By A Correspondent- A Bindura woman is in soup after she assaulted her friend over a US$1 change.

The matter came to light at Bindura magistrates courts on Friday where Mary Kwainona (26) appeared before magistrate More blessing Makati after allegedly assaulting Rujeko Kaguda (26) over a dollar dispute.

Prosecutor Edward Katsvairo alleged on September 8 Kaguda went to her friend’s house to collect her US $ change from the accused.

The accused became very violent upon being confronted over the change she assaulted the complainant with open hands and only stopped when she said she was going to file a police report.

The complainant sustained a swollen face leading to the arrest of Kwainona.

The matter continues on October 6.

By A Correspondent- Six armed Zimbabwe Republic Police officers from Sanyati were arrested for assault, unlawful entry and theft at a gold dealer’s premises yesterday.

According to a leaked memo seen by a local publication, the six were travelling in an unregistered Isuzu armed with riffles on September 10.

They first pounced on Luckmore Katsekera (26) who is Simbarashe Chimwaza’s driver.

Chimwaza is a gold dealer of Nhengu village, Godzi in Kenzamba.

The cops allegedly assaulted Katsekera with the butt of a riffle on the head, entered into a shop and stole ZWL$200.

The cops proceeded to Chimwaza’s homestead  in their vehicle and people at the house fled upon seeing armed police officers in a speeding vehicle

They broke in the house stole short guns, and USD30 000.

The matter is being investigated at Kenzamba police station under RRB number 4407564.

By A Correspondent- Speaking on the sidelines of a donation ceremony that saw the elderly in Bulawayo’s Luveve suburb yesterday receiving food hampers, Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube promised civil servants their bonus and said they will get their 13th cheque, Sunday News reports. Ncube also said they were still negotiating with the National Joint Negotiating Council (NJNC) to increase the civil servants’ salaries.

Said the treasury boss:

On bonuses, the civil servants should not worry much, for now we will address their salaries and allowances. Bonus as we all know it is a norm that we pay it every year, hence this year, it won’t be different, we are working on paying them their 13th cheque

We are continuing talks with civil servants noting that they are hardworking and critical to our economy, especially those in the health sector, who make up our frontline workers in the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic, which has largely affected our nation. What we are doing now is that we are engaging the civil servants to see how we can continue with the non-taxable foreign currency allowance for the entire civil service and the risk allowances for our health workers

Ncube’s claims about ongoing salary negotiations were confirmed by Apex Council President and Trade unionist Cecilia Alexander who said:

The negotiations are yet to be concluded because the Government initially came to us with a figure which we felt was far less than what we expected. Regarding bonuses I am sure this will also be tabled in our next meeting but since we are fast approaching November, I must emphasise that as civil servants we expect our bonuses to be paid.-statemedia

Paul Nyathi

Zimbabwe’s good run in Covid-19 statistics that saw the country enjoy a great number of recoveries for almost a fortnight might be coming to an end after the number of active coronavirus cases rose again on the last week.

On Saturday the number of active cases in the country rose to 1 609 after the country recorded 29 new cases but only 15 recoveries.

There are now 7 508 cases and 5 675 recoveries.

Deaths remained at 224.

Harare has 1 049 cases followed by Matebeleland South with 181. Mashonaland West has 144 and Bulawayo 103.

Standard

GWANDA youths have petitioned Parliament to push through a clause guaranteeing a 30% quota representation in the legislature to ensure full representation from local to national platforms.

In a petition to National Assembly speaker Jacob Mudenda dated August 31, the youths under the banner Community Youth Development Trust (CYDT), raised concern about lack of constitutional support for a youth quota.

CYDT chairperson Zanele Nyathi, in a letter accompanying the petition, said the lack of such a quota had created room for “further marginalisation of youths in critical decision-making spaces such as ward development committees to Parliament“.

“Therefore, it is against this background that on behalf of youths from Matabeleland South province we request your office to submit to Parliament the request to have a constitutionally supported youth quota that provides for at least 30% youth representation,” Nyathi’s letter reads in part.

“We also request an engagement between the parliamentary portfolio committee and the youths to further consolidate their submissions on the latter prior to finalisation of the amendments.

“Most people live in the rural areas and as such we beseech the parliamentary portfolio committee to make time and meet up with rural youths so that they also express their views in regard to the bill and the above-indicated request.”

One provision of the recently proposed constitutional amendment is the addition of 10 seats for youths in Parliament.

The CYDT in its petition argued this was not enough and demanded a 30% quota.

“Now, therefore, your petitioners beseech the Parliament of Zimbabwe to…protect the constitutionally guaranteed right for the youths to be fairly represented at all levels starting with district to national level platforms,” the petition read.

It added: “Promote youth ability to battle it alone during an electoral process — ensure Zec (Zimbabwe Electoral Commission) set aside constituencies where youths are able to contest each other.

“This will see a significant increase of youth representation at parliament and local governance.”

Eccentric Norton representative Mr Temba Mliswa returned to the House last week after serving a six-week suspension for disorderly conduct.

Mliswa landed the ban after excessively interjecting other legislators making contributions and ministers responding to questions from legislators. He was the first MP to fall foul of the new standing rules, which allow the presiding officer to preclude a legislator from attending sittings for a prescribed period.

His return was not without incident. Mliswa attended the virtual session without his Ipad gadget and was soon in the Speaker’s cross hairs who asked him where his gadget was.

“It was stolen, sir,” he shot back.

“I was hoping that being a former headmaster, you would make me go through the whole process so that I am part of the class because I missed out a lot when I was away,” he added, leaving the House in stitches.

Paul Nyathi

A government official has invaded a farm owned by a white commercial land owner in Zimbabwe, a month after President Emmerson Mnangagwa announced that evicted farmers will be paid $3,5 billion for properties appropriated by the state since 2000.

In a video circulating on social media, Protea Farm owner, Martin Grobler, tells a Mr. Chuma and his colleagues, accompanied by police and other unidentified people, to leave his farm.

The invaders are seen milling around the farm, vowing to stay put. Reports say they have now seized the farm that has a flourishing tobacco crop.

Indications are that the farm has been seized by Ivy Rupindi of the Ministry of Agriculture, who claims that she is the rightful owner of the property, which was allocated to her by the government a couple of years ago. It’s unclear why she has not occupied the farm after it was allocated to her under the land reform program.

The Ministry of Information says it is investigating the issue amid an international outcry over the invasion of the farm.

In a statement, the ministry said, “We have been made aware of a video depicting an eviction of a farmer and his family. Government is trying to establish the facts behind this matter. What is known so far is that there is a legacy legal issue between the parties and the matter is being dealt with by the courts.”

State Media

THE Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) says it has sent 50 dockets to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) since January, putting it on track to reach its target of 80 prosecutions by year-end.

Most of the cases that have been sent for prosecution include high-profile arrests over allegations of criminal abuse of office.

In an interview, ZACC spokesperson Commissioner John Makamure said more high-profile arrests were imminent.

“We are not toothless. We are executing our mandate of prevention and combating of corruption. Fifty dockets have already been finalised and submitted to the NPA for prosecution. Our target is 80 by December,” said Mr Makamure.

He said the whistle-blower initiative has contributed immensely in doubling cases reported to ZACC. The recently launched whistleblower mobile application, he said, would further encourage people to report corruption cases to the anti-graft body.

It would also help to “facilitate easier tracking of the progress of corruption cases being processed within the criminal justice system”.

ZACC intends to recruit more staff to speed up the processing of reported cases.

“ZACC is continuously strengthening its capacity to cope with the increase in the volume of cases. More staff is being hired and representations being made for additional resources. The Ministry of Finance (and Economic Development) sits on the National Anti-Corruption Strategy Steering Committee to ensure adequate funding of the anti-corruption fight,” he said.

State Media

CIVIL servants are set for a happy end of year as the Government has assured them that they will receive their bonus while modalities are also being worked out to continue with foreign currency allowances until the end of the year.

In June, the Government announced a flat non-taxable Covid-19 allowance of US$75 for civil servants and increased their salaries by 50 percent while pensioners who retired from the civil service also got a flat non-taxable Covid-19 allowance of US$30 per month.

The allowances were initially for three months, but during a National Joint Negotiating Council (NJNC) meeting which brings Government and civil servants’ representatives under one roof held last week, the Government announced that the facility has been extended to the end of the year. And to put the cherry on the cake, the Government will also pay its workers a 13th cheque.

Finance and Economic Development Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube told Sunday News on the sidelines of a donation of food hampers to the elderly in Bulawayo’s Luveve suburb yesterday that the Government was in the process of increasing salaries, paying bonus and will continue with the non-taxable Covid-19 US$ allowance for its workers. Health workers are also set to get an additional risk allowance.

“We are continuing talks with civil servants noting that they are hardworking and critical to our economy, especially those in the health sector, who make up our frontline workers in the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic, which has largely affected our nation. What we are doing now is that we are engaging the civil servants to see how we can continue with the non-taxable foreign currency allowance for the entire civil service and the risk allowances for our health workers,” said Prof Ncube.

Regarding the civil servants’ bonuses, the minister assured the workers that despite the challenges presented by the Covid-19 pandemic the workers will receive their 13th cheque this year.

“On bonuses, the civil servants should not worry much, for now we will address their salaries and allowances. Bonus as we all know it is a norm that we pay it every year, hence this year, it won’t be different, we are working on paying them their 13th cheque,” he said.

Commenting on the promises, Apex Council president, Mrs Cecilia Alexandra confirmed that they had begun talks with their employer on both the salary increase and payment of the 13th cheque. She said during last week’s meeting Government promised to come up with a new pay structure for the civil servants.

“The negotiations are yet to be concluded because the Government initially came to us with a figure which we felt was far less than what we expected. Regarding bonuses I am sure this will also be tabled in our next meeting but since we are fast approaching November, I must emphasise that as civil servants we expect our bonuses to be paid,” said Mrs Alexandra.

When the Government announced the forex allowances, it was part of President Mnangagwa’s measures to cushion Government workers from the adverse impact of Covid-19.

Meanwhile, Prof Ncube took a swipe at unscrupulous individuals who buy subsidised mealie-meal, repackage it and then sell it at astronomical prices.

He said the Government will soon be descending on these people with the aim of bringing them to book as they were taking advantage of the desperation by people to line their pockets.

The subsidised mealie-meal has since vanished from the shops in and around Bulawayo.

“As Government we have been trying very hard in terms of providing our citizens with affordable mealie-meal, our official price is $70, which has not been increased, we are, however, aware that there are some unscrupulous individuals who are selling the same product for even five times more, while others are even charging in foreign currency.

“However, I must warn these individuals that as Government we are determined to toe the line and ensure that such acts are brought to book. We know these tricksters who want to take advantage of this generous gesture by the Government for their personal gains,” said Prof Ncube.

He further called on the elderly to register with the Social Welfare Department, revealing that the Government had set aside $2,4 billion for their benefit, which also included $300 monthly cash transfers.

“Our social welfare programme is quite robust and we would like more citizens to come forward and register. We also have our Basic Education Assistance Module which is assisting the education sector and also a programme for the elderly where they will receive support as well house work,” said Prof Ncube.

He donated various food items at Entembeni Old People’s Home as well as food parcels to 75 households in Luveve.

Paul Nyathi

News coming in from Bulawayo indicate that prominent bus operator Mano Dube is no more.

Mano Dube owned the Bulawayo giant bus company, Revival motorways.

Dube died in the City on Saturday after a long illness according to sources close to the family.

Dube joins a sad list of prominent Zimbabwean bus operators who passed on this year amongst them John Mungwari the owner of popular Tenda bus company which was based in Mutare.

Tanda Tavaruva who operated Mhunga Bus company based in masvingo also passed on this year, so was Cecilia who operated B&C (Buddy & Cecilia) bus company which made some headlines in manicaland in yester years.

More details to follow…

State Media

FORMER Government and ZANU PF officials who fled the country while facing criminal charges are set to be extradited to face justice back home, Government has resolved.

Addressing the ZANU PF Midlands Provincial Co-ordinating Committee meeting at the Convention Centre in Gweru yesterday, President Mnangagwa said the former officials, who are wanted for various criminal offences, were fomenting relentless attacks on the country’s image.

Ex-Cabinet ministers Saviour Kasukuwere and Walter Mzembi fled the country while on bail for various criminal offences, including abuse of office and corruption.

They have been identified by ZANU PF as the brains behind strategies to tarnish the country’s image through a coordinated smear campaign.

“So, these G40 elements peddling falsehoods and fictitious narratives about Zimbabwe, we know where they are, but we had remained silent and reluctant,” said the President.

“But now we have an extradition treaty between Zimbabwe and South Africa. I am now going to give instructions to invoke this treaty so that we can extradite these elements to face the law.

“This is not an exception in Zimbabwe, even in America they do so, they evoke this treaty if they have a fugitive citizen they want. In Zimbabwe we have been reluctant but now we want them to come and face the law.”

The President said the G40 fugitives had turned to social media to peddle falsehoods while painting a fictitious image of the country.

Speaking separately to state media, Prosecutor General Mr Kumbirai Hodzi said some G40 elements were fugitives from justice.

“These three (Jonathan Moyo, Kasukuwere and Mzembi) are all fugitives from justice. In the case of Kasukuwere and Mzembi, they both had cases before the courts but they fled before their trials were completed,” said Mr Hodzi.

“Kasukuwere indicated that he was terminally ill and was unable to attend court due to his health condition, but all evidence indicates that this was a false representation to the courts.

“Professor Moyo also has a case to answer relating to fraud and criminal abuse of office during his time as Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education.”

The National Prosecution Authority has started processes to extradite some of the G40 fugitives premised on the Extradition (Designated Countries) Order of 1990 which designated South Africa as one of the nations to which Government can seek legal mutual assistance in extradition cases.

Using this provision, Zimbabwe has asked South Africa to extradite former Cabinet Minister Mzembi who skipped bail while on remand on charges of criminal abuse of duty and theft of trust funds involving US$847 000.

Mzembi, who allegedly committed the offences when he was Minister of Tourism and Hospitality Industry and was spearheading Zimbabwe’s co-hosting of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) conference in August 2013, is believed to be staying in South Africa since he skipped bail two years ago.

State Media

THE Zimbabwe Republic Police is actively pursuing criminals that have been evading the clutches of the long arm of the law for a long time.

It comes on the heels of the highly successful operation to account for Musa Taj Abdul, also known as Kedha, who is the alleged mastermind of a string of robberies that spun over a period of two decades.

He was arrested on August 24 in Beitbridge after being trailed by law enforcement agents.

Police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi says they are currently spiritedly pursuing criminals as part of an elaborate mission of cleaning up the streets.

“Let every robber and anyone engaged in criminal activities know that crime doesn’t pay . . . Abdul has been arrested even though he tried to hide for two decades,” said Asst Comm Nyathi.

Abdul is one of the eight suspected armed robbers who lived lavish lifestyles in posh houses and drove fancy cars in Zimbabwe and South Africa.

The suspected robbers, who allegedly committed a spate of attacks on several individuals and businesses, lived the high life using proceeds from crime.

The criminal enterprise by the alleged gang members, Asst Comm Nyathi said, prejudiced many individuals, families and companies by robbing them of their hard-earned money and valuables. However, the “major police raid” in Beitbridge, which was described as a “smooth” operation, managed to net the individuals who were on police’s most wanted list for the best part of 20 years.

Now they are under lock and key.

Abdul (47) and other suspected gang members — Charles Lundu (47), Rudolf Kanhanga alias Tapiwa Munatsi (29), Tapiwa Mangoma alias Tapa (27), Innocent Jairosi (32), Prince Makodza (31), Liberty Mupamhanga (29) and Godfrey Mupamhanga (27) — have since appeared in court for armed robbery.

But the successful operation is a piece of a wider endless war on crime.

Police are still hunting for six more armed criminals who have been elusive for several years for crimes committed mostly in Harare and Beitbridge.

Asst Comm Nyathi said some of those on the police most wanted list are Andile Shawn Dlamini, Brian Murape, Carrington Marasha, Abednigo Hlongwane and Elias Mpofu, whose crimes include armed robbery and fraud.

Marasha, Hlongwane and Mpofu are believed to be close associates of Abdul, while Murape and Dlamini belong to a separate gang of notorious armed robbers.

It is suspected that the elusive criminals are likely hibernating across the Limpopo (in South Africa).

“People should be alert and watch out for these armed robbers. They can call the nearest police station if anyone has information about the whereabouts of these criminals,” said Asst Comm Nyathi.

Like Abdul, the alleged dangerous criminals are said to be living lavish lifestyles from their ill-gotten gains. However, Asst Comm Nyathi said there was need for a thorough lifestyle audit of Abdul. He said it was possible that Abdul and accomplices could have registered properties in the names of relatives and friends.

The State is empowered by the amended Money Laundering and Proceeds of Crime Act to forfeit properties bought using ill-gotten funds.

“The suspected armed robbers were getting rich and living large as they were shuttling between Zimbabwe and South Africa. They have cars and houses across borders and this clearly shows a picture of people living lavishly at the expense of their victims,” said Asst Comm Nyathi.

The Sunday Mail established that Abdul’s address — 23 Down Street Barham Green, Bulawayo — is non-existent, as repeated efforts to locate his home proved fruitless. Barham Green residents interviewed by this publication said Abdul never lived in the neighbourhood.

Some preliminary investigations have indicated that Abdul could have grown up living in Arcadia in the capital before he left for an unknown address.

It is suspected that some of the gang members were cash-rich such that they could afford to buy properties in South Africa’s plush suburb of Sandton.

Some of the crimes might have been committed a long time ago but the victims are still traumatised by the brutal raids, said Asst Comm Nyathi.

Some of the cases allegedly committed by the suspected armed robbers who were recently arrested include the February 5 raid at Makoni Shopping Centre, Chitungwiza, where they stole US$19 000, $30 000, cellphones and a Toyota Allion vehicle, which was later found abandoned in Glen View.

It is alleged on February 26 the gang robbed another person in Harare of US$40 000, jewellery, several pairs of shoes, a laptop, cellphones, a Star pistol and Hyundai vehicle. The gang is suspected to have proceeded to the victim’s workplace and robbed him of US$227 250 and R28 000. At the scene of the shoot-out, police recovered a 9mm CZ pistol, a Star pistol, Bruno pistol, .38 special Amadeo Rossi revolver, FN Browning pistol, 20x9mm rounds of ammunition and 4×7,65mm live rounds.

Recently, they are alleged to have stolen US$1 473 from a house in Queensdale, Harare, before proceeding to raid Trauma Centre, where they got away with an undisclosed amount of cash.

Paul Nyathi

President Emmerson Mnangagwa says his goverment has finally managed to tame the runaway inflation which was being caused by fictitious mobile money created mostly through Ecocash.

Mnangagwa was addressing ZANU PF Midlands Provincial Coordinating Committee (PCC) members in Gweru on Saturday.

“We realised that Ecocash was behind all this so we studied this thing and got to their server and found everything, every corruption and takatora tsvimbo ndokurova, it was painful to others but we said we only allow limited mobile money and it must reflect in the account,” said President Mnangagwa.

He said this was the reason why Government introduced auctions, the “one for SMEs and another for big sharks”.

“We were all confused as to what was happening until we set up a committee and we discovered there was up to $8,4 billion circulating outside the banking system, which money in financial terms, is phantom money, which is some sort of ghost money whose source no one knows,” said President Mnangagwa.

Phantom income, sometimes referred to as phantom revenue, is typically an investment gain that has not yet been realised through a cash sale or a distribution.

“We also discovered that there were people on the streets, a lodger who does not own a house but in his or her mobile phone there is $86 million, which he or she is trading, not employed, no one complaining of losing money, it was confusing,” he said.

President Mnangagwa said his government was also worried with the level of corruption, especially in local authorities. He said his administration will leave no stone unturned to eradicate corruption.

Paul Nyathi

President Emmerson Mnangagwa has added his voice to ZANU PF assertions that the two groups of South African envoys were never meant to meet with anyone else in the country other than himself and ZANU PF party.

Mnangagwa, who was addressing ZANU PF Midlands Provincial Coordinating Committee (PCC) members in Gweru on Saturday, also dismissed chances of the opposition political parties meeting with the South Africans in future.

He said the first group sent by President Cyril Ramaphosa was for “President-to-President briefings” while that country’s ruling African National Congress (ANC) delegation had come for “party-to-party briefings” and were never meant to meet opposition groupings as has been peddled on various forums.

Mnangagwa said the country was under siege from its detractors, a development that saw President Ramaphosa of South Africa, telephoning him.

He said the personal call from President Ramaphosa led to the dispatching of an envoy and later a recent visit by a delegation from the ruling ANC.

“President Ramaphosa, my friend, he called and said ‘my brother, there is a lot of pressure here, how are things over there because here we understand Zimbabwe is in a crisis’ and I said ‘no there is nothing like that’ and he said ‘I want to send an envoy to be briefed’ and I said ‘ok’.

“Then social media misinterprets, they say ah President Ramaphosa is sending an envoy to come and investigate the Zimbabwe situation and he must come and see other groups and so on. No.

“The protocol is if a Head of State sends an envoy to another Head of State, the envoy carries the information from one Head to another and the other replies and that reply is carried back and that is what happened. It’s a President to President briefing,” Mnangagwa said.

He said revolutionary parties have a symbiotic relationship.

“Then there are revolutionary parties. In Mozambique we have Frelimo, in South Africa we have the ANC, we have SWAPO in Namibia, Angola’s MPLM, Zimbabwe’s ZANU-PF and we also have Chamachamapinduzi in Tanzania. These are the parties that were engaged in the armed struggle.

“We have, of course, countries like Botswana, Zambia and Malawi. So we have a forum of revolutionary parties where we continue to share challenges as revolutionary parties. As we get attacked by our detractors we must share the mode of attack by our detractors. So, we agreed as ANC and ZANU PF that our brothers and sisters of the ANC come and we discuss the challenges and attacks on us so they also prepare themselves better,” said Mnangagwa.

He said there was never a plan for the ANC to meet other opposition outfits.

“You then hear some sections of the media saying the South African envoy and the ANC delegation snubbed opposition parties, no, they were never meant to meet them,” the President said.

Source: State Media

Paul Nyathi

Taxpayers’ funds will not be used to compensate white former commercial farmers for improvements made on farms, but the money will be sourced externally, President Emmerson Mnangagwa has said.

Mnangagwa said this while addressing ZANU PF Midlands Provincial Coordinating Committee (PCC) members in Gweru on Saturday.

Mnangagwa reiterated that ZANU PF party would never deviate from its ethos where land was the main reason for the protracted war that brought independence in 1980.

“Our colonisers took our land and we waged a war that culminated into independence and we took it back, and that will never change,” he said.

“We, however, have a few individuals who fail to understand or comprehend our Constitution, Section 295 of the Constitution. We have a Lancaster House Constitution which we used until 2013, but we decided as a people that we need a home-grown Constitution and that Constitution remains the position.”

Mnangagwa said the Lancaster House Constitution had a clear provision on compensation, one which would be done without using taxpayers’ money.

“The position is that as Zimbabweans we shall not pay compensation for land and that remains . . . we are saying no taxpayer’s money will be used to pay that compensation,” he said.

The President said a committee involving all stakeholders will be mandated with sourcing funds for compensation.

“We have set up a committee including white former farmers to go to Europe where they will raise the money to pay under the Agreement. Then we hear some individuals who are unable to comprehend just one provision saying ‘we want to reverse the land reform programme’, NO!

“The purpose of the revolution was our land and we shall not deviate from that, we shall not depart from our land,” he said.

The Global Compensation Deed Agreement was signed between Government and representatives of white former farmers last month. Under its terms, Government committed to help raise funds to pay the ex-farmers US$3,5 billion as compensation for improvements made on farms that were acquired by the State.

Half of the amount will be paid out within 12 months of signing the agreement and the balance to be paid over a period of 48 months thereafter.

A Joint Resources Mobilisation Committee to work with the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development was established to raise funds through long term debt and other financial instruments with a tenure of up to 30 years.

Source: State Media

State Media

A group of female student nurses at the United Bulawayo Hospitals (UBH) has been detained for a week as punishment after it held what authorities said was a wild striptease party in one of the hostels while celebrating the completion of their three-year course.

In July, UBH was identified as the Covid-19 treatment centre in Bulawayo, where residents who test positive have been referred for treatment and isolation.

The incident happened last week after the final-year students received their results and allegedly hastily organised a party.

They reportedly smuggled alcohol to spice up the occasion.

However, the student nurses were caught by hospital authorities, who then decided to punish the whole class by withholding their certificates and send them back to the wards for a further week as punishment.

The students were supposed to vacate the institution on September 3, but will only get their certificates tomorrow.

UBH acting chief executive officer Dr Narcisius Dzvanga confirmed the punishment that was meted out on the “wayward” student nurses.

“I got that news but they are going home on Monday (tomorrow). It was a disciplinary issue, nothing personal. They passed and they started misbehaving within the complex and it was decided that releasing people into the world with that attitude was not good. So, it was just a punitive measure taken,” he said.

When asked about the “misdemeanours”, Dr Dzvanga was, however, not keen to elaborate, although the affected nurses said it was after they held the strip party.

“It was just incorrect behaviour that we can’t talk about; they were over-celebrating. They are people who were exiting a training programme and they celebrated in an unbecoming manner, so we felt we had to punish them a little. Nursing requires professionalism and no matter how much you are celebrating, there are some things you cannot do. We wanted to show them that the certificates that they had got have ethics and professionalism that go along with them. So, we decided that they hang around and go and work in the hospital even though they had finished before they are released, just to correct their misdemeanours.”

However, some of the affected students said it was wrong for the institution to punish the whole.

“All female students were punished, there was some sort of celebration that was done after getting results, so all of us were punished yet our contracts ended on September 3 2020.”

A government official has invaded a farm owned by a white commercial land owner in Zimbabwe, a month after President Emmerson Mnangagwa announced that evicted farmers will be paid $3,5 billion for properties appropriated by the state since 2000.

In a video circulating on social media, Protea Farm owner, Martin Grobler, tells a Mr. Chuma and his colleagues, accompanied by police and other unidentified people, to leave his farm.

The invaders are seen milling around the farm, vowing to stay put. Reports say they have now seized the farm that has a flourishing tobacco crop.

Indications are that the farm has been seized by Ivy Rupindi of the Ministry of Agriculture, who claims that she is the rightful owner of the property, which was allocated to her by the government a couple of years ago. It’s unclear why she has not occupied the farm after it was allocated to her under the land reform program.

The Ministry of Information says it is investigating the issue amid an international outcry over the invasion of the farm.

In a statement, the ministry said, “We have been made aware of a video depicting an eviction of a farmer and his family. Government is trying to establish the facts behind this matter. What is known so far is that there is a legacy legal issue between the parties and the matter is being dealt with by the courts.”

Information secretary Nick Mangwana and Grobler were unavailable for comment as they were not responding to calls on their mobile phones.

Over 4,500 white commercial farmers lost their land following violent farm invasions by war veterans, Zanu PF supporters and government officials in 2000. Some farmers were killed when their land was appropriated under the ruling party’s sanctioned agrarian reform program.

-VOA

A gang of 12 men has been arrested for stealing six tonnes of gold ore valued at US$6 153 from a mine at Maphisa in Matobo District.

Arnold Mushenje (57), Ishmael Moyo (29), Darlington Sibanda (35), George Ngwenya (43), Levy Munenge (29), Shelton Dube (27), Gerald Munkuli (27), Irvin Moyo (29), Mathew Ngwarai (20), Nkululeko Ngwenya (35), Moses Mnwembe (41) and Talent Tagarira (31) are expected to appear at the Gwanda Magistrate’s Court this week facing a charge of theft of gold ore.

According to the State papers, the gang was found mining at Antelope East Mine which is owned by Lablink Distributors Private Limited where they had extracted six tonnes of gold ore.

“On 20 December last year police detectives were conducting routine patrols when they received information that there was a group of people that were mining for gold without a permit at Antelope East Mine.

“They proceeded to the mine where they found accused persons number two to 12 removing gold ore from the underground shaft bringing it to the surface,” read the State papers.

-State Media

A MAN died when his car was involved in a head on collision with a truck at Sezhube near Gwanda on Tuesday after he encroached into the opposite lane.

Matabeleland South provincial police spokesperson Chief Inspector Philisani Ndebele confirmed the accident which occurred at about 10pm.

He said Spense Chawara (33) was driving a Toyota Axio when he encroached onto the lane of oncoming traffic and collided with a Nissan UD truck.

“I can confirm that we recorded a fatal road accident which occurred at the 88-kilometre peg along the Bulawayo-Beitbridge Road. The now deceased, Spense Chawara was driving a Toyota Axio vehicle with one passenger on board.

“He encroached onto the lane of oncoming traffic and collided with a Nissan UD truck which was coming from the opposite direction.

Chawara died on the spot while the passenger he was carrying sustained serious head injuries and was referred to United Bulawayo Hospitals.

“The driver of the truck escaped with no injuries. The matter was reported to the police who attended the scene,” said Chief Insp Ndebele.

-State Media

Taxpayers’ funds will not be used to compensate white former commercial farmers for improvements made on farms, but the money will be sourced externally, Emmerson Mnangagwa has said.

Mnangagwa, who was addressing ZANU PF Midlands Provincial Coordinating Committee (PCC) members in Gweru yesterday, also clarified recent visits by two groups of South African envoys.

He said the first group sent by President Cyril Ramaphosa was for “President-to-President briefings” while that country’s ruling African National Congress (ANC) delegation had come for “party-to-party briefings” and were never meant to meet opposition groupings as has been peddled on various forums.

On the Global Compensation Deed Agreement,  Mnangagwa said the revolutionary party would never deviate from its ethos where land was the main reason for the protracted war that brought independence in 1980.

“Our colonisers took our land and we waged a war that culminated into independence and we took it back, and that will never change,” he said.
“We, however, have a few individuals who fail to understand or comprehend our Constitution, Section 295 of the Constitution.

We have a Lancaster House Constitution which we used until 2013, but we decided as a people that we need a home-grown Constitution and that Constitution remains the position.”
President Mnangagwa said the Lancaster House Constitution had a clear provision on compensation, one which would be done without using taxpayers’ money.

“The position is that as Zimbabweans we shall not pay compensation for land and that remains . . . we are saying no taxpayer’s money will be used to pay that compensation,” he said.-The Sunday News

President Emmerson Mnangagwa has threatened to evoke the provisions of the extradition treaty between Zimbabwe and South Africa to arrest former G40 leaders who are in self imposed exile following the November 2017 coup.

Addressing the Zanu-PFprovincial meeting in Gweru yesterday, Mnangagwa said criminals have for long found a safe haven in neighbouring countries and were now working in cahoots with detractors who are bent on disturbing peace, law and order in Zimbabwe.

Mnangagwa said his Government was aware of their whereabouts and will soon descend on them so that they are brought to book for their transgressions.

He said G40 fugitives, who comprise former Zanu-PF members, had turned into cyber stormtroopers and political gladiators on social media who are peddling falsehoods in order to destabilise the country.

Mnangagwa said the fugitives had connived with the country’s adversaries who are also infiltrating the country using Non-Governmental Organisations who have strayed from their mandate to pursue their ulterior political agendas. Former cabinet ministers like Saviour Kasukuwere, Walter Mzembi and Patrick Zhuwawo are some of the former party members domiciled in South Africa, with Professor Jonathan Moyo believed to be in Kenya.

“So these G40 elements peddling falsehoods and narratives about Zimbabwe, we know where they are and we have been reluctant. But now we have an extradition treaty between Zimbabwe and South Africa. I am now going to give instructions to evoke that treaty so that we can extradite these elements to face the law. In America, no American will speak or act against the country and get away with it. In Zimbabwe they have been surviving but the law is there to make them accountable. We have local NGOs. I want to make it clear that each NGO in this country, when they get registered, they do so on the basis of agreed areas of participation. They are given a mandate for a particular area or activity. Those that are going to be found acting or working outside their mandate as NGOs we shall call them to account.” he said.

Farai Dziva|
Kezembe Kazembe (Home Affairs Minister) has been sued by a student who was brutally assaulted by ZRP cops.

Kazembe was given an ultimatum by a Harare magistrate who ordered him to either compensate the Gweru based student who was brutalised by police officers in 2018 with $199 500 – in a fortnight or spend 60 days in jail.

See Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights post below :

Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Minister Kazembe Kazembe has been given a two-week ultimatum by Harare Magistrate Mazhande to pay RTGS$199 500 to Simon Mandoza, a student based in Gweru as compensation for damages he suffered when he was assaulted by some Zimbabwe Republic Police members in 2018.

Magistrate Mazhande ruled that if Minister Kazembe Kazembe failed to pay compensation to Mandoza within 14 days, he will be sentenced to serve 60 days in prison.

Through her lawyer Fiona Iliff and Obey Shava of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, Mandoza sued Kazembe Kazembe and ZRP Commissioner-General Godwin Matanga after some police officers arrested the college student on 20 September 2018 while he was standing outside a fast food outlet in Harare’s CBD, waiting for his brother to pick him up.

Unbeknown to him ZRP members were carrying out an operation against alleged informal traders in the CBD at that time.

Mandoza was assaulted by ZRP members with an open palm and then forced to get into the back of a police vehicle.

While in the vehicle, ZRP members poked Mandoza a truncheon on his shoulder and at the back of his head, threatening him with further assault. Mandoza was finally taken to Harare Central Police Station, where he was finally released without a charge being preferred against him.

The ruling ZANU PF says it will not allow members of South Africa’s African National Congress (ANC) to come to Zimbabwe and meet with opposition parties as that move would be the first of its kind.

ZANU PF secretary for External Affairs, Simbarashe Mumbengegwi, on Friday told journalists that there is no crisis in Zimbabwe, therefore, the ANC’s mediation is not needed.

Said Mumbengegwi:
The question of a sister party coming to the country of another sister party to establish bilateral relations with the opposition party is unheard of (as) that can only happen in the context of mediation and mediation can only occur with the consent of the conflicting parties.

But where there is no crisis, there is no real need for mediation and therefore no purpose will be served by trying to play a mediatory role, where there is no crisis and where there is no conflict and more importantly, where there is no consent of the parties involved.

Mumbengegwi said they were surprised to hear a member of the ANC delegation, Lindiwe Zulu, telling reporters on landing in South Africa that there was a crisis in Zimbabwe. He added:

I know why you are asking, my counterpart (Lindiwe Zulu), on landing in South Africa held a media briefing where she riveted back to the original position that there was a crisis in Zimbabwe and therefore they needed to come back to Zimbabwe to resolve that crisis, but surely how can you unilaterally reverse a common position that the two delegations agreed on.

I want to assure you that it is not normal for a former liberation party to impose itself on another and therefore we only hope that the views expressed were individual views and we would be very surprised if there is the common position of the ANC.

… There is no way an ANC delegation will come to Zimbabwe to interfere in our domestic affairs.-The Herald

Farai Dziva|MDC Alliance leader, Advocate Nelson Chamisa has saluted millions of Zimbabweans for their resilience in the wake of widespread persecution and harassment.

President Chamisa also urged the people of Zimbabwe to remain optimistic in spite of attempts by the Zanu PF regime to thwart the struggle for freedom.

President Chamisa wrote on Twitter :
“21 years after the movement was born & #TheMarchIsNotEnded.

2020 has been a tough year but today I am reminded that the hope for the future lies in our hands.

We remain humbled by your support and loyalty to the ideal of a better Zimbabwe for all in our lifetime.Happy Sabbath!!”

Farai Dziva|MDC Alliance leader, Advocate Nelson Chamisa has saluted millions of Zimbabweans for their resilience in the wake of widespread persecution and harassment.

President Chamisa also urged the people of Zimbabwe to remain optimistic in spite of attempts by the Zanu PF regime to thwart the struggle for freedom.

President Chamisa wrote on Twitter :
“21 years after the movement was born & #TheMarchIsNotEnded.

2020 has been a tough year but today I am reminded that the hope for the future lies in our hands.

We remain humbled by your support and loyalty to the ideal of a better Zimbabwe for all in our lifetime.Happy Sabbath!!”

Farai Dziva|The MDC Alliance has dismissed the “ridiculous claims” by Zanu PF that the opposition party has something to do with the Chivhu shooting incident.

MDC Alliance spokesperson, Advocate Fadzai Mahere has described the attempt by Zanu PF to blame the popular opposition party for the Chivhu shooting incident as regrettable.

Two soldiers were shot(one of them fatally) in Chivhu last Saturday by two assailants who were reportedly shot dead by security agents within 24 hours.

In a tweet, Advocate Mahere said :
Neither the MDC Alliance, President
@nelsonchamisa
nor VP
@BitiTendai
had anything to do with the Chivhu shooting incident involving soldiers.

The attempt by Chinamasa to blame the MDC Alliance for the incident is desperate, regrettable and unsubstantiated. These lies must stop.”

“When a whole spokesperson resorts to ad hominem attacks and insults, you know the nation is in crisis.

Dialogue isn’t about being told what you want to hear. It’s about the facts and evidence. The crisis in Zim speaks for itself.

This denialist defensiveness won’t help us. Reform.”

Farai Dziva|The MDC Alliance has dismissed the “ridiculous claims” by Zanu PF that the opposition party has something to do with the Chivhu shooting incident.

MDC Alliance spokesperson, Advocate Fadzai Mahere has described the attempt by Zanu PF to blame the popular opposition party for the Chivhu shooting incident as regrettable.

Two soldiers were shot(one of them fatally) in Chivhu last Saturday by two assailants who were reportedly shot dead by security agents within 24 hours.

In a tweet, Advocate Mahere said :
Neither the MDC Alliance, President
@nelsonchamisa
nor VP
@BitiTendai
had anything to do with the Chivhu shooting incident involving soldiers.

The attempt by Chinamasa to blame the MDC Alliance for the incident is desperate, regrettable and unsubstantiated. These lies must stop.”

“When a whole spokesperson resorts to ad hominem attacks and insults, you know the nation is in crisis.

Dialogue isn’t about being told what you want to hear. It’s about the facts and evidence. The crisis in Zim speaks for itself.

This denialist defensiveness won’t help us. Reform.”

After reprimanding his sister about her date, a Zimunya man escaped death by a whisker after two failed attempts to run a car over him.

All hell broke loose after Tanaka Mukono saw his 19-year-old sister, Gracious Mukono, taking a walk with Elvis Nyanhete, his friend.

He quizzed the couple about their relationship but this did not go down well with Nyanhete, who went on to assault Tanaka.

Manicaland provincial police spokesperson, Inspector Tavhiringwa Kakohwa confirmed the incident which happened at Zimunya Township last week.

“When Mukono saw his close friend Nyanhete taking a walk with his sister Gracious, he ordered her to stop dating him,” said Inspector Kakohwa.

“Nyanhete went on to assault Mukono before jumping into his vehicle with the intention of running over him.

Nyanhete hit Tanaka with the front fender and the latter sustained an injury on his right leg.

“Nyanhete drove for about eight metres before making a U-turn in another attempt to run over Mukono. Fortunately he missed him,” said Inspector Kakohwa.

Mukono was rushed to the hospital and Nyanhete vanished from the scene. He is still at large.

“We are appealing to members of the public with information leading to Nyanhete’s arrest to contact their nearest police station,” said the provincial police spokesperson.
— Manica Post

New Ziana

The Kariba dam-wall rehabilitation project is progressing well despite temporary disruptions caused by Covid-19 lockdowns, the Zambezi River Authority (ZRA) has said.

The rehabilitation project, which commenced in 2017, comprises the reshaping of the plunge pool and the refurbishing of the spillway gates.

The US$294 million project is being funded by the European Union, World Bank, African Development Bank, the government of Sweden and the ZRA on behalf of the governments of Zambia and Zimbabwe, through a combination of grants and loans.

The authority, which manages the Kariba Dam on behalf of the Zimbabwean and Zambian governments, said expatriate staff who had travelled to their home countries on leave, were affected by international travel bans imposed due to Covid-19.

“This temporarily left some gaps in the smooth schedule of the operations, thus requiring very close supervision of potentially affected works. However with the progressive easing of lockdowns under specified conditions, some of the affected team members have since returned,” the ZRA said in emailed responses.

“In order to stick to the set completion date, work has continued at the project site with strict adherence to health guidelines from both the World Health Organisation and the health authorities of the two contracting states.The contract implementation timeframe is scheduled as 48 months extending from the commencement date. This implies that completion of the works will be in January 2024.”

The ZRA said the re-shaping of the plunge pool would help minimise erosion which can undercut the dam foundations.

“The measures required to reshape the plunge pool include construction of a downstream cofferdam to enable the blasting and excavation of an estimated 300 000 m3 of rock from the downstream end and north and south bank sides of the pool in the dry.

“This will create a new pool profile that will improve energy dissipation and guide the spilling water in the downstream direction, away from the dam foundations avoiding backward erosion towards the dam foundations. The plunge pool reshaping works are being implemented by a civil engineering construction company known as Razel Bec (of France) and commenced in May 2017. The target date for completion of the works is December, 2023,” it said.

On the spillway refurbishment works, the ZRA said the contractor was currently working on establishing the construction site facilities as well as the fabrication of the electro-mechanical equipment required for execution of the works through specialist sub-contractors.

“The refurbishment of the built-in parts and replacement of the embedding concrete will require that the works are done in the dry. In this regard, a buffer that separates the dam upstream water body from the spilling gate openings will need to be constructed and this is called a Coffer Dam.

“The spillway refurbishment works contract is being implemented by a consortium of GE Hydro France with Freyssinet International and commenced in September 2019. The target date for completion of the works is December 2023.”

The rehabilitation works would ensure the dam’s longevity and long term efficient operation.

“The overall development objective of the Kariba dam wall rehabilitation project is to address some major identified dam safety risks and thereby ensure the long-term safety and reliability of the Kariba Dam for power generation for the benefit of Zambia and Zimbabwe as well as the Southern African Region as a whole,” the authority said.

Watch video downloading below as councillor  Geoffrey Kurauoene speak after  his release from prison.

Reuters

Zimbabwe’s biggest nurses union said on Wednesday it was encouraging its members to end a pay strike which started in June and which forced major hospitals to turn away patients at a time the country is fighting the coronavirus pandemic.

Inflation is running above 800%, reviving memories of the hardships of more than a decade ago when hyperinflation wiped out savings and pensions.The Zimbabwe Nurses Association (ZINA), which has more than 16,000 members, called for the strike to force President Emmerson Mnanagwa’s government to pay U.S. dollar salaries, but authorities say they are unable to do so.The strike by nurses and senior doctors has crippled public hospitals, with non-emergency patients turned away and some babies stillborn due to lack of adequate medical care.

ZINA president Enoch Dongo said nurses wanted to give Vice President Constantino Chiwenga, who was in August appointed health minister, a chance to resolve the dispute.

“When you have a crisis sometimes you need to give people a chance to resolve it. After sometime we will review this decision,” Dongo told Reuters.
“So we are telling our members to report for work but only if they have transport money and if there is PPE in hospitals.”

Dongo said the lowest paid nurse earned 6,000 Zimbabwe dollars ($73) in salary and allowances monthly. The state statistical agency says an average family of five needs at least 15,573 Zimbabwe dollars to be not considered poor.Chiwenga has said the government would soon table a pay offer for the health sector and stop paying medical bills for cabinet ministers and senior officials who seek treatment abroad to save on scarce foreign exchange.

Zimbabweans are growing impatient with Mnangagwa, who promised to revive the economy when he took over from Robert Mugabe after a coup in 2017. Mnangagwa says the economy is being sabotaged the opposition and some Western countries.

Pindula

The Electoral Resource Centre (ERC) says the Electoral Act places the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) in a judicial role in the process of filling vacant seats in Parliament.

In its legal opinion on the role of ZEC in filling PR/Senate vacancies that have arisen in Parliament, the ERC argued that the Electoral Act places ZEC in a quasi-judicial role during the process of filling a party-list seat and gives it discretion which it must exercise reasonably. The ERC said:

Arguably, the provisions of the Electoral Act place ZEC in a quasi-judicial role during the process of Filling a party-list seat.

While it has mandatory duties to publish notifications of party-list vacancies when it is informed by Parliament and to invite the political party to submit a replacement, it has a key role in determining the validity of objections submitted by voters and the representations of the political party.

At both stages, ZEC plays a quasi-judicial role as it must consider the validity of objections and the political party’s representations.

This role requires weighing of the evidence submitted by both the objector and the political party. ZEC can either accept or reject the objections.

Similarly, it has the option to uphold or reject the representations made by the political party. In short, the Electoral Act gives discretion to ZEC, which it must exercise reasonably.

The ERC argued that in the case of the vacant seats created by the expulsion of MDC Alliance MPs by the judicially-created MDC-T, ZEC must look at the political parties to which it allocated seats in the 2018 election. It said:

In this case, that political party is the MDC Alliance. ZEC cannot allocate party-list seats to a political party that was not part of that original formula.

ZEC ought not to be dragged into the internal politics of the political party that it recognised and allocated party-list seats in 2018.

In the filling of the current vacancies, ZEC must deal with the political party it allocated seats in terms of the formula in 2018 and let the feuding members or components resolve their disputes.

HARARE City town clerk Josiah Chisango will spend the weekend behind bars after his case was postponed to Monday for bail application at the Harare Magistrates’ Courts.

Chisango appeared before Harare magistrate, Bianca Makwande facing criminal abuse of office, bribery, and fraud charges.

He is being represented by lawyer Ray Goba and is being jointly charged with Harare City housing director Addmore Nhekairo and Samuel Nyabedzi.

Farai Dziva|MDC Alliance leader, Advocate Nelson Chamisa has saluted millions of Zimbabweans for their resilience in the wake of widespread persecution and harassment.

President Chamisa also urged the people of Zimbabwe to remain optimistic in spite of attempts by the Zanu PF regime to thwart the struggle for freedom.

President Chamisa wrote on Twitter :
“21 years after the movement was born & #TheMarchIsNotEnded.

2020 has been a tough year but today I am reminded that the hope for the future lies in our hands.

We remain humbled by your support and loyalty to the ideal of a better Zimbabwe for all in our lifetime.Happy Sabbath!!”

Farai Dziva|
Kezembe Kazembe (Home Affairs Minister) has been sued by a student who was brutally assaulted by ZRP cops.

Kazembe was given an ultimatum by a Harare magistrate who ordered him to either compensate the Gweru based student who was brutalised by police officers in 2018 with $199 500 – in a fortnight or spend 60 days in jail.

See Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights post below :

Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Minister Kazembe Kazembe has been given a two-week ultimatum by Harare Magistrate Mazhande to pay RTGS$199 500 to Simon Mandoza, a student based in Gweru as compensation for damages he suffered when he was assaulted by some Zimbabwe Republic Police members in 2018.

Magistrate Mazhande ruled that if Minister Kazembe Kazembe failed to pay compensation to Mandoza within 14 days, he will be sentenced to serve 60 days in prison.

Through her lawyer Fiona Iliff and Obey Shava of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, Mandoza sued Kazembe Kazembe and ZRP Commissioner-General Godwin Matanga after some police officers arrested the college student on 20 September 2018 while he was standing outside a fast food outlet in Harare’s CBD, waiting for his brother to pick him up.

Unbeknown to him ZRP members were carrying out an operation against alleged informal traders in the CBD at that time.

Mandoza was assaulted by ZRP members with an open palm and then forced to get into the back of a police vehicle.

While in the vehicle, ZRP members poked Mandoza a truncheon on his shoulder and at the back of his head, threatening him with further assault. Mandoza was finally taken to Harare Central Police Station, where he was finally released without a charge being preferred against him.

The ruling ZANU PF says it will not allow members of South Africa’s African National Congress (ANC) to come to Zimbabwe and meet with opposition parties as that move would be the first of its kind.

ZANU PF secretary for External Affairs, Simbarashe Mumbengegwi, on Friday told journalists that there is no crisis in Zimbabwe, therefore, the ANC’s mediation is not needed.

Said Mumbengegwi:
The question of a sister party coming to the country of another sister party to establish bilateral relations with the opposition party is unheard of (as) that can only happen in the context of mediation and mediation can only occur with the consent of the conflicting parties.

But where there is no crisis, there is no real need for mediation and therefore no purpose will be served by trying to play a mediatory role, where there is no crisis and where there is no conflict and more importantly, where there is no consent of the parties involved.

Mumbengegwi said they were surprised to hear a member of the ANC delegation, Lindiwe Zulu, telling reporters on landing in South Africa that there was a crisis in Zimbabwe. He added:

I know why you are asking, my counterpart (Lindiwe Zulu), on landing in South Africa held a media briefing where she riveted back to the original position that there was a crisis in Zimbabwe and therefore they needed to come back to Zimbabwe to resolve that crisis, but surely how can you unilaterally reverse a common position that the two delegations agreed on.

I want to assure you that it is not normal for a former liberation party to impose itself on another and therefore we only hope that the views expressed were individual views and we would be very surprised if there is the common position of the ANC.

… There is no way an ANC delegation will come to Zimbabwe to interfere in our domestic affairs.-The Herald

Farai Dziva|The MDC Alliance has dismissed the “ridiculous claims” by Zanu PF that the opposition party has something to do with the Chivhu shooting incident.

MDC Alliance spokesperson, Advocate Fadzai Mahere has described the attempt by Zanu PF to blame the popular opposition party for the Chivhu shooting incident as regrettable.

Two soldiers were shot(one of them fatally) in Chivhu last Saturday by two assailants who were reportedly shot dead by security agents within 24 hours.

In a tweet, Advocate Mahere said :
Neither the MDC Alliance, President
@nelsonchamisa
nor VP
@BitiTendai
had anything to do with the Chivhu shooting incident involving soldiers.

The attempt by Chinamasa to blame the MDC Alliance for the incident is desperate, regrettable and unsubstantiated. These lies must stop.”

“When a whole spokesperson resorts to ad hominem attacks and insults, you know the nation is in crisis.

Dialogue isn’t about being told what you want to hear. It’s about the facts and evidence. The crisis in Zim speaks for itself.

This denialist defensiveness won’t help us. Reform.”

BULAWAYO – A court has ordered a car rental company to turn over vehicle tracking data and all other information it holds on a customer who is the main suspect in the abduction and torture of university student Tawanda Muchehiwa by state security agents.

Muchehiwa, the nephew of ZimLive editor Mduduzi Mathuthu, was stalked and then abducted in Bulawayo by men driving in at least five vehicles on July 30, the eve of planned anti-government protests.

He was driven out of town and badly tortured while being accused of planning the overthrow of President Emmerson Mnangagwa. The 22-year-old journalism student was dumped near his home three days later after the High Court gave police a 72-hour deadline to produce him.

An investigation into the abduction by ZimLive established that police knew the abductors. In the same raid, two of Mathuthu’s nephews were taken to the main police station together with an official of the MDC Alliance who was in their vehicle.

CCTV footage of the abduction obtained by this website also revealed the number plate of a Ford Ranger vehicle, which led our investigation to Impala Car Rental in Harare.

Police have shown little appetite of investigating Muchehiwa’s abduction, and his lawyers are reportedly considering private prosecutions and other actions in international courts.

Under the order granted by Justice Evangelista Kabasa on September 3 at the behest of Muchehiwa’s lawyer Nqobani Sithole, the Sheriff was directed to “recover from Impala Car Rental all documentation and information relating to the hire of a Ford Ranger motor vehicle registration numbers AES 2483 over the period between July 26, 2020, and August 6, 2020.”

The information to be handed over includes “a route map indicating the places and distances travelled by such vehicle over the period aforestated as recorded by Impala Car Rental’s automated vehicle tracker system.”

Sithole, speaking on Friday, said they were being frustrated by the Sheriff in Harare who was served with the judgement on Tuesday, September 8, but said he would only have executed it on Tuesday, September 15.

Impala owner Thompson Dondo previously insisted that he would only hand over the information to the police, resisting social media calls to publicly release the information.

Outraged human rights campaigners and concerned Zimbabweans have popularised the hashtag #ImpalaMustFall on Twitter, and the company’s Facebook and Google ratings have suffered as questions remain over how much the company knew about how its vehicles were being used.

On Tuesday, over a dozen rights activists camped outside Impala’s Harare office holding placards denouncing the company as an enabler of abductions and torture, while demanding justice for Muchehiwa.

Zimbabwe National Students Union leader Takudzwa Ngadziore was arrested on Thursday accused of participating in an illegal protest. A magistrate on Friday said she was overwhelmed with work as she postponed his bail hearing to Monday.

-ZimLive

Combined Harare Residents Association (CHRA) on Friday exposed illegal forex dealings being carried out by nurses at council clinics.  Apparently, a handful of nurses at council clinics have reportedly turned into “illegal money changers” as they prioritize patients with USD compared to those with bond notes or RTGS dollars.

This revelation came out during a Combined Harare Residents Association (CHRA) meeting, with residents accusing nurses at Highfields Polyclinic of engaging in forex deals. A woman present at the meeting who spoke on condition of anonymity said:

“Our nurses are not receipting United States dollars we give them.

“Instead they are taking the money and use their eco cash to pay for us and give us receipt written in bond note (ZWL)”,  she said.

In addition to that, residents further lamented how even after paying the consultation fees, they are not given medication but instead instructed to purchase the same medication at private pharm

CHRA residents revealed that it is surprising how nurses tell patients that there is no medication at clinics yet by night, they will be bustling selling narcotic drugs and medication outside the premises of the clinic in United States Dollars.

“Despite the fact that there is no medication at the clinic nurses are selling medical drugs and medication in United States Dollars outside the clinic”.

“It is disappointing that the health personnel are selling drugs while we are told that there is no medication at the clinics, these drugs are sold at night after working hours”,  said another resident.

Earlier this week nurses returned to work after being on strike since June the 18th. The Health Minister stated that the ministry is currently working on restructuring the health sector.

It is all Christmas in the middle of the year for Wedza South residents as ZINARA board chairperson Michael Madanha’s vehicle was spotted distributing cellphones, groceries and money.

Madanha’s driver alleged that the freebies came from Vice President Constantino Chiwenga.

This followed a Provincial Coordinating Committee meeting held in Marondera to announce the return of the District Coordinating Committees.

Madanha according to a source dispatched, through his driver known as Mutete, products which upon distribution were alleged to have been coming from Chiwenga.

This generosity started with the distribution of 20 cellphones two weeks ago which were said to be aimed at increased communication when the need arises.

Mutete delivered some groceries in Goneso ward 13 and when people asked where the groceries and 75 humpers were coming from, he warned they were coming from VP Chiwenga and Cde Madanha shall communicate to them later.

Madanha has been trying to consolidate power in vain in Wedza District to prove he can lead as a Provincial Chairman.

Since his landing on the Vice Chairperson post in Mash East Zanu PF structures, Madanha has been having sleepless nights scheming on how he can use every single opportunity to pursue his ambitions to be the defacto Chairman.

Asked if he is aware of this program, the Wedza South Legislator Hon Tinoda Machakaire said its all news to him and would enquire from Madanha about the existence of such a program.

Madanha’s mobile phone was not reachable when the news reached us.

But sources are pointing that Madanha saw a golden opportunity to create a DCC that complements his ambitious project for God knows why!

-Online

Despite claiming to have clarified issues in a no holds barred meeting held in Harare on Wednesday, Zanu PF and ANC continues to issue conflicting statements, revelations that the announcements could have been stage-managed.

Addressing journalists on Friday, Zanu PF said the ANC will not be allowed to be a big brother to Zimbabwe while claiming that South Africa has never supported its neighbor financially since independence in 1980.

The top Zanu PF officials also said Zimbabwe and South Africa are two independent countries with sovereign rights.

This comes as some South African officials, who include Lindiwe Zulu and Tony Yengeni, who were part of an ANC delegation that met Zanu PF officials on Wednesday, in a no-holds barred indaba between the two former liberation war movements, continued to claim there was a crisis in Zimbabwe and the South African ruling party would return to meet the opposition in the country.

The abrasive attitude from some members of the South African delegation flies in the face of the head of the ANC delegation Cde Ace Magashule’s utterances to the effect that there was no crisis in the country and that as a sovereign State, Zimbabwe had the capacity to tackle its challenges, that were a common feature across the continent.

Responding to questions from journalists at a Press conference held at Zanu PF Headquarters yesterday, the ruling party’s secretary for External Affairs, Cde Simbarashe Mumbengegwi, said fraternal parties could only help each other on invitation.

“Friendly and sisterly organisations only come to the help of each other on invitation. We help each other on invitation, we enjoy sovereign equality, both as political parties as well as nations, therefore, no party, especially a sister party can employ this on another sister party.

“It is common knowledge that some individuals in our sister party the ANC had been made to believe that there was a crisis in Zimbabwe. We are not sure how they became convinced with that, but some of them came here with that notion, however, in our meeting the notion of a crisis in Zimbabwe was quickly dismissed,” Cde Mumbengegwi said.

He said the meeting, which lasted for more than six hours focused on the challenges bedevilling the region and how they can best be resolved and pooh-poohed notions of a crisis that have been concocted by G40 fugitives residing in South Africa.

“The question of a sister party coming to the country of another sister party to establish bilateral relations with the opposition party is unheard of (as) that can only happen in the context of mediation and mediation can only occur with the consent of the conflicting parties. But where there is no crisis, there is no real need for mediation and therefore no purpose will be served by trying to play a mediatory role, where there is no crisis and where there is no conflict and more importantly, where there is no consent of the parties involved,” said Cde Mumbengegwi.

Zimbabwe National Students Union (ZINASU), Midlands State University Chapter, is demanding for the immediate release of Takudzwa Ngadziore, the president of the students’ representative body who arrested by Zimbabwe Republic police yesterday.

ZINASU president Takudzwa Ngadziore was arrested and is currently detained at Harare Central Police Station for protesting at Impala car rental offices.

The 21-year student activist was demanding that the company provide answers concerning its alleged role in the use of its vehicles in the abduction of Tawanda Muchehiwa, a second-year journalism student at MSU who was abducted and tortured by some unidentified individuals in Bulawayo in the month of July.

ZINASU MSU Chapter on Thursday released a statement demanding for his immediate release from police custody. They condemned Ngadziore’s arrest by police in Harare which they said clearly shows the State’s undemocratic tendencies.

“Midlands State University ZINASU Chapter stands impenetrable and solidified with President Takudzwa Ngadziore whose arrest explicitly exhibits the demise and contamination of democratic space in this country.”

“The right to freedom of expression is enshrined and consecrated in the constitution of Zimbabwe. Away with students’ leadership harassment and torture.’

“Our president is not a criminal, we stand in firm solidarity with him and demand his immediate release,” reads the statement.

Despite scores of people threatening to boycott Impala car rentals –  Impala car rentals still haven’t released the name of the person who hired their vehicle. Moreover, the police seem to be stalling in their investigation as they still haven’t arrested anyone as of yet in connection with his abduction.

-Online

Combined Harare Residents Association (CHRA) on Friday exposed illegal forex dealings being carried out by nurses at council clinics.  Apparently, a handful of nurses at council clinics have reportedly turned into “illegal money changers” as they prioritize patients with USD compared to those with bond notes or RTGS dollars.

This revelation came out during a Combined Harare Residents Association (CHRA) meeting, with residents accusing nurses at Highfields Polyclinic of engaging in forex deals. A woman present at the meeting who spoke on condition of anonymity said:

“Our nurses are not receipting United States dollars we give them.

“Instead they are taking the money and use their eco cash to pay for us and give us receipt written in bond note (ZWL)”,  she said.

In addition to that, residents further lamented how even after paying the consultation fees, they are not given medication but instead instructed to purchase the same medication at private pharm

CHRA residents revealed that it is surprising how nurses tell patients that there is no medication at clinics yet by night, they will be bustling selling narcotic drugs and medication outside the premises of the clinic in United States Dollars.

“Despite the fact that there is no medication at the clinic nurses are selling medical drugs and medication in United States Dollars outside the clinic”.

“It is disappointing that the health personnel are selling drugs while we are told that there is no medication at the clinics, these drugs are sold at night after working hours”,  said another resident.

Earlier this week nurses returned to work after being on strike since June the 18th. The Health Minister stated that the ministry is currently working on restructuring the health sector.

-Online

By A Correspondent| The opposition, civil society organisations and clerics have hailed the visit by the ANC bigwigs saying it was good news for the country.

In an interview with a local daily, civic leaders said the coming of the ANC to Zimbabwe was in itself a confirmation that there was a crisis in the country though Zanu PF tried to avoid using the exact word.

The convener of the Citizens Manifesto, Briggs Bomba, said the most welcome thing about the Zanu-PF and ANC meeting was the admission by both parties that Zimbabwe was facing significant challenges – “even though semantics were deployed to avoid using the word crisis”.

“In political terms, the word crisis simply means that the current status quo lacks the capacity to solve the most pressing problems of the day, and hence the need for an alternative formulation.

“We appreciate the role that the ANC and other regional players are playing in bringing the awareness that an inclusive national dialogue is the only viable way out.

“We are eagerly waiting for the opportunity for citizens, through formations such as the Church, civil society, labour and business, to be heard as well,” Bomba told the Daily News.

“We have always emphasised that the country needs an urgent dialogue towards a national comprehensive settlement.

“We are confident that if such a genuine process is implemented everyone in Zimbabwe will be the happier for it,” he added.

On its part, the MDC Alliance said the visit by the ANC’s heavyweights was a sign that South Africa was concerned by Zimbabwe’s ongoing problems.

“We appreciate the revolutionary stance by the ANC that it has to engage with all parties. However, we note that Zanu-PF is using its old tricks of delaying and running away from issues that matter most.

“A Sadc intervention that is guaranteed by the African Union will lead to the resolution of the crisis in Zimbabwe, and we continue to engage our regional counterparts to help solve it once and for all,” Lovemore Chinoputsa, the alliance’s deputy secretary for international relations, said.

The Church also said it welcomed South Africa’s attempts to bring Zanu-PF and other key stakeholders together, to settle their differences for the good of the country.

The secretary-general of the Evangelical Fellowship of Zimbabwe (EFZ), Blessing Makwara, said the visit by the ANC’s top brass was important in terms of laying the foundation for national dialogue.

“We have been calling for inclusive broad dialogue and this feedback that there is that green light to engage other stakeholders is welcome. We hope we will be able to engage constructively as we go forward.

“We are still praying and believing that the Lord is going to give us that which brings healing and restoration to the people of Zimbabwe because it is the time for us to arise and have a Zimbabwe that God wants.

“We are so excited about what God has begun to do and it is consistent with what we have been saying, that it is important for people from all walks of life to be together and dream together,” Makwara said.

However, the secretary-general of the Zimbabwe Council of Churches (ZCC), Kenneth Mtata, said a lasting solution to Zimbabwe’s challenges should be locally constructed, with neighbours giving solidarity.

“Zimbabweans must, collectively, find consensus on problem-definition, possible solutions and mutually acceptable processes towards realising those solutions.

“Neighbours, including South Africa, can only provide much-needed regional, continental and global solidarity. Solidarity doesn’t replace agency.

“Always remember that the one who liberates you will seek to have a stake over your freedom. We must be our own liberators and it starts with the mind,” Mtata said.

The meeting between Zanu-PF and the ANC came as the calls for President Emmerson Mnangagwa to hold national talks with all key stakeholders have now reached a crescendo – in the wake of Zimbabwe’s deepening political and economic crises.

This comes as more details of the meeting between the two parties allege that Zanu-PF had produced a 27-page security document to dispel the allegations of human rights abuses by the government.

On Wednesday, other sources said the talks between Zanu-PF and the ANC had been very candid and robust, with all the niggling issues put on the table.

Addressing the media after their arrival in South Africa yesterday, Magashule said they were determined to “bring the Zimbabwean people together”.

“In terms of meeting with other stakeholders and other political parties, because of time, we agreed that we will go back or they will come to us.

“Give us two to three weeks because we have communicated to them that we are definitely going to meet them.

“We have communicated such an interaction with all of them and we have informed Zanu-PF and they have no problem with that,” Magashule said.

He said the meeting with Zanu-PF was “a very candid, frank and honest discussion”.

“They have not blocked us from seeing anyone. We have agreed that we will go back and arrange for the meeting.
“The meeting is not arranged by Zanu-PF. So, we are going to bring together the people of Zimbabwe, recognising they came from a recent election and we need peace and stability in that province,” Magashule said further.

South Africa and its leaders – including former presidents Thabo Mbeki and Jacob Zuma – have in the past successfully mediated Zimbabwe’s political crises.

A decade ago, both Mbeki and Zuma helped to broker the stability-inducing 2008 government of national unity between opposition giant Morgan Tsvangirai and former president Robert Mugabe – who are both late – following the hotly disputed 2008 presidential election.

Zuma also assisted in minimising Zimbabwe’s chaotic approach to the equally disputed 2013 national elections.

Solusi University international students are up in arms with the university’s management for increasing fees saying they have been hit hard by the Covid-19 pandemic.

The university reportedly increased fees for its international students by US$150.

Speaking to CITE, the students said the fee hike was unjustified.

“We are made to pay an extra US$150 which is said to be the international fee when tuition fee is US$350, so they mean to tell us the international fee is almost half tuition fee,” said one student.

“When you look at the breakdown of fees for last semester that figure was not factored in. So now when we are in our own countries using our data, we are charged an international fee”.

Another student added that many families have been affected by the global pandemic especially those who were in the informal sector.

“Many if not all families were affected by the pandemic in so many ways. Those in the informal sector lost their niches while those in the formal sector, the working hours have been reduced by the lockdown regulations therefore salaries have been cut,” said the student.

The students argued that since universities have resorted to online classes, some of the costs should have been reduced.

“Since last semester, we have been made to pay WIFI fee, lab fee and accommodation fee which we are clearly not going to use for this semester, our fees should have at least dropped by a significant amount.”

Contacted for a comment, Solusi University Vice-Chancellor Professor Ephraim Gwebu said the additional fee for International students has been adjusted in all universities by the government.

“Solusi University is chartered by the government, so the government tells us what to do for example Africa University in Mutare is also charging this additional US$150,” said Gwebu.

“Solusi University is not the only one charging that money.”

He added that there were many costs that the university factored in when processing applications for international students.

“There is a lot that is happening for those students when they come to learn here for example permits and immigration issues, we take care of all that.

“If a student gets sick, we take them to hospital, the fee covers that as well, so that is why the government is saying we should charge that,” said Gwebu.

He said the registration period has since been extended up to the end of September.

-CITE

Madanha Michael’s vehicle spotted distributing cellphones, groceries and money. The driver alleges they have come from VP Chiwenga.

It is all Christmas in Wedza South Constituency as the battle to control DCC Candidates rocks the Constituency and has brought fortunes to masses.

Soon after the PCC held in Marondera to announce the return of the DCCs, Cde Michael Madanha dispatched, through his driver known as Mutete, products which upon distribution, are alleged to be coming from VP Chiwenga. This generosity started by distribution of 20 cellphones the last 2 weeks, which were said to be aimed at increased communication when the need arises.

Today, Mr Mutete delivered some groceries in Goneso ward 13 and when people asked where the groceries and 75 humpers were coming from, he warned they were coming from VP Chiwenga and Cde Madanha shall communicate to them later.

Madanha has been trying to consolidate power in vain in Wedza District to prove he can lead as a Provincial Chairman. Since his landing on the VC post in Mash East Zanu PF structures, Madanha had sleepless nights scheming on how he can use every single opportunity to pursue his ambitions to be the defacto Chairman.

Asked if he is aware of this program, the Wedza South Legislator Hon Tinoda Machakaire said its all news to him and would enquire from Cde Madanha about the existence of such a program.

Cde Madanha’s mobile phone was not reachable when the news reached us. But sources are pointing that Madanha saw a golden opportunity to create a DCC that complements his ambitious project for God knows why!

BY Taurai Justin Munyaradzi

Its Mashonaland west, Zimbabwe 1999, the national economy is evidently on a downfall, political tensions are high, there is widespread political violence and victimization in cities and towns, farms and rural areas, its either you join ZANU PF or you perish. Robert Mugabe and the JOC are practically utilizing their ‘degrees in violence’ on innocent citizens.

However, the winds of change are blowing across the country, the people’s project, the people’s party christened Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) has hit the ground running. Intensive mass mobilization and setting up of steering committees in Mash-West Province is underway.

Led by dedicated cadres, men and women of courage and determination. Heroes and heroines who were clear and unmoved by the dreaded CIO and ZANU PF militia’s victimization.

One such heroine was Hon. Amai Miriam Mushayi (MHDSRIEP).
Pen and paper cannot satisfactorily capture the life of such a heroine. Fearless, clear and loyal to the democratization agenda.

As risky as it was then, especially for women, alongside fellow heroines Mai Kanopepereka, Loveness Chaka, Hilda Musendami and Madam Ldr. Kadaira, just to mention but a few, Hon. Amai Miriam Mushayi fought viciously for a better Zimbabwe.

From Golden Kopje Mine workers Union, ZCTU, NCA (as it was back then), to the Secretary General’s post in the MDC Mash-West Main Wing which was chaired by Ldr. Silas Matamisa (MHDSRIEP). Hon. Amai Mushayi was a natural leader, articulate and dedicated to the highest level. Over time she rose through the ranks to the MDC National women’s Assembly and other positions before being appointed into the Standing Committee.

A fierce orator and yet charming at the same time, a bundle of positive energy, an inspiration that woken the political spirit in many who had the privilege to listen to her speeches. From ZCTU Labor Forums, Constitutional Reform Presentations to MDC rallies in Robert Mugabe’s rural Zvimba, Hurungwe, Mhangura, she was all over Mash-West mobilizing and sowing the seeds of change in Party Building activities.

Thanks to Hon. Amai Mushayi and the MDC Provincial Leadership at that critical time, Gladman Mhlambeni (MHDSRIEP), Lawrence Mlambo and youth leaders Raymond Matonga, Tichafa Mpukuta (MHDSRIEP) and Charles Mashonganyika the people’s project grew, winning the Chegutu and Kariba Mayoral Elections in 2001.

Thanks to Hon. Mai Mushayi’s fundraising efforts and coordination of the Support Group, MDC Mashonaland West was one of the well-resourced provinces in the MDC.

Thanks to Hon. Amai Mushayi the first fliers, posters and T-shirts were printed by her company, Hoopstad Stationers where current Chinhoyi Mayor Clr Dyke Makumbi was in charge of distribution within the province.

Tears may dry, but memories of your selfless leadership will never fade. Your legacy, Hon. Amai Mushayi will live on. You were and still are a pillar of democracy as the fight against tyranny in the form ZANU PF is still on.

You are gone too soon Hon. Amai Mushayi. Yes, it’s too soon, the people’s project is under attack from ZANU funded functionaries. Individuals who are supping with the devil’s incarnate ZANU PF to destroy the big tent created by the Iconic MDC President Tsvangirai (MHDSRIEP). Rest in Power daughter of the soil, heroine par excellence, the MDC family will miss you lots. You fought a good fight and your efforts will not go in vain. Change is near, the seeds you sowed will be sure to complete the last my Mile under the able leadership of President Advocate Chamisa as you wished.

Go well our Heroine, go well Amai, and go well our Leader, our MP, till we meet…….

#NehandaNyakasikanaDiaries
#GodIsInIt…..
#GenerationalConsensus
#ZimbweanLivesMatters
#ZikomoTwalumba

Open Council Harare

Harare City Council has been rocked by land scandals that have resulted in the arrest of many officials.

Together with the political dynamics where MDC-T has recalled some Councilors, this jas led to fears of government installing a Commission.

Again, situation has raised questions whether there is anyone innocent at Town House.

List of Arrested Officials
Below is a list of the arrested and suspended Council officials currently.

Harare Mayor Herbert Gomba, arrested.

Councilor Lovemore Makuwere, arrested

Councilor Costa Mande, arrested

Councilor Hammy Madzingira, arrested

Councilor Tonderai Chakeredza, arrested

Councilor Anthony Shingadeya, arrested

Town Clerk Hosiah Chisango, arrested

Director of Works Zvenyika Chawatama, arrested.

Director Housing Addmore Nhekairo, arrested.

Human Resources Director Matthew Marara, arrested

Principal Housing Director Edgar Dzehonye, arrested.

Aaron Tayerera, Acting chief clerical officer, arrested.

City town planner Samuel Nyabeze arrested

Surveyor Munyaradzi Bhowa, arrested

Charles Sigauke, senior clerical officer, Wanted.

City valuer and estate manager Emmanuel Mutambirwa, arrested.

Warren Park district officer Tutsi Kanonjerea, arrested.

Paul Nyathi

Government has shockingly expressed ignorance on the invasion on Friday of a white-owned farm in Ruwa.

The farm in question is Protea Farm owned by Martin Grobler.

Reports indicate that an official from the agriculture ministry, Ivy Rupindi and one Chuma arrived at the farm’s compound on Friday morning in the company of a truck-load of police officers and a sheriff of the court.

Rupindi reportedly told Grobler that she was now the new owner of the farm before ordering him and his family to move out immediately.

The Information Ministry, in a statement late on Friday, said the government was establishing facts at the farm;

We have been made aware of a video depicting an eviction of a farmer and his family. Govt is trying to establish the facts behind this matter. What is known so far is that there is a legacy legal issue between the parties and the matter is being dealt with by the courts.

— Ministry of Information, Publicity & Broadcasting (@InfoMinZW) September 11, 2020

State Media

Efforts to rescue five Task Mine Syndicate workers trapped underground when a shaft collapsed on Tuesday night, are continuing with rescuers still hopeful of finding them alive.

The mine is close to Chegutu and the shaft falls under the block assigned to Dallaglio Investments (Pvt) Limited.

Dallagio owns Peerless Pickstone mine in the same district and Eureka Gold Mine in Guruve.

Mashonaland West police spokesperson, Assistant Inspector Ian Kohwera said the rescue mission was in progress while an official, who did not want to be named, with the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development from the province said they had started timbering the shafts to avoid further collapse.

While the ministry teams were committed to rescuing the trapped workers they were not going endanger any more lives.

Chegutu district coordinator and Civil Protection Unit chairperson, Mr Tariro Tomu on Wednesday said the accident occurred around 4 pm when the five were extracting ore in level four, which is about 110 metres underground. Reports from mine inspectors showed that there were still chances that the miners would be found alive.

Efforts to get comments from the mine’s owner, Mr Temson Musonza were futile.

State Media

Restaurants can now serve sitting customers during their licensed hours, and serve alcohol to diners if they have a restaurant licence up to 4.30pm, while hotel bars can serve alcohol to customers during licensed hours and bottle stores can reopen, but must close daily at 4.30pm.

Zupco buses should be given a clear dedicated lane at road blocks, but operators of illegal public transport can have their vehicles held as court exhibits the second time they are caught breaching the lockdown rules.

In an amendment to the lockdown order gazetted yesterday, which gives legal effect to the relaxations approved by Cabinet this week, Minister of Health and Child Care Vice President Constantino Chiwenga gives the conditions and authority for domestic passenger air services to resume immediately and for international flights to resume from October 1. But passengers have to show a PCR Covid-19 certificate issued within 72 hours of boarding.

Returning residents can now self-quarantine at home if they show the PCR Covid-19 testing certificate issued within 48 hours of their arrival; otherwise they have to be in approved quarantine for 14 days.

Restaurants can now seat diners during their normal hours, but can only operate at half normal capacity, must be disinfected, must enforce social distancing and even enforce mask wearing except where customers are actually eating or drinking. Staff have to wear masks and gloves and be tested every fortnight.

Liquor can only be served between 8am or 4.30pm, but if the opening hours in the licence are later and the closing hours are earlier, then the tighter restriction applies.

National Parks facilities, safari operations and commercial water transport can now resume normal tourism operations, and the restaurants associated with these can reopen, although liquor sales remain limited to the 8am or 4.30pm times. Hotel bars can be open during normal licensed hours, but all other bars, casinos, nightclubs, beer halls and theatre bars remain shut.

The Vice President also added to the rules provisions for road blocks. Where possible the police have to leave a clear lane for approved public transport, to minimise delays, and can hold as an exhibit under relevant legislation a vehicle used for illegal public transport the second time that vehicle is caught.

The amendment now makes ZimStat staff essential workers, which allows preparation for the census to continue, lays down testing schedules for more people in contact with the public and relaxes the cleaning and disinfection of buses to twice daily.

Paul Nyathi

ZANU PF Acting Spokesperson Patrick Chinamasa has blasted neighbouring South Africa for what he described as a big brother attitude towards Zimbabwe.

Speaking at a ZANU PF press conference on Friday in response to claims by South African leaders that they are monitoring the situation in Zimbabwe, ostensibly to bring some form of help, Chinamasa, a former Finance Minister, said from 1980 to present date, Zimbabwe’s neighbour across the Limpopo River has not extended any dime.

“Let me put it on record, I am talking as a former Minister of Finance, Zimbabwe has not received any assistance of whatever nature from South Africa, other than us selling and importing from South Africa, if that is the assistance, well maybe, but direct assistance, Zimbabwe has not received a cent,” he said. Instead, Cde Chinamasa said Zimbabwe bore the brunt of South Africa apartheid system by way of collateral damage that was inflicted by the racists white former rulers, who still covertly call the shots in that country, as well as the reputational burden of being a neighbour to a country at war.

“We have not received a cent as Zimbabwe, from the apartheid economy or from the post-apartheid economy, that I can tell you without any prevarication. The assistance which is now being touted about, if it is true, clearly, if they had not stood by us economically in the past 20 years when sanctions were imposed on us, how can anyone seek to stand by us economically when we are almost out of the woods,” said Chinamasa.

Chinamasa said Zimbabwe which is now on the verge of economic transformation, does not need assistance from countries that have for the most part offered only moral support, all the while making Zimbabwe a warehouse of their produce.

He added that in 2008, South Africa, through its former President Thabo Mbeki, was invited to mediate between Zanu PF and the MDC, and that came at the invitation of Zimbabwe.

“Mbeki did not impose himself on us, we requested him in order to defend the gains of our liberation which were being threatened by the British who were threatening military invasion of Zimbabwe. The British and Western governments will never agree or forgive for taking the land and giving it to our people,” he said.

Zimbabwe, has been the pacesetter in empowering its people whereas in the region citizens in countries that supposedly gained their independence live on the economic fringes while the erstwhile colonisers call the shots.

“We are the first country to do what we are doing, which is what we pointed to the ANC delegation, we have taken our land, you need us if you have to empower your people, we need each other. They have to empower their people; in the same way we have empowered our people. It’s a revolutionary obligation for the revolutionary parties to fulfil the gains of our liberation struggle, whether it is here, in South Africa, Namibia or Mozambique,” said Chinamasa.

Watch Chinamasa’s press conference in the video downloading below.

Paul Nyathi

A top official of the African National Congress of South Africa has got ZANU PF on its toes after she declared that there is indeed a crisis in Zimbabwe.

Social development minister Lindiwe Zulu, who also heads the ANC NEC’s international relations subcommittee told this to South African news agents on arrival back home from a fact finding mission in Zimbabwe last week.

Publicly Zulu – who as a diplomat led South Africa’s intervention to try to ensure free and fair elections in Zimbabwe in 2013 – has also been the most outspoken member of the government and ANC about Zimbabwe.

In the run up to the 2013 elections in Zimbabwe, Zulu got former President Robert Mugabe nearly pulling the country out of SADC after she called for postponement of the elections claiming ZANU PF was not presenting a level playing field for the elections.

Mugabe burst out describing Zulu as a “stupid idiotic woman” and a “little streetwalker.” He also warned that Zimbabwe was in SADC voluntarily and if it did “stupid things” it could move out.

Zulu who was part of the ANC delegation that met Zanu PF officials on Wednesday, in a no-holds barred indaba between the two former liberation war movements, continued to claim that there was a crisis in Zimbabwe and the South African ruling party would return to meet the opposition in the country.

Zulu’s stance comes flies in the face of the head of the ANC delegation Ace Magashule’s utterances to the effect that there was no crisis in the country and that as a sovereign State, Zimbabwe had the capacity to tackle its challenges, that were a common feature across the continent.

Magashule said: “Maybe we use the word ‘crisis’ but I think we agreed there are challenges facing the entire globe, the continent and our respective countries. And therefore when there are challenges in South Africa and Zimbabwe, as liberation movements, such challenges must be addressed for as long as they affect our people. And that’s why we are here.”

Responding to questions from journalists at a Press conference on Friday, ZANU PF secretary for External Affairs, Simbarashe Mumbengegwi dismissed zulu’s sentiments on the crisis and need for the ANC delegation to return to Zimbabwe to meet opposition parties. Mbengegwi said fraternal parties could only help each other on invitation.

“Friendly and sisterly organisations only come to the help of each other on invitation. We help each other on invitation, we enjoy sovereign equality, both as political parties as well as nations, therefore, no party, especially a sister party can employ this on another sister party.

“It is common knowledge that some individuals in our sister party the ANC had been made to believe that there was a crisis in Zimbabwe. We are not sure how they became convinced with that, but some of them came here with that notion, however, in our meeting the notion of a crisis in Zimbabwe was quickly dismissed,” Mumbengegwi said.

He said the meeting, which lasted for more than six hours focused on the challenges bedevilling the region and how they can best be resolved and pooh-poohed notions of a crisis that have been concocted by G40 fugitives residing in South Africa.

“The question of a sister party coming to the country of another sister party to establish bilateral relations with the opposition party is unheard of (as) that can only happen in the context of mediation and mediation can only occur with the consent of the conflicting parties. But where there is no crisis, there is no real need for mediation and therefore no purpose will be served by trying to play a mediatory role, where there is no crisis and where there is no conflict and more importantly, where there is no consent of the parties involved,” said Mumbengegwi.

During the Wednesday meeting, the two heads of the delegation, Zanu PF Secretary for Administration Obert Mpofu and ANC secretary-general Magashule made it clear from the onset that there was no crisis in Zimbabwe.

“I know why you are asking, my counterpart (Lindiwe Zulu), on landing in South Africa held a media briefing where she riveted back to the original position that there was a crisis in Zimbabwe and therefore they needed to come back to Zimbabwe to resolve that crisis, but surely how can you unilaterally reverse a common position that the two delegations agreed on. I want to assure you that it is not normal for a former liberation party to impose itself on another and therefore we only hope that the views expressed were individual views and we would be very surprised if there are the common position of the ANC,” said Mumbengegwi.

With some within the ANC still playing to the gallery, Patrick Chinamasa said the ruling party will get in touch with the South African ruling party to establish whether its leadership shares the same sentiments.

“That is outside the agreement that we reached in the meeting on Wednesday. I have not followed what they said when they arrived in South Africa. But what I can categorically say is the meeting was very frank and candid. We agreed that Zimbabwe and South Africa are equal sovereign States and that on the basis of being sovereign States, there is no need for interventionist approach. There is no way an ANC delegation will come to Zimbabwe to interfere in our domestic affairs”.

Chinamasa said the brutal meeting between the two former liberation war movements started with the two parties clearing misconceptions of a crisis in Zimbabwe.

He said the two parties agreed that Zimbabwe, just like the rest of the region, is grappling with the effects of draughts and natural disasters such as Cyclone Idai as well as the added albatross rock of illegal economic sanctions that were imposed by western nations.

Chinamasa said the two parties, that agreed to meet regularly and also to disregard social media attempts to set the agenda, will meet regularly to ensure that detractors are kept at bay.

“The two revolutionary sister parties were able to find each other during that meeting. We re-discovered each other and I think we got our bearing correct. As we go into the future, I think we have set our compass in the right direction. First we agreed that Zimbabwe and South Africa are equal sovereign States. Zimbabwe is not a province of South Africa that we agreed very clearly.

“In the contest of international relations, South Africa is not a big brother to Zimbabwe. It has no overseer role to play in Zimbabwe or in the region. It has no mediatory role to play in South Africa, in Zimbabwe or in other countries and not being a province of South Africa, it follows that there is no interventionist approach to the way that South Africa would relay to us.

“The challenges that the region is facing do not need any outside interference, what Zimbabwe needs is access to capital, which because of sanctions we are unable to have, Zimbabwe has only one option, to lift itself up by way, which we have been doing for the past 20 years,” he said.

Additional reporting State Media

Two people died of coronavirus on Friday raising the death toll to 224 but 25 people recovered bringing down the number of active cases to 1 595 as there were only 26 new cases.

There are now 7 479 cases and 5 660 recoveries.

More than 1 000 of the active cases are in Harare.

Paul Nyathi

One of the most respected travel and tourism operators in Zimbabwe, Gordon Addams, has died.

Gordon died in the Eastern Highlands city of Mutare after suffering a heart attack. He was 60.

Born and educated in Mutare, his family was prominent for farming in Odzi. His father, popularly known as ‘Doomps,’ was killed in the war of liberation in 1974 and his mother, Veryann, died in 2009.

Both are buried outside the picturesque church of St Francis of Assisi near Odzi.

Gordon leaves behind two sisters and a brother, all living abroad.

After school, Gordon studied hospitality management at the famed Hotel School at Bulawayo Polytechnic and graduated in 1982. He undertook in-service training around Zimbabwe, as well as at Selsdon Park in the United Kingdom and in 1983 joined the Cresta Hotels group, where he rose to become general manager of Cresta Jameson.

He left Cresta in 1991 to establish his own hotel group, Inns of Zimbabwe, centred in the Eastern Highlands and on routes into the area. At one point Inns of Zimbabwe operated country hotels in Nyanga (Inn on Rupurara and Pine Tree Inn), outside Mutare (Inn on the Vumba), near Chipinge (KIledo Lodge), close to Great Zimbabwe (Inn on Great Zimbabwe), in the Save Conservancy (Mukwazi Safari Lodge) and in northern South Africa (Inn on Louis Trichardt).

After downsizing and then dissolving this operation, he realised a lifelong ambition in 2017, opening his own boutique bed and breakfast venue in a converted 1900s suburban house in Mutare, creating a popular and successful nine-suite unit.

Gordon was active in travel and tourism leadership, serving as vice president of the Hospitality Association of Zimbabwe, as well as Eastern Highlands chairman of the Zimbabwe Council for Tourism, now Tourism Business Council of Zimbabwe. He was also a highly regarded mentor, with hundreds of industry professionals receiving his guidance in his almost 40 years in the travel and tourism sector.

He created Best of Zimbabwe, an informal marketing and promotional grouping of more than 30 establishments across Zimbabwe, and liked to others in neighbouring countries through his innovative InnSider Card discount scheme.

Gordon, his staff and his establishments won many local, regional and international accolades over the years, and in 2015 he was presented with a prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award by the TBCZ in its Tourism Achievers’ Awards that year. His greatest passion was Zimbabwe’s Eastern Highlands, which he promoted with vigour and creativity for almost 30 years.

Tributes have been flowing in from all over the world, with particular commendation for his professional style, exceptionally high operational standards and his commitment to Zimbabwe and its travel and tourism sector.

Said Paul Matamisa, chief executive of the TBCZ and long-time personal friend of Gordon: “His passing is the end of an era and he was a legend on our industry. He will be greatly missed.”

Source: State Media

ZANU PF Acting Spokesperson has warned MDC Alliance leaders Nelson Chamisa and Tendai Biti to stop ‘playing with fire’ saying it will be very dangerous for them.

Chinamasa was speaking to the media during their weekly press briefing.

Watching the video below…

By Jane Mlambo| Zanu PF is adamant that South Africa has no overseer role to play on Zimbabwe or any other country in the region.

Addressing its weekly press briefing yesterday, Acting Zanu PF Spokesperson Patrick Chinamasa said their meeting with ANC was able to clarify that South Africa and Zimbabwe are equal sovereign states and that Zimbabwe is not a province of South Africa.

“The two revolutionary sister parties were able to find each other during that meeting. We re-discovered each other and I think we got our bearing correct. As we go into the future, I think we have set our compass in the right direction. First we agreed that Zimbabwe and South Africa are equal sovereign States. Zimbabwe is not a province of South Africa that we agreed very clearly.

“In the contest of international relations, South Africa is not a big brother to Zimbabwe. It has no overseer role to play in Zimbabwe or in the region. It has no mediatory role to play in South Africa, in Zimbabwe or in other countries and not being a province of South Africa, it follows that there is no interventionist approach to the way that South Africa would relay to us,” said Chinamasa.

Zanu PF has dismissed reports by the African National Congress that they will come back and meet the opposition and other stakeholders saying it can only happen when they have been invited to be a mediator.

ANC Secretary General Ace Magashule said they had requests for meetings from MDC Alliance, ZAPU, Transform Zimbabwe and US Ambassador to Zimbabwe among other stakeholders which they said they will return to meet.

Speaking during a Zanu PF weekly press briefing, Simbarashe Mumbengegwi said there was no need for ANC to meet the opposition as the country was not in crisis as claimed.

“The question of a sister party coming to the country of another sister party to establish bilateral relations with the opposition party is unheard of (as) that can only happen in the context of mediation and mediation can only occur with the consent of the conflicting parties. But where there is no crisis, there is no real need for mediation and therefore no purpose will be served by trying to play a mediatory role, where there is no crisis and where there is no conflict and more importantly, where there is no consent of the parties involved,” said Mumbengegwi.

MDC Alliance spokesperson Fadzayi Mahere has dismissed as false a report by The Herald claiming that three political activists – Joana Mamombe, Cecilia Chimbiri and Netsai Marova – recently visited an apostolic sect prophetess, Madzimai Memory of Hatfield, Harare, to have the State’s case against them fall.

The report claims that the MDC trio visited the shrine located behind the Catholic University of Zimbabwe between Joshua Nkomo Road and St Martins suburb on September 1 in a bid to have allegations of having faked abductions dismissed by the courts.

Responding to journalist, Happi Zengeni who had commented on the story by The Herald, asking why the apostolic members allegedly violated “client confidentiality” by divulging the purpose of the MDC trio’s visit to the shrine, Mahere said:

This is fake news. The State has launched a smear campaign against the MDCT trio. The video is fake and so is this mapostori story.

It’s all calculated to convict them in the eyes of the public ahead of their trial. The perpetrators of their abduction are yet to be brought to book.

According to the report, the three arrived at the shrine in an unregistered Toyota Fortuner, that was being driven by Mamombe, the Member of Parliament for Harare West.

An unnamed congregant who was within earshot of the trio’s conversation with the prophet is quoted as having said:

The prophet said that the women were vigilant, especially Mamombe whom he singled out as courageous.

He also told the three activists that they lusted for material things and he described them as promiscuous, attributes that he said were bringing them misfortune.

The prophet reportedly assured the MDC trio that their misfortunes would disappear if they committed to attending regular intercessions at the shrine.

-Online

By Jane Mlambo| With by-elections date set to fill the vacant seats that followed the recall of legislators and councillors by a rival camp, MDC Alliance is excited that an opportunity has been presented before them to settle scores with former allies Douglas Mwonzora and Thokozani Khupe.

Though the MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa is worried about resources being put to waste after the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission said it requires USD18 million to administer the by-election, the generality of party members have kind of set an expiry date for the duo and their colleagues including Morgan Komichi, Elias Mudzuri among others.

With the majority of party supporters still in favour of Chamisa, the holding of these by-elections are expected to be a contestation between Zanu PF and MDC Alliance with the MDC-T being a distant third and unlikely to get a single seat.

The MDC Alliance will also be hoping to harvest from anger against Mwonzora and Khupe for openly fighting Chamisa following  the Supreme Court ruling that reversed leadership changes that followed the death of party founding President Morgan Tsvangirai in February 2018.

The by-elections will definitely return most if not all of the recalled legislators and councillors with former Harare Mayor the only loser as there is already a New Mayor elected to replace him meaning he will have to content with being a councillor only.

Home Affairs Minister Kezembe Kazembe has been given an ultimatum by a Harare magistrate who ordered him to either pay a Gweru based student who was brutalised by police officers in 2018 $199 500 in a fortnight or spend 60 days in jail.

This was revealed by Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights in a Facebook post that further explains the case. ZLHR tweeted:

Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Minister Kazembe Kazembe has been given a two-week ultimatum by Harare Magistrate Mazhande to pay RTGS$199 500 to Simon Mandoza, a student based in Gweru as compensation for damages he suffered when he was assaulted by some Zimbabwe Republic Police members in 2018.

Magistrate Mazhande ruled that if Minister Kazembe Kazembe failed to pay compensation to Mandoza within 14 days, he will be sentenced to serve 60 days in prison.

Through her lawyer Fiona Iliff and Obey Shava of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, Mandoza sued Kazembe Kazembe and ZRP Commissioner-General Godwin Matanga after some police officers arrested the college student on 20 September 2018 while he was standing outside a fast food outlet in Harare’s CBD, waiting for his brother to pick him up.

Unbeknown to him ZRP members were carrying out an operation against alleged informal traders in the CBD at that time.

Mandoza was assaulted by ZRP members with an open palm and then forced to get into the back of a police vehicle.

While in the vehicle, ZRP members poked Mandoza a truncheon on his shoulder and at the back of his head, threatening him with further assault. Mandoza was finally taken to Harare Central Police Station, where he was finally released without a charge being preferred against him.-ZLHR