The attack of journalists and the Zimbabwe National Students Union (ZINASU) President, Takudzwa Ngadziore by suspected state security agents while addressing the media near Impala Car Rental on September 18, 2020, has been roundly condemned.

The Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition (CiZC) said it was appalled by the continued crackdown on dissent by the Zimbabwean government.

“We implore the government to uphold citizens’ fundamental rights enshrined in the Constitution including the right to life, the right to protest peacefully as well as freedom of assembly and association,” CiZC said in a statement.

The journalists reportedly physically assaulted include Bernard Mpofu, James Jemwa, Godwin Mangudya, Thomas Madhuku, and Munashe Chokodza amid reports that their equipment was confiscated and destroyed.

“One of the assailants attacked me and took my phone that I was using to record the ZINASU press conference near Impala Car Rental. Journalism should never be a crime,” one of the victims, said.

Toneo Rutsito, the President of the Zimbabwe Online Content Creators weighed in by registering his disappointment over the attack of journalists and students.

“I am very disappointed with the latest attacks, not only against my journalist, Rumbidzai Chizarura but also the other journalists assaulted while covering demonstrations and the press conference. We have a Constitutional mandate to cover any story,” Rutsito said.

Tabani Moyo, the Director of the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) Zimbabwe also roundly condemned the attacks on journalists and said his organisation will engage the Zimbabwe Republic Police and the Ministry of Information over the matter.

By Own Correspondent| The Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association (ZNLWVA) chairman, Christopher Mutsvangwa has said reports he called “social media shananigans” that there is bad blood between the ANC and Zanu PF are just treacherous work of Zanu PF opposers and they are not true because the bond between Zanu PF and the ANC is strong.

Speaking to the publication, Mutsvangwa said:

The MDC and G40-Gamatox are trying to forge a shot-gun marriage with the ANC. This is a forlorn and stillbirth adventure. It is riding on inclinations of treachery and bribery by dark forces that have a history and habit of plundering Africa’s bountiful resources. The two sister liberation movements — ANC and ZANU PF are not novices to these shenanigans.

The unflinching self-sacrifice for the just cause of the majority has ensured that they both remain loyal and principled to the cause.

The bonds forged, tried and tested in the trenches of the armed struggle against racist and apartheid settler minority regimes bind us to political eternity

It is now more than two decades that they have been in power after defeating apartheid. Zimbabwe has repeatedly been shielded from the depredations of the time-proven enemies of African freedom and progress.”

By Own Correspondent| The MDC-T led by Thokozani Khupe has said it was now participating in regional and international engagements on behalf of Zimbabwe.

Douglas Mwonzora, the party’s Secretary General said this at the party’s 21st celebrations.

He revealed that his party had reached out regionally and internationally.

He said;

We are happy to inform the nation and the party we are going to be lawfully participating in the programmes of the African Union as the official opposition party in Zimbabwe.

Our first engagement is a workshop that is going to be held by the continental body on 29 September 2020.

We are happy to advise that we have been meeting both African and non-African diplomats in the country.

So far, we have engaged diplomats from United States, Britain, Germany, Switzerland, Australia, Botswana, Malawi and South Africa briefing them on what is happening in this country. We are glad that these engagements were very fruitful and a huge success. Our party is slowly on the rise.

State Media

SENIOR Government officials reportedly connived with private suppliers to siphon US$3 million from Treasury by inflating prices for Covid-19 consumables, it has been learnt.

The matter is being investigated by the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) after the lid was lifted by a whistle-blower.

ZACC spokesperson Commissioner John Makamure said arrests of Government officials were imminent as the anti-graft body was seized with the matter.

“The names of the Government officials and private suppliers cannot be released now as investigations are still underway,” he said.

Recently, Comm Makamure said a ZACC compliance and systems review unit descended on Government offices to probe a multi-million-dollar tender as allegations were raised that Covid-19 materials had been inflated to bleed Treasury.

The investigation resulted in the tender being cancelled, saving US$3 million.

“Even if the tender was cancelled, an act of corruption was committed, hence the ongoing investigations,” he said.

This comes a few months after former Health and Child Care Minister Dr Obadiah Moyo was arrested in connection with a US$60 million procurement scandal involving Drax International.

Dr Moyo is out on bail.

Said Comm Makamure: “In the past couple of weeks, ZACC’s compliance and systems review unit managed to save the country over US$3 million that could have been siphoned to line the pockets of corrupt elements within our midst. These individuals imposed proxy companies which did not comply with provisions of the Procurement Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (PRAZ) Circular 1 of 2020 for emergency procurement of Covid-19 materials.

“The individuals went on to demand payments of goods at an extremely inflated cost. The ZACC compliance team’s intervention, after having been informed of the unavailability of the said materials, subsequently resulted in the cancellation of the tender, saving State funds in the process. The matter is now under investigation to bring those behind this scam to book.”

He said there was a worrying trend of wanton violation of PRAZ Circular 1 of 2020 for emergency procurement of Covid-19 materials, which was promulgated to allow for the expeditious purchase of medical equipment and drugs as the nation fights Covid-19.

Those in charge of buying the Covid-19 materials, Comm Makamure added, should be transparent and accountable or risk going to jail.

“Because Covid-19 is a global pandemic, the response is naturally of an emergency. In taking such emergency measures, countries have necessarily relaxed safeguards by trading compliance, oversight and accountability for speed of response and achievement of rapid impact, thus leading to the creation of significant opportunities for corruption to thrive,” he said.

“The commission has lived up to its warnings by maintaining constant vigilance on how the Covid-19 resources are being used. Teams from investigations and compliance departments were deployed to specifically look into the procurement, distribution and use of the resources.”

ZACC chair Justice Loyce Matanda-Moyo recently warned ministers against interfering with procurement processes in parastatals under their purview.

Comm Makamure lauded Government for allowing ZACC to fight corruption and enhance transparency in the procurement of Covid-19 materials.

“The commission will leave no stone unturned to uproot corruption and complement Government efforts to restore sanity in the health delivery sector,” he said.

“We would like to emulate other countries that have successfully curbed corruption in the management of resources earmarked to fight the pandemic. Critically, resources earmarked for social and economic stimulus must reach the intended beneficiaries.

“These resources are for preventing economic catastrophe and providing financial, medical and social support to the poor, the elderly, women and youth, people with disabilities, the unemployed, small and medium enterprises and those lacking access to social and public services. They must never be looted to benefit the already well-to-do members of society.”

President Mnangagwa has continuously reiterated that corruption allegations will be thoroughly investigated and those found on the wrong side of the law will face the music.

He also ordered an audit into the purchase of the Covid-19 materials, which is still underway and is being done by the Auditor-General’s Office.

State Media

ZANU PF is the only party that can take Zimbabwe in the right direction and the revolutionary party will continue to welcome defectors who repent and commit to return to its structures — Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Monica Mutsvangwa has said.

Speaking at the Provincial Coordinating Committee extraordinary meeting in Mutare yesterday, Minister Mutsvangwa, who is also ZANU PF Secretary for Administration (Women Affairs) said the revolutionary party will continue to have the wow factor.

She said ZANU PF leaders have a huge role to play in mobilising the people.

“We have to embrace even those people who had defected and bring them back to the party. Of course, they will not just come back and get a leadership position but we have to scrutinise their intentions for coming back to see if they have accepted that ZANU PF is the only party that can lead Zimbabwe forward,” she said.

During the meeting, ZANU PF Manicaland province yesterday received 510 applications from candidates wishing to take positions in the District Coordinating Committees.

Makoni district received the highest number of applications at 130 while Mutare received 70, Mutasa (63) Chimanimani (60), Nyanga (59), Chipinge (57), Buhera (43) and Zimunya/Marange received 28.

Guest speaker and ZANU PF Politburo member Richard Ndlovu urged all candidates to conduct themselves in a manner that befits the revolutionary party.

“I will not be happy if tomorrow I am followed by candidates who are disgruntled at the way this was done. We want this process to be as free and democratic as possible so that we win the next election,” he said.

Ndlovu expressed hope that Mutare district had selected candidates who would help the party to take all council seats from the opposition party.

“Out of the 19 councillors in Mutare we do not have even one so may we please make sure we take Mutare back. We will all become political commissars in order to win Mutare back,” he said.

Secretary for Veterans of the Liberation Struggle Douglas Mahiya said war veterans were keen on producing cadres that were politically conscious.

“We want to put in place a structure that will churn out the intended product for 2023. War veterans will mould party cadres who have values, who do not look for material things but those whose minds have been programmed according to ZANU PF values and will vote based on political consciousness,” he said.

A dispute has erupted between the late prominent businessman Jonathan Kadzura’s family and an estate executor, Mr Clever Mandizvidza, who is being accused of looting assets valued at US$250 000.

Family spokesman Mr Gregory Kadzura claims the executor sold a plot in Marange, poultry equipment, tractors, and commercial and private vehicles. The money allegedly did not reach its intended beneficiaries.

Gregory is the deceased’s son.

However, Mr Mandizvidza said “the allegations are baseless”.

“More so, there is one Gregory Kadzura who was claiming 50 percent shares of the estate. I defended the estate at the Supreme Court and he lost. He is fighting to tarnish the image of my profession,” he said.

The Kadzura family insists that Mr Mandizvidza has been dishonest as he allegedly disposed of assets without their consent.

Mr Kadzura narrated: “This (assets sale) was done without the family’s consent and we never received the money. On December 15, 2016, Mr Clever Mandizvidza of Zimbabwe Inheritance Services was appointed executor dative of the estate of the late J.K. Kadzura. This was after the family entrusted the Master of the High Court to appoint a neutral executor with an accounting background.

“Mr Mandizvidza, as executor dative, then disposed assets such as poultry equipment, tractors, commercial and private vehicles in excess of US$250 000, diminishing the company’s financial integrity.”

Some of the Kadzura business entities, whose interests straddled the farming and hospitality sectors, include Goodstorm Services and Rural Industrial Development.

Mr Kadzura said Mr Mandizvidza was initially given the greenlight to sell asbestos sheets and poultry equipment to raise money for school fees. The executor, however, reportedly did not surrender the money after the sale, resulting in the minors being barred from school.

“The minors were dumped by the executor and were forced to seek alternative methods to sustain and pay school fees. This means that the State was prejudiced of Master of High Court’s fees and taxes,” said Mr Kadzura.

The Kadzuras said they have made numerous trips to the Master of High Court’s office with no joy.

“Outside of the company assets, Mr Mandizvidza disposed of other properties without the family nor the Master’s consent, such as the Marange Plot and supermarket where the late J.K. Kadzura started his business empire, with the plot having been bequeathed in his lifetime to one of his older sons, Enock Kadzura,” he said.

The Kadzura family — made up of two spouses (Petronella and Joan Kudakwashe) as well as children Enock, Karen, Gregory, Marilyn, Christopher, Penelope and William Kadzura — has resolved to seek justice against the executor.

Marilyn told The Sunday Mail that Mr Mandizvidza has stripped the estate for his personal gain.

In response, the executor said he had evidence to prove that his dealings were above board.

“Indeed, the money reached the intended beneficiaries. The estate has minor children who require monthly maintenance. The funds went towards payment of estate obligations and maintenance. I will share contact details of the children who received the maintenance,” said Mr Mandizvidza.

“The estate is not liquid and I have had no option but to assist them out of my personal funds. However, I intend to claim same once the estate is liquid. However, if it fails to pay, I will consider it a donation.”

He said he has been paying a monthly maintenance of US$40 per month for several months to Marilyn and Joan Kadzura.

However, Marilyn denied ever receiving money from Mr Mandizvidza.

The executor added that some of the Kadzura family members were in the dark about plans to remove him as the executor as they did not attend a family meeting held on September 5, 2020.

He said the other family members’ lawyers wrote to him on September 11, 2020 raising objections to his planned removal.

https://twitter.com/mdczimbabwe/status/1307612597567528961?s=20

By A Correspondent- Zanu PF is the only party that can take Zimbabwe in the right direction and the revolutionary party will continue to welcome defectors who repent and commit to return to its structures – Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Monica Mutsvangwa has said.

Speaking at the Provincial Coordinating Committee extraordinary meeting in Mutare yesterday, Minister Mutsvangwa, who is also ZANU-PF Secretary for Administration (Women Affairs) said the revolutionary party will continue to have the wow factor.

She said ZANU-PF leaders have a huge role to play in mobilising the people.

“We have to embrace even those people who had defected and bring them back to the party. Of course, they will not just come back and get a leadership position but we have to scrutinise their intentions for coming back to see if they have accepted that ZANU-PF is the only party that can lead Zimbabwe forward,” she said.

During the meeting, ZANU-PF Manicaland province yesterday received 510 applications from candidates wishing to take positions in the District Coordinating Committees.

Makoni district received the highest number of applications at 130 while Mutare received 70, Mutasa (63) Chimanimani (60), Nyanga (59), Chipinge (57), Buhera (43) and Zimunya/Marange received 28.

Guest speaker and ZANU-PF Politburo member Richard Ndlovu urged all candidates to conduct themselves in a manner that befits the revolutionary party.

“I will not be happy if tomorrow I am followed by candidates who are disgruntled at the way this was done. We want this process to be as free and democratic as possible so that we win the next election,” he said.

Ndlovu expressed hope that Mutare district had selected candidates who would help the party to take all council seats from the opposition party.

“Out of the 19 councillors in Mutare we do not have even one so may we please make sure we take Mutare back. We will all become political commissars in order to win Mutare back,” he said.

Secretary for Veterans of the Liberation Struggle Douglas Mahiya said war veterans were keen on producing cadres that were politically conscious.

“We want to put in place a structure that will churn out the intended product for 2023. War veterans will mould party cadres who have values, who do not look for material things but those whose minds have been programmed according to ZANU-PF values and will vote based on political.

By A Correspondent- MDC-T acting President Thokozani Khupe has pleaded with state President Emmerson Mnangagwa to relieve suffering Zimbabweans of their poverty nightmare and taking them to the promised land.

Khupe said there was nothing that could stop the national leader from doing what was once achieved during the now defunct Government of National Unity between 2009 and 2013.

Addressing party supporters during belated MDC-T 21st anniversary commemorations at the Morgan Tsvangirai House Saturday, Khupe said it was time Zimbabweans’ miserable lives turned for the better.

“Zimbabwe is a very rich country, so there is absolutely nothing to show that we are a rich country because when I look at all of us right now, I am supposed to be seeing gold and diamonds glittering all in our eyes,” she told a cheering party faithful.

“But what is it that I am seeing right? Now I am seeing hunger and poverty glittering all in our eyes.

“This is the time for the government to move the children of Zimbabwe from the land of hunger to the promised land.

“I would like to call upon President Mnangagwa to say, the people of Zimbabwe are saying can you please take them back to the good old days where they had a better life.

“I want to call upon President Mnangagwa to say the people of Zimbabwe are yearning, they are crying, can you please listen to the cries of the people of Zimbabwe.

Watch the live videoloading below……

By A Correspondent- Dr ThokozaniKhupe spokesperson Khaliphani Phugenihas revealed why the party recalled Gwanda Mayor Jastone Mazhale.

In an interview with the state media, Phugeni dismissed claims that they wanted to cripple operations of local authorities saying they were only targeting corrupt individuals and those that had publicly declared that they had ceased being members of the MDC-T.

He said:

“I will give you the example of the Gwanda Mayor, Jastone Mazhale we had to recall him after he declared that after we met with them as councillors he had just come in to listen but did not recognise us, honestly how then do you keep a councillor who makes such declarations. Even the former Deputy Mayor of Bulawayo, Tinashe Kambarami, he came out in the media declaring that he recognises the MDC Alliance as his parent party not the MDC-T clearly he rendered himself not part of the party hence we had no choice but to recall him.”

By A Correspondent- Councillor Albert Chirau, Ward 11 Councillor in Gweru has come under fire after he reportedly parcelled out stands to his children aged 5 and 13.

Chirau has reportedly confirmed he bought stands number 6835 Senga Infill and 6841 Senga for his two children and he has said he is not the one who bought the stands but his children and went on to name other people he sid had done the same:

My children did buy those stands. If the law does not allow juveniles to purchase stands the council must not have accepted the money. It is not my fault, it is the fault of the people who receipted the money. I am not the only one who did so.

According to Urban Councills Procedures, council advertises stands, people on the housing waiting list are given first priority and it is not possible to have under-aged children on the waiting list. This makes the purchase of the stands by councillors and managers for their children unprocedural.

The government has in response to this written to Gweru Mayor Councillor Josiah Makombe and accused him of condoning corruption by allowing councillors to acquire land at paltry prices prejudicing council of potential revenue.-statemedia

By A Correspondent- Family members of the gold panners trapped underground at Task Mine have expressed their disappointment in how the rescue operations are progressing 12 days after the shaft collapsed, Mining Zimbabwe reports.

According to the publication, the family members said they heard reports that Mines Authorities were plotting to seal off the site and declare rescue impossible 12 days after the shaft collapsed. A family member that spoke to the publication said:

The Minister came and addressed us but did not give us a chance to express ourselves as we are the ones in pain. When he left there wasn’t any mention of how the situation was going to be handled. There hasn’t been any help or a single cent from the Ministry.

The guys conducting the rescue operation lack motivation (monetory) as they also need to support their families. Its only one shift working and with the way they are doing it out of the 12 days our children have been trapped underground only an equivalent of four days work has been put-in

Another family member a sister to one trapped miner Constantino Dzinoreva said:

I am very disappointed and I am finding it difficult to comprehend. We hear they want to seal off the site and declare rescue is impossible after only 12 days. The rescue guys are still willing to go down to retrieve Constantino and his friends why are they even suggesting such. We have heard of miners in other countries getting rescued after much longer.

According to the Task Mine manager, Mr Mudavanhu, they need more manpower as they have dug over 110m and are almost directly below the opening of the collapsed shaft, but they are in need of more manpower:

We have managed to dig over 110metres going down and we are almost directly below the opening of the collapsed shaft. The job is overwhelming, if we could get more manpower the process will be much faster.

By A Correspondent- The Thokozani Khupe led MDC T (now MDC Alliance) has said they are monitoring operations in councils and recalling anyone who is involved in corrupt activities.

This was revealed by the party’s spokesperson Khlaipani Phugeni who spoke to the publication and said they had put together a team that was monitoring activities at various councils.

Said Phugeni:

I am part of the local government cluster where we have started looking closely at the operations of our councillors since 2018, we are focusing on issues to do with service delivery taking for example housing delivery where we discovered that some residents have been on the housing waiting list since the 1980s. We are serious about this exercise that we are even targeting our members who have left council, where if we find them to have engaged in corrupt activities during their time in office, we will surely be descending on them

The MDC T has so far recalled over 80 councillors countrywide and the recalls have virtually paralysed Harare and Beitbridge Councils.-statemedia

By Ryan Chiwara- Gutu based human rights activist Wilson Run’anga is recovering at Gutu Mission Hospital after he sustained serious injuries due to physical attacks by suspected soldiers.

Wilson Run’anga a member of Gutu United Residents and Ratepayers Association (GURRA) together with his two other colleagues were subjected to brutal assaults by alleged soldiers on Thursday night. The incident took place at Mandebvu shops.

“I was with two other colleagues when six people who claimed to be soldiers arrived at Mandebvu store and insisted that no one was supposed to go outside as the president was about to pass through going to Masvingo.

“When we objected, they started to accuse us of possessing guns and alleging that we want kill them. They assaulted us using iron bars and wooden sticks until we escaped,” said Run’anga.

After Run’anga escaped from his attackers he drove home and upon arrival he passed out due to excessive bleeding. He was then taken to hospital.

Run’anga is receiving treatment at Gutu Mission Hospital as he suffered head injuries and a broken hand.

“I am currently receiving treatment as I have suffered some head injuries and a broken hand. l am experiencing general body pains as a result of the beatings,”.

“I am lucky to be alive those people really wanted to kill me and it appears everything was pre-arranged because they had attacking weapons already stashed outside the shop,” added Run’anga.

In July several Gutu residents were severely injured when soldiers indiscriminately attacked the citizens claiming to be enforcing COVID-19 regulations.

The Government and private commuter omnibus (kombi) operators are expected to hold crunch talks this week, as the latter angle for a sensational return to intra-city operations after a six-month hiatus.

The discussions follow the continued relaxation of lockdown measures, which has increased both vehicular and passenger traffic. In order to smoothen liaison with authorities and better regulate the sector, commuter omnibus operators also plan to create an umbrella association.

Local Government and Public Works Minister July Moyo told our Harare Bureau that Government was crafting a public transport plan.

“We remain committed to the urban transport system and for now we want to remain with one transport system. We have a transport plan for urban commuters that we will soon unveil.”

Greater Harare Association of Commuter Operators secretary-general Ngoni Katsvairo said engagement with Government was necessary as transport shortages continue to plague commuters.

“We wrote a letter in June to Zupco and Local Government (and Public Works). However, we were advised to wait until lockdown regulations had been relaxed.

“We have written again to the authorities for engagement and we are hoping to meet next week (this week) for talks. Government has allowed resumption of inter-city travel and the measures are only favourable to those with big companies, and not kombis.

“The meeting will be about how kombis can ply in urban areas as well as inter-city going forward. The meeting will also look at how kombis can be allowed to join associations of their choice going forward.”

Kombis have been barred from operating since the lockdown started on March 30. Only those contracted under the Zupco franchise are allowed to operate.

However, the relaxation of some lockdown regulations has seen most parts of the economy opening up, causing a marked increase in the number of daily commuters. Zupco is currently operating with 507 conventional buses and 500 commuter omnibuses, and is trying to conscript additional kombis.

Passengers Association of Zimbabwe president Mr Tafadzwa Goliati said with the opening up of various economic sectors, passengers have increased, thus the need to increase buses.
– Sunday News

THE MDC-T has vowed to monitor operations of their candidates who were deployed to local authorities in the country, vowing to recall those who are involved in corrupt activities.

This comes after the party last week recalled a number of councillors in different councils in the country including eight from Bulawayo. In an interview on Friday, MDC-T national spokesperson Mr Khaliphani Phugeni said the party had since convened a local governance cluster which was looking at the activities of councillors from their party since they came to office in 2018.

Mr Phugeni said they were not on a witch hunt but they just wanted to weed out corruption and ensure that their councillors offer the best possible service delivery to residents.

“I am part of the local government cluster where we have started looking closely at the operations of our councillors since 2018, we are focusing on issues to do with service delivery taking for example housing delivery where we discovered that some residents have been on the housing waiting list since the 1980s. We are serious about this exercise that we are even targeting our members who have left council, where if we find them to have engaged in corrupt activities during their time in office, we will surely be descending on them,” warned Mr Phugeni.

He, however, expressed confidence that most of their councillors were aware of their mandate revealing that the party had recently engaged Bulawayo City Council councillors on the Luveve water contamination matter with the hope of bringing a solution to the crisis that had resulted in the death of 13 people in the suburb with close to 2 000 residents being infected.

“When that outbreak occurred I was part of a delegation from the party that convened a meeting with Bulawayo Mayor, Councillor Solomon Mguni and his councillors with the hope of having a better understanding of the issues and also encouraging them to find a solution to the problem, and you will note that after that meeting the councillors worked hard to push council workers, now the problem has been largely addressed,” said the party’s spokesperson.

Regarding the recent recalls, Mr Phugeni dismissed claims that they wanted to cripple operations of local authorities saying they were only targeting corrupt individuals and those that had publicly declared that they had ceased being members of the MDC-T.

“I will give you the example of the Gwanda Mayor, Jastone Mazhale we had to recall him after he declared that after we met with them as councillors he had just come in to listen but did not recognise us, honestly how then do you keep a councillor who makes such declarations. Even the former Deputy Mayor of Bulawayo, Tinashe Kambarami, he came out in the media declaring that he recognises the MDC Alliance as his parent party not the MDC-T clearly he rendered himself not part of the party hence we had no choice but to recall him,” said Mr Phugeni.

Questioned on whether those councillors who were not recalled had recognised the Supreme Court ruling which put Dr Thokozani Khupe at the helm of the MDC-T, Mr Phugeni could neither confirm nor deny but only stated that they were being guided by the provincial executives who were in contact with the councillors on the ground.

-state media

VICE- President Costantino Chiwenga has given thumbs up to the Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo International Airport in Bulawayo and the Victoria Falls International Airport to start receiving domestic and international travellers as airlines start flights tomorrow.

The VP, who is also the Minister of Health and Child Care toured the facilities yesterday to get a feel on how the airports will receive travellers. In Bulawayo, he was accompanied by Minister of Environment, Climate, Tourism and Hospitality Industry Cde Mangaliso Ndlovu, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health and Child Care Air Commodore Jasper Chimedza, the Minister of State for Bulawayo Provincial Affairs and Devolution Cde Judith Ncube among other dignitaries. After the tour, VP Chiwenga said he was impressed with the progress done and said the country was ready to see the planes back in the sky.

“The facilities are good and I am impressed by what I have been briefed by port authorities here, they are now prepared for the re-opening of ports for domestic and international travellers. There are one or two things which we have advised them to put in place and are not really an issue,” he said.

VP Chiwenga said airports must ensure that they observe strict guidelines on Covid-19 to deal with both domestic and international travellers.

“I would like all airports to have the same set up so that we don’t have any problems with our domestic travellers and tourists who will be coming or leaving Zimbabwe. We must make sure that they are well looked after and all our health facilities are in place,” he said.

JM Nkomo International Airport manager Mr Passmore Dewa said the airport was expecting domestic flights from tomorrow while international flights will start on 1 October.

“I am impressed by the visit to assess our preparedness for the resumption of our scheduled operations from tomorrow for domestic flights and the 1st of October for international flights. We have taken on board comments by the VP and we will close certain gaps that are a bit glaring. We will be finalising some of the recommendations by the VP from Monday,” he said.

Mr Dewa said passengers must ensure they have their Covid-19 results and Lancet Laboratories will be on the ground tomorrow (Monday) when flights resume to assess those that will have been suspected to have Covid-19 symptoms by port health officials.

“Lancet Laboratories will immediately come in and test the affected passengers,” he added.

In Victoria Falls, VP Chiwenga also said he was satisfied with preparations at the airport. He, however, warned against laxity in following Covid-19 guidelines prescribed by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and Government as the pandemic is not yet defeated.
“We are quite satisfied and impressed by the work which has been done by all departments which operate here. Looking at our situation

where we had controlled Covid-19, we found it necessary to open but that doesn’t mean that Covid-19 is over and a vaccine has been found. We are still with Covid-19 and we will still follow the script given by health officials. Those instructions remain in force and from time to time you will be guided,” said VP Chiwenga.

He said the re-opening of airports follows vigorous preparatory work which was preceded by a visit to the resort town by the inter-Ministerial team and launch of the National Tourism and Growth Strategy by President Mnangagwa at the Rainforest in Victoria Falls last month.

“The re-opening of the tourism industry does not signify that the war against Covid-19 has been won. We should continue to strictly adhere to Covid-19 regulations by WHO and our own Government directions. The purpose is to re-open the industry where employment and everything that goes on here is hospitality industry related. We have a lot of workers who need to be at work and also to reopen the economy.

“While we receive tourists, we must make sure they are in good health and detected here before they mingle with people. We don’t want people to go and complain in their countries that they came in good health and contracted the virus in Zimbabwe,” he said.

He said Government had to visit the country’s top three international ports of entry during a weekend because “there is no more time” as the airlines will be starting to fly this week. He said all staff at ports of entry should be equipped with personal protective equipment (PPEs).

As part of preparations for Covid-19, the Victoria Falls Airport port health desk is furnished with screening equipment and eight staffers. The airport also has an in-house detention centre to be used in the event of a Covid-19 case before the patient is taken to isolation centres in Victoria Falls. There is also a sanitisation booth at the international terminal which the VP said should, together with the port health desk, be also put on the domestic side.

-State Media

THE Government is still deliberating on whether to re-open its land borders especially Beitbridge Border Post to international travellers following an announcement by South Africa that it will re-open its ports of entry on 1 October.

South Africa President Cyril Ramaphosa last week announced that his country will open its borders from 1 October for international travel as the neighbouring country moves to the lowest level of its five-step coronavirus lockdown-Level 1.

The neighbouring country said it will open three of its airports and one land border post– Beitbridge– which were already operational during the lockdown. The border was only operational to allow cargo movement and returning citizens from both countries. Before lockdown, border authorities estimated that an average of 25 000 travellers and 4 000 light cars were cleared to pass the through the border daily.

Following the announcement by South Africa, there was a general assumption among locals that Zimbabwe would follow suit. However, Minister of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Cde Kazembe Kazembe told Sunday News yesterday that the announcement by South Africa did not mean Zimbabwe will follow suit without prior consultations.

“I cannot say yes or no-a definite answer, but it (opening of Beitbridge border) is an issue that is under consideration, the National Taskforce on Covid-19 has to sit and deliberate, then we do consultations with the President then we will have a position soon. There is that possibility that we will re-open but it is under discussion,” he said.

Although Zimbabwe is still to announce its official position on the border, cross border traders said they were itching to get back to business and were working to ensure that they have requisite papers. President Ramaphosa announced that travellers to his country would need to present a negative Covid-19 test result not older than 72 hours from time of departure or face a mandatory quarantine at their own cost upon arrival in South Africa. The cost to do the polymerise chain reaction (PCR) test in Zimbabwe starts from US$60 at private laboratories.

“The cost does not matter. It is now like we are back to life because for the past few months we have felt like we have died. People were not making any money and our members were really struggling. So many could not even afford to buy food or anything else that they might need in their households. While we acknowledge that the tests are expensive, we can’t get away from the fact that it needs to be done. If you ask any vendor right now, they will tell you that they would prefer to pay for that test rather than sit at home and do nothing which has been the case in recent months,” president of the Cross-Border Traders Association Mr Killer Zivhu told Sunday News yesterday.

Mr Zivhu said after all tests are done to safeguard the health of people including vendors.

“There are two countries that as vendors we are heavily reliant on and that is China and South Africa. If we are being blocked from those two countries then we have a real problem on our hands. So, I’m glad that at least one of those countries is now opening up its borders to us.”

Although the country has been opening up the economy, experts warned that it has not yet crossed the line in the fight against Covid-19.

Chief Coordinator National Response to Covid-19 Pandemic Dr Agnes Mahomva said while numbers of new cases and deaths were going down, the county still needed to be vigilant. On Friday, 14 new cases were recorded and there were no deaths from Covid-19 in seven days.

“The numbers seem to be going down, that is true, but when there is a pandemic like this, one day numbers go up and another day they go down in a jigsaw kind of fashion. When we see this we have to be very cautious. As long as we make new cases which we do in our case, they might be fewer yes, but as long as you are dealing with a very infectious disease like Covid-19 then the chances of it rapidly going up are still there,” she said.

Dr Mahomva said it was too early to celebrate reduction in new cases in the country. “We are not very interested in celebrating the reduced numbers of infections because new cases are still there every day. We must keep reminding ourselves of what happened in Europe. When they saw their numbers going down, they celebrated and they started relaxing, as we are speaking, their numbers are shooting up again and we don’t want to be in that position,” she said.

Dr Mahomva said measures set to prevent the spread of the virus still remain effective and must continue to be respected despite the relaxation of some measures put earlier.

“Things remain the same, people need to remain cautious, we are getting into a new normal; in other words we introduced all these new measures but people should not drop them even if we have zero new infections, people should still continue social distancing, washing their hands, not getting into crowds when looking for transport and keeping masks on properly covering the mouth and nose. Don’t wear it as a fashion statement, it is so critical as it saves lives,” she said. On the possible opening of borders, Dr Mahomva said the there was still a risk of infection and all necessary measures must be implemented.

Yesterday, the country recorded 25 new cases and one death from Bulawayo. The death came after seven days with no one lost to Covid-19. There were 31 new recoveries. Cumulatively, the country has recorded 7672 cases, 5914 recoveries and 225 deaths, according to statistics from the Ministry of Health.

-State Media

The MDC ALLIANCE STUDENTS COUNCIL and the broader student’s movement is deeply agitated by the continued persecution of Zimbabweans by the ZANU PF regime.

The full glare of Zanu’s thuggery and violence was laid bare yesterday when Takudzwa Ngadziore, the ZINASU president was abducted, butchered and left for dead by State security agents. Ngadziore is being persecuted for merely asking for justice for Tatenda Muchehiwa another student who was abducted and severely tortured by state security agents with the brazen assistance of Impala Car Rentals. His only crime was to demand answers from Impala Car Rental on the abduction of Tatenda Muchehiwa.

The abominable ways of silencing the people which Zanu pf is using will always be abortive as it is the great crisis in the country that actuates the people to rise and speak. Therefore we warn ZANU PF that its evil tactics to instill fear in people through abducting, torturing, unlawful arrests of members of the opposition and civic organizations will not stop the people’s revolution.

The utterances by the illegitimate government that there is no crisis in Zimbabwe is just but nonsense. The level of human rights violations is reaching its peak, people are living in abject poverty as the economy continues shrinking and falling into an abyss, accelerated by ZANU PF’s excessive looting.

A nation’s leadership that is only adept at brutalizing its people clearly indicates that it is not from the people but self imposed. In Zimbabwe, we are as good as without a leader. Our security forces know nothing about patriotism but act on a partisan basis.

Surely if we do not liberate ourselves, no one else shall!

#Ed and ZANU must go
#Zimbabweanlives matter
#AriseStudents arise
#ZimbabweSimuka

*MDCA students council SG*
*Hither Mpambwa*

Farai Dziva|MDC Alliance leader, Advocate Nelson Chamisa has strongly condemned the harassment of ZINASU president Takudzwa Ngadziore by Zanu PF hooligans.

Zanu PF youths assaulted ZINASU leaders and journalists during a media briefing in Harare on Friday.

President Chamisa described the level of lawlessness in the country as shocking.

“Repression in Zimbabwe hits a new low as a young student leader
@ngadziore
@Zinasuzim
is subjected to thuggery and violence for protesting and holding a mere press conference.

There is a crisis in Zimbabwe.This barbarism must be stopped!The march is not ended. #ZimbabweanLivesMatter,” President Chamisa wrote on Twitter.

Farai Dziva|In his message of encouragement to the nation, MDC Alliance leader, Advocate Nelson Chamisa has pointed out that the “repressive regime will soon crumble.”

President Chamisa speaks at a time Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration is torturing, abducting and harassing citizens at an alarming pace.

On Saturday President Chamisa wrote :

The power of dictatorships comes from the willing obedience of the PEOPLE they govern and if the PEOPLE can develop techniques of withholding their consent, a repressive regime will soon crumble.

Happy Sabbath to you dear friends!!

President Emmerson Mnangagwa said the appointment of Vice President Constantino Chiwenga, a retired army general, as Health Minister was meant to put an end to a crippling nurses’ strike.

Addressing a Zanu PF central committee meeting in Harare on Friday, Mnangagwa boasted that since Chiwenga’s appointment, doctors and nurses are now back at work.

He said:
We realised that year after year, we would not go for four or five months without a strike in the health sector.

I realised we needed a soldier there. We had to second a soldier there and now they are back at work.

Chiwenga was the Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF) Commander during the 2017 military coup that toppled the late former President Robert Mugabe in November 2017.

He was appointed Health Minister to replace Obediah Moyo who was fired for his alleged involvement in the looting of Coronavirus funds.-NewsDay

President Emmerson Mnangagwa said the appointment of Vice President Constantino Chiwenga, a retired army general, as Health Minister was meant to put an end to a crippling nurses’ strike.

Addressing a Zanu PF central committee meeting in Harare on Friday, Mnangagwa boasted that since Chiwenga’s appointment, doctors and nurses are now back at work.

He said:
We realised that year after year, we would not go for four or five months without a strike in the health sector.

I realised we needed a soldier there. We had to second a soldier there and now they are back at work.

Chiwenga was the Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF) Commander during the 2017 military coup that toppled the late former President Robert Mugabe in November 2017.

He was appointed Health Minister to replace Obediah Moyo who was fired for his alleged involvement in the looting of Coronavirus funds.-NewsDay

FOOTBALLER Kudzai Nyamupfukudza is at the centre of a domestic violence storm after his wife accused him of violent behaviour.

Pauline Nyamizinga is nursing injuries after he was reportedly attacked by the footballerfor confronting him over a series of cheating allegations last week.

Pauline told H-Metro on Thursday that the defensive midfielder , who belongs to CAPS United but currently on loan at Mambas, has been ‘playing’ hard on her.

“This has been happening for a long time, besides this recent incident. I tolerated it for so long but I have reached a point that I am now afraid that he can hurt me more or kill me.  People should now know how we have been living,” said Pauline.

Contacted for comment, Nyamupfukudza acknowledged that Pauline is his wife and that they have a dispute.

He, however, declined to comment saying he will give comment later, which he failed to do.

“Oh okay. Yes, I know her. But I need to think of what to respond to that issue.

“Can you call me later or I will come back to you,” he said.

Narrating her ordeal, Pauline said a misunderstanding ensued when she saw WhatsApp chats of Nyamupfukudza and his alleged girlfriends.

“What happened is I went to our rural area and when I came back our child was playing with Kudzai’s phone.

“So I took the phone like any other wife would do and I encountered his messages with some girls and started taking pictures of the chats while he was asleep.

“I then went to his brother’s place that same night since I was very angry but his brother insisted on us going back to our house for counselling.

When we arrived home, he didn’t want all of that. So I decided to find somewhere to go with my child to avoid unnecessary disputes,” said Pauline.

Pauline alleged that Nyamupfukudza punched her and knocked her to the ground when she decided to leave the house during the night.

“So I decided to take keys since he had an option of just locking from inside sleep. So he followed me and demanded the keys and started assaulting me.

“He knocked me to the ground and took the keys. I then phoned his brother who took me to their relative’s place,” she said.

The fed-up woman accused the footballer of being a serial cheater and that he reportedly turns violent when confronted.

“He is used to harass and assault me whenever I confront him about his cheating habits. We have a home together, we have a kid, he is loving and caring to his child but the fact that after cheating me he then assaults me, ndiri kutsva kumusana nepadumbu.

“I have been in pain for so many days now. My love for him will leave me crippled.

“I am afraid that he can infect me with STIs and I am now at a point that people out there should know his habit.

By A Correspondent- A man who allegedly raped a woman at a cemetery was severely thrashed with sticks and later died at a hospital.

It is said on 11 September at around 4.30 pm a 23-year-old woman was fetching firewood near a cemetery at Babcock compound in Kwekwe, Midlands province.

A source close to investigations said Darlington Munyaradzi Maphosa reportedly spotted her before ambushing her near a cemetery.

The source said when she was passing by a cemetery Darlington grabbed her hand and dragged her into the bush.

“He violently pushed her to the ground before he quickly undressed her and raped her once,” said the source.

After the act he freed her and she went home, and narrated the ordeal to her brother. Seething with anger the brother, the source said, teamed up with his four friends and went to Darlington’s homestead.

“They caught up with Darlington at his homestead. They took turns to assault him with sticks all over the body. After they were satisfied that they had meted out instant justice to the victim, they took him to a police base,” said the source.

The source said Darlington sustained bruises around the neck and swollen hands.

“He also suffered a cut on the toes and injuries on the left ear and he complained of dizziness. He was rushed to Kwekwe General Hospital. Sadly, he died upon arrival,” said the source.

A report was made to the police leading to the arrest of the accused.

Midlands police spokesperson Inspector Joel Goko confirmed the incident.

“We are handling a case where a man was murdered after he allegedly raped a woman. As police we would like to urge community members not to take the law into their hands. If a person has committed a crime the community members should hand him to the police,” he said.

Meanwhile, Jothan Chidende from a village under Chief Nhema, Shurugwi allegedly lured a 37- year-old mentally challenged woman to his homestead. The woman in question went to his homestead and upon arrival, he enticed her to get into his room where he raped her once.

But his luck ran out after the sister of the rape victim noticed blood stains on her skirt.

“That worried her sister who then asked her about the blood and she revealed that she was raped by Chidende. She reported the matter to the police and the victim was referred to Shurugwi district hospital,” said the source.

However, Chidende was on the run, said the source.-bmetro

By Ryan Chiwara- The following ministers appointed by president Emmerson Mnangagwa are all from Gutu district in Masvingo province raising public speculation that the president is seeking to counter MDC Alliance president Advocate Nelson Chamisa’s influence in his home district.

The ministers in Mnangagwa’ government who come from Gutu are Minister of Mines and Mining development, Winston Chitando, Minister of Agriculture, Water and land resettlement Dr Anxious Masuka, Minister of State for  Provincial Affairs and Devolution for Masvingo Province, Ezra Chadzamira, Minister of Higher and tertiary education, Professor Amon Murwira, Deputy Minister of National housing and social amenities, Yeukai Simbanegavi and Deputy Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Lovemore Matuke.

MDC Alliance secretary for communications in Gutu central Langton Guvava said:

“Mnangagwa is already preparing for 2023 presidential election hence appointing so many ministers from Gutu the home district of his arch rival Movement for Democratic Change Alliance President Advocate Nelson Chamisa.

“I think Mnangagwa is already preparing for 2023 election and is trying to counter Chamisa’s influence in the district because he knows that Chamisa comes from Gutu,” said Guvava.

MDC Alliance President Nelson Chamisa comes from Gutu in Chidyamakuni village under chief Chiwara. He also did his secondary education at Alheit secondary school in Gutu.

By A Correspondent- President Emmerson Mnangagwa yesterday claimed that regional leaders were laughing off claims that there was a crisis in the country.

Addressing a Zanu-PF central committee meeting in Harare yesterday, Mnangagwa said he chats with regional leaders regularly and that they laugh off at insinuations on social media that there was a crisis in the country.

“I can assure you almost on a weekly basis, currently almost on any other day, I discuss with my brother (South African President Cyril) Ramaphosa, I discuss with my brother (Botswana President Mokgweetsi) Masisi (and) with Hage Geingob (Namibian President), we chat and laugh at your social media insinuations,” Mnangagwa said.

“So you are wasting your time.

“This meeting (central committee) comes after another crushing failure of machinations by our detractors on social media to reverse and destabilise the unity peace, security milestones.”

He added: “I applaud the party and the people of Zimbabwe and leadership of the party for remaining resolute in the wake of the opposition’s regime change agenda and worrying levels of self-hate through a sustained call to make our country ungovernable saying there is a crisis in Zimbabwe.”

Mnangagwa also dismissed claims that there was bad blood between the South African ruling party, African National Congress (ANC), and his Zanu-PF party following weeks of exchanges between the two liberation parties over the crisis in the country.

“The crisis exists in their minds, it exists in their parties. The crisis exists in their bedrooms, not in Zimbabwe,” he said.

Ramaphosa has dispatched two delegations to Harare to have an appreciation of the situation following reports of gross human rights violations head of the foiled July 31 protests.

Although Zanu-PF has insisted there was no crisis in the country, the ANC delegation led by Ace Magashule, the secretary-general of the South African ruling party, has maintained that the country was a “mess” following reports of abductions, politically-motivated arrests and torture of perceived opponents, including journalists and lawyers, ahead of the July 31 protests.

Mnangagwa, whose regime has hogged international media for the human rights abuses, closed the door on external mediation to end the crisis.
We will not seek outside mediation to deal with challenges which they themselves have,” Mnangagwa said, in apparent reference to the ANC intervention, but insisted there was no bad blood between the two liberation movements.

“The solidarity existing between our party Zanu-PF and other sister revolutionary parties like the ANC of South Africa can never be shaken by social media. We have elements peddling falsehoods that there is misunderstanding between ANC and Zanu-PF, there is nothing (like that),” he said.

On churches, Mnangagwa said the Zion Christian Church, whose farming programmes he officiated on Thursday, must focus on productivity and stop wasting their time complaining about the human rights situation in the country.

His call was a not so subtle attempt to silence vocal church groups, including Catholic bishops, who have condemned his administration on human rights violations.

“I call upon churches in our country and the nation as a whole to shift our mind set and reorient our discourse towards economic productivity not to have malicious claims of ‘human rights, human rights’. We need productivity. The development of a country is productivity based,” he said.

“No country develops out of demonstrations. Let us shun divisive and evil concoctions by merchants of doom and their handlers who are bent on keeping our country stuck in a cycle of disunity and confusion. Let us continue to preach unity, peace, love and harmony so that we develop our nation.”-newsday

By A Correspondent- The invasion of a drug peddler’s base in Kwekwe Mbizo 17 and his arrest caused violence and commotion reportedly perpetrated by Zanu PF youths yesterday.

Two detectives arrested a Kwekwe drug dealer only known as Selassie and recovered dagga and bronclear at his house which was full of youths taking drugs.

Sources close to a local publication revealed that the detectives were getting the dealer to the nearest police station when two Zanu PF youths Brian Shava and Widzo followed and stopped them.

The youths assaulted the detectives in front of onlookers.

Investigations carried out indicate that the youths at Selassie’s are the ones who contacted their superiors who allegedly defeated the course of justice and took away the accused and exhibits from the vehicle.

The victims did not report the matter for fear of victimization from Zanu PF.

By A Correspondent- A police officer based in Bulawayo was left clutching thin air after a thief opened his car and stole his uniform.

The incident happened last week on Thursday at corner Fort Street and 8th Avenue.

The unfortunate cop, Noar Munongowera, is stationed at DHQ Suburban.

A source who is close to investigations said on the day in question Constable Munongowera was travelling along Fort Street when his car developed a fault. He parked his car, a Honda CRV at corner Fort Street and 8th Avenue.

“He opened the bonnet of his car and checked what could have been the problem. While he was still fixing his car thieves pounced on his car and stole a satchel containing riot trousers, webbing belt and a grey shirt,” said a source.

The source said the accused person then ran to a Corolla registration number AHE 7235 which was parked a few metres away from his car.

“He got inside the Corolla and they sped off with the satchel,” said the source close to investigations

By A Correspondent- Most schools want to peg fees and levies in foreign currency, with some boarding schools proposing US$350 or the equivalent in Zimbabwe dollars, while day schools are proposing US$100.

This follows an appeal by the National Association of Secondary Heads (NASH) for the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education to allow schools to charge levies and fees in foreign currency.

The schools say suppliers of educational consumables were charging them in United States dollars and it makes sense that they also collect fees in foreign currency. NASH president, Arthur Maphosa said:

Nash recommends that schools be authorised to budget in US dollars on the grounds that suppliers are charging goods and services in foreign currency.

The purchase of examination material for science and technical practicals will be a tall order unless Government allows schools to receive fees in foreign currency.

Suppliers are refusing to take the local currency and school heads will collapse at work because of this.

Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education’s spokesperson, Taungana Ndoro told The Manica Post this week that there are procedures which schools should follow before they raise fees.

Ndoro said the Ministry will look at the applications by schools individually before new fees structures are approved and that as of now, no new fees regime has been approved.

However, some schools have already started sending circulars informing parents of the new fees structure.

By A Correspondent- A self-styled Bindura prophetess was on Friday sentenced to two months in jail by a magistrate following her conviction on fraud charges.

Spiwe Gwashure (40) of Grace in Abundance Ministries was also was ordered to pay the US$320 within two months to the complaint by Bindura provincial magistrate Tinashe Ndokera.

Sometime in April 2018, Gwashure reportedly “prophesied” to one of her congregants, Abina Maliwo (46), that she will find him a wife to marry.

Maliwo was also instructed to buy a cellphone for his “wife” but later realised that the wife she was speaking to over the phone was Gwashure.

That was he realised that he had been duped and he proceeded to file a police report leading to Gwashure’s arrest.-newsday

NOTING the extent of the national crisis, the suffering of the masses, increased poverty, economic instability, hyperinflation, economic disequilibrium;

CONCERNED by the crisis of legitimacy, the closure of political space, attack on civil liberties and human rights, persecution and arrests of activists, the torture and violence against the citizens:

FURTHER NOTING the humanitarian crisis in respect of which 8 million Zimbabweans are food insecure and 5 million people have to be provided with humanitarian assistance and concerned by the massive leakages and looting of humanitarian aid and assistance;

TAKING COGNISANCE of the COVID19 pandemic and the gross mismanagement of the pandemic through the lack of financial resources, mass testing and provision of PPEs, drugs, isolation and quarantine centres:

DISTURBED by ZANU PF-driven threats to the people’s political party – the MDC Alliance, the unlawful arrests of our leaders and members, the unlawful recalls of elected people’s representatives and the abuse in the interpretation of the Supreme Court judgment:

1. The party expresses concern over Zimbabwe’s multi-faceted governance, economic and social crisis which has manifested in mass starvation, poverty, joblessness, wage erosion, poor earnings by civil servants, the remuneration crisis in the education sector, grand corruption and a deepening crisis in the health sector including inadequate remuneration and PPEs for health workers and insufficient isolation facilities. We call for NGOs to give aid directly to communities to avoid abuse by ZANU PF. We condemn corruption in COVID19 procurement and the use of COVID19 as an excuse to clampdown on human rights.

2. The party condemns the closure of democratic space, human rights abuses, violence, wanton arrests and demands the immediate release of all political prisoners and an immediate cessation of all malicious prosecutions, particularly of Job Sikhala, Joanna Mamombe, Cecillia Chimbiri, Chalton Hwende, Tsitsi Dangarembwa, Netsai Marova, Hopewell Chin’ono, Jacob Ngarivhume and Godfrey Kurzone.

3. The party notes the efforts of South Africa and the ANC in facilitating the resolution of the national crisis. The party restates its commitment to dialogue centred on comprehensive reforms, national healing and the return to legitimacy and democracy. The party supports the efforts of the ANC and calls for the involvement and scaffolding of the process by the international community, in particular SADC and the African Union.

4. The party affirms the democratic right of citizens to protest peacefully as enshrined in section 59 of the Constitution and places all citizens on notice with regard to the need for a broad front to challenge ZANU PF and mass mobilization because Zimbabwean Lives Matter and the March is not Ended.

5. The party restates that it is the MDC Alliance party. It contested the 2018 election as the MDC Alliance. As the alternative, it has MPs in Parliament and councillors in local authorities. It has been victimized as the MDC Alliance and will win as the MDC Alliance. It will remain the MDC Alliance.

6. The party demands comprehensive electoral and political reforms as set out in our RELOAD and PRICE policy documents. The party considers participation in free, fair and credible elections as a necessary zone of struggle.

7. As a people-driven party, the NEC mandated the leadership at various levels to consult stakeholders, opinion leaders, grassroots structures and party organs countrywide on the multiple options that are available to it.

Fadzayi Mahere
National Spokesperson

THE Zimbabwean government recently gazetted the Finance Bill (HB 4 of 2020) which validates the fiscal changes that were tabled in the Mid-Term Budget Review in July.

The Bill amends the Gains Tax Act (Chapter 23:01), the Finance Act (Chapter 23:04) and the Income Tax Act (Chapter 23:06). The Bill also carries changes to various tax heads such as mining royalties, income tax, value-added tax, customs and excise duties. Of significance is the fact that the government is reverting back to the taxation model of the Finance Act of 2009, which allows it to collect taxes in foreign currency from corporates and individuals that earn their income in foreign currency.

The individual income tax-free threshold has been raised from ZW$5 000 to ZW$25 000 (US$302) and aligns to the foreign currency tax free threshold of US$350. The individual income tax bands will be as follows: From US$351 to US$1 500 (20%), US$1 501 to US$5 000 (25%), US$5 001 to US$10 000 (30%), US$10 001 to US$15 000 (35%) and above US$15 000 (40%). The changes are with effect from August 1, 2020.

Zimbabwe officially dollarised on April 9, 2009, and adopted a basket of multiple currencies led by the United States dollar and South African rand. The market had rejected the Zimbabwean dollar and started using foreign currencies after record hyperinflation eclipsed 250 million percent (officially) in July 2008.

However, the Zimdollar was hurriedly re-introduced in February last year to thwart pressure from civil servants, who were demanding to be paid in US dollars. Statutory Instrument (SI) 142 of 2019 was then gazetted in June 2019 to ban the use of multiple currencies and enforce the use of a mono-currency regime in the economy.

However, the local currency experienced a record free-fall, losing 90% of its value in 2019. Annual inflation increased from 59% in February 2019 to 838% in July 2020.

In July 2020, a dual pricing regulation (SI 185 of 2020) directed all sellers of various goods and services to display and quote prices in both the Zimdollar and US dollar using the auction rate. This paved the way for the government to follow businesses and labour with new US dollar tax proposals.

The economy is now heavily skewed towards official dollarisation again, with the government now amending its taxation arsenal and partially remunerating in US dollar. Most businesses have also moved to charge in foreign currency and will be more than happy to trade in a stable currency for planning purposes.

Impact on tax revenues
The revenue performance for 2019 looked rosy on face value despite regressing in real terms. The country’s tax and non-tax revenue jumped to ZW$22,971 billion (US$2,691 billion using monthly interbank rates).

In spite of surpassing gross and net revenue targets every month, tax revenues fell below the 2013 total net-of-refunds collections of US$3,430 billion. This means that the Zimdollar depreciation and the subsequent general economic contraction have seriously hit government pockets, thereby adversely impacting public service delivery and infrastructure spending.

Service delivery in hospitals, education, housing, social welfare and policing have been seriously affected due to compensation related industrial action and limited budget allocations.

Inflation still poses the greatest risk to revenue collection, utilisation of allocated budgets and service delivery in various government departments.

ZSE, pension funds losses
In December 2013, the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange (ZSE) market capitalisation reached US$4,2 billion. As of September 14, 2020 the combined market capitalisation was ZW$217,44 billion (less than US$2,630 billion). After pouring millions of capital into new production lines and ramping up production, all counters on the ZSE have seen their values eroded by more than 50% as a result of exchange rate losses.

The same can be said of the pensions and insurance sector where pension and investment values were severely battered. The value of pension and insurance assets has plummeted from a value of US$4,358 billion in December 2013 to about US$2,013 billion in December 2019. There has been an increase in product termination of policies as premiums, contributions and benefits can no longer keep pace with the rate of inflation. For the second time in a decade, pensioners have lost their life savings due currency changes and most are struggling to make ends meet.

Increase in poverty levels
Poverty levels in Zimbabwe spiked in 2019 as access to food, basic education, health care, decent housing, electricity, power, transport, safe drinking water and other insurance became elusive to many Zimbabweans as a result of loss of income.

Salaries and wages in both the private and public sector are not being adjusted in line with changes in inflation rate or consumer price indices. Civil servants are currently getting a Covid-19 allowance of US$75 plus a basic salary of ZW$3 000 for the least-paid worker (below the Zimstat Poverty Datum Line of ZW$11 334 for June 2020).

The same can be said for the private sector where salaries average just below that amount for the least-paid worker. This means that the Zimdollar has decimated incomes for labour and most are now living in extreme poverty if compared to 2010 to 2018 income levels or World Bank standards on poverty.

The impact is being felt on decline in consumer confidence and spending in the economy. According to the World Bank, extreme poverty reached 40% of the population in 2019, up from 33,4% in 2017, with urban poverty rising faster (from 4% to 10%) than rural poverty.

Corporate sector losses
Zimbabwe’s corporate sector has been hard hit by the rushed introduction of the local currency. Businesses have lost billions through erosion of asset value, exchange rate losses, foreign debt overhang and decline in revenue as a result diminished consumer spending.

British American Tobacco (BAT) Zimbabwe posted a loss of ZW$27,69 million in 2019. Financial behemoth, Old Mutual Zimbabwe suffered a massive loss of ZW$2,61 billion, while telecoms giant Econet Wireless Zimbabwe posted a heavy loss of ZW$1,28 billion in 2019.

Listed entities such as Simbisa Brands, Nampak, Pretoria Portland Cement, National Foods, Delta Beverages and RioZim experienced their worst trading period in 2019 characterised by production stoppages and failure to meet foreign obligations.

The business sector has blamed their losses on currency depreciation, foreign exchange losses and decline in consumer disposable incomes. After introducing the Zimdollar, the government took over foreign debts amounting to about US$2 billion. Most of the debt has not yet been paid and this has had a negative impact on local businesses in terms of importing raw materials, getting new credit lines, outsourcing critical foreign services, debt-to-equity ratio, cash flow management and business stability.

The country’s de-dollarisation plan was doomed from the onset as the country did not meet the basic fundamentals required to bring stability to a mono-currency. The country was not actively implementing any macro-economic stabilisation plan that would lead to low inflation or have an efficient foreign exchange market to talk of.

Further, the country has no foreign currency reserves or external facilities to back the stability of the domestic currency, an acceptable sovereign debt repayment plan or the governance discipline required to curb rampant money supply growth. The rushed introduction of the Zimdollar has not only left labour, business and the economy nursing wounds of inflation, but it has also battered the government in terms of tax revenue collections and service delivery.

The government is now covertly undoing the mono-currency legislation and exchange controls, but economic output lost due to the ill-timed currency changes can never be recovered.

Undeniably, every country needs a domestic currency to push its export and economic growth agenda. However, that currency borrows its stability for a stable economic and political climate. The currency changes were reactionary, mistimed and lacked alignment to other economic policies and reforms.

Victor Bhoroma is an economic analyst. He holds an MBA from the University of Zimbabwe. — [email protected] or Twitter: @VictorBhoroma1.

Extracted from The Independent

NOTING the extent of the national crisis, the suffering of the masses, increased poverty, economic instability, hyperinflation, economic disequilibrium;

CONCERNED by the crisis of legitimacy, the closure of political space, attack on civil liberties and human rights, persecution and arrests of activists, the torture and violence against the citizens:

FURTHER NOTING the humanitarian crisis in respect of which 8 million Zimbabweans are food insecure and 5 million people have to be provided with humanitarian assistance and concerned by the massive leakages and looting of humanitarian aid and assistance;

TAKING COGNISANCE of the COVID19 pandemic and the gross mismanagement of the pandemic through the lack of financial resources, mass testing and provision of PPEs, drugs, isolation and quarantine centres:

DISTURBED by ZANU PF-driven threats to the people’s political party – the MDC Alliance, the unlawful arrests of our leaders and members, the unlawful recalls of elected people’s representatives and the abuse in the interpretation of the Supreme Court judgment:

1. The party expresses concern over Zimbabwe’s multi-faceted governance, economic and social crisis which has manifested in mass starvation, poverty, joblessness, wage erosion, poor earnings by civil servants, the remuneration crisis in the education sector, grand corruption and a deepening crisis in the health sector including inadequate remuneration and PPEs for health workers and insufficient isolation facilities. We call for NGOs to give aid directly to communities to avoid abuse by ZANU PF. We condemn corruption in COVID19 procurement and the use of COVID19 as an excuse to clampdown on human rights.

2. The party condemns the closure of democratic space, human rights abuses, violence, wanton arrests and demands the immediate release of all political prisoners and an immediate cessation of all malicious prosecutions, particularly of Job Sikhala, Joanna Mamombe, Cecillia Chimbiri, Chalton Hwende, Tsitsi Dangarembwa, Netsai Marova, Hopewell Chin’ono, Jacob Ngarivhume and Godfrey Kurzone.

3. The party notes the efforts of South Africa and the ANC in facilitating the resolution of the national crisis. The party restates its commitment to dialogue centred on comprehensive reforms, national healing and the return to legitimacy and democracy. The party supports the efforts of the ANC and calls for the involvement and scaffolding of the process by the international community, in particular SADC and the African Union.

4. The party affirms the democratic right of citizens to protest peacefully as enshrined in section 59 of the Constitution and places all citizens on notice with regard to the need for a broad front to challenge ZANU PF and mass mobilization because Zimbabwean Lives Matter and the March is not Ended.

5. The party restates that it is the MDC Alliance party. It contested the 2018 election as the MDC Alliance. As the alternative, it has MPs in Parliament and councillors in local authorities. It has been victimized as the MDC Alliance and will win as the MDC Alliance. It will remain the MDC Alliance.

6. The party demands comprehensive electoral and political reforms as set out in our RELOAD and PRICE policy documents. The party considers participation in free, fair and credible elections as a necessary zone of struggle.

7. As a people-driven party, the NEC mandated the leadership at various levels to consult stakeholders, opinion leaders, grassroots structures and party organs countrywide on the multiple options that are available to it.

Fadzayi Mahere

National Spokesperson

A MEMBER of the President’s Office based in the border town of Chirundu is wanted by detectives who yesterday swooped in on a daring syndicate that smuggled goods from Zambia and stored them in a disused common room of ZRP Chirundu Mess., Zimbabwe Voice can reveal.

According to an internal police memo, detectives from CID Chirundu together with officers from the Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA), President’s Office (the CIO) and ZIMRA officials discovered 35 sacks loaded with goods ranging from clothes to hardware.

The incident took place yesterday (Friday) at about 0830 hours when CID Chirundu received information through a phone call from ZIMRA Chirundu Bonds Manager, one Mrs Kudzunga, that there were suspected smuggled goods in a disused common room of ZRP Chirundu Mess.

“Detectives identified witnesses at the scene leading to the arrest of Charles Mainoti (38), a resident of Southlea Park in Harare who works for Kabor Bus Services.

Part of internal memo originated by CID Chirundu that Zimbabwe Voice is in possession of.
Part of the internal memo originated by CID Chirundu that Zimbabwe Voice is in possession of.
“The accused was interviewed and he indicated that he engaged one Denga, a member of the President’s Office based at Chirundu who together with Cliff NFPK transported the goods from Zambia to Zimbabwe via the entry gate of the border.

“The accused further indicated US$ 350-00 to Zimra Officials, US$430 -00 to members of ZNA and CIO who all facilitated entrance of the smuggled goods into the country. Detective Constable Karimakwenda of CID MFFU Chirundu also witnessed the payments,” reads the memo in part.

It further says that nn unregistered Kombi, white in colour and belonging to one Cliff was used to smuggle the goods from Zambian Border into the country during the night of 17 September 2020 and the goods were taken to the disused Police Mess for safekeeping waiting for them to be transported to various destinations.

“The goods were smuggled via the Border’s entry gate and the accused made payments to Officials manning the gate to be allowed to pass.

“A Toyota Dyna unregistered, engine number nil, chassis number XZU338-100139 being driven by Shingirai Derrick Nyadore, aged 38 Years, NR 26-133580 P 50 was found parked about 50 meters away from the scene.

“The driver was located and indicated that he had been hired by the accused to transport some goods but was not aware of the nature of goods. The vehicle was taken to ZIMRA Chirundu for seizure.

“The recovered goods were to ZIMRA for counting and seizure,” reads the memo, which the Zimbabwe Voice is in possession of.

Detectives in Chirundu say they are seeking the whereabouts of Denga, the CIO officer, and Cliff who is being implicated and are keen to interview the duo.

CID also wants to recover the Kombi that was used to smuggle the goods as well as identify ZIMRA authorities namely Magaya and Mutasa who were manning the Border’s entry gate so they can jointly charge them.

Meanwhile, Mainoti is expected to appear in court soon.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa has all but given up on the Coronavirus declaring the “each man for himself” stance on the Coronavirus scourge.

Mnangagwa said this stating that the Government of Zimbabwe will ease Zimbabwe’s national COVID-19 lockdown regulations as has done neighbouring South Africa.

Addressing the Zanu PF Central Committee on Friday, Mnangagwa said Government will be easing the country’s COVID-19 lockdown measures in the coming week.

He said:

“Hapana anoraramira hupenyu hweumwe. Mumwe nemumwe anofa pachake kana kurarama pachake. Isu ndima yedu yekuudza vanhu kuti kune chirwere ichi taifambisa, taisunda ndima iyoyo. Kwatavakuenda uku, tichionazve kuti vazhinji vakunzwisisa, takutsudzunura zvishoma nezvishoma. Tichange tichitsidzunura zvimwe svondo rinouya iri. Saka ndati ndinyatsokutsanagura apa kuitira kuti tese tive nerimwe kana totaura. (No one lives on behalf of another. An individual will die or live alone. We have done our part as Government to inform the public on Covid-19. We will be relaxing regulations this coming week. I have told you this so that we are on the same page.)”

Earlier this week, Government announced that business hours for exempted businesses not defined as essential, along with most of the retail end of most essential sectors had been extended to 6.30 am to 6.30 pm.

This period is outside the curfew which the government clarified remains in place despite the extension of business hours.

The Deputy Chairman of the Ad-Hoc Inter-Ministerial Taskforce on Covid-19, Professor Amon Murwira told The Herald that the 10-hour curfew remains in place despite the extension of business hours permitted for exempted non-essential businesses.

The government instituted an 8 pm to 6 am curfew to restrict night activities as part of measures to contain the spread of Covid-19.

Schools are resuming examination classes, under new rules, restrictions in domestic tourism have been eased and intercity bus travel has been allowed with the new rules for that sector.

PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwa yesterday told a Zanu PF central committee meeting in Harare that he appointed Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga to head the Health portfolio to sort out striking doctors and nurses with a “soldier mentality”.

Chiwenga was appointed to the portfolio last month following the ouster of Obadiah Moyo, who is facing abuse of office charges that also involve associates of Mnangagwa’s Family.

The former Zimbabwe Defence Forces Commander, who traded the military fatigue for political office after a military coup that ousted the late former President Robert Mugabe in November 2017, came into the health portfolio amid a crippling job action by nurses demanding a living wage.

“We realised that year after year, we would not go for four or five months without a strike in the health sector. I realised we needed a soldier there. We had to second a soldier there and now they are back at work,” Mnangagwa said in apparent reference to Chiwenga.

In August, armed police were deployed to beat up striking nurses at Sally Mugabe Central Hospital in Harare, while others were also deployed in Bulawayo and other cities.

Nurses were also arrested for downing tools during that period.

Chiwenga, soon after his appointment, pleaded with the health workers to return to work and pledged to end the culture of looting by those politically connected.

He came in when the health workers had declared war on their employers, insisting they would not go back to work before their concerns were raised.

Their concerns included United States dollar-pegged salaries, personal protective equipment, among other essentials, and the government had failed to convince them to go back to work.

There were reports soon after his appointment that Chiwenga was targeting some members of Mnangagwa’s family who were fingered in the COVID-19 looting scandals that involved alleged abuse of millions of dollars.

Several people, including Moyo and one Delish Nguwaya, a close associate of the Mnangagwa family, have since been arrested over the scandals, while journalists who exposed the said rot have either been arrested or are in hiding.

– NewsDay

Farai Dziva|MDC Alliance leader, Advocate Nelson Chamisa has strongly condemned the harassment of ZINASU president Takudzwa Ngadziore by Zanu PF hooligans.

Zanu PF youths assaulted ZINASU leaders and journalists during a media briefing in Harare on Friday.

President Chamisa described the level of lawlessness in the country as shocking.

“Repression in Zimbabwe hits a new low as a young student leader
@ngadziore
@Zinasuzim
is subjected to thuggery and violence for protesting and holding a mere press conference.

There is a crisis in Zimbabwe.This barbarism must be stopped!The march is not ended. #ZimbabweanLivesMatter,” President Chamisa wrote on Twitter.

Farai Dziva|In his message of encouragement to the nation, MDC Alliance leader, Advocate Nelson Chamisa has pointed out that the “repressive regime will soon crumble.”

President Chamisa speaks at a time Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration is torturing, abducting and harassing citizens at an alarming pace.

On Saturday President Chamisa wrote :

The power of dictatorships comes from the willing obedience of the PEOPLE they govern and if the PEOPLE can develop techniques of withholding their consent, a repressive regime will soon crumble.

Happy Sabbath to you dear friends!!

President Emmerson Mnangagwa said the appointment of Vice President Constantino Chiwenga, a retired army general, as Health Minister was meant to put an end to a crippling nurses’ strike.

Addressing a Zanu PF central committee meeting in Harare on Friday, Mnangagwa boasted that since Chiwenga’s appointment, doctors and nurses are now back at work.

He said:
We realised that year after year, we would not go for four or five months without a strike in the health sector.

I realised we needed a soldier there. We had to second a soldier there and now they are back at work.

Chiwenga was the Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF) Commander during the 2017 military coup that toppled the late former President Robert Mugabe in November 2017.

He was appointed Health Minister to replace Obediah Moyo who was fired for his alleged involvement in the looting of Coronavirus funds.-NewsDay

In 2009, former Prime Minister of Zimbabwe Dr Morgan Richard Tsvangirai appointed the then MDC National Organizing Secretary, Nelson Chamisa to be in charge of Ministry of Information and Communication Technology and served as a cabinet minister until the expiry of the Global Political Agreement (GPA). His tenure as a cabinet minister exuded virtuosity and he won several minister of the year awards. The former President of Zimbabwe Robert Mugabe once described him as a supersonic minister following Chamisa’s successful computerization initiative back then.

Chamisa also served as Member of Assembly for Kuwadzana East and he also did excellent work to develop his constituency which includes successful feedback mechanism in the constituency, the MP scholarship fund for the girl child, computerization and internet connection for Kuwadzana schools and construction of state of the art Kuwadzana library.

Whilst Advocate Chamisa was serving as a cabinet Minister in the Government of National Unity, he shared the same cabinet boardroom at Munhumutapa offices with Emmerson Mnangagwa then Justice Minister before the latter switched to Defense Ministry.

The two used to share some lighter moments in Parliament and they were believed to be only political opponents and not enemies. Videos and images in which the two were joking and laughing together are awash on the internet.

When Mnangagwa and Chamisa took over as leaders of ZANU PF and MDC Alliance respectively, many people hoped the two’s affability could push them to engage in serious talks for the betterment of the ailing nation. Moreover Nelson Chamisa’s lawyer Thabani Mpofu also ‘legitimized’ the November 2017 military coup by representing two applicants at the High Court arguing that the army’s intervention was necessary on the basis that Mugabe could no longer be in a position to make independent decisions and was now acting under his wife Grace’s influence. He won the case. We all thought dialogue between Chamisa and Mnangagwa was inevitable and it seemed people were ready to work together.

My questions which linger unanswered are; what has changed, apart from one being the Head of State, and the other being the main opposition leader in Zimbabwe? Do these two gentlemen need a South African delegation appointed by Cyril Ramaphosa for them to meet in their own country? Does it have to take Thabo Mbeki or Olusegun Obasanjo to come and mediate for them to dialogue?

Mnangagwa argues that Chamisa must recognize him as the legitimate head of state for him to consider him on the negotiating table. On the other hand, Chamisa says the legitimacy issue should form the basis of the dialogue between the two.

Advocate Chamisa and President Mnangagwa need to understand the fact that in a dialogue you have to sacrifice something. No one should expect to win everything in a dialogue hence the need for the two to swallow their pride and negotiate purposefully.

Let me close by saying we need the two leaders right on the same table, and if it means people have to flood the streets, let them do so as this might be the only sagacious protest worthy overwhelming national participation. Prayer warriors on the other hand should go onto the mountains to pray for peace in our country.

On March 9, 2018 Kenya’s President Uhuru Kenyatta and the leader of the main opposition Raila Odinga publicly shook hands and agreed to work together. It did not take the two foreign conciliators to achieve such a commendable milestone. Now there is political stability in Kenya and their economy is growing rapidly and the environment is conducive for investors. Recently Ramaphosa and Julius Malema held a joint press conference calling for unity amongst citizens in the fight against Covid-19 pandemic, an indication they put people first.

I therefore call upon Chamisa and Mnangagwa to start talking to each other. Mnangagwa as the president of the country should put people first and understand that Chamisa is a vital cog in every development of this country and dialogue without Chamisa is a façade.

The two are legal minds and we believe they speak the same language. They must understand they are all Zimbabweans hence their actions should be pro-people. Before the two became the leaders of their respective political parties, they made some remarkable achievements as both government ministers and political leaders.

We want sincere talks between the two political giants and home-grown solutions to scaffold the country for growth and stability. The country is in the middle of an enervating political crisis which can only be resolved through a candid dialogue.

Tinashe Eric Muzamhindo is the Head of Zimbabwe Institute of Strategic Thinking – ZIST and he can be contacted at [email protected]

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: Impala Violence – ZANU PF Youth who announced violence against @ngadziore before the abduction and torture yesterday. STARTING RIGHT NOW ON https://t.co/RMz9FsvEJW @MakomboreroH @CdeTatenda pic.twitter.com/nyZp4utzZK

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) September 19, 2020

"IMPALA" YOUTH WHO LIVES IN BRAESIDE https://t.co/SdHbMRDqkr

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) September 19, 2020

….Dr Thokozani Khupe’s MDC T changes it’s name to MDC Alliance.

19 September 2020

By Kimberley Tariro Mamhende| MDC-T chairman Morgen Komichi has just declared that “from today we are the MDC Alliance” – signalling intention to use name of the party led by Nelson Chamisa when nominating candidates for by-elections on Oct 9. He was speaking at MDC-T 21st anniversary at party Headquarters- Morgan Tsvangirai House.

MDC-T led by Khupe recalled MDC Alliance Members of parliament and councillors saying they belong to another Party Called MDC Alliance.

Today, MDC T are calling themselves MDC Alliance.

Is MDC T following supreme court judgement?

What is the next move of MDC Alliance led by President Chamisa? Will MDC Alliance led by President Chamisa *rebrand*

….Dr Thokozani Khupe’s MDC T changes it’s name to MDC Alliance.

19 September 2020

By Kimberley Tariro Mamhende| MDC-T chairman Morgen Komichi has just declared that “from today we are the MDC Alliance” – signalling intention to use name of the party led by Nelson Chamisa when nominating candidates for by-elections on Oct 9. He was speaking at MDC-T 21st anniversary at party Headquarters- Morgan Tsvangirai House.

MDC-T led by Khupe recalled MDC Alliance Members of parliament and councillors saying they belong to another Party Called MDC Alliance.

Today, MDC T are calling themselves MDC Alliance.

Is MDC T following supreme court judgement?

What is the next move of MDC Alliance led by President Chamisa? Will MDC Alliance led by President Chamisa *rebrand*

By Own Correspondent| A 19 year old Harare model was raped on Thursday by a man she had befriended on social media site, Facebook.

According to the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) statement, the young woman who resides in Waterfalls was invited for modelling auditions by the man.

When the woman went for the auditions, she was raped her Facebook friend. The man was arrested and is yet to appear in court to face rape charges.

Police said in a statement:

Members of the public are warned against trusting people they meet online. This warning follows the rape of a 19-year-old woman in Waterfalls on 17/9/20 after she was purportedly invited for modelling auditions by a man she befriended on Facebook.

The man has since been arrested and will appear in court soon.

Mrs Ndira and her daughter today recieved a grocery hamper,it was made possible by your donations.
Zanupf thugs murdered her husband and made her a widow.
Together we can!!@AmChambi @cnhizwa @TheLifeZoomer @NzouJnr #ZanupfMustGohttps://t.co/U445QL54lA pic.twitter.com/FIOrHio6fx

— Alice Tsungu (@TsunguAlice) September 9, 2020

State Media

BULAWAYO City Council (BCC) recently offered mayor Councillor Solomon Mguni a piece of land where he intended to build six town houses for an unjustifiable amount of US$2 500.

According to council minutes, council resolved that Clr Mguni should go ahead and construct duplex flats on stand number 19789 Bulawayo Township subject to full compliance with the council regulations.

“On the recommendations of the Town Clerk, it was resolved that a development permit to construct six town houses on stand number 19789 Bulawayo Township be granted to Solomon Mguni subject to full compliance with the requirements of the director of engineering services, director of housing and community services, and any other municipal by-law requirement including payment of a once off premium of $161 700 or US$2 500,” read the council minutes.

Contacted for comment, Clr Mguni claimed the council minutes were “withdrawn from council”.

He said the proposal was rejected by the Town Lands and Planning Committee’s sub-committee on allocation of stands and premises for development.

“Of course, I applied to council for a piece of land where I wanted to develop six duplex apartments and the responsible committee rejected that proposal, saying it was not proper. It never went before full council hence there is no resolution to that effect. This matter is being resurrected because the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption (ZACC) team is in town and they want to find some wrongdoing on my part,” he said.

“You can check with the Chamber Secretary because she is the one with all council resolutions, she will tell you that this was withdrawn before it went before full council. These guys (ZACC) are meeting tomorrow and they want to find a case against me.”

Efforts to contact the Town Clerk Mr Christopher Dube or the Chamber Secretary Mrs Sikhangele Zhou were fruitless as their phones continuously went unanswered.

Recently, there was a public outcry after BCC offered Clr Mguni agricultural land in Lower Rangemore under a 25-year lease at $165 per month rent.

Residents accused local authority officials of abusing privileges and parceling out land to cronies at what they described as ridiculously low rentals.

Some residents have widely circulated on social media an advert confirming the 25-year land lease being offered to Clr Mguni, arguing that it is tantamount to corruption.

According to the notice flighted on May 29, Mr Dube revealed that Clr Mguni has been offered a land lease in Rangemore for agricultural purposes on Lot 3 of plot 3 Lower Rangemore.

The lease is for an initial 25-year period while monthly rentals are pegged at $165, subject to review.

The notice stated that residents objecting to the proposed lease should submit their written submissions at Tower Block by June 18 at the Director of Housing and Community Services offices.

VIDEO LOADING BELOW….

The picture of the missing 7 year old Murehwa boy who's been found decapitated, no legs, no arms & buried in a shallow grave, will be published once the family has given approval. The incident Murehwa 44.

Why is it that no one has been arrested @PoliceZimbabwe ? @nickmangwana pic.twitter.com/MD5S2QLviY

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) September 19, 2020

Farai Dziva|In his message of encouragement to the nation, MDC Alliance leader, Advocate Nelson Chamisa has pointed out that the “repressive regime will soon crumble.”

President Chamisa speaks at a time Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration is torturing, abducting and harassing citizens at an alarming pace.

On Saturday President Chamisa wrote :

The power of dictatorships comes from the willing obedience of the PEOPLE they govern and if the PEOPLE can develop techniques of withholding their consent, a repressive regime will soon crumble.

Happy Sabbath to you dear friends!!

MDC SC STATEMENT ON NGADZIORE’S ABDUCTION

The MDC ALLIANCE STUDENTS COUNCIL is deeply agitated by the continued persecution of Zimbabweans by the ZANU PF regime.

Takudzwa Ngadziore, ZINASU president who was recently arrested for merely asking for justice for Tatenda Muchehiwa was yesterday abducted by suspected state agents, butchered and left for dead.

His only crime was to demand answers from the impala car rental on the abduction of a fellow student Tatenda Muchehiwa.

The abominable ways of silencing the people which Zanu pf is using will always be abortive as it is the great crisis in the country that actuates the people to rise and speak.

Therefore we assure ZANU PF that its evil tactics to instill fear in people through abducting, torturing, unlawful arrests of members of the opposition and civic organizations will not stop the people’s revolution.

Surely the utterances by the illegitimate government that there is no crisis in Zimbabwe is just but nonsense.

The level of human rights violations is reaching its peak, people are living in abject poverty as the economy continues shrinking and falling into an abyss, accelerated by ZANU PF’s excessive looting.

A nation’s leadership that is only adept at brutalizing its people clearly indicates that it is not from the people but self imposed itself.

In Zimbabwe we are as good as leadershipless.

Our security forces know nothing about patriotism but act on a partisan basis.

Surely if we do not liberate ourselves, no one else shall!

#Ed and ZANU must go
#Zimbabweans lives matter
#Arise Students arise
#Zimbabwe simuka

MDCA students council SG
Hither Mpambwa

President Emmerson Mnangagwa said the appointment of Vice President Constantino Chiwenga, a retired army general, as Health Minister was meant to put an end to a crippling nurses’ strike.

Addressing a Zanu PF central committee meeting in Harare on Friday, Mnangagwa boasted that since Chiwenga’s appointment, doctors and nurses are now back at work.

He said:
We realised that year after year, we would not go for four or five months without a strike in the health sector.

I realised we needed a soldier there. We had to second a soldier there and now they are back at work.

Chiwenga was the Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF) Commander during the 2017 military coup that toppled the late former President Robert Mugabe in November 2017.

He was appointed Health Minister to replace Obediah Moyo who was fired for his alleged involvement in the looting of Coronavirus funds.-NewsDay

President Emmerson Mnangagwa said the appointment of Vice President Constantino Chiwenga, a retired army general, as Health Minister was meant to put an end to a crippling nurses’ strike.

Addressing a Zanu PF central committee meeting in Harare on Friday, Mnangagwa boasted that since Chiwenga’s appointment, doctors and nurses are now back at work.

He said:
We realised that year after year, we would not go for four or five months without a strike in the health sector.

I realised we needed a soldier there. We had to second a soldier there and now they are back at work.

Chiwenga was the Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF) Commander during the 2017 military coup that toppled the late former President Robert Mugabe in November 2017.

He was appointed Health Minister to replace Obediah Moyo who was fired for his alleged involvement in the looting of Coronavirus funds.-NewsDay

State Media

BULAWAYO City Council (BCC) recently offered mayor Councillor Solomon Mguni a piece of land where he intended to build six town houses for an unjustifiable amount of US$2 500.

According to council minutes, council resolved that Clr Mguni should go ahead and construct duplex flats on stand number 19789 Bulawayo Township subject to full compliance with the council regulations.

“On the recommendations of the Town Clerk, it was resolved that a development permit to construct six town houses on stand number 19789 Bulawayo Township be granted to Solomon Mguni subject to full compliance with the requirements of the director of engineering services, director of housing and community services, and any other municipal by-law requirement including payment of a once off premium of $161 700 or US$2 500,” read the council minutes.

Contacted for comment, Clr Mguni claimed the council minutes were “withdrawn from council”.

He said the proposal was rejected by the Town Lands and Planning Committee’s sub-committee on allocation of stands and premises for development.

“Of course, I applied to council for a piece of land where I wanted to develop six duplex apartments and the responsible committee rejected that proposal, saying it was not proper. It never went before full council hence there is no resolution to that effect. This matter is being resurrected because the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption (ZACC) team is in town and they want to find some wrongdoing on my part,” he said.

“You can check with the Chamber Secretary because she is the one with all council resolutions, she will tell you that this was withdrawn before it went before full council. These guys (ZACC) are meeting tomorrow and they want to find a case against me.”

Efforts to contact the Town Clerk Mr Christopher Dube or the Chamber Secretary Mrs Sikhangele Zhou were fruitless as their phones continuously went unanswered.

Recently, there was a public outcry after BCC offered Clr Mguni agricultural land in Lower Rangemore under a 25-year lease at $165 per month rent.

Residents accused local authority officials of abusing privileges and parceling out land to cronies at what they described as ridiculously low rentals.

Some residents have widely circulated on social media an advert confirming the 25-year land lease being offered to Clr Mguni, arguing that it is tantamount to corruption.

According to the notice flighted on May 29, Mr Dube revealed that Clr Mguni has been offered a land lease in Rangemore for agricultural purposes on Lot 3 of plot 3 Lower Rangemore.

The lease is for an initial 25-year period while monthly rentals are pegged at $165, subject to review.

The notice stated that residents objecting to the proposed lease should submit their written submissions at Tower Block by June 18 at the Director of Housing and Community Services offices.

Four robbers on Tuesday tried to kill a Marlborough family they attacked by tying them to their car seats and setting the vehicle on fire before disappearing with goods and huge sums of cash, US$47 000 and R15 000.

Daniel Tsimba (49), his wife Ropafadzo Mukamba and their seven-year-old daughter managed to untie themselves and escaped unhurt from their burning vehicle, which had been dumped at Kimcot Farm in Beatrice.

Mashonaland East provincial police spokesperson Inspector Tendai Mwanza said police were now hunting for the gang and appealed to the public for any information that would help identify the four.

According to the police, on Tuesday at around 11am, Mrs Mukamba was at her house in Malborough, Harare, when she was approached by the four robbers who pretended to be police officers investigating a fraud case.

They handcuffed her and told her that they knew she had received money from her former employer. The robbers force-marched her into the house, where they waited for her husband to arrive from work. As soon as Mr Tsimba arrived they pounced on him before demanding cash.

They ransacked the house and found US$47 000 and R15 000 plus two laptops and two Huawei cellphones, before forcing the family into the unregistered Honda Fit belonging to Mrs Mukamba.

They drove towards Beatrice and stopped at Kingston Farm.

At around 11pm, the robbers tied their victims with a rope on to the car seats, got out of the vehicle, and set it ablaze before running away.

State Media

It is now legal to grow, process and sell mbanje in Zimbabwe, but this does not mean throwing a few seeds in your backyard and waiting for a crop: There is a 32-page statutory instrument giving the rules and regulations that will be the bible of all involved in the business if they want to stay out of jail.

Statutory Instrument 218 Agricultural Marketing Authority (Industrial Hemp) Regulations was gazetted yesterday by Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Water and Rural Resettlement Dr Anxious Masuka, after consultation with the with the board of the Agricultural Marketing Authority and using his powers in section 50 of the Agricultural Marketing Authority Act.

The object of these regulations “is to regulate the production, procurement, distribution, possession, sale, provision and transportation of industrial hemp”.

And industrial hemp is not just mbanje, it is “the plant cannabis sativa and any part of the plant, including the seeds thereof, and all derivatives, extracts, cannabinoids, isomers, acids, salts and salts of isomers, whether growing or not, with a delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol concentration of not more than 0.3 percent on a dry weight basis”.

That 0,3 percent limit, incidentally, cannot be exceeded. Growers have to present samples to approved laboratories and if your crop is a bit too potent, well bye-bye crop; it must be destroyed. On the other hand, your crop has to be good quality, by law, and you need to hire someone knowledgeable to be in charge of quality assurance.

Growing, researching or dealing in mbanje requires a permit. There are three types: general grower’s, research and breeding, and industrial hemp merchant’s. The application fee for the first two, and the renewal fee, is US$200. The merchant needs to fork out US$500.

The general grower can grow, process and sell mbanje products, but can only use approved cultivars and varieties and the permit can narrow what an individual holder can grow down to just one variety. The research permit holder can hold non-approved cultivars, but only for research. General hemp farmers must grow at least 1ha.

The merchant permit does not allow the merchant to grow the stuff directly, although a merchant can contract farmers to do this, but does allow the merchant to supply or procure industrial hemp within Zimbabwe, to process it into specific products laid out in the permit, and to possess industrial hemp for the purposes in the permit.

Permit holders have to be citizens or permanent residents of Zimbabwe, and that includes a majority of directors for a company although the Agriculture Minister can exempt an individual from this requirement and the AMA can exempt a company.

The application for any permit requires quite a bit of detail: three copies of the plan of the field being used, along with its geo-coordinates, proof of citizenship, permanent residence or exemption, and a declaration that the permit applicant is familiar with the provisions of the Agricultural Marketing Authority Act.

But that is just the start. The application has to be accompanied by a security clearance, for: the authorised person in charge; the responsible person in charge; the alternate responsible person in charge; the individual for an individual permit or each officer and director of the company for a company application.

And then the applicant has to describe, in detail, how they propose to keep records that ensure compliance with the regulations (and a lot of records are required), allow the AMA to audit those records, and ensure that orders and inventories of industrial hemp can be reconciled, that is no leakages from the legal marketing.

And you have to attach the fee. A separate application and fee is needed for each field.

Permits can be refused on a lot of grounds, including fake information, lack of security, official information from the police all the way up the United Nations that the applicant has been involved in the drug business, or the applicant refuses to allow a requested inspection (another US$200).

Permit holders have to make sure their fields are secure, that only those who need to be in the “cultivation area” are allowed in and that any unauthorised intrusions are recorded, including the date and time of the intrusion, the identities of the intruders and the action taken.

There has to be an authorised person in charge and a responsible person in charge, with alternates if necessary, and these people have to be approved in advance and the AMA has to be told of all changes and all changes to record-keeping.

Before anything is planted full details of varieties and the like have to be given to the AMA and after material is harvested everything has to be labelled. All residue in a harvested field has to be destroyed in seven days.

Those possessing, processing or supplying industrial hemp have to have approved premises, must destroy any mbanje plant growing in the processing area, have to label everything in detail and have to keep the AMA informed of staff changes and of any convictions for drug offences and any thefts. Detailed reports have to be given each year.

Growers have to follow good farming practices and the AMA can inspect when it likes to ensure this, and there are requirements for compulsory tests at approved laboratories and the AMA can in any case order a lab test at any time. Mbanje that flunks the tests can be ordered destroyed, although there is an appeal process.

Permit holders have to destroy plants that grow outside their approved fields and there are rules on the destruction of abandoned fields or stocks.

Destruction is covered in the regulations. It has to be done in front of five people: a superintendent or above of the police plus senior officials of zimra, Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe, the Justice Ministry and the AMA or Agriculture Ministry.

The regulations detail the procedure for imports and exports and devote several pages to the records that need to be kept.

Failure to follow the regulations can see permits cancelled, along with a jail sentence of four months, a level four fine or both.

Herald Entertainment Editor Godwin Muzari who died on Friday in a suspected suicide was a very distressed man, his family and work mates have revealed.

Muzari was found dead yesterday at his Retreat, Waterfalls, residence.

His elder brother, Bishop Israel Muzari, said he last spoke to his younger brother on Monday.

“He told me a number of personal and confidential issues, but I did not know that it would come to this. We did not see him from Monday and neither were we aware of his whereabouts until yesterday when I decided to check on him at his home. That was when I saw him hanging in a room,” said Bishop Muzari.

He described his younger brother as a cheerful person. “He was always jovial and we will dearly miss him,” he said.

Herald Editor Hatred Zenenga expressed shock at the demise of Muzari.

“It’s unbelievable that Muzari is no more. He had not been coming to work for a while and we started looking for him. He then showed up on Monday and Tuesday and then went away. We then got in touch with his sister who came for a meeting with us and we agreed he needed counselling. We immediately initiated the process, but little did we know Godwin had other ideas. What a loss. He was a brilliant writer. Our newsroom will be poorer without him,” said Zenenga.

Born in Harare in 1980, Muzari was the last born in a family of seven. He went to Hondo School in Mount Darwin for his primary and secondary education before attending St Francis Magwenya in Mashonaland Central for his Advanced Level studies. He then enrolled at Midlands State University from where graduated with a Media and Society Studies degree in 2005.

In 2006, he joined Zimpapers as an intern before he became an Entertainment Reporter until 2009 when he briefly left to join Alpha Media Holdings. Muzari returned as Entertainment Editor of The Herald in 2013, a position he held until his untimely death.

He is survived by a wife and three children.

State Media

THE Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission has descended on Bulawayo City Council to investigate alleged corruption and malpractices in the municipality, particularly issues to do with allocation and sales of council land.

A team of zacc investigators arrived in Bulawayo on Wednesday and met organisations who had raised a red flag over suspected graft at the local authority. The investigators also met Bulawayo Progressive Residents Association (BPRA) leadership and other civic society organisations, which have been voicing concern over alleged unprocedural parcelling of land in the local authority.

Sources said the zacc investigators are expected to review town clerk, Mr Christopher Dube’s contract renewal and a plot allocated to mayor Councillor Solomon Mguni today.

BPRA last week wrote to council’s land committee querying the town clerk’s contract renewal and a plot allocated to Cllr Mguni in Rangemore.

zacc spokesperson Commissioner John Makamure said although a team of investigators had been deployed, he cannot comment on the assignment.

“I can confirm that we are investigating Bulawayo City Council among other local authorities. I can’t say more, but matters are under investigation.

“I can’t say what exactly is being investigated because we don’t want to jeopardise any investigation. But our team is on the ground as we speak,” said Comm Makamure.

Mr Dube said zacc officials notified council of the investigation they were conducting.

“Yes, they had an entrance meeting with me yesterday and they are going ahead with their mission. We also have communication from the Ministry (of Local Government and Public Works) notifying the council of the same,” said Mr Dube.

Cllr Mguni said council has been notified about zacc officials who will be investigating alleged corruption in the council.

But he could not comment further on investigations since he has not met the investigating team.

BPRA coordinator, Mr Emmanuel Ndlovu confirmed meeting zacc investigators.

“We met with ZACC investigators yesterday and supplied them with information that they required regarding the mayor’s land and the town clerk’s proposed conditions of service.

“Remember we wrote letters regarding the two matters and copied ZACC.

“Their visit looks into issues that we raised,” he said.

State Media

Zimbabwe has gone for seven days without recording a death associated with Covid-19, in a strong statement yet of the effectiveness of the country’s response.

Already, 224 lives have been claimed by Covid-19 in Zimbabwe, while over 900 000 people have died of the disease globally.

Yesterday, Zimbabwe registered 14 new cases, down from 26 cases on Thursday.

Overall, Zimbabwe has recorded 7 647 cases, although 5 883 people have recovered.

Speaking to state media on Friday, Deputy Minister of Health and Child Care, Dr John Mangwiro, commended Zimbabweans for the discipline shown in adhering to the prescribed World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines.

“It shows the message from President Mnangagwa is now cascading down to the people,” he said.

“He has always been saying people should continue following the health protocols. I need to thank the people of Zimbabwe who have been adhering to the prescribed regulations; their discipline is beginning to bear fruit.”

Dr Mangwiro said there was need to continue observing the guidelines to remain safe from the pandemic.

He saluted all frontline health personnel for continuing to provide critical services to save lives, despite the obvious risks associated with the pandemic.

Government interventions to curb the spread of Covid-19 received a major boost when nurses ended their industrial action recently.

A 21-year-old University of Zimbabwe student has been brought before the court accused of r_ping his niece.

The suspect, Terrence Musekiwa, was not asked to plead when he appeared before Harare magistrate Judith Taruvinga who released him on $1000 bail and strongly warned him not to interfere with State witnesses till the matter is finalised.

The court heard that in April this year just after the first 21 days of the national lockdown, Musekiwa and the complainant were at home while her parents were at work and her siblings were playing outside.

Musekiwa reportedly told the complainant to take her books to his bedroom so that she would study under his supervision and when she entered the room, he reportedly told her that he loved her and she kept quiet.

He then pushed her onto the bed and took off her clothes and r_ped her but she didn’t scream because he had told her that he would beat her up if she did, the court heard.

After the incident, he further threatened the complainant that if she confessed ‘to any living soul’ that she had been r_ped, he was going to beat her and that if asked she should say that she had consented to have sexual intercourse with him.

The complainant is said to have gone away and cried but didn’t tell anyone about it and he continued to r_pe her on several occasions.

The court heard that the matter came to light on August 6 when the complainant told her mother that she had v_ginal thrush and when she asked to see it, she confessed that she had been r_ped by Musekiwa leading to his arrest.

Lancelot Mutsokoti appeared for the State.

-State Media

Motorists flooded the police’s Vehicle Theft Squad in Harare yesterday as they sought to get the needed clearance that will allow them to obtain registration number plates, on a day when 420 cars were impounded countrywide.

Police have demanded that all vehicles on the roads should have number plates since they are now readily available, and police teams have been heavily deployed on the roads targeting unregistered vehicles.

The Zimbabwe National Roads Administration (Zinara) has joined the drive to eliminate vehicles without registration numbers through denying such vehicles passage at tollgates.

On Thursday, Zinara public relations manager Mr Tendai Mugabe advised the public to register their vehicles or otherwise they will not be allowed to pass through tollgates.

The crackdown on unregistered vehicles comes in the wake of a spate of armed robberies countrywide, with some criminals using unmarked vehicles to evade police.

Following the blitz, police indicated yesterday that they were now overwhelmed by motorists as they have capacity to clear 0nly 160 vehicles a day.

Over 12 000 pirate taxis and unregistered vehicles have been impounded.

The Vehicle Registration and Licensing Act demands that vehicles be registered and always display the registration marks and numbers.

Temporary registration number plates normally have a 14-day lifespan, which is enough to get the vehicle home and secure permanent registration.

National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi has urged motorists to cooperate with the police.

Police commanders in all provinces were recently directed to ensure that only vehicles with number plates were allowed to pass through roadblocks and security check points.

At Southerton Police Station police were manning roadblocks and impounding such vehicles.

Most of the impounded vehicles were unregistered small cars such as the Honda Fit and police said they will only release the cars once the owners produce receipts from the Central Vehicle Registry proving that they have paid for number plates and were waiting to collect them.

Some of the vehicles were parked at the Southerton Police Station Traffic Section, while others were at the district headquarters where the Vehicle Theft Squad is also based.

The squad is a specialised section that deals with cases of theft and robbery of motor vehicles. It is also responsible for clearing of motor vehicles for registration, permission to drive outside Zimbabwe temporarily and clearance for change of ownership.

Yesterday, there was a winding queue of motorists seeking to have their vehicles cleared, ahead of registration with the Central Vehicle Registry.

At the registry in the city centre, there was another long queue of people buying registration number plates which police said are being sold for US$80.

Some motorists yesterday complained that they were being turned away by CVR officials who told them that they did not have number plates in stock, although the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development insists they have enough in stock. Some were claiming there were officials demanding kick-backs ranging between US$20 and US$100, for a motorist to get registration number plates.

Police in Mutare have been impounding all unregistered vehicles since Thursday.

At the roadblock located near Mutare Teachers’ College, numerous vehicles without registration number plates had been impounded by the end of yesterday.

Motorists who spoke to The Herald said they had not been given enough time to visit the CVR offices to register their vehicles before the order to impound was given.

“We are appealing to the Government to give us more time to register our vehicles. As it is, I have been working out of town and only managed to travel today so I obviously have not had time to do it,” said one motorist, who declined to give his name.

The requirements for vehicle registration are an application form (CVR4), Customs Clearance Certificate issued by Zimra, police clearance, copy of insurance policy document, photocopy of acceptable own personal identification in the form of Zimbabwe national identity card or a valid Zimbabwe driver’s licence or a Zimbabwean passport, proof of residence in the form of rates or utility bill or bank statement, and proof of payment of import duty.

-State Media

By A Correspondent| There was pandemonium in Harare on Friday as Zanu PF hooligans violently disrupted a ZINASU media briefing on the Impala Car Rental rigmarole.

The marauding Zanu PF youths severely bashed ZINASU leaders as police officers watched.

The rowdy youths also attacked journalists covering the event and reportedly seized mobile phones and cameras belonging to some of the reporters.

They chased after a female reporter from Techmag TV as she sought cover inside her car, they took her car keys and handbag among other valuables which have not been recovered to date.

“The Zanu PF hooligans violently disrupted the ZINASU media briefing and they also attacked journalists covering the event,” a source told ZimEye.com.

The police did not act but kept protecting Impala Car rental premises.

Asked by one of the reporters who lost his gadgets on why they did not act or arrest the attackers, one of the police officers who was commanding the operation said they had no jurisdiction over the area as it fell under Rhodesville.