Farai Dziva|The MDC Alliance has castigated Thokozani Khupe for targeting the opposition party’s councillors countrywide.

Khupe expelled the Mayor of Gwanda and recalled three Beitbridge Councilliors.

Khupe also recalled 11 Harare Councillors.According to MDC Alliance sources Khupe is targeting councillors in Bulawayo.

In a statement the MDC Alliance said:

As #Recallgate continues, Khupe has unlawfully expelled the Mayor of Gwanda and three Beitbridge Councillors including Mayor Morgan Ncube.

Not only will this cost taxpayers over US$18 million that should go to service delivery, she has no authority to usurp the will of the people as her court order expired.

We will fight back #politically.

Farai Dziva|Pressure groups are pushing for the immediate intervention of the AU in the deepening crisis in Zimbabwe.

The Zimbabwean Citizens Coalition in South Africa has urged both President Cyril Ramaphosa’s government and the African Union to condemn the abduction, torture and imprisonment of activists, journalists and government critics in Zimbabwe.

“As the chair of the African Union, South Africa must take a firm stance and condemn what is happening in Zimbabwe.

The AU represents the continent, and we need continental support,” said Tafirenyika Muzarugwi of Zimbabwean Citizens Coalition.

The Durban-based Zimbabwe Solidarity Movement’s Tsungai Jani has also bemoaned the widening crackdown on dissenting voices by Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government.

He said Zimbabweans were foolish to celebrate the ouster of the late Robert Mugabe, then President in 2017 because the repressive State apparatus is still in place.

Said Jani:
“You never expect this to happen in a so-called democratic country. When Robert Mugabe was ousted out of office, we foolishly rejoiced only to realise that he was never the only bad guy, but it was a systemic issue. At the end of the day, Zanu-PF is still the ruling party.”

Farai Dziva|The MDC Alliance(Namibia Branch) has called for the immediate and unconditional release of party vice chairperson Hon Job Sikhala.

Sikhala has complained of being tortured by State agents.

See statement below:

15 SEPTEMBER 2020

MDC ALLIANCE NAMIBIA DISTRICT ENRAGED BY THE INCESSANT INCARCERATION AND TORTURE OF THEIR POLITICAL DYNAMO, JOB SAROWIWA SIKHALA AT CHIKURUBI MAXIMUM PRISON.

As Mdc Alliance Namibia, we are furious,vexed,infuriated,and absolutely enraged by the perpetual persecution of our innocent vibrant leader Vice-Chairperson, Hon Job Wiwa Sikhala. Our ardent social democrat was arrested yester month and charged with inciting violence in connection with July 31st protests against Zanupf’s senseless and stinking corruption.

According to his legal team, our firebrand leader has complained that the Zanupf security agents are terrorising and demonising him everyday and the abuse even extending to some officials who should protect the rights of the detained persons. We demand his immediate and unconditional release because calling for peaceful demonstrations against against belly politicians is a Constitutional right.

Moreover,his clarion call for action against Zanupf shenanigans is a moral obligation for all right-minded citizens.

The rights to freedom of expression, association,organisation and petition are provided by the supreme law of the motherland.

Job Wiwa Sikhala has the right enshrined in the constitution to mobilise the people as a leader in the national democratic revolution.

No court of law can snatch his democratic rights. The state is now afraid of Wiwa’s political prowess to lure and lift the level of national consciousness in our unsuspecting citizenry. We are quite aware of the attempt to create an authoritarian environment in Zimbabwe but that we shall resist using all our organs.

Moreso, Mdc Alliance Namibia strongly urges all social democrats to give solidarity to our foot soldier.

All Zimbabweans around the globe must pent-up their outrage demanding the immediate and unconditional release of our leader. Those in Zimbabwe, lets flood the courts and demonstrate our quest for the freedom of Wiwa and all other prisoners of conscience who are suffering to liberate us from Zanupf terrorists.

In the diaspora, lets seriously picket at Zimbabwe embassies across the globe demanding the delay of justice for Wiwa Sikhala and other victims of Bornapatism.

As Mdc Alliance Namibia, we shall exhaust all constitutional mechanisms to defend those who are ready to confront thieves that are consuming on behalf of the hungry citizens.

The irony here is that the innocent citizens are imprisoned while Obadiah Moyo who looted 60million US$ enjoyed colonial privileges of trial without detention. Zimbabweans must now offer support to Sikhala and others so that we can win against Zanupf looting and dictatorship.

Bail is a right in the constitution, it is quite horrible that those who steal our wealth are automatically given bail because they are part of the thieving racket in Zanupf. The denial or delay to bail out our leader by the Supreme Court yesterday symbolises state capture of the judiciary. Our leader had been arrested 64 times, he did not abscond any hearing hence a politicised denial of bail is apparent.

In a nutshell, Mdc Alliance Namibia objects the attempt by politically inept Zanupf to create a new Animal Farm in Zimbabwe where some animals are more equal than others. We demand justice to our political dynamo, Job SaroWiwa Sikhala.

Protests against demonisation and soldierisation of the state are legitimate and constitutional.
#jobwiwasikhalamustbefreenow
#ZimbabweanLivesMatter
#ZanupfMustGo
#LootersMustGo
#releaseallprisonersofconscience
#freelastmaengahama
#impalamustshutdown
#chickeninnmustshutdown

Mdc Alliance Namibia
Rundu Branch Spokesperson
Robson Ruhanya

Own Correspondent |LEAD president Linda Masarira has claimed that Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa is better than former President Robert Mugabe.

In her birthday message to Mr Mnangagwa, Masarira said:

Happy birthday President

@edmnangagwa
May you continue to use your time in power wisely to transform Zimbabwe.

At least you dont waste tax payers funds with lavish birthday celebrations like Mugabe.

I dream of a better& brighter Zim which I believe you are laying the foundation.

Farai Dziva|Police have arrested Joana Mamombe, who is visibly sick, triggering widespread protests on various social media platforms.

Irate Zimbabweans have accused Mr Mnangagwa of plotting to kill the youthful MDC Alliance MP.Watch video below :

Farai Dziva|Police have arrested Joana Mamombe, who is visibly sick, triggering widespread protests on various social media platforms.

Irate Zimbabweans have accused Mr Mnangagwa of plotting to kill the youthful MDC Alliance MP.Watch video below :

An 18-year-old female Advanced Level student from Chivhu says she has turned to prostitution to raise school fees for her final term and money for university.

Mercy (not real name), told Health Times that she completed her Ordinary Level studies in 2018 in Chivhu and passed 10 subjects including Mathematics, English, and science subjects.

When coronavirus forced the closure of schools in March, Mercy came to Harare to live with her unemployed sister.

Mercy thought she could raise fees and enrol for extra lessons since she will be writing her final ‘A’ Level exams later this year.

However, her mother lost her reliable source of livelihood – vending – after the government imposed an indefinite lockdown to curb the spread of the coronavirus. Said Mercy:

I am from Chivhu but these days I live with my sister here in Harare. My mother’s vending business has been bad, she can no longer afford to pay for my fees. Even food, she can’t afford to feed us.

I was left with no option, I wanted money for food, school fees and to raise money for University as well.

The only easy option I found was to get into sex work since almost every other avenue seem to have been closed by the coronavirus.

I will be writing my final examinations this year and I am optimistic that I am going to pass.

I also want to go for extra lessons since I am towards writing my final examinations this year and unfortunately, I have no one to assist me financially at the moment.

Mercy is afraid that she may contract HIV and Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) in the process as some of her clients demand unsafe sex.

She is planning to return to Chivhu on September 16.

She said her first term fees were pegged at ZWL$1 210 but the new fees structure for the final term has not been shared as yet.-Health Times

A GWANDA man has been arrested for allegedly ganging up with two accomplices who are still at large to beat up a man to death in a dispute over a woman.

Alfred Moyo (21) from Guyu area was not asked to plead when he appeared before Gwanda magistrate, Ms Lerato Nyathi. He was remanded in custody to September 18.

Prosecuting, Ms Ethel Mahachi said on August 10 Moyo met Ntuthuko Nyoni at Guyu Business Centre and accused him of snatching his girlfriend.

“Nyoni dismissed the allegations and threatened to stab Moyo with a knife if he continued making them.

Moyo later left the business centre and went home. He later returned to the business centre at around 8PM and teamed up with his two friends who are still at large.

“They assaulted Nyoni several times with a knobkerrie and axe handle and further stabbed him with a spear in the head. Nyoni sustained serious injuries and died on the following day while admitted to Mpilo Hospital,” she said.

In another incident a Bulilima man has been arrested after he allegedly struck his cousin with an axe in a dispute over gum poles.

Matabeleland South provincial police spokesperson, Chief Inspector Philisani Ndebele confirmed the incident which occurred on Saturday at around 2PM in Goba area. He said Nkosilathi Nondo (56) attacked his cousin Mr Zwelithini Hondo (53) for confronting him over gum poles that he had cut from his field.

“I can confirm that we recorded an attempted murder case which occurred in Goba farming lands in Bulilima.

Nkosilathi Nondo went to his cousin Mr Zwelithini Hondo’s field and cut down gum poles in the morning. In the afternoon Mr Hondo saw the gum poles at his cousin’s homestead and realised that they belonged to him. Mr Hondo took a scotch cart and loaded the gum poles with an intention to take them to his homestead.-Chronicle

Fellow Zimbabweans I wish to break the news to you that I have tested positive for COVID-19 & been admitted at a local hospital under the capable, caring & committed hospital staff which is a huge comfort for me.With my determination & your prayers I can beat this.

— Elias Mudzuri (@EngMudzuri) September 15, 2020

JUDGE SUMMONS AG MACHAYA TO COURT OVER DEVOLUTION

ATTORNEY-GENERAL (AG) Advocate Prince Machaya has been summoned to appear in court on Tuesday 15 September 2020 and explain himself on government’s delays in acceding to a court application filed by water rights campaigners, a residents association and an opposition legislator demanding the enactment of devolution laws.

High Court Judge Justice Edith Mushore issued the order on Thursday 10 September 2020 while presiding over the hearing of a court application filed by Community Water Alliance Trust (CWAT), Combined Harare Residents Association (CHRA) and Harare North constituency legislator Hon. Allan Markham seeking an order to compel Local Government, Rural and Urban Development Minister Hon. July Moyo, Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Hon Ziyambi Ziyambi and Finance and Economic Development Minister Mthuli Ncube to enact laws that are necessary to actualise provisions of Chapter 14 of the Constitution, which provides for the enactment of devolution laws.

In court, the respondents, who were represented by a law officer in the AG’s Office only identified as Sigora, had failed to make a commitment to settle for the order sought by CWAT, CHRA and Hon. Markham leaving Justice Mushore to note that the law officer had been unfairly exposed by Advocate Machaya.

Although the respondents had attempted to argue that it is not the government’s duty to enact laws but the duty of Parliament, CWAT, CHRA and Hon. Markham argued that the constitutional obligation of initiating laws lies with government through Cabinet as spelt out in the Constitution.

In their application, CWAT, CHRA and Markham, who are represented by Tendai Biti of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, want the High Court to compel the respondents to enact the laws envisaged in Chapter 14 of the Constitution and Section 301 of the Constitution actualising and bringing in devolution.

CWAT, CHRA and Markham argued that the respondents have got powers of bringing one omnibus Bill or they can split their obligations into two or three Bills and within four months of the granting of a court order they should cause the gazetting of the Bill or Bills necessary to give effect to provisions of Chapter 14 of the Constitution and Section 301 of the Constitution.

CWAT, CHRA and Hon. Markham also want the High Court to declare the actions of Hon. Moyo in allocating ZW$400 million in 2019 and ZW$6 billion in 2020 using a formula only known to himself to different local authorities in Zimbabwe to be declared unlawful and in breach of the Constitution.

The applicants want the allocations by Hon. Moyo to be declared a nullity because they were done in the absence of a legal framework to set up devolution and in the absence of metropolitan and provincial councils.

CWAT, CHRA and Hon. Markham argued that the High Court has a right to enforce compliance and performance with the constitutional obligation as provided in Section 324 of the Constitution, which provides that all constitutional obligations must be performed diligently and without delay.

Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights

The Zimbabwe School Examinations Council (ZIMSEC) has extended the registration period for November 2020 Ordinary and Advanced Level examinations to October 2.

In a circular to examination centre heads, ZIMSEC director Lazarus Nembaware said all the usual registration formalities should be fully observed. The circular reads in part:

ZIMSEC would like to advise all Examinations Centre that registration for the 2020 ZGCE Ordinary and Advanced Level Examinations has been extended to 20 October 2020.

Heads of Examination should communicate this extension of registration to all prospective candidates in their communities.

All regulations relating to the submission of entries should be followed to the letter.

The extension comes at a time the government has announced that examination classes will reopen on September 28th, with exams commencing on December 1st.

Registration for the 2020 examinations was supposed to have closed between March and April this year, however, the processes were halted when schools closed following the coronavirus outbreak.

Zimbabwe’s cabinet has lifted restrictions on inter city travel as the country continues to gradually re-open the economy, a Cabinet minister said on Tuesday.

The re-opening follows a six month break as Zimbabwe joined the world in battling with the COVID-19 pandemic.

Zimbabwe has 7531 COVID-19 cases with 224 deaths to date.

Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister , Monica Mutsvangwa told a post Cabinet media briefing that the decision to approve the resumption of of inter-city travel was also meant to facilitate smooth movement of examination candidates, citizens and visitors.

“Transporters who wish to ferry passengers should register with the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development to ensure that they strictly comply with Standard Operating Procedures for their sector which are compliant to the WHO guidelines and all COVID-19 regulations. In support of this service, the Vehicle Inspection Department should also resume its services.“ said Mutsvangwa.

Government also announced the re-opening of the Central Registry to allow the issuance of birth certificates and travel documents.

“ Cabinet has approved that the Central Registry should reopen and offer services, such as the issuance of births and death certificates, national registrations as well as passports.

“Measures are being put in place to ensure that operations at Central Registry offices which are usually characterized by overcrowding are in line with the Ministry of Health and Child Care and WHO protocols in order to curtail the transmission of COVID-19. Members of the public will be informed on the timelines for accessing the critical services,” she said.

Cabinet further authorised the partial reopening of the Department of Immigration, Client Service Centre for the purpose of processing short-term investor work and student permits, issue visas at ports of entry and resume enforcement operations through the Compliance Section.

“The National Museums and Monuments of Zimbabwe will be opened to allow visitors access to National Monuments that include the National Heroes Acre and National History Museum.

“Cabinet reiterates that despite the measures taken today to further open up the economy, the threat from COVID-19 is still real and citizens should continue to religiously adhere to the COVID-19 containment measures,” said Mutsvangwa.

Paul Nyathi

The government on Tuesday re-instated Zesa Holdings executive chairman Dr Sydney Gata after he was cleared on four of the six corruption charges that he was facing.

Dr Gata was suspended on August 6 this year to pave way for investigations by the Zimbabwe Anti-corruption Commission.

He was facing six acts of misconduct which included self-allocation of six vehicles for personal and family use, authorising expenditure of ZW$10 million for Christmas parties in Hwange and Kariba in 2019 without board approval as well as installing solar equipment at his residence using Zesa funds among others.

In a statement, chief secretary to the President and Cabinet Dr Misheck Sibanda said Dr Gata would resume his duties while investigations into the two remaining allegations were being finalised.

“The interim report cleared Dr Gata of the first four allegations. With regards to the last two allegations, Zacc is yet to conclude its investigations,” he said.

“With regards to allegations against the board members, the interim report indicates that the investigations are still in progress,” he said.

Dr Sibanda said President Mnangagwa directed that Dr Gata be reinstated.

“His Excellency the President, being cognisant of the fact that Zesa is at the epicentre of the economic activity of the nation and that it would not be desirable for this entity to operate below optimal efficiency due to lack of leadership at its helm, has directed as follows:

“That the executive chairman of Zesa, Dr S Gata while investigations are on-going, be allowed to carry on his responsibility as executive chairman and that the board members also continue in their positions until the finalisation of the investigations,” he said.

President Mnangagwa also directed Energy Minister Zhemu Soda to examine corporate governance issues that were raised in the Zacc interim report and present his recommendations to him by November 30 this year.

Watch video downloading below. Please be patient as the video downloads.

State Media

THE Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) has lifted the suspension of electoral activities, with immediate effect, paving way for the holding of the many Parliamentary and local council by-elections with the commission applying procedures to reduce the risk of Covid-19 infection.

In June, ZEC suspended electoral activities as part of measures to curb the spread of Covid-19.

The commission recently announced that there were 15 vacancies in Parliament that needed to be filled through by-elections following National Assembly recalls by the MDC-T.

While the proportional representation seats in the Assembly and the Senate vacancies are filled by direct nomination in a different process, the constituency seats and the vacancies in local authorities, with Harare City Council having the most, have to be filled by voters in by-elections

Some Parliamentarians and local councillors have also died and should be replaced through holding of by-elections.

In a statement ZEC chairperson, Justice Priscilla Chigumba said the lifting of the suspension on electoral activities is in line with the Covid-19 policy that has been adopted by the commission.

“The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission would like to inform the public that it has lifted with immediate effect the suspension of electoral activities following measures taken by Government to curb the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic. Electoral timelines for all the pending by-elections will be published in the press through notices in due course,” said Justice Chigumba.

“The lifting follows a cautionary observation of the pandemic’s trends and subsequent adoption of health safety measures including the drafting and operationalisation of a Covid-19 policy on electoral activities by the commission whose contents were open to stakeholders’ contribution. The Covid-19 policy on electoral activities which outlines how by-elections and other electoral activities will be conducted without exposing those involved to health risks is now on the ZEC website www.zec.org.zw for the public.”

In the health policy, members of the public will be allowed to bring their pens when coming to cast their votes.

ZEC will disinfect electoral materials such as pens for those who will not carry theirs. Mandatory temperature tests, wearing of masks and sanitisation of hands will be required for all people entering ZEC premises.

Zanu PF acting national spokesperson, Patrick Chinamasa said: “We will contest all vacancies in the by-elections with the aim of winning them to Zanu PF whether they are through recalls because of problems in the MDC-T or through deaths.”

MDC-T Secretary general Mr Douglas Mwonzora said: “Of course, we are going to be contesting elections.”

MDC-Alliance deputy national spokesperson, Mr Felix Mafa Sibanda, said the by-elections will not change anything if there are no reforms.

TWO members of the neighbourhood watch committee have been arrested together with a villager for allegedly beating up a man to death for intervening when they tried to apprehend his friend.

Matabeleland South provincial police spokesperson, Chief Inspector Philisani Ndebele confirmed the incident which occurred in Nyamime area in Filabusi. He said Wisdom Moyo and Terrence Maphosa who are both neighbourhood watch committee members and Nathan Dlamini all from Filabusi allegedly attacked Prince Maphosa on Wednesday last week and he later died on Monday while admitted to Mpilo Central Hospital.

“I can confirm that we recorded a murder case which occurred in Nyamime area in Filabusi. On 9 September a friend of the now deceased Prince Maphosa threw bricks and destroyed windows of a shop at Nyamime Business Centre. Moyo, Maphosa and Dlamini apprehended him and while they were on their way to the nearest police base Prince followed them and attacked them,” he said.

“Prince assisted his friend to escape and they fled from the neighbourhood watch committee members. Moyo, Terrence and Dlamini later pursued Prince and they assaulted him using unknown objects. Prince sustained serious injuries and was rushed to Filabusi District Hospital where he was further referred to Mpilo Hospital. Prince later died on Monday at Mpilo Hospital after succumbing to the injuries he sustained during the attack.”

Chief Insp Ndebele said the trio had since been arrested and they were assisting police with investigations. He urged members of the public to ensure that they cooperate with peace officers.

“People should cooperate with peace officers when they are carrying out their duties and not fight them. Neighbourhood watch committee members act with authority and should be given the respect that they deserve. If members of the public have a query over their arrest, they should make reports later. It’s unfortunate that we have lost a life in this incident,” he said.

By A Correspondent- MDC Alliance MP Joanna Mamombe was on Tuesday afternoon forcibly discharged from hospital by eight anti-riot police officers, after a provisional warrant for her arrest had been issued by a Harare magistrate earlier in the day.

Watch the live videoloading below….

The warrant of arrest was issued against her for failure to appear in court notwithstanding representations by her lawyers that she is in hospital.

Her part said in a statement:

Police have stormed the hospital where Joana Mamombe is receiving treatment. They are taking her away. A warrant of arrest was issued against her for failure to appear in court notwithstanding representations by her lawyers that she is in hospital.

Mamombe’s lawyer Alec Muchadehama told Harare magistrate Bianca Makwande that she failed to attend court, as she was admitted at a health centre in Harare.

Mamombe and two other MDC-Alliance members, Cecilia Chimbiri and Netsai Marova are facing allegations of faking their abductions.

……

According to cncl @DNgadziore: The Lawyer Jeremiah Bamu of ZLHR still at the medical institution with the Police. Prosecutor says Hon Joana Mamombe is supposed to appear in court tomorrow. The Police are discussing whether to detain her at the station cell or not. https://t.co/uaUH9XfnLF

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) September 15, 2020

watch the live video loading below…..

Times Live

The ANC has undertaken to reimburse the government for the costs incurred during its controversial use of an air force jet on a party-political mission to Zimbabwe last week after a public backlash.

The undertaking was contained in statement issued by ANC secretary-general Ace Magashule on Tuesday.

There was a public outcry last week after it emerged the ANC leader had led a party delegation to a meeting with Zanu-PF in Harare, and had been offered a lift on a state-owned jet by defence minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula.

President Cyril Ramaphosa has since asked for a report from Mapisa-Nqakula on the matter, which she submitted by Sunday.

The Sunday Times reported that department of home affairs had opened its own internal investigation relating to how the ANC delegation left the country while lockdown regulations prohibit travel across borders without special permission. It also reported that some members of the delegation did not follow lockdown rules as they failed to quarantine on their return to SA.

Magashule admitted on Tuesday that they had been in the wrong.

“In our quest to achieve this mission, we travelled in an unusual manner, and profusely humble ourselves where we went wrong during the lockdown. We will reimburse the government for the costs incurred on behalf of our delegation. Our delegation is under quarantine in line with lockdown regulations,” said Magashule.

The trip was meant for the ANC to meet their Zanu-PF counterparts over tensions in Zimbabwe.

Magashule said they gave a report back to ANC officials on Monday about the trip.

DA MP Kobus Marais said Ramaphosa had no option but to fire his defence minister after the ANC admitted to “shamelessly abusing an air force jet to travel to Zimbabwe to meet their Zanu-PF counterparts”.

“It is now patently clear that minister Mapisa-Nqakula wilfully allowed the ANC delegation to abuse state resources for her party’s political ends. This was a gross violation of her oath of office, a dereliction of duty and a complete disregard for ethical standards. She simply must go.”

The DA will lay a complaint with parliament’s ethics committee against the minister in this regard.

“Following pressure from the public and the DA, the ANC has not only admitted it abused state resources, but has also indicated the party would reimburse the government for the costs incurred on behalf of [its] delegation,” said the DA.

ANC ‘has track record of thievery’

“The DA will not allow this to happen behind closed doors. We call for the appointment of a panel of aviation experts to determine the full cost of the ANC’s trip to Zimbabwe, including the wear and tear on the aircraft and other associated costs. This information must be submitted to the auditor-general for full interrogation against departmental expenditure on the ANC flight.

“Given the ANC’s track record of thievery, the DA will not allow any stone to be left unturned.

“This repayment also does not absolve ANC secretary-general Ace Magashule and his fellow ANC members who were on the flight of any wrongdoing. The reality is there is still no clarity whether the transport minister Fikile Mbalula approved the delegation’s travel across the border as per level 2 lockdown regulations.

“Like many law-abiding citizens who have had to pay fines and be criminalised by the government during the lockdown for simply going surfing or taking a jog, so, too, must ANC members be held to account.

“The ANC has for days brazenly denied any wrongdoing, but mounting pressure has proved inescapable. The DA sees this as a huge victory for SA in holding the ANC to full account for its nefarious and thieving ways.”

ZESA Holdings has announced that there will be moderate load shedding on Tuesday night in different parts of the country due to reduced capacity and generation at Hwange Power Station.

In a statement, the power utility said its engineers are working flat out to restore full capacity at the thermal power plant. The statement read:

ZESA Holdings would like to advise its valued customers countrywide that there is limited power supply on the national electricity grid due to reduced capacity and generation at Hwange Power Station.

This will lead to moderate load curtailment between 1800hrs and 2000hrs tonight (Tuesday 15 September 2020).

Restoration of service to optimum levels is currently underway and customers are advised to use the available power sparingly.

The inconvenience caused is sincerely regretted.

ZESA Holdings

The Zimbabwean dollar on Tuesday appreciated for the third straight week against the greenback, closing the week at $81.71.

Last week it traded at $82.70.

The lowest the local unit has traded against the United States dollar since it was floated in late June is $83.40.

It gained for the first time at the beginning of this month as the
exchange rate stabilised, with the market gaining confidence in the
foreign exchange auction system.

Previously, the exchange rate was fixed at $25 to the US dollar
leading to serious distortions in the market as the parallel market
was the main supplier of foreign currency to companies.

This saw the rate peaking at $120 on the parallel market before the
auction system was introduced.

The black market rate has since gone down to around $105.

At Tuesday’s auction, the highest rate on offer was $88 while the
lowest accepted rate was $75.

A total of US$21.17 million was allocated to a combined 248 bidders at both the main and the small to medium enterprises auction, with 22
bidders having been disqualified.

Foreign currency is allocated according to a set national priority list and more than half of the allotted amount was directed towards the purchase of raw materials for industry.

ANC WELCOMES THE CONSTRUCTIVE APPROACH BY ZANU PF WITH REGARDS TO ENGAGING WITH OPPOSITION PARTIES AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS

The African National Congress delegation led by the Secretary-General Cde Ace Magashule came back from a successful mission of the bilateral engagement with Zanu PF.

The delegation on Monday the 14th of September, briefed the National Officials of the bilateral engagements with Zanu PF, which were characterized as cordial and successful.

The ANC welcomes and concurs with the comments made by the ZANU PF Secretary of Administration, Comrade Obert Mpofu that the recent engagement between the ANC and ZANU PF was both frank and constructive, conducted in the fraternal spirit of two Liberation Movements.

As such we remain committed to extending the space for political dialogue with a view of advancing the social, political and economic interests of the people of Zimbabwe and South Africa in the context of advancing African unity, and the continuing fight for political and economic emancipation.

The ANC therefore warmly welcomes the constructive approach of ZANU PF with regards to the ANC meeting with other stakeholders, opposition parties, and civil society organizations in Zimbabwe.

In this regard, it was agreed that the ANC will in the foreseeable future return to Zimbabwe in order to proceed with these envisaged meetings.

The ANC furthermore welcomes the joint commitment between the ANC and ZANU PF as Liberation Movements to upholding human rights, in the context of what we fought for during the struggle against apartheid and colonialism.

Our joint engagement on and commitment to the advancement and protection of human rights always remains paramount in the context of acknowledging and upholding our respective countries as sovereign, which cannot be dictated to.

We do so while respecting freedom of association, freedom of speech, and all the basic universal freedoms.

The ANC agrees that the driving force of our engagements to address the challenges we are faced with must always be the advancement of the wellbeing of our people who continue to be marginalized, jobless and poor, as a consequence of the legacy of colonialism, and the continuing impact of neo-colonialism and imperialism.

As the ANC we would like to appreciate the success of our delegation mission of national interest to Zimbabwe with both hands because a successful and prosperous Zimbabwe as our neighbour is good for South Africa, the SADC region and our beloved continent Africa.

We hope and trust that the positive results of our consultation will go a long way in ensuring regional stability and growth in the two countries.

Finally, is that in our quest to achieve this mission, we travelled in an unusual manner and profusely humble ourselves where we went wrong during the lockdown and will reimburse the government for the costs incurred on behalf of our delegation.

Our delegation is under quarantine in line with our lockdown regulations.

Issued by the Secretary-General of the African National Congress Cde Ace Magashule

Farai Dziva|Pressure groups are pushing for the immediate intervention of the AU in the deepening crisis in Zimbabwe.

The Zimbabwean Citizens Coalition in South Africa has urged both President Cyril Ramaphosa’s government and the African Union to condemn the abduction, torture and imprisonment of activists, journalists and government critics in Zimbabwe.

“As the chair of the African Union, South Africa must take a firm stance and condemn what is happening in Zimbabwe.

The AU represents the continent, and we need continental support,” said Tafirenyika Muzarugwi of Zimbabwean Citizens Coalition.

The Durban-based Zimbabwe Solidarity Movement’s Tsungai Jani has also bemoaned the widening crackdown on dissenting voices by Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government.

He said Zimbabweans were foolish to celebrate the ouster of the late Robert Mugabe, then President in 2017 because the repressive State apparatus is still in place.

Said Jani:
“You never expect this to happen in a so-called democratic country. When Robert Mugabe was ousted out of office, we foolishly rejoiced only to realise that he was never the only bad guy, but it was a systemic issue. At the end of the day, Zanu-PF is still the ruling party.”

Farai Dziva|Transform Zimbabwe leader Jacob Ngarivhume has described President Nelson Chamisa as a man who is determined to fight for the rights of suffering citizens.

Below is Ngarivhume’s statement:

By Jacob Ngarivhume

Today(Monday) MDC Alliance President, Advocate Nelson Chamisa visited me at home and expressed solidarity with me regarding the incarceration and brutality myself and my brother Hopewell Chin’ono suffered at the hands of the state concerning the anti-corruption 31st July Protest.

We prayed together and discussed at length the crisis in Zimbabwe, solutions, citizen engagement and also the shaping up civil rights movement – 31st July Movement.

He supports the fight for citizen’s rights as enshrined in our Zimbabwe Constitution and all efforts we the citizens undertake together to bring about a free, prosperous and just Zimbabwe.

Thereafter as a goodwill gesture and show of unity he accompanied me to Waterfalls Police Station where I am mandated by the state to report three times a week as my guest.

Thank you Advocate Nelson Chamisa, a new Zimbabwe is possible!

#PullingTogether
#31JulyAnti-CorruptionProtests
#FreeZimbabwe
#ZimbabweLivesMatter

Farai Dziva|Police have arrested Joana Mamombe, who is visibly sick, triggering widespread protests on various social media platforms.

Irate Zimbabweans have accused Mr Mnangagwa of plotting to kill the youthful MDC Alliance MP.Watch video below :

The Mayor of @cohsunshinecity has not been recalled he is in his office performing his civic duties that he was elected to do by people in Harare.

— Chalton Hwende MP Chairperson Public Accounts (@hwendec) September 15, 2020

By A Correspondent- The MDC Deputy Treasurer Charlton Hwende has dismissed reports alleging that the newly elected Harare Mayor Jacob Mafume has been recalled.

BREAKING- NEWLY ELECTED HARARE MAYOR HIS WORSHIP COUNCILLOR JACOB MAFUME RECALLED? @MakomboreroH @DrThoko_Khupe @lilomatic @JMafume @GutuObert @nelsonchamisa @BitiTendai pic.twitter.com/zGyZ9AacP8

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) September 15, 2020

Earlier on, sources privy to the development alleged that Mafume was recalled by his party PDP.

It was further revealed that the new Harare Mayor was recalled by a faction of the PDP led by Lucia Matibenga.

Posting on his twitter, Hwende said:

The Mayor of @cohsunshinecity has not been recalled he is in his office performing his civic duties that he was elected to do by people in Harare.”

Matibenga broke ranks with the Tendai Biti-led faction in 2017 following differences over joining the MDC Alliance ahead of the 2018 polls. At the time, Matibenga was party chairperson.

In an interview with ZimEye, Mafume however professed ignorance on the matter and said he knew nothing about the recall.

Said Mafume:

“Ask her (Matibenga) please. I have no idea what you are talking about.”

Matibenga was not picking up calls at the time of publishing.

This is a developing story. Refresh this page for latest updates.

BREAKING- Police mobilised, currently waiting to effect the arrest of sick @JoanaMamombe at Borrowdale Half House in Harare. This follows an arrest warrant issued this morning at the Harare magistrates court over her failure to appear at court. #Zimbabwe #ZimbabweanslivesMatter pic.twitter.com/l6FcT2k9Qy

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) September 15, 2020

Watch the live video loading below…

BREAKING- Police mobilised, currently waiting to effect the arrest of sick @JoanaMamombe at Borrowdale Half House in Harare. This follows an arrest warrant issued this morning at the Harare magistrates court over her failure to appear at court. #Zimbabwe #ZimbabweanslivesMatter pic.twitter.com/l6FcT2k9Qy

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) September 15, 2020

Watch the video loading below and hear Joana Mamombe’s lawyer Joana Mamombe speaking to ZimEye….

BREAKING- @DrThoko_Khupe Khupe fires five marondera councillors including Mayor #Zimbabwe @MdcMasvingo @mdczimbabwe @mdcmashwest @MDCAustralia @MdcRundu @advocatemahere @MakomboreroH pic.twitter.com/tDhfhzoYOt

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) September 15, 2020

BREAKING- NEWLY ELECTED HARARE MAYOR HIS WORSHIP COUNCILLOR JACOB MAFUME RECALLED? @MakomboreroH @DrThoko_Khupe @lilomatic @JMafume @GutuObert @nelsonchamisa @BitiTendai pic.twitter.com/zGyZ9AacP8

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) September 15, 2020

By A Correspondent- The newly elected MDC Alliance Harare Mayor Jacob Mafume has been recalled, it has emerged.

Sources privy to the development alleged that Mafume was recalled by his party PDP.

It was however further revealed that the new Harare Mayor was recalled by a faction of the PDP led by Lucia Matibenga.

Matibenga broke ranks with the Tendai Biti-led faction in 2017 following differences over joining the MDC Alliance ahead of the 2018 polls. At the time, Matibenga was party chairperson.

In an interview with ZimEye, Mafume however dismissed the report and said he knew nothing about the recall.

Said Mafume:

“Ask her (Matibenga) please. I have no idea what you are talking about.”

Matibenga was not picking up calls at the time of publishing.

This is a developing story. Refresh this page for latest updates.

By A Correspondent- MDC-T secretary-general Douglas Mwonzora says the level of intolerance being displayed by Nelson Chamisa was not only shocking but totally repugnant of modern dictates of common decency in leadership.

This follows attacks on him by the MDC Alliance leader at the burial of a party official over the weekend.

“I learnt with dismay the unprovoked utterances against my person attributed to Advocate Chamisa at the recent funeral service of the late Hon Miriam Mushayi,” Mwonzora said.

“The unfortunate diatribe against my person, characterised by the unsavoury name calling was not only unfortunate but regrettable given that this was coming from a man calling himself the people’s president.

“The level of intolerance displayed by the president of the Alliance party is not only shocking but totally repugnant of modern dictates of common decency in leadership.

“It is an affront to the progressive democratic tenets of modern politics.”

Addressing mourners during the late Mushayi’s church service, Chamisa described his former ally, ‘as a sell-out who was fighting an unwinnable petty agenda’.

For close to six months, Mwonzora, has been on a warpath, frustrating the operations of the MDC Alliance through recalls on MPs and councillors claiming they had ceased to be MDC-T members.

“I am really disappointed with his level of selfishness and that Mwonzora has sunk so low. He is claiming to defend the legacy of the late Morgan Tsvangirai by destroying what he (Tsvangirai) built. You claim you want to defend his legacy when you do not even know the origins of Tsvangirai,” Chamisa told mourners.

In response, Mwonzora said by choosing a funeral platform to spew hate, Chamisa was not only abusive of the grieving family but this was testimony of a man hurting from inside and in need of help.

“This behaviour, inimical of the late Robert Mugabe is not helpful to a society desperate for a new breeze of politics, free from hate and intolerance,” Mwonzora said.

“Zimbabwe yearns for a new political culture where rational disputation thrive and people can respectfully disagree without animosity against one another.

“The bitterness displayed by Advocate Chamisa does not promote the new society we envisage. It can only perpetuate acrimony and violence which has characterised our toxic political landscape since independence in 1980.

“This politics is not only retrogressive but archaic and unproductive. We must as political leaders free the new generation of Zimbabwe from this kind of politics.”

Mwonzora added, “Zimbabwe deserves a better leadership which focuses on issues than personalities.

“It is my wish to advance a developmental political agenda which will extricate our people from poverty and hunger.

“Together as Zimbabwe, we can achieve this in our lifetime. I call on my brother Nelson Chamisa to emulate this new political trajectory and make a difference to many a young man out there who look up to him for real change.”

The two former allies broke ranks on the day the Supreme Court ruled Chamisa was not the legitimate leader of the opposition MDC-T.

Mwonzora quickly jumped ship and joined Thokozani Khupe who was declared interim president of the party.

By A Correspondent- Former Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko’s trial continued yesterday in camera at the Harare Magistrates Court.

Mphoko is facing criminal abuse of office charges after he allegedly instructed some police officers to release former Zimbabwe National Road Administration (Zinara) acting chief executive Moses Juma from police cells.

Prosecutor Mr Lovett Masuku successfully applied to have the trial be heard in camera citing need to protect State’s secrets.

In his application Mr Masuku told Harare regional magistrate Mr Trynois Utahwashe that he agreed with Mphoko’s lawyers to have the proceedings heard in camera.

Said Mr Masuku: “The State is of the view that proceedings should be heard in camera, the basis for the application is that the evidence likely to be adduced will not be good in terms of State security.”-statemedia

By A Correspondent- Divisions have rocked the ruling Zanu-PF party over its impending district co-ordinating committee (DCC) elections amid reports of plots by party bigwigs to impose candidates as internal succession wars thicken.

The party disbanded the DCCs in 2012 after it emerged that they had become favourite hunting grounds for then Vice-President Joice Mujuru and Justice minister Emmerson Mnangagwa who were jostling to succeed the now late former President Robert Mugabe.

After romping to power through a military-assisted coup in November 2017, Mnangagwa immediately reinstated the DCCs, with elections for the lower tier of the Zanu-PF power structures scheduled to start soon.

However, fierce fights over control of the structures have re-emerged amid reports that faction leaders were back in the trenches trying to sway votes in favour of candidates deemed loyal to either Mnangagwa or his deputy Constantino Chiwenga who is said to be angling to take over as party leader.

On Saturday, party commissar Victor Matemadanda singled out Mashonaland West, Manicaland, Mashonaland East and Midlands provinces as trouble spots.

“All the people who sat down and did shortlisting of candidates, those (candidates) are going to be disqualified. What makes you want to have your own sub-structure? The structure must be one which reports to the President. Why do you think you must have a structure that is loyal to you?” he asked rhetorically.

“I heard that in Mashonaland West, around Patchway area, there was a caucus meeting to shortlist candidates for DCC and say so and so will be chairperson, secretary etc… that is nonsense. There is nothing like that. We are going to do proper elections there.”

“In Chipinge, I heard that is what was happening also. In Mashonaland East, I heard there was a district which was doing that again. Let me tell them that they will achieve nothing. We want to have a structure of the party not of an individual. Here in Midlands, the same problem had started, but I shall not mention names,” an irate Matemadanda said.

According to the Zanu-PF constitution, there are 60 rural DCCs that must be constituted and 29 in urban areas.

When fully constituted, the DCCs form part of the Zanu-PF congress, which is the supreme decision-making body mandated to elect the party president.

Accordingly, whoever controls DCCs has greater potential of sustaining power in Zanu-PF.-online

By A Correspondent- The 9 students who were arrested by the ZRP while protesting outside Harare Magistrate Courts following the arrest of Takudzwa Ngadziore the ZINASU president are set to appear before the courts today.

ZimEye will be covering proceedings at the court.

The police reportedly rounded up Nancy Njenge, Donald Marevanhema, Talent Jinga, Arnold Mazonde, Mitchell Lieto, Zvikomborero Mumbirimi, Takudzwa Gwaze and John Ncobo and reports say they were driven away in the back of a police vehicle.

Their lawyer Obey Shava told the media Monday, the group would sleep in police custody and they will appear in court today. The students are facing public disorder charges.

Harare City Council will have just 25 functioning councillors following the recall of another 11, including the deputy mayor, by MDC-T yesterday.

This takes the number of vacancies to 21, a development that may trigger the temporary appointment of commissioners until by-elections are held.

While a council meeting requires just 17 councillors present to form a quorum, much of the work of the council is done in committees and depending on the distribution of the vacancies, there may be swathes of suburbs without representation until by-elections are held.

The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) is hoping the Covid-19 pandemic will be sufficiently reduced, or other health measures can be put in place, to allow Parliamentary and council by-elections by December.

Normally, outside a public health emergency, these would take place in a matter of weeks after the vacancies.

Under the Urban Councils Act the Minister of Local Government and Public Works can appoint one or more commissioners for a maximum of six months, or until the vacancies are filled in a by-election, when “there are no councillors for a council area or all the councillors for a council area have been suspended or imprisoned or are otherwise unable to exercise all or some of their functions as councillors.”

Where there are some councillors still available to exercise some of their functions, any commission must consult these councillors before making any decisions.

A commission is essentially intended as a holding operation since the commission needs ministerial approval to collect rates and fees or sell council land and in the case of Harare, where there are still sitting councillors, any commission would in effect be checking and validating any decisions reached by that group as part of the consultation process.

There have been legal changes since the last commissions ran the city council, when a minister could remove a council and replace it by a commission.

Under the new law, the commission is just there to keep the city running until a new council is in place. If the Minister of Local Government feels that a council is falling down on the job, then the minister can issue policy directions and take other action to ensure the council is doing its job.

MDC-T has been targeting those MPs, senators and councillors who were its nominees in the MDC-Alliance single list in the last harmonised election.

Those coming from other parties in the alliance cannot be recalled by MDC-T, but that party was the largest component of the MDC-A and had the largest number of nominees.

The 11 latest recalled councillors include deputy mayor Enoch Mupamawonde, Lovemore Makuwerere (Ward 24), Gilbert Hadebe (Ward 39), Munyaradzi Kufahakutizwi (Ward 19), Simon Mapanzure (Ward 34), Charles Chidhagu (Ward 30), Keith Charumbira (Ward 8), Steven Dhliwayo (Ward 40), Barnabas Ndira (Ward 21), Chihoma Runyowa (Ward 29) and Charles Nyatsuro (Ward 6).

The first batch of four councillors to be recalled in July are Denford Ngadziore (Ward 16), Girisoti Mandere (Ward 44), Jaison Kautsa (Ward 37), Tonderai Chakeredza (Ward 31).

Six councillors recalled in August are former mayor Hebert Gomba (Ward 27), Hammy Madzingira (Ward 10), Kudzai Kadzombe (Ward 41), Gaudencia Marere (Ward 32), Costa Mande (Ward 24), Happymore Gotora (Ward 7).

A communique from Local Government and Public Works Minister July Moyo, addressed to the office of the Harare town clerk, informed council about the latest recalls.

“I wish to inform you that l am in receipt of a letter from the Movement of Democratic Change (T) stating that the following councillors have been expelled from that party,” reads the letter.

The letter further declared wards 24, 39, 19, 34, 30, 8, 40, 21, 29, 6 and 35 are now vacant, in terms of the Constitution. Minister Moyo said in terms of section 121 of the Electoral Act, council should inform the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) of the vacant seats.

Sources from the MDC-T said the recalls were part of the ongoing intra-party fights for the control of the party.

“The councillors are said to have humiliated Dr Khupe last week during the mayoral election in which they voted a Peoples’ Democratic Party candidate, Jacob Mafume, for the top civic job in the city. This was against the wishes of Dr Khupe and company who wanted Luckson Mukunguma to be the mayor,” said the source.

Harare City Council has been sitting on a major set of corruption allegations involving the sale of council land and the rezoning of public open space before that land is then sold, sometimes under contested circumstances.

The creation of new housing stands for alleged personal gain, plus alleged cover ups and allegations of favouritism in manipulation of housing waiting lists or agreements of sale without prior advertising have seen senior officials, up to Town Clerk Eng Hosiah Chisango, and some councillors, including ex-mayor Gomba, arrested and taken to court.

While the powers of a commission are limited in time and extent, there are many who support the appointment to help sort out major problems.

By A Correspondent- EFF leader Julius Malema has said the ANC was irresponsible in using a government jet to come for a crunch meeting with Zanu PF. Malema further said the secretary of defence must invoice the ANC and the ANC must pay for hitching a ride in a government jet on ANC business.sample invoice template

According to SABC:

EFF leader Julius Malema says the ANC must pay for using a government jet to travel to Zimbabwe. The Red Berets say the Secretary of Defence must invoice Luthuli House. Malema supports the ANC mission to Zimbabwe though, saying it’s urgent and necessary to resolve the political and economic challenges in our neighboring country.

By A Correspondent- Zimbabwe Ndlovu, the Nkayi Rural District Council Chief Executive Officer was reportedly suspended last week for alleged abuse of office.

Mr Ndlovu who was also suspended on the same charges in March and had recently returned to work was suspended after a full council meeting discussing his issue was held.

A letter from Nkayi RDC chairman Mr Jameson Mnethwa to Ndlovu outlining the reasons for his suspension seen by the publication reads in part:

a) changing the tender recommendations by the procurement committee to a company with a bad record and that did not complete the job as earlier indicated,

b) entering into a contract with Zenzele Logistics without a council resolution on 6 July 2018 and only presented this to council on 27 March 2020. c) Utilising US$1 055 for the Sweden trip without council authority. d) Changing council lawyers in the Lawrence Mudimba case without a council resolution

You are requested to return all council assets (council vehicle AEN3413, office keys, laptop and password and any other assets) that you are using to the council chairperson

When asked for comment deputy local governance minister Marian Chombo said she is aware of the matter and she doesn’t want to interfere with council process.-statemedia

State Media

Former Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko’s trial continued yesterday in camera at the Harare Magistrates Court.

Mphoko is facing criminal abuse of office charges after he allegedly instructed some police officers to release former Zimbabwe National Road Administration (Zinara) acting chief executive Moses Juma from police cells.

Prosecutor Mr Lovett Masuku successfully applied to have the trial be heard in camera citing need to protect State’s secrets.

In his application Mr Masuku told Harare regional magistrate Mr Trynois Utahwashe that he agreed with Mphoko’s lawyers to have the proceedings heard in camera.

Said Mr Masuku: “The State is of the view that proceedings should be heard in camera, the basis for the application is that the evidence likely to be adduced will not be good in terms of State security.”

Responding to the State’s application, Mphoko’s lawyer Advocate Thembinkosi Magwaliba insisted that the accused person’s immediate family should be present during the trial saying he cannot be cut off from his family members.

State Media

THE occupation of Buena Vista Farm in Goromonzi by new farmer Ms Ivy Rupandi is aboveboard following a long-running court process which culminated in Mr Martin Grobbler losing the farm.

Ms Rupandi was allocated the land in 2003 at the height of the Land Reform Programme, but faced resistance from Mr Grobbler.

The farm had been acquired by the State and gazetted for redistribution under the Land Reform Programme.

The battle for control of the farm spilled into the courts with Ms Rupandi on the strength of an offer letter from Government, seeking eviction of the Grobbler family.

On his part, Mr Grobbler filed numerous court applications in a bid to block Ms Rupandi from occupying the farm.

However, Ms Rupandi won her case and Mr Grobbler was evicted on the strength of a High Court order.

Dissatisfied with the court’s decision allowing his eviction, Mr Grobbler took the matter to the Supreme Court on appeal.

He lost the appeal, setting the stage for Ms Rupandi to execute the eviction order against Mr Grobbler.

Ms Rupandi’s notice of eviction was filed at the High Court on November 28, 2017 under case number HC 10633/17, but Grobbler continued to contest eviction when he applied for a stay of execution. But his appeal in the Supreme Court, under a SC 246/20 was thrown out after Justice Lavender Makoni on July 22, upheld the eviction order.

State Media

Police officers recently arrested on allegations of abuse of office and bribery over their handling of the investigation into the illegal sale of stands in Kuwadzana in a US$1 million scam have been reassigned to the reserve pool.

The pool is a convenient place to post officers who cannot hold any specific function, or who have to be kept away from active duties pending disciplinary proceedings.

The four are deputy director for the police CID commercial crimes unit Assistant Commissioner Obeylaw Moyo (47), Detective Assistant Inspector Claudious Majonga (37), Detective Constable Aaron Karuru (32), and a fourth officer on the run.

The Herald has it on good authority that Asst Comm Moyo and Superintendent Naboth Nyachega, who are also on remand over Harare land issues, were transferred from the CID to Police General Headquarters (PGHQ) reserve along with Chief Supt H Dube who was transferred from PGHQ Transport and Logistics.

Five other senior officers were transferred to various departments within the police force as part of the restructuring, although many of those transfers are normal reassignments for duty police officers who rarely spend more than a few years in a particular post or even the same unit.

The transfers are with effective from last Wednesday.

National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said there was nothing unusual about transfers within the police services.

“There is nothing sinister about transfers. Transfers are part of the police work and there is need to rotate officers. The Commissioner-General of Police has a prerogative to make transfers,” he said.

The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) recently arrested chief public prosecutor Clement Chimbare, who was implicated in the matter, together with some of the police officers and it was alleged that they were paid off with housing stands for not arresting or not charging suspected kingpins in the scam.

There is evidence that they were allocated stands in Westlea, the new middle-income suburb of Harare, using waiting list numbers already given to others.

Another senior police officer, Supt Nyachega, and two Harare City Council officials — human resources director and former housing director, Matthew Marara, and housing assistant Aaron Taerera — were also arrested over the case.

State Media

Harare City Council will have just 25 functioning councillors following the recall of another 11, including the deputy mayor, by MDC-T yesterday.

This takes the number of vacancies to 21, a development that may trigger the temporary appointment of commissioners until by-elections are held.

While a council meeting requires just 17 councillors present to form a quorum, much of the work of the council is done in committees and depending on the distribution of the vacancies, there may be swathes of suburbs without representation until by-elections are held.

The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) is hoping the Covid-19 pandemic will be sufficiently reduced, or other health measures can be put in place, to allow Parliamentary and council by-elections by December.

Normally, outside a public health emergency, these would take place in a matter of weeks after the vacancies.

Under the Urban Councils Act the Minister of Local Government and Public Works can appoint one or more commissioners for a maximum of six months, or until the vacancies are filled in a by-election, when “there are no councillors for a council area or all the councillors for a council area have been suspended or imprisoned or are otherwise unable to exercise all or some of their functions as councillors.”

Where there are some councillors still available to exercise some of their functions, any commission must consult these councillors before making any decisions.

A commission is essentially intended as a holding operation since the commission needs ministerial approval to collect rates and fees or sell council land and in the case of Harare, where there are still sitting councillors, any commission would in effect be checking and validating any decisions reached by that group as part of the consultation process.

There have been legal changes since the last commissions ran the city council, when a minister could remove a council and replace it by a commission.

Under the new law, the commission is just there to keep the city running until a new council is in place. If the Minister of Local Government feels that a council is falling down on the job, then the minister can issue policy directions and take other action to ensure the council is doing its job.

MDC-T has been targeting those MPs, senators and councillors who were its nominees in the MDC-Alliance single list in the last harmonised election.

Those coming from other parties in the alliance cannot be recalled by MDC-T, but that party was the largest component of the MDC-A and had the largest number of nominees.

The 11 latest recalled councillors include deputy mayor Enoch Mupamawonde, Lovemore Makuwerere (Ward 24), Gilbert Hadebe (Ward 39), Munyaradzi Kufahakutizwi (Ward 19), Simon Mapanzure (Ward 34), Charles Chidhagu (Ward 30), Keith Charumbira (Ward 8), Steven Dhliwayo (Ward 40), Barnabas Ndira (Ward 21), Chihoma Runyowa (Ward 29) and Charles Nyatsuro (Ward 6).

The first batch of four councillors to be recalled in July are Denford Ngadziore (Ward 16), Girisoti Mandere (Ward 44), Jaison Kautsa (Ward 37), Tonderai Chakeredza (Ward 31).

Six councillors recalled in August are former mayor Hebert Gomba (Ward 27), Hammy Madzingira (Ward 10), Kudzai Kadzombe (Ward 41), Gaudencia Marere (Ward 32), Costa Mande (Ward 24), Happymore Gotora (Ward 7).

A communique from Local Government and Public Works Minister July Moyo, addressed to the office of the Harare town clerk, informed council about the latest recalls.

“I wish to inform you that l am in receipt of a letter from the Movement of Democratic Change (T) stating that the following councillors have been expelled from that party,” reads the letter.

The letter further declared wards 24, 39, 19, 34, 30, 8, 40, 21, 29, 6 and 35 are now vacant, in terms of the Constitution. Minister Moyo said in terms of section 121 of the Electoral Act, council should inform the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) of the vacant seats.

Sources from the MDC-T said the recalls were part of the ongoing intra-party fights for the control of the party.

“The councillors are said to have humiliated Dr Khupe last week during the mayoral election in which they voted a Peoples’ Democratic Party candidate, Jacob Mafume, for the top civic job in the city. This was against the wishes of Dr Khupe and company who wanted Luckson Mukunguma to be the mayor,” said the source.

Harare City Council has been sitting on a major set of corruption allegations involving the sale of council land and the rezoning of public open space before that land is then sold, sometimes under contested circumstances.

The creation of new housing stands for alleged personal gain, plus alleged cover ups and allegations of favouritism in manipulation of housing waiting lists or agreements of sale without prior advertising have seen senior officials, up to Town Clerk Eng Hosiah Chisango, and some councillors, including ex-mayor Gomba, arrested and taken to court.

While the powers of a commission are limited in time and extent, there are many who support the appointment to help sort out major problems.

Paul Nyathi

The trial of MDC Alliance legislator Joana Mamombe and two other party activists — Cecilia Chimbiri and Netsai Marova — who are facing charges of communicating false statements prejudicial to the State after alleging abduction and torture by suspected security agents, is expected to start today at the Harare Magistrates Courts.

The three, who are out on bail, are shockingly accused of making false claims of having been abducted, tortured and sexually abused as punishment for staging an anti-Government protest.

The three opposition women were tortured and sexually abused by their abductors, whom they said took them from a police station in May, after they had been arrested for organizing an anti-government protest. Their abductors were unidentified, but because they took the women from police custody, it appears they were some kind of state agents.

The young women were missing for nearly 48 hours before being released by their abuctors. While they were being treated in a hospital for injuries inflicted during their captivity, prosecutors charged them with contravening lockdown regulations for participating in the protest.

The State is expected to lead evidence showing that the trio lied about the abductions to advance a political agenda aimed at discrediting and eventually overthrowing the Government.

The accused are however seeking postponement of the trial on various grounds deemed to be delaying tactics which include claims of suffering temporary insanity.

Lawyers representing Mamombe had asked for a temporary suspension of her bail reporting conditions claiming she was not feeling well and was under the care of a psychiatrist.

Mamombe’s lawyer Alec Muchadehama told the court that “she had been taken ill and currently under the care of a psychiatrist because of her unstable condition . . . the doctor had recommended a further two weeks to manage . . .”

According to the State, Mamombe and her accomplices were captured on CCTV at Belgravia Shopping Centre in Harare at a time they were claiming to have been in the hands of their abductors.

On May 13 at around 12.30pm, the three gathered at Choppies Supermarket in Warren Park 1 with other MDC Alliance youths and staged a demonstration against the recall of their MPs from Parliament and the alleged misuse of funds for the Covid-19 pandemic.

On the same day they were arrested at a roadblock near the Exhibition Park and were taken to Harare Central Police Station.

Upon receiving the communication, their lawyer Mr Jeremiah Bamu reportedly went to the police CID Law and Order.

Mr Bamu is alleged to have approached a senior officer, saying the accused had been arrested and taken to Harare Central Police Station. According to the State, checks were made and it was established that they were not arrested. On the same day, social media platforms and local newspapers were awash with news that the three had been arrested, it is alleged.

Two days later, on May 15 at around 1am, Mr Bamu advised the police that the three were at Muchapondwa Business Centre in Bindura.

The police and Mr Bamu went to the business centre, collected them and took them to a hospital in Waterfalls, Harare, since they had been tortured.

The State will seek to prove that all the claims made by the defendants are false.

State Media

THE Government has extended permitted businesses to operate any time between 6.30am to 6.30pm as part of a delicate process to balance the economy and respond to the Covid-19 threat, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Monica Mutsvangwa announced last night.

Most businesses do not operate 12 hours a day, but the change allows those that want to close later than 4.30pm to do so and also allows those that want to open earlier than 8am to do so.

Despite the continued easing of restrictions, the Ad-hoc Inter Ministerial Taskforce on Covid-19 insisted that Zimbabwe was not out of the woods as yet in its fight against the pandemic which has so far infected 7 531 people and killed 224 as yesterday.

“As part of gradually opening the economy, Government has extended operation hours for the retail, wholesale and service businesses from 8am to 4.30pm to 6.30am – 6.30pm,” said Minister Mutsvangwa in her media brief after the Ad-hoc Inter Ministerial Taskforce on Covid-19 meeting.

“As we gradually open the economy, we need to remember that we are doing this, while taking all necessary precautions to fight the invisible enemy, Covid-19. The easing of lockdown restrictions is not an indication that we have defeated this pandemic, but we are a nation seeking to balance between our economic interests and the protection of life,” she said.

With the continued progress in reopening of the economy, which includes schools and the tourism sector, Minister Mutsvangwa said the Government was putting in place measures to contain the pandemic in the event that the infection curve rises.

The Government would continue to make preparations of health facilities so as to be able to cope with any potential spike in infections, she said.

Local businesses have responded to the Covid-19 contagion by rolling out production of locally-manufactured personal protection equipment and drugs. The University of Zimbabwe (UZ) and a local company have begun manufacturing swabs required for collecting Covid-19 samples. The swabs have been submitted to the Ministry of Health and Child Care and to Natpharm for quality assurance tests.

Minister Mutsvangwa said the Government was working on resumption of operations at Victoria Falls International Airport with staff training.

“The readiness of other ports of entry is under assessment and the nation will be advised,” she said.

Meanwhile, chief coordinator of the National Response to Covid-19 Dr Agnes Mahomva explained that a person can be declared negative if they are asymptomatic for two-weeks, and they do not necessarily need another test.

“When one is positive today, they do not necessarily need to get another test and another third test to be declared recovered if you are not symptomatic for 10 days, in our case its two weeks. If the two weeks are up without symptoms, you can go back and resume your work without testing.”

“As long as we have new cases, it is clear that we are not out of the woods yet. I am delighted that in the last Cabinet meeting, they specifically adopted a team of experts for guidance,” said Dr Mahomva.

Confederation of Zimbabwe Retailers Association president Mr Denford Mutashu commended the Government for extending operating hours, saying as business they would continue adhering to WHO guidelines of operating in a safe environment.

“Confederation of Zimbabwe Retailers applauds the President, Cabinet and entire Government for proving that it is indeed a listening Government.Our application for extension of operating hours and reopening of alcoholic beverages outlets was listened to. As business we will also continue to put in place measures that we operate in accordance to WHO guidelines and continue promoting the safety of our customers.”

Mr Mutashu said the extension of operating hours would go a long way in helping to revive the economy, buoyed by the forex auction system that has stabilised the exchange rate and restored confidence on pricing and productivity.

I am alarmed by the rumours, speculative prophesies and conjectures circulated by our detractors to confuse our members. We must of necessity urgently organize and hold our EOC to stem any further haemorrhage that will weaken our great party.

— Elias Mudzuri (@EngMudzuri) September 14, 2020

Exiled former Foreign Affairs minister Walter Mzembi says the ZANU PF intra-party dispute between the G40 faction and Team Lacoste is not over yet.

Mzembi accused President Emmerson Mnangagwa of using the military in 2017 to decide the outcome of the factional battles within the ruling party hence the dispute remains unresolved.

Mzembi, who is in self-imposed exile in South Africa, was responding to threats by Mnangagwa to have him extradited from the neighbouring country for prosecution.

Said Mzembi:

It is not a secret that there were two factions contesting for power in Zanu PF. Now identifying G40 leadership for prosecution on distant things that do not even border on criminality is a good example of the weaponisation of prosecutions.

He used the Zimbabwe Defence Forces to arbitrate in an intra-party dispute between two factions, G40 and Lacoste, and that dispute, because it was summarily resolved by force, stands to this day.

The battle for the soul and minds of Zanu PF continues, with him as hanging on the military thread, imposing himself, while the legitimate party is in exile.

Mzembi said, through his statements, Mnangagwa made himself the judge, jury and prosecutor of his opponents.

He accused Mugabe’s protege of weaponising criminal prosecution against political opponents.-NewsDay

An 18-year-old female Advanced Level student from Chivhu says she has turned to prostitution to raise school fees for her final term and money for university.

Mercy (not real name), told Health Times that she completed her Ordinary Level studies in 2018 in Chivhu and passed 10 subjects including Mathematics, English, and science subjects.

When coronavirus forced the closure of schools in March, Mercy came to Harare to live with her unemployed sister.

Mercy thought she could raise fees and enrol for extra lessons since she will be writing her final ‘A’ Level exams later this year.

However, her mother lost her reliable source of livelihood – vending – after the government imposed an indefinite lockdown to curb the spread of the coronavirus. Said Mercy:

I am from Chivhu but these days I live with my sister here in Harare. My mother’s vending business has been bad, she can no longer afford to pay for my fees. Even food, she can’t afford to feed us.

I was left with no option, I wanted money for food, school fees and to raise money for University as well.

The only easy option I found was to get into sex work since almost every other avenue seem to have been closed by the coronavirus.

I will be writing my final examinations this year and I am optimistic that I am going to pass.

I also want to go for extra lessons since I am towards writing my final examinations this year and unfortunately, I have no one to assist me financially at the moment.

Mercy is afraid that she may contract HIV and Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) in the process as some of her clients demand unsafe sex.

She is planning to return to Chivhu on September 16.

She said her first term fees were pegged at ZWL$1 210 but the new fees structure for the final term has not been shared as yet.-Health Times

A GWANDA man has been arrested for allegedly ganging up with two accomplices who are still at large to beat up a man to death in a dispute over a woman.

Alfred Moyo (21) from Guyu area was not asked to plead when he appeared before Gwanda magistrate, Ms Lerato Nyathi. He was remanded in custody to September 18.

Prosecuting, Ms Ethel Mahachi said on August 10 Moyo met Ntuthuko Nyoni at Guyu Business Centre and accused him of snatching his girlfriend.

“Nyoni dismissed the allegations and threatened to stab Moyo with a knife if he continued making them.

Moyo later left the business centre and went home. He later returned to the business centre at around 8PM and teamed up with his two friends who are still at large.

“They assaulted Nyoni several times with a knobkerrie and axe handle and further stabbed him with a spear in the head. Nyoni sustained serious injuries and died on the following day while admitted to Mpilo Hospital,” she said.

In another incident a Bulilima man has been arrested after he allegedly struck his cousin with an axe in a dispute over gum poles.

Matabeleland South provincial police spokesperson, Chief Inspector Philisani Ndebele confirmed the incident which occurred on Saturday at around 2PM in Goba area. He said Nkosilathi Nondo (56) attacked his cousin Mr Zwelithini Hondo (53) for confronting him over gum poles that he had cut from his field.

“I can confirm that we recorded an attempted murder case which occurred in Goba farming lands in Bulilima.

Nkosilathi Nondo went to his cousin Mr Zwelithini Hondo’s field and cut down gum poles in the morning. In the afternoon Mr Hondo saw the gum poles at his cousin’s homestead and realised that they belonged to him. Mr Hondo took a scotch cart and loaded the gum poles with an intention to take them to his homestead.-Chronicle

Farai Dziva|Respected Pan-Afticanist Professor Patrick Lumumba has described the persecution of ZINASU president Takudzwa Ngadziore as unfortunate.

Ngadziore appeared in court today and he was granted RTGS $ 2000 Bail.

Ngadziore was arrested last week for participating in a demonstration against Impala Car Rental

The Kenyan Professor tweeted :
“President E.D. Mnangagwa we hear the young TAKUDZWE NGADZIORE may be in custody.

We beseech you to order his immediate release…”

Farai Dziva|The MDC Alliance has challenged Patrick Chinamasa to retract defamatory remarks against party leader, Advocate Nelson Chamisa and his deputy, Tendai Biti.

Chinamasa also accused the opposition party of plotting acts of banditry.

MDC Alliance spokesperson, Advocate Fadzai Mahere, quoted by Zimlive, said:

It’s a matter of regret that Chinamasa has resorted to a false, malicious and reckless attack on the MDC Alliance.

Instead of addressing the multifaceted socio-economic and governance crisis that plagues Zimbabwe currently, he has fabricated unfounded claims against our movement.

His unrestrained remarks betray the desperation and incompetence of Zanu PF which has failed to address the national crisis and has resorted to threats, intimidation and propaganda to mask its incompetence.

We demand an urgent retraction of the defamatory allegations against our president, vice president and indeed our party to the effect that we are training youths in Moldova and Serbia.

The MDC Alliance is a party committed to non-violence and peaceful resolution of the national crisis.

Chinamasa’s aggressive and unrestrained remarks and tone are unconstitutional and a threat to our right to challenge the government and hold it to account without the threat of reprisals.

Moreover, we reaffirm that without sincere dialogue and a political settlement, the nation will continue to suffer from the harmful effects of the legitimacy deficit that plagues Mr Mnangagwa’s regime flowing from the disputed election of 2018.

Farai Dziva|MDC Alliance vice president Hon Tendai Biti has described the detention of party vice chairperson, Job Sikhala as unlawful.

“It is now a month since the unlawful arrest and detention of Job Sikhala.

As with Hope, Jacob and Kura,the State has weaponized pre-trial detention procedures to punish an accused .Job is innocent.

His only crime is to resist autocracy and Emmerson #freejobsikhala #ZimbabweanLivesMatter,” tweeted Hon Biti.

He also described Paul Madzore as a veteran of the struggle for democracy.

“Paul Madzore has been the sound trek to our struggle .

A talented artist whose music has deftly knitted the threads of our struggle s up s & downs .His music has reflected our mood &lifted us in times of doubt .A true comrade, the throat of our struggle #ZimbabweanLivesMatter.”

Farai Dziva|MDC Alliance leader, Advocate Nelson Chamisa accompanied Transform Zimbabwe leader Jacob Ngarivhume to Waterfalls Police Station for the latter’s routine reporting.

Ngarivhume was arrested for convening peaceful protests against corruption.

“President Nelson Chamisa accompanied Transform Zimbabwe leader Jacob Ngarivhume to Waterfalls Police Station.

This is an act of bravery and solidarity.We commend President Chamisa’s solidarity with those who are being persecuted by the Zanu PF regime,” a source told ZimEye.com.

Harare Mayor Cllr Jacob Mafume has appointed Dr Prosper Chonzi as acting Town Clerk.

Mafume made the announcement in a public notice on Monday.

Chonzi’s appointment is with effect from the 14th of September to the 30th of September 2020.

The statement reads:
His Worship the Mayor Cllr Jacob Mafume has appointed Dr Prosper Chonzi to act in the position of Town Clerk with effect from today 14 September to 30 September 2020.-City of Harare

Farai Dziva|MDC Alliance councillor, Godfrey Kurauone has revealed that the conditions in the country’s prisons are atrocious.

Kurauone is also the MDC Alliance youth assembly organizing secretary.

According to Councillor Kurauone, prisoners are not tested for Coronavirus, leaving them exposed to the deadly pandemic.

Watch video below:

Farai Dziva|MDC Alliance councillor, Godfrey Kurauone has revealed that the conditions in the country’s prisons are atrocious.

Kurauone is also the MDC Alliance youth assembly organizing secretary.

According to Councillor Kurauone, prisoners are not tested for Coronavirus, leaving them exposed to the deadly pandemic.

Watch video below:

Zimbabwe Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC) coronavirus situation report as of 14 September 2020:

• New cases: 5
• Locals – 5
• Returnees – 0
• Deaths: 0
• Recoveries: 12
• PCR Tests Done: 349
• National Recovery Rate: 76%
• Active Cases: 1 617
• Total Cumulative Cases: 7 531
• Total Recoveries: 5 690
• Total Deaths: 224

Parliament has resolved to work late when necessary to speed up debate on Bills and other Government-related business as it races to conclude outstanding work ahead of the end of the Second Session of the Ninth Parliament next week.

On Thursday, the National Assembly resolved to suspend several standing orders and procedural requirements including a rule that provides for automatic adjournment of sitting by 6.55pm.

This means the National Assembly can sit until late, beyond the legally prescribed time.

The National Assembly also resolved to suspend the rule requiring referral to Portfolio Committees and observation of stages of Bills, among other issues, in a bid to create ample time to consider Government business.

The motion was moved by Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister, Ziyambi Ziyambi.

Matabeleland South Proportionate Representative MP, Dr Ruth Labode (MDC-T), sought to understand what Minister Ziyambi sought to achieve in simple terms.

“Let me try to explain the procedure in the House. When we start sittings at a 1415 hours, we cannot go beyond 1855 hours. That is the automatic adjournment time at which business will then have to stop, regardless of whether we have finished what we are doing or not.

“What we want to do is to consider Government business on the Order Paper that we can dispose of before the beginning of the Third Session. In order to do that, we need to suspend the adjournment time to enable us to go beyond 7pm and consider whatever we can until we conclude, then we can adjourn at any time, even tomorrow morning,” said Minister Ziyambi.

The National Assembly went on to consider the Finance Bill, which seeks to give legal effect to several measures announced by Finance and Economic Development Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube in his mid-term statement.

The Bill sailed through with amendments and now awaits transmission to Senate next Tuesday.

Other Bills that are outstanding include the Constitution Amendment Bill (Number 2), the Zimbabwe Media Commission Bill, the Cyber Security and Data Protection Bill and the Marriages Amendment Bill.

There is also the much-talked about Mines and Mining Amendment Bill.

An 18-year-old female Advanced Level student from Chivhu says she has turned to prostitution to raise school fees for her final term and money for university.

Mercy (not real name), told Health Times that she completed her Ordinary Level studies in 2018 in Chivhu and passed 10 subjects including Mathematics, English, and science subjects.

When coronavirus forced the closure of schools in March, Mercy came to Harare to live with her unemployed sister.

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Mercy thought she could raise fees and enrol for extra lessons since she will be writing her final ‘A’ Level exams later this year.

However, her mother lost her reliable source of livelihood – vending – after the government imposed an indefinite lockdown to curb the spread of the coronavirus. Said Mercy:

I am from Chivhu but these days I live with my sister here in Harare. My mother’s vending business has been bad, she can no longer afford to pay for my fees. Even food, she can’t afford to feed us.

I was left with no option, I wanted money for food, school fees and to raise money for University as well.

The only easy option I found was to get into sex work since almost every other avenue seem to have been closed by the coronavirus.

I will be writing my final examinations this year and I am optimistic that I am going to pass.

I also want to go for extra lessons since I am towards writing my final examinations this year and unfortunately, I have no one to assist me financially at the moment.

Mercy is afraid that she may contract HIV and Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) in the process as some of her clients demand unsafe sex.

She is planning to return to Chivhu on September 16. She said her first term fees were pegged at ZWL$1 210 but the new fees structure for the final term has not been shared as yet.

More: Health Times

Nehanda Radio

High Court Judge Justice Erica Ndewere has reserved judgement on the bail appeal by incarcerated opposition MDC Alliance Vice Chairman Job Sikhala.

Ndewere said the Clerk of Court will advise defence lawyers and law officers when her ruling will be ready to be handed down.

Sikhala was arrested last month and charged with inciting violence in connection with July 31st protests against corruption.

One of his lawyers Harrison Nkomo said they were happy that the High Court had given the chance to argue over Sikhala bail hearing against the State.

He however, said his client was unhealthy.

“I’m glad to announce that consistent with our wish, today the High Court has granted us an opportunity to argue a bail appeal in respect of his case against the State.

“We argued before Justice Ndewere who apparently has reserved Judgement to consider the cases that she was referred to and the submissions.

“Once she is ready, she indicates that she will advise us. He still has challenges with his health. He has swollen feet and sadly his private doctor hasn’t had access to see him in prison,” Nkomo said.

In an interview with Nehanda Radio, when Sikhala arrived at the High Court earlier in the morning, the Zengeza West MP said he was being persecuted at Chikurubi Maximum Security Prison.

“They are terrorising me every day and the abuse has even extended to some officials,” Sikhala said.

The arrest of Sikhala came a month after the arrest of journalist Hopewell Chin’ono who recently exposed alleged government corruption involving President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s son, Collins and his wife Auxilia in massive allegations of corruption, the US $60m Drax Covidgate scandal.

But Chin’ono was also arrested together with opposition Transform Zimbabwe leader Jacob Ngarivhume.

They were also charged for inciting violence in connection with 31st July protests against corruption. They spent 45 days at Chikurubi before being granted bail two weeks ago.

Paul Nyathi 

The Thokozani Khupe led MDC-T has recalled the youthful Mayor of Beitbridge Councillor Morgan Ncube. Ncube is also the MDC Alliance Deputy organisation Secretary known for his vibrant dances with his boss Amos Chibaya.

Also recalled are Granger Nyoni of ward 5 and Tore Angeline of Ward 6 in the Beitbridge Municipality.

The Minister of Local Government July Moyo has instructed the town clerk to inform the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission that there are vacancies that have arisen in those wards.

SI 216 of 2020 allows for consumption of alcohol on the following Liquor licensed premises between 0800 and 1630;
-Airport
– Hotel
-Houseboat
-Restaurant
-Members Clubs

— Nick Mangwana (@nickmangwana) September 14, 2020

Today I visited a Cde & brother in the faith, Jacob Ngarivhume at his home. We had a revolutionary and comradely exchange.I also accompanied Prez Ngarivhume to the local police station for his routine bail conditions reporting.The March is not ended.#ZimbabaweanLivesMatter pic.twitter.com/eSgW6z0K0z

— nelson chamisa (@nelsonchamisa) September 14, 2020

Paul Nyathi 

Information Ministry Permanent Secretary, Nick Mangwana, has announced that as from Tuesday, tomorrow, President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s birthday,  businesses will have their lockdown business hours extended from 16:30 to 18:30.

The announcement was made by Nick Mangwana in a Tweeter post without explaining the rational behind the extension nor the relationship with Mnangagwa’s birthday.

From tomorrow, 15 September 2020 (President @edmnangagwa's birthday), shops and supermarkets will now be closing at 1830 hours.

— Nick Mangwana (@nickmangwana) September 14, 2020

Paul Nyathi 

ZANU PF Secretary for Administration Obert Moses Mpofu has invited Zimbabweans to join the party in doing the Jerusalem Dance Challenge at the ZANU PF Headquarters.

The dance challenge which has taken the world by storm is a semi official Coronavirus world solidarity.

Posting on Twitter, Mpofu said,

I am getting calls that we should take up the Jerusalema Challenge at the @ZANUPF_Official H.Q. Who wants to join us? #JerusalemaDanceChallenge

— Dr. Obert M. Mpofu (@DrObertMpofu) September 14, 2020

By A Correspondent- Harare Mayor, His Worship Cllr Jacob Mafume has appointed Dr Prosper Chonzi as Town Clerk in an acting capacity.

In a public notice this Monday, Harare City Council said Chonzi’s appointment is with immediate effect from the 14th of September to the 30th of September 2020.

The statement read:

His Worship the Mayor Cllr Jacob Mafume has appointed Dr Prosper Chonzi to act in the position of Town Clerk with effect from today 14 September to 30 September 2020.

Dr Chonzi is the Harare City Council Director Health Services and his temporary appointment as the town clerk follows the recent arrest of  Hosiah Chisango, who held the position.

Chisango was arrested on September 10th in Gweru where he was attending a town clerks’ forum, just two days after he sent the formal letter suspending director of works Zvenyika Chawatama.

Chisango was arrested in connection with the continued unravelling of alleged illegal land deals that have rocked the city.

Lawyers representing journalist Hopewell Chin’ono on 14 September 2020 requested the State to provide the trial date for the journalist when he appears again in court on 19 October 2020.

Advocate Taona Nyamakura, who is representing Chin’ono, made the request when the journalist made his first out of custody appearance at the Magistrates Court in Harare today. Magistrate Utahwashe further remanded the journalist to 19 October 2020.

Chin’ono who had been in custody following his arrest on 20 July 2020, was finally granted bail by High Court judge, Justice Tawanda Chitapi, on 2 September 2020.

He is being charged with incitement to participate in a gathering with intent to promote public violence, breaches of peace or bigotry or alternatively incitement to commit public violence.