By A Correspondent- The opposition MDC-T reportedly held a hastily-arranged meeting of its standing committee in Harare with officials alleging that it was in preparation for re-unification talks with the Nelson Chamisa-led MDC Alliance.
This comes when tensions between the two MDC outfits are rising due to a number of issues including Khupe’s recalling of MDC Alliance councillors and legislators and the seizure of Harvest House by MDC-A youths.
MDC youth assembly chairperson for Harare, Paul Gorekore — who led the takeover of the Harvest House told the Daily News on Tuesday that they were determined to achieve a dialogue between Khupe and Chamisa.
He said:
The standing committee, which is here today (yesterday), will be attended by the MDC leadership, and from that meeting we expect them to come up with a resolution to redirect the engagement process … but the fact is that we are really desperate for unity.
We are trying by all means to push our leaders to find each other, sit down and solve their differences, which we believe can be resolved amicably.
When I talk about leaders, I am referring to those who held various positions when President Morgan Tsvangirai died in 2018. MDC-T’s reinstated interim chairperson, Morgen Komichi confirmed the meeting saying the agenda was to discuss “all those issues, including the fate of the expelled leaders.”
The former MP for Highfield West Happymore “Bvondo” Chidziva claimed that youths from both camps were fed up by their leaders’ brawling.
He said the MDC should “go back to the 2014 structures and start working together without apportioning factions to each other.” The prolonged leadership crisis in the MDC started to manifest in 2018 when the party’s founding leader, Morgan Tsvangirai was on his deathbed. Khupe and Chamisa are leading the race to succeed the late former Prime Minister of Zimbabwe.-Daily News
By A Correspondent= Zimbabwe is expecting a minimum of about 50 000 job losses this year as the economic recession continues unabated.
Even before the coronavirus pandemic outbreak, the Zimbabwean economy was already on a downward trend mainly because of drought, electricity and fuel crisis.
Speaking to Business Times, Economist Tony Hawkins said the coronavirus pandemic has resulted in the retrenchment of a huge number of temporary workers while some took huge pay cuts despite a difficult operating environment.
Hawkins said:
We expect over 50,000 employees to lose their jobs by year-end due to the impact of Covid-19 pandemic to business compounded by perennial challenges such as forex challenges, power outages, droughts and rampant inflation.
From the recent survey carried out, 23% of the registered companies have trimmed permanent employees while 50% of the companies have laid-off temporary employees to relieve pressure on the balance sheets which struggled to meet operational costs and wage bills
The government announced a national lockdown in March this year as a measure to curb the spread and transmission of the coronavirus.
As the number of coronavirus cases is going down, Zimbabwe is slowly loosening the lockdown restrictions in a bid to save the drowning economy.
The Zimbabwean industry is collapsed, for decades, therefore, the economy relies on imports. Therefore, the COVID-19 lockdowns which have been in effect globally have had a huge adverse impact of the Zimbabwean economy.
By Jane Mlambo| The Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport will today resume international flights with Fastjet, Ethiopian, Kenyan and Emirates airlines all landing and flying from Harare.
This was confirmed by Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe Spokesperson Nunurai Ndawana.
“Today, we resume international flights after almost 6 months.
“Fastjet, Ethiopian, Kenya Airways and Emirates will all resume flights to/from Harare today,” he said.
Zimbabwe closed its port of entries in the wake of COVID-19 in March this year and the resumption of flights is exactly six months after the blanket ban on movement of people to contain the spread of the deadly pandemic.
Zimbabwe’s health minister (the same person who is supposed to be leading by example in enforcing coronavirus health and safety rules), Constantino Chiwenga was conspicuously without a mask at state house on Thursday morning… VIDEO
Zimbabwe’s borders remain closed to general human travel and the lockdown regulations as announced by the Government have not changed despite South Africa announcing the opening of its borders, including Beitbridge.
There was hype among the generality of Zimbabweans, particularly cross-border traders when South Africa announced the reopening of its borders, including Beitbridge Border Post, for tourists and travellers effective today.
South Africa announced that Beitbridge Border Post, which was part of the 18 inland ports of entry, which were partially operational, will be fully operational while 35 border posts currently closed will remain closed.
Zimbabwe and South Africa closed their borders to general human traffic, including Beitbridge Border Post, in March when they effected their first 21-day lockdowns to curb the spread of Covid-19. The closure of Beitbridge Border Post, the busiest inland port of entry in sub-Saharan Africa that is shared by Zimbabwe and South Africa, affected mostly Zimbabweans who relied on cross-border travel.
Government recently lifted the ban on domestic and international air travel. Domestic and foreign travel, which were banned on March 30 as Government imposed measures to curb the spread of Covid-19, are set to resume today. However, strict Covid-19 measures will be adhered to in the opening up of the aviation sector.
In a telephone interview yesterday, Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Minister Kazembe Kazembe said only commercial traffic, diplomats and returning residents are allowed passage through the country’s borders.
He said Zimbabwe remains guided by the Public Health (Covid-19) Prevention, Containment and Treatment, Statutory Instrument 77 of 2020.
“We haven’t opened Beitbridge Border Post and other borders as yet. Our borders are open to commercial cargo, diplomats and returning residents. In fact, the regulations as stipulated by the current SIs still stand and the issue will be discussed in due course,” said Minister Kazembe.
A total of 9 331 Zimbabweans have between March and September returned by road via Beitbridge Border Post and put in various provincial quarantine and isolation centres countrywide.
Before the start of the lockdown in March, half a million people would use the port of entry to access South Africa and Zimbabwe.
In a statement, the South African Revenue Service (SARS) head of border operations, ports of entry and customs compliance, Mr Beyers Theron said upon arrival, a traveller will be required to present a negative Covid-19 test result not older than 72 hours from time of departure.
“Where a traveller has not done a Covid-19 test prior to departure, they will be required to remain in mandatory quarantine at their own cost for the period of 10 days. All travellers will be subjected to screening by Port Health officials upon arrival and departure,” he said.
Travellers detected with symptoms will be required to remain in quarantine until a repeat Covid-19 test is conducted at their own cost.
Mr Theron said all travellers will be subjected to screening by Port Health officials upon arrival and departure. Travellers will also be required to complete traveller health questionnaire prior to arrival or upon arrival at the port of entry.
Besides the health protocols, travellers will still be subjected to other formal border processes.
“All travellers should wear masks at all times whilst within the ports of entry-controlled area. Port officials are to ensure that port users adhere to social distancing as part of queue management protocol,” said Mr Theron.
Truck drivers are also required to present Covid-19 negative results upon departure from and arrival in South Africa.
For truck drivers, crew members and frequent travellers, the Covid-19 test results remain valid for 14 days after the first movement.
LEGISLATORS yesterday accused President Emmerson Mnangagwa of appointing incompetent ministers who were incapable of giving lucid responses in Parliament.
Norton MP Temba Mliswa demanded that Mnangagwa should be summoned to Parliament to explain why his ministers were incompetent and disrespectful to him by continuing to dodge questions from MPs.
Mliswa said the current crop of ministers were not loyal to the appointing authority, adding that the late former President Robert Mugabe’s appointees were loyal to him. He further said Mnangagwa’s ministers were “dogs that do not bite”.
The issue arose after opposition MPs raised points of order with the Speaker of the National Assembly Jacob Mudenda every Wednesday over truancy by ministers during question-and-answer sessions.
“They do not apologise and for a long time we have spoken about this issue and Parliament is proving to be a toothless bulldog so what power do we have because we continue to be disrespected as they do not come to respond to questions from our constituencies and make government accountable because people are suffering,” Mliswa said.
“Tomorrow (today) I will move a motion where I will invite the President to this House to respond about his useless incompetent ministers who he is loyal to but are not loyal to him.
“Mugabe appointed ministers that were very loyal to him, but Mnangagwa’s ministers are very disloyal to him. He has appointed dogs that do not bite.”
Mbizo MP Settlement Chikwinya added: “In line with the Speaker’s ruling last week, I will also move a motion that ministers that have not been coming for the past three weeks be charged with contempt of Parliament.”
Mutare Central MP Innocent Gonese said it was now time to draw a line in the sand so that they are charged with contempt of Parliament.
Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly Tsitsi Gezi ruled that the MPs can move their motions about ministers on a day that is not a Wednesday.
This irked the opposition MPs who interjected vociferously demanding that State Security minister Owen Ncube should avail himself before the House to be grilled over his allegations that the MDC Alliance was smuggling arms into the country and preparing to cause disturbances.
“Where is the Minister of State Security? He issued a statement that he needs to explain to the House that there are people that are smuggling guns. Why is it that those people are not being arrest-ed? He must come to explain,” shouted Mliswa.
Zengeza West MP Job Sikhala added: “We are tired of being accused and our names being soiled. He must come and explain!.”
The interjections subsided after Gezi threatened to throw Sikhala out of the House.
When Speaker of the National Assembly Jacob Mudenda entered the House, Mliswa demanded that a Privileges Committee be set up to investigate the ministers’ contempt, insubordination and misconduct.
“You need to move a proper motion in that respect and also identify the ministers. I am equally disappointed that even the ministers that had attended have now disappeared,” Mudenda said.
Meanwhile, Finance deputy minister Clemence Chiduwa was yesterday quizzed by MPs over the COVID-19 social assistance packages.
Chiduwa said of the $18,2 billion COVID-19 recovery package, $6,1 billion was allocated towards the recovery of agriculture, $3,1 billion as working capital for industry, among other allocations that $3,2 billion was allocated for winter wheat production.
The African Transformation Movement has claimed that their Motion of No Confidence in Cyril Ramaphosa is advancing to the next stage after Speaker Thandi Modise confirmed that consultations are now being finalised.
It would be the first vote Cyril has faced as president, and it’s more than three years since South Africa last held a no confidence vote. Jacob Zuma survived by the skin of his teeth in 2017, only to be ousted from office just a few months later.
Why is Ramaphosa facing a Motion of No Confidence vote?
The ATM, however, will be hoping to see a withdrawal from office this time around. The party earned two seats in Parliament during the 2019 Elections, and they’ve used their voice to amplify negative sentiments about the president. Amongst other things, the ATM is outraged by South Africa’s unemployment rate, the rampant threat of corruption, and worsening load shedding schedules.
[MOTION OF NO CONFIDENCE BACK ON THE TABLE]
The Speaker of parliament Thandi Modise just confirmed finalising consultations with leader of Government Business and the Chief Whip of the majority party.#RamaphosaMustGopic.twitter.com/UfdzAicKdx— African Transformation Movement (@ATMovement_SA) September 30, 2020
ATM seek ‘presidential withdrawal’
For their motion to make it to Parliament, Thandi Modise must give an all-clear to a Parliamentary debate. If this is approved, a vote will follow in the National Assembly, requiring two-thirds of all MPs to support a Motion of No Confidence. Although Ramaphosa does have ‘enemy factions’ within the ANC, it’s highly unlikely enough will turn against him.
ATM Head of Policy, Mzwanele ‘Jimmy’ Manyi, had urged the speaker to advance their case earlier this week:
Please advise Ous Thandi, the Honourable Speaker to process the s102 Motion of No Confidence in President Ramaphosa as put forward by the ATM. Constitutional Democracy obliges her to do so. Parliament rules compel her to do so since ATM has met all the required conditions.— Mzwanele Manyi (@MzwaneleManyi) September 26, 2020
PRETORIA – South Africa will reopen its borders to all African countries from Thursday while barring tourists from around 50 nations with high coronavirus infection rates, the government said.
International Relations Minister Naledi Pandor said the country would “gradually” open borders, but that restrictions were in place for around 50 countries categorised as high risk which include Britain, the US, India, Russia and France.
“Only business travellers with scarce and critical skills, diplomats, investors and professional sportspeople coming for events from the high-risk countries will be permitted into the country,” she said.
Meanwhile, “travellers from all African countries are allowed,” Pandor added.
The country will reopen some land borders and its three main airports in Cape Town, Durban and Johannesburg.
All travellers will be required to present a negative coronavirus test taken less than 72 hours prior to departure.
They will be screened upon arrival and asked to install a coronavirus tracing app on their mobile phone.
The travel restrictions will be reviewed every two weeks.
The countries with restrictions have a greater number of infections and deaths compared with South Africa, Pandor said.
Mazowe River rises north of Harare and flows northeast past Bindura Town, and thereafter forms part of the border of Zimbabwe and Mozambique on its final journey to the Zambezi River.
Misnamed Mazoe by white settlers who failed to pronounce its original Shona name Manzou, in the wet season, the river was known for becoming a raging torrent, often breaking its banks and causing damage to local communities and farms.
Today, the river has dried up owing to more than 20 years of being ripped, raped and violated by gold panners. In its silence, it protects and holds back the precious liquid.
Environmental degradation along the Mazowe Dam basin has increased due to mining activities forcing stakeholders to undertake urgent corrective measures.
The move comes as surrounding farmers are failing to irrigate their crops due to insufficient water.
Mazowe Dam is currently 21 per cent full, and its water retention capacity has decreased due to siltation caused by mining activities, thus raising concern as rains are fast approaching.
Minister of State for Provincial Affairs in Mashonaland Central Honourable Monica Mavhunga assessed the dam on Wednesday afternoon tasking a technical committee of the Upper Mazowe Sub catchment to adopt permanent corrective measures.
“Let us find a permanent solution than to ask each other what to do. No one will come and save the dam for us.”
Upper Mazowe Sub-catchment Council Chairman Mr Flemming Dhlamini said the priority is to ensure the dam fills ups to sustain various economic activities.
“Our target is to ensure that when we receive reasonable rainfall this dam fills up, farmers right now could have been irrigating green mealies, beans and potatoes but that is not possible.”
Illegal settlements have since sprung up right on the river basin of Mazowe Dam which was built in 1920.
At full capacity, the dam holds 39 thousand megalitres.
MDC Alliance vice president Lynette Karenyi has raised concerns to the Sppeaker of Parliament over continued persecution of fellow party parliamentarian Joanna Mamombe by the state besides her health status.
Karenyi said the harassment on Mamombe will scare away other young women from taking part in national politics.
Mamombe who is the country’s youngest parliamentarian was bundled into prison last week by a Harare Magistrates Court under unclear circumstances.
“I have realised that the issue of victimisation and the subjection to torture is also one of the key problems whereby women are not going to be encouraged to stand up to be in local government, to be in Parliament.
“Mr. Speaker, may I also draw your attention on the issue of the right to health.
“Honourable Speaker, we are encouraging young women to be Members of Parliament and we have got one of our members of Parliament, Honourable Joanna Mamombe.
“May I also draw your attention on the issue of the right to health, Honourable Speaker, we are encouraging young women to be Members of Parliament and we have got one of our Members of Parliament, Honourable Joanna Mamombe…” said Karenyi before the speaker ordered her to raise her issue through a motion.
She continued, “Mr. Speaker, but I was trying to draw your attention on her health because it is more important before we raise the motion.”
This did not go down well with Zengeza MP Job Sikhala who intervened.
“I want to raise my concerns over the manner in which you (speaker) dismissed a very important issue which Honourable Karenyi wanted to raise.
“Mr. Speaker Sir, the issue which Honourable Karenyi wanted to raise is an issue concerning one of the Members,” Sikhala’s interjection came to a halt as the speaker ordered him to take his seat.
ABDUL Sumra, (pictured) one of the finest basketball players to grace Zimbabwean courts, has died.
He was 58 and leaves behind a wife, Carla, and two children.
At the time of his death, Sumra was working for USAID in Luanda, Angola. A former Mozambique youth international, he rose to fame in Zimbabwe when he relocated from Maputo to Harare in 1980, at the age of 19.
In the first eight months, Sumra had already proved his class.
He became one of Seventy Sixers’ most valuable assets, excelled for Mashonaland Lions, in the inter-provincial tournament and played for this country in the early 1980s.
Sumra was also picked in the Zimbabwe squad for the All-Africa Championships, in Somalia, and later became one of the most skilful basketball players to come out of Africa.
Aggression, speed and dribbling skills were his hallmarks.
He first came to prominence at the great Arcadia Bucs where he played alongside big names like Norman “Dishy” Roberts, Gilmour Rawson and Kieth Fisher.
He then joined Hawks.
Sumra was capped five times and had a fine performance in the 1985 Africa Games in Nairobi, Kenya.
Hawks collapsed and a new team, Seventy Sixers, emerged to become a powerhouse in basketball.
They boasted the likes of Ben and Rodney Darck, Deryn McDonald, Tony Broderick and Victor David.
Ramsey MacDonald brought in top players like the late Denzil Jarvis, Taipanei Chirenzha, Josiah Chinamano and Kevin Cameron.
“We battled tough oppositions and Sumra never shirked,’’ Rodney Darck said.
Nigel Homan said, “We have lost a treasure.”
Anthony Broderick said, “A fine player and gentleman has gone,” while Ernie Noble said, “I cannot understand how a fit and healthy Sumra could go like this.”
Tracey Bell also paid tribute to Sumra on behalf of members of the Brown Velvet Organisation.
“Saddened by this news. This ‘sad season’ seems to be going on for ever!’’
Born on October 2, 1962, Sumra was a superb athlete whose sublime skills, on the court, were a joy to watch. Off the court, he was a wonderful human specimen.
At club level, Sumra rubbed shoulders with fellow talented players such as Desmond Glanville, Sebastian Goliath, Ben Darck, Rodney Darck, Abdul Sunday, Alvray Crewe, Victor David, Albert Stoddart, Tony Broderick, Deryn McDonald, Ernie Noble and Quentin Quarry.
Sumra was also a man of many talents.
In Mozambique he was a promising footballer and was also gifted at table tennis.
He was also the national junior snooker champion.
Football, though, was his first love until he was introduced to basketball by a friend at the age of 16.
“A friend asked me to play basketball with him one day and the speed and excitement of the game immediately appealed to me,” Sumra said in the 1980s, soon after his arrival in Zimbabwe from Mozambique.
“You have to play fast, and think quick to beat a taller opponent.’’
When he arrived in Harare, local basketball spectators were given a dazzling display of this talent.
His cat-like reflexes guided Lions through the then inter-provincial tournament undefeated.
“When you don’t play with speed and aggression it looks like a women’s game and the crowd becomes bored,” Sumra said. Despite studying English at Harare Polytechnic, before having an apprenticeship in electronics, Sumra still found time for rigorous training programmes.
“You can’t play good basketball if you’re not fit,” said the man who later became one of the basketball icons in Zimbabwe.
A crack unit in President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s office has instructed the police to arrest a top magistrate on corruption allegations after passing a judgment which allegedly undermines the criminal justice system, Business Times can report.
Magistrate Morgan Nemadire was put on the spotlight after he ordered a ZWL$700 fine on a Venezuelan national, Delcy Daymar Rodriguez Guererro, who was convicted of possessing more than 5kg of cocaine worth US$500,000 (ZWL$40m).
Special Anti-corruption unit head Thabani Mpofu told Business Times this week there has been a strong case of corruption.
“We have since instructed the Police to look into the matter and effect arrest as we believe there is a strong case of corruption there.
There have been delays but an arrest has to be made,” Mpofu said. Nemadire has been under investigation since last year for alleged gross misconduct.
In an earlier letter by Mpofu addressed to ZRP Deputy Commissioner General Stephen Mutamba, the unit said the ruling by the magistrate had “grave implications on the integrity of our entire criminal justice system and the well-being of the economy”.
“The sentence passed by Nemadire on Guerrero amounts to an act of corruption.
For that reason, the Prosecutor General has directed that a formal complaint of corruption be lodged with the police against Nemadire for contravening Section 174 of the Code,” Mpofu said.
The sentence was largely seen as light given some convicts had previously served for three years for possession of less than $10 worth of drugs.
The matter, insiders say, is just a tip of the iceberg as other judgments are deemed to be dubious amid indications of a move to clean up the judiciary system.
Nemadire convicted a Venezuelan woman arrested for possession of more than 5kg of cocaine valued at US$500,000 and passed a wholly suspended sentence and a $700 fine.
Information gathered by Business Times shows that SACU is questioning the sentence in light of the gravity of the case that the accused was convicted of.
According to the letter to Mutamba, compared to other sentences handed for drug related offences of the same magnitude, the sentence handed by Nemadire sends wrong precedence and defeats the course of justice.
“For someone to be found in possession of two plants of cannabis, that person is getting a minimum of three years in jail and there was also another matter involving a Peruvian citizen found in possession of 1kg of cocaine, he was sentenced to about 15 years behind bars.
So it raises eyebrows when someone who had 5kg of cocaine got a $700 fine.”
The courts in 2018 sentenced a Mbare woman, Veronica Matongo, to 15 years’ imprisonment for illegal possession of 2.3kg of cocaine with a street value of US$185,464 while another Peruvian drug trafficker found in possession of 1kg of cocaine worth US$91,520 on the streets was also sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment in December 2018.
Blackman Matambanadzo was a people’s favourite in Kwekwe.
Energy Ncube a nephew to State Security Minister Owen Ncube is set to challenge long-time ZANU PF losing candidate at the party’s primary elections to choose a candidate to represent Zanu PF in by-elections set for December this year in Kwekwe Central Constituency.
The seat fell vacant following the death of MP “Blackman” Masango Matambanadzo.
Ncube is preparing to take on gold mining magnet and an Archbishop of Zvipo Zvemweya Church, Kandross Mugabe in the party’s polls at the weekend.
Mugabe lost at the national polls in 2018 to Matambanadzo in the constituency seat which was once occupied by President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
Kwekwe is President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s hometown.
“It’s true I am interested in representing Kwekwe Central Constituency in the coming by-elections,” Ncube said.
Two distinct factions have since emerged within the governing party with one camp backing Mugabe while Ncube is believed to enjoy support from party bigwigs.
“According to Zanu PF Green Book, which is the party’s constitution, I am the party’s shadow MP. I lost in 2018 elections to Matambanadzo but it has been a learning experience. For me it’s not about the position but it is about service,” Mugabe said.
The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission has since indicated that by-elections will be held by 5 December.
A dark horse has won the ZANU PF Chivi South primary elections too choose a candidate who will represent the party in the upcoming by election.
Virtually unknown and regarded as never likely to win against popular party heavyweights, the activist considered a political novice has been elected to replace sacked Chivi South MP Killer Zivhu.
Nine party candidates contested the primaries on Wednesday.
Announcing results of the internal poll, party provincial commissar Jevas Masosota said a total of 5 135 members cast their votes in the by-election where the little known Munyaradzi Zizhou emerged winner, garnering 1 857 votes.
Zizhou defeated former legislator for the same constituency Mafios Utete, Enock Shindi, Naledi Maunganidze, Anson Madusise, Denis Masomere, Rikios Hlambelo and Peter Matuke.
Naledi Maunganidze, the only female candidate in the race, came fourth with 723 votes while Mafios Utete who once represented the constituency from 2013-2018, got a paltry 170 votes.
JAILED former principal director of State Residences Douglas Tapfuma will appeal while serving his four-year prison term, after the High Court yesterday rejected his bid for bail pending appeal.
Tapfuma was jailed four years and had six vehicles forfeited to the State after he was convicted on three counts of criminal abuse of office.
He was appealing against both conviction and sentence.
Tapfuma wanted the court to free him on bail pending appeal, but Justice Pisirayi Kwenda rejected the application on the basis that Tapfuma “does not have a reasonably arguable case on appeal”.
“The appellant has failed to point to errors that are likely to carry the day at his appeal, if he is, likely to succeed partially, say against sentence only, the likely delay before the appeal if heard becomes relevant,” said Justice Kwenda.
“In the results, I order the appeal against refusal of bail be and is hereby dismissed.”
In his grounds of appeal, Tapfuma feared that his appeal would take long before it is heard, but Justice Kwenda allayed the fears.
He said the prejudice likely to be occasioned by the systemic delays in the setting down of appeals was no longer a persuasive argument in cases of bail pending appeal.
“Appeals are no longer being delayed,” said Justice Kwenda, with authority as a judge who sits in criminal appeals court that is now dealing with current and recent appeals filed in the second half of last year and those filed this year.
Justice Kwenda also sits in the Anti-Corruption Court of the High Court.
The court convenes without delay once all the cases are ready and it has no backlog, hence the judge said it was up to Tapfuma to request a set down of his appeal.
On sentence, Justice Kwenda noted that Tapfuma’s legal counsel conceded that his client abused his authority in a highly regarded executive office and said people who work in that office could easily escape public audit.
“People who abuse that office can easily get away with wrongdoing,” he said.
A MAN was allegedly killed and dumped along the railway where he was later run over by a goods train in Gwanda.
Matabeleland South provincial police spokesperson, Chief Inspector Philisani Ndebele confirmed the incident which occurred just outside the Gwanda CBD in the early hours of Tuesday.
He said the driver of the train who was coming from Beitbridge reported on Tuesday at around 2AM that he had run over the body of a man who was lying lifeless on the railway line.
“I can confirm that we recorded a suspected murder case where an unidentified male adult was found lying on the railway line. A train driver who was coming from Beitbridge reported at the police station that he came across a body of a man who was lying on the railway line. The train went over the man before the driver brought it to a standstill.
“His head was dislodged from the rest of his body and he had multiple injuries all over his body. A national identity card was found close to his body but investigations are underway to ascertain whether it belongs to him. We appeal to members of the public who are missing their relative to contact the Gwanda Urban Police Station,” he said.
Tapiwa Makore (Senior) (57), accused of murdering his brother’s seven-year-old child with the help of his herdsman, Tafadzwa Shamba, has been remanded in custody.
Makore is an elder brother to the victim’s father.
He appeared before Murehwa magistrate Ms Chiedza Gatsi facing charges of murder and was remanded in custody to October 13.
Prosecuting, Ms Paidamoyo Gutu told the court that on September 17 at around midday, Shamba reportedly proceeded to a garden which Tapiwa (junior) was watching over.
It is alleged that the accused person had earlier given Shamba the keys to his house.
Shamba reportedly lured the now deceased from the garden to Makore’s homestead where he detained him in the living room after giving him sadza.
Makore was alerted that the boy was missing and reportedly joined other villagers in searching for him till midnight to remove suspicion.
He later went home and found the boy asleep, under the guard of Shamba. At 1am, the pair reportedly carried the boy to a secluded area in the company of Makore where they killed him.
Makore allegedly pinned the boy to the ground while Shamba used a knife to cut off the head, arms and limbs.
The remains were packed into two different bags with limbs and arms in one pack.
Makore carried the pack which had limbs and arms, while Shamba carried a pack containing the abdomen and head.
The abdomen was dumped near Mr Summer Murwira’s homestead, but Shamba took the other parts to Makore’s homestead.
On the same day, Mr Murwira discovered the abdomen which was being eaten by his dogs. It is also alleged that on the same day, Shamba removed his blood-stained pair of trousers and placed them in Makore’s kitchen hut.
On September 20, detectives recovered the pair of trousers belonging to the deceased after searching Makore’s house.
On September 23, Shamba was arrested and a search was conducted in his bedroom, leading to the recovery of a white blood-stained vest.
He confessed to committing the murder with Makore.
Herdsman, Tafadzwa Shamba (40) who was recently arrested over the ritual murder of Tapiwa Makore (7) at Makore Village in Murehwa yesterday told detectives he killed the boy by cutting off the head with a knife in the dead of the night, while the boy’s uncle was holding a torch. Watch video as he graphically explains what happened on the fateful day.
Zimbabwe has only opened international airports to passenger traffic while land borders remain closed to human traffic for the time being.
Only commercial traffic, diplomats and returning residents are allowed passage across the land borders, Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Minister Kazembe Kazembe confirmed yesterday, with the public health regulations put in place at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic still in place.
With most sectors including schools and the wider economy being opened up, Government is expected to give direction on the reopening of land borders at some stage once all necessary measures are in place.
“We haven’t opened the border at Beitbridge as yet. The border is open to commercial cargo, diplomats and returning residents. In fact, the regulations as stipulated by the current lockdown precautions still stand. However, the issue will be discussed in due course,” said Minister Kazembe.
Environment, Climate Change, Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister Mangaliso Ndlovu also said only airports were open for tourist arrivals.
“As far as we are concerned we have only opened airports for tourists and the rest of the borders remain open only to commercial not general human traffic,” he said.
A total of 9 331 Zimbabweans have between March and September returned by road via Beitbridge Border Post and were tested and quarantined in provincial centres countrywide.
Before the start of the lockdown in March, half a million people a year crossed the Limpopo at Beitbridge. Lately there has been a lot of hype among people in Sadc countries on the re-opening of Beitbridge Border Post, after South African President Cyril Ramaphosa announced recently that South Africa would reopen some borders today for business and tourism travel, but under stringent conditions and health checks.
Chirundu and Kariba border post authorities have been looking at their systems so these posts can be opened fairly quickly once the go-ahead is given forpassenger traffic through land border posts.
Regional immigration officer Mr Joshua Chibundu said they are waiting for instructions from their head office for any developments to take place. “We are operating as we have always been. If there are any changes regarding opening of the borders, they will have to come from our head office and as of now there has not been any communication,” he said.
Authorities from Zambia and Zimbabwe met recently to evaluate the impact of Covid-19 and come up with recommendations on systems to be put in place on both sides of the border before the borders can be opened for passenger traffic.
The cross border coordination and training workshop was facilitated by the International Organisation for Migration at the Chirundu One Stop Border Post.
It looked at the challenges faced owing to the Covid-19 pandemic and sought to find ways of strengthening cross-border coordination of stakeholders such as immigration, customs, local government, social welfare and the health ministries.
Even when land border posts are reopened to human traffic, border crossings will be more complicated and far more expensive. South Africa’s National Borders Management Coordinating Committee chairperson Elvis Manyaka said in a circular to all port of entry managers that travellers entering South Africa will need to present a negative Covid-19 test results not older than 72 hours from time of departure.
“Where a traveller has not done a Covid-19 test prior to departure,they will be required to remain in mandatory quarantine at their own cost for a period of 10 days. All travellers will be subjected to screening by Port Health Officials upon arrival and departure and those detected with symptoms will be required to remain in quarantine until a repeat Covid-19 test is conducted at their own cost,” he said.
Travellers would need to complete a Traveller Health Questionnaire prior to arrival or upon arrival at any port of entry.
Zimbabwe has already put in place similar testing requirements for those using airports.
Before each land border post is reopened to passenger traffic, identical measures will have to be agreed with the authorities on both sides, along with lists of approved testing facilities. International travellers will normally require two tests, one before they go and one before they return and such tests are expensive at the approved private facilities that will have to be used by travellers.
At the same time the adjoining border post authorities will need to agree on measures to protect staff on both sides and on how the increasingly common one-stop facilities will operate.
The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (Zacc) has summoned top Zesa Holdings officials as it investigates allegations of abuse of office and corruption at the power utility.
The investigation by the anti-graft body comes after it cleared Zesa executive chairman Sydney Gata in four of the six charges he was facing paving the way for his return to the power utility.
Gata was suspended for one-month alongside other board members to pave the way for investigations into alleged abuse of office.
Business Times heard this week that head of risk and audit, Obson Matunja was summoned and was questioned by mid-morning Tuesday.
It is understood that Zesa finance director Eliab Chikwenhere was also questioned although he denied he was summoned by the anti-graft body.
It is understood that former Zesa public relations manager Fullard Gwasira has also been questioned by Zacc.
Zacc spokesperson John Makamure could neither confirm nor deny the summoning of the Zesa officials but noted that there were investigations going on.
“I am not denying or confirming their presence at Zacc. We have so many investigations going on at the same time. So it is impossible to keep tabs on each and every investigation,” Makamure said.
The latest probe comes after Zesa fired eight top managers, demoted two and suspended three while the other is serving three months’ notice pending dismissal over malpractices picked up in the forensic audit published last year.
A number of other managers have since been transferred to posts in other provinces.
Matunja, who is under investigation, was put on suspension but was recently reinstated on his previous position following an internal hearing which cleared him of any wrongdoing.
Most executives were fired, suspended or demoted over accusations of involvement in shoddy deals, ineptitude or following recommendations of a forensic audit into the operations Zesa and its subsidiaries, conducted by PriceWaterhouseCoopers (PwC).
The audit report called for disciplinary action against managers suspected to have milked the power utility of millions of dollars including misuse of resources such as fuel.
The shakeup came at a time when the power utility has been under scrutiny from the government, the sole shareholder of the company that has been reeling under heavy losses for years.
The audit exposed several irregularities that cost the power utility millions of dollars amid revelations top managers were responsible for the losses.
There were allegations of out of line procurement procedures and services provided by bogus and unregistered companies prejudicing the power utility and its subsidiaries.
Gata bounced back after President Emmerson Mnangagwa lifted his suspension and that of his board.
The investigations on Gata were ordered by the President on August 6, 2020 after a slew of allegations were raised against Gata by former Energy Minister Fortune Chasi.
Chasi was fired in August as minister for “conduct incompatible” with President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s expectations.
Some of the allegations investigated by Zacc involved Mutare Peaking Plant Project, Intratrek Gwanda Solar Project, the conduct of Chasi in his dealings with Zesa and the conduct of the officials in the ministry of Energy in their dealings with Zesa.
Zacc also examined corporate governance at Zesa and recommended that Gata be cleared of four accusations and the other two are still going on.
Farai Dziva|The MDC Alliance has challenged State Security Minister Owen Ncube to stop lying to the nation and concentrate on resolving issues affecting ordinary citizens.
Read full statement below:
29 SEPTEMBER 2020
MDC ALLIANCE NAMIBIA RESPONDS TO STATE SECURITY MINISTER’S REMARKS
Mdc Alliance Namibia is absolutely perplexed to hear the State Security Minister , Owen Ncube falsely accusing the People’s Party of plotting to topple Zanupf party unconstitutionally.
It is quite hypnotising to receive such news at this critical juncture when our leaders and members are at the mess of Zanupf-sponsored abductions, torture, arbitrary arrests, rape and gross abuse of human rights. We are clear that the Mdc Alliance amassed 2.6 million votes in 2018 harmonised elections. The issue of a stolen election is a priority in our fight for a people’s government.
Authoritarians continue robbing elections,repressing political opponents and staging coups.
We are a democratic party , we exploit constitutional mechanisms to challenge dictatorship and we don’t need arms of war.
The press conference by the State Security Minister is a reflection of security forces who value their own institutional interests and their participation in the politics of rhetoric and self-enrichment. The military and state security agents should not delve into national politics. Soldiers must be ultimately banned from political activities and rarely used to put down popular upheaval. Security forces have been dominant political players in Zimbabwe, they are closely networked into the ruling rogue regimes, illegally profiting from the corrupt system with impunity. This is a clear declaration of war to the people of Zimbabwe, social democrats who subscribe to Constitutional Democracy are being painted with horrible terrorist colours. The evil intention is to escalate terror on innocent citizens.
The false allegations epitomise Zanupf’s plan to crackdown on any voice of dissent. In Zimbabwe, the despotic Zanupf’s symbiotic interdependence with the military, the police and state security agents has suffocated social democrats from within and outside the regime who desire to reduce the security’s stinking corruption, economic decay and political influence.
As Mdc Alliance Namibia, we advocate for a security that contributes to democracy and harmony by putting down their arms or resist satanic orders to fire live ammunition against their own people. A repetition of the ugly and terrible shooting of innocent citizens on the 1st of August 2018 where at least seven citizens were butchered in the streets of Harare.
The same occurred in January 2019, when people expressed their discontentment with sky-rocketing prices of fuel and basic commodities in the country. At least 17 people lost their dear lives on account of politics with soldiers at the apex perpetrating violence on behalf of Zanupf.
In a nutshell, it is a lifetime dream to glance an independent national security sector where the democratic will of the people of Zimbabwe is a priority. It is imperative to promote and work diligently towards the establishment of security sector reforms democratising the police , the army and state security agents who are captured by an authoritarian regime.
Farai Dziva|President Nelson Chamisa has dismissed claims that the MDC Alliance is plotting to carry out acts of banditry.
On Monday State Security Minister, Owen Ncube accused the MDC Alliance and NGOs of plotting to remove Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa from power through unconstitutional means.
Responding to Ncube’s utterances, President Chamisa said:
“We must silence the guns in Africa. In the 2018 elections we got 2.6 m ballots (votes) not 2.6m bullets.
We carry ideas not guns. We bring ideas not weapons. Guns are not our language.
Peace is our language. Our language is ideas, disruptive technologies and thought leadership to transform our beautiful Zimbabwe!
We carry no swords, only words against dictatorship and bad governance in Zimbabwe.
Farai Dziva|President Nelson Chamisa has dismissed claims that the MDC Alliance is plotting to carry out acts of banditry.
On Monday State Security Minister, Owen Ncube accused the MDC Alliance and NGOs of plotting to remove Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa from power through unconstitutional means.
Responding to Ncube’s utterances, President Chamisa said:
“We must silence the guns in Africa. In the 2018 elections we got 2.6 m ballots (votes) not 2.6m bullets.
We carry ideas not guns. We bring ideas not weapons. Guns are not our language.
Peace is our language. Our language is ideas, disruptive technologies and thought leadership to transform our beautiful Zimbabwe!
We carry no swords, only words against dictatorship and bad governance in Zimbabwe.
Borniface Nyadenga, a civil servant and an Agricultural Extension Worker in Ward 21 caused commotion at an MDC A executive meeting at Zvavahera Business Centre in Gutu on Sunday after he and a colleague ordered delegates to disperse because he had not been told of the meeting.
The meeting was being addressed by Sarah Mwatenga, an MDC Alliance Provincial councillor.
Nyadenga who is also the young brother to the MDC councillor for Ward 9, Medicine Nyadenga arrived at the meeting in the company of an unemployed youth Clephas Masora with beer bottles in their hands.
They told the meeting which was taking place under a tree that they were members of Chief Munyaradzi’s family and no meeting takes place in the area without their knowledge and permission. It however, turned out that they were not even remotely related or linked to Chief Munyaradzi.
Some members of the executive tried to negotiate with the two and party youth confronted them after realising that the duo was not prepared for talks. The no-nonsense MDC A youth told them to leave or they would face their full wrath.
The two left the venue in a huff shouting that Mnangagwa is the only ruler for Zimbabwe.
Nyadenga was not reachable up to the time of going to Press.-
Tapiwa Makore (senior) (57), the suspect linked to the murder of a seven-year-old Murehwa boy in the company of his herdboy Tafadzwa Shamba has been remanded in custody.
Makore is the older brother to the murdered boy’s father. He appeared before magistrate Ms Chiedza Gatsi at Murehwa Magistrate’s Court facing charges of murder, and was remanded in custody to October 13.
Prosecuting, Ms Paidamoyo Gutu told the court that on September 17 at around midday, the accused person Shamba proceeded to the garden where the deceased Tapiwa (junior) was watching over the family garden.
It is alleged that accused person gave Shamba some keys to his house. Shamba went and lured the now deceased from the garden to the accused’s homestead where he detained him in the dinning room after giving him sadza to eat as per their agreement.
It is alleged that the accused was later alerted that the now deceased had gone missing and joined other villagers to search for him till midnight.
Makore later went home and found the deceased asleep, under the guard of Shamba. It is reported that on the following day at around 1am, Shamba carried the victim to a secluded area in the company of the accused.
Makore manhandled the boy by the legs whilst his accomplice used a knife to cut off the deceased’s head, both arms and limps. The remains were packed in two different packages with limps and arms in the same pack.
Makore carried the pack which had limps and both arms, whilst Shamba carried a pack which had the abdomen and head.
The abdomen was dumped near Summer Murwira’s homestead but he took the other parts to the accused’s homestead for safe keeping. On the same day, Murwira discovered the abdomen which was being eaten by his dog and puppies.
It is also alleged that on the same day, Shamba removed his pair of trousers which had some blood stains, and placed them in the accused person’s kitchen hut.
On September 20, detectives recovered the pair of trousers after searching the accused person’s house.
On September 23, Shamba was picked and a search was conducted in his bedroom leading to the recovery of a white stained vest. He confessed to committing the offence with the accused person.
A post-mortem was conducted and the cause of death could not be determined. -Herald
…… asIcannotbelievethat *Rev Samuel Sifelani, The Sif, *is* gone
The day 30 September is my birth day. This day has been my special day for the past four decades and a half. I always celebrate this day with my family and also my workmates.
When Tadiwanashe and Tapiwanashe, my sons went back to school on Sunday, they had requested that we celebrate my 2020 birthday before the day so that they would not miss this annual event.
Just last night, Tanyaradzwanashe, my daughter, reminded me of this special day. I promised her all the usual goodies. Little did I know that it would be a celebration in mourning. Indeed, my day became a complicated one. I will always ask my Creator the question, WHY? Why why why?
Rev Samuel Sifelani (Rev Sif) is gone. He was the Zimbabwe Council of Churches Ecumenical Liaison Officer.
He worked closely with our General Secretary, Rev Dr Kenneth Mtata. He anchored that office so well.
Rev Sif passed on last night in Bulawayo. He is gone to be with our Creator. Yet just an hour before that sad incident, I talked to him.
Together we arranged the diary for our General Secretary for the remainder of the week days. He directed me to cancel certain planned meetings in order to accommodate new events that his office needed to participate in. I apologised for complicating his diary with new emerging meetings.
As usual, he said “Haaa Chitova magariro enyu tokuzivai….” and he laughed. Little did I know that Rev Sif was to disappear from us in the next few minutes from that call. Yah, this is unbelievable.
Rev Sif had gone to Bulawayo to attend this year’s edition of the Zimbabwe Alternative Mining Indaba (ZAMI). He was part of a huge ZCC team from the Secretariat and the structures who were to attend the event.
On Monday this week, as an organisation, we resumed our weekly devotion sessions after a long break due to COVID-19. Rev Sif gathered all of us under our jacaranda tree at our offices in Harare.
He delivered a powerful word. Iam sure my colleagues, Ronald Nare, Winnet Banda and Temptation Veremu will not forget that session for Rev Sif specifically singled them out as he preached.
He was at his best. Little did we know that, that was going to be his last session. Yet, he promised us that next week we will meet again for our devotions. Rev Sif, why, why Mhofu, we are still waiting for next week’s devotions as per your promise.
Mhofu, matigwadzisa.
Rev Sif, magwadzisa vana venyu. Admire Mutizwa, Shaun Gambiza, Caroline Mutsago, Sarah Mupomhori, Arnold Nyereyemhuka and Rev Nhliziyo mavagwadzisa Rev Sif. It was a hard time for them, seeing you lying lifeless after you had been leading them some few minutes before. The night of 29 September 2020 will remain a bad one in their memories. You should have felt for them Rev and abandon the plan to leave us.
That Giant is gone. When we thought we had found a winning formula with Rev Sif as the striker in our General Secretary’s Office, this happens to us. The ZCC has lost a cadre. Zimbabwe Heads of Christian Denominations has also lost an anchorman. The ecumenical movement in Zimbabwe will not be the same without Rev Sif.
What a birthday for me? The year 2020 will remain a bad year for me. Celebrating my birthday in mourning a workmate, my muzukuru, Mufundisi wangu. Oh what a year for me!
Rev Sif matibaya panyama nhete. When we thought we have sent our best team to represent us at the 2020 edition of the ZAMI in Bulawayo, Rev Sif decides otherwise. Yet, Rev Sif had become a key participant at this annual event for ZCC, ZELA and ZIMCODD. The ZAMI will never be the same without Rev Sif. By the way the man was an excellent public speaker. We relied on him in that regard. He was eloquent.
I am Baba Two(Baba Ma 2), the title given to me because in 2004, I was blessed with a pair of twins, Tadiwa and Tapiwa. I was still trying to push the same title onto Rev Sif, though he was resisting it. Rev Sif had just been blessed with a pair of twins some couple of weeks ago. And…now he is gone. While it is always not advisable to question what the Creator does, I am tempted to ask WHY?.
Anyway, Go well Rev Sif. Go well Sam. Go well Mhofu. Go well The Sif. Asi vende ramatisiira ndoguru. You had become a utility player in our ZCC team. You had helped shape our Management team. And…. we relied on you too when it comes to the social well being of our team. What will become of us without you in our midst? What will I tell our Local Ecumenical Fellowships (LEFs). Already they are asking me a lot of questions I can not answer. Yet, I am also still asking you Rev Sif, why did you do this to us? Even your mbuya here, Angela is disturbed. When we received the news last night, she woke up and prayed. By that time we were still pleading with our Creator not to expose us by taking you away.
At that time, I thought you would hear us Rev. It was at that time too that you should have felt for Admire, Shaun, Arnold and Caroline. You were not fair to these young ones Rev. They suffered emotionally.
They tried their best though in vain to stop your plans. You went ahead without considering their plight Rev. It was hard for the young team that had regarded you as their leader to Bulawayo. It was hard for all of us Rev. It will be hard for the Ecumenical movement The Sif. Iam particularly devastated.
THE herdsman, Tafadzwa Shamba, who was recently arrested over the ritual murder of Tapiwa Makore (7) at Makore Village in Murehwa yesterday told detectives he killed the boy by cutting off the head with a knife in the dead of the night, while the boy’s uncle was holding a torch.
He was taken by detectives to Makore Village in Murehwa yesterday for an inspection in loco.
Shamba said after the murder, he carried a black plastic bag containing the head and the dismembered body while his employer, who is the boy’s uncle, Tapiwa Makore (Senior), carried another bag containing the arms and legs.
Makore has since also been arrested and he appeared in court yesterday where he was remanded in custody on murder charges.
Clad in prison garb, Shamba, who was visibly jittery, led the police to the garden where he kidnapped the boy allegedly under the instructions of the boy’s uncle.
From there, Shamba led the team of detectives to the uncle’s homestead where he said he fed the boy, drugged him with kachasu and locked him up in a room for hours.
“I went to the kitchen hut and brought the boy sadza and dried fish. I washed his hands before giving him the food. After eating, I went to Mrs Katsande’s homestead where I bought five litres of illicit brew (kachasu).
“I drank the beer to gather courage. I also put a bit of sugar into the brew and offered it to the boy who took it until he got drunk and slept. I then locked him up in the room before going back to Mrs Katsande’s homestead for more beer,” he said.
While at the Katsande homestead, village watchmen broke the news of the missing boy. Makore (Snr) joined the boy’s father Mr Munyaradzi Makore on the search party, but at midnight they had to halt.
Shamba said he met the boy’s uncle around midnight and took the boy to a nearby mountain where they killed him.
“Around midnight, we opened the door and I carried the boy, who was still in deep slumber to a mountain in the village.
“Mr Makore carried the knives and the plastic bags. While here (in the mountain), I pressed the boy to the ground and cut off his head with a sharp knife, while his uncle was holding a torch for lighting.
“I also cut off the hands and legs, but we packed the parts in different plastic bags. I carried the one with the torso and the head while Mr Makore carried another one containing the legs and hands,” he said.
At the scene, investigators saw human waste, believed to have been excreted by the boy during the murder.
Shamba told detectives that he cleaned the scene of the blood and set the grass on fire to destroy evidence.
He said while walking to Makore’s homestead, he felt the load was becoming heavier before dumped the torso near Mr Summer Murwira’s homestead.
“The bag was now heavier and dogs were barking. I had to quickly drop the torso and proceeded with the head,” he said.
While at Makore’s homestead, Shamba said he was instructed to put the head in one of the rooms, which he did.
The following day, Shamba said he dumped the arms and legs at a nearby grave as police investigations were intensifying.
Villagers, eager to follow the proceedings, could be seen watching from a distance.
Police are still hunting for a third man, described as a witchdoctor, to whom the head was allegedly delivered.-The Herald
Drummer Delroy “Scara” Maripakwenda was laid to rest at Warren Hills Cemetery yesterday at a funeral attended by top names in the arts sector.
Scara — who was considered one of the foremost instrumentalists in the country — succumbed to heart complications on Sunday morning.
He was 29.
His funeral brought together the entertainment industry, a testament of the impact he had in showbiz.
Winky D, Stunner, Vokal, DJ Iroq, Bridges Chimanga, Layaan and other prominent figures were in attendance.
At the time of his death, he had just finished setting up a music collective known as Tha NuVyb in which he was the drummer, working with DJ Burtler and Mc Tatts.
They were performing in clubs and corporate events fusing live music and deejay sets.
In recognition of the work he did at Tha NuVyb, Judgment Yard emcee Abisha Palmer described Scara as a pioneer.
“He had introduced a new style, besides having worked with a number of bands, he was venturing into being a drummer for the club scene. This was something which was yet to be tried in Zimbabwe and Scara was brave enough to pioneer the idea. He could have easily joined another band, but he felt it was time to try his own thing,” said Palmer.
Rapper Stunner struggled to come to terms with the drummer`s sudden departure.
“I am hoping someone will come and say it was a prank. Up to now, it is still hard to believe that Scara is no more.
He used to play drums for me when I performed and truly this is a blow. We always assumed we have all the time in the world. No one could imagine that we would be robbed of such a young genius in this way,” said an emotional Stunner.
Prior to his death, he hadprojects that were in the pipeline and collaborators could not fathom completing them in his absence.
He was co-hosting an annual festival in Karoi with DJ Langton B.
Music promoter, Spencer ‘Boss Spencer’ Madziya bemoaned the deaths of young artistes in the industry.
“It is painful, when young promising talent is taken away from us in such a manner. Of course these things cannot be predicted, but it difficult to handle losing someone with an evidently promising future,” Madziya said.-The Herald
Own Correspondent|Controversial Masvingo based cleric, Isaac Makomichi has vowed to challenge Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa in the 2023 Presidential Plebiscite.
Makomichi has launched a political movement called Simuka Zimbabwe Democrats.
The controversial preacher is in the process of registering the political party with ZEC.
Makomichi said Simuka Zimbabwe Democrats party will challenge Zanu PF in the 2023 elections.
“Simuka Zimbabwe Democrats party will make sure that there is peace and harmony in the country. Our thrust is to build a strong economy.
We need a free Zimbabwe for every citizen.
We are strongly against tribalism.We need leaders who love the people more than their pockets.
As Simuka Zimbabwe Democrats, we don’t hate Zanu PF.
All we want is a better Zimbabwe, it’s better to fight poverty than to fight other politicians,” said Makomichi in a statement.
Makomichi added: “Our target before the 2023 elections is to bring Mnangagwa and Chamisa to the negotiating table for the sake of our nation.”
Own Correspondent|Controversial Masvingo based cleric, Isaac Makomichi has vowed to challenge Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa in the 2023 Presidential Plebiscite.
Makomichi has launched a political movement called Simuka Zimbabwe Democrats.
The controversial preacher is in the process of registering the political party with ZEC.
Makomichi said Simuka Zimbabwe Democrats party will challenge Zanu PF in the 2023 elections.
“Simuka Zimbabwe Democrats party will make sure that there is peace and harmony in the country. Our thrust is to build a strong economy.
We need a free Zimbabwe for every citizen.
We are strongly against tribalism.We need leaders who love the people more than their pockets.
As Simuka Zimbabwe Democrats, we don’t hate Zanu PF.
All we want is a better Zimbabwe, it’s better to fight poverty than to fight other politicians,” said Makomichi in a statement.
Makomichi added: “Our target before the 2023 elections is to bring Mnangagwa and Chamisa to the negotiating table for the sake of our nation.”
CLEVELAND – Joe Biden and Donald Trump exchanged heated barbs on Tuesday, attacking each other’s competence and credibility, in a fiery first presidential debate 35 days ahead of the most tense US election in recent memory.
There was no handshake as the two men took the stage and while this was due to COVID-19 restrictions, the absence of the traditional greeting symbolised the bitterness engulfing the country in the final countdown to November 3.
Just minutes in, the debate turned into an all-out and personal brawl as they raced through issues from a Supreme Court vacancy to the coronavirus pandemic to the US health care system.
“Everything he’s saying so far is simply a lie. I’m not here to call out his lies. Everybody knows he’s a liar,” former vice president Biden said.
Biden — taking on a feisty, aggressive tone despite Trump’s taunts that he had low energy — then told the US president: “Will you shut up, man?”
“It’s hard to get a word in with this clown,” Biden snapped at one point.
Biden, who is leading in polls, sought to tie Trump squarely to the COVID-19 pandemic that has claimed more than 200,000 lives in the United States, more than in any other country.
“How many of you got up this morning and had an empty chair at the kitchen table because someone died of COVID?” Biden said.
Mocking the 74-year-old Trump for one of his more notorious statements from the White House podium, Biden said: “Maybe you could inject bleach in your arm and that would take care of it.”
‘Nothing smart about you’ –
Trump hit back that his bleach remark had been in jest and quickly tried to land punches on Biden.
He attacked both his track record as Barack Obama’s vice president and even questioned the 77-year-old’s educational record.
“Don’t ever use the word smart with me. Don’t ever use that word with me. There’s nothing smart about you, Joe,” Trump said.
Trump at one point charged that the “radical left” has Biden “wrapped around their finger.”
He also attacked Biden’s insistence on wearing a mask to prevent COVID, a decision in line with medical experts’ advice.
“You have to understand, I have a mask right here. I put a mask on when I think I need it,” Trump said.
“I don’t wear a mask like him, every time you see him, he’s got a mask.”
Before they even appeared for the first of three 90-minute TV showdowns, barbs were flying.
Biden, seeking to eat into Trump’s crucial support among blue-collar voters, capitalised on bombshell revelations that the billionaire Trump managed to avoid paying almost any federal income taxes for years.
MDC-T National Chairman Morgan Komichi has revealed that the party is planning to recall about 38 more legislators from Parliament, as well as hundreds of councillors across the country.
Komichi confirmed the mooted bloodbath to the Daily News yesterday, saying the party’s standing committee had resolved on Wednesday to sack all legislators and councillors opposed to Khupe’s leadership.
Among the bigwigs who could be jettisoned as soon as from next week, in this latest party carnage, are MDC Alliance vice president Lynette Karenyi-Kore and the coalition’s firebrand deputy national chairperson Job “Wiwa” Sikhala who have remained loyal to Nelson Chamisa.
Komichi told the Daily News yesterday that the party’s interim leadership had resolved at its meeting on Wednesday to fire all legislators and hundreds of councillors across the country who are opposed to Khupe’s group.
He said the move was informed by the desire of the interim leadership to “realign the party and focus it on the needs of Zimbabweans”.
“We have reached a point where we are saying we cannot continue with members who have chosen to be stubborn.
“There is no way you can be Zanu PF and be MDC-T at the same time, and any party that is serious is bound to take action. So, the letters will be written to Parliament soon.
“It would not be strategic to tell the media the exact recall date,” Komichi told the Daily News.
“The affected MPs have chosen not to align with the MDC-T, the major party in the MDC Alliance. They are siding with Chamisa and the national standing committee resolved that we have to take action,” he added.
Khupe’s spokesperson Khaliphani Phugeni also told the Daily News yesterday that the MDC’s standing committee had resolved that all elected officials — including legislators and councillors — who had ceased to be members of the party should be recalled forthwith.
“The general position taken by the party is that all those who have since ceased to be our members will be recalled. But this is going to be done on a case by case basis.
“It is all dependent on the individual actions of MPs and councillors,” he said.
Besides Karenyi-Kore and Sikhala, other prominent legislators targeted for the chop include Joana Mamombe (Harare West), Caston Matewu (Marondera Central), Ethrage Kureva (Epworth), Starman Chamisa (Mbare), Costa Machingauta (Budiriro), Eric Murai (Highfield East) and Brian Dube (Gweru Urban).
The MDC-T has so far recalled 21 legislators out of a total of 110 party representatives in both the national assembly and the senate — as well as dozens of councillors around the country.
All this also comes as Khupe and Chamisa are reputedly considering to sit down and talk over their differences.
Professor of world politics at the London School of Oriental and African Studies Stephen Chan said this week that the MDC fights were benefiting Zanu PF immensely.
“The various factions of the MDC are doing the work of Zanu PF and … the ruling party can barely hide its delight that the once formidable opposition is now splintered into two feuding half-parties, neither of whom would be strong enough to win an election.
Travellers exhibiting Covid-19 symptoms will be tested and charged US$60 at ports of entry even if they are in possession of a Covid-19-free certificate.
The move is meant to curb the spread of the virus through imported cases.
International flights are expected to resume on Thursday (October 1). Metered taxis have also been given the greenlight to resume to facilitate the easy movement of tourists.
“Cabinet wishes to reassure the public that the resumption of international flights and the imminent re-opening of Victoria Falls International Airport on 1 October 2020 is well on course and that the assessments of other major airports have been completed,” read the post-Cabinet meeting briefing statement on Tuesday.
“As a measure to guarantee the safety of travellers, Cabinet further resolved that in line with Statutory Instrument 216(5) Section 8, which requires travellers showing Covid-19 symptoms, whether or not they have a Covid-19-free certificate, to be tested, (and) a nominal fee of US$60 be levied on travellers tested at ports of entry, and that the proceeds be used to replenish laboratory commodities. Metered taxi operations have been allowed to resume services to allow for the movement of tourists and citizens who are unable to use public transport.”
Trainee Health Professionals who finish their studies will no longer be employed by the Ministry of Health and Child Care’s Health Services Board but will have to be appointed under the Defence Forces Service Commission in-order to be appointed Junior Resident Medical Officers, Government has said.
The move sees Vice President Constantino Chiwenga’s Health ministry deliberately militarise the health sector on order for the staff members to be easily controlled.
AFTER years of engaging in futile internal wars, MDC leaders now appear ready to ditch their suicidal factional battles and work together in the interest of the party, the Daily News reports.
Yesterday, the party’s interim leadership led by Thokozani Khupe held a hastily-arranged meeting of its standing committee in Harare, which officials said was meant to clear the ground for re-unification talks with the Nelson Chamisa group.
A slight complication of any such talks is that these would have to accommodate MDC Alliance vice presidents Welshman Ncube and Tendai Biti — who joined the coalition when it was launched by the late and much-loved Morgan Tsvangirai in August 2017.
This comes after party youths seized the MDC’s iconic national headquarters in Harare, Morgan Richard Tsvangirai (MRT) House, in a desperate bid to force dialogue between Khupe and Chamisa.
The two have been involved in a vicious tussle for the control of the country’s largest opposition party ever since the revered Tsvangirai succumbed to cancer of the colon on Valentine’s Day in 2018.
MDC youth assembly chairperson for Harare, Paul Gorekore — who led the takeover of MRT House — told the Daily News yesterday that they were determined to achieve dialogue between Khupe and Chamisa.
“The standing committee, which is here today (yesterday), will be attended by the MDC leadership, and from that meeting we expect them to come up with a resolution to redirect the engagement process … but the fact is that we are really desperate for unity.
“We are trying by all means to push our leaders to find each other, sit down and solve their differences, which we believe can be resolved amicably.
“When I talk about leaders, I am referring to those who held various positions when President Morgan Tsvangirai died in 2018,” Gorekore told the Daily News.
“According to what we agreed as the youths, the leaders must follow the constitution. So, when they say they have suspended or expelled so and so, the procedure must be followed to the extent that the decisions must be ratified by the national executive committee and the national council.
“So, the leaders have not been expelled yet until those organs of the party have met. If they endorse that, or do not, then that will be the final decision,” he added.
Gorekore was apparently referring to the sacking of Chamisa from the 2014 structures by Khupe, as well as the many recalls of legislators and councillors around the country — which other members of the Khupe team such as organising secretary Abedinico Bhebe have strongly objected to.
On his part, MDC chairperson Morgen Komichi said he would only comment after yesterday’s crucial meeting.
“There is an emergency standing committee meeting today (yesterday) where all those issues, including the fate of the expelled leaders, will be discussed. So, a statement will be released afterwards,” Komichi told the Daily News.
This comes as MDC youths seized MRT House on Monday, amid chaotic scenes — before vowing to force dialogue between Khupe and Chamisa.
In addition to commandeering the building, the discontented youths said their desperate action was meant to save the party from collapsing, as their leaders’ mindless bloodletting continued to escalate.
The move came as political analysts warned at the weekend that the ugly infighting had now taken the once formidable party to the brink of political oblivion.
Addressing the media, former MP for Highfield West Happymore “Bvondo” Chidziva said bluntly that youths from the party’s current two main factions had had enough of their leaders’ brawling.
“We have decided to go back to the 2014 structures and start working together without apportioning factions to each other.
“From there, we want all processes done properly — starting with the meeting of the national standing committee, national executive and the national council.
“We are sick and tired of the factional fights and for the past 21 years the youths have suffered the most. Some died along the way and we have realised that we have reached a point where the name MDC was about to be buried,” Chidziva told journalists outside MRT House.
“We, therefore, want to have the past mistakes resolved like the Supreme Court directed and from there we come back and work as the MDC-Alliance in peace.
“The MDC-T is a component of the Alliance, but there were mistakes which need to be resolved by electing Tsvangirai’s successor. The leaders must find each other. That is the only thing we must do. We are past that time when we labelled each other Zanu PF,” Chidziva, who was youth leader in the 2014 structures, further told journalists.
“I have been engaging leaders in the party and we agree that Khupe is the acting president, with Morgen Komichi as the chairperson and Douglas Mwonzora as the secretary-general, while Lynnette Karenyi-Kore heads the women’s’ assembly in that order, so that we close all space for Zanu PF.
“The MDC-Alliance will still exist because it was started by Tsvangirai. So, it is only about the MDC-T component sorting its own things,” Chidziva added.
On his part, Gorekore said then that they had taken over the symbolic party headquarters to unite the leadership and save the party from being hijacked by Zanu PF.
“Individuals have been making unconstitutional and illegal decisions without the mandate of the Zimbabwean voters, party organs from branches, wards, districts, provinces, the national executive and national council organs — which have not met since the Supreme Court judgment.
“The party has been infiltrated by sell-outs with an agenda to derail our freedom. It, therefore, follows that we must act to unite our leadership, our support base and Zimbabweans at large, and ensure the vision of Dr Morgan Tsvangirai MDC founding president, Morgan Tsvangirai Tsvangirai lives on across generations,” Gorekore said.
“As the first line of defence of the party, the vanguards of democracy and the custodians of the party and its future, we have assumed all security duties of the party HQ, MRT House.
“This was necessitated by our realisation on the need to unite the people in the fight for a better Zimbabwe and defend the civilian space in the face of military state capture.
“We as the youths of the party as per 2014 structures, we have decided to go beyond our differences and unite to resolve the current crisis,” Gorekore said further.
This comes as the Daily News has reported on the MDC’s senseless brawls consistently, fairly and accurately over the past two years — calling out the futility of the anarchy.
At the weekend, political analysts also warned that the party’s futile infighting was driving the MDC to its death bed.
They also repeated their other warnings that the divided opposition would find it exceedingly difficult to compete with Zanu PF in the fast-approaching 2023 national elections.
The MDC has been ravaged by its futile ructions since Tsvangirai died from colon cancer in February 2018.
The infighting went a notch up after the Supreme Court judgment earlier this year which upheld last year’s ruling by the High Court that nullified Chamisa’s ascendancy to the leadership of the party. Daily News
Government has released a school calendar which will see primary and secondary schools closing in December with learners proceeding to the next level in 2021 despite the challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The statement said schools will close on 18 December and open on 4 January 2020. This was confirmed by the Primary and Secondary Education Minister, Ambassador Cain Mathema at a post-cabinet media briefing held this Tuesday in Harare. Speaking to our sister paper The Herald, the Education Minister also confirmed that Government has put around 10 000 qualified, but unemployed, teachers on standby to replace those that are holding the State to ransom by engaging in an illegal industrial action.
He said that measures had been put in place to employ the bulk of qualified, but jobless, teachers. Some teachers did not report for duty when examination classes resumed on Monday, citing incapacitation and lack of personal protective equipment (PPEs) at schools.
Although the first phase of the reopening of schools started safely this week, with no pupil testing positive for Covid-19 following sound measures to insulate stakeholders from contracting the deadly virus, some teachers continued with their class boycott yesterday.
This prompted the Government to come up with emergency measures to ensure learning was not disrupted. Ambassador Mathema said the Government would not allow a situation where pupils who had lost precious time during the Covid-19 lockdown, continued to be disenfranchised.
“Negotiations between Government and its workers are ongoing and we hope that they will soon find common ground to improve the lives of civil servants. Some teachers might want to hold the Government to ransom by not reporting for duty waiting for the completion of these negotiations. What we are saying is that learners have not been going to school since March and the Government will not allow a situation where they continue to be disadvantaged.
“We have at least 10 000 teachers who are unemployed and if the crunch comes, we will be left with no option but to quickly employ some of those teachers. Schooling has to go on and we will employ if there is a need to,” said Ambassador Mathema.
The government recently availed a total of $600 million for disbursement to needy schools to improve sanitation and enable them to reopen safely without risking a spike in Covid-19 infections.
It also ordered those who did not meet the prescribed standards not to re-open.
Ambassador Mathema said the June public examinations were held successfully, and to date after this week’s re-opening, no student had tested positive for Covid-19, a sign of adequate adherence to the prescribed protocols.
BULAWAYO Magistrate Shepherd Mjanja on Monday acquitted Muzingaye Thaka, a 22 year-old pro-democracy campaigner, who had been on trial after he was arrested in July for allegedly embarking on a one-man protest against the arrest and detention of freelance
journalist Hopewell Chin’ono and opposition Transform Zimbabwe political party leader Jacob Ngarivhume and also demanding an end to corruption.
Muzingaye was arrested on 30 July and charged with inciting public violence as defined in section 36 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act for allegedly inciting public violence, when he was carrying a placard written “Free Hopewell and Jacob, journalism is not a crime, kasifuni bumbulu, sesidiniwe, we are tired, we deserve better. Stop corruption. We want better. Stop police brutality, we want better. Respect the Constitution. We want a living wage, free Zimbabwe.”
Muzingaye was acquitted at the close of the prosecution case after his lawyer Lison Ncube of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights applied for discharge arguing that the pro-democracy campaigner had not committed an offence warranting him to be put on trial.
Magistrate Mjanja ruled that prosecutors dismally failed to prove the offence during trial and that police officers who arrested Muzingaye were overzealous and acted prematurely in apprehending him.
Apart from Muzingaye, several people across the country are appearing in court facing similar charges as the Bulawayo-based pro-democracy campaigner after they were arrested in July and early August for allegedly protesting against the detention of Chin’ono and Ngaruvhume and also demanding that government takes action on rampant corruption in Zimbabwe.
ZIMBABWE recorded 21 new Covid-19 cases in the last 24 hours bringing the total number of cases since the outbreak of pandemic to 7 837.
No new deaths were reported and the country’s cumulative death toll is at 228.
According to the Ministry of Health and Child Care all 21 new cases are local and were recorded in Bulawayo, Mashonaland East and Mashonaland West and Masvingo.
However, of note is an increase on the seven-day rolling average for new cases which went up from 16 to 18 in the last 24 hours.
“As of 29 September 2020, Zimbabwe has recorded 7 837 confirmed cases including 6 122 recoveries and 228 deaths. Twenty one new cases, all local, and no deaths were reported in the last 24 hours. Ten new recoveries were reported while the national recovery rate stands at 78 percent. Active cases went up to 1 487,” reads the Ministry statement.
A total of 467 Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) tests were done in the last 24 hours.
Bulawayo now has a total of 1 447 confirmed cases including 1 303 recoveries and 44 deaths, while active cases have gone down to went up to 100.
Matabeleland North has 134 confirmed cases including 128 recoveries and three deaths while active cases have gone down to three.
Matabeleland South has a total of 777 confirmed cases including 587 recoveries and seven deaths and 183 active cases.
Midlands province has a total of 591 confirmed cases 582 recoveries and nine deaths while active cases have dropped to zero.
A man claiming to be the son of former deputy president of Zimbabwe Simon Vengai Muzenda has been arrested for allegedly assaulting and defrauding a Silverwoods, Pretoria east woman.
Johnson Muzenda (50) was arrested earlier this month after a woman believed to be his girlfriend opened a case of assault, fraud and malicious damage to property.
“The suspect claimed to be the son of former Zimbabwean deputy president and also claims to have R149-million in his account,” said Boschkop police spokesperson Sergeant Yeroboam Mbatsane.
“The accused allegedly targeted divorced women and widows who were rich by promising to marry them.
“In this case, Muzenda made arrangements to use the complainant’s motor vehicle and would pay the monthly instalment but never did.”
Instead, the 50-year-old allegedly produced fake documents as proof of payment of the car, as well as other fake documents in an attempt to prove that he owned the complainant’s house.
“It is also alleged that Muzenda used two fake passports both of which have been revealed to be fake by home affairs and the Zimbabwean embassy,” Mbatsane said.
“He had a high court stamp that he used to certify the documents but never commissioned the documents.”
Mbatsane said investigations also showed that Muzenda had fake documents showing that he owned various properties in the Silverwoods estates which belong to the victim.
He planned to allegedly defraud the tenants to make payments directly to him.
“He also claims to own a company which deals with property increments, however, the investigations revealed it is non-existent.
“Investigation further revealed that the suspect dealt with similar crimes in KwaZulu-Natal where he robbed women of a huge amount using the same strategy.”
He allegedly tricked women in quick lobola negotiations while already staying with them at their properties.
Muzenda appeared in the Hatfield regional court on charges of assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm, fraud, theft and malicious damage to property.
He was expected to appear in court for bail application on 30 September.
Whether the man was truly related to the former deputy president of Zimbabwe was yet to be proven.
The country’s premier annual mining gathering for the civil society and community based organisations kicked off in Bulawayo on Wednesday morning with dampened spirits after one of the key figures in the event Reverend Samuel Sifela died in a freak accident on Tuesday evening.
The Zimbabwe Alternative Mining Indaba (ZAMI) 9th edition is jointly organized by the Zimbabwe Environmental Law Association, Zimbabwe Coalition on Debt and Development (ZIMCODD) and the Zimbabwe Council of Churches (ZCC) which Reverend Sifelani was the Chief Liaison Officer.
The indaba will run from 30 September to 2 October.
Participants at the event were shell shocked on Tuesday morning when the announcement of Sifela’s death was made.
Because of Sifelani’s death, all discussions and programmes that were meant to be coordinated by the ZCC were immediately cancelled.
“We were meant to host this year’s event in a different format where partners are hosting concurrent side sessions due to the Covid-19 regulations we made since called off all side session under the ZCC,” said Nyaradzo Mutonhori, ZELA’s programs officer to attendants.
She said the ZAMI provides an opportunity for communities, civic society players to reflect on the developments in the mining sector and exposing community vulnerabilities that are coming from the impact of mining.
“This year’s ZAMI comes at a time when we are faced with the global COVID-19 pandemic which has affected the economy and the livelihoods of thousands, not just in Zimbabwe but across nations. The mining sector is expected to spur economic growth especially on our drive towards the Upper Middle-Income Agenda (Vision 2030).
“Therefore, the 2020 ZAMI will see us interrogating whether we are on track as we strive to achieve the USD12 billion mining industry by 2023. The ZAMI is a space dedicated to amplifying community voices and this year because of COVID19 we will have different side sessions which will also be broadcasted live”.
ZIMCODD’s Executive Director, Janet Zhou said ZAMI provides a platform where stakeholders can deliberate and influence policy change.
“We are deliberating on how we can ensure the USD12 billion economy is anchored on sustainable mineral resource management. It is important to discuss such issues because we do not want to discuss economic growth without a human face,” said Zhou.
She added, “This year, the alternative space created for communities living in resource rich areas, is being held under a decentralized format, where partners are hosting technical side sessions, to comply with the Covid 19 public gathering regulations.”
ZIMCODD programs manager John Maketo, said it is a paradox that communities living in areas endowed with natural resources are still living in poverty, as he urged for upscaling of advocacy work.
“We need to ensure that we transform the lives of communities that host big mining conglomerates and ensure that they benefit from the natural resource endowments to impact positively on their livelihoods.
“As CSOs and communities we need to hold local and foreign mining investments to highest ethical standards to change the narrative of mining communities,” said Maketo.
It is evident that from the research findings of ZELA, we have a plethora of legislations and policies that promote transparency and accountability there is a missing link in terms of implementation.
Chair of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Mines, Edmund Mukaratigwa said the role of parliament has been more pronounced by the reliance of the country on mining, to ensure compliance and holding the executive to account.
He said the platform provided by ZAMI would be used as a critical reflection of the policy implementation gaps, accept recommendations for review of policies and ensure that community issues are escalated.
“We take seriously the concerns of the mining communities emanating from policy gaps within the mining sector and this interface is healthy because it helps us engage the executive from an informed perspective.
“As Parliament we have a mandate to hold mining companies accountable and ensure that they also comply with the legislative framework in Zimbabwe. Parliament is the custodian of the constitution that should ensure that the laws is followed and upheld,” said Mukaratigwa.
ZAMI 2020 is running under the theme “Towards an inclusive and equitable US$12 billion mining industry anchored on sustainable mineral resource management” and is a part initiative of the Alternative Mining Indaba (AMI) platforms that have been facilitated by various organisations across the globe.
At the local level, ZAMI is a build-up event from the Ward Alternative Mining Indabas, Constituency Alternative Indabas, and District Alternative Mining Indabas (DAMIs) and Provincial Alternative Mining Indabas (PAMIs) held in different parts of the Country.
In 2020, two Provincial Alternative Mining Indabas were held in Midlands and Manicaland, to interrogate the US$12 billion strategy of government to grow the mining sector to ensure inclusion of communities.
Today the MDC-T secured a court order for the eviction of the G40 sponsored anarchists who had unlawfully occupied MRT House.
It is clear that the reactionary forces are determined to distort our mission. It is also clear that the reality of the Supreme Court judgement, which many dismissed as moot is sinking, and resultantly causing panic in our erstwhile colleagues in the so-called Alliance party. Their narrative of a moot judgement was not only a figment of their imagination but a disastrous lie which they can no longer sustain.
Through a vicious miscalculated campaign of this lie, they have misled many MPs, Councillors and the general public. We assure our membership that these forces of darkness and confusion will not succeed in their plans to highjack the people’s project.
We reaffirm our zero tolerance to indiscipline and lawlessness and call upon our youths not to be used to perpetrate violence and engage in lawless behaviour at the instigation of leaders seeking to advance selfish personal agendas.
We will not be swayed by those who seek to cause confusion in our endeavour to return the party to legitimacy. The MDC-T is a law-abiding party anchored in values of constitutionalism, rule of law and respect of basic fundamental freedoms.
We call upon our right thinking membership to remain resolute in this tortuous journey towards the restoration of legitimacy and founding values of the party. As the preparation for the Extra-Ordinary Congress gathers momentum we remain fortified in our resolve to bring back the party to constitutionalism and rule of law.
As we confront these challenges let us remain strong and determined to achieve the people’s agenda for a better Zimbabwe. We urge our ward, district, provincial and national leadership to remain focused on the preparations for the Extra-Ordinary Congress to replace our late iconic leader Dr Richard Morgan Tsvangirayi.
The Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) have started interviews for the vacant Warriors team manager position ahead of the Algeria games and it has emerged that Tinashe Nengomasha is one those who made the final shortlist.
Father, as Nengomasha is affectionately known, is one the candidates for the post, which was dissolved by the country’s football governing body together with all the other positions.
Nengomasha, a former Kaizer Chiefs midfielder, was part of historic Warriors squad which stepped on Tunisian soil for the country’s maiden AFCON appearance in 2004.
Incumbent Wellington Mpandare, former Chicken Inn midfielder Clement Matawu, Dynamos legend Vitalis ‘Digital’ Takawira and former AmaZulu defender Sikhumbuzo Ndebele, made the final shortlist.-Soccer 24
Mamelodi Sundowns General Manager Yogesh Singh says team manager Peter Ndlovu is not the only one to blame for the fiasco which nearly saw the club stripped off the Nedbank Cup title.
Masandawa took on Bloemfontein Celtic in the 2019/20 decider and won it 1-0 but the biggest talking point was that defender Tebogo Langerman was named in the match day squad and also sat on the bench despite being suspended.
Ndlovu was blamed by some fans on social media for the debacle since he is the team manager, though it later emerged that the Warriors legend was on the one in charge of the team that day.
Speaking to SAFM Radio yesterday, Singh reiterated that the finger can be pointed to many people, not Ndlovu alone.
“I don’t want to speak about Peter Ndlovu…I think after the investigation is done , we will be in a better position… But Peter is not the only person involved here and it will not be fair to make a comment on him only,” Singh said.
“What happened was a big mistake and the club should acknowledge that something like this should never happen again.We have to say how sorry we are and that’s why we had to apologise to our stakeholders.The apology also comes from the President and everyone who works for Sundowns,” he added.-Soccer 24
Farai Dziva|President Nelson Chamisa has dismissed claims that the MDC Alliance is plotting to carry out acts of banditry.
On Monday State Security Minister, Owen Ncube accused the MDC Alliance and NGOs of plotting to remove Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa from power through unconstitutional means.
Responding to Ncube’s utterances, President Chamisa said:
“We must silence the guns in Africa. In the 2018 elections we got 2.6 m ballots (votes) not 2.6m bullets.
We carry ideas not guns. We bring ideas not weapons. Guns are not our language.
Peace is our language. Our language is ideas, disruptive technologies and thought leadership to transform our beautiful Zimbabwe!
We carry no swords, only words against dictatorship and bad governance in Zimbabwe.
By A Correspondent| Impala Car Rental through its Alfred Dondo Foundation has honored its pledge to provide medical assistance to a 16-year-old Mt Darwin girl who suffered severe burns that led to contractures.
The company today took the girl Sharon Chirata to local plastic surgeon for observation ahead of the planned operation on the 15th of October.
Impala Car Rental Brand and Projects Manager Tracy Ngoma, said they had followed up on their earlier commitment to assist Sharon by taking her to a local plastic surgeon who offered to do the operation free of charge.
“We looked for plastic surgeons in Harare and we saw one of the plastic surgeons who asked us to bring her to Harare for observation so that she can see how best to assist Sharon and related costs and we are happy to announce that she offered to do the surgery for free, so the only costs we will pay are hospitalisation and consumables used during the surgery,”
“So we have been given the 14th of October that’s when we will bring her for admission and the operation will be done on the 15th of October,” said Ngoma.
Ngoma further noted that they are already working to assist Sharon secure a birth certificate and later enrol her at school under the care of the Alfred Dondo Foundation which also has 65 other beneficiaries.
Sharon’s mother Sheila Marimo said she felt relieved by the assistance from Impala Car Rental which she said will ensure that her daughter is able to go back to school.
Marimo said had to drop out of school as she was constantly mocked by other pupil over her condition, something she said will be a thing of the past once she undergoes the planned surgery.
Pitso Mosimane has reportedly resigned as the head coach of Mamelodi Sundowns just five months after signing a new four-year contract.
According to TimesLive.co.za, the gaffer will take over the job at Egyptian giants Al Ahly and negotiations are at an advanced level.
He will leave with Rhulani Mokwena, physical trainer Kabelo Rangoaga should this move materialize.
It’s also reported that Al Ahly are prepared to pay compensation to Sundowns since Mosimane had recently signed a new contract.
An unnamed source told the website: “The club he is going to has asked him to join immediately with the desire that he leads them to success in the Caf African Champions League title.
“I hope Sundowns will be happy about this. This is a good news story for South Africa. Historically, no black African coach has ever coached these top north African clubs.
“This honour advanced to Pitso, is an honour also advanced to South Africa. And Sundowns were the incubator of all this.”
Mosimane, who won his fifth league title to become the most decorated coach in the Premiership, has a total of 11 trophies in his eight years at Sundowns.
The move is long-overdue for Mosimane who is held in high regard all over the continent, and particularly in North Africa, after he managed to end the Arab sides’ seeming invincibility.-Soccer 24
UEFA have revealed that they will honour African legend Didier Drogba with the 2020 UEFA President’s Award.
The 42-year-old helped Chelsea lift the Champions League in 2012 as well as winning four English Premier League and FA Cup titles during his time at Stamford Bridge.
Drogba – who scored 164 goals in 381 games for the Blues- will receive his award during Thursday night’s Champions League draw in Geneva.
“Didier is a hero to millions of football fans for his achievements throughout his glittering playing career,” Uefa president Aleksander Ceferin said.-Soccer 24
MDC ALLIANCE NAMIBIA RESPONDS TO STATE SECURITY MINISTER’S REMARKS
Mdc Alliance Namibia is absolutely perplexed to hear the State Security Minister , Owen Ncube falsely accusing the People’s Party of plotting to topple Zanupf party unconstitutionally. It is quite hypnotising to receive such news at this critical juncture when our leaders and members are at the mess of Zanupf-sponsored abductions, torture, arbitrary arrests, rape and gross abuse of human rights. We are clear that the Mdc Alliance amassed 2.6 million votes in 2018 harmonised elections. The issue of a stolen election is a priority in our fight for a people’s government. Authoritarians continue robbing elections,repressing political opponents and staging coups. We are a democratic party , we exploit constitutional mechanisms to challenge dictatorship and we don’t need arms of war.
The press conference by the State Security Minister is a reflection of security forces who value their own institutional interests and their participation in the politics of rhetoric and self-enrichment. The military and state security agents should not delve into national politics. Soldiers must be ultimately banned from political activities and rarely used to put down popular upheaval. Security forces have been dominant political players in Zimbabwe, they are closely networked into the ruling rogue regimes, illegally profiting from the corrupt system with impunity. This is a clear declaration of war to the people of Zimbabwe, social democrats who subscribe to Constitutional Democracy are being painted with horrible terrorist colours. The evil intention is to escalate terror on innocent citizens.
The false allegations epitomise Zanupf’s plan to crackdown on any voice of dissent. In Zimbabwe, the despotic Zanupf’s symbiotic interdependence with the military, the police and state security agents has suffocated social democrats from within and outside the regime who desire to reduce the security’s stinking corruption, economic decay and political influence.
As Mdc Alliance Namibia, we advocate for a security that contributes to democracy and harmony by putting down their arms or resist satanic orders to fire live ammunition against their own people. A repetition of the ugly and terrible shooting of innocent citizens on the 1st of August 2018 where at least seven citizens were butchered in the streets of Harare. The same occurred in January 2019, when people expressed their discontentment with sky-rocketing prices of fuel and basic commodities in the country. At least 17 people lost their dear lives on account of politics with soldiers at the apex perpetrating violence on behalf of Zanupf.
In a nutshell, it is a lifetime dream to glance an independent national security sector where the democratic will of the people of Zimbabwe is a priority. It is imperative to promote and work diligently towards the establishment of security sector reforms democratising the police , the army and state security agents who are captured by an authoritarian regime.
By A Correspondent- Former Zimbabwe Warriors Captain Peter Ndlovu is facing disciplinary action from Mamelodi Sundowns over alleged “negligence” after the club listed a suspended player as a substitute in their 1-0 Nedbank Cup final win over Bloemfontein Celtic on September 12.
Peter as the Mamelodi Sundowns’ team manager is among the people accused of listing Tebogo Langerman among substitutes despite the player picking four yellow cards in the run-up to the final.
On Monday Mamelodi Sundowns owner and President Patrice Motsepe issued a statement on the club’s official website publicly apologising to “all the supporters” and other stakeholders for the gross negligence.
He added:
Our preliminary investigation indicates that the management and technical team were grossly negligent and this behaviour and conduct is totally unacceptable and will not be tolerated. A formal disciplinary hearing will be held as soon as possible and the appropriate action, including dismissal where the circumstances legally justify, will be implemented. We are a caring, loving and forgiving organisation but we also have a duty to protect the reputation, integrity and good name of Mamelodi Sundowns. We have to make sure that this kind of grossly negligent and reckless behaviour does not happen again.
Meanwhile, Sundowns head coach Pitso Mosimane seemed to be throwing Peter under the bus when he said team management must know which player is suspended or not.
Sundowns are lucky that Bloemfontein Celtic’s appeal was dismissed by Safa on a technicality after Phunya Sele Sele lodged their complaint after the stipulated 30 minutes, but, they still face a heavy financial fine for fielding an ineligible player.
Peter joined Sundowns in 2004 as a player when he was coming from England. He retired in 2011 and in 2013 he was roped in as the team manager for the first team.
Some believe Peter is one of the unsung heroes at Sundowns who have transformed into a continental powerhouse in the last few years.-statemedia
Farai Dziva|President Nelson Chamisa has dismissed claims that the MDC Alliance is plotting to carry out acts of banditry.
On Monday State Security Minister, Owen Ncube accused the MDC Alliance and NGOs of plotting to remove Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa from power through unconstitutional means.
Responding to Ncube’s utterances, President Chamisa said:
“We must silence the guns in Africa. In the 2018 elections we got 2.6 m ballots (votes) not 2.6m bullets.
We carry ideas not guns. We bring ideas not weapons. Guns are not our language.
Peace is our language. Our language is ideas, disruptive technologies and thought leadership to transform our beautiful Zimbabwe!
We carry no swords, only words against dictatorship and bad governance in Zimbabwe. Hatina bakatwa uya nemuseve tinofamba naJesu!”
By A Correspondent- The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) said the heavy deployment of anti-riot police in the vicinity of the MDC headquarters, the Morgan Richard Tsvangirai (MRT) House, in Harare on Monday was meant to ensure peace prevails.
National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said they had to deploy forces after getting information that there were machinations to cause violence by one of the MDC factions.
Said Nyathi:
The ZRP maintained law and order in Harare CBD today after reports of purported violence at Harvest House had been reported. Basically, Police were ensuring that peace prevails in the CBD.
The MDC-T youth assembly led by Paul Gorekore seized the building and demanded that party leaders who were elected into positions in 2014 resolve their differences and comply with the March Supreme Court ruling.
Gorekore called for all future meetings of the National Council and National Executive to meet at MRT House and accused the Thokozani Khupe-led faction of working with ZANU PF to weaken the party.
Below is the 2014 National Standing Committee Structure as reported from some quarters.
President Morgan Tsvangirai (Deceased)
Vice President Thokozani Khupe
National Chairman Lovemore Moyo (Resigned)
Vice-Chair Morgen Komichi
Secretary-General Douglas Mwonzora
Vice SG Pauline Mupariwa
Treasurer General Theresa Makone (NC)
Deputy TG Chalton Hwende (NC)
Organising Secretary Abedinico Bhebhe (NC)
Deputy Organiser Amos Chibaya (NC)
Info and Publicity Obert Gutu (status-unknown) Deputy Information Thabitha Khumalo (NC)
If you’ve been bitten by a dog, it’s important to tend to the injury right away to reduce your risk of bacterial infection. You also should assess the wound to determine the severity.
In some instances, you’ll be able to administer first aid to yourself. In other cases, you’ll need immediate medical treatment.
Whether the dog is yours or someone else’s, you may feel shaken after being bitten. If you need medical attention, call for help rather than driving yourself to the doctor or hospital.
Read on to learn the steps you should take following a dog bite, and what you can do to prevent infection.
Ask about the dog’s vaccination history
The first thing you should do following a dog bite is to put distance between yourself and the dog. That can eliminate the chances that you may be bitten again.
Once there’s no longer an immediate threat, it’s important to determine if the dog has been inoculated against rabies.
If the dog’s owner is nearby, ask for the dog’s vaccination history, making sure to get the owner’s name, telephone number, and veterinarian’s contact information. If possible, also ask to see some sort of ID.
If the dog is unaccompanied, ask anyone who witnessed the attack if they’re familiar with the dog and know where the owner lives.
Of course, it’s also possible to be bitten by your own dog. For this reason, make sure to keep up with your dog’s rabies inoculations. Even a friendly, gentle animal may sometimes bite.
Administer first aid
The type of first aid you administer will be determined by the severity of the bite.
If your skin wasn’t broken, wash the area with warm water and soap. You can also apply an antibacterial lotion to the area as a precaution.
If your skin was broken, wash the area with warm soap and water and gently press on the wound to promote a small amount of bleeding. This will help flush out germs.
If the bite is already bleeding, apply a clean cloth to the wound and gently press down to stop the flow. Follow up with an application of antibacterial lotion and cover with a sterile bandage.
All dog bite wounds, even minor ones, should be monitored for signs of infection until they’re completely healed.
Check the bite often to see if it becomes:
redswollenwarmtender to the touch
If the wound gets worse, you feel pain, or develop a fever, see a doctor immediately.
Treatment steps
Wash the wound with soap and warm water.
Gently press a clean cloth over the wound to stop the flow of blood.Apply an antibacterial ointment to the wound.Cover with a sterile bandage.Watch for signs of infection.Seek help if you suspect infection or possible exposure to rabies, or if the wound is severe…
Source:Healthline
Inserted by Zimbabwe Online Health Centre
For more information follow /like our Facebook page :Zimbabwe Online Health Centre
SEVEN men have been arrested after they allegedly robbed a cop and a man he was travelling with at night.
Matabeleland South provincial police spokesperson Chief Inspector Philisani Ndebele confirmed the incident which occurred in Mawabeni area on Monday around 10PM.
He said the two complainants who were travelling along the Bulawayo-Beitbridge Highway stopped at Mawabeni area for a recess and they were attacked by the gang which fled with US$75, R250, $450, a car battery, cell phone and driver’s license.
Chief Insp Ndebele said the suspects were Khanyisani Mhlanga (20), Khumbulani Ndlovu (27), Learnmore Gandira (36), Naison Moyo (23), Mxolisi Sibanda (36), Kwanele Ndlovu (33) and Bubele Ntini (32).
“I can confirm that we have arrested seven men in connection to a robbery case. The two complainant’s, one of them a police officer stopped their vehicle at Mawabeni area for a recess. The gang arrived in another vehicle and threw stones at the complainants car.
“The complainants tried to flee in their vehicle but the gang pursued them and blocked their vehicle. The first complainant who is the police officer who was driving the vehicle managed to escape and left his companion behind. The gang then assaulted the second complainant while demanding valuables from him at knife point. The gang fled with US$75, R250, $450, a car battery, cell phone and driver’s license. The matter was reported to the police who attended the scene and the second complainant was ferried to the nearest hospital where he was treated and discharged,” he said.
Chief Insp Ndebele called on members of the public that might have fallen victim to the suspects in the same area to contact the police.
MDC ALLIANCE NAMIBIA RUNDU BRANCH’S FIRST ANNIVERSARY COMMEMORATIONS SET FOR THE 10th OF OCTOBER 2020 IN RUNDU UNDER THE THEME: MOBILISING AND FIGHTING FOR A PEOPLE’S GOVERNMENT
Social democrats who subscribe to the vibrant and pragmatic leadership of President Nelson Chamisa in the political behemoth, Mdc Alliance, are set for a jovial mood ahead of their initial anniversary since its inception on the 10th of August 2019.
The announcement was soon made after the logistical meeting was held by the party executive leadership on the 26th of September 2020.
Given a bit of relaxation to the lockdown regulations in the country, we decided to proceed with our celebrations as Mdc Alliance Namibia Rundu branch. We invite all social democrats who have the conviction in the Mdc Alliance as the only revolutionary vehicle that can bring socio-economic transformation in the Motherland.
The 21st anniversary shall be celebrated under the theme:mobilising and fighting for a people’s government.
As Mdc Alliance Namibia Rundu branch, we are highly convinced that it is our political and moral obligation to fight against Zanupf dictatorship in Zimbabwe ignoring the geographical borders that may hinder our appetite to participate actively in the national discourse.
The 10th of August 2019 marked the establishment of a mountainous political branch ready to embrace participatory democracy for complete change of government in Zimbabwe.
Moreover, as a Branch, we intend to gather in respect of both our departed and living heroes and heroines in the national democratic struggle.
We salute the able leadership of our pioneers of the Branch who came out guns blazing mobilising membership locally before engaging the District for the official launch of the branch. It is imperative to acknowledge the dedication and commitment of the First Five Social Democrats in Rundu, Namibia:Incumbent Chairperson Fidelis Goto, Former Secretary General Leon Feya( who relocated),current SG and former Organising Secretary Dr Simbarashe Ndoda, Vice-Chairperson Chiweshe and the Spokesperson Robson Ruhanya.
By mentioning the names of our organic leaders, we continue to express our gratitude to the leadership and membership in our Branch. The zeal and enthusiasm for change in Rundu is quite magnificent.
Mdc Alliance Namibia Rundu branch celebrates its achievements and contributions to the growth and expansion of the social democratic party in the diaspora and in Zimbabwe. As a branch , we have managed to support both internal and external party programs.
We are committed to embrace dangerous freedom in demanding our universal basic freedoms from Zanupf Satanists.
The branch is geared to further mobilise for a brave constitutional fight against robbed elections, arbitrary arrests,torture and abductions of social democrats in the alternative party.
Of more validity to note is the keenness in the organic branch to participate actively through offering solidarity to our footsoldiers in Zimbabwe who are victims of state repression.
We shall dedicate ourselves to piling political and diplomatic pressure demanding a People’s Government that will responsibly address political decomposition in the country. Mdc Alliance Namibia Rundu branch shall remain resolute in constitutionally confronting the despotic Zanupf government through the Zimbabwe embassy. We will persist on petitioning the corrupt system clamouring for the respect of the people’s vote in the Motherland.
In conclusion, we salute the late Icon of Social Democracy Dr Morgan Richard Tsvangirai, Susan Tsvangirai, Joshua Bakacheza, Talent Mabika, Tichaona Chiminya,Tonderai Ndira, Learmore Judah Jongwe, Rebecca Mafukeni, Patson Dzamara, Lavender Chiwaya,Miriam Mushayi, Gibson Sibanda only to mention but a few. All these heroines and heroes sacrificed their lives for the absolute emancipation of all Zimbabweans. May their dear souls rest in power. Their blood, tears and incarceration becomes our source of inspiration.
Together we shall complete the change that delivers.
Borniface Nyadenga, a civil servant and an Agricultural Extension Worker in Ward 21 caused commotion at an MDC A executive meeting at Zvavahera Business Centre in Gutu on Sunday after he and a colleague ordered delegates to disperse because he had not been told of the meeting.
The meeting was being addressed by Sarah Mwatenga, an MDC Alliance Provincial councillor.
Nyadenga who is also the young brother to the MDC councillor for Ward 9, Medicine Nyadenga arrived at the meeting in the company of an unemployed youth Clephas Masora with beer bottles in their hands.
They told the meeting which was taking place under a tree that they were members of Chief Munyaradzi’s family and no meeting takes place in the area without their knowledge and permission. It however, turned out that they were not even remotely related or linked to Chief Munyaradzi.
Some members of the executive tried to negotiate with the two and party youth confronted them after realising that the duo was not prepared for talks. The no-nonsense MDC A youth told them to leave or they would face their full wrath.
The two left the venue in a huff shouting that Mnangagwa is the only ruler for Zimbabwe.
Nyadenga was not reachable up to the time of going to Press.-
By A Correspondent | An unnamed woman’s leg literally bombed Permanent Secretary Ndabaningi Mangwana in a riverside photoshoot that has shaken the internet since Tuesday.
The picture which has triggered a sensation across Zimbabwe, has the woman’s leg sharply protruding from the right side of Mangwana’s arm just after diving into the water for a swim. Mr Mangwana was still to comment over the picture as whispers continued getting louder over who the mysterious woman is. This came as suggestions were thrown that the person could easily be his wife. But let’s just assume the woman isn’t his spouse and is someone like a work colleague or a friend, is there any problem with that?, our Showbiz editor asks. PICTURES:
Twitter explodes over Nick Mangwana's kuHanyani picture – but what is wrong with this picture? pic.twitter.com/hZnp6DAs08
Own Correspondent|Controversial Masvingo based cleric, Isaac Makomichi has vowed to challenge Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa in the 2023 Presidential Plebiscite.
Makomichi has launched a political movement called Simuka Zimbabwe Democrats.
The controversial preacher has already registered the political party with ZEC.
Makomichi said Simuka Zimbabwe Democrats party will challenge Zanu PF in the 2023 elections.
“Simuka Zimbabwe Democrats party will make sure that there is peace and harmony in the country. Our thrust is to build a strong economy.
We need a free Zimbabwe for every citizen.
We are strongly against tribalism.We need leaders who love the people more than their pockets.
As Simuka Zimbabwe Democrats, we don’t hate Zanu PF.
All we want is a better Zimbabwe, it’s better to fight poverty than to fight other politicians,” said Makomichi in a statement.
Makomichi added: “Our target before the 2023 elections is to bring Mnangagwa and Chamisa to the negotiating table for the sake of our nation.”
…… asIcannotbelievethat *Rev Samuel Sifelani, The Sif, *is* gone
The day 30 September is my birth day. This day has been my special day for the past four decades and a half. I always celebrate this day with my family and also my workmates.
When Tadiwanashe and Tapiwanashe, my sons went back to school on Sunday, they had requested that we celebrate my 2020 birthday before the day so that they would not miss this annual event.
Just last night, Tanyaradzwanashe, my daughter, reminded me of this special day. I promised her all the usual goodies. Little did I know that it would be a celebration in mourning. Indeed, my day became a complicated one. I will always ask my Creator the question, WHY? Why why why?
Rev Samuel Sifelani (Rev Sif) is gone. He was the Zimbabwe Council of Churches Ecumenical Liaison Officer.
He worked closely with our General Secretary, Rev Dr Kenneth Mtata. He anchored that office so well.
Rev Sif passed on last night in Bulawayo. He is gone to be with our Creator. Yet just an hour before that sad incident, I talked to him.
Together we arranged the diary for our General Secretary for the remainder of the week days. He directed me to cancel certain planned meetings in order to accommodate new events that his office needed to participate in. I apologised for complicating his diary with new emerging meetings.
As usual, he said “Haaa Chitova magariro enyu tokuzivai….” and he laughed. Little did I know that Rev Sif was to disappear from us in the next few minutes from that call. Yah, this is unbelievable.
Rev Sif had gone to Bulawayo to attend this year’s edition of the Zimbabwe Alternative Mining Indaba (ZAMI). He was part of a huge ZCC team from the Secretariat and the structures who were to attend the event.
On Monday this week, as an organisation, we resumed our weekly devotion sessions after a long break due to COVID-19. Rev Sif gathered all of us under our jacaranda tree at our offices in Harare.
He delivered a powerful word. Iam sure my colleagues, Ronald Nare, Winnet Banda and Temptation Veremu will not forget that session for Rev Sif specifically singled them out as he preached.
He was at his best. Little did we know that, that was going to be his last session. Yet, he promised us that next week we will meet again for our devotions. Rev Sif, why, why Mhofu, we are still waiting for next week’s devotions as per your promise.
Mhofu, matigwadzisa.
Rev Sif, magwadzisa vana venyu. Admire Mutizwa, Shaun Gambiza, Caroline Mutsago, Sarah Mupomhori, Arnold Nyereyemhuka and Rev Nhliziyo mavagwadzisa Rev Sif. It was a hard time for them, seeing you lying lifeless after you had been leading them some few minutes before. The night of 29 September 2020 will remain a bad one in their memories. You should have felt for them Rev and abandon the plan to leave us.
That Giant is gone. When we thought we had found a winning formula with Rev Sif as the striker in our General Secretary’s Office, this happens to us. The ZCC has lost a cadre. Zimbabwe Heads of Christian Denominations has also lost an anchorman. The ecumenical movement in Zimbabwe will not be the same without Rev Sif.
What a birthday for me? The year 2020 will remain a bad year for me. Celebrating my birthday in mourning a workmate, my muzukuru, Mufundisi wangu. Oh what a year for me!
Rev Sif matibaya panyama nhete. When we thought we have sent our best team to represent us at the 2020 edition of the ZAMI in Bulawayo, Rev Sif decides otherwise. Yet, Rev Sif had become a key participant at this annual event for ZCC, ZELA and ZIMCODD. The ZAMI will never be the same without Rev Sif. By the way the man was an excellent public speaker. We relied on him in that regard. He was eloquent.
I am Baba Two(Baba Ma 2), the title given to me because in 2004, I was blessed with a pair of twins, Tadiwa and Tapiwa. I was still trying to push the same title onto Rev Sif, though he was resisting it. Rev Sif had just been blessed with a pair of twins some couple of weeks ago. And…now he is gone. While it is always not advisable to question what the Creator does, I am tempted to ask WHY?.
Anyway, Go well Rev Sif. Go well Sam. Go well Mhofu. Go well The Sif. Asi vende ramatisiira ndoguru. You had become a utility player in our ZCC team. You had helped shape our Management team. And…. we relied on you too when it comes to the social well being of our team. What will become of us without you in our midst? What will I tell our Local Ecumenical Fellowships (LEFs). Already they are asking me a lot of questions I can not answer. Yet, I am also still asking you Rev Sif, why did you do this to us? Even your mbuya here, Angela is disturbed. When we received the news last night, she woke up and prayed. By that time we were still pleading with our Creator not to expose us by taking you away.
At that time, I thought you would hear us Rev. It was at that time too that you should have felt for Admire, Shaun, Arnold and Caroline. You were not fair to these young ones Rev. They suffered emotionally.
They tried their best though in vain to stop your plans. You went ahead without considering their plight Rev. It was hard for the young team that had regarded you as their leader to Bulawayo. It was hard for all of us Rev. It will be hard for the Ecumenical movement The Sif. Iam particularly devastated.
By A Correspondent- Zimbabwe government spokesperson and Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Nick Mangwana has clarified on the issue of the payment of $60 for COVID-19 testing at the ports of entry.
Recently, the government announced that travellers coming into the country with Covid-19 symptoms will pay a nominal fee of US$60 for testing irrespective of having a Covid-19 free certificate or not.
There was a misconception that everyone coming into the country will pay the $60, however, Mangwana clarified that it is only applicable to travellers who show COVID-19 symptoms.
Said Mangwana:
"SI 216(5) Section 8, requires travellers showing COVID-19 symptoms, whether or not they have a covid-19-free certificate to be tested, a nominal fee of US$60 be levied on travellers tested at ports of entry. "
Ports of entry are expected to open to the general public on 1 October after government eased Covid-19 lockdown restrictions.
Addressing journalists during the 34th post Cabinet briefing in Harare, Information, Publicity and broadcasting Services minister Monica Mutsvangwa said funds realized from the testing will go towards replenishing of laboratory commodities.
“As a measure to guarantee the safety of travelers, Cabinet further resolved that in line with Statutory Instrument 216(5) Section 8, which requires travellers showing COVID-19 symptoms, whether or not they have a Covid-19-free certificate to be tested, a nominal fee of US$60 be levied on travellers tested at ports of entry,” said Mutsvangwa “and that the proceeds be used to replenish laboratory commodities Metered taxi operations have been allowed to resume services to allow for the movement of tourists and citizens who are unable to use public transport.”
By A Correspondent- The World Food Programme (WFP) and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) have begun cash payments, equivalent to US$12.00 to thousands of Zimbabweans living in urban areas.
This was said by United States ambassador to Zimbabwe Brian Nichols on Wednesday following a meeting with Labour and Social Welfare Minister Paul Mavima.
Nichols called on the Zimbabwean government to negotiate in good faith with labour union leaders and to eliminate child labour, especially in the tobacco and sugarcane industries. Said, Nichols:
I met with Labor Minister Mavima today to encourage government and labour leaders to negotiate in good faith. Respect for workers’ rights will help create a more prosperous Zimbabwe.
We look forward to working with the Ministry to eliminate child labour in tobacco and sugar cane farming. Children need the education to thrive.
I told Minister Mavima that today [the World Food Programme], with [the United States Agency for International Development] funding, began payments to 103,700 Zimbabweans in 8 urban areas to help meet their daily food needs.
This will help hungry Zimbabweans buy food for the next 6 months.-newsday
The Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (ARTUZ) on Wednesday responded to threats by Education Minister Cain Mathema that those who are on an ‘illegal’ industrial action will be fired and replaced with 10 000 jobless graduates.
In a statement, ARTUZ warned Mathema that he has shown that he is out of his depth and may soon face the chop. Below is the statement by ARTUZ in full:
The incumbent Minister of Primary and Secondary Education, MOPSE, Ambassador Cain Mathema exposed himself in a recent interview with media.
The out of sorts Minister claims that he can fire striking teachers and replace them with the 10 000 unemployed teachers. The threat of firing teachers and the wrong statistics exposes a man out of touch with reality.
Ambassador Mathema should know that 98% of Zimbabwe’s 136 000 teachers are on strike. These teachers can’t be replaced by his 10 000 reserve teachers.
Cain also got the 10 000 unemployed teachers statistics wrong, Zimbabwe has 37 000 who are out of employment.
The Unemployed Teachers Association UTA maintains the database. UTA has however declared that they are not willing to be used as a reserve labour force by the government, they are demanding to be employed to fill the staff shortage of over 90 000 teachers.
Mathema should be reminded that teachers are not afraid of being fired. If the government chooses to illegally fire teachers, the illegality will be fought in the courts.
Either way, it is our education sector which will suffer. Section 65 of Zimbabwe’s constitution provides for the right to engage in job action and further provides for the right to a living wage. The illegal firing of teachers will not stand.
Zimbabwe is battling with a brain drain in the teaching profession. The Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe, ARTUZ published the “Education in Crisis Report” which reports that 220 members of ARTUZ left the profession from January to date. The command tactics of Mathema will only worsen the situation.
Mathema’s response on how his Ministry spent ZWL 600 million allocated for the safe reopening of schools was not convincing. It is against this background that ARTUZ will be making a follow up on how these resources were spent.
Teachers are demanding the restoration of their October 2018 salaries, which were pegged at a minimum of USD 520.
Teachers are currently earning USD 30 per month. Teachers have given the government a long rope, unfortunately, the government chose to tie itself with the rope. Teachers are tightening the noose around the government’s neck.
Government cannot be allowed to celebrate budgetary surplus when government workers are starving.
Ambassador Mathema should just sober up, no teacher is going to be fired but the out of depth Minister might soon face the chop.
Today the MDC-T secured a court order for the eviction of the G40 sponsored anarchists who had unlawfully occupied MRT House.
It is clear that the reactionary forces are determined to distort our mission. It is also clear that the reality of the Supreme Court judgement, which many dismissed as moot is sinking, and resultantly causing panic in our erstwhile colleagues in the so-called Alliance party.
Their narrative of a moot judgement was not only a figment of their imagination but a disastrous lie which they can no longer sustain.
Through a vicious miscalculated campaign of this lie, they have misled many MPs, Councillors and the general public.
We assure our membership that these forces of darkness and confusion will not succeed in their plans to highjack the people’s project.
We reaffirm our zero tolerance to indiscipline and lawlessness and call upon our youths not to be used to perpetrate violence and engage in lawless behaviour at the instigation of leaders seeking to advance selfish personal agendas.
We will not be swayed by those who seek to cause confusion in our endeavour to return the party to legitimacy.
The MDC-T is a law-abiding party anchored in values of constitutionalism, rule of law and respect of basic fundamental freedoms.
We call upon our right thinking membership to remain resolute in this tortuous journey towards the restoration of legitimacy and founding values of the party.
As the preparation for the Extra-Ordinary Congress gathers momentum we remain fortified in our resolve to bring back the party to constitutionalism and rule of law.
As we confront these challenges let us remain strong and determined to achieve the people’s agenda for a better Zimbabwe.
We urge our ward, district, provincial and national leadership to remain focused on the preparations for the Extra-Ordinary Congress to replace our late iconic leader Dr Richard Morgan Tsvangirayi.
BLOOMBERG: The U.S. asked Zimbabwe to help put down an Islamist insurgency in neighboring Mozambique that’s destabilizing a region rich in natural gas, people familiar with the matter said.
The request came in a phone call between U.S. Assistant Secretary for African Affairs Tibor Nagy and Zimbabwe Foreign Minister Sibusiso Moyo last week, the people said, asking not to be identified because the content of the talks hasn’t been made public. The foreign minister asked that the U.S. first drop targeted sanctions against Zimbabwean officials, the people said.
Mozambique has been struggling to suppress the Islamic State-affiliated group that’s destabilizing a region where nearly $60 billion in investment in natural gas facilities are planned by companies including Total SE and Exxon Mobil Corp.
While Zimbabwe is in a state of economic collapse, its army is battle-hardened with its troops having fought in the Democratic Republic of Congo as well as having supported U.S. operations in Angola and Somalia.
Zimbabwe has a long history of involvement in neighboring Mozambique. The guerrilla army affiliated to its ruling party used Mozambique as a base from which to launch attacks on then White-ruled Rhodesia in a 1970s liberation war. Zimbabwean troops intervened to quell a rebellion by militants affiliated to Mozambique’s opposition Renamo party in the 1980s and 1990s.
300,000 Displaced
Mozambique estimates that the insurgency in northeastern Cabo Delgado province has forced about 300,000 people to flee their homes. The militants have repeatedly taken control of the Mocimboa da Praia port this year and a number of villagers have been killed.
Moyo, an army general who played a key part in a coup in which Robert Mugabe was ousted as Zimbabwe’s president in 2017, can’t be seen to be cooperating with the U.S. unless the sanctions are scrapped, the people said.
Moyo told Nagy that Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa shares the U.S.’s concerns about the militants and that the two nations share strategic interests elsewhere, but sanctions remain an obstacle, the people said.
“The assistant secretary and the Zimbabwean foreign minister discussed how implementing promised economic and political reforms will restore Zimbabwe’s international reputation, rebuild its economy, and give voice to all Zimbabweans,” a state department spokesman said. “They did not discuss alleviating sanctions in response to counter-terror assistance.”
In Zimbabwe’s state-controlled Herald newspaper, Moyo was quoted as telling Nagy that, “this is the time for the U.S. and Zimbabwe to start looking at the bigger strategic issues” so that the two countries can normalize relations.
By A Correspondent- The Nelson Chamisa led MDC Alliance has denied reports that it is smuggling guns into the country in preparation to violently overthrow President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s regime.
State Security Minister Owen Ncube on Monday claimed that MDC Alliance youths had undergone banditry training outside the country in order to topple Mnangagwa’s government.
Yesterday, MDC Alliance deputy spokesperson Clifford Hlatywayo said Ncube’s claims were meant to justify government’s planned crackdown on opposition supporters.
“Those utterances are unfounded and misdirected. MDC Alliance has nothing to do with anything that brings suffering to ordinary people. Why guns, what for?” he asked rhetorically.
“If there is smuggling happening, where? By who? This is desperation of the highest order. Let them confront the crisis in Zimbabwe, not blame the people’s party. It shows that they are clueless and they don’t have anything to offer to the people,” he said.
Hlatywayo added:
“People must not waste their time to listen to that madness. The people of Zimbabwe know that we are the archbishops of peace at our party. MDC Alliance and its members are in fact victims of State-engineered and sponsored violence. Owen Ncube is popularly known as Mudha in the Midlands areas where he is allegedly a leader of Alshabab and MaShurugwi terror groups that terrorise the people. We have nothing to do with guns but we have all to do with the ballot,” he said.
On Saturday, Chamisa launched a preemptive attack on Ncube when he said he was aware of government’s planned crackdown on his party leadership.-Newsday
News just received indicate that the Zimbabwe Council of Churches liaison officer Reverend Samuel Sifeli has died.
Highly placed sources told ZimEye.com that Rev Sifelani died on Tuesday evening near a friend’s place in Sunninghill Suburb of Bulawayo.
The sources indicated that Sifela was crashed into a powerlines pole while trying to jump inside his car which had broken into motion with no one inside it.
The sources indicated that the Reverend had driven into an open ditch on the side of the road. In the process of removing the car from the ditch, the vehicle went loose resulting in the now deceased reverend chasing after it.
As he tried to jump into the car he was squashed by the car onto a powerlines pole killing him on the spot.
Sifela had a few minutes before the freak accident presided over a ZCC meeting in the city in the ongoing Zimbabwe Alternative Mining Indaba.
By A Correspondent: 11 nurses on Tuesday 29 September 2020 pleaded not guilty when their trial for allegedly contravening some national lockdown regulations during a protest over poor working conditions commenced.
The 11 nurses namely Ndadyei Gudza, Raikai Chibharo, Moses Sigauke, Michelle Magonye, Kumbirai Maiswa, Trish Chireka, Nyasha Kapesi, Evermay Chikoka, Lucas Sharara, Samson Gurupira and Laiza Magwizi denied contravening any national lockdown regulations when they allegedly gathered at Sally Mugabe Central Hospital in Harare on Monday 6 July 2020 for a feedback meeting convened over a litany of grievances against government which is their employer.
Prosecutors told a Mbare Magistrate that the 11 nurses, who are all out of custody on RTGS$1 000 bail participated or convened a gathering knowing that such a gathering is prohibited in terms of section 5(3)(a) of Statutory Instrument 83 of 2020 Public Health (COVID 19 Prevention, Containment and Treatment Regulations) National Lockdown) Order, 2020.
Prosecutors alleged that the 11 nurses who are employed at various medical centres including Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals, Chitungwiza Central Hospital and Sally Mugabe Central Hospital were part of about 100 people who gathered at Sally Mugabe Central Hospital intending to stage a demonstration and proceeded to sing protest songs and waved some placards in contravention of national lockdown regulations.
On Tuesday 29 September 2020, prosecutors led evidence from two
witnesses, who during cross examination by defence lawyers Rudo Bere
and Tinashe Chinopfukutwa of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights,
disclosed that they apprehended the nurses after taking orders from
some unnamed superiors.
The 11 nurses return to court on 15 October 2020 when the Magistrate will hand down a ruling on their application for discharge at the close of the prosecution case.
Sigauke, who is one of the nurses, also faces a charge of incitement as defined in section 187 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act, after he allegedly recorded a video while in police detention at Mbare Police Station and posted it on Facebook encouraging other nurses to come and join the detained nurses in demonstrating at Mbare Police Station.
The state alleges that Sigauke posted a message on Facebook which reads; “Ngatingouya tizadze camp tese tiite demo yedu tiri mu camp. Handiti ndimo munonzi muri illegal,” which if loosely translated means; “Let’s all gather at the police station and stage our demonstration.”
By posting such a message, prosecutors charged that Sigauke had incited nurses to gather at Mbare Police Station and demonstrate and cause violence.
By A Correspondent- Tafadzwa Shamba, a Murehwa herdsman who was recently arrested over the ritual murder of Tapiwa Makore (7) at Makore Village in Murehwa, on Tuesday told detectives what happened from the time they kidnapped the boy to the day after the murder.
Shamba was taken by detectives to the garden where he kidnapped the boy allegedly under the instructions of the boy’s uncle, Tapiwa Makore (Senior).
He also led police to the uncle’s homestead where he said he fed the boy, drugged him with kachasu (an illicit beer brew) and locked him up in a room for hours.
He said:
I went to the kitchen hut and brought the boy sadza and dried fish. I washed his hands before giving him the food. After eating, I went to Mrs Katsande’s homestead where i bought five litres of illicit brew (kachasu).
I drank the beer to gather courage. I also put a bit of sugar into the brew and offered it to the boy who took it until he got drunk and slept.
I then locked him up in the room before going back to Mrs Katsande’s homestead for more beer.
Around midnight, we opened the door and I carried the boy, who was still in deep slumber to a mountain in the village.
Mr Makore carried the knives and plastic bags. While here (in the mountain), I pressed the boy to the ground and cut off his head with a sharp knife, while his uncle was holding a torch for lighting.
I also cut off the hands and legs, but we packed the parts in different plastic bags.
I carried the one with the torso and the head while Mr Makore carried another one containing the legs and hands.
… The bag was now heavier and dogs were barking. I had to quickly drop the torso and proceeded with the head.
Shamba said Makore instructed him to put the head in one of the rooms, but the following day, he dumped the arms and legs at a nearby grave.
Tapiwa Makore (Senior), the murdered boy’s uncle was also arrested over Tapiwa Makore (Junior)’s murder.
Pitso Mosimane has resigned from Mamelodi Sundowns reportedly to take up a job with one of the top clubs in north Africa.
TimesLIVE sources have linked him up with continental giants Al Ahly of Egypt as well as his bitter rivals in the Caf Champions League Wydad Casablanca of Morocco.
Mosimane, who won his fifth South African championship with Sundowns last month, begins his new job as soon as he is available.
He was apparently approached after he delivered Sundowns’ 10th Premiership title on a dramatic final day of the season in which the Brazilians overtook Kaizer Chiefs who had been in the driving seat of the title race all season.
It was not immediately clear how the club he will be joining and Sundowns will handle the four-year contract he still has with the Brazilians.
Earlier reports in Egypt had suggested that Al Ahly were gunning for Italian Luciano Spalleti but Ahly president Mohmoud El Khatib is a huge fan of Mosimane and was among the first to send his congratulations when Jingles led the Brazilians to a domestic treble success by adding the Nedbank Cup to the Telkom Knockout and Absa Premiership titles they’d already won earlier.
But such has been Mosimane’s tussles with Wydad that the Moroccans are said to have grown fond of the former Bafana Bafana coach so much they would love to have him on their bench.
Said our source: “The club he is going to has asked him to join immediately with the desire that he leads them to success in the Caf African Champions League title.”
Having won the continent’s premier knockout competition with Sundowns in 2016, Mosimane will not be found wanting in delivering this mandate set for him.
“I hope Sundowns will be happy about this. This is a good news story for South Africa. Historically, no black African coach has ever coached these top north African clubs.
“This honour advanced to Pitso, is an honour also advanced to South Africa. And Sundowns were the incubator of all this.”
But Sundowns’ Yogesh Singh said there was no truth to the matter.
“We have seen these things on the online media about Pitso being linked to Al Ahly. But he has not resigned. This speculation comes because the coach of Al Ahly resigned on Sunday.”
Efforts to get a comment from Mosimane proved futile as he did not answer his phone and messages left for him were not returned.
Our sources, however, confirmed Jingles will be lost to the local game and most pleasing for him about his new job will be the fact that he has been given carte blanche on who he chooses to work with: “They have allowed him to appoint his own technical team, which will be announced in due course.”
Mosimane, who won his fifth league title to become the most-decorated coach in the Premiership has a total of 11 trophies in his eight years at Sundowns.
The move is long-overdue for Mosimane who is held in high regard all over the continent, and particularly in north Africa, after he managed to end the Arab sides’ seeming invincibility.
Such is his standing in Egypt that Mosimane was invited to be a guest analyst of the Africa Cup of Nations on one of the Egyptian TV channels.
HARARE – The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) today commenced cash disbursements in the scale up of the Urban Social Assistance programme thanks to funding from the United States through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
USAID’s support will provide relief for vulnerable families in eight urban areas across Zimbabwe struggling to meet their daily food needs due to the effects of COVID-19. USAID and WFP are meeting the needs of people living in Gokwe, Redcliff, Kwekwe, Ruwa, Chinhoyi, Buhera, Chipinge, and Chegutu.
The financial assistance from USAID allows WFP to provide support to over 103,700 people with monthly cash-based assistance equivalent to US$12 each, enabling them to meet almost two-thirds of their daily food requirements for the next six months. USAID and WFP will reach the most vulnerable and food insecure families, particularly women, people who are unemployed, and people suffering from chronic illness or disability.
COVID-19 is aggravating Zimbabwe’s already severe climate- and recession-induced food security crisis, threatening to deepen and widen it. WFP projections indicate that by year’s end, the number of food insecure people will have surged by nearly 50 percent to 8.6 million – a staggering 60 percent of the population. In urban areas, where ongoing lockdown measures have triggered a massive loss of livelihoods, the number of food insecure people is expected to rise to 3.3 million, from 2.2 million, as the socio-economic consequences of the pandemic become more pronounced.
“The United States remains committed to the people of Zimbabwe. In addition to the US$10 million we have provided to support the cash transfers for over 103,700 vulnerable Zimbabweans in eight urban areas, we are providing over US$60 million to support food distributions for nearly one million people in rural areas during the current lean season. During the pandemic, we will continue to prioritize our critical health and humanitarian assistance activities,” said USAID/Zimbabwe Mission Director Mr. Art Brown.
In Zimbabwe, the lockdown measures have led to the shutdown of informal food markets, and as a result, informal workers struggle to find work, while access to food has become a key challenge for poor urban households.
“Today we have expanded our urban social assistance programme to ease the challenges faced by urban communities, which have been worsened by COVID-19. We are grateful to USAID for its support in such a time as this,” said Francesca Erdelmann, WFP Zimbabwe Representative and Country Director.
WFP’s Urban Social Assistance programme is scaling up to reach 326,004 people in 22 vulnerable urban domains in September, from its target of 292,865 people across 19 urban areas in August.
By A Correspondent- The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, MOPSE, has released the phased school calendar for the remainder of the 2020 academic calendar and the start of 2021.
In a notice issued on Tuesday by the MOPSE permanent secretary Tumisang Thabela, Phase One for the Phased School Term commenced on Monday, 28 September 2020. This is strictly for ZIMSEC examination classes, that is, Grade 7, Form 4 and Form 6.
Phase Two is for Grade 6; Form 3 and 5. It starts on 26 October 2020.
Phase Three is for the following Grades: ECD A; B; 1; 2; 3; 4 and 5; Forms 1 and 2. It commences on Monday, 9 November 2020.
This means that Phase One will run for 60 days, Phase Two for 40 days, and Phase Three for 30 days.
The Phased Term ends on Friday, 18 December 2020 and pupils will be going on vacation for only 17 days.
By A Correspondent- Malawi President Lazarus Chakwera is expected to arrive in Zimbabwe this Wednesday for a two-day State visit.
President Chakwera, who won the Malawi election run-off in June this year, is making his inaugural visit to Zimbabwe with senior officials from his Government already in the country to bolster ties between the two countries.
In an interview with the Herald this Tuesday, Malawian Ambassador to Zimbabwe Ms Annie Yauka Kumwenda said President Chakwera was expected to arrive in the country on an official visit this afternoon.
“President Chakwera will be meeting with his brother, his Zimbabwean counterpart President Mnangagwa.
Activities will include a brief meeting with the Malawi nationals living in Zimbabwe and laying of wreaths at the Zimbabwe National Heroes Acre,” said Ambassador Kumwenda.
She said a high-powered 26-member delegation led by Malawi’s Foreign Affairs Minister Eisenhower Nduwa Mkaka, is already in Zimbabwe to exchange notes with their counterparts ahead of President Chakwera’s visit.
Zimbabwe and Malawi share a long history of ties dating back to the pre-colonial era.
President Chakwera is on a regional tour following his election and was in Zambia last week ahead of his visit in Zimbabwe.
Engagements are likely to centre on possible areas of cooperation and strengthening of the cordial relations that exist between the two countries.
Foreign Affairs and International Trade Minister Dr Sibusiso Moyo met Minister Mkaka at his office in Harare on Sunday, setting the stage for President Mnangagwa and his Malawian counterpart, President Chakwera’s expected engagement.
The two ministers discussed various issues that included economic cooperation and the transit of citizens during the Covid-19-induced restrictions to contain the pandemic.
Dr Moyo said: “As a practice within the region, any Head of State emerging out of a successful election normally pays courtesy calls on his colleagues in the region.
“We rekindled a lot of history between Zimbabwe and Malawi. We used to be the same people during the era of Rhodesia and Nyasaland.
“This scenario concretises the symbiotic relationship which exists between the two countries,” said Minister Moyo.
“We discussed various forms of cooperation between the two countries, particularly on the economic front and on the political front. We appreciated each other for how we handled the Covid-19 transiting citizens between our countries.”
It is the desire of the two countries to re-establish a joint permanent commission within the environment of the new normal brought by Covid-19.
Minister Mkaka said they reflected on the long relationship between the two countries and how they could assist each other going forward.
“It has been a great meeting between my counterpart and I, bordering on strengthening the relationship between Malawi and Zimbabwe.
“We have a long relationship that dates back even before we were colonised. We have a lot in common and we have more reason to work together. If we work together, we are going to improve the lives of our people,” said Minister Mkaka.
During his visit to Zimbabwe, President Chakwera is expected to meet SADC ambassadors among other engagements. The two countries share common values, history, and culture and language and along with Zambia, they were once one country under the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland.-statemedia
the late, Mr Tizora [2nd from right] standing next to Dr Masimba MavazaBy Masimba Mavaza | The headmaster of Chishawasha Boarding School has died. Mr Simon Muzanenhamo Tizora passed on Monday 28th September in the morning at West End clinic in Harare.
He is survived with his wife Annamore Tizora and four children two boys serving in the civil service and two girls who are now all adults. Mr Tizora is the fourth born in the family of ten. He is survived with eight siblings
Mr Tizora was the brother to the former Senior Principal Director of the State House comrade Innocent TIZORA.
Mr Tizora was born on the 24th January 1958 in Zvimba Murombedzi. He attended Kaondera Primary School in Zvimba Murombedzi and did his secondary education at St Phillips Magwenya Guruve from there he enrolled at Nyadire Teacher’s college in Mutoko. On Graduation Mr Tizora went to teach at St Joseph’s in Rusape. He was then transferred to Holy Rosary in Mvurwi.
Mr Tizora was then transferred to St Joseph’s Chishawasha. After a very good work he was transferred to Chishawasha Boarding School where he was promoted to be the headmaster. Mr Tizora was at Chishawasha until his death.
At Chishawasha mission Mr Tizora worked very hard and oversaw the building of Morden girl’s hostels together with father Mukonori they worked in the sourcing of funds and manpower to make Chishawasha a heaven for the pupils. In building the girl’s dormitories Mr Tizora Father Fidellis Mukonori and their team managed to get some funding from several people including the former president Robert Mugabe, the Zimplat and Comrade Jimayi Muduvuri among other donors.
Mr Tizora died at the time the work was moving to completion.
Father Fidellis Mukonori said I am so down and pained by his death, but I have no doubt that he will be by the side of the Lord.” he said “I saw him four days ago at the hospital, Tizora had never been in hospital all his life this was his first time and last time, Tizora was happy that we spoke I visited the hospital at the Time COVID 19 was making the hospitals limit numbers of visitor’s. Tizora had a passion to develop the school. he was the head at ST Joseph then we moved together to Chishawasha Mission.” with a cracking voice Father Mukonori said Developments at Chishawasha would not have been possible without Tizora.”
Father Mukonori said Mr Tizora was highly professional teacher everybody loved him. The Angels in heaven have gained and here on earth we have lost a true educationist He was a good Catholic.”
Dr Innocent Tizora said his brother will be buried in Zvimba this coming Wednesday the30th of September. We have lost a hero, a friend a brother and indeed a teacher, my heart is so heavy and I cannot say much. Only God knows why and Only God will comfort us. [email protected]
Major bus termini, depots and popular hiking spots in Bulawayo were yesterday a hive of activity as transport operators resumed inter-city routes amid jostling by travellers as they boarded buses.
The resumption of inter-city travel has also ignited excitement and optimism among the generality of the people, particularly traders whose source of livelihood revolved around buying and selling their wares from different cities in the country.
A popular hiking spot along Harare Road was characterised by chaotic scenes as touts shoved each other, wrestling for passengers.
The principle of social distancing was totally ignored as commuters jostled to board vehicles. Bus crews shrieked in dismay as they competed for passengers with pirate transporters.
Last week, Cabinet gave transport operators plying intercity routes the greenlight to start operating as the country continues to gradually re-open the economy.
Inter-city travel was suspended when the national lockdown started on March 31 to contain the spread of Covid-19 infections. However, on September 15 Cabinet approved proposals for the return of long-distance buses but under strict Covid-19 preventative guidelines informed by the World Health Organisation (WHO).
Transporters who wish to ferry passengers for inter-city travel are required to register with the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development to ensure that they strictly comply with standard operating procedures for their sector which are compliant to the WHO guidelines and all Covid-19 regulations.
A Chronicle news crew yesterday visited Renkini and Entumbane bus termini and selected bus depots in the city and observed that people boarding buses were not maintaining social distancing.
A tout who operates along Harare Road said they operated under the law of the jungle.
“Nothing is regulated here, you eat what you kill, which is why you see us hustling like ants. I earn my money depending on the number of passengers I would have assisted to get transport. That is why you find that each time there will be chaos at such hiking spots,” said a tout who declined to be named.
However, upon boarding buses, passengers were being sanitised and their temperatures checked in line with the stipulated Covid-19 health guidelines.
Renkini Bus Terminus bustled with activity as travellers jostled to board transport to their destinations. Vendors were selling wares to people waiting to board buses. A bus conductor employed by Blue Circle Bus Company, Mr Washington Chiminya said since the resumption of inter-city travel there has been a steady increase in demand for services.
“We resumed services a few days ago after registering with the Vehicle Inspection Depot (VID) as well as complying with the standard operating procedures, which require checking temperature, sanitising our passengers and disinfecting our buses,” he said.
Chronicle also caught up with Imbizo Tours Bus Company owner Mr Imbizo Mpala at Entumbane Country Bus Terminus. Mr Mpala whose buses ply rural routes, said he resumed services yesterday after successfully registering his buses with VID.
He said although business was still low, he was hopeful that it would pick up as people readjusted to the new development.
“We resumed our services today and it is quite refreshing to note that we are already getting inquiries from our traditional customers who relied on us for travel. Business is still very low but, I am hopeful that in the next few days, it will be back to normal business as a majority of people are not yet aware that we are back,” he said.
Imbizo Tours buses ply the Bulawayo-Lupane and Bulawayo-Binga routes.
Extra City Bus Company’s Bulawayo depot manager Mr Jeremiah Chihuri said they were adhering to the standard operating procedures, which include disinfecting premises and buses.
“We are getting people boarding our buses. We make sure that whenever you come to our premises, we sanitise your hands and check your temperature,” he said.
“I think everyone is now appreciating the situation and aware of Covid-19. We also make sure that we disinfect our premises and buses each time they arrive at the depot to curb the spread of Covid-19.”
Mr Chihuri said staff members were tested for Covid-19 prior to resumption of operations in line with the standard operating procedures in the transport sector.
Extra-City Bus Company plies the Bulawayo-Victoria Falls and Bulawayo-Harare routes. A single trip to either Harare or Victoria Falls costs US$13 or the equivalent in local currency.
Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister Joel Biggie Matiza said Government opened up the transport sector for intercity travel to facilitate easy access to resort areas.
“We have opened the inter-city to allow for those areas that are interlinked that have been opened for instance tourism. It has been opened so there is need to link tourists who travel by bus to be able to go to places like Victoria Falls and other areas,” he said.
Minister Matiza said transport operators intending to resumed inter-city services should satisfy the guidelines set by Government.
“I’m happy that many have complied and our roads are being plied by those who did comply,” he said.
Meanwhile, in Gweru, passengers pushed each other to board intercity buses near the Gweru Theatre in total disregard to Covid-19 regulations.
Mthwakazi Democratic Alliance (MDA) would be having the first provincial meeting in
Johannesburg South Africa.
The meeting will be held on the 3rd of October 2020 at number 62 Hopkins and Cavendish
Yeoville from 1400 hours to 1700 hours Central African Time. Guest Speakers will include
the Vice President Issabel Dube and the Secretary for Health Nhlanhla Masuku and other
National Accounting Council leaders.
The meeting will further nominate the Interim Johannesburg Provincial Accounting Council.
MDA Party Membership Registration Forms will be available during the course of the meeting.
Join us as we build the people’s movement. For more information do engage us on our social
media platforms and our teams would respond to you. Free pap and inhloko will be provided
during the course of the meeting. MDA – A Generation of Freedom and Development.
Compiled by: Ndodana Tshawe
MDA Secretary for Communications and Public Relations.
Former MDC Spokesperson Obert Gutu says that neither of the warring MDC factions between Thokozani Khupe led MDC-T and MDC Alliance led by advocate Nelson Chamisa should be put near the levers of power as they are disposed to turn the peaceful political landscape into a war zone.
Gutu, described his former allies as a “group of foolish flies that are following a corpse into the grave”.
“This is a race to the bottom. All the various MDC factions that are currently involved in this blood-letting and self-cannibalisation are losers because there are no winners in a race to the bottom. In fact, there’s absolutely no method to this madness. The MDC as a viable and strong opposition political party is now history.
“It’s dead and buried. Trust me. Maybe from the ashes of the MDC will emerge various political parties, but the chances of a reconciliation of all these various antagonistic factions are virtually zero,” said Mr Gutu.
Gutu blasted the Chamisa side claiming that failure by the Chamisa faction to have its way often leads to violence adding that the opposition party has within its ranks activists who can be described as terrorists.
“The culture of intolerance and violence has ultimately led to the complete disintegration of the MDC. The ghost of violence and vile intolerance has been festering within the MDC for a very long time. Anyone who harbours a different view from the violent so-called Vanguards and their scheming handlers is branded a traitor and a sell-out who must be beaten up if not killed.
“In reality, the Vanguards are an indiscipline, intolerant, drunken and extremely violent militia routinely unleashed by some top leaders within the MDC Alliance faction to cause anarchy and mayhem.
“The Vanguards are, in every respect, akin to a terrorist organisation. The judiciary is unfairly accused of being captured each time that they hand over judgments that are unfavourable to the Vanguards and their handlers. When the judiciary hands out judgments favourable to these people, their silence is deafening. These thugs can’t be trusted with State power lest Zimbabwe will quickly degenerate into a violent war zone,” said Mr Gutu.
Just checking on those who said it was stupid & unconstitutional for me to be reinstated as part of 2014 structures because I’m currently beyond stipulated age for youths ?
FORMER Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) commissioner-general Gershem Pasi was yesterday freed by a Harare magistrate who granted his application for refusal for further remand because the State still could not give him a trial date two years after his arrest.
If the State wishes to bring Pasi to trial now, it must summon him. He cannot be arrested again on the same charge and circumstances. Removal from remand is not an acquittal, since a trial can still take place, but bail conditions and travel restrictions fall away.
Pasi, who was facing criminal abuse of office charges, was removed from remand after magistrate Mrs Esthere Chivasa noted that he has been religiously attending court for the past 22 months with the State failing to give him a trial date.
In her ruling, Mrs Chivasa noted that the State was failing to complete investigations saying there was a team which was set to travel to China as part of investigations, but has not done so since his arrest.
Pasi will only return to court by way of summons.
“Twenty-tw0 months is a very long time and the accused has been religiously attending court. Every postponement should have an explanation and I am satisfied with the explanation which was always being given by the State,’’ she said.
Mrs Chivasa said the State’s failure to travel to China for further investigations could not be blamed on the Covid-19 induced lockdown, as the matter was before the court before then.
She said the public would lose confidence in the justice delivery system if the State arrests people and fails to prosecute them within reasonable periods.
The State, led by Mr George Manokore, asked for further postponement of the matter saying there was a team waiting to travel to Hong Kong for further investigations.
Allegations against Pasi were that in January 2014, Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet Dr Misheck Sibanda led a high-powered ministerial delegation of senior Government officials to China.
The purpose of the visit was to affirm input capabilities in the information technologies domain in implementing prioritised e-Government projects. Pasi was part of the delegation as they wanted to implement e-taxation at Zimra.
During the visit, various Government departments had an opportunity to interact with Inspur personnel who demonstrated these capabilities.
An action plan for the implementation of the agreed programme was also signed and Pasi began his engagement with Inspur Zimbabwe for the Information Management Systems (IMS) design and development.
The ICT department being headed by Tyiyapo Velempini was involved in designing the system together with engineers from Inspur Global. In June 2014, Zimra and Inspur agreed on specifications and Pasi allegedly failed to get quotations from Inspur Zimbabwe.
He instead took the system design to Righlux Services, a company distributing Inspur products despite permission for a direct engagement. On July 1, 2014, Righlux Services supplied a $32 649 939.97 quotation which it purported to be from Inspur Group of China.
Mamelodi Sundowns General Manager Yogesh Singh says team manager Peter Ndlovu is not the only one to blame for the fiasco which nearly saw the club stripped off the Nedbank Cup title.
Masandawa took on Bloemfontein Celtic in the 2019/20 decider and won it 1-0 but the biggest talking point was that defender Tebogo Langerman was named in the match day squad and also sat on the bench despite being suspended.
Ndlovu was blamed by some fans on social media for the debacle since he is the team manager, though it later emerged that the Warriors legend was on the one in charge of the team that day.
Speaking to SAFM Radio yesterday, Singh reiterated that the finger can be pointed to many people, not Ndlovu alone.
“I don’t want to speak about Peter Ndlovu…I think after the investigation is done , we will be in a better position… But Peter is not the only person involved here and it will not be fair to make a comment on him only,” Singh said.
“What happened was a big mistake and the club should acknowledge that something like this should never happen again.We have to say how sorry we are and that’s why we had to apologise to our stakeholders.The apology also comes from the President and everyone who works for Sundowns,” he added.
Former mayor Councillor Knowledge Ndlovu Mayor of Gwanda
The ruling ZANU PF party is all smiles in Gwanda as it is set to take back the town’s Mayorship position on a silver platter following squabbles in the opposition MDC.
The party is set to win the tricky poll to be held this Thursday unless the opposition parties quickly find each other within the next twenty four hours.
ZANU PF is facing easy competition from the MDC-T led by Thokozani Khupe and the MDC Alliance led by Nelson Chamisa who have both indicated intentions to field candidates.
From the situation on the ground the MDC Alliance has three councillors in Gwanda after the recall of mayor Jastone Mazhale by Khupe’s MDC-T early this month. Two Councillors have expressed allegiance to MDC-T while Zanu PF has four councillors.
Ntanto Ndlela, the MDC Alliance Matabeleland South provincial spokesperson however expressed confidence that somehow there will be a slip up in the MDC-T faction councillors who will give the Nelson Chamisa victory.
“We have agreed on a candidate as a party that our councillors will vote for, but for strategic reasons, we have decided not to reveal his or her identity until the right time.”
Sources say the party has seconded the only female councillor in the town, Nappy Moyo, as their candidate. MDC-T is most likely to field Ward 5 councillor Gilbert Dube for mayor, keeping Ward 6 councillor Ponalo Maphala as deputy mayor while ZANU PF seeks to put back former mayor Knowledge Ndlovu.
MDC Alliance had six councillors in the Matabeleland South provincial capital prior to the recall of Jaston Mazhale as mayor.
Teacher unions in Zimbabwe have indicated that most of their members have not reported for duty since Monday when schools reopened due to some contentious issues with their employer, the goverment.
The schools were shut down in March due to the COVID-19 lockdown.
Government had set September 14 and Sept. 28 as the opening dates for British-run Cambridge and locally run Zimbabwe Schools Examinations Council (ZIMSEC) examination classes respectively.
It also set Dec. 1, 2020, as the date for commencement of ZIMSEC public examinations.
Private Schools offering Cambridge examinations, commenced classes smoothly last week.
In a joint statement last week, the teacher unions requested for an urgent meeting with government to resolve contentious issues before schools reopen but the effort failed.
The teacher unions demanded restoration of their salaries to US$520 per month, payment of a COVID-19 allowance and more time for teachers and learners to cover syllabi before examinations, among other demands.
Amalgamated Rural Teachers’ Union of Zimbabwe (ARTUZ) president Obert Masaraure revealed that schools in Matabeleland North, Mashonaland East and Matabeleland South were most affected with urban schools reportedly experiencing better attendance by both teachers and learners.
“It is official; no learning is taking place nationwide on day two of schools opening,” Masaraure said.
“Teachers are severely incapacitated and continue to withdraw their labour. Learners are ill equipped for the learning season.”
Masaure added, “Members of ARTUZ took heed of the call for the job action on the second day of schools opening.
“We also congratulate sister unions who are continuously mobilising their members for action. Our efforts are not in vain. The workers will be free.”
The union leader urged government to urgently resolve the salary dispute through payment of US$520 minimum monthly wages as was being demanded by the educators.
Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ) president Takavafira Zhou also said more of their members were not reporting for duty.
“Most teachers who reported for duty yesterday did not do so today (Tuesday).
“Several pupils did not go to school today after realising the futility of reporting to school where there are no teachers.
“Teachers’ anger has also been exacerbated by reports that the government is preparing to give soldiers double the Cost of Living Adjustment that would be given to teachers.
“Teachers are increasingly being embittered by the government’s intransigent and irresponsible approach.
“They are more and more determined to forge on with an incapacitation struggle in order to demand a living wage pegged at US$520-US$550. It’s game on and there will be no surrender until final victory,” Zhou said.
MALAWIAN President Lazarus Chakwera is expected to arrive in the country today for a two-day State visit.
President Chakwera, who won the Malawi election run-off in June this year, is making his inaugural visit to Zimbabwe with senior officials from his Government already in the country to bolster ties between the two countries.
In an interview yesterday, Malawian Ambassador to Zimbabwe Ms Annie Yauka Kumwenda said President Chakwera was expected to arrive in the country on an official visit this afternoon.
“President Chakwera will be meeting with his brother, his Zimbabwean counterpart President Mnangagwa. Activities will include a brief meeting with the Malawi nationals living in Zimbabwe and laying of wreaths at the Zimbabwe National Heroes Acre,” said Ambassador Kumwenda.
She said a high-powered 26-member delegation led by Malawi’s Foreign Affairs Minister Eisenhower Nduwa Mkaka, is already in Zimbabwe to exchange notes with their counterparts ahead of President Chakwera’s visit.
Zimbabwe and Malawi share a long history of ties dating back to the pre-colonial era.
President Chakwera is on a regional tour following his election and was in Zambia last week ahead of his visit here.
The Malawian President is expected to hold bilateral discussions with his Zimbabwean counterpart, President Mnangagwa.
Foreign Affairs and International Trade Minister Dr Sibusiso Moyo met Minister Mkakaat at his office in Harare on Sunday, setting the stage for President Mnangagwa and his Malawian counterpart, President Chakwera’s expected engagement.
The two ministers discussed various issues that included economic cooperation and the transit of citizens during the Covid-19-induced restrictions to contain the pandemic.
Dr Moyo said: “As a practice within the region, any Head of State emerging out of a successful election normally pays courtesy calls on his colleagues in the region.
“We rekindled a lot of history between Zimbabwe and Malawi. We used to be the same people during the era of Rhodesia and Nyasaland.
“This scenario concretiss the symbiotic relationship which exists between the two countries,” said Minister Moyo.
“We discussed various forms of cooperation between the two countries, particularly on the economic front and on the political front. We appreciated each other for the manner in which we handled the Covid-19 transiting citizens between our countries.”
It is the desire of the two countries to re-establish a joint permanent commission within the environment of the new normal brought by Covid-19.
Minister Mkaka said they reflected on the long relationship between the two countries and how they could assist each other going forward.
“It has been a great meeting between my counterpart and I, bordering on strengthening the relationship between Malawi and Zimbabwe.
“We have a long relationship that dates back even before we were colonised. We have a lot in common and we have more reason to work together. If we work together, we are going to improve the lives of our people,” said Minister Mkaka.
During his visit in Zimbabwe, President Chakwera is expected to meet SADC ambassadors among other engagements. The two countries share common values, history, and culture and language and along with Zambia, they were once one country under the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland.
The Harare Magistrate Court has ordered the MDC Alliance to vacate Morgan Richard Tsvangirai House, which was taken over by youths belonging to the Nelson Chamisa led party.
In an application filed by MDC-T Secretary General, Douglas Mwonzora this Monday, MDC Alliance members including its leader, Nelson Chamisa, Paul Gorekore, Happymore Chidziva and Denford Ngadziore were cited as respondents.
After the hearing, the court ordered the MDC Alliance to hand over the premises to the MDC-T leadership and release security personnel being held hostage by the new occupants.
