UNIVERSITIES in the country are in discussions to have their graduation ceremonies being attended by a minimal number of graduands with a majority attending virtually in line with Covid-19 containment measures.

Last Thursday, the Chinhoyi University of Technology (CUT) released a statement informing graduands in their class of 2020 that only Doctor of Philosophy, Master of Philosophy, Master of Science with distinctions and under-graduates with first classes, will be invited to attend this year’s graduation ceremony, which is set to be held on Friday.

“The rest of the graduands will graduate virtually in the comfort of their homes with their families. Proceedings will be live streamed on ZTV and CUT facebook.

Graduands who are graduating virtually will follow proceedings in their gowns and respond to announcements as shall be beamed,” reads the statement.

Solusi University has also announced plans to hold the ceremony in similar fashion.

In an interview with Sunday News, Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education Science and Technology Development, Professor Amon Murwira revealed that there was a need for the universities to adopt innovative means of conducting this year’s graduations, noting that while they were a legal requirement there is a need to consider the need to contain the spread of the Covid-19. He revealed that as Government they had tasked the university vice-chancellors to come up with the best possible mechanism to hold the ceremonies. Prof Murwira said the same would apply for teachers’ colleges, polytechnics and vocational training centres.

“We had a meeting with vice-chancellors a couple of weeks ago where we deliberated on the matter, they were then tasked to go back and engage the councils on how best to proceed with the graduations noting that we are holding them in the new normal as created by the Covid-19 pandemic. What we have to consider is that the graduation ceremonies are a legal requirement and they have to proceed but proceed in a manner where we ensure that we protect our graduands from the Covid-19 pandemic,” said Prof Murwira.

He said the ministry’s goal was to standardise the graduation ceremonies across the country, taking advantage of the innovation within their learning institutions to go ahead with the events.

“We know that for every graduand, the graduation ceremony is an important part of their academic achievements therefore we want to maintain that atmosphere while adhering to the Covid-19 guidelines,” said the minister.

Last week, the Government announced that universities, polytechnics, teachers’ colleges and industrial training colleges will reopen on 5 October for face to-face learning, after their closure on 24 March as part of a raft of measures by Government to curb the spread of the coronavirus.

However, as part of conditions to reopen, authorities will be required to strictly adhere to the health guidelines and the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology’s standard operating procedures-The Sunday Mail

A woman from Umzingwane District under Chief Sigola’s area and who is also a builder by profession has reversed a common perception that only men beat up women in relationships after she allegedly rained blows on her husband as punishment for stopping her from meeting her boyfriend.

This problem of female-on-male domestic violence which is often trivialised in society was heard at the Esigodini Magistrates’ Court where the victim, Hloniphani Msipa, narrated his ordeal before resident magistrate Nomagugu Sibanda.

Msipa, who was seeking a restraining order against his wife Tafadzwa Moyo, was brave enough to tell the court that he was living a hellish life at the hands of his violent better half.

He stated that in a fit of anger, his wife brutally assaulted him after he stopped her from visiting her boyfriend.

As if the beating was not enough, Msipa said a daring Moyo went on to destroy their matrimonial property before she burnt down their bedroom hut.

“I declare that my wife Tafadzwa Moyo is destroying our matrimonial property and she recently burnt down our homestead. I need the court to strongly warn her against her conduct. She has since gone back to her parents’ homestead and I have done the same due to the fact that we both no longer have a place to call home,” complained Msipa.

He said he once sought help from the police to no avail.

“I engaged the police over the issue about my wife who is not taking any action to account for the damage she caused. Instead of apologising she is now prohibiting me from visiting our homestead because I am willing to do the repairs. I can’t imagine that I am now homeless yet I used to own my own homestead.

“I am living in fear and my efforts to check out on the livestock which we left behind is being hindered by my wife as she is threatening me with unspecified action through a string of text messages. All I want now is a protection order against her so that I live in peace,” begged Msipa.

In response Moyo didn’t refute her husband’s accusations leading the magistrate to grant an order stopping her from beating or threatening her husband as well as not to prevent him from going to their homestead.-B-Metro

Press Statement

MDC-T Harare Youth Assembly (2014) Harare has taken over control of the Party HQ MRT House tonight. This has been necessitated by our realization on the need to unite the people in the fight for a better Zimbabwe.

We as the youths have decided to go beyond our differences and unite to resolve the current crisis. We have been concerned by the recent developments where the party had been infiltrated by some ZANU PF elements battling to destroy the People’s movement thereby aiding the suffering of the masses.

Paul Gorekore
MDC-T Harare Province Youth Chairperson

By A Correspondent- Zanu-PF women’s league in Mashonaland East on Friday held a “secretive” election that saw provincial chair lady Nyarai Tsvuura being replaced by her deputy Lyn Gororo as factional wars in the province intensify.

Both the media and intelligence officers were chucked out of the meeting as the women’s league members said that they were conducting their “private businesses”.

The election of Gororo came after the Zanu-PF politburo recently cleared and reinstated Tsvuura as the provincial women’s league boss after she was suspended on trumped up charges, among them, gossiping.

Tsvuura, also a Mutoko legislator, was officially reinstated at a provincial coordinating committee (PCC) meeting after several weeks of resistance from a section of both the national and provincial women’s league leadership who were also refusing to release a party vehicle meant for her use.

The vehicle was later released follow ing the intervention of provincial chair person Joel Biggie Matiza.

But Tsvuura never used it after reports that some other party members openly told her that “she would not touch” the party vehicle.

Tsvuura attended the election but re fused to contest resulting in Gororo taking over.

According to sources who attended the highly charged meeting, some women’s league members said Tsvuura was coopted as their boss in the new dispensation.

“They are saying Tsvuura was coopted, hence the need for elections,” sources said.

“It is confusing as she was reinstated by the politburo a few months ago, but today we are being instructed to conduct elections.

“We are not sure whether it is a politburo directive as well. Tsvuura attended the meeting but she didn’t contest resulting in her deputy Lyn Gororo taking over. We have some members who were coopted into positions and we do not know when the elections for them will be held.”

The elective meeting was reportedly led by a national women’s league member.

Matiza yesterday said he was aware of the meeting.

“I am aware that they held a meeting in Marondera to discuss issues concern ing them. However, I am yet to receive the report on what transpired on the day. The women’s league has the power to solve burning issues if need arises but like I said, I am ye to be apprised,” he said.-standard

PRESIDENT NELSON CHAMISA 21st Anniversary Talking points

SEPTEMBER 26, 2020, HARARE.

Mobilizing and Fighting for a People’s Government

The Vice Presidents,
The National Chairperson
The Secretary General,

The National Standing Committee,
The National Executive,
The National Council,

The Guardians & Elders council
The freedom fighters council
The Disabilty Council
The Veterans association
The students council

Distinguished members of the leadership of the Party at all levels,
ALL Party Deployees;
Our MPs,
Our Mayors,
Our Councilors,
Our Invited distinguished guests,
The People of Zimbabwe,
Friends of the People of Zimbabwe,

To all of you, here, those at home and abroad,
Our brothers and sisters in the diaspora

I greet you all, thanking OUR GOD, The Almighty, for all the grace, providence and protection.

Fellow Zimbabweans, memory is a site of the struggle.

11 September is a great day.

This month marks the 21st anniversary of our struggle, our journey and our formidable political formation called the MDC which morphed into the MDC Alliance following processes which saw founding stalwarts being reunited once again.

Through the MDC Alliance, we have reconnected, reunited and reignited national hope so that together, we collectively achieve what we set out to achieve in 1999.

On 11 September 1999, this glorious movement was formed at Rufaro stadium and the country’s political terrain would never be the same again.

We salute the over 32 civic organizations that came together through the national working people’s convention at the Women’s Bureau in HARARE in 1999 just prior to the launch of the working people’s party.

The year saw the birth of a great movement borne out of the sweat of labour, the Constitutional movement, the student movement, the women’s groups, war veterans and youth groups, with labour having fronted the people’s quest for change.

Fronting this cause was the great icon Morgan Tsvangirai ably assisted by the indefatigable Gibson Sibanda and many others who came from the labour movement.

I and many others were also part of this historic moment, with myself and others having come from the student movement.

At our inaugural Congress in Chitungwiza in January 2000, a milieu of leaders was voted into the national leadership of this great movement to steer forward the national hope for a new Zimbabwe. I will forever remain humbled for being voted among the first team of senior leaders of the party, when the inaugural Congress expressed its confidence in me and overwhelmingly elected me the party’s founding national youth chairperson.

Fellow Zimbabweans, it is heartening to take note that most of the founding members of the party are with the MDC Alliance today and are still leading across our structures.

And yes, their eyes remain firmly focused on what we sought to achieve when the MDC was formed 21 years ago. Many of these founding cadres are in the national, provincial, constituency and branch structures of the People’s party, the MDC Alliance.

Today we remain resolute, resilient and vigilant.

We refuse to be swallowed.

We guard our zones of autonomy.

We increase the cost of dictatorship in Zimbabwe.

We fight the pillars of tyranny.

We continue to articulate the illegitimacy of the unelected and unelectable.

We assert our credibility as a viable and bankable alternative.

Twenty one years on, we remain focused on our original goal which has always been to achieve positive transformation in the lives of the people of Zimbabwe.
And true to our founding values and objectives, we remain unstinting and on course in our quest to consign repression to the dustbin and to give succour and happiness to our country’s citizens.

We are a Peaceful people are being broken.

We are peace loving citizens who are being harassed, maimed and terrorized.

Since 1999 over 2000 people have died on account of political violence. Chiminya, Patrick Nabanyama, Beta Chokururama, Nyeve, Chipunza, bakacheza, Jani, Pfebve, Tonderai Ndira, Talent Mabika, to mention but a few.

Since 2017, 105 people have been abducted on record. All these people targeted for dehumanisation, abuse and murder, mainly for supporting this struggle for change and the people’s movement.

Nearly 50 have been murdered in cold blood. You know that on the 1st of August 2018 Harare CBD was turned into an urban war zone.

In January 2019, the whole country was under siege. For two weeks they punished millions, injured over 1000 and killed nearly 20 of our citizens, for no crime.

All this to weaken the resolve of the indomitable people of Zimbabwe and subtract people’s support to the struggle. They are scared.

21 Years of Struggle and leadership

For 21 years, Our road to this point has been long and our pain has been great. Our sense of endurance and our commitment to change by elections and a national consensus is tested.

For 21 years, each new day, new challenges arise. Our 21-year-old desire to avoid playing a zero-sum game with fellow Zimbabweans, and with our opposite number appears to have yielded little benefit.

For 21 years, we had hope that we could establish consensual politics in which the old would agree to transform at the direction of the new. That the old guard would admit its mistakes and allow the country to take a new trajectory without smarting over change. This, we thought, would hasten the rate of change by allowing us to concentrate on the way forward. They have taken this for a weakness and aimed their guns at us.

For 21 years, we have hoped that the ruling elite will find the value in moving towards consensus. They have rebuffed and insulted us.

For 21 years, they have dared us and the young people by driving the country faster towards the abyss. Our path to lead towards a peaceful resolution of the myriad crises, has been scoffed at.

For 21 years, armed by our strong commitment to Zimbabwe and respect for regional growth and progress, we held firm and continued to persuade the regime away from failed leadership, corrupt primitive accumulation and incompetence.

For 21 years, we spoke out in public, organised demonstrations and engaged them in various platforms including parliament.

For 21 years, we fight for human rights, named and shamed the perpetrators for crimes against humanity, murders, wars against the people, corruption and theft. We called them out for crimes against women and children, for torture, abductions and abuse of the state.

Our journey of tears and laughter

This month, we remember our long journey of joy and tears, our eventful odyssey of pain and laughter. We have had our prouds and sorries in the last 21 years but we have taken them all in our stride.

Among our sorries has been the loss of the many men and women across the vast span of our great movement; the many people who have paid the ultimate price in their quest for a new Zimbabwe, an idea for which they strenuously fought throughout their lives. Others in the urban areas, in the villages and in our farming communities were brutally murdered for the sole reason that they believed in change and invested in the hope for a better life.

Fellow Zimbabweans, I know most of you were brutalised but you remain standing and you continue to invest your faith and trust in us your forever indebted leadership. Don’t be shaken, for we are on course.

Today, we remember all those who paid the ultimate price, those who irrigated their quest with their own blood. We salute them. We treasure their contribution to the people’s struggle.

But, my fellow Zimbabweans, remember we also have had our proud moments. In 2008, we defeated dictatorship and we used our stint in government to showcase the fact that government can indeed be an arena to bring positive change in the lives of the people. I know you all still remember with nostalgia our stint in government, particularly given that the clueless lot now in the offices of government.

In 2018, we defeated Mr Mnangagwa having only campaigned for a short period upon inadequate preparations, time and resources

So this month, we take note of the 21-year old journey that we have travelled together, this journey has seen an odd mixture of joy and pain. To our dearly departed comrades, we want to assure them that their sacrifice was not in vain.

We will fight on until we achieve the collective aspirations of the patriotic sons and daughters of our land, including the fallen heroes of our liberation struggle whose gallantry we commemorated only last month.

Fellow Zimbabweans, we shall strive to work for a just, prosperous and inclusive society. And we know that it is only then that the departed souls of our compatriots may truly rest in eternal peace.

As a movement, we have a rich history; a history struggle, a history of blood, sweat and tears and that history will never be surrendered either directly to Zanu PF or indirectly to its surrogates.

It is important for us to say that we are not unaware that most members of the police, the security services and all other government institutions are remain patriotic in yearning for a better life like all of us.

A country mired in turmoil – the Zimbabwean crisis

SINCE 1980 OUR CRISIS HAS BEEN A CRISIS OF DISPUTED AND VIOLENT ELECTIONS.

OURS IS A CRISIS OF A STOLEN ELECTIONS.

Fellow citizens, Zimbabwe is in a crisis, a governance and legitimacy crisis a multi-layered crisis that is manifesting itself in various forms, particularly an attempt by the incumbent to establish a defacto one party state.

I know you you are all living the crisis and you are all perturbed that there are some among us who are denying that there is a crisis. Indeed, some and on the opposite side, are the source of the crisis. They do not feel the pain of that which they are causing. In any event, a crisis describe or discover itself.

The political environment
We have witnessed an upsurge in trumped up charges, human rights abuses, abductions, torture, failing economy, endemic corruption and a general deficit in performance legitimacy.

You must appreciate, fellow Zimbabweans, that those denying the existence of the crisis are themselves the source of the crisis and are certainly seeing things differently. They certainly are living in another world and you must know that the hare’s story can never be told by a lion, or a crocodile. So the authors of our crisis will never know that the nation is on the precipice.

You all know that the economy is in the doldrums and the majority of the country’s citizens can barely survive. The civil servants, including our uniformed forces, are all living from hand to mouth. They can barely put food on the table. They want schools to open on Monday but they hardly understand the plight of our teachers, whose paltry salaries can hardly see them through just one week.

And yet all these are just but manifestations of the deeper crisis of legitimacy. Since the stolen election of 2018, there has been a drought—nay a famine–of confidence in this administration and unless and until the crisis of legitimacy is resolved, the country is on a fast road to nowhere.

And you all saw, fellow Zimbabweans, their response to the multi-layered crisis in the traditional way it only knows best.

They have stuck their head in the sand and vociferously denied the existence of the crisis that is there for all to see. By denying that there is a crisis stalking our land, the regime has squandered the glorious opportunity to have our regional neighbours assisting us in the resolution of our challenges.

Surely, how can anyone look the envoys from South Africa in the eye and confidently state that there is no crisis on the country when South Africa is saddled with over three million Zimbabweans desperately eking a living in that country?

Our crisis has reached their backyard and you stridently deny the existence of a crisis in Zimbabwe, a country where even elected MPs are wantonly repressed, harassed and abused.

How does anyone deny the existence of a crisis in the wake of such overwhelming evidence?

The people’s argument is that while we are complaining and listing, ZANU PF continues its brutality. Over the last few months for example highlighting, spotlighting and condemning the regime has yielded no change. We were smarting from and still talking about the abduction and abuse of three of our female leaders, Joanna, Cecelia and Nestai, when they abducted Tatenda, Mduduzi Mathuthu’s nephew.

▪️The struggle for Joanna Mamombe’s freedom is not hers alone. Her persecution, abuse and ill treatment go to the root of why we are mobilising the masses and fighting for a people’s Govt:
▶️Young women must be free from violence, abduction & torture,
▶️Young women must be adequately protected by our courts and justice system,
▶️Young women must not suffer second trauma when they are sexually assaulted.
▪️The persecution of the MDC trio is not an attack on the MDC, it is an attack on the core of freedom in Zimbabwe. It is an attack on the constitutional right to protest. It is an attack on the human ideal of security of person.
▪️The abduction of Joanna, Netsai and Cecillia are not unique. The same, evil act happened to Tawanda Muchehiwa, Peter Mugombeyi, Samantha Kureya, Tatenda Mombeyarara, Itai Dzamara, Jestina Mukoko and many others over the years. We demand justice and accountability. Without justice, there can be no stability or peace.

Without an independent investigation into these heinous acts, we will never see a stop to them.

Citizens are under attack, democracy is under attack.

It is the same reason that Job Sikhala, Godfrey Kuraone, Jacob Ngarivhume and Hopewell Chin’ono stayed in prison for that long.
Even though they finally made bail or acquitted, they were never supposed to be arrested in the first place.
The same with Tsitsi Dangarembwa, Fadzai Mahere, Lilian Timvious ,Namatai Kwekwedza and others on the long list. Including the nurses from Harare Hospital, the lawyers representing their clients Obey Shava and Doug Coltart and many others we have not mentioned by name.

Freedoms are under attack.We have a drought of Freedom in Zimbabwe.

Our leaders and Members of Parliament have been charged with Treason.
Job Sikhala , Charlton HWENDE, Amos Chibaya, Settlement Chikwinya,Lloyd mukapiko,Joana Mamombe, SIZIBA ,GOD SITHOLE,MUTINGWENDE

We also have had the arresting trade union leaders, lawyers, professionals, journalists and activists.

In Bulawayo, they abused two Mpofu sisters.

One way of seeing it, is that the MDC Alliance is under siege. I appreciate that perspective, but the correct way of seeing it is that Zimbabwe is under attack, it is being attacked through destruction of the only genuine people’s alternative.

Every sector of our society is under attack from despotism and rogue politics
That Must be ended.
That must Go!

Our bishops and the church in general have also not been spared the abuse and harassment for speaking truth to power and being a moral compass and guardians of societal conscience. Our Bishops and the church weighed in to caution the rabid politics of the incumbent.

We comment the church for playing their role as the salt of the earth and light of the world.

Without any doubt , those in government have now elevated evil to a level of worship.

Their catalogue of their activities is not complete, they proceed to kidnap not just journalists and activists but now they target their families.

The international community joined in, labour unions, political parties, sitting and former presidents and multinational organisations, raised the alarm. But once again this now feels just the usual catalogue of the regime’s well-established history of inhumanity.

The illegal recalls

The state driven recalls of MDC Alliance MPs , Councillors and Mayors by MDC-T using MDC-T Letters of recall, in all cases without due process and even following of the MDC-T constitution, is not only unacceptable and unprecedented in the history of elections anywhere in the world but also criminal, invalid, irregular and illegal and will be reversed.These setbacks are temporary. We will stand our ground.

The tormentors have taken aim and directed shots at the MDC ALLIANCE. They have violently grabbed and claimed our offices, funds, MPs and councillors. We condemn and denounce the schemes aimed at the banning of the MDC-Alliance in Zimbabwe.

In March 2020 the regime zeroed in on its main target. The MDC-Alliance as an institution, a party and an organisation faced elimination. This laser focus has been devoid of law or due process. This process begun with the Supreme Court decision.

There has been a deliberate misinterpretation of the Supreme Court decision by those who are violating the constitution and abusing the law to decimate the will and vote of the people.

The Mnangagwa administration is engaged in a very elaborate process to destroy the MDC. They are attacking our base. They have tried to decimate the people’s support of the movement. All this in complete disregard of the constitution, which guarantees freedom of association, and an illegal abuse of state institutions.

I wish to state here that the size of an idea ultimately dictates the size of its opposition. The greater the idea, the greater it’s opposing force.

They have employed armed war tactics. They practise extreme brutality. They have no regard for rules of engagement. It is a war without law, principle, ethics and limits. Their engagements respect no logic, humanity or conscience. It is just that, a war to win a de-facto one-party state at all and any costs.

ZANU PF has done this before. They have experience in destroying a political party to create a one-party state. It is a scorched earth policy.

They seem to have re-adopted and re-radicalised their old power-retention strategy. A desire to keep power through a de-facto one-party state strategy. The attacks are just a desperate attempt aimed at removing competitive politics from our country.

This is what they did to ZAPU, at the start they targeted the population, then ZAPU MPs, councillors and activists. So, by the time you got to 1985, ZAPU no longer had a base. It could not field candidates for local councils and constituencies and ZANU was largely uncontested in many constituencies. We must stop them.

The State of Economy
The country is characterized by political crisis manifesting itself through a social and economic stress, all of which are rooted in lack of leadership and drought of governance.

The following have defined our day to day environment:
• Chronic inflation which has remained steep at 837.53% in July regardless of various efforts to rig it;
• Dollarised environment although Government is denying it and still pay workers in ZWL
• Worsening poverty level which has seen over 70% of the remaining in abject poverty and +8 million are food insecure;
• Poverty datum line for a family of five has 5 folds (400%) from January to $17,244 in August while the majority of civil servants are earning salaries which is below $4000 interestingly after receiving a mere 50% salary increment and a fake US$75 COVID-19 which has remained a pie in the air because they can’t access it;
• Ironically, in the face of these difficulties, the Minister of Finance and Economic Development, in his fiscal mid-term review, didn’t provide for a supplementary budget all in the name of trying to maintain the purported budget surplus which has never been attained because of the following:
o Absence of full fiscal consolidation to take into account subsidies offered in the energy sector (fuel and electricity), maize and transport (ZUPCO);
o The $18 billion COVID stimulus package and the US$75 COVID-19 allowance for civil servants as well as the US$30 COVID-19 allowance for pensioners, combined, account for more than 30% of the total budget, was not accounted for in the mid- term fiscal review.
• Rampant corruption which is facilitated by obscurity in the subsidies going the agricultural (command), fuel, electricity and transport sectors.
• Toxic political environment

Our alternative economic solution

As your alternative Government we have been clear of what needs to be done and we haven’t been selfish to advise Mnangagwa Government on must be done although our advice was met high level of intellectual arrogance and as such was never taken on board. In one of my state of the nation address, I made the following suggestions:
• Accept the reality that the economy has dollarised and eliminate of the Zimbabwe dollar with a view to ensure economic stability;
• Payment of decent salaries to civil servants in USD and this regard the averages salaries of around US$550 per month for the average civil servant must be used as a starting point;
• Government must take leadership in undertaking reforms (both political and economic reforms) and respect of the constitution;
• The need to come up with an all stakeholders strategy on how the country can come out of the COVID-19 pandemic. These stakeholders among others will include political parties, business, CSO, academics, think tanks, Government and development partners;
• There need for a real stimulus package of US$5 billion to deal with COVID-19 not the ZW$18 billion (which is equivalent to US$180 million – which the Government has failed to disburse for that matter).
• Real inclusive engagement (both local and international) – here charity begins at home. Government must never fool itself that it will have impetus to engage the international community and hope that it will be taken seriously when it is busy burning its own house back home. Government must engage the Zimbabweans first and address their concerns and then we go out as team Zimbabwe to engage the international community. Brand Zimbabwe must never be a ZANU PF thing but a Zimbabwean one!

What is our plan?

There need for a political settlement and resolution of a political conflict in Zimbabwe.

Fellow citizens, it is trite to state that our crisis can only be resolved by a well meaning and credible, bankable dialoguee process between and among Zimbabweans so that collectively, we can chart the way forward for our country.

We salute South Africa and in particular the ANC, EFF, One South Africa movement, BOTSWANA opposition ZAMBIA ,AU, UN and all other Progressive movements and Trade Unions globally for their solidarity and involvement in efforts aimed at the resolution of the Zimbabwean crisis. Indeed, Zimbabwean lives matter!

As we have said before, dialogue should not only be bankable but should be guaranteed and brokered by a mutually agreed convener in the mould of SADC or the AU. Sadly, our colleagues in Zanu PF have invited and mounted a desperate show of the political players (POLAD) they have created comprising those who agree with them, to the monologue table.

We have respectfully told them that any discussion among parties that are in agreement can never be called a genuine dialogue. It is simply a monologue, a meaningless chorus of the pliant and obliging opposition.

But we have seen that our overtures for dialogue have been spurned. We reserve our right to pursue all Constitutional avenues to ensure that Zimbabweans in their diversity do sit down to chart the way forward for this great country that we all love.

OUR PROGRAM OF ACTION

THE 5 BIG FIGHTS

In January 2020, in our AGENDA 2020 statement, I articulated the five big fights for the year and these have proved to be the trajectory and hallmark of the people’s struggles through out this year.

***It is vital to underscore that we also identified the various zones of struggle namely; the street, state, parliament, local authorities, media, diplomacy, elections, courts and resource mobilization as key theaters of struggle and contestation in all our 5 BIG FIGHTS!

Fight Number1: The fight for a people’s government, reforms and a return to legitimacy.

As we have stated, Illegitimacy is at the core of our national crisis. We have hit these plumbing depths as a country because of the vicious cycle of disputed elections, the last of which was the pilfered plebiscite of July 2018. As a country and as a people, we will continue to clamour for comprehensive reforms so that the next election is vaccinated against any tendencies inclined towards subverting the will of the people. In February of this year, we unveiled a blueprint that we dubbed PRICE, the Principles for a Credible Election, which is itself our humble submission on the table for what needs to be done if the country is to break free from the vicious cycle of disputed elections

Now ZEC has announced dates for by-elections, we believe what was more important was first to embrace and implement comprehensive reforms so that we hold truly credible elections that reflect the will of the people of Zimbabwe.

As long as this is not done, we shall continue to move in circles and it will be difficult to break free from the shackles of illegitimacy that often cloud and taint those in the seat of government. .

Fight Number 2: The fight for a better life, dignity and livelihoods

I know that all of you, my fellow citizens, maybe except those in government, continue to live lives of indignity. We are all suffering and yet the dignity and worth of every Zimbabwezn is a basic human right enshrined in our Constitution.

Yet all of us as citizens that include villagers, informal traders, farmers and our government employees are living miserable lives as this regime has dismally failed to accord us our due dignity and prudent treatment as citizens who have rights.

That is why we all continue to reminisce and remember with nostalgia the good old days of the MDC in government; the heady days which gave us all a reason to smile and hope again.

Indeed, the quest for a lfe of dignity will remain our primary focus as citizens. And we will do all that is Constitutionally permissible in demanding the restoration of our dignity. .

Fight Number Three: The fight against Corruption

Corruption is killing us. The fight against corruption has been one of the unstinting fights of the country’s citizens this whole year. Covidgate and the arrest and conviction of current and former ministers shows that avarice and corruption among the well-heeled political elite is the country’s biggest affliction.

Yet the real culprits continue to roam the country scot free. The unwarranted arrest and detention of Hopewell Chin’ono and Tatenda Muchehiwa shows that this government is fixated on punishing those who expose corruption instead of those who practise it. This system will go down on history for its penchant to smash the mirror and not to decisively tackle the cancer of corruption. It is pertinent to note that Transparency International, the Zimbabwe chapter, has reported that since 2016, Zimbabwe has lost more than US$ billions through corruption mostly by the well heeled political elite. That must stop and the culprits must be decisively dealt with, not the drama of catch and release in which senior government officials are arrested in the morning and set free in the afternoon.

Fight Number Four: The fight for rights, freedoms, security of persons and the rule of law

Fellow Zimbabweans, the fight for citizens’ rights has become a huge fight in this country. The wanton arrests and detentions of innocent citizens and the trampling of their rights have become the hallmark of the national crisis and led to strident global condemnation under the campaign of #.**ZimbabweanLivesMatter*

It is tragic that government has become the chief culprit in abrogating citizen rights and we shall continue to call for the respect of human rights, which rights are now firmly embedded in the country’s Constitution.

Fight Number Five: The fight in defence of the Constitution,and Constitutionalism

Fellow Zimbabweans, it is tragic that we have a government that is hellbent on amending the Constitution instead of amending it.

Zimbabweans shall continue to defend the Constitution that they wrote themselves and affirmed in a referendum. But now the regime is keen to use its ill-gotten majority in Parliament to subvert the will of the people by amending a Constitution they have not even implemented. How do you repair a shirt you have never even put on?

We restate that we will use every avenue to defend the Constitution and to call for its implementation and not its amendment.

Fellow Zimbabweans, it has been a tenuous 21 years of struggle but we are almost there. Repression and violence will not distract us in this our inexorable march towards a new Zimbabwe and the vast opportunities that lie ahead for all of us. Dictatorships have temporary legs.

All that we are facing are temporary set backs in this our brave march towards a new hope. The adage says the darkest hour is before dawn but I wish to state that it is only in the darkest of nights that one is able to see the stars.

We owe it to the past. And we owe to the current and future generations to bring back the hope hope in our desolate lives. It has been a long journey but we are almost getting there.

Countrymen, friends,

▪️Democracy is the historical fight the MDC is founded on that sees us here today.
▪️The fight is not ended until we see freedom take root.
▪️The fight is not ended until we destroy all attempts to return Zimbabwe to a one party state.
▪️The fight is not ended until every man, woman and child can live a life of dignity, good health and peace.
▪️As citizens, we must unite as a broad front to confront the challenges of today, the same broad front that came together in 1999, and take ownership of our collective struggle. Churches, civic society, the women’s movement, the student movement and most importantly, the trade union movement, must join hands and speak with one voice against= the injustice, poverty and corruption that has been caused by Zanu PF & is destroying our livelihoods.
▪️We must speak out against the death of freedom, the death of democracy and the death of the rule of law.
▪️In 2020, our collective voices must ring louder than they’ve ever rung before in the cry for democratic change and transformation.
▪️The Zimbabwe we want requires common purpose and vision. It requires courage in the face of adversity. It requires hope in the face of despair.

▪️Only a people’s Govt can deliver on the promise of real lasting change.
▪️Only a people’s Govt can deliver on the promise of a strong economy where poverty, hunger and joblessness are tackled in earnest.
▪️Only a people’s Govt can deliver on a Zimbabwe where freedom, fairness and opportunity abound for all.

Countrymen and friends,

The lines have been crossed, there is no going back.

We gave peace a chance, some are disrespectful of peace.

We gave dialogue a chance, some perceive it a weakness.

We gave democracy a chance, elections were and continue to be stolen in broad day light, the little we salvaged from the jaws of electoral fraud is also being taken away.

Fellow Zimbabwean this comes down to two choices. Either to stand divided, point fingers and perish or unite confront the dictator.

I am announcing the Birmingham moment, time to look the beast in the eye.
It cannot be business as usual. The time for playing games must come to an end, now is the time chat a way, to liberate ourselves from the pharonic clutches suffocating our people and find means and ways of crossing the Red sea into a land of freedom.

It is time to save ourselves from individuals who steal billions when 8.5 million Zimbabweans are facing starvation.

It is time to save ourselves from people who raid the RBZ when exchange rates are collapsing.

It is time to save ourselves from reckless behaviour which has resulted in shocking inflation driving the price of bread and mealie meal beyond the reach of many.

It is time to save ourselves from being the world’s laughing stock, the ones clamouring for menial jobs in foreign lands, yet from an educated and one of the richest countries in the world.

It is time to save ourselves from bandits who will always claim there is no crisis in Zimbabwe when hospitals are closed, with no nurses drugs and even gloves yet in the middle of a global pandemic rearing its ugly head.

Now is the time. It is time to carry our own cross and save ourselves. The time of playing games must come to an end.

So what must we do? We must mobilize and fight, together, as a broad front. You and I must play our part to win Zimbabwe for change

Let me tell you, it is not just politics, as usual. Let us be the willing and available population ready to stop death and famine. To serve the future, we need to salvage the and save the present!

If we do not stop them they will not stop because power is never given voluntarily, even in a democracy, there has to be something, like a constitutional clause that prohibits further or continued retention or acquisition of power. Ion our case, we are that clause.

My fellow Zimbabweans, we are our own liberators.We are the answer to all our questions.We are the solution to our problems.

On the occasion of the 21st anniversary of the people’s movement I recommit to leading as we finish what we started.

Our course of action will be as follows.
Our Course of action is as follows;

(a) Calling national convergence and find consensus on the way to winning Zimbabwe for change with civic society, labour, the churches, students, the diaspora and the women’s movement. Everyone can play a part.

(b) Confront the regime and put pressure on the regime within the limits of section 59 of the Constitution to push the regime and to defend livelihoods.

(c) pursue a SMART agenda for delivery in this spaces we control particularly local authorities and parliament.

(d) Protect and defend the Constitution against any attempts in undemocratic unilateral attempts to amend the same.

(e) Engage the international community and other stakeholders in mitigating the massive humanitarian impact and ensuring the provision of social safety nets.

Fellow Zimbabweans, I can boldly state today that the hour of change is imminent. The past is now another country and I can see the bright shining lights of the Canaan ahead.

Lastly, fellow Zimbabweans, brace for the imminent change ahead. I humbly plead with you, my fellow citizens, to firmly and fondly embrace the change that is almost upon us.

Behold the NEW …
Behold the imminent moment!

The Walls of Jericho are about to fall. We will push them asunder. We choose to lead.

God Bless you,
God Bless Zimbabwe

God is in it !!!

By A Correspondent- 6000 teachers will be recruited by the government of Zimbabwe to help fill up the gap of teachers’ shortages that has been created due to the COVID-19 health guidelines to contain the pandemic.

This was revealed by the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education director of communications and advocacy, Mr Taungana Ndoro who said

We are recruiting about 6 000 teachers starting this term to cover for the workload which is coming with the trimming of classes. We have around 9 000 schools in the country so we need the teachers to take the extra classes that will be created.

….because in the first place there was no Term Two to talk about. School authorities must follow Government directives. The official school calendar was Term One and this one where schools are opening tomorrow. So, there was no Term Two in the first place, and the Government position is that no school must therefore demand fees for a term that was not announced and approved by Government.

Ndoro said schools that needed to increase fees were supposed to follow laid down procedure to do so:

There is a procedure that needs to be followed before fees are increased. The ministry only deals with an agreed position from the school and the parents. So, what comes before the ministry for approval is a position that would have been agreed between the parents and the school. Only then can they bring it to the ministry for consideration. So, we are saying it is high time that schools and parents settle on one agreed position

Public schools will open their doors for the classes that will sit for their final year in December tomorrow despite teachers declaring that they are incapacitated

Press Statement

MDC-T Harare Youth Assembly (2014) Harare has taken over control of the Party HQ MRT House tonight. This has been necessitated by our realization on the need to unite the people in the fight for a better Zimbabwe.

We as the youths have decided to go beyond our differences and unite to resolve the current crisis. We have been concerned by the recent developments where the party had been infiltrated by some ZANU PF elements battling to destroy the People’s movement thereby aiding the suffering of the masses.

Paul Gorekore
MDC-T Harare Province Youth Chairperson

ALERT

Clr Mupamaonde and Hre Provincial Executive Member Taurai Magodhi have been arrested and detained at Marimba Police Station this evening. Their crime being that they addressed an unsanctioned meeting in Mufakose, Harare.

By A Correspondent- At least 30 Mashurugwi ( Machete-Wielding Gangs) that wreaked havoc at Mount Royal Business Centre, Fort Rixon on September 19 have attracted the attention of the Zimbabwe Republic Police which announced that they are hunting for the infamous gang members.

This was revealed by ZRP National spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi who said they are looking for MaShurugwi who made a scene in Fort Rixon a few days ago. Said Assitant Commissioner Nyathi:

Police in Fort Rixon are hunting down 30 men involved in public violence at Mount Royal Business Centre, Fort Rixon on September 19 at about 1200 hours. The unidentified suspects who are believed to be illegal gold panners from Nkayi armed themselves with axes, machetes and stones before assaulting everyone at the business centre and setting alight two tuckshops.

A Nissan Caravan belonging to the suspects was burnt in the melee. As at September 23, the police made a total of 51 725 arrests on operation Chikorokoza Ngachipere/ Isitsheketsha Kasiphele and No to Machete Gangs. Members of the public are warned from illegal mining activities throughout the country,

50 000 people have reportedly been arrested in the operation meant to curb marauding activities that were being carried out by infamous MaShurugwi who late last year attacked and killed ZRP Officer Constable Wonder Hokoyo.-DailyNews

TWO more elephants were found dead in Victoria Falls last Friday, bringing to 27 the number of jumbo deaths in Zimbabwe in the last two months.

The Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks) suspects the deaths were a result of a bacteria and samples have been sent to the United Kingdom for tests.

The most affected areas are in the north-westernparts of the country where Hwange and Zambezi National Parks and forests such as Woodlands and Pandamasu are located.

ZimParks public relations manager Mr Tinashe Farawo confirmed the latest deaths in an interview with The Sunday Mail yesterday.

“We discovered the first carcass in Victoria Falls on Friday morning,” said Mr Farawo.

“Another dead elephant was discovered in the same area later that day. We are suspecting a bacterial infection and we have sent samples to the United Kingdom.

“These deaths normally happen this time of the year. During the dry season animals travel long distances in search of food and water sources. Elephants are heat sensitive so this might be stress related.”

Zimbabwe is home to over 84 000 elephants, the second largest population in the world behind Botswana. Yet the country’s national parks have a carrying capacity of just 55 000.

Said Mr Farawo:

“That’s why we are always saying we must depopulate certain areas, particularly Hwange and repopulate areas where there are lesser animals.

“We have capacity to repopulate the whole of Africa especially in countries which had elephants before but were wiped out due to various reasons like poaching.”

The first group of 11 elephants were found dead on August 28 with their tusks intact thereby ruling out poaching. The mysterious deaths had initially appeared to share some similarities with the unexplained deaths of hundreds of elephants in neighbouring Botswana in recent months.

Scientists are still to determine what killed the elephants in the Okavango Delta, northern Botswana.

Both male and female elephants of all ages have died and locals have reported seeing the giant mammals staggering and going around in circles before they die.

State Media

SABC

THE Democratic Alliance (DA) says the action taken by President Cyril Ramaphosa against Minister of Defence, Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula is a “slap on the wrist”.

Mapisa-Nqakula unlawfully conveyed an African National Congress (ANC) delegation to Zimbabwe on an SANDF plane earlier this month.

Ramaphosa on Saturday ordered that Mapisa-Nqakula be not paid her salary for three months, starting in November, and ensure that the state funds used for the trip are paid by the ANC.

Her salary will also be paid to the Solidarity Fund established to support the country’s response to the coronavirus pandemic.

DA shadow minister of Defence Kobus Marais says this is a sign that Ramaphosa is weak, with no authority over his cabinet.

Marais says, “The President has downplayed this abuse of state resources, by stating it was an error of judgment. He himself admitted the minister did not act in the manner that talks to good governance – that she failed to act according to legal transcripts warranting care in the use of state resources and that she acted in a way that is inconsistent with her position. These are damning findings against the minster and yet she gets this slap on the wrist.”

The Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) says Ramaphosa must make public the two reports he received from Mapisa-Nqakula.

The IFP says it can’t only be Mapisa-Nqakula who faces the consequences, but there’s a trail of individuals who work in Defence who must also account.

IFP spokesperson Mkhuleko Hlengwa says, “The President seems to have jumped quite a number of steps into arriving at sanctioning which of course must happen. The absence of transparency in the process actually has no credibility to what the President has done because the minister was not the only one who violated the constitution which has been a deliberate part in the ANC to ignore the separation of party and state.”

President @CyrilRamaphosa has issued the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans Ms Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula with a formal reprimand for conveying an African National Congress (ANC) delegation to Zimbabwe on an South African Air Force (SAAF) aircraft. https://t.co/PV5yRu24bs

— Presidency | South Africa (@PresidencyZA) September 27, 2020

United Democratic Movement (UDM) leader Bantu Holomisa has also rejected the reprimand of Mapisa-Nqakula saying she should have been fired a long time ago.

Holomisa says, “You will recall that it is the same minister who had a lift to her son’s girlfriend or girl’s boyfriend from Congo, the Guptas Waterkloof Airforce landing happened under her watch, the killing of Collins Khosa of Alexander and her conflicting statements is there for everybody to see.”

Farai Dziva|President Nelson Chamisa has said there is no need to form a new political party.

President Chamisa made the remarks at the MDC Alliance E-rally on Saturday.

President Chamisa added the wave of change cannot be stopped by anybody – including Emmerson Mnangagwa, also known as the Crocodile because of his ruthlessness.

Watch video below :

Farai Dziva|MDC Alliance vice president Hon Tendai Biti has declared that Emmerson Mnangagwa will not stop the people’s struggle…

Speaking at the MDC Alliance E-Rally on Saturday, Hon Biti took a swipe at Thokozani Khupe and Douglas Mwonzora, accusing the two of sabotaging the people’s struggle.The rally was held to commemorate the Movement for Democratic Change’s 21st anniversary.

Hon Biti pointed out that Khupe was not present at the formation of the popular movement.

Watch video loading below :

Farai Dziva|President Nelson Chamisa has said there is no need to form a new political party.

President Chamisa made the remarks at the MDC Alliance E-rally on Saturday.

President Chamisa added the wave of change cannot be stopped by anybody – including Emmerson Mnangagwa, also known as the Crocodile because of his ruthlessness.

Watch video below :

Happy #WorldTourismDay2020 , I see in another instalment you are talking about COLA for Civil Servants, can you push for Civil Service Travel Incentive Scheme , been with Employer from 2016! Will answer affordability for CS & allow them to holiday as u did . https://t.co/hZcDGNcZF9

— Dr Walter Mzembi (@waltermzembi) September 27, 2020

COURT WATCH 14/2020 [26th September 2020]

Public Interviews of Candidates for Appointment as Judges of the Constitutional Court:

Monday 28th September at Meikles Hotel

The public interviews of the following candidates for appointment will take place on Monday 28th September in the Stewart Room at Meikles Hotel, Harare.

The proceedings open to members of the public will start with a brief address by the Chief Justice, Hon Luke Malaba, at 8.20 am, followed by the individual interviews of the candidates in accordance with the following programme: 

Note on abbreviations:  AJCC – Acting Judge of the Constitutional Court; JA – Judge of the Supreme Court; J – Judge of the High Court.

LIVESTREAMING OF THE PROCEEDINGS

Veritas has permission to record and livestream the proceedings on the Veritas Facebook page

Five Vacancies on Court Need to be Filled

There are five vacancies on the Constitutional Court to be filled.  The vacancies arose by operation of law on 22nd May 2020, when the Constitutional Court and the Supreme Court separated at the end of the transitional arrangements provided for in the Constitution.  The vacancies are temporarily filled by five Acting Judges of the Constitutional Court, all of whom are on the above list of candidates for substantive appointments.  This background is fully explained in Court Watch 10/2020 [link] and Court Watch 11/2020 [link

Opposition MDC Alliance deputy spokesperson Clifford Hlatywayo has bemoaned the ever present threat to peace of Zimbabweans locally and abroad as a result of Zanu PF’s onslaught against dissent.

Hlatywayo who was quoted in a local publication castigated Zanu PF for being a stumbling to the attainment of peace in the country.

“The peace of Zimbabweans locally and abroad is at stake. Our peace is under threat from the state. The illegitimate regime has become our stumbling block in attaining peace in Zimbabwe. As citizens we need to pursue our own peace because it is the backbone of individual and national development

“We join all nations to commemorate this year’s International Peace Day. Both political and socio-economic peace is under threat. Education and health care systems have been destroyed. Political space has been shuttered. The human rights and fundamental freedoms is now a taboo in Zimbabwe. The generation ahead of us is plundering and destroying our resources and robbing Zimbabwe’s future,” said Hlatywayo.

By A Correspondent- A 31 year old father, Passmore Nicholas, allegedly accidentally fed his one year old son cattle dip chemical thinking that it was water.

Allegations are that the mother Placxedis Mafunga was offered the dip chemical from a nearby farm where she had been doing her piece jobs.

She poured the chemical in a Pepsi container and left it in the kitchen.

It is also alleged that the baby was crying while under the watch of his father who accidentally fed him the liquid from the Pepsi container in a bid to calm him down thinking it was water.

The baby cried all the more after drinking the poison and his mother came to enquire what was happening to him.

Nicholas told her that he gave him the liquid in the Pepsi container and she revealed that it was poison.

They rushed the baby to a nearby clinic and he died upon admission.

Mashonaland Central deputy police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Fidelis Dhewu confirmed the case and implored people not to put poisonous substances in food containers.

By A Correspondent- Nelson Chamisa while addressing the MDC Alliance e-rally in the capital yesterday, said his party was not changing its name adding that the party had given dialogue a chance to no avail.

The MDC Alliance leader said his party’s stance on dialogue has been viewed as a weakness.

He added that those that were pushing the party to change its name were working in cahoots with Zanu Pf.

Adressing his supporter in the e-rally that was celebrating the MDC’s 21st anniversary, Chamisa said:

I am happy that we are consulting our members countrywide. We are MDC Alliance. We are a baobab tree. You can’t cut MDC Alliance with a razor. We refuse to be swallowed. We cannot change our name at the insistence of Zanu PF

Chamisa also assured his party supporters that they have a plan to fight the continued blitz on their party and said:

The first plan we have is a political settlement. Some people are saying why are you not demonstrating; but we have reached here because we know what we are doing.

We know what we want to fight for. We want to fight for a people’s government because what we have is not a people’s government.

Do not be scared, the struggle is in good shape. If we had two million (people) now we have doubled. We have not shut down the country because we do not want to do so.

We have been founded on the fight for democracy, on the roots of fighting for freedom… The fight is not ended and until we destroy all attempts to make Zimbabwe a one-party state, we will not rest. Mnangagwa will not control us. He wants to control all of us, but he will not manage that.”

We have given peace a chance, but some have been disrespectful of this. We have been founded on the roots of fighting for freedom. This fight has not ended.

We have given dialogue a chance, but some perceive our call for dialogue as a weakness. We have given democracy a chance, but some feel an election which is stolen means that we will capitulate and we are surrendering to the electoral fraud. Democracy is under attack, citizens are under attack, all of us are under attack.

One way I must tell you of looking into this is that when we are under attack, this is an opportunity to organise everything. So we are calling on all Zimbabweans, now forget about your political parties, and now forget about your churches, organisations, student movements, any other belonging. Let’s remember that we are all under the banner of Zimbabwe.

Let’s unite, let’s unite. In the next coming days change is coming. Be part of it. That is why as leadership, we are not panicking. The walls of Jericho are falling. Don’t lose sleep

Nelson Chamisa’s remarks came after the Thokozani Khupe led faction last week rebranded and changed their name to MDC Alliance.

Watch the live video loading below…….

Watch the live video loading below……

By A Correspondent- Nelson Chamisa while addressing the MDC Alliance e-rally in the capital yesterday, said his party was not changing its name.

The MDC Alliance leader said those that were pushing the party to change its name were working in carhoots with Zanu Pf.

Adressing his supporter in the e-rally that was celebrating the MDC’s 21st anniversary, Chamisa said:

I am happy that we are consulting our members countrywide. We are MDC Alliance. We are a baobab tree. You can’t cut MDC Alliance with a razor. We refuse to be swallowed. We cannot change our name at the insistence of Zanu PF

Chamisa also assured his party supporters that they have a plan to fight the continued blitz on their party and said:

The first plan we have is a political settlement. Some people are saying why are you not demonstrating; but we have reached here because we know what we are doing.

We know what we want to fight for. We want to fight for a people’s government because what we have is not a people’s government.

Do not be scared, the struggle is in good shape. If we had two million (people) now we have doubled. We have not shut down the country because we do not want to do so.

We have been founded on the fight for democracy, on the roots of fighting for freedom… The fight is not ended and until we destroy all attempts to make Zimbabwe a one-party state, we will not rest. Mnangagwa will not control us. He wants to control all of us, but he will not manage that.”

We have given peace a chance, but some have been disrespectful of this. We have been founded on the roots of fighting for freedom. This fight has not ended.

We have given dialogue a chance, but some perceive our call for dialogue as a weakness. We have given democracy a chance, but some feel an election which is stolen means that we will capitulate and we are surrendering to the electoral fraud. Democracy is under attack, citizens are under attack, all of us are under attack.

One way I must tell you of looking into this is that when we are under attack, this is an opportunity to organise everything. So we are calling on all Zimbabweans, now forget about your political parties, and now forget about your churches, organisations, student movements, any other belonging. Let’s remember that we are all under the banner of Zimbabwe.

Let’s unite, let’s unite. In the next coming days change is coming. Be part of it. That is why as leadership, we are not panicking. The walls of Jericho are falling. Don’t lose sleep

Nelson Chamisa’s remarks came after the Thokozani Khupe led faction last week rebranded and changed their name to MDC Alliance.

By A Correspondent- Nelson Chamisa while addressing the MDC Alliance e-rally in the capital yesterday, said his party was not changing its name.

The MDC Alliance leader said those that were pushing the party to change its name were working in cahoots with Zanu Pf.

Adressing his supporter in the e-rally that was celebrating the MDC’s 21st anniversary, Chamisa said:

I am happy that we are consulting our members countrywide. We are MDC Alliance. We are a baobab tree. You can’t cut MDC Alliance with a razor. We refuse to be swallowed. We cannot change our name at the insistence of Zanu PF

Chamisa also assured his party supporters that they have a plan to fight the continued blitz on their party and said:

The first plan we have is a political settlement. Some people are saying why are you not demonstrating; but we have reached here because we know what we are doing.

We know what we want to fight for. We want to fight for a people’s government because what we have is not a people’s government.

Do not be scared, the struggle is in good shape. If we had two million (people) now we have doubled. We have not shut down the country because we do not want to do so.

We have been founded on the fight for democracy, on the roots of fighting for freedom… The fight is not ended and until we destroy all attempts to make Zimbabwe a one-party state, we will not rest. Mnangagwa will not control us. He wants to control all of us, but he will not manage that.”

We have given peace a chance, but some have been disrespectful of this. We have been founded on the roots of fighting for freedom. This fight has not ended.

We have given dialogue a chance, but some perceive our call for dialogue as a weakness. We have given democracy a chance, but some feel an election which is stolen means that we will capitulate and we are surrendering to the electoral fraud. Democracy is under attack, citizens are under attack, all of us are under attack.

One way I must tell you of looking into this is that when we are under attack, this is an opportunity to organise everything. So we are calling on all Zimbabweans, now forget about your political parties, and now forget about your churches, organisations, student movements, any other belonging. Let’s remember that we are all under the banner of Zimbabwe.

Let’s unite, let’s unite. In the next coming days change is coming. Be part of it. That is why as leadership, we are not panicking. The walls of Jericho are falling. Don’t lose sleep

Nelson Chamisa’s remarks came after the Thokozani Khupe led faction last week rebranded and changed their name to MDC Alliance.

Watch the live video loading below…….

By A Correspondent- Zanu PF Women’s League from Mashonaland East on Friday reportedly held a highly charged secretive election and the provincial chairlady Nyarai Tsvuura was reportedly replaced by her deputy Lyn Gororo.

According to a source that spoke to a local publication:

They are saying Tsvuura was co-opted, hence the need for elections. It is confusing as she was reinstated by the politburo a few months ago, but today we are being instructed to conduct elections.

We have some members who were co-opted into positions and we do not know when the elections for them will be held.

Tsvuura who at one point was suspended from the Zanu PF Women’s league for trumped-up charges which according to the publication includes gossiping was reinstated recently following Joe Biggie Matiza’s intervention. The Zanu PF Women’s league was also restricting her from accessing the party vehicle assigned to her.

When contacted for comment Matiza said he was aware of the meeting and said:

I am aware that they held a meeting in Marondera to discuss issues concerning them. However, I am yet to receive the report on what transpired on the day. The women’s league has the power to solve burning issues if need arises but like I said, I am ye to be appraised.”-standard

By A Correspondent- A Harare woman is seeking $500 000 from Home Affairs Minister Kazembe Kazembe after the police failed to carry out their constitutional mandate to investigate a case she has reported, which resulted in her suffering non-patrimonial loss.

The matter came to light in the court summons submitted through her lawyers, Tendai Biti Law, in which Kazembe,  police Commissioner-General Godwin Matanga is the second respondent and officer-in-charge (OIC) Machipisa CID and Constable Dzingarwi are cited as defendants.

In the summons seen by a local publication, Beauty Chiroodza said:

Sometime in November 2019, plaintiff approached Machipisa police station in the presence of her legal practioners laying a complaint concerning Dr Tawanda Zinyowera who was practising without a valid medical certificate issued by the medical and dental practitiobers council of Zimbabwe (MDPCZ) within the third defendant (OIC)’s jurisdiction.

Plaintiff became aware of this fact through its legal practitioners, who wrote a letter to the MDPCZ on the plaintiff’s behalf enquiring whether Zinyowera was a duly registered medical doctor in terms of the Health Service Act. In its response, the MDPCZ informed the plaintiff that Zinyowera was last registered with the authority in 2007 and was deregistered over non-payment of fees.

Plaintiff, in the company of her lawyers, approached the third defendant’s office and left a copy of such a letter in the care of the third defendant, and caused to have this issue investigated as part of a complaint she had lodged under CR150/7/17. Despite this information, the third defendant chose not to or neglected to effectively investigate this matter in terms of section 2I9 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe.

The failures that can be attributed to the defendants in this regard, include but are not limited to the following: (a) failure to apprehend the accused or question the accused person; (b) failure to attend to the crime scene/or place of operation expeditiously and attend to the scene for the purposes of gathering evidence to establish whether or not illegal medical practice was taking place; as provided for and empowered in terms of section 49 and 51 of the Criminal Procedure and Evidence Act (Chapter 9:04),” she said, adding that she made numerous follow-ups, but got no satisfactory answers.

The defendants have reportedly entered an appearance to defend, the case is yet to be heard.-standard

By A Correspondent- Opposition parties and civic groups have warned the government that alleged abductions and tortures and the continued blitz on defenceless citizens by suspected state agents are putting the country’s peace at stake.

The matter came to light when the Zimbabwe Peace Project (ZPP) director Jestina Mukoko while commemorating the International Day of Peace which is usually held every year on September 21 said:

…More importantly, Zimbabweans emphasised that citizens are not each other’s enemies. Peace is not just the absence of war, but the existence of an enabling environment, where human and people’s rights are realisable.

Sadly, this year, while the Zimbabwean government was supposed to foster unity, rallying all in the fight against the common enemy Covid-19 it used this period to unleash terror on citizens who dared speak out.

In addition to understanding that human rights actors and political activists are not enemies, but have an important and justifiable constitutional role in advocating for accountability,

Meanwhile, MDC Alliance deputy spokesperson Clifford Hlatywayo echoed Mukoko’s sentiments and said:

The peace of Zimbabweans locally and abroad is at stake. Our peace is under threat from the state. The illegitimate regime has become our stumbling block in attaining peace in Zimbabwe. As citizens we need to pursue our own peace because it is the backbone of individual and national developmen

We join all nations to commemorate this year’s International Peace Day. Both political and socio-economic peace is under threat. Education and health care systems have been destroyed. Political space has been shuttered. The human rights and fundamental freedoms is now a taboo in Zimbabwe. The generation ahead of us is plundering and destroying our resources and robbing Zimbabwe’s future

A victim of abduction and torture Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe president Obert Masaraure said:

The world should bridge the inequality gap to build sustainable and genuine peace. Our education systems should be used to uplift livelihoods not just to train labourers.

In the Zimbabwean context, the underpayment of teachers and other workers at a time when the ruling elites are enjoying executive luxuries is a serious threat to peace. The state repression we are witnessing is driving citizens to the edge

The Civic Groups and opposition parties sentiments come when the government is denying that there is a crisis in Zimbabwe. -standard

By A Correspondent- Pasture depletion has hit Matabeleland South province and this has worsened the plights of villagers from in Maphisa who are also trying to survive the effects of the devastating COVID-19 pandemic which was made worse by Zimbabwe’s declining economy, The Standards reports.

The pasture depletion was confirmed by Artwell Sibanda, a Kezi communal farmer who said this to the publication:

We are in a catch-22 situation where we [humans] have to compete for water with livestock for survival… An outgrower scheme farm where villagers can be partnered to produce lucerne is one way of ensuring a lasting solution to the issue of lack of pastures.

Speaking about the same plight of pasture depletion, Chief Nyangazonke appealed to well-wishers to help them with pastures and said:

We are pleading with private land [farm] owners to allow villagers to come and cut grass to save their livestock, or at best, to open up their grazing lands for a fee or through exchange for labour.

We need supplementary feeding to save livestock. Over the years, we have seen some organisations coming in to assist and pray this will be the case again this year,

Cattle dealers are reportedly flocking into Maphisa and forcing desperate villagers to sell their beasts for as little as R3000.

Last year over 21 000 cattle died due to pasture depletion and water shortages in Matabeleland.-standard

By A Correspondent- Internal correspondence at the Police General Head Quarters (PGHQ) that has found its way into the hands of the media has reportedly exposed ZRP Officials and how they are frustrating criminal investigations by shielding criminal cartels in exchange for money and in some instances gold.

The correspondence also revealed how cops who have busted cartels are being victimised. In the correspondent, a signed affidavit dated September 22, Edias Tembo, a retired assistant commissioner revealed how top police officers were shielding the following in exchange for money:

1. Illegal gold dealers
2. Illegal diamond traders
3. Foreign exchange dealers
4. Smugglers
5. Human traffickers
6. suspects in externalisation of forex

Tembo in the affidavit wrote:

I am a retired assistant commissioner, I was attested into the Zimbabwe Republic Police as a Patrol Officer on 08 October 1986. I was retired on March 27, 2020. I successfully rose through the rank and file up to Assistant Commissioner with 34 years of sterling service, and during my tenure, I held the highest post of acting chief of staff, human resources.

I am a well experienced and senior officer in the policing terrain. I observed that arrests and detention in this sphere were latent or almost zero. I then made a strategy to minimise this rot and I officially tabled the matter to the provincial command. I was supposed to develop a crack team to decisively deal with the menace.

The operations started sincerely. A good number of notable achievements were recorded. Quality arrests and recoveries were registered by the team. A number of service stations selling fuel registered in forex were prosecuted.

One crucial arrest of a white man (name withheld) of Bless Block Murambi in Mutare was initiated after a tip-off about the illegal gold dealings. Arrangements to arrest him, including applying for a search warrant, were done and a search warrant granted by a magistrate.

He verified the team’s identity. He professed ignorance on my team. He needed clarification from CID HQ and PGHQ. Immediately, phone calls showed from the CID HQ and PGHQ to the members of the crack unit. The crack unit briefed me of the phone calls they received from CID director,” Tembo said.

“I personally received a phone call from Chief Superintendent (name withheld) and CID HQ who indicated that he had been directed to call me by the commissioner.

“He subjected me to a long and protracted interview concerning the operations of the crack unit. I briefed the protocol commissioner about it. He made consultations and advised me to stop the operation.

“I was discouraged from indulging in such operation following lengthy telephone calls. I communicated this embarrassment to the provincial command.

“I was advised to put a halt to the investigations because some senior police officers had queried the operations. No further investigations were done on the strength of the complaint by CID HQ and PGHQ.”

Tembo said he later discovered that the Mutare businessman allegedly gave a select number of CID HQ top officers a kilogramme of gold on a monthly basis.

Information at hand indicated that he was a protected blue-eyed boy who gave a select number of CID HQ echelon a kilogramme of gold on a monthly regular basis. I then fell out of favour with my colleagues. The team was unprocedurally disbanded by Officer Commanding Manicaland indicating the discomfort by senior officers from CID HQ and PGHQ.

All CID members, especially the Border nostro, know all economic saboteurs in Mutare but that is their grazing area. They deliberately protect the saboteurs because they fatten their pockets and hence they don’t entertain investigations by any unit. At one point in time, the majority of saboteurs relocated and vacated on a tip-off by security agents.

If the status quo is maintained, I doubt if vision 2030 will be achieved. A new set of measures are urgently required to address this menace before the economy collapses. The majority of corrupt officers survive on protecting the economic saboteurs at a price.

Meanwhile. when the ZRP National spokesperson Assitant Commissioner Paul Nyathi was asked about the document that leaked from the PGHQ he said he was not aware of the document:

I am not aware of the letter or that document, unless it was addressed to a particular department.-Standard

State Media

CLOSE to 15 years since it was established, residents in Mbundane in Umguza District, adjacent to Mganwini (Bulawayo) still have no water connected to their households with residents forced to illegally construct Blair toilets and dig wells where they draw sewer contaminated water for reuse.

Residents in the suburb have been operating without key amenities as the Bulawayo City Council is refusing to connect them to their water and sewer reticulation system, arguing that the suburb does not fall under its jurisdiction despite it being located just at the boundary between the City of Bulawayo and Umguza. In 2017 there was a hope for the residents, when BCC and Umguza RDC signed a memorandum of understanding to end the dispute between the two authorities. BCC indicated then that it was setting aside funds to connect the suburb.

However, three years after the signing of the MoU, a visit to the suburb revealed that residents were in more dire straits.

The whole suburb with 2 000 households is relying on one manual borehole for water. Some residents have even resorted to dig open wells close to a sewer infested stream, popularly known as Phekiwe which feeds into the heavily polluted Umguza River. The residents use the water from the wells to water their gardens, wash clothes and even their utensils so as to save the water which they get from the single borehole.

So dangerously located are the open wells that go up to 20 metres deep that residents revealed that every rainy season a number of people slip and fall in, but fortunately no death has been recorded to date. Mbundane residents water chairperson, Mrs Makanyara Moyo said they were surprised that officials from the Bulawayo City Council were quick to explain to residents and the Government on the water situation in the city and totally ignore the plight of Mbundane. She accused the local authority of treating them inhumanely. She said there was now a need for authorities to come to their aid.

“I built my house in 2008 and moved here in 2012, since then we have no water supplies, let alone any sewer reticulation. When we got here, we would go to the bush to relieve ourselves, only when it was dark, as we had no other option. It was embarrassing because I would meet young children but we had no choice.

“The property developer, Mehluli Khumalo, at one point tried to illegally connect water to the suburb but it lasted just a couple of days before BCC cut us off. We have been to every relevant office at BCC, Umguza RDC and also the Government offices but nothing seems to come to fruition, we remain the forgotten residents of Mbundane,” said Mrs Moyo.

The residents’ chairperson took the news crew to an open area which she claimed was initially meant to be a shopping mall but residents had since turned it into an open defecation area within the suburb. Before one even reaches the area, they are met with a heavy stench with used tissue paper and newspapers flying all over the place.

“We now have three phases in the suburb and we all rely on just one borehole, those that afford go to the nearby plots where they buy water for one Rand a bucket. When BCC signed the MoU, we were made to pay some money under the pretext that it was to pay for our connection but nothing has happened to date.

“We wish someone would tell us what to do in order to get water. BCC speaks of the Luveve water contamination but what are they saying of residents that are openly using sewer contaminated water here in Mbundane,” said Mrs Moyo.

Umguza RDC ward 16 Councillor Simbarashe Manaka, who also stays in Mbundane revealed that they had reached a point of near surrender as no one seemed to care.

“I went to BCC a couple of weeks ago and was told the $253 paid by residents in 2018 for the connection of water was not enough as it had been eroded by inflation but this money was paid when the rate was still 1:1 (ZW to US$) and over 1 000 households paid. I even suggested that they at least connect community taps like what happened in Cowdray Park Hlalani Kuhle but nothing seems to be happening.

“What is confusing is that when you go to Umguza RDC they will tell us they have no power in the situation as the developer did not handover the project to them, they further claimed that if they are to intervene they would have to repossess and handover the project to another contractor, which is now impossible because beneficiaries have already constructed houses,” said Clr Manaka.

Contacted for comment Bulawayo Town Clerk, Mr Christopher Dube said their major hiccup was the suburb’s lack of the relevant infrastructure for them to be able to connect water and sewer.

“I can confirm that we collected $253 from each family but when we had to connect, we discovered that the infrastructure which was meant to be put in place by the developer was not up, this thereby being a major setback in the scheme. As it stands, we now have to connect a larger area of which we only have the capacity to connect 150 households. We now need to improve our off-site infrastructure to support the whole project but it is not an easy thing as it requires a lot of money, but we won’t neglect the suburb because it falls under our master plan,” said Mr Dube.

According to the Presidential Proclamation 15E of 2004 and the subsequent Statutory Instruments that created the metropolitan provinces of Bulawayo and Harare, metropolitan boundaries were declared as covering a radius of up to 40 kilometres, most of these areas are currently under the jurisdiction of Umguza RDC.

State Media

THE Government has approved the pegging of travel and subsistence allowances for councillors in foreign currency.

However, the councillors will receive the allowances in local currency using the official foreign currency exchange rate.

In a circular to all councils, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works, Mr Zvinechimwe Churu stated that the new allowances were with immediate effect.

“In line with circular number 12 of 18 March 2020 and to enable you to compute the travel and subsistence levels for councillors for local travel, I attach hereto the revised Government travel and subsistence levels as contained in the Public Service Commission circular 13 of 2020. It is expected that you adhere to these new levels that come into effect immediately. The allowances shall be converted and paid in Zimbabwe Dollar using the prevailing foreign exchange rate determined through the official foreign exchange auction system,” said Mr Churu.

According to the new allowances, councillors will get the prevailing hotel rates for proved bed and breakfast per day, when absent on overnight assignments and for unproved bed and breakfast per day they will get US$30.

“Unproved meals; for breakfast councillors will now receive US$5, lunch; US$10 and dinner; US$15, while unproved supplementary allowances shall be US$5 per day,” reads a Bulawayo City Council confidential report.

According to the ministerial circular, heads of departments and accounting officers are mandated to approve the trips, consider the size of the delegation and duration of the trip.

“A member should produce proof of expenses incurred on return to the home station and monies unaccounted for should be returned at the end of the month during which the trip is made,” reads the circular.

Last year the ministry approved that the councillors get free parking space and a grave during their tenure in office. On the purchasing of electronic equipment, the ministry said if a council wishes to do this, it should be done with the approval of the ministry.

“The minister has also put restrictions on the holding of workshops, seminars, trainings and similar events outside of the council jurisdiction unless authority to hold the function at an alternative venue has been sanctioned by the permanent secretary,” reads the circular.

President Cyril Ramaphosa has officially reprimanded Defence Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula.

This follows her report on why an ANC delegation used an SANDF aircraft to travel to Harare for talks about the political unrest there.

Ramaphosa found that Nqakula didn’t act in the best interests of good governance.

Mapisa-Nqakula will be docked three months’ pay from November.

READ: Zulu defends ANC trip to Zimbabwe

Her salary will be paid into the Solidarity Fund established to support the country’s response to the Coronavirus pandemic.

The ANC will also have to reimburse the state for the costs of the flight.

Political analyst Sandile Swana says the president’s reaction is of a man playing it safe.

He says this is not the first time the Defence Minister has compromised National Key Points.

“The statement by the President is very vague and is not grounded in law.”

Source: eNCA

https://twitter.com/JobWiwaSikala/status/1310133693961437184?s=20

Correspondent

Under persecution MDC Alliance Harare West MP Joanna Mamombe has challenged at the High Court a ruling by magistrate Bianca Makwande who committed her to prison for two weeks.

The magistrate last Thursday committed Mamombe to Chikurubi Prison to allow her to get examined by mental health doctors at the institution ahead of her trial at the same courts.

However, through her lawyers, she wants the decision to be set aside.

“The application by the state for the committal of the applicant for medical examination by two medical practitioners be dismissed,” her application reads.

The lawmaker also wants the respondents to bear the costs for the suit.

Makwande ruled that facts before the court clearly showed Mamombe was mentally disturbed but could not conclude that she was sick because she is not an expert.

“The court is not an expert on mentality and it requires expert advice to ascertain if the diagnosis will affect the trial.

“The court should exercise its jurisdiction judiciously and feels that section 26 should be invoked,” said Makwande adding Mamombe should be examined by neutral doctors who will give independent reports.

Paul Nyathi

Details coming through indicate that government last week suspended the University of Zimbabwe’s Masters of Medicine and Masters of Obstetrics and Gynecology programmes and banned enrolled students from accessing public hospitals after the students took part in an industrial action.

According to the reports, the decision had been handed down from the Ministry of Health and Child Care under instructions from Vice President Constantino Chiwenga who is also the Minister of Health.

Latest details indicate that the group of the trainee doctors who took part in the industrial action during the peak of Covid-19 before Government suspended them last week, have apologised for their actions and asked to return to the institution.

The students, are said to have since asked Government for forgiveness and admitted that their demands were outrageous.

Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Students in Training group representative Dr Maxwell Chimhina said the student doctors were sorry to desert the nation when their services were needed the most.

“Most of the students in training are stationed outside Harare, some as far as Mutare and Hwange, and would want to go back and serve the communities when we finish our studies,” said Dr Chimhina.

“We are very sorry for the demands we made, especially during this Covid-19 pandemic where our input is needed most.”

Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development, Professor Amon Murwira, who is responsible for the student doctors, said Government was prepared to listen to the students’ pleas.

“It has to be understood that this was not a punishment but a reaction to the students’ action to withdraw their services,” said Prof Murwira.

“It did not make sense to keep the classes open when no one was attending. But it’s good that they have realised their mistakes and if they make an official plea to Government we will consider it.

Acting on Government’s orders, the UZ’s Dean of Medicine and Health Science Faculty, Dr Noah Mutongoreni, last week blocked the students from accessing public hospitals for training. In their remorseful letter, the students appealed to the Government to rescind the order and allow them to continue with their training. “We appeal to the Ministry r to allow us back into the teaching hospital and finish our studies so that we can better serve our community.”

Another representative of the students, Dr Nigel Dzvanga, who is the UZ’s chief resident internal medicine registrar said the students regretted their actions.

“We are all in training and hoping to complete our training so that we can serve our various communities and the nation at large. We sincerely apologise for our actions and we hope the powers that be may consider our appeal.”

Source: State Media

Paul Nyathi

Axe wielding MDC-T led by Thokozani Khupe is this week set to recall MDC Alliance Vice President Lynette Karenyi together with five other legislators from parliament for failing to recognise the leadership of Khupe.

Other MPs facing the axe are Mutare Central MP Innocent Gonese, Epworth MP Earthrage Kureva Marondera Central MP Caston Matewu, Harare senator Theresa Makone and Binga North MP Prince Dubeko Sibanda.

The recall letters, signed by MDC-T secretary-general, Douglas Mwonzora, are said to have already been sent to the Speaker of the National Assembly, Jacob Mudenda.

State Media

CHIEF coordinator for the National Response to the Covid-19 pandemic in the Office of the President and Cabinet, Dr Agnes Mahomva said Zimbabwe was ready to contain a second wave.

This comes after a number of countries, particularly in Europe and the Americas, have witnessed spikes in infections, described by experts as the second wave of the coronavirus.

Resultantly, countries such as Uruguay have reverted to strict lockdowns while the United Kingdom indicated intentions to impose another lockdown to flatten the curve.

Dr Mahomva said Zimbabwe was on a drive to create and refurbish already existing isolation centres, while intensifying daily tests in efforts to fight the pandemic.

Furthermore, significant amounts of personal protective equipment (PPE) have been bought for public health facilities and schools.

The country is experiencing reduced infections and deaths per day as the Government’s interventions continue to bear fruit.

Dr Mahomva said the Government had been hailed for the stance it had taken to initiate the first lockdown in March, as this helped in containing the coronavirus.

“Experts acknowledge the way we are dealing with the pandemic and say it is good. The first lockdown, which came into effect in March, was commended as a good move.”

She said cases were stabilising.

“Our Covid-19 numbers are stabilising as the updates on cumulative numbers show.

“The curve is flattening as we are receiving assistance from regional and international experts on Covid-19, ,” she said.

The African Union’s Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) on Thursday said Zimbabwe’s participation in an in-country training on infection and control was expected to aid its preparedness for the second wave.

The country also took part in a webinar on public knowledge attitudes and preventative behaviour in response to the global pandemic last week.

In an online Africa press briefing on Thursday, the World Health Organisationsaid it had invested in technical resources,seeing over 900 staffers being deployed to the continent.

“There has been a lot of training of healthcare workers in surveillance, infection, prevention and control, and case management. Cumulatively we have had more than 1,4 million cases reported on the African continent and 34 000 people have died,” WHO expert Dr Matshidiso Moeti said.

As of Thursday, Central Africa had recorded 57 316 cases, Eastern 167 233, Northern 310 550, Western 173 464 and Southern being the hardest hit in the continent recording 724 807 cases.

Zimbabwe had recorded 7 787 cases by Friday.

State Media

GOVERNMENT will this week pay civil servants an additional Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) allowance, while salary negotiations continue.

Civil servants are expected to start receiving the additional payout from this Friday.

Exact amounts to be paid out are yet to be made public, but in a statement yesterday, Public Service Commission (PSC) secretary Ambassador Jonathan Wutawunashe said the adjustment sought to cushion workers pending finalisation of ongoing negotiations.

“In the spirit of understanding between Government and its employees, Government will proceed to pay, in addition to regular emoluments paid out earlier this week, what is available while NJNC (National Joint Negotiating Council) negotiations continue,” read the statement.

“This payment does not prejudice the negotiations, but seeks to cushion the workers in the interim, pending the conclusion of negotiations particularly in view of the urgent need to support teachers who are going back to school to prepare children for examinations.

“Government reiterates its commitment to pay a living wage to its employees who will start accessing the top up within the week ending October 2, 2020.”

The Apex Council, which is the umbrella body in civil servants’ salary negotiations said it will meet this week to deliberate on Government’s latest offer.

Apex Council deputy chairperson Mr David Dzatsunga said the move by Government shows that authorities are committed to addressing the plight of public sector workers.

“We are yet to make a collective statement on Government’s offer, so we are meeting next week,” he said.

“However, the offer shows that Government is aware that our salaries are inadequate, it is an admission on their part. So it’s a good starting point and a step in the right direction. But we need to get back to our members so as to deliberate on the latest offer and also wait for the negotiations to resume.”

Last week, some teachers’ unions threatened to go on strike ahead of the reopening of schools tomorrow, but the latest COLA adjustment was likely to put paid to any job boycott.

Zimbabwe Teachers Association (ZIMTA) secretary-general, Mr Tapson Sibanda, said they were ready for negotiations.

“At the moment we do not know the exact amount. However, once Government reveals the amount we will be able to make a decision,” he said.

“The ball is in the Government’s court right now and we are ready for negotiations any time soon.”

The COLA comes as Government has extended the tax-free US dollar Covid-19 allowances until December for civil servants and pensioners.

The allowances of US$75 a month for civil servants and US$30 a month for retired civil servants, were introduced in June as a temporary measure for three months to August.

Last week, the Government tabled a 40 percent increment which was rejected by civil servants, but negotiations are set to continue.

On their part, the civil servants want to be paid at least US$480 or the local currency equivalent at the prevailing Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) auction rate.

Paul Nyathi

Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education director of communications and advocacy, Mr Taungana Ndoro says that government has started distributing Covid-19 Personal Protective Equipment to all schools ahead of schools opening on Monday.

The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education and parliamentarians recently undertook an extensive tour around the country to assess the extent of preparedness of public schools to resume lessons under new health protocols.

The National Pharmaceutical Company of Zimbabwe (NatPharm), he said, is today expected to finalise the distribution of PPE to schools across the country.

“NatPharm has been tasked to supply PPE to schools and we have given them a timeframe that they should have delivered by Sunday (today) to ensure that every student gets PPE by the end of next week (this week).”

Education Minister Cain Mathema said Government and its partners, which include churches, Plan International and UNICEF, would continue delivering PPE to schools throughout the term.

National Association of Primary Heads (NAPH) chairperson Mrs Cynthia Khumalo confirmed that schools had begun receiving PPEs.

Paul Nyathi

Government has scrapped Second Term school fees, while 6 000 teachers are being recruited ahead of the phased reopening of schools starting tomorrow.

This comes amid reports that a crash programme to ensure learners complete their syllabuses and the suspension of sporting activities for the remainder of the year were among interventions being considered to ensure learners graduate to the next grades.

Public schools open on Tuesday for classes sitting Zimbabwe School Examinations Council (Zimsec) examinations as the country resumes direct tuition.

Next year’s examination classes — Grade 6, Form 3 and Lower Six — will resume studies on October 26, and on November 9, ECD A and B, Grades 1 to 5 and Forms 1 and 2 will return to school.

Local schools and colleges closed on March 24 as the Government took pre-emptive measures to curb the spread of coronavirus.

Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education director of communications and advocacy, Mr Taungana Ndoro, told state media on Saturday that schools will need to adhere to the directives issued by government.

“School authorities must follow Government directives.

“The official school calendar was Term One. So, there was no Term Two in the first place, and the Government position is that no school must therefore demand fees for a term that was not announced and approved by Government.”

Source: State Media

Opposition leader Nelson Chamisa yesterday vowed his party will not surrender the MDC Alliance name to the rival MDC-T led by Thokozani Khupe

warning that they would henceforth take to a radical response to the onslaught against them by President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government.

Khupe’s party recently declared they would use the name MDC Alliance in by-elections to replace Chamisa’s MPs and councillors whom her party, MDC-T, recalled on the strength of a court order.

Speaking in public for the first time in months after the destabilisation of his party allegedly by collaboration between Khupe’s party and the ruling Zanu PF, Chamisa said he would not give up on his party name. The by-elections are set to be held by December 5.

Chamisa was addressing a virtual rally to celebrate the MDC’s 21st anniversary.

“I am happy that we are consulting our members countrywide. We are MDC Alliance. We are a baobab tree. You can’t cut MDC Alliance with a razor. We refuse to be swallowed. We cannot change our name at the insistence of Zanu PF,” Chamisa said.

Earlier, his secretary-general, Charlton Hwende, told audiences that all the 203 districts so far consulted over the name issue had opted that the party retains its MDC Alliance name.

Chamisa’s supporters have been increasingly growing impatient, calling on the youthful leader to take a drastic and definitive response to Khupe and Mnangagwa, who is accused of sponsoring the chaos in the MDC Alliance using Khupe and interim secretary-general Douglas Mwonzora.

Chamisa has now promised “radical” action against Mnangagwa, saying he has been quiet and now was the time to take the war to the Zanu PF leader.

“The first plan we have is a political settlement. Some people are saying why are you not demonstrating; but we have reached here because we know what we are doing,” Chamisa said.

“We know what we want to fight for. We want to fight for a people’s government because what we have is not a people’s government. “

Assuring his supporters, Chamisa said: “Do not be scared, the struggle is in good shape. If we had two million (people) now we have doubled. We have not shut down the country because we do not want to do so.”

Before Chamisa’s speech, his deputy Tendai Biti also warned of action against Mnangagwa.

“Section 59 of the Constitution allows us to demonstrate. Your days are numbered. We are coming for you,” he said.

Chamisa added: “We have been founded on the fight for democracy, on the roots of fighting for freedom… The fight is not ended and until we destroy all attempts to make Zimbabwe a one-party state, we will not rest. Mnangagwa will not control us. He wants to control all of us, but he will not manage that.”

“We have given peace a chance, but some have been disrespectful of this. We have been founded on the roots of fighting for freedom. This fight has not ended,” he said.

“We have given dialogue a chance, but some perceive our call for dialogue as a weakness. We have given democracy a chance, but some feel an election which is stolen means that we will capitulate and we are surrendering to the electoral fraud. Democracy is under attack, citizens are under attack, all of us are under attack.

“One way I must tell you of looking into this is that when we are under attack, this is an opportunity to organise everything. So we are calling on all Zimbabweans, now forget about your political parties, and now forget about your churches, organisations, student movements, any other belonging. Let’s remember that we are all under the banner of Zimbabwe.

“Let’s unite, let’s unite. In the next coming days change is coming. Be part of it. That is why as leadership, we are not panicking. The walls of Jericho are falling. Don’t lose sleep.”

Chamisa said Sadc and the international community were now on the side of suffering Zimbabweans. He commended the South African ruling ANC for initiating mediation into the country’s crisis.

“We need to mobilise from Cape to Cairo so that there is consensus on the issue of Zimbabwe to support the democratic struggle in the country until it thrives,” said Chamisa.

-The Standard

GOVERNMENT will this week pay civil servants an additional Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) allowance, while salary negotiations continue.

Apex Council deputy chairperson Mr David Dzatsunga said the move by Government shows that authorities are committed to addressing the plight of public sector workers.

“We are yet to make a collective statement on Government’s offer, so we are meeting next week,” he said.

“However, the offer shows that Government is aware that our salaries are inadequate, it is an admission on their part. So it’s a good starting point and a step in the right direction. But we need to get back to our members so as to deliberate on the latest offer and also wait for the negotiations to resume.”

Last week, some teachers’ unions threatened to go on strike ahead of the reopening of schools tomorrow, but the latest COLA adjustment was likely to put paid to any job boycott.

Zimbabwe Teachers Association (ZIMTA) secretary-general, Mr Tapson Sibanda, said they were ready for negotiations.

“At the moment we do not know the exact amount. However, once Government reveals the amount we will be able to make a decision,” he said.

-State Media

By A Correspondent- The jailing of MDC Alliance MP Joanna Mamombe on Wednesday at Harare Remand Prison by Harare magistrate Bianca Makwande so that her mental illness is evaluated has been described as simply cruel.

A mental health doctor, Denver Ncube, has explained how mental health can affect any person and the need to have empathy for mental patients rather than subjecting them to inhumane treatment.

He wrote on Twitter:

At some point in my life, I did an attachment at Parirenyatwa Ward 12 or Annexe/Psychiatric Ward. It was a pivotal experience in my life and partly contributed to the career I have taken up in Neuroscience.

Seeing young and old people afflicted by various mental ailments, albeit some of them not of their own doing. Mental illness has multiple causes if you have noticed some people can abuse alcohol for years and yet some only do the same for a few weeks/months and they tip over.

I remember how hard it was to encourage patients to understand how some seemingly harmless behaviours could impact their mental health outcomes. Talking to patients daily was really touching, many would express how their illness had robbed them of friends and family.

The stigma around mental health in Zimbabwe is appalling, our people need a lot of help to understand that anyone can become afflicted. We all don’t know what life events could tip us over. This realization made me understand the need for empathy in such matters.

So when I hear that Joanna is afflicted by mental illness my first response is to trust the diagnosis of the doctor who made that conclusion. I have seen it first hand, people who are fully functional one day and patients the next. It is not a surprising phenomenon at all.

I know of patients who were teachers, some were officials in Government, yet on medication for various mental conditions, some were even doctors but they still needed that support from institutions. Mental illness isn’t any different from hypertension or diabetes.

That Joanna would be seen in a shop buying foodstuffs and alcohol is not anything to make noise about. Would it be surprising if Minister X was leading a meeting yet they have a mental health problem? If you are on effective medication you can function normally.

But like any condition you have good days/weeks and bad ones too. Persecuting someone because they differ with you on a political level yet there is evidence that they are unwell is just cruel. It is cruel to detain someone in a maximum-security prison so that u assess them.

Zaka police recently recovered from a mountain cave the skeletal remains of a three-year-old female child who went missing in 2018, bringing some closure to the deceased minor’s grieving family.

Miriam Jenjere, of Munanga village under Chief Nhema, went missing on May 26, 2018, and nothing was to be heard of her for over two years.

The juvenile’s mother, Agnela Chiurikira (25) had left Miriam at home playing with her eight-year-old brother to attend a funeral in the neighborhood when she later came back to find that her daughter was missing.

A report was made to the police and a search was conducted but to no avail.

Jacob Pedzisirai (47), a resident of Mujetekwa village under Chief Nhema saw human remains in a cave on top of a mountain on August 26, 2020, but did not report anything until September 22, 2020.

After the police attended, they invited Agnela and her husband Saino Jenjere (31) and who positively identified the clothes at the remains to be their daughter’s.

By the time of writing, the child’s remains were in the hands of the police awaiting a postmortem.

Masvingo police assistant spokesperson, Ass Com Kudakwashe Dhehwa said the police were still conducting investigations.

This comes after police on Thursday arrested Tafadzwa Shamba ,a Murehwa herdboy, on kidnap and murder charges after he murdered a 7-year-old boy, Tapiwa Makore, for ritual purposes.

National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi gave details of the progress of investigations yesterday. The boy’s body was found being eaten by dogs, with head, hands and legs chopped off.

“It is alleged that Tafadzwa Shamba, a herd boy in the same village with the victim, worked with the other suspects to waylay the victim at a garden. They took him to a mountain where they kept him for the whole day. They then killed him at night and one of the other suspects, who is from Juru Growth Point, took away the head leaving the herd boy with the other body parts after promising to give him US$1 500 on coming back,” Asst Comm Nyathi said.

Police recovered the blood-stained clothes Shamba wore on the day he allegedly committed the crime.

-TellZim

Zimbabwean academic Ibbo Mandaza has emphasised the need for South Africa to safeguard its democracy, the independence of institutions and to ensure that the military conforms to the constitution.

Mandaza was speaking at the ANC’s OR Tambo political school on the lessons that South Africa can learn from Zimbabwe’s post-colonial history.

Mandaza outlined the status quo in his country.

“In Zimbabwe sadly the executive is unaccountable and is pervaded by the military.  The legislature is not vibrant at all, it is largely an outcome of rigged elections since 2000, has been a major feature in which the military has been involved in all the elections ever since.

“You have a judiciary that is hardly independent when it should be the soul of the nation is a captured judiciary the commissions the gender commissions the peace and security commission all these are pervaded by the military; we have a mess in effect.”

ANC veteran Pallo Jordan says the ruling party’s recent visit to Zimbabwe should be seen as good neighborliness.

Jordan says one of the lessons that should be learnt by the two countries post-democracy is that there are certain matters that should be treated as regional rather than national ones.

He says Zimbabwe’s challenges have been exacerbated by the fact that it was left to its own devices even though it was already in crisis in 1994.

“You don’t have to be asked to help when your neighbour’s house is on fire. Your neighbour may well say no, I can handle this, no need to come and help me but your neighbour should never interpret the offer for help as an attempt to interfere and I think unfortunately that is the spirit that the comrades have received the interventions on the part of the ANC.  The ANC delegation came to Zimbabwe not to interfere in Zimbabwean affairs but seeing the house on fire.”

-SABC

The United States government on Friday reacted to President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s UN General Assembly speech where he said his government was fostering constitutionalism and democracy, remarks that surprised a lot of people considering Zimbabwe’s recent onslaught against dissent including the arrest of journalists, lawyers and politicians on trumped up charges.

Posting on Twitter, the US Embassy in Zimbabwe said it was listening and watching for action in relation to Mnangagwa’s remarks.

“During his speech to the UN General Assembly, President Mnangagwa restated his commitment to fostering democracy, human rights and rule of law. We are listening and watching for action,” the US said.

“Allowing Joanna Mamombe to receive the healthcare she needs and dropping the case against her would show Zimbabwe’s words match its actions.”

Earlier this week, the Assistant Secretary for US Department of State Bureau of African Affairs, Tibor Nagy called on Foreign Minister Sibusiso Moyo for Zimbabwe to uphold constitutional rights and political repression and corruption.

“I discussed with Foreign Minister Moyo how implementing promised economic and political reforms will restore Zimbabwe’s international reputation, rebuild its economy, and give voice to all Zimbabweans,” Nagy aid.

“I welcomed Zimbabwe’s interest in more investment by U.S. companies and urged the government to uphold constitutional rights and end political repression and corruption, and to hold accountable human rights violators.

“Through the work of Ambassador Brian Nichols, the U.S. is committed to the freedom and prosperity of all Zimbabweans.”

Government has scrapped Second Term school fees, while 6 000 teachers are being recruited ahead of the phased reopening of schools starting tomorrow.

This comes amid reports that a crash programme to ensure learners complete their syllabuses and the suspension of sporting activities for the remainder of the year were among interventions being considered to ensure learners graduate to the next grades.

The recruitment of teachers will cater for classes that have been trimmed in line with health guidelines to fight Covid-19.

Before schools closed at the end of March, some classes had over 50 pupils, but according to the Standard Operating Procedure for the Prevention and Management of Covid-19 drafted by the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, a standard-sized classroom must not exceed 35 learners.

The learners must also be seated a metre apart.

Public schools open on Tuesday for classes sitting Zimbabwe School Examinations Council (Zimsec) examinations as the country resumes direct tuition.

Next year’s examination classes — Grade 6, Form 3 and Lower Six — will resume studies on October 26, and on November 9, ECD A and B, Grades 1 to 5 and Forms 1 and 2 will return to school.

Primary and Secondary Education Minister Ambassador Cain Mathema told The Sunday Mail that Government had adopted extraordinary measures to allow learners to proceed to the next grades.

“There will be strategies this year and next year, like suspension of sports, introduction of weekend classes and crash programmes that will be put in place to ensure that students catch up with time that was lost.

“In some instances, teachers have to emphasise and concentrate on the key concepts so that even those slow learners grasp the concepts. Teachers know how to handle such scenarios-The Sunday Mail

MDC Alliance vice president Hon Biti has declared that Emmerson Mnangagwa will not stop the people’s struggle…

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President Nelson Chamisa has said there is no need to form a new political party.

President Chamisa made the remarks at the MDC Alliance E-rally.

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Farai Dziva|Former Zanu PF stalwart Kudakwashe Bhasikiti has described the persecution of Hon Joana Mamombe by Mr Mnangagwa’s administration as Satanic.

Bhasikiti challenged Mr Mnangagwa to stop harassing Hon Mamombe as she was just like a daughter to him.

“The regime is playing games with the ALLIANCE,they give us Wiwa and take Joana.

This puzzle must be solved.Nothing to celebrate but continued outcry.DEFINITELY THERE HAS TO BE A SOLUTION TO ALL THIS.

Politics aside Hon.J.Mamombe is someone’s daughter,culturally my daughter&ED’s daughter as well,” Bhasikiti wrote on Twitter.

“After her traumatic experience,all effort should be at finding her abusers.Now that she is mentally traumatised,for a woman magistrate to throw her into jail is Satanic,” added Bhasikiti.

About 200 settlers at Clipsham Farm, most of them war veterans gathered at the farms`s homestead last week where they demanded to see the Minister of State for Masvingo, Ezra Chadzamira over Government plans to have them evicted.

They accused Government of trying to push them out of the area so that some land barons can come in and make money by subdividing the land and selling low density residential stands to residents of Masvingo.
They vowed to fight back. Mirror reporters attended the meeting.

Clipsham Farm is about 4km from Masvingo along Masvingo – Beitbridge Highway.

It is to the south of the road just after Wimpy Service Station. It is an area that has some of the best agricultural soils in Masvingo and was a rich commercial farming zone before the land redistribution programme.

Most of the people resettled there are war veterans and active Zanu PF supporters.

When contacted for a comment president of the Chiefs` Council Chief Fortune Charumbira whose jurisdiction covers Clipsham said there is need for consultations as the people affected are not squatters because they have offer letters given in 2002.

“If Government has plans to use the land in question for something else it should respect those people settled there in order to avoid unnecessary problems.

“Mai Mugabe tried to take that land long back through my sister Gumbochuma but failed, Zvinavashe tried the same and people resisted.

My simple message is let’s respect those people and consult them if there is development that needs to be carried out in the area in question,” said chief Charumbira.

The chairman of the War Veterans in the area Matthew Kubiku declined to comment saying he is not authorised to speak to the media.

The huge crowd was addressed by the District Development Co-ordinator for Masvingo, Roy Hove.

Hove confirmed to the settlers that indeed Government has plans to get part of their land which is along Masvingo – Beitbridge Road and turn them into urban stands and this would naturally see some of them being evicted.

The angry war veterans shouted back at Hove and told him that Government is full of thieves.

They also accused the Second Republic of pushing them out of land given to them by the late President Robert Mugabe.

They also warned Government against distributing land as if it was an infinite resource which stretches.

The meeting became rowdy forcing Hove to announce that he would arrange a meeting between the Minister of State for Masvingo, Ezra Chadzamira and the war veterans.

He told the war veterans that they will always get special treatment from Chadzamira.

“We are here to stay, we got this land from Robert Mugabe and now you want to make way for land barons, we will have none of that. You want to reverse the land reform program, our brothers are back we are prepared to die for our land,” shouted one man who was putting on a Zanu PF campaign T-shirt.

“We don’t want to be addressed by the DDC we want the Minister who is our MP or Mambo here they are better placed to address our grievances.

We know those who want to take our land to develop stands for themselves, we know them, they are thieves,” said an irate youth who declined to be named.-The Mirror

Farai Dziva|MDC Alliance leader, Advocate Nelson Chamisa has urged the nation to pray for political prisoners.

In a brief statement on Saturday, President Chamisa urged the nation to stand with Joana Mamombe, Last Maengahama, Tunga Madzokere, Takudzwa Ngadziore and all political prisoners in prayer.

” Fellow citizens, Let us stand with our incarcerated Last Maengahama,Tunga Madzokere @JoanaMamombe & @ngadziore currently in jail on account of politics and dictatorship.

I kindly exhort you to pray for all the political prisoners.

Happy Sabbath to you!
#ZimbabweanLivesMatter,” wrote President Chamisa on Twitter.

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By A Correspondent- A woman from Umzingwane District under Chief Sigola’s area and who is also a builder by profession has reversed a common perception that only men beat up women in relationships after she allegedly rained blows on her husband as punishment for stopping her from meeting her boyfriend.

This problem of female-on-male domestic violence which is often trivialised in society was heard at the Esigodini Magistrates’ Court where the victim, Hloniphani Msipa, narrated his ordeal before resident magistrate Nomagugu Sibanda.

Msipa, who was seeking a restraining order against his wife Tafadzwa Moyo, was brave enough to tell the court that he was living a hellish life at the hands of his violent better half.

He stated that in a fit of anger, his wife brutally assaulted him after he stopped her from visiting her boyfriend.

As if the beating was not enough, Msipa said a daring Moyo went on to destroy their matrimonial property before she burnt down their bedroom hut.

“I declare that my wife Tafadzwa Moyo is destroying our matrimonial property and she recently burnt down our homestead. I need the court to strongly warn her against her conduct. She has since gone back to her parents’ homestead and I have done the same due to the fact that we both no longer have a place to call home,” complained Msipa.

He said he once sought help from the police to no avail.

“I engaged the police over the issue about my wife who is not taking any action to account for the damage she caused. Instead of apologising she is now prohibiting me from visiting our homestead because I am willing to do the repairs. I can’t imagine that I am now homeless yet I used to own my own homestead.

“I am living in fear and my efforts to check out on the livestock which we left behind is being hindered by my wife as she is threatening me with unspecified action through a string of text messages. All I want now is a protection order against her so that I live in peace,” begged Msipa.

In response Moyo didn’t refute her husband’s accusations leading the magistrate to grant an order stopping her from beating or threatening her husband as well as not to prevent him from going to their homestead.bmetro

Farai Dziva|MDC Alliance leader, Advocate Nelson Chamisa has urged the nation to pray for political prisoners.

In a brief statement on Saturday, President Chamisa urged the nation to stand with Joana Mamombe, Last Maengahama, Tunga Madzokere, Takudzwa Ngadziore and all political prisoners in prayer.

” Fellow citizens, Let us stand with our incarcerated Last Maengahama,Tunga Madzokere @JoanaMamombe & @ngadziore currently in jail on account of politics and dictatorship.

I kindly exhort you to pray for all the political prisoners.

Happy Sabbath to you!
#ZimbabweanLivesMatter,” wrote President Chamisa on Twitter.

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By A Correspondent- Panic and fear struck staffers at a public hospital after a cook who was digging in the garden stumbled on live ammunition.

Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC) Coronavirus update: 25 September 2020

New cases: 35

Locals – 16

Returnees – 18
Deaths: 0

Recoveries: 14

PCR Tests Done: 667
National Recovery Rate: 78%
Active Cases: 1 503

Total Cumulative Cases: 7 787

Total Recoveries: 6 057

Total Deaths: 227

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By A Correspondent- Fear gripped residents of Makokoba and Mzilikazi suburbs in Bulawayo after muthi (charms) suspected to have been used in performing a ritual was found tied to a tree near a bridge connecting the two suburbs.

Residents who spoke to a local publication suspected that the shocking discovery comprising a big kitchen knife stuck into a tree and a bottle of mayonnaise filled with unknown substances tied with a red cloth while facing downwards were a ritual performed by a killer who tried to cleanse himself or herself.

Adding to the horror, the mysterious substances from the bottle of mayonnaise which was mixed with water was slowly and continuously dripping like drops of blood from a wound.

The belief by residents that the items were for ritual purposes came following a series of horrific murders that have occurred at the scene where the alleged ritual is reported to have been performed.

When the news crew visited the scene on Monday afternoon, stunned residents were still flocking to witness the strange sight.

A Makokoba resident, Innocent Ncube (69), said they suspected that the muthi was left by someone who performed a ritual so that he or she could be spared punishment from his or her victim.

“A lot of people have been mugged and killed here. So, the person must have been a killer who got muthi from a sangoma to wash the blood of his or her victim off his or her hands.

“The killer may have been instructed to perform a ritual at the scene of the crime and speak to the spirit of the deceased so that it won’t haunt him or her,” said Ncube to loud approval from other residents who were at the scene.

Another resident who didn’t want to be named claimed the muthi was a ritual performed by criminals so that they can steal from people without being caught.

“I suspect the muthi is also a ritual performed by thieves so that they steal from people without being caught.

“There is no doubt that it was part of their rituals to make people sleep deeply so that they can easily break into their houses during the night,” the resident said.

Some residents believed that the juju was a sign of witchcraft.

“This is witchcraft at its worst. It’s good that B-Metro came here so that people can see these signs of witchcraft in our suburbs,” said Emily Sibanda from Mzilikazi suburb.

Mncedisi Dube, who was also at the scene, concurred with Sibanda adding that residents were now scared.

“We are now living in fear as residents as we suspected that there is witchcraft involved because these old suburbs are known for strange things. Someone could have performed a ritual to cleanse himself or herself of witchcraft practices,” said Dube.-bmetro

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By A Correspondent-Police in Mashonaland Central have arrested  four illegal miners who allegedly bashed a suspected thief to death on Tuesday.

Simon Kavare (30), John Zimhondi(17), Luke Girini (19) and Takemore Masunga (30) are assisting police with investigations following the death of Anyway Karikoga (26).

Mashonaland Central deputy police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Fidelis Dhewu confirmed the case.

“I can confirm that we arrested four murder suspects in Chesa Mount Darwin who allegedly bashed a suspected thief to death, investigations are underway,” Dhewu said.

Allegations are that the now deceased Karigoka went to Mukaradzi panning site around 10pm and stole Girini’s satchel containing money and fled to the bush.

He was seen running by Girini who teamed up with his colleagues and pursued him.

He was caught in the bush and the suspects heavily assaulted him using a fan belt and open hands.

Karogona’s body was found dead by a passerby who alerted the police leading to the arrest of the suspects.

Police warned members of the public not to take the law into their hands but instead report criminal cases to the police to avoid unnecessary loss of life.