by -elections.”

On another story, the late Mr Pendence was laid to rest in Chipinge.

Mr Pendence uncle said, “I want to thank MDC Alliance President Nelson Chamisa, Masvingo MDC Alliance leaders, former deputy youth minister and former Masvingo urban member of parliament advocate Tongai Matutu, current Masvingo urban member of parliament Honourable Jacob Nyokanhete and Mayor Maboke for financial and material support. Honourable Tongai Matutu , Mr Tonhodzai provided fuel to assist in transporting the deceased body and MDC Alliance members to Chipinge.”

Advocate Tongai Matutu, MDC Alliance Youth leaders: Marka B, Alaika, Chimbonga, Richard Munyenye and other youth spoke highly of the great work Mr Pendence did to win Masvingo urban elections in 2018 and previous elections.

BUT if anyone does not provide for his children, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever!

This Biblical advice about responsibility to children seems to have no meaning for a priest with the Anglican Church in Bulawayo who has been caught behind enemy lines after his ex-wife sued him for neglecting his three children.

Manda Chimbaza who is reportedly leader of the Anglican Church at St Columba’s Parish in Makokoba and employed by Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) was taken to the Civil Court by his ex-wife Ruramai Madava demanding an increase in maintenance arguing that for the past 10 months, the man of the cloth had failed or neglected to provide reasonable support for his children aged nine, 11 and 18.

Madava, who was demanding that maintenance be reviewed from $380 to $10 000 per month, told Bulawayo provincial magistrate in charge of Bulawayo Metropolitan province Enias Magate, that the $380 that the priest was even failing to pay was no longer enough to cater for the children’s needs due to the cost of living which has gone up.

“I am applying for an upward variation from $380 to $10 000 in respect of the three children aged nine, 11 and 18. This is because the cost of living has gone up so the money, he was asked to pay in 2014 is no longer enough. I haven’t received the money since November last year and the arrears have since accumulated to $3 800,” said Madava.

Madava insisted that Chimbaza was failing to contribute money towards his children’s upkeep yet he was employed by the body responsible for collecting taxes for the government.

Responding to the claims, Chimbaza who said he was being paid $20 000 per month turned down his ex-wife’s demand saying “it was too high”. He however, offered to pay $6 000 as monthly maintenance saying he was also of ill-health.

“Since the start of national lockdown, I had been sending her $503 via Ecocash each time my children told me that they have no food. I am a good father and I wanted to be one. I, however, have other three children I am taking care of, a minor, a 19-year-old who is doing Advanced Level and another one who is at Gwanda State University. I am also taking care of the major ones’ needs regardless of their ages,” he said.

He also pleaded with the court to allow him to pay the amount in question saying his monthly expenses combined exceed $40 000.

“May the court also consider that I am also paying $2 800 towards a housing stand. I’m also diabetic and per month I use about $10 000 towards my medication. She (Madava) recently lost her father and I had to borrow money to help with burial expenses. I am also doing two courses, a degree at Catholic University and a diploma all in an effort to upgrade myself. My expenses combined exceed $42 000 per month and that is why I say I can afford $6 000 per month,” said Chimbaza.

In his ruling the magistrate discharged the upkeep of the one who recently turned 18 and asked him to pay $8 500 for the two minor children with effect from the end of this month.-B-Metro

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

On the same day, Mr Murwira discovered the abdomen which was being eaten by his dogs.

It is also alleged that on the same day, Shamba removed his blood-stained pair of trousers and placed them in Makore’s kitchen hut.

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

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

He confessed to committing the murder with Makore.-The Herald

Farai Dziva|An emotive prayer meeting has been held in Harare West for jailed MDC Alliance Youth Assembly member, Hon Joana Mamombe.

Speaking at the prayer meeting, MDC Alliance Youth Assembly national organizing secretary, Godfrey Kurauone condemned the persecution of Joana Mamombe and several political activists.

“Mnangagwa cannot arrest change.Actually he is strengthening us- we have been hardened by the arrests, torture and persecution,” said Kurauone.

Speaking at the same prayer meeting Netsai Marova challenged Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa to release Joana as a matter of urgency.

“You are tormenting us but we will not look back- it’s forward ever.Mnangagwa cannot cow us into submission, that will never happen.We are determined to fight for change,” said Netsai Marova.

Watch video below:

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

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

Responding to Ncube’s utterances, President Chamisa said:

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

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

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

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

Hatina bakatwa uya nemuseve tinofamba naJesu!”

VIDEO LOADING BELOW….

VIDEO LOADING BELOW….

Farai Dziva|An emotive prayer meeting has been held in Harare West for jailed MDC Alliance Youth Assembly member, Hon Joana Mamombe.

Speaking at the prayer meeting, MDC Alliance Youth Assembly national organizing secretary, Godfrey Kurauone condemned the persecution of Joana Mamombe and several political activists.

“Mnangagwa cannot arrest change.Actually he is strengthening us- we have been hardened by the arrests, torture and persecution,” said Kurauone.

Speaking at the same prayer meeting Netsai Marova challenged Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa to release Joana as a matter of urgency.

“You are tormenting us but we will not look back- it’s forward ever.Mnangagwa cannot cow us into submission, that will never happen.We are determined to fight for change,” said Netsai Marova.

Watch video below:

Farai Dziva|An emotive prayer meeting has been held in Harare West for jailed MDC Alliance Youth Assembly member, Hon Joana Mamombe.

Speaking at the prayer meeting, MDC Alliance Youth Assembly national organizing secretary, Godfrey Kurauone condemned the persecution of Joana Mamombe and several political activists.

“Mnangagwa cannot arrest change.Actually he is strengthening us- we have been hardened by the arrests, torture and persecution,” said Kurauone.

Speaking at the same prayer meeting Netsai Marova challenged Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa to release Joana as a matter of urgency.

“You are tormenting us but we will not look back- it’s forward ever.Mnangagwa cannot cow us into submission, that will never happen.We are determined to fight for change,” said Netsai Marova.

Watch video below:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Source :Masvingo Mirror

By Hon Job Wiwa Sikhala MP for Zengeza West.

Let the world be informed that junior prison officers at Chikurubi Maximum Prison are under siege for allegations that they were treating me nicely and not adhering to the insructions of their bosses.

I have received unusual visits both at home and at my office from several prison officers who have been victimized for showing alleged favoritism to me. They were called to some kangaroo courts at the Prisons Headquarters and accused of failure to execute instructions, some of them bizzare.

They are accused of having failed to control journalists at the High Court after i was granted bail by Justice Ndewere. They are accused of allowing journalists to film me and allowing me to talk to friends and relatives who had come to give me solidarity.

The other allegation is that they allowed Hopewell Chin’ono to visit me in the holding cell at the High Court and took some pictures of me looking tormented which Hopewell splashed to the world.

In addition it is allegedly that I was allowed to humiliate the State when I asked to be unchained for me to be able to climb the back stairs of the prison magumedhe. They are accused of allowing my wife to bring me food when I was supposed to eat prison food.

Part of the plot to inject us with a lethal substance is a subject for another day. I can’t reveal the details today. Some of the officers have been defrothed of their duties as intelligence and security personnel and have been transferred to Mazowe.

One has been downgraded to be a guard at the prison medical stores. Another one is going to be transferred to Binga. I will not mention the names of these officers under siege at this moment but if the persecution continues I will be left with no option but to reveal them.

I witnessed it one day when one officer Sergent Chitsa was called into the office of Superitendent Mlambo and insulted left, right and centre. He was accused of being an MDC stalwart and told to produce his MDC party card for allowing me to properly climb into the prison truck.

He was accused of allowing me to move slowly under leg irons. This is a very old woman, who has long reached retirement time and is renewing her contract annually but should rather be playing with grandchildren in the village.

She humiliated and insulted an adult, a father of many children, for not practicing enough cruelty on my person. Chitsa came back in the magumedhe tears rolling, only for us to be told by those who overhead the abuse telling us what happened.

The one who is selling false information to prison authorities is one person I can’t mention by name at the present moment but is nicknamed Long and Short sleeves by his colleagues behind his back for the massacre of MDC supporters in Uzumba Maramba Pfungwe during the one man 2008 presidential run off which saw Robert Mugabe contest alone.

His single star rank is said to have been obtained after he begged it from the former Commissioner General of Prisons and Correctional Services for faithfully saving the party through his sellout role. He is so well known of it.

He got the job after being the most cruel Border Gezi Training College graduate.

To my brothers, I have heard your cries. I will not hesitate to approach the Courts if you gather enoughcourage if the persecution persists.

The popular Centre for Human Rights and Rehabilitation (CHRR) and the  Youth  and Society (YAS) of Malawi who confronted for election rerun in Malawi have written a letter to Minister of Foreign Affairs of that country Elsenwhower Mkaka asking  President Lazarus Chakwera , who is on a two-day State visit to Harare, to engage President Emmerson Mnangagwa to “tone down”  on escalation of human rights violations.

In a letter  dated September 29 2020 the CHRR acting executive director Micheal Kaiyatsa and YAS  executive director Charles Kajoloweka said Zimbabwe is now characterised by arbitrary arrests, abductions, expulsions,  disappearances and torture of journalists, political activists, government critics and human rights defenders.

The CSOs pointed out that the  most recent violent clampdown on human rights came in response to a scheduled 31 July demonstration organised by activists who are demanding a better Zimbabwe.

The march was supposed to be peaceful mass protest against corruption, unbearable economic hardship and social injustices made worse by the Covid-19 pandemic.

They said: “Time has come for Malawi and its leadership to take a just stand against a continued impunity and draconian attempts at silencing the peoples of our neighbouring nations.”

They observed that  Southern Africa Development Community (Sadc) leaders have indifferently watched, rarely exerted pressure  on Zimbabwe.

The CSOs said the Sadc leaders silence has “aided and abetted the tragedy reducing Zimbabwe to a model of how demise of rule of law can relegate a democratic nation to an enemy of its people.

“The ‘See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil’ pact has not helped make Zimbabwe a better place for all, but made SADC member States, including Malawi, complicit to the horrifying human rights violations and a breakdown of rule of law currently getting worse,” said the Malawi rights defenders.

Therefore,  CHRR and YAS  urge Chakwera,  “to use this State visit as a platform to send a clear message that the actions of the Government of Zimbabwe are inherently at wide variance with the agreed norms of democratic governance and call upon them to address fundamental domestic challenges whose effects are disastrous on its people and the region.”

Presidential spokesman Brian Banda said Chakwera as the incoming Sadc chairperson is on a tour aimed at strengthening bilateral relations through trade.
He said there are diplomatic ways how countries talk to each other and that  concerns from CSOs  “cannot be discussed in the media.”

This is Chakwera’s second foreign trip since taking office in June. Last week he visited Zambia on a day-return where he met that country’s President Edgar Chagwa Lungu.

Source: Nyasha Times

ZBC

The Development Bank of Belarus has revealed that it is finalising a 50 million United States Dollar Mining equipment facility to boost Zimbabwe’s mining sector.  

The Belarus mining deal comes at a time the sector is on the mend with expectations high that it will hit the 12 billion United States dollar mark in line with Vision 2030.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa welcomed the Belarus Mining Facility as a giant step towards rejuvenating the mining sector.

“Over and above our cooperation with Belarus in the agriculture sector, plans are underway to enhance our cooperation to equip and modernise the mining sector,” the President said.

The Development Bank of Belarus Board Chairperson, Mr Andrey Zhishkevich revealed the finalisation of the deal, in an exclusive interview with ZBC News, on the sidelines of the launch of the 51 Million United States Dollar Belarus Agricultural Mechanisation Programme this Wednesday.

Mr Zhishkevich said his country is ready to unconditionally avail a new 50 Million United States dollar mining equipment deal to the new dispensation.

“The agric-mechanisation programme we witnessed today is just the beginning, we have structured another potentially lucrative deal in mining, and this is to the tune of US$50 million which will be availed unconditionally to mechanise the mining sector and boost productivity,” reveals Mr. Zhishkevich.

Paul Nyathi

Zimbabwe yesterday recorded one Covid-19 positive case and 181 recoveries, giving hope that the battle against the pandemic is being won.

According to the Health and Child Care Ministry daily Covid-19 update, out of the 467 PCR diagnostic tests done yesterday, Mat North recorded the only positive case which brought the country’s total number of confirmed cases to 7 838.

This was Mat North’s 135th case and is the province with the least number of confirmed cases. Harare and Bulawayo lead with 3 252 and 1 447 cases respectively.

No deaths were recorded yesterday. Zimbabwe has 228 Covid-19 related deaths.

On another positive note, 181 recoveries were reported yesterday with Mat South recording 174 recoveries, Manicaland (6) and Bulawayo (1). Zimbabwe now has a total of 6 303 recoveries.

The national recovery rate now stands at 80 percent.

Paul Nyathi

Visiting Malawian President Lazarus Chakwera today met Malawian citizens resident in Zimbabwe where he encouraged them to play their part to deepen cultural and economic ties between the two countries.

Addressing citizens on Thursday at the Malawian embassy, President Chakwera urged them to be law abiding citizen saying they were free to have dual citizenship.

“Malawi has since passed legislation enabling those who live abroad to chose to have dual citizenship should they desire. So, as this country welcomes you to be Zimbabweans, you can also continue to be Malawians because we have a legislation allowing you to do so,” said President Chakwera.

Chakwera who recently won an election rerun in his country touched on democracy, rule of law and free and fair elections.

‘Being a law abiding citizens does not mean being foolish, if we talk of rule of law we are talking of order, institutions should be independent and allowed to exercise that mandate freely, each one playing their role and if by any chance we disagree we are able to find each other and dialogue,” said Chakwera in Chewa.

The eloquent leader called on Malawians living outside the country to participate in the governance of their home country.

“if you too close to the forest, you end up not seeing the trees. In other words we are saying those of you who are far off, those of you who read the situation form a distance because you have seen us making mistakes, please inform us. Do not be afraid and ashamed.”

“Some of you may say, I did not vote for this and I have nothing to do with his mistakes, but we want those views by those who never voted for us, they all inspire success for our country hence your diverse views will assist others.”

Paul Nyathi

 The Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC) has yet again increased domestic electricity tariffs by 50 percent following a similar increase last week.

The authority warned of another increase on November 1.

In an increase announced on Thursday, the power utility raised the first 50 kilowatts from Z$0.74 to Z$1.19 making it Z$59.50, while the first 200 KW will now cost Z$387 at Z$2.58 KwH.

The third band which begins from 201 to 300KW will be sold at Z$7 per KwH, translating to Z$700.

Zesa says it owes coal suppliers and regional power companies in excess of US$80 million, which it hopes to raise through hiking tariffs.

The Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority gave the nod to the tariff increases. In a letter to the power utility on September 29, ZERA CEO Edington Mazambani okayed what he described as “outstanding tariff adjustments.”

He added that ZEDTC should go on to implement the 50 percent increase on October 1 “and another on November 1.”

New Zesa tarrifs from October 1, 2020

♦ 0 – 50 KW ( $1.19/KwH) – Z$59.50

♦ 51 – 200 KW ($2.58/KwH) – Z$387.00

♦ 201 – 300KW (7.00/KwH) – Z$700.00

♦ 301+ KW ($11.01/KwH)

By A Correspondent- Education minister Cain Mathema has warned incapacitated teachers who are failing to report for duty that the government will have no alternative but relieve them of their duties and replace them with the over 20k unemployed trained teachers.

Mathem said this while presenting his ministerial statement to parliament Wednesday.

Mathema called on the teachers to report for duty while their issues are being addressed using the appropriate channels.

He said :

“…schools opening was characterised by a low turn out of teachers..but we are hoping that teachers will return to work while their issues are bing resolved using the appropriate channels.

We call upon the teachers to reflect on their action. There are over 20k unemployed but trained teachers and government may not have an alternative because examinations dates have been set and learners should prepare for those exams.”

Paul Nyathi

PRESIDENT  Emmerson Mnangagwa commissioned the first batch of Agricultural equipment to mark the 151 million United States dollar Mechanisation Programme.

The Minister of   Lands, Agriculture,  Water, Climate and Rural Resettlement Dr Masuka was presented with a symbolic key for the equipment by Belarus Industry Minister Mr Parkhomchik Petr Aleksandrovich soon after cutting the ribbon to officially commission the equipment.

Zimbabwe’s Honorary Consul to Belarus Alexander Zingman said the ambitious $58 million deal between the two countries will revolutionalise Zimbabwe’s agriculture industry.

“This deal brings Belarusian expertise in agriculture and engineering to Zimbabwe. Both countries have been expanding ties since 2015 and this deal is a win-win for both,” said Alexander Zingman.

The agriculture deal was signed in 2018, with Belarus providing farming machinery and advanced technology to Zimbabwe, as well as training for local farmers in cultivation, seeding, irrigation, and crop harvesting. It also provided the project with long-term financing for the acquisition of equipment.

AFTRADE DMCC represents all the leading manufacturers in Belarus. It has set up a servicing centre in Harare to provide spare parts and warranty services. Mobile service vehicles will also cater to farming communities in the provinces.

Belarusian technical specialists have been sent to Zimbabwe for one year to provide training to farmers in modern farming techniques. Zimbabwean specialists will get two months training in Belarus.

“This project will enable Zimbabwean farmers to boost the productivity of their land and to reduce their losses through timely crops harvesting. The result will be that farmers can ensure the food security of Zimbabwe itself and, where possible, also raise their income levels by exporting their produce,” said Zingman.

Belarus and Zimbabwe are complementary in many ways when it comes to trade. Belarus provides sophisticated technology and investment, which Zimbabwe can use to boost its economy and productivity. Bilateral trade was over $30 million for the past 3 years. For the first four months of 2020, trade between Belarus and Zimbabwe has already exceeded $7 million.

The two countries are also developing joint projects in geology, farming and transport, as well as the construction of a solar power plant near Harare.

In February last year, Emmerson Mnangagwa gave Belarus 10 000 ha of land for agricultural production in Zimbabwe in a deal that was not apparently clearly exposed to the country.

The land is directly administered by the Office of Belarus President, Alexander Lukashenko.

Experts from Belarus came into the country to select the plots of land, test the soil and identity the type of fertilizers needed. They also studied the matters of irrigation and logistics and how to transport agricultural machines and equipment from Belarus to Zimbabwe.

Belarusians reportedly planned to grow maize and soya first and rice and wheat later. They also planned to build a dairy farm for 1000 cows by the end of last year.

Cattle for the project were to be brought from New Zealand. Simultaneously, a meat and milk processing line was to be launched.

Mnangagwa visited Belarus in January 2019. He invited Belarus President, Lukashenka to pay a visit to Zimbabwe in a surprise new cosy relationship.

The land deal could have been one of the bills that were signed when Zimbabwe and Belarus signed secretive deals worth US$350 million in September last year.

Mnangagwa witnessed the signing ceremony in Harare.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Mawere said respective allocations were the initial ones.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

State Media

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

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

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

Paul Nyathi

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

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

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

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

Paul Nyathi

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

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

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

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

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

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

Responding to Ncube’s utterances, President Chamisa said:

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

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

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

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

Hatina bakatwa uya nemuseve tinofamba naJesu!”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

More to follow….

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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