Correspondent

A certain section of ZANU PF structures in Mashonaland Central have expressed anger over the arrest of ZANU PF Provincial Kingmaker Nicholas Goche over charges of stock theft and being accused of stealing an undisclosed number of cattle.

Goodman Tamuona Musariri a former ZANU PF District chairman in Mashonaland Central said, “Goche happens to be the most powerful leader in Mashonaland Central who was trained in the Intelligence. Chairman Kazembe Kazembe fears Goche because he is not a commoner in politics and Intelligence and he has far greater grip of Mashonaland Central than the late Shiri.”

Musariri urged President Emmerson Mnangagwa to make sure there is peace in Mashonaland Central.

“I implore on His Excellency President Mnangagwa to consider Unity, Peace and Reconciliation than arrests of loyalists like Cde Goche.” He added.

Commenting on the incident Professor Jonathan Moyo said, “What? Something fishy. It’s an open secret in ZanuPF corridors that Mnangagwa has unfinished business with Goche. Details of the case would be interesting to unpack!”

“Former minister Nicholas Goche arrested over stock theft”@HeraldZimbabwe 8 October 2020

What? Something fishy. It’s an open secret in ZanuPF corridors that Mnangagwa has unfinished business with Goche. Details of the case would be interesting to unpack!https://t.co/loMECT8gtl pic.twitter.com/lAhN94OMsl

— Prof Jonathan Moyo (@ProfJNMoyo) October 8, 2020
A Mashonaland Central War Veteran who spoke on condition of anonymity said Chairman Kazembe Kazembe should desist from his scorched earth policy of using his cabinet position as minister of police to torment political rivals.

“While Minister Kazembe might use his scorched earth policy to evicerate political enemies, I am confident in the judiciary system of this country. They can try to embarrass and demoralise Goche because Kazembe feels like Goche is using his support base to replace Kazembe as provincial chairman.

“Goche has been living a quiet life far away from politics it is sad that Kazembe feels threatened by an old man who now spends his time farming. Kazembe should be on the ground executing development programs and campaigning for President Mnangagwa’s 2023 bid for office.”

Byo24

State Media

Agriculture experts have cautioned against planting with the current rains saying farmers must instead take advantage of the wet conditions to speed up land preparations before the onset of the rainfall season.

The onset of the rainfall season is when an area receives an amount of 20 millimetres or more of rainfall in about three days and there is no dry spell for the next 10 days.

The country has been experiencing some rain with other areas receiving as high as 27 mm. According to the Meteorological Services Department (MSD) rainfall updates, thunderstorms occurred in Matabeleland North, Matabeleland South, Midlands, Masvingo, Manicaland, Mashonaland East and Harare Metropolitan provinces on Monday this week.

“The rainfalls were not much in most areas. Significant falls were recorded at Harare-Logan Park (27mm), Gweru (19mm), Bulawayo (17mm), Kutsaga (8mm). Goetz (8mm) and Buhera (9mm). The rest of the rainfall figures were below 5mm.

“The rains were accompanied with strong winds, hail, thunder and lightning,” said the MSD.

The department said as the season sets in, October usually has erratic rain but may have localised heavier downpours and it was incumbent on farmers to know their soils and practice smart agriculture.

Lands, Agriculture, Water and Rural Resettlement chief agronomist, Mrs Rutendo Nhongonhema on Tuesday urged farmers to take advantage of the rains to finish land preparations, preparing planting basins for Pfumvudza as the ground is now softer.

“We do not encourage farmers to plant with these rains. Normally the rains that come early October are not planting rains.

“This is the time to finish off land preparations especially for those who do conventional ploughing in anticipation of the planting rains.

“Normally our season comes end of October for farmers with irrigated maize. Around second week of October and end of October, we encourage them to start planting. We encourage those who rely on rain fed agriculture to start planting by first week of November,” said Mrs Nhongonhema.

She said the onset of rainfall differed from area to area and farmers could keep records and with the help of extension officers would be able to tell the periods of the onset for the particular areas.

“Farmers can also apply pre-planting herbicide application as most of these chemicals need a bit of water to be incorporated or absorbed by the plant,” Mrs Nhongonhema said.

Agriseeds sales and marketing manager, Mr Ivan Craig said the current rains were beneficial to pastures that had deteriorated due to the dry conditions.

“The rains will improve pastures and help reshoot. Animals will have water to drink and will no longer walk long distances to water.

“the rains will also help wheat which was still at irrigation stage but if it is less than 22 mm, these rains will not substitute the normal irrigation cycle,” he said.

He said rains will soften the ground so that those farmers who failed to carry out winter plough will be in a position to carry out a proper land preparation.

“Farmers should not panic. The rains are a bit early. Under normal circumstances rains should start falling third week of October and those are rains which we recommend that farmers can a plant with.

“Maize requires 22 millimetres and above to germinate, for soya beans, 30mm and 35mm to be on the safe side. Not much has fallen and the chances of experiencing long periods of dry spell are quite high. The crop may germinate now but can be affected by the dry spell,” he said.

Meanwhile, widespread afternoon and evening thunderstorms accompanied by strong winds, hail and lightning with some localised heavy downpours were expected on Tuesday in Matabeleland, Midlands and areas along and to the south of the main watershed (Masvingo, Manicaland, Mashonaland East and Harare Metropolitan.

“Thunderstorms that occur now are violent. It is therefore important for the public not to expose themselves unnecessarily to the dangers associated with these violent thunderstorms.

“Current high temperatures and abundant moisture are also conducive to the continuation of these thunderstorms, at least up to Thursday 8 October after which there should be a reduction in rainfall activity country wide,” said the MSD.

State Media

THE tribunal probing the fitness of suspended Supreme Court Judge Justice Francis Bere to hold office has completed its inquiry and the report will be submitted soon to President Mnangagwa.

Secretary for Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Mrs Virginia Mabhiza yesterday commended the three-member tribunal for having worked tirelessly despite challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic and numerous court applications to challenge the proceedings.

“The report will be handed to the President who is expected to act in terms of the Constitution.”

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

The lawyers were also not content with the extension of the tribunal’s tenure by another six months after the expiry of its intial tenure of four months.

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

President Mnangagwa set up the tribunal inquiry on the recommendation of Judicial Service Commission after lawyer Mr Itai Ndudzo accused the judge of interference in a civil case involving the Zimbabwe National Road Administration and his relatives.

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

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

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

The tribunal is made up of retired judge retired Justice Simbi Mubako, Adv Nzombe and Harare lawyer Ms Rekayi Maposa.

Paul Nyathi

Some ANC members from the Free State gathered outside Luthuli House in support of the party’s Secretary-General, Ace Magashule.

This follows reports earlier this week, that an arrest warrant has been issued for Magashule, something the Hawks denied.

His supporters say any arrest warrant is aimed at settling political scores.

“You will remember it was us in the ANC who came out to speak on a rumour that would have suggested that the secretary-general was going to be arrested and indeed the SG, together with his legal team have also come out in the open to clarify that there was no warrant of arrest. There was no need really for the ANC to still be making commentary on that matter because we felt that it was sufficiently resolved,” said ANC spokesperson Pule Mabe.

Magashule’s supporters say any arrest warrant is aimed at settling political scores.

The Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation described the report as a malicious intent to undermine the integrity of the organisation.

Meanwhile, former Free State Social Economic Development MEC Mxolisi Dukwana said Magashule must face the music.

“He must face his time and answer to a number of other things. We might not be saying, “he is guilty” but surely he has to answer.

“Failure to act is actually an offence. If there are problems in moral decision-making processes, you must face the music,” Dukwana said.

Source: eNCA

Paul Nyathi

The Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services only managed to do one psychiatric test on Joana Mamombe in the time that she was bundled into Chikurubi Prison by a Harare Magistrate’s Court.

The failure by the Prisons Services to carry out two tests as directed by the court forced for a failed proceeding of the three Movement for Democratic Change Alliance (MDCA) ‘abductees’ case on Thursday.

The Harare Court ordered for a second mental assessment to be done on Mamombe by the Prisons Services before the trial continues.

The state told the court that there was no explanation from the ZPCS on why the second test was not done.

Mamombe has been incarcerated for two weeks for the mental health assessments after her lawyer had indicated that she was mentally unstable to stand trial.

Her lawyer Aleck Muchadehama advised the court that Mamombe will avail herself to the ZPCS for further assessment according to the standing court order that she be examined.

State Media

Former Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Development Nicholas Goche has appeared in court facing stock theft charges after failing to surrender 18 heifers that he sold to a Shamva farmer.

He appeared before Bindura magistrate Ms Tendai Chifamba facing stock theft charges and was remanded to October 21 on $50 000 bail. As part of his bail conditions, Goche was order to surrender his passport at Bindura Magistrate Court, report every Friday at Shamva Police Station, reside at his Shamva farm residence and not to interfere with witnesses.

The complainant in the matter is Honest Mupanedengu (43) of house number 32 Dindingwe Road, Mufakose in Harare and is self-employed as a farmer.

It is alleged that on November 13, 2018 Goche sold 40 beasts to Mupanedengu. The payment was made through a bank transfer into a CABS account number 1036879593.

Mupanedengu collected 22 heifers out of the 40 leaving behind 18 beasts. The court heard that in 2019 Goche disposed of the 18 heifers without the complainant’s knowledge.

Mupanedengu approached Goche on several occasions to collect the beasts but he was told that the animals had already been sold.

State Media

ZIFA heaved a huge sigh of relief after Government granted the Warriors permission to travel to Malawi for an international friendly match set for Sunday in Blantyre.

The clash against the Flames was hanging in the balance after ZIFA sent their tour request, to the Sports and Recreation Commission, late. All national sports associations need clearance, from Government, to travel to foreign lands and regulations have been tightened, of late, because of concerns related to Covid-19 pandemic.

Youth, Arts, Sport and Recreation Minister, Kirsty Coventry, told reporters in Zvishavane yesterday, where she was on Government business, ZIFA only sent their application last Friday.

The Ministry should, therefore, under the circumstances, be applauded for expediting the application, which could have taken longer to process, under normal circumstances.

ZIFA spokesperson, Xolisani Gwesela, yesterday said they were relieved by the Government decision to allow the Warriors to travel to Malawi.

“We have been advised by the Sports Commission director-general (Prince Mupazviriho) that our trip to Malawi has been authorised. We are yet to get the official letter to that effect but it’s a huge relief. The coach will go ahead and name his team tomorrow (today) and they leave for Malawi on Friday (tomorrow). It’s unfortunate the process took long and some of the delays were due to the issues beyond ZIFA’s control.’’

Some reports yesterday had claimed Warriors coach, Zdravko Logarusic, was so frustrated by the chaos he even considered throwing in the towel. The 54-year-old flew back into Harare, after spending three months with his family, in Croatia.

He had wanted to use the match to assess the foreign-based players at his disposal ahead of next month’s back-to-back 2021 AFCON qualifiers against Algeria. But, as it has turned out, the bulk of the players he wanted for this assignment are unavailable for the match because of the bungling at the ZIFA office.

A number of letters, inviting the targeted players, were either sent late or ended up at the wrong clubs. The Warriors have no team manager and this has compounded the situation. The coach has been forced to revise his options after the Europe-based players, including skipper Knowledge Musona, Marshall Munetsi, Marvelous Nakamba, Tino Kadewere, Tendayi Darikwa, Adam Chicksen, Jordan Zemura and goalkeeper Martin Mapisa were ruled out of the game.

Under normal circumstances, the letters inviting the players should have reached the clubs 14 days in advance.

“These letters should have reached the clubs by September 20. These are things that are known everywhere in the football world. But, it appears, ZIFA were not prepared for the international window. To start with, they had not secured opponents on time and by the time the Malawi game was confirmed, it was late. Mostly, European clubs are very professional and they conduct their businesses to the letter.

“Again, it was going to be difficult for the clubs to release the players because of the difficulties in international travel, and the quarantine measures, which could mean players would need more days away from their teams once they return to their bases. Some countries in Europe are still demanding mandatory 14-day quarantines. So, the coach has had to go back to Plan B and that means drafting local players and, possibly, those based in Zambia. It also defied logic why, in the first place, he had called only 17 players.’’

Some European clubs, like Ajax Amsterdam, have decided not to allow their African internationals to travel and join up with their national teams this week. The club say they are not happy the players would have to quarantine on their return to the Netherlands.

Ghana’s Mohammed Kudus, the Moroccan pair Zakaria Labyad and Noussair Mazraoui and Lassina Traore from Burkina Faso have not been released. Ajax have made use of a FIFA ruling that allows clubs to choose not to release their players, this month, if they face a period of quarantine or self-isolation on their return. Usually players must be released if called up for international duty during the FIFA window.

But, the world football governing body relaxed regulations last week amid a spike in Covid-19 infections in recent weeks. Logarusic had said he would only consider foreign-based players for this international friendly because local players lacked match fitness since they have not featured in competitive football for over seven months.

However, letters have been sent to local clubs asking for them to release some of the players who have been targeted for this assignment as replacements. Many African teams are involved in international friendlies this week. Zimbabwe’s opponents in the upcoming AFCON qualifiers, Algeria, have two matches. They face Nigeria in Austria tomorrow and they have another date against Mexico next week in the Netherlands.

—The Herald

Farai Dziva|President Nelson Chamisa has accused Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa of using Thokozani Khupe and Douglas Mwonzora to thwart the struggle for democracy.

According to President Chamisa, every chosen person on an assignment will fight seven battles- accusation, frustration, criticism, rejection, disappointment, resistance and rebellion.

Read statement below:

BE ENCOURAGED…WIN THE RACE, KEEP MOVING.

The first evidence that you are on assignment is the battle that you attract.

The size of your opposition affirms and confirms the size of your anointing. The race you run determines the prize you will attain.

When David killed Goliath, Saul was after him.
When Jesus launched His ministry, the Pharisees and Sadducees were after him.
When Jeremiah prophesied, Pashur was after him.
Check the stories of Joseph, Daniel and Apostle Paul.

Every chosen person under assignment will fight these seven battles; accusation, frustration, criticism, rejection, disappointment, resistance and rebellion(betrayal).

The secret to victory is continuing the assignment with fortitude, focus and consistency. Beasts never target the worthless. Dogs never bark at parked objects. Pirates never capture empty vessels. A tree with fruits attracts stone throwers.In African wisdom, they say the sweetest fruit tree attracts the largest number of birds.

Just remember when the opponents cannot fight you, they use people around you to fight you, but the secret to victory is refusing to be moved by situations but keep on moving to your destiny.

Set the tone. Determine the destiny.Dictate the pace.Shape the events.Be a thermostat not a thermometer. Lead the mood not just read the mood.

After all trials, victory is always assured.

WIN THE RACE, KEEP MOVING.

Don’t stop. Victory is certain!

Godisinit

By A Correspondent- The State today availed only one medical report for the MDC Alliance trio’s trial despite a court order compelling the state to avail at least two medical reports.

Said a source privy to developments:

“Only one medical report was produced when Joana Mamombe appeared before a Harare magistrates court Thursday afternoon.

According to the last court sitting it was per State Order basing on the Mental Health Act , et al , where it was stated that the state should avail two medical reports within a period of two weeks.

However, the case has been postponed to 22 Oct 2020 in order for the state to get ample time to avail the second medical report.

It is baffling why the chief state prosecutor did not turn up for the case despite him being the most vocal on trial delay.

It is a deliberate move to delay due process” in order to keep the girls, Joana Mamombe, Cecilia Chimbiri and Netsai Marova under bondage.

The present abusive court systems , state intelligence and police is exhibiting its brutality and satanism.

State agents are stalking families of the MDC Alliance trio thus torturing them psychologically.

On 13 Oct ober2020, the girls will be in court again.”

By A Correspondent- Nurses at Bulawayo’s Ingutsheni Hospital are reportedly walking to and from work because there is no transport to ferry them back and forth, the Daily News reports.

The matter came to light when the Ingutsheni Hospital acting CEO Nemache Mawere told touring health minister VP Constantino Chiwenga that:

We need more vehicles for our nurses. Sometimes when our nurses finish work, it’s always difficult for them to go home, but they continue coming to work even deciding to walk from town to here.

In response, Vice President Chiwenga promised the mental health institution staff that the ministry would allocate more busses to them and said:

As we go back to Harare, I think in our kit we have some money, we shall provide you with buses for Ingutsheni Hospital Let’s provide these for the hospitals, but the first priority is the buses must come here then go to Mpilo Central Hospital and United Bulawayo Hospitals. Those buses will have to be bought. God forbid, we want those buses to be here by the end of this year.

When we go back to Harare, the minister of Transport will have to work with BCC. He should just make sure that roads are fixed and tarred. We have agencies such as the Zimbabwe National Road Administration, which can come and do that piece of road. Let’s make it a better place to live. 

Another promise to the hospital staff was made by the local government minister July Moyo who was on tour with VP Chiwenga who also said:

I will talk to Zupco to allocate a bus for staff here. This hospital is outside town, as for the road I will discuss the issue with the Bulawayo City Council (BCC) to do something, I’m sure the minister of State (for Provincial Affairs and Devolution in Bulawayo, Judith Ncube) will also do the same.-DailyNews

Farai Dziva|President Nelson Chamisa has accused Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa of using Thokozani Khupe and Douglas Mwonzora to thwart the struggle for democracy.

According to President Chamisa, every chosen person on an assignment will fight seven battles- accusation, frustration, criticism, rejection, disappointment, resistance and rebellion.

Read statement below:

BE ENCOURAGED…WIN THE RACE, KEEP MOVING.

The first evidence that you are on assignment is the battle that you attract.

The size of your opposition affirms and confirms the size of your anointing. The race you run determines the prize you will attain.

When David killed Goliath, Saul was after him.
When Jesus launched His ministry, the Pharisees and Sadducees were after him.
When Jeremiah prophesied, Pashur was after him.
Check the stories of Joseph, Daniel and Apostle Paul.

Every chosen person under assignment will fight these seven battles; accusation, frustration, criticism, rejection, disappointment, resistance and rebellion(betrayal).

The secret to victory is continuing the assignment with fortitude, focus and consistency. Beasts never target the worthless. Dogs never bark at parked objects. Pirates never capture empty vessels. A tree with fruits attracts stone throwers.In African wisdom, they say the sweetest fruit tree attracts the largest number of birds.

Just remember when the opponents cannot fight you, they use people around you to fight you,but the secret to victory is refusing to be moved by situations but keep on moving to your destiny.

Set the tone. Determine the destiny.Dictate the pace.Shape the events.Be a thermostat not a thermometer. Lead the mood not just read the mood.

After all trials, victory is always assured.

WIN THE RACE, KEEP MOVING.

Don’t stop. Victory is certain!

Godisinit

The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission has published the following statement in which they clarified the suspension of by-elections and said they will only be conducted when the threat posed by the COVID-19 pandemic has completely vanished.

ZEC also said the filling of the proportional representation in parliament that saw Thokozani Khupe and her allies being sworn in in parliament yesterday after she recalled the MPs she replaced, did not receive any valid objections.

Read the statement below:

Further Suspension of By-Elections The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) would like to Inform the public that, while it has lifted the suspen-sion placed on the conduct of electoral activities which it had put In place as a measure to curb the spread of CovId-19, it Is important for It to heed advice from the necessary authorities and take the necessary precau-tions to avoid the spread of the virus. The Commission thus advises that the holding of by-elections remains suspended in line with the Public Health (Covid-19 Prevention, Containment and Treatment) (Amendment) Regulations, 2020 (No. 4) being S.I. 225A of 2020, until the declaration of Ccrvid-19 as a formidable pandemic has been lifted. Please be advised that the conduct of other electoral activities will resume in line with the Ministry of Health and Child Care protocols as well as the guidelines established by the Commission on saniti-zadon, wearing of face masks and social distancing.

Regarding the filling in of Proportional Representation (PR) seats, the Commission received several objections but found that there were no valid grounds for objecting to the list of submitted candidates. The Commission therefore, proc.ed to publish a notice in the Gazette confirming the nominations as provided for in section 39(7)(a)of the Electoral A.

The Commission would like to advise Its stakeholders that Its district and provincial offices will be open for all other electoral activities such as:
Voter registration Voter education Voters’ roll inspection Registration transfer Prellmthary delimitation Issues.

ZEC would like to sincerely thank all its stakeholders for exercising patience and understanding in the face of the global pandemic which Is an Act of God.

U Silaigwana

Chief Elections Officer

ZIMBABWE ELECTORAL COMMISSION

By A Correspondent- The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) on Wednesday confirmed the suspension of by-elections citing the COVID-19 regulations.

The by-elections were scheduled for December to fill parliamentary and local government seats which became vacant after the opposition MDC-T led by Thokozani Khupe recalled MDC Alliance members.

ZEC’s statement comes after Vice President and Minister of Health and Child Care Constantino Chiwenga last Friday announced an indefinite suspension of by-elections, citing COVID-19 as a formidable pandemic in the country.

Utoile Silaigwana who is the chief elections officer of the electoral body said Wednesday that it is important for the commission to follow the advice from the necessary authorities and take precautions to curb the spread of the virus.

He said:

The commission thus advises that the holding of by-elections remains suspended in line with public health regulations until the declaration of COVID-19 as a formidable pandemic has been lifted.

The prolonged suspension of by-elections is permissible under constitution.

Silaigwana speaks after the suspensions of by-elections has received widespread criticism from the opposition and some legal experts.

Veritas, a Parliamentary and legal think-tank said the ban on by-elections is a violation of the constitution which does not make any “provision for an extension of the 90-day period, even during a state of emergency ‒ and a state of public emergency is not currently in force.”

Some political analysts view the ban as a way to allow the Khupe-led MDC outfit to field their preferred candidates as the party is allegedly nervous about elections.-Newsday

By A Correspondent- The Nelson Chamisa led MDC Alliance will have to recognize the Supreme Court ruling that resurrected the MDC T 2014 structures and made Thokozani Khupe the outfit’s interim leader, if they want to talk to Khupe’s camp, Business Times reports.

This was revealed by MDC T Secretary-General Douglas Mwonzora who said Chamisa’s deputies Tendai Biti and Welshman Ncube were not supposed to be involved because they were not part of the MDC T:

Chamisa and his group have to recognise the Supreme Court ruling and there is no need for the involvement of Biti and Ncube as they were not part of the structures and were leading their parties. Chamisa was a member of the national executive.

However, MDC Alliance’s Secretary-General Chalton Hwende said they are just waiting for the by-elections to move forward:

We are waiting for the by elections to replace the recalled MPs and councillors and the people will vote for their representatives again and our youths want the party to be united and we can move forward but Mwonzora and his group are working with Zanu PF to destabilise the party.

MDC T and MDC Alliance national executive councils are reportedly holding separate strategic meetings in a bid to craft a way forward after the MDC T youths declared that the 2 leaders should meet last week.-BusinessTimes

By Patrick Guramatunhu| ”Given the onslaught, machinations and clandestine shenanigans by our detractors, isu tasara, ngatirambei takabatana (we the living must remain united) … in defence of our hard-won independence,” Mnangagwa told mourners at Heroes Acre.

“Violence, destruction of property and making Zimbabwe ungovernable can never be democratic and that is not what we fought for.” 

This is just nonsense. 

If anyone has made Zimbabwe ungovernable it is Zanu PF every time the party has felt its iron grip on power threatened, it has blatantly rigged the elections and, time and time again, resorted to wanton violence, abductions, beatings, rape and even cold blooded murder of its political critics and opponents. All “done in defence of our hard-won independence”!

Zimbabwe is in this economic and political mess because the country has been stuck with a corrupt, incompetent and tyrannical regime that rigged elections to stay in power. All “done in defence of our hard-won independence”! 

All attempts to restore the citizens’ basic freedoms and rights including the right to free, fair and credible elections and even the right to life have been ruthlessly resisted. All “done in defence of our hard-won independence”! 

Of course, this is nonsense Zanu PF is a party of corrupt, incompetent and ruthless thugs who believe they have the divine right to rule the country and are not democratically accountable to the people. They have rigged elections and use brute force to impose their will under the pretext if anyone else got into power they would undermine the country’s independence, sovereignty, etc., etc.

It the last 40 years the regime has accused all its critics and political opponents of all manner of crimes and treason but has never produced the evidence. Allowing citizens to exercise the freedoms and rights including the right to a meaningful vote does not threaten the nation’s independence. On the contrary, nation that have upheld the citizens’ freedoms and rights have also enjoyed peace, justice, liberty and economic prosperity.

Zimbabwe is facing its most serious economic and political crisis and to end it we must, first and foremost, end the curse of rigged elections and bad governance. We totally reject Zanu PF’s attempts to maintain the status quo under the pretext that change will threaten the nation’s independence. The status quo has been a disaster for the nation and it must go! 

Ending the status quo will end the Zanu PF dictatorship and will have no effect on the country’s independence! This is just Zanu PF project fear of the unknown!

Fear and violence have ruled Zimbabwe these last 40 years. We demand an end to fear and violence. We demand the implementation of the democratic reforms to ensure the next elections are free, fair and credible. 

Since Zanu PF is not going to reform itself out of office, the party must step down to allow the nation to appoint an interim administration that will implement the reforms.  

Zimbabwe is a dictatorship, not a democracy, and Zanu PF cannot keep up the pretence the party is the defend of democracy. 

Mnangagwa cannot claim to be the peacemaker after 40 years of the big bad wolf, up stream, attacking the lambs, down stream, accusing them of mudding his drinking water. 

“Making Zimbabwe undemocratic and ungovernable is not what we fought for!” And yet that is exactly what Zanu PF has done these last 40 years. The cup is full to overflow, Zanu PF cannot be allowed to hold the nation to ransom any more. 

Zanu PF rigged the July 2018 elections, the regime is illegitimate and it must step down.

SOURCE: zimbabwelight.blogspot.com

Residents Resolve To Protect Water Infrastructure.

Residents of Mabvuku have vowed to protect water infrastructure in the suburb against any forms of vandalism.

These sentiments were expressed at the community meeting organized by the Combined Harare Residents Association (CHRA) with the Water Point User Committees (WPUC) in the area.

Apart from being hit by incessant water shortages, the suburb has also seen rising cases of vandalisation of water pipes, which has created problems in the local water distribution network.

 “As community leaders we are going to work together with our local District Office, reporting cases of vandalism to council property specifically water pipes and which is increasing non-revenue water”, said Mr Kagoro CHRA Ward 21 Coordinator.

Water bursts have emerged in Mabvuku as the local authority has resumed pumping water to the area after many years of a dry spell with some main water pipes being vandalized.

Previously Water Point User Committees have been focusing on managing public water points especially boreholes.

The latest development will see Water Point User Committees and council working together in reducing non-revenue water through reporting incidences of vandalism and protecting municipal water infrastructure.

CHRA welcomes the development as it promotes community stewardship in water resources management.

By A Correspondent- ZRP in Bindura last night reportedly arrested former cabinet Minister Nicholas Goche over stock theft, The Herald reports.

Goche stands accused of stealing an undisclosed number of cattle and was held in custody yesterday and will appear in court today.

His arrest was confirmed to the publication by ZRP National Spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi who is yet to get the details of his arrest.

We will update this article as new details emerge.-statemedia

President Emmerson Mnangagwa today visited Chimanimani to assess progress made towards rehabilitating roads and infrastructure destroyed during Cyclone Idai in 2019.

VIEW PICTURE BELOW…

Recalled Marondera Central legislator, Caston Matewu has announced that one of the MDC Alliance parliamentarians Honorable Anna Myambo had a stroke after she was recalled by MDC-T which she never recovered from until she passed on today.

“I am learning with great sadness that one of the recalled MPs Hon Anna Myambo has passed on. After being recalled by ThokoZANU Khupe she had a stroke and never recovered. She was such a good friend and fellow MP,” said Matewu.

More to follow….

Top Zimbabwean musician Jah Prayzah’s decision to remain mum during the #ZimbabweanLivesMatter campaign is proving costly after Zimbabweans on social media teamed up to snub his request for votes after being shortlisted for Africa Entertainment Awards USA alongside Burna Boy, Eddy Kenzo and Yemi Alade among others.

The Hokoyo hitmaker who is not a stranger to political backlash posted on Twitter, celebrating his nomination among Africa’s best 10 while appealing to Zimbabweans to vote for him.

This angered a section of social media users who were quick to remind him that when they needed his voice against human rights abuses by the President Emmerson Mnangagwa regime he was nowhere to be found.

Some even rooted for Burna Boy who during that period posted something using the then trending hashtag.

Below is Jah Prayzah’s message and responses from angry and bitter Zimbabweans;

JAH PRAYZAH: Team JP your support for the works is being recognized out there. We have a nomination for top entertainer at the @aeausa. The nomination in itself is a win. Go and vote on their website http://aeausa.net

CHIBS: I love JP music but I won’t vote for him. Everyone knows why. Anyway, I voted for Burna Boy! #ZimbabweanLivesMatter

EULITA DUBE: I remember when Zim twitter was begging you to participate in the #ZimbabweanLivesMatter you muted http://us.Now i believe we will return the favour kind sir.Those that butter your bread(Zanu pf) will vote for http://you.Im sure Nick will RT & mobilise for you

LACTO: U nw want us 2 vote for u but when soldiers & police were abducting, torturing & brutalizing innocent civilians who were exercising their constitutional rights you kept mum.The same pple who support yo music hv suffered for too long & still u said nothing #ZimbabweanLivesMatter

ChimbwidoTee: Rega tikandire Burna Boy kaVote! He stood with us during #ZimbabweanLivesMatter!!! Vhoterwa nema Zanu PF youthies

NEWLY SWORN-IN MP and acting MDC-T leader Thokozani Khupe Wednesday opposition legislators remaining in parliament were loyal to her party.

The politician also pledged to use her time in the house to work towards improving the livelihoods of ordinary Zimbabweans.

“I’m glad that I’m back. I’m going to be advancing the interests of all the 14.6 million Zimbabweans so that they have better lives,” she told journalists soon after emerging from parliament building.

“I have been working even if I was not in parliament. But like I said, I’m very happy that I’m back. Parliament is an arena where we are supposed to come and raise people’s issues so that they are addressed.

“We have to work Zimbabweans. We want Zimbabweans to have jobs, food, clean water food, functioning hospitals and good education system,” Khupe said.

Khupe said opposition legislators who now remained in parliament belonged to her party.

“I don’t know those MPs who have defied me. All those who are in parliament belong to MDC-T,” she said, adding that she was now leader of the opposition in parliament.

“Currently, I’m the senior member of the main opposition, the MDC-T in Parliament. So, I’m the leader in Parliament.”

Khupe spent two hours in parliament before leaving.

Senators Morgen Komichi and Morgan Femai were among top party members who cheered their leader as she exited parliament building.

-NEWZIMBABWE

The newly elected Bulawayo Mayor Mlandu Ncube has told his fellow councillors in Zimbabwe’s second largest city that he belongs to a rival faction led by Dr Thokozani Khupe.

He made the revelations in a Councillors Whatsapp group where a fellow City Father accused him of belonging to Khupe faction to which he confirmed that he indeed was part of the MDC-T party.

Following his victory yesterday, MDC Alliance claimed that he belonged to their faction.

Top Zimbabwean musician Jah Prayzah’s decision to remain mum during the #ZimbabweanLivesMatter campaign is proving costly after Zimbabweans on social media teamed up to snub his request for votes after being shortlisted for Africa Entertainment Awards USA alongside Burna Boy, Eddy Kenzo and Yemi Alade among others.

The Hokoyo hitmaker who is not a stranger to political backlash posted on Twitter, celebrating his nomination among Africa’s best 10 while appealing to Zimbabweans to vote for him.

This angered a section of social media users who were quick to remind him that when they needed his voice against human rights abuses by the President Emmerson Mnangagwa regime he was nowhere to be found.

Some even rooted for Burna Boy who during that period posted something using the then trending hashtag.

Below is Jah Prayzah’s message and responses from angry and bitter Zimbabweans;

JAH PRAYZAH: Team JP your support for the works is being recognized out there. We have a nomination for top entertainer at the @aeausa. The nomination in itself is a win. Go and vote on their website http://aeausa.net

CHIBS: I love JP music but I won’t vote for him. Everyone knows why. Anyway, I voted for Burna Boy! #ZimbabweanLivesMatter

EULITA DUBE: I remember when Zim twitter was begging you to participate in the #ZimbabweanLivesMatter you muted http://us.Now i believe we will return the favour kind sir.Those that butter your bread(Zanu pf) will vote for http://you.Im sure Nick will RT & mobilise for you

LACTO: U nw want us 2 vote for u but when soldiers & police were abducting, torturing & brutalizing innocent civilians who were exercising their constitutional rights you kept mum.The same pple who support yo music hv suffered for too long & still u said nothing #ZimbabweanLivesMatter

ChimbwidoTee: Rega tikandire Burna Boy kaVote! He stood with us during #ZimbabweanLivesMatter!!! Vhoterwa nema Zanu PF youthies

By A Correspondent- President Emmerson Mnangagwa has warned teachers that his administration will not take lightly their demands of better pay but will deal with them as ransom.

Speaking in Mutare on Wednesday night, Mnangagwa said, ” Government will not be taken to ransom by striking  teachers. The Second Republic proceeds on principles, not blackmail. Teachers will be paid for working, never for staying at home, away from their working stations.”

Mnangagwa’s statements follow a threat by Presidnetial Spokesperson George Charamba who said if the teachers were declaring war on their employer, the government was ready for the war.

Mnangagwa will spend a night in Mutare in readiness for a tour of remedial infrastructures in areas badly hit by Cyclone Idai in Chimanimani District. The projects will include a new settlement for relocated families displaced by the Cyclone.

The President’s visit follows an invitation by National Disaster Committee on Cyclone Idai meant to get him to gauge progress registered to date. This evening, the President urged Party and Government officials to mobilize communities for greater participation in the PFUMVUDZA programme.

By A Correspondent- MDC leader Nelson Chamisa’s lawyer Advocate Thabani Mpofu has dared Presidential anti-corruption special prosecution unit head Tabani Mpofu to produce his law degree to prove that he is qualified to head SACU.

Posting on Twitter and appealing to Secretary for Information Nick Mangwana, Mpofu said:

“Please help us toe-the-line. Where did Tabani Vusa Mpofu read his law? Have you ever seen his degree certificate? Ever met any of his classmates? If he has no law degree can he legitimately head SACU. Corrupt-less?”

The question invited one Twitter user with the moniker @Davidmuchuchu to say,

“Ko Mhofu Inga renyu Dhigoz i hybrid re 6 years wani….(GZU + UZ) but tongokudayi makadaro.”

Mpofu responded saying he qualified for his degree.

“But I have it. Even if you say I picked it up from a rubbish heap, you still accept that I have it. Turns out, we not talking about mine but his. Are you able to assist us in that regard?”

Veritas, a Parliamentary and legal think-tank, has said the indefinite suspension of by-elections in the country is an unconstitutional move.

This comes after Vice President Constantino Chiwenga recently amended Statutory Instrument 225A of 2020, Public Health COVID-19 Prevention, Containment and Treatment) (Amendment) Regulations, 2020 (No 4) to suspend by-elections citing the prevalence of coronavirus.

The suspension of by-elections has attracted criticism from some observers with some arguing that the move by Chiwenga who is also the Health minister was a political one with nothing to do with the coronavirus.

Veritas observed that section 158 (3) of the Constitution stipulates that once a Parliamentary or council seat becomes vacant, by-elections must be held within 90 days. Added the think tank:

This is unconstitutional. In our Election Watch 1 of 2020 of the 17th May, we commented on an earlier attempt by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission [ZEC] to suspend by-elections because of the Covid-19 pandemic and concluded that ZEC could not do it. The same goes for this attempt.

Section 158 (3) of the Constitution states quite clearly: Polling in by-elections to Parliament and local authorities must take place within ninety days after the vacancies occurred …

The Constitution makes no provision for an extension of the 90-day period, even during a state of emergency ‒ and a state of public emergency is not currently in force.

Just as ZEC had no power to suspend by-elections by administrative decree, so too the Minister of Health has no power to suspend them through regulations under the Public Health Act.  The Constitution overrides administrative decisions and regulations.  The Constitution must be obeyed.

Meanwhile, the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission presided over a number of by-elections over the weekend thereby worsening the confusion on the rationale behind the SI.

The Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions has in its message to mark the 13th World Day for Decent Work said the Zimbabwean government has condemned all workers into modern-day slavery.

We present the statement in full below.06 October 2020RE:

STATEMENT TO MARK 13TH WORLD DAY FOR DECENT WORK

WEDNESAY 7 OCTOBER 2020 is World Day for Decent Work (WDDW), a day workers across the globe stand up for decent work as they seek to build secure workplaces and better livelihoods.

Trade unions under the banner of the ITUC are commemorating the day under the theme “A New Social Contract for Recovery and Resilience” to ensure the global economy can recover and to build the resilience required to meet the convergent challenges of the pandemic, climate change and inequality.

A lot of work has been put in place by social partners towards the realization of decent work across the world but as we commemorate the 13th WDDW Zimbabwean workers are mourning the death of that dream.

The precarious nature of employment for both public and private sector employees is a mockery to decent work. The government and employers are gradually dismantling the four pillars of decent work condemning virtually all workers into modern day slavery.

Hope for economic recovery is fast fading under the clouds of corruption, mis-governance and lack of rule of law.We note that Employment Creation, Rights at Work, Social Protection and Social Dialogue have over the years been under attack and the Covid-19 pandemic has presented government and employers with lethal ammunition to disregard the pillars.

Decent work deficits are deepening and the progress that had been achieved over the past decade is being decimated.

Labour rights are being relegated to the periphery and massive arbitrary retrenchments have been rolled out particularly in the Hotel and catering industry.

Social dialogue has been suppressed at all levels spearheaded by government which is dithering on fully constituting the Tripartite Negotiating Forum to set the tone for new social contract.

Zimbabwe need a new social contract that would be central to charting the path to recovery from the effects COVID-19 as well as to building an economy of shared prosperity and sustainability but lack of political will remains a key barrier.This year, we are restricted from our usual gatherings to mark the commemorations due to the risk of spreading the virus.

We will however continue to engage workers through other platforms. Our key message to workers in Zimbabwe is that the ZCTU would continue to push and demand for the realization of decent work standards, including decent wages, for workers despite the unprecedented assaults directed at it.

Our demands for wages as per those workers earned as at August 2018 will remain our prime demand. We salute our nurses, teachers and all other sectors which are fighting for decent wages despite all the threats directed at them.

Its time workers rally around decent work and chat a new beginning that secures a pro-poor people centred future.

Japhet Moyo

SECRETARY-GENERAL

By A Correspondent-authorities here1 have launched an investigation into mysterious deaths of goats in Makwe area, Ward 8 in Gwanda.

A team comprising officials from Gwanda Rural District Council, Zimbabwe National Parks and Wildlife Authority (ZimParks) and the Department of Veterinary Services visited the area on Tuesday.

The development comes as villagers from the area are growing impatient with some pressuring the local leadership to invite prophets and tsikamutandas (witch-hunters) to intervene.

Speaking after a meeting with the community, Gwanda Rural District Council natural resources management officer, Mr Sijabuliso Masango said they had decided to bring experts to assist in the investigations.

“We got a report of goats being killed by a mysterious creature in the Makwe area. We then contacted ZimParks and the Department of Veterinary Services to assist in the investigations.

“We have to establish whether indeed there is such a creature and if so we then devise strategies to either trap or kill it,” said Mr Masango.

A villager from the area Mr Norman Nkomo said he strongly believed that the creature which was terrorising villagers was not a wild animal but a goblin. The councillor for the area Rachael Ncube said people were now becoming impatient and were demanding traditional intervention.

“We are glad that authorities came to assess the situation and we hope to get feedback from them soon. People are however, growing impatient hence some are now calling for the intervention of tsikamutandas or prophets,” said clr Ncube.

Chief Mathema said he decided to first engage experts because tsikamutandas were notorious for robbing people of their livestock. He said in the event the experts fail to resolve the mystery, he will engage a respectable traditional spirit medium. Chief Mathema said the community had to first establish whether the creature was a wild animal or not through the help of experts.

“While we are faced with a problem it’s important for us to follow the legal route. I have alerted the RDC about this matter and they have taken the necessary measures. It’s not wise to invite a tsikamutandas because they have a tendency of robbing people of their livestock or causing unnecessary friction by accusing people of practising witchcraft,” he said.

The villagers have lost about 70 goats and they say the yet to be identified creature sucks goats’ blood and leaves two puncture/ teeth marks on their necks.-statemedia

By A Correspondent- A gold thief was arrested after asking colleagues and workmates on social media how he could smuggle 400 grammes of stolen gold out of the country.

The incident comes after Finance Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube told Parliament that gold was being smuggled out of the country resulting in the country losing out millions of United Dollars in potential revenue.

He observed that the country was producing large volumes of gold but some was being smuggled through the country’s porous borders since the official gold price in the country was not attractive.

State Media

THE United States cannot determine the parental rights of a minor child in the case involving estranged partners — Russian-American Allen Gassen and former model Priscilla Chigariro — on the grounds of the Hague Convention, the High Court has ruled.

The application was brought in terms of the Child Abduction Act as read with Article 15 of The Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction, which is the first schedule to the Child Abduction Act (The Hague Convention).

Chigariro brought the child to Zimbabwe from Russia in November last year without the consent of his partner, prompting Gassen to approach the High Court.

He sought a declaratory order that the removal of the minor child from Russia and its retention in Zimbabwe was unlawful and wanted her to be sent to the US for determination of the parties respective parental rights.

The child was born in Russia through surrogacy arrangement, as the mother could not carry pregnancy to the term because of medical health issues.

After hearing submissions from both parties’ counsel, Justice Ester Muremba dismissed the application by Gassen, finding that at the time the child was removed from Russia, she had no habitual residence there and the parties never intended to have their child stay in Russia.

In this regard, she ruled that Gassen claim that Chigariro breached his custody and access rights to the minor was untenable.

Justice Muremba said the child could not be sent to the US when it was not the child’s habitual residence before her removal to Zimbabwe.

Though Gassen wanted the US to decide the parental rights of the parties over the child on the basis of the Hague Convention, Justice Muremba disagreed saying the convention would have been applicable if the child had been wrongfully removed from the US.

“That the USA was the intended child’s habitual residence by the parties as parents of the child does not entitle the bringing of an application under the Hague Convention,” she said.

“In order for applicant to enforce what he says the parties had agreed upon that the child be raised in the USA, the applicant ought to have used a different cause of action instead of The Hague Convention.”

The convention is designed to protect children from harm in cases of wrongful removal or retention by securing their prompt return to the State with which they had the strongest connection.

An order granted under the convention is a return order, which is designed to restore the status quo that existed before the wrongful removal or retention of a child.

In this case, the child’s habitual residence immediately prior to the abduction would provide the most appropriate forum for a determination of parental rights.

Justice Muremba said even if she had made a finding that Russia was the child’s habitual residence at the time that she was removed from there to Zimbabwe, all she could grant was a declaratory order that her removal was wrongful.

She would not be inclined to allow the consequential relief that the child be sent to the US for determination of the parental rights.

“Such an order would not be consistent with the purpose of the Convention, which is to restore the status quo,” said Justice Muremba.

In his application, Gassen argued that the parties, who are on separation, had agreed to have their children raised in the US, where their son has already settled in the American system.

He argued that contrary to the parties’ agreement, Chigariro had wrongfully kept their daughter in Zimbabwe and registered the child in the country using fraudulent documents.

On the other hand, Chigariro averred that the Russian court declared her to be the mother of the minor child.

She argued that since the child was born out of wedlock, she had the full parental rights, which could only be interfered with by Gassen obtaining a court order.

Chigariro denied ever entering an agreement with Gassen to relocate to the US and the claims of fraud levelled against her.

Paul Nyathi

MDC-T Secretary General Douglas Mwonzora says that his party does not regret recalling the MDC Alliance MPs they recalled in the course of the year.

Speaking to journalists on Wednesday soon after the swearing in of MDC-T interim leader Thokozani Khupe and 14 other party loyalists as both MPs and Senators.

Mwonzora said it was not the wish of the party to recall the MPs but the legislators forced the party to do the recalls.

“It is not our intention to always get rid of people. Recalls are regrettable but it happened because that leadership sacrificed their own people.

“Those people were recalled because they had ceased to be members of the MDC-T.

“They said it in writing that they did not belong to the MDC-T anymore.

“There are legal consequences to that. Some of them were involved in violence and corruption. We have zero tolerance to violence and corruption. We took action and do not regret it,” said Mwonzora.

“We recall people for a reason. Those recalled people were at fault. There was no need for them to sign affidavits denouncing the MDC-T and renouncing their membership of the MDC-T. Once they did that, legal consequences arose.”

Commenting on the appointment of the MPs and Senators, Mwonzora said “we are quite happy with the quality of Senators and MPs who have come. It is time for delivering and time to carry the party’s legislative agenda.

“We want to make a difference, to focus on the developmental issues affecting the nation, dealing with new politics in Zimbabwe and get rid of hate politics, acrimony. It is going to be a vibrant Parliament.

“We are going to do our job as opposition in Zimbabwe.”

Paul Nyathi

The MDC-T says that MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa must first recognise Thokozani Khupe as the genuine leader of the opposition before any talks between the two parties.

The Khupe MDC-T National Executive Council made the resolution at its latest meeting as both parties’ NECs have been meeting seperately to foster for negotiations following the declaration by the party’s youths wings that the two leaders Chamisa and Khupe must meet face to face to resolve their differences.

Key amongst the issue that the youth are demanding the leaders to discuss is the recall of MPs and Councillors. Khupe has recalled 32 MPs and about 100 councillors countrywide for supporting Chamisa.

One of the contentious issues on the table is re-engagement of party leaders which will result in recognising the 2014 MDC structures set up by the late Morgan Tsvangirai and which will make some of the top leaders in the MDC Alliance redundant including the two vice presidents Tendai Biti and Welshman Ncube.

MDC-T secretary general Douglas Mwonzora said his party leadership had set conditions for re engagement with the MDC Alliance leadership.

“Chamisa and his group have to recognise the Supreme Court ruling and there is no need for the involvement of Biti and Ncube as they were not part of the structures and were leading their parties,” Mwonzora said.

“Chamisa was a member of the national executive.

This must be a starting point and the youths that have occupied the Harvest House have no legal right to occupy the building and must not give any order as we don’t recognise them.

Chamisa and his group must be organising participating at an elective congress as ordered by the Supreme Court not to continue to confuse party members.”

He said the recall of 10 more MPs was in line with the resolution passed by the party of recalling MPs and councillors who were not recognising the leadership of Khupe.

But MDC Alliance secretary general Charlton Hwende said his party was aware of the political machinations being instigated by Mwonzora and Zanu PF to weaken the party.

“We are waiting for the by elections to replace the recalled MPs and councillors and the people will vote for their representatives again and our youths want the party to be united and we can move forward but Mwonzora and his group are working with Zanu PF to destabilise the party,” Hwende said.

Khupe’s bid to bounce back into Parliament together with his other members as proportional representatives this week hit a snag following an urgent court application to stop the process.

Last week she also recalled 10 more MPs from parliament bringing the number to 32 MPs.

Her party also announced the dates for the elective congress slated from 13 to 20 December.

Government also further suspended the holding of by elections to elect new MPs and councillors until Covid -19 recedes.

Source: Business Times

State Media

Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) has appealed for peace among the greater Victoria Falls community to allow the law to take its course following fatal shooting of two Chisuma villagers by soldiers recently.

Addressing hundreds of mourners drawn from Victoria Falls town, Cjidobe and Kachechete wards that gathered for a double burial of Morgan Sibanda (36) and Mr Dumisani Mpofu (38) in Chisuma 2 village under Chief Mvutu on Tuesday, One Infantry Brigade Deputy Commander Colonel Maxwell Masuku said the law should take its course.

Col Masuku had been literally camped in the community since last week engaging the local leadership in a series of meetings over the issue.

The meetings were between the army, police, traditional leaders, councillors and villagers.

He told mourners that the incident tarnished the image of the army which depends on the community.

“This was an accident and the matter is now in the hands of the police. The case is now in the courts and let’s allow the law to take its course. The issue does not sit well with us in terms of our image in the community. As ZNA we are what we are because of the community, if the community is not there we are not there too,” said Col Masuku.

He said the army will always work with the community for development.

Bernard Sibanda (30) and Bonang Nare (21) who are both stationed at 1.2 Infantry Battalion in Hwange have since appeared in court facing two counts of murder and were remanded in custody to Friday next week.

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The soldiers were deployed to Chisuma together with police to enforce anti-poaching activities along Zambezi River on the border with Zambia.

ZNA assisted in preparing for the burial and transported the bodies from Victoria Falls Hospital mortuary to Chisuma.

The deceased who were cousins were buried about 200 metres apart at their respective families’ cemeteries.

Sibanda who was known as Zhuzha in the community, was a rafting guide employed by Wild Horizons and left behind four children and a wife while Mpofu was single and not employed.

Wild Horizons corporate affairs director Ms Barbara Murasiranwa said the rafting sector had lost a valuable worker who was instrumental in various tourism activities including retrieval of bodies of people who drowned.

The community wants Government to institute an inquest into the shooting.

They also called for relocation of the army and police base from Chisuma Primary School to a disused camp near Zambezi River saying this would help quell emotions among community members.

“As a community let’s be calm as the issue is being handled at a higher authority. We call on Government to make an inquiry on the shooting,” said Kachechete ward councillor Givemeagain Moyo.

His sentiments were echoed by Victoria Falls Mayor Cllr Somveli Dlamini and Hwange West Constituency MP Godfrey Dube who said he will push for the inquest.

State Media

Another MDC-led Harare City Council’s (HCC) top official, acting housing director of services, Fani Machipisa has been arrested by the Special Anti-Corruption Unit (SACU) on alleged land scams, a few months into the position.

Machipisa replaced suspended substantive housing director Addmore Nhekairo in June who is also facing allegations involving land scams.

Head of SACU Mr Tabani Mpofu this afternoon confirmed arresting the Harare official.

“Yes, we have arrested Machipisa and more details will be availed later,” he said.

The arrest comes as Government has been unearthing massive land scams under which MDC-Alliance-led councils are allegedly fundraising for their party through illegal sale of State land.

Since June, among top officials arrested at HCC are the town clerk Engineer Hosiah Chisango, Nhekairo, human capital director and former housing director Matthew Marara and former city mayor Hebert Gomba.

The other arrested officials include five councillors that all sat in the Housing Committee, among other several middle and junior employees.

State Media

PARENTS and learners should not be overly concerned about the preparedness of students writing exams this year, as catch-up learning and remedial teaching will be prioritised in the run-up to the exams, Cabinet has said.

Schools in Zimbabwe opened last month, with Cambridge examination classes starting earlier on 14 September while those sitting for Zimsec exams opened on 28 September. Zimsec exams begin on 1 December.

After a six-month hiatus, there have been some concerns raised by teachers, parents and learners would not be prepared giving the little time they had between reopening and exams.

After yesterday’s Cabinet meeting, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Monica Mutsvangwa said that Government was implementing measures to make sure that both learners and teachers were teachers were adequately prepared for the exams.

“Noting the concerns and anxieties expressed by learners, their parents/guardians, as well as teachers, on the limited lesson time before public examinations, the Ministry has come up with guidelines to ensure effective care and support for both teaching and learning, effective catch-up learning, remedial teaching, and preparations for examinations,” she said.

Minister Mutsvangwa also said that while engagement with teachers over salaries was ongoing, training of both teaching and non-teaching staff in infection control and prevention was also in progress.

“With regard to the re-opening of schools the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education is monitoring the situation and updating the Public Service Commission daily, while awaiting the outcome of the ongoing National Joint Negotiating Council talks. Priority training of teaching and non-teaching staff on Covid-19 Infection Prevention and Control measures for Phase 1 is underway in all the provinces, while logistical arrangements for Phase 2 staff training are being organised.”

MDC-T acting president Dr Thokozani Khupe is set to resume her role as leader of the opposition in Parliament after she and 14 others from her party were sworn-in yesterday as members of the National Assembly and Senate.

They were nominated by the party to replace those in proportional representation seats who were recalled.

Senators and the block of special proportional representation seats in the National Assembly reserved for women are filled from party lists based on the proportion of votes party candidates for constituencies won in the last general election.

Vacant constituency seats in the National Assembly are filled through by-elections.

In the National Assembly, Dr Khupe was sworn in together with Memory Munochinzwa, January Sawuke, Lindani Moyo, Sipho Makone, Yvonne Musarurwa and Lwazi Sibanda.

In the Senate, MDC-T spokesperson Kaliphani Phugeni was sworn in together with Piniel Denga, Chief Ndlovu, Nomalanga Khumalo, Teti Chisorochengwe, Gertrude Moyo, Tamani Moyo and Molly Dorothy Ndlovu.

Speaker of the National Assembly Advocate Jacob Mudenda and Senate President Cde Marble Chinomona told both Houses separately that the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) had written to the Clerk of Parliament, Mr Kennedy Chokuda, notifying him of the persons nominated to fill vacancies that occurred following the recall of MDC-T MPs elected under proportional representation.

In the National Assembly, Mr Chokuda administered the oath while in the Senate, Deputy Clerk of Parliament Ms Helen Dingane presided over the swearing-in ceremony in terms of the Constitution.

Legislators from the MDC-T could be heard ululating as Dr Khupe and her team of legislators walked into the Chamber for the swearing-in.

Hatfield MP, Dr Tapiwa Mashakada congratulated Dr Khupe on her return to Parliament.

In an interview after taking oath, Dr Khupe said she would deliver her maiden speech next week spelling out her vision as leader of the opposition.

“I am glad that I am back, but I am going to advance the interests of all the 14,6 million Zimbabweans so that they have a better life,” she said.

“I have been working for the people even if I was outside Parliament. This is an arena where we raise issues concerning people so that they are addressed.

“I am the leader of my political party so nothing has changed. I am back as leader of the opposition in Parliament, by virtue of being the most senior person in Parliament.”

Some of the newly sworn MPs were legislators in previous Parliaments.

Ms Khumalo was elected Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly in 2008 on an MDC-T ticket, while Mr Denga and Ms Sibanda are former legislators.

The legislators were recalled in terms of a constitutional provision that declares seats held by members of the party that sponsored them in the last election vacant, if the party writes to the Speaker of the National Assembly or to the Senate President to declare that the persons no longer represented that party.

TWO people are believed to have been murdered in separate incidents this week before their bodies were found hanging in unclear circumstances in Battlefields and Highfield respectively.

Police have since launched investigations into these two murder cases. No arrests have since been made.

In Highfield, a man was found hanging at an entrance of a bar on Monday morning and police suspect that he could have been robbed and fatally assaulted by unknown assailants.

The man believed to have been a gold panner, was drinking beer at a shopping centre popularly known as MaStones when the incident occurred.

Police said in Battlefields, Cosmas Mataruse (19) was found dead and his body was in a decomposing state a few days after he had been embroiled in a dispute with another man over a cellphone he had dropped.

National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said last Thursday, Mataruse was at a shopping centre in Battlefields where he dropped his cellphone which was then picked up by the man, aged 25.

Mataruse is alleged to have later confronted the man who denied having picked up the cellphone and this resulted in an argument. The man later left and it is reported that Mataruse later followed him and no one knows what happened after that.

“His body was found two days later in a sitting position and he had a wire tied to his neck and then tied on a tree branch about 158 metres from a gravel road. The body was in a decomposing state.

“We are still investigating the case since the circumstances are not clear. It is still not clear what transpired,” Asst Comm Nyathi said.

In a related incident, a Bulawayo man was fatally assaulted with a bench on the head by one of his colleagues he was drinking beer with at a shebeen after being accused of selling him a defective car battery.-The Herald

POLICE have launched a manhunt for a woman who escaped from police custody after making a false rape report.

Matabeleland South provincial police spokesperson, Chief Inspector Philisani Ndebele said Kamogelo Ndebele (17) from Plumtree escaped from a place of safety at Plumtree Police Station in September. He appealed to members of the public with information on her whereabouts to contact the police.

Chief Insp Ndebele said Kamogelo made a rape report and was placed in a place of safety pending police investigations which later revealed that her report was false.

“We are appealing to members of the public with information on the whereabouts of Kamogelo Ncube a female aged 17-years-old. She is light brown in complexion, slim and of medium height. She was last seen putting on a black and white blouse and a cream skirt.

The woman was housed at a place of safety by the police as the rape allegations were being investigated.

When police discovered that she had made a false report, she was nowhere to be found when they when at the house.

It is a criminal offence to file a false report with the police.

“The suspect escaped from a safe place at ZRP Plumtree after making a false rape report.

She reported a rape case and was placed in a place of safety and when the police discovered that her report was false, they went to the place where she was being housed with an intention to arrest her and discovered that she had fled. Any person with information that can lead to the arrest of the suspect can contact Constable Shindi from Plumtree Police Station on 0718 995 631 or they can contact me Chief Inspector Philisani Ndebele on 02842-22810 or 0715 431 235 or 0773 594 899,” he said.-Chronicle

A VICTORIA Falls man who fatally assaulted his wife by hitting her head against a wall and floor while accusing her of going for a beer drink and leaving their children unattended at home, has been sentenced to five years in jail for culpable homicide.

Boniso Sibanda (40) of 9419 Mkhosana also suspected that his wife, Auxilia Nkomazana (31), was cheating on him as she spent time with male friends at Chinotimba Old Bar.

Sibanda was found not guilty of murder but guilty of a lesser charge of culpable homicide when he appeared before Bulawayo High Court judge Justice Christopher Dube-Banda who is on circuit in Hwange.

Sibanda will however, serve an effective three years after the judge suspended two years on condition of good behaviour.

In his defence, Sibanda who was represented by Mr Njabulo Ndlovu of Ncube Attorneys, claimed he acted out of provocation because his wife had left the couple’s minor children aged eight years and two years alone at home as she went to drink beer.

He said he also suspected that she was cheating on him with another man.

Prosecuting, Mrs Martha Cheda said Sibanda assaulted his wife at a bar where he found her drinking with some men, before continuing with the assault at home.

“On the 4th of March 2020 at around 4pm, Sibanda arrived home and found his wife not there. He followed her to Chinotimba Old Bar where she was drinking beer with other patrons,” said Mrs Cheda.

She said a misunderstanding ensued between the two as Sibanda dragged a drunken Nkomazana.

He slapped her and she fell down before he carried her out of the bar and placed her outside.

The two walked towards their place of residence and along the way Sibanda once again slapped his wife on the face and kicked her on the hips.

The court was told that when they got home, Sibanda continued assaulting Nkomazana by hitting her head against the wall, floor and wooden base of the bed.

After the assault, Sibanda slept on the bed while the now deceased slept on the floor. He discovered that she was not breathing in the morning and called an ambulance.

The ambulance crew confirmed Nkomazana’s death on arrival at the house.-Chronicle

Farai Dziva|The MDC Alliance says the suspension of by-elections is a direct violation of people’s fundamental rights.

Last week Health Minister Constantino Chiwenga announced the suspension of by-elections.

Below is the MDC Alliance’s response to the suspension of by-elections by the panicky Zanu PF administration:

7 October 2020

SUSPENSION OF BY-ELECHONS A VIOLATION OF THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE

On the 2nd of October 2020, the Minister of Health published SI 225 of 2020 which indefinitely suspends the holding of by-elections in Zimbabwe ‘So the duration of the period of the declaration of COV1D-19 as a formidable epidemic.

The MDC Alliance is deeply concerned with the unconstitutionality of the decision to suspend by-elections. Section 159 of the Constitution requires vacant elective public offices to be tilled within 90 ninety days. This constitutional imperative cannot be overturned by subsidiary legislation as the Constitution is the supreme law.

The effective banning of elections follows the unlawful recalls of elected representatives from Parliament and Local Government.

The will of the people continues to be violated by the illegitimate regime of Mr Mnangagwa.

We are of the firm view that it is grossly unreasonable to ban by-elections when Covid19 restrictions continue to be eased throughout the country.

Various activities are taking place such as internal party elections and extraordinary congresses by other parties.

In the circumstances there is no justification for the ban.

We are funher concerned that the suspension of by-elections infringes upon the independence of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC).

ZEC has a constitutional duty to formulate electoral policies without the direction or control of anyone as set out in section 235 of the Constitution.

The actions of the Minister of Health only serve to undermine ZEC’s independence and to use the excuse of Covid 19 to take away the right of citizens to vote and be represented by people of their choosing in Parliament.

The MDC Alliance calls for the urgent repeal of SI 225 of 2020 and for comprehensive electoral reforms that pave the way for credible elections in accordance with the Constitution.

Ian Makone

Secretary for Elections

Farai Dziva|Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa is driving the nation to a dangerous dungeon, Transform Zimbabwe president Jacob Ngarivhume has said.

Ngarivhume also bemoaned the catastrophe in the education sector.

“That Zimbabwe is in a deep crisis is open to everyone to see.

What is disheartening is the choreographed denial by the ZANU PF government.

The ZANU PF government has been driving Zimbabwe towards a cliff.

For months on end, nurses and doctors have been on strike and the government does not care a wit about it.

On 28 September 2020, exam classes returned to school after six months of enforced closure due to the Covid19 pandemic.

Our teachers and other civil servants have declared incapacitation due to the debilitating economic challenges. How could they when they earn slave wages of $30 per month,” Ngarivhume said in a statement.

Over this last weekend, Ngarivhume, the Convener of the 31st July Protests, passed by a school in Gweru Rural.

The structure that confronted him resembled a building in war torn Afghanistan or Libya.

Ironically, Zimbabweans have declared war against corruption, only to be let down authorities who appear to too keen to suppress these voices of reason.

“This is a true reflection of the national crisis that we are in as a nation. To consider this as a school and a workplace for our teachers is a mockery to the teaching profession,” charged Ngarivhume.

“Calling these buildings with no windows, window frames, doors and roofing a school forty years into independence is an admission of failure by government.

Does government even know such schools like this exist? This is a forgotten place. They loot state coffers leaving nothing for reinvestment in social service provision” observed Ngarivhume.

This has been a tough year for students who have lost exam preparation time yet government insists that exams are due in a month’s time. With teachers digging in over salary demands, the education sector is in serious problems.

“Government has to attend to the glaring crisis in the education sector and be more realistic and humane in attending to these issues.

This national crisis will leave scars that will take years to heal” said Ngarivhume.

Farai Dziva|Former Zanu PF MP, Killer Zivhu has sensationally postulated that the displaying of Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa’s portrait in houses and public vehicles should be mandatory.

Zivhu also pledged to donate mealie-meal and rice to teachers in his area.

Commenting on the former Zanu PF MP’s remarks, MDC Alliance, Namibia(Rundu Branch) spokesperson, Robson Ruhanya described Zivhu as a daydreamer.

See below Zivhu’s argument:

Teachers in my area u can proceed kumba kwangu kunotora upfu ,mafuta,rice, nechibage mosvaka mombe ndobhadhara yeusavi.

Vana ngavadzidze I am overconfident that ED unogadzira nyika mupeyi nguva zvinhu zvava kutonaka .

For now I will help with food hendeyi kubasa

Zimbabwe nyika ndoida iyi hameno iwe ,goodnight guys ndini ndadini zvangu ndatodya nenyama sadza ini.

Vanopopota muchazvimba mukapora ED wapinda 2023 kusvika 2030.

MDC Alliance yapera,MDC-T yakainda naTsvangirayi mati madini mucharidza mhere kusvika mazvinyaradza ED achingotonga

Make it mandatory that ED’s picture inofanirwa kuiswa mudzimba ,shops ,public transport and all public places.

Vasingadi vasungwe hamudi President wenyu moda ani. Munhu wose pfeka face ya President wenyika yako wobva wada nyika yako nomoyo wose pose pose ED Zimbabwe yose ED.

In response Ruhanya said: “Mr Zivhu is daydreaming, he wants to force citizens to recognize the illegitimate Emmerson Mnangagwa as the President of Zimbabwe.Worse still Mr Zivhu wants to force us to display Mnangagwa’s portrait everywhere – that’s ridiculous.

Zivhu thinks he can place teachers under his armpits- who told him that teachers are working for rice and sadza?”

Farai Dziva|Former Zanu PF MP, Killer Zivhu has sensationally postulated that the displaying of Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa’s portrait in houses and public vehicles should be mandatory.

Zivhu also pledged to donate mealie-meal and rice to teachers in his area.

Commenting on the former Zanu PF MP’s remarks, MDC Alliance, Namibia(Rundu Branch) spokesperson, Robson Ruhanya described Zivhu as a daydreamer.

See below Zivhu’s argument:

Teachers in my area u can proceed kumba kwangu kunotora upfu ,mafuta,rice, nechibage mosvaka mombe ndobhadhara yeusavi.

Vana ngavadzidze I am overconfident that ED unogadzira nyika mupeyi nguva zvinhu zvava kutonaka .

For now I will help with food hendeyi kubasa

Zimbabwe nyika ndoida iyi hameno iwe ,goodnight guys ndini ndadini zvangu ndatodya nenyama sadza ini.

Vanopopota muchazvimba mukapora ED wapinda 2023 kusvika 2030.

MDC Alliance yapera,MDC-T yakainda naTsvangirayi mati madini mucharidza mhere kusvika mazvinyaradza ED achingotonga

Make it mandatory that ED’s picture inofanirwa kuiswa mudzimba ,shops ,public transport and all public places.

Vasingadi vasungwe hamudi President wenyu moda ani. Munhu wose pfeka face ya President wenyika yako wobva wada nyika yako nomoyo wose pose pose ED Zimbabwe yose ED.

In response Ruhanya said: “Mr Zivhu is daydreaming, he wants to force citizens to recognize the illegitimate Emmerson Mnangagwa as the President of Zimbabwe.Worse still Mr Zivhu wants to force us to display Mnangagwa’s portrait everywhere – that’s ridiculous.

Zivhu thinks he can place teachers under his armpits- who told him that teachers are working for rice and sadza?”

POLICE in Matabeleland North have launched a manhunt for a Binga man who allegedly fatally struck his ex-wife with an unknown sharp object before cutting off a finger which he disappeared with.

Matabeleland North police spokesperson Chief Inspector Siphiwe Makonese identified the suspect as Deny Mumpande (38) of Phukhoma 7 Chuzya Village under Chief Sinamagonde in Lusulu.

She said the murder took place last Friday when Mumpande stalked his ex-wife Ms Nolia Mudimba (33) after she had gone to fetch water from a nearby stream.

Mumpande allegedly could not stomach the fact that his wife had left him and went to stay with her parents.

The two had been living in separation for an undisclosed period.

“I can confirm that we received a report of a woman who was killed by her ex-husband in Lusulu. On 2 October at around 5pm the now deceased and Miss Believe Siamupa aged 18 were going home from the nearby Gungwe River where they had gone to fetch water. While on their way they met Mumpande who was carrying an unknown object which was wrapped in a sack,” said Chief Insp Makonese.

She said Mumpande asked the teenager to go as he wanted to talk to the now deceased.

“While Believe Siamupa was about 18 metres away she heard the now deceased screaming and asking for forgiveness from Mumpande. She also heard the sound of a falling bucket of water and an object hitting the now deceased,” said Chief Insp Makonese.

Miss Siamupa ran home and informed the deceased’s father Mr Charles Siamwele who teamed up with other villagers and proceeded to the scene of the attack.

They found the deceased lying on the ground facing downwards with two deep cuts on the head, another on the right hand and left knee.

A finger on her right hand was missing.

A report was made at ZRP Lusulu while the deceased’s body was taken to United Bulawayo Hospitals in Bulawayo for post-mortem.-Chronicle

A 28-YEAR-OLD man from Mpopoma suburb was stabbed to death in a bloody clash between rival gangs at a house party held in violation of lockdown regulations.

Bhekumuzi Nkomo was fatally stabbed between Saturday (10PM) and Sunday (1AM) as his family and police gave contradicting statements on the time when the crime could have been committed.

It is unclear why Nkomo was killed but the fight involved two rival gangs that were attending a birthday party in the same suburb on Saturday.

A blood-stained knife suspected to have been used to attack him was found 10 metres from his body.

His killer is yet to be arrested.

Nkomo’s younger brother Mr Mzimkhulu Nkomo told Chronicle on Monday that the fight started at about 10PM while they were at a party.

He said he does not know how the fight started but he joined in as he observed that a rival gang was assaulting his brother.-Chronicle

Paul Nyathi

THE National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has withdrawn charges against Dumisani Dube, a Bulawayo-based lawyer, who was arrested in June and charged with defeating or obstructing the course of justice.

Dube was arrested on 6 June 2020 by Zimbabwe Republic Police members and charged with contravening Section 184 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act for allegedly defeating or obstructing the course of justice.

The allegations arose from a matter wherein Dube represented his client and filed an urgent chamber application at the Bulawayo High Court, and obtained an order in favour of his client.

The state alleged that Dube filed a fake certificate of service purporting to have served one of the Respondents in the matter, when he had not, and thereafter proceeded to obtain an order by default.

But on Wednesday 30 September 2020, prosecutors withdrew charges against Dube, who was represented by Godfrey Nyoni of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights(ZLHR) and Prince Bhutshe-Dube,before plea.

Meanwhile, Harare Magistrate Ngoni Nduna on Wednesday 30 September 2020 dismissed an application filed by Prosecutor Michael Reza of the NPA seeking to revoke the bail granted to Tapiwa Makanza, a Harare-based lawyer, who was arrested in June and charged with defeating or obstructing the course of justice.

Reza had sought to have Makanza’s bail revoked after alleging that he had breached one of the conditions which barred him from interfering with Simbarashe Zuze, whom the state considered to be its witness in its ongoing case against the Harare-based lawyer.

But Magistrate Nduna ruled that the purported Zuze, whom Makanza allegedly interfered with is not a material witness to the State.

Magistrate Nduna stated that in any case Zuze is a defence witness and it’s the state which should be cautious in its interactions with him.

Makanza, who is represented by Obey Shava and Paidamoyo Saurombe of ZLHR, returns to court on Friday 9 October 2020.

Apart from Dube and Makanza, several lawyers are appearing in court on similar charges of defeating or obstructing the course of justice. The charges emanate from execution of their professional duties.

State Media

CABINET has approved two Memoranda of Understanding between Zimbabwe and Botswana that will see citizens convicted in either country opting to serve their sentences in their home country.

In a post-Cabinet briefing yesterday, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Monica Mutsvangwa said the two Sadc neighbours are seeking to develop bilateral co-operation in the criminal justice delivery system. She said through such co-operation, convicted foreigners may opt to serve their sentences within their country of origin.

“The two countries are also seeking to improve the standards of services at their respective correctional institutions by enhancing co-operation on information management, human resource development, rehabilitation of offenders, and production and self-sustenance relating to agriculture and industries,” said Minister Mutsvangwa.

She said following the visit by Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga to Bulawayo health institutions, a number of challenges were noted and a roadmap on revamping operations of the four institutions — Ekusileni Hospital, Ingutsheni Central Hospital, United Bulawayo Hospitals and Mpilo Hospital — was presented.

The minister said Cabinet noted that Lancet Laboratories had commissioned its laboratory at Victoria Falls International Airport, and pledged to deliver PCR results within two hours for both arriving and departing travellers. She said the Robert Gabriel Mugabe and Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo International Airports have similar private and public testing facilities.

She said teams will be dispatched to the country’s ports of entry to assess their readiness to handle large numbers associated with the complete opening up of the country to domestic and international visitors.
Regarding International travel, Minister Mutsvangwa said Zimbabweans can travel outside the country as long as they meet the requirements of the receiving country.

“With regard to the reopening of schools the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education is monitoring the situation and updating the Public Service Commission daily, while awaiting the outcome of the ongoing National Joint Negotiating Council talks. Priority training of teaching and non-teaching staff on Covid-19 Infection Prevention and Control measures for Phase 1 is underway in all the Provinces, while logistical arrangements for Phase 2 staff training are being organised,” she said.

Noting the concerns and anxieties expressed by learners, their parents/guardians, as well as teachers, on the limited lesson time before public examinations, the minister said the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education has come up with guidelines to ensure effective care and support for both teaching and learning, effective catch-up learning, remedial teaching, and preparations for examinations.

Cristiano Ronaldo’s legal fight with a woman who accuses the international soccer star of raping her in his suite at a Las Vegas resort more than 10 years ago is heading toward a trial before a federal judge in Nevada.

No date was immediately set, but U.S. District Judge Jennifer Dorsey said she will hear arguments and decide herself whether Kathryn Mayorga was mentally fit to enter a 2010 hush-money agreement with Ronaldo’s representatives that paid Mayorga $375,000.

Ronaldo’s attorney, Peter Christiansen, declined Tuesday to comment.

Mayorga’s lawyers, led by Leslie Mark Stovall, did not immediately respond to email and telephone messages about the judge’s ruling, issued Sept. 30.

Dorsey wrote that a court should decide whether Mayorga “lacked the mental capacity” to sign a confidentiality arrangement with Ronaldo’s representatives and “whether any agreement … was ever formed between the parties.”

It was not immediately clear whether Ronaldo or Mayorga will have to be in court in person when a trial is held.

The Associated Press generally doesn’t name people who say they are victims of sexual assault. But after filing her lawsuit against Ronaldo in October 2018, Mayorga gave consent through her attorneys to be identified.

Dorsey gave both sides until the end of November to agree upon a plan for a bench trial.

Christiansen could appeal Dorsey’s order to the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. He declined to say if he will do so.

The ruling represents a setback for Ronaldo’s legal representatives, who have so far kept details of the 2010 settlement sealed. It moves back to a public court questions that U.S. Magistrate Judge Daniel Albregts said in February belonged behind closed doors.

U.S. district judges can overrule magistrate judges, who handle court filings and pretrial arguments.

Ronaldo, 35, lives in Portugal and is one of the richest athletes in the world. He plays in Italy for the Turin-based soccer club Juventus and captains his home country’s national team.

Mayorga, 37, is a former teacher and model who lives in the Las Vegas area. She claims in her lawsuit that Ronaldo or his associates violated the confidentiality agreement by allowing reports about it to appear in European publications in 2017. She seeks to collect at least $200,000 more from Ronaldo.

Ronaldo’s lawyers maintain that media reports were based on electronic data illegally hacked, stolen and sold by cyber criminals. They say they believe documents have been altered and complain that Mayorga’s lawsuit damages Ronaldo’s reputation.

Mayorga says she met Ronaldo at a nightclub in 2009 and went with him and other people to his hotel suite where her lawsuit alleges he assaulted her in a bedroom. She was 25 at the time. He was 24.

Ronaldo, through his lawyers, maintains the sex was consensual.

Stovall says Mayorga had learning disabilities as a child, was pressured by Ronaldo’s representatives and lacked the legal capacity to sign a non-disclosure agreement.

The judge declined, at least for now, to name Mayorga’s brother as her guardian for the case. Dorsey also said some disputes could be resolved out of court.

“The court must decide whether Mayorga lacked the mental capacity to assent to the settlement agreement,” Dorsey wrote.

If Mayorga was fit to enter the agreement, the judge said, it binds her to confidentiality and an arbitrator’s decision behind closed doors about whether the contract was legal and valid.

AP

Paul Nyathi

President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s spokesperson George Charamba has brewed a storm with the Amalgamated Rural Teachers Association after he sent out a Tweet indicating that government was ready to fight with teachers unions that have been calling on teachers to stay away from work.

In his @Jamwanda2 Twitter page, Charamba blasted teachers for refusing to work with government even besides pleas from the United States embassy.

Teachers responded in ere telling the spokesperson that the union has a right to run its affairs independently from his opinions.

ARTUZ Full Statement

We note with concern threats issued by @edmnangagwa spokesperson @Jamwanda2 threatening war against teachers. @ProfPMavima earlier on accused our Union of being political and being funded by international capital. Mavima also accused us of working with @SACP1921.

We have every right to reach out to Unions across the globe and working class seeking solidarity at a time when labour rights have been withdrawn by Zim gvt. These threats and accusations will not resolve the ensuing labour dispute.Gvt should restore the value of our salaries.

We dont have intentions to go to war with the incumbent gvt. We demand a living wage. We will defend our labour rights through constitutional means. We wont be silenced by the ruling elites who are living in luxury when workers are starving.

Paul Nyathi

Opposition MDC Alliance has issued a statement demanding for the the removal of Health and Child Care Minister Constantino Chiwenga’s Statutory Instrument 225 of 2020 indefinitely suspending by-elections citing it as a violation of the people’s will.

The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission had last month declared that the by-elections would be held on December 5.

MDC Alliance secretary for elections Ian Makone said constitutional imperative cannot be overturned by a subsidiary legislation as the Constitution is the supreme law.

Below is the full statement by the MDC Alliance.

State Media

Agriculture experts have cautioned farmers against planting with the current rains, but to take advantage of the wet conditions to speed up land preparation as they wait for the onset of the rainy season.

“We do not encourage farmers to plant with these rains. Normally, the rains that come early October are not planting rains.

She said the onset of rainfall differed from area to area and with the help of extension officers, farmers would be able to tell the onset of rains in their particular areas.

Agriseeds sales and marketing manager, Mr Ivan Craig said the current rains were beneficial to pastures that had deteriorated due to the dry conditions.

“Rains will also help wheat which was still at irrigation stage but if it is less than 22 mm, these rains will not substitute the normal irrigation cycle,” he said.

Rains would soften the ground and enable farmers who failed to carry out winter ploughing to be in a position to carry out land preparation.

“Maize requires 22 millimetres and above to germinate and 30mm to 35mm for soya beans. Not much rains have fallen and the chances of experiencing long periods of dry spell are quite high. The crop may germinate now but can be affected by the dry spell,” he said.

Meanwhile,widespread afternoon and evening thunderstorms accompanied by strong winds, hail and lightning with some localised heavy downpours were expected yesterday in Matabeleland, Midlands and areas along and to the south of the main watershed.

“Thunderstorms that occur now are violent. It is therefore important for the public not to expose themselves unnecessarily to the dangers associated with these violent thunderstorms.

“Current high temperatures and abundant moisture are also conducive to the continuation of these thunderstorms, at least up to Thursday 8 October after which there should be a reduction in rainfall activity countrywide,” said the Met Office.

State Media

Investigations into charges that suspended Registrar-General Clement Masango misappropriated fuel coupons worth more than $100 000 from the Central Registry Department are almost complete and the State has promised to give him a trial date in four weeks.

When Masango and his co-accused Benjamin Makiwa and Arthur Mathews came to court yesterday for a routine remand on criminal abuse of office charges, the State indicated that it was going through the docket.

With only a few documents now needing certification, prosecutor Mr Taddy Kamuriwo was confident of being able to give the trial date on November 5 when they return to court.

Magistrate Bianca Makwande then remanded them to November 5 for a trial date.

Masango allegedly took possession of four pool vehicles of the Central Registry for personal errands at his home and farm between January last year and this year.

Acting with his co-accused, he would allegedly request for fuel purporting that the vehicles were carrying out official finance and administration duties.

He allegedly altered and overstated fuel quantities beyond those approved by his department’s chief accountant, Mr Peter Bwanya.

The scam allegedly prejudiced the department of over 1 400 litres worth more than $100 000.

A MAN employed as a carpenter by the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works has been sentenced to six months in jail after he broke into a library at the Hwange Magistrates’ Courts and stole a plane.

A hand plane is used for smoothing or shaping wood.

Tendayi Chikwaka (55) of Empumalanga suburb in Hwange was working at the Hwange Magistrates’ Courts where the Public Works Department was doing renovation work when he stole the tool belonging to a workmate, Mr Allan Chikubwe.

Chikubwe (22) is employed in the same ministry as a general hand and resides at Public Works quarters in Hwange.

He had left the plane at the court’s library when he knocked off on February 14.

Chikwaka pleaded not guilty to theft when he appeared before Hwange magistrate Ms Rangarirai Gakanje but was convicted due to overwhelming evidence.

The magistrate slapped him with six months in jail before suspending two months on condition of good behaviour.

The remaining four months were also suspended on condition that he restitutes the complainant of $3 600 being the value of the tool at that time.

The State led by Mr John Mutyakaviri led evidence from Mr Jack Munkuli who testified that he saw the stolen tool in Chikwaka’s car.

Chikwaka, however, claimed that what Mr Munkuli saw was a pint of milk, an argument which was dismissed as unreasonable by the court.

Mr Munkuli was working at the Magistrates’ Courts and was offered a lift home by Chikwaka when he saw the tool in his car.

“On the 14th day of February 2020 and 5pm the complainant and other workmates knocked off duty at Hwange Magistrates’ Courts where they had been doing some renovations to the court building. The complainant left his size 4 Stanley smoothing plane on the library shelves within the court building.

“The following day the complainant did not report for duty and the accused took advantage of his absence and proceeded to the library where he stole the plane and went away,” said the prosecutor.

Mr Chikubwe noticed that his tool was missing when he returned to work the following day and reported the matter to the police.

Chikwaka was arrested after investigations. The tool which was valued at $3 600 was not recovered.

WARD one councillor Mlandu Ncube has been voted as the new deputy mayor for Bulawayo.

Clr Ncube replaces Mr Tinashe Kambarami who was recently recalled by the Dr Thokozani khupe led MDC-T.

He beat ward 17 councillor, Sikhululekile Moyo who garnered just two votes for the second topmost position in the city.

In his acceptance speech Clr Ncube thanked the trust and acceptance he has had received from fellow councillors vowing to continue serving the Bulawayo community to the best of his ability.

“I would like to thank the level of trust I have received from my fellow councillors, Bulawayo is my home and I am determined to continue serving it in my capacity as deputy mayor,” said Clr Ncube.

The new deputy mayor has been angling for the position after he lost to Mr Kambarami in 2018 in the initial vote for the position.

Paul Nyathi

Zanu-PF members who caused mayhem at the party primary elections in Kwekwe on Sunday appeared in court on Tuesday and were remanded in custody for bail hearing on Wednesday.

The activists turned violent and assaulted police officers and other party members destroying some property including vehicles along the way.

The arrested members are Zvidzai Maisva (34) Burden Mawire (35), Amon Mutondorwa (34), Elliot Gideon (38), Itai Mutandwa (36) and Tafadzwa Mutema.

The activists are part of a bigger group that allegedly caused the mayhem which led to the abandonment of the elections.

Kwekwe Magistrate Florence Nago Tuesday heard that the arrested six and others who are still at large, assaulted police officers and destroyed property within the Zanu PF offices.

Heavy political rivals Kandross Mugabe and Energy Ncube, nephew to State Security Minister Owen Ncube were battling to earn the sole ticket to represent the party in an upcoming by-election.

Mugabe represented Zanu PF in the 2018 and lost to the late Masango Matambanadzo whose death necessitated the by election.

“The accused persons attacked police officers and manhandled Sergeant Mubika who was armed with a service pistol intending to disarm him. During the course, Sergeant Mubika’s grey uniform shirt got torn and buttons ripped off,” State papers read.

“Police had to use tear gas and fire warning shots to manage the scene and arrested the accused persons.”

“They teamed up and went to Zanu PF District Headquarters, Kwekwe where they engaged in public violence by assaulting people with stones, open hands and fists,” court further heard.

“The State further said the five went on to damage a “windscreen of a Toyota Landcruiser Reg No AFG 5827 and deflating all the four wheels of the vehicles by removing sticker valves.

“They further deflated all 4 wheels of a Toyota Hilux Reg No ACX 0369 by severing them with sharp instruments.

“The group went on to damage the front windscreen and fender of a Mazda Excella Reg Number ADY 3345 using stones. They stole people’s various property.”

MDC-Alliance spokesperson Fadzai Mahere, playwright Tsitsi Dangarembga, Paul Besa, Julie Gabriel Barnes, Chamunorwa Phillip Ndengu, Tinotenda Muskwe, Tinashe Murapata, Jessica Drury, Nyasha Musandu, Josee Lotter, Simon Drury, Terence Guta, and Phillip Ndengu who are in appearing in court for staging an illegal demonstration in Harare, have written a letter to the Prosecutor General objecting to the transfer of their matter from the ordinary court to the Special Anti-Corruption Court.

They said they want the matter to be referred back to the ordinary court where it was initially heard.

Lawyer Mr Chris Mhike, who is part of the activists’ legal team, said the letter dated October 6, 2020, was also copied to the Chief Magistrate, Harare provincial magistrate and senior regional magistrate.

“We addressed a letter to the PG’s Office placing on record our objection to the transfer of the matter from the ordinary court to the Special Anti-Corruption Courts.

“That letter is copied to provincial magistrate, chief magistrate and regional magistrate. We hoped to resolve the matter administratively, but the process did not yield expected results.

“We hoped the State to respond today but we expect them to respond on the next court appearance.

“We are mystified to see that a simple protest matter is now being dealt with those of corruption.

“With the incredible levels of corruption characterising our nation, we are surprised that a simple protest matter is now being dealt in court with sophisticated people,” he said.

Mr Mhike said they wish to have the matter be taken back to ordinarily courts.

“Justice must be done and must be seen to be done.

“It is unfortunate that our clients are being treated in a matter that is very unusual,” he said.

Mr Mhike raised the concerns during an application for bail relaxation of the activists before magistrate Mr Trynois Utahwashe.

Former Zimbabwe National Road Administration (Zinara) board chairman, Albert Mugabe, has been acquitted of the criminal abuse of office charges he was facing.

Mugabe was cleared of the offence after Harare Magistrate Mr Lazini Ncube granted his application for discharge at the close of the State case.

Mugabe, through his lawyer Mr Admire Rubaya, had made an application for discharge saying the State had failed to prove a case against him during trial.

He was being accused of approving a CBZ $300 000 loan facility to former Zinara CEO Mrs Nancy Chamisa-Masiyiwa sometime in 2017 without Board’s approval.

In his ruling, Mr Ncube cited lack of enough evidence presented by the State that incriminated Mugabe.

Paul Nyathi

MDC T acting president Dr Thokozani Khupe and six others from that party were on Wednesday afternoon sworn in as Members of the National Assembly under the Proportional Representative seat.

The other members who were sworn in are: Memory Munochinzwa, January Sawuke, Lindani Moyo, Sipho Makone, Yvonne Musarurwa and Lwazi Sibanda.

The seven were part of 15 MPs nominated by the MDC T to fill vacancies following the recall of MDC Alliance legislators in an agenda clear of a conspiracy between the ruling ZANU PF and the MDC-T to weaken the MDC Alliance in parliament for probable clandestine plans.

The oath was administered by Clerk of Parliament, Mr Kennedy Chokuda.

Speaker of the National Assembly, Advocate Jacob Mudenda said the swearing in of the MPs followed a letter written to him by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) notifying him of the persons nominated to fill such vacancies.

Khupe who enjoys very close relations with President Emmerson was propelled to lead the MDC-T and ultimately the MDC Alliance through a shock Supreme Court ruling early this year.

Since then she has been recalling MDC Alliance MPs willy nilly and has started replacing the proportional representation ones with her own collegues.

Media sources in recent months revealed that Mnangagwa has been hatching plans to have Khupe brought into parliament and declare her an official leader of the opposition from where they will enter into an agreement to enter into a transitional authority and defer the 2023 elections to 2030.