Chipinge Residents Trust has warned residents against buying cheap meat sold from informal sources, after 14 dogs shot by the municipality disappeared from a local dumpsite.

Below is the letter to residents, warning that there were unscrupulous people selling roasted dog meat to unsuspecting imbibers at local bottle stores around the town.

Dear Chipinge Residents,

There is an ongoing concern about the operation of shooting stray dogs by the Town security personnel and police under the direction of the Chipinge Town Council. It appears some residents are surviving by selling dog meat to poor residents.

A member of the Town security informed Chipinge Residents Trust that they shot 15 dogs and dumped them at an open dumpsite. Then they killed another six and when they returned to the dumping site they realized that 14 dogs were missing and one was left. The security person noted there were three people who were running in the bush trying to hide their face. These people were selling braiied dog meat at Chinheya, Dzonzai and around Gaza usually where the home made whisky and spirits beer called Mukozodo are sold.

By A Correspondent- A close aide of President Emmerson Mnangagwa appeared at the Harare Magistrates Court yesterday on charges of robbery.

Ardon Chipangamati (28) who works at Munhumutapa Building appeared before magistrate Barbara Mateko who remanded him to November 25 on $1 000 bail.

According to the State, sometime last year, Ruth Mwadi, Langton Bhunu and Peter Mulumba were allegedly offered a house to rent in Msasa by the complainant Charlon Chirimuuta and they paid US$550.

It is alleged the trio was then immediately evicted from the house, but the complainant failed to reimburse them.

The State alleges that the complainant became evasive, prompting Mwadi and her co-tenants to hire Chipangamati to recover their money.

It is alleged, on August 28 this year, Chipangamati in the company of his accomplices; driving a silver Nissan X-Trail vehicle, went to the complainant’s residence and stormed into the house.

The State alleges the accused persons then confronted the complainant who was in the company of his brother Owen Kembo, girlfriend Hazel Ngawangi, and mother Apolonia Chirimuuta.

It is alleged Chipangamati was armed with a pistol and he assaulted the complainant.

The accused tied him with an electric cable and threatened to shoot him.

The State further alleges that Chipangamati demanded a refund of the money which the complainant had received as rental fees.

It is further alleged the accused persons ransacked the house looking for money.

They allegedly then stole a Sony Xperia mobile phone from Chirimuuta, an Itel S15 mobile phone from Ngawangi, Hisense belonging to Kembo and an identity card belonging to Chirimuuta.

The accused allegedly fired shots while fleeing from the scene.

A report was made at ZRP Braeside and investigations led to Chipangamati’s arrest and recovery of the stolen property.-newsday

By A Correspondent- The Deputy Finance minister, Clemence Chiduwa while responding to a question in parliament on why some banks have not allowed pensioners to access or convert their local nostro to RTGS over their phones said all banks should be able to disburse the US$30 pension using the Auction Rate.

The deputy minister said it was not government policy for banks to pay pensioners rates which are lower than that of the auction rate.

He said:

“In terms of the policy as of now, all banks should have their systems to be able to disburse the pension which is the US$30 per month.  If we have got any specific banks that are using a rate which is different from the auction rate then that one is outside Government policy.

What we are looking at is a situation where the banks should follow the auction rate that will be existing for that week and this is what Government policy is.”

THE Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) has said the introduction of the 100 percent searches on goods being imported from South Africa has helped to reduce intrusive leakages and improved revenue collections.

In the last few days trucks used mainly by cross-border transporters commonly known as omalayitsha have been piling up at Beitbridge where Zimra has tightened screws on smuggling activities.

The Revenue Authority activated an imports relief facility to help Zimbabweans based in South Africa to send groceries and other goods home in commercial trucks through Beitbridge Border Post.

South Africa is home to thousands of Zimbabwean migrant workers, most of whom are supporting their families by sending groceries home through the services mostly of omalayitsha weekly.

-State Media

By A Correspondent- Learners are not going to be charged second term school fees as there was no learning during the COVID-19-induced lockdown period, Primary and Secondary Education deputy minister Edgar Moyo said yesterday.

He also told the National Assembly during question and answer session that fees should not be charged in United States dollars, adding that only fees approved by government would be authorised.

“Children are not going to pay for what they did not receive. They open schools on September 28 and they are going to pay for that period,” Moyo said.

“When schools open, we expect that fees must be approved by the Ministry of Education. If schools have changed their fees, they must make the necessary procedures to apply for the increase in fees and at the moment fees are in Zimbabwe dollars. If anyone wants to pay fees in US$, then the current going interbank rate must apply,” he said.

Moyo also said it was not government policy to charge fees for online lessons, adding that if any school decided to charge for elearning, it should agree with the parent and apply to the ministry for approval.

Speaker of the National Assembly Jacob Mudenda then said Moyo should produce a circular to be distributed to MPs so that they take corrective action on schools that do not comply with government policy.

Higher and Tertiary Education minister Amon Murwira told the National Assembly that government was planning to increase the fuel allocated to Zupco from the current 500 000 litres to 700 000 litres per month to ensure adequate transport for schoolchildren and teachers when examination classes start on September 28.

Murwira defended the Zupco monopoly, saying it had helped curb the spread of COVID-19.

“The context is COVID-19 and I do not think that the issue of liberalisation comes into play at this moment because we are talking about people’s lives to ensure that transport is well accounted for. Zupco is just the co-ordinating mechanism and there are a lot of private players having their vehicles managed by Zupco so there is no monopoly by Zupco,” he said.-newsday

By A Correspondent- MDC Alliance spokesperson Fadzayi Mahere has dismissed a video flighted by State-owned broadcaster ZBCtv on Wednesday which claimed that MDC Alliance activists – Joanna Mamombe, Cecilia Chimbiri and Netsai Marova – faked their alleged abduction.

In a post on Twitter, Mahere said the video was fake as it has too many gaping holes, more so the fact that ZBC alleges that the MDC activists faked their abduction, s_xual assault and torture, yet national police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed to the media that they had been taken into police custody on the 13th of May, the day on which they disappeared.

Mahere asks why it took four months for ZBCtv to produce the “evidence” that the three faked their abduction and why the police have not explained what happened to the three after their arrest on May 13.

The FAKE video produced by Nick Mangwana alleging that the #MDCTrio faked their abduction is shameful propaganda. ZRP spokesperson, [Assistant Commissioner Paul] Nyathi confirmed they were arrested and in POLICE CUSTODY on 13 May. How could they be in Belgravia when they were in police custody?

The FAKE video does not explain how the #MDCTrio left the custody of the police (as admitted by Paul Nyathi) and ended up beaten, tortured and sexually assaulted at Muchapondwa Business Centre. It is the State and police officers that handed them over to the abductors!

The FAKE video is a hatchet job by the State designed to cover up their culpability for abducting, sexually assaulting and torturing Joanna, Cecillia and Netsai. Mangwana doesn’t produce a shred of medical evidence to back the outrageous LIES that the ladies weren’t injured!

The FAKE video is a desperate attempt by the regime to manage the international condemnation that followed the abduction, torture and sexual assault of the #MDCTrio. No action has been taken against the perpetrators yet the trio is being persecuted for speaking out.

The FAKE video is full of gaping holes – like how we are expected to believe 5 people were served in a record 1 minute!! Remember, this is the moment ZRP Spokesperson Nyathi ADMITS the #MDCTrio has been arrested and is in police custody – the afternoon of 13 May!

The FAKE video is intentionally blurred. One cannot even identify the persons therein or see the number plate of the car. Is this hogwash meant to stand up in a court of law? It took them FOUR months to concoct this!

The FAKE video makes reference to a car that shows up on the 16th – a LIE! Who parked it there? Why do the police not know when and how it got there? When the police arrested the trio on the 13th of May what did they do with their car?

The FAKE video LIES that Cecilia’s mother comes from Muchapondwa. She does not! This a fabrication. She comes from Museri Village in Chiweshe. The authors just made this up along with the rest of the false narrative to create the impression that there’s a “coincidence.”

The FAKE video pretends that the #MDCTrio suffered no injuries. Yet in this video [embebbed in this thread], Cecilia is receiving an intravenous dose of mannitol because she had suffered brain swelling.

In the FAKE video, they lie that the #MDCTrio ordered food from their car at Chicken Inn Belgravia. Since when can you order food from Chicken Inn Belgravia when you are (i) outside the shop, (ii) in your car? Since when do they come and take your order? Embarrassing lies!

The FAKE video was aired by ZBC TV in clear breach of the SUB JUDICE rule. The #MDCTrio‘s case is still pending before the courts yet ZBC has displayed contempt of court and prejudiced the trial by flighting the doctored video. ZBC must be prosecuted for contempt!

In what capacity is ZBC TV determining that the abduction of the #MDCTrio was a hatchet job? Is this not a matter for the courts? Why are they violating the sub judice rule and playing judge, jury and executioner? Why not wait for the courts to decide?

By A Correspondent- MDC Alliance spokesperson Fadzayi Mahere has dismissed a video flighted by State-owned broadcaster ZBCtv on Wednesday which claimed that MDC Alliance activists – Joanna Mamombe, Cecilia Chimbiri and Netsai Marova – faked their alleged abduction.

In a post on Twitter, Mahere said the video was fake as it has too many gaping holes, more so the fact that ZBC alleges that the MDC activists faked their abduction, s_xual assault and torture, yet national police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed to the media that they had been taken into police custody on the 13th of May, the day on which they disappeared.

Mahere asks why it took four months for ZBCtv to produce the “evidence” that the three faked their abduction and why the police have not explained what happened to the three after their arrest on May 13.

The FAKE video produced by Nick Mangwana alleging that the #MDCTrio faked their abduction is shameful propaganda. ZRP spokesperson, [Assistant Commissioner Paul] Nyathi confirmed they were arrested and in POLICE CUSTODY on 13 May. How could they be in Belgravia when they were in police custody?

The FAKE video does not explain how the #MDCTrio left the custody of the police (as admitted by Paul Nyathi) and ended up beaten, tortured and sexually assaulted at Muchapondwa Business Centre. It is the State and police officers that handed them over to the abductors!

The FAKE video is a hatchet job by the State designed to cover up their culpability for abducting, sexually assaulting and torturing Joanna, Cecillia and Netsai. Mangwana doesn’t produce a shred of medical evidence to back the outrageous LIES that the ladies weren’t injured!

The FAKE video is a desperate attempt by the regime to manage the international condemnation that followed the abduction, torture and sexual assault of the #MDCTrio. No action has been taken against the perpetrators yet the trio is being persecuted for speaking out.

The FAKE video is full of gaping holes – like how we are expected to believe 5 people were served in a record 1 minute!! Remember, this is the moment ZRP Spokesperson Nyathi ADMITS the #MDCTrio has been arrested and is in police custody – the afternoon of 13 May!

The FAKE video is intentionally blurred. One cannot even identify the persons therein or see the number plate of the car. Is this hogwash meant to stand up in a court of law? It took them FOUR months to concoct this!

The FAKE video makes reference to a car that shows up on the 16th – a LIE! Who parked it there? Why do the police not know when and how it got there? When the police arrested the trio on the 13th of May what did they do with their car?

The FAKE video LIES that Cecilia’s mother comes from Muchapondwa. She does not! This a fabrication. She comes from Museri Village in Chiweshe. The authors just made this up along with the rest of the false narrative to create the impression that there’s a “coincidence.”

The FAKE video pretends that the #MDCTrio suffered no injuries. Yet in this video [embebbed in this thread], Cecilia is receiving an intravenous dose of mannitol because she had suffered brain swelling.

In the FAKE video, they lie that the #MDCTrio ordered food from their car at Chicken Inn Belgravia. Since when can you order food from Chicken Inn Belgravia when you are (i) outside the shop, (ii) in your car? Since when do they come and take your order? Embarrassing lies!

The FAKE video was aired by ZBC TV in clear breach of the SUB JUDICE rule. The #MDCTrio‘s case is still pending before the courts yet ZBC has displayed contempt of court and prejudiced the trial by flighting the doctored video. ZBC must be prosecuted for contempt!

In what capacity is ZBC TV determining that the abduction of the #MDCTrio was a hatchet job? Is this not a matter for the courts? Why are they violating the sub judice rule and playing judge, jury and executioner? Why not wait for the courts to decide?

COMMUNIQUE OF THE ZIMBABWE AFRICAN NATIONAL UNION PATRIOTIC FRONT (ZANU PF) AND THE AFRICAN NATIONAL CONGRESS (ANC) BI-LATERAL MEETING CONVENED ON 09 SEPTEMBER 2020.

The ZANU PF-ANC Bilateral Meeting convened from 09-10 September in Harare, Zimbabwe, and was attended by the following:

Comrade Dr O. M. Mpofu                 ZANU PF Secretary for Administration (Chairperson)

Cde Patrick Chinamasa                      ZANU-PF Member of the Politburo

Cde Simbarashe Mumbengegwi       ZANUPF Member of the Politburo

Cde SB Moyo                                     ZANU PF Member of the Politburo

Cde July Moyo                                   ZANU PF Member of the Politburo

Cde Ziyambi Ziyambi                         ZANU-PF Central Committee

Cde Lindiwe Zulu                               ANC NEC Member

Cde Mapisa Ngakhula                       ANC NEC Member

Cde Nomvula Mokonyane                 ANC NEC Member

Cde Enock Godongwana                    ANC NEC Member

Cde Tony Yengeni                               ANC NEC Member

Cde Dakota Lekgoete                         ANC NEC Member

The meeting was held in an atmosphere which was cordial, with frank and open discussions and mutual respect for each other.

APPRECIATING the warm and welcoming opening remarks by the ZANU PF Secretary for Administration, Cde Dr O.M. Mpofu;

EMPHASIZING the importance of consolidating the historical ties of solidarity and mutual support amongst our Parties;

HAVING CONSIDERED the representations from the delegations, the meeting resolved the following:

• The reinvigoration of the long-standing strong ties between the two Liberation movements and strengthening of solidarity through regional integration programmes;
• Crime and corruption should be confronted head-on, in both countries to ensure that our people have confidence in our Parties;
• Consolidate and defend the gains of our revolution and people’s struggle
• Crafting of economic programmes which advance the socio-economic conditions of our people

• Committed to self-introspection, renewal of Values of trust, accountability, openness and honesty and this should be the mainstay of our Parties resolve.

• That economic sanctions and embargos are one of the biggest albatross on the people of Zimbabwe and the economy and  should unconditionally be removed

• The aspirations of our people should be at the centre of our priorities as liberation movements

• Agreed to engage in programmes to empower youths and women in our countries.

• The two parties agreed to convene and meet regularly to discuss issues of mutual concern and interest, particularly economic

By A Correspondent- Two armed robbers are on the loose after they pounced on a security officer’s house and got away with his gun and cash.

A source said the incident happened last week on Saturday in Gwabalanda suburb.

The source said at around 3 am on the day in question Collen Ndlovu (64) was awoken by his housemaid Tholakele Mlilo (19) who screamed after one of the robbers flashed a torch in her face.

“The intruder reached for the Revolver Rossi gun which was placed on the headboard. The firearm is used by Mlilo when escorting a vehicle with cash. He threatened to shoot him. He then demanded cash. While he was demanding cash his partner in crime joined in and hit Mlilo,” said the source.

Fearing for his life, Mlilo surrendered US$47 and R400 to them. “They instructed him to lie on the floor facing downwards and they ransacked the house and could n’t find more cash,” said the source.

The source added: “They tied the two together before they fled with the gun.”

Mlilo untied the rope and made a report at Luveve Police Station.

Bulawayo deputy police spokesperson said: “We are investigating a case of unlawful entry and theft that happened in Gwabalanda suburb.

We would like to appeal to members of the public who could have information that could lead to the arrest of the two suspects to contact any nearest police station. We would like to urge people who own guns to keep them in a gun cabinet not to just place them anywhere.”

-bmetro

By A Correspondent- A 37 year old man from Rangemore suburb in Bulawayo who proposed love to his 15-year-old stepdaughter and was turned down has been arrested after he raped her on several occasions and impregnated her.

A family insider who spoke to B- Metro on condition of anonymity said the mother of the minor had left her in the care of her step- father when she visited her rural home.

The source said sometime in July 2019 the stepfather proposed love to the minor but she turned his proposal down. After that the man hatched a plan to abuse the minor. Two days after the proposal while they were sleeping the paedophile called out the name of the minor prompting her to wake up.

“He invited the minor to sleep with him in the same room. The unsuspecting minor slept on the floor while he slept on the bed. During the night the man sneaked into her blankets and raped her once,” said the worried source.

The source went on to say sometime in September last year while the minor’s mother had gone to college where she is pursuing her studies the man woke up during the night and tip-toed to a room where the 15-year-old was sleeping.

“He got into her blankets and raped her once and after the act he returned to his bedroom,” said the source.

The source said sometime in March this year the man left his wife at their rural home and when he arrived at their house at around 8pm he ordered the minor to take farm produce from the vehicle into the kitchen.

“He grabbed her and raped her in the car,” said the source.

The source said on 30 August the complainant’s mother arrived from where she had gone to sell her stuff and she realised that the minor was pregnant.

The source said she asked her who impregnated her and she dropped a bombshell revealing that she was impregnated by her stepfather.

The mother reported the matter to the police leading to the arrest of the man.

Bulawayo deputy police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Nomalanga Msebele said: “We strongly urge parents or guardians never to leave their children in the care of a male relatives or any male because every man has a potential of raping. We also urge members of the public not to sweep such matters under the carpet but to make a police report as soon as possible.”

By Nomusa Garikayi| The ANC envoy has flown back to SA after meeting the Zanu PF leaders. They did not meet any other party leaders although they had said otherwise.

“ANC Secretary General Ace Magashule has announced that they will return to meet the opposition MDC Alliance, ZAPU and Transform Zimbabwe among other stakeholders who requested to meet with them,” reported Zimeye.

Frankly, as regards these SA envoys meetings, some people have made a mountain out of a mole hill! What is new that Zanu PF, MDC A, etc. can tell the envoy on the Zimbabwe’s economic and political crisis that is not on the public domain already?

Even if there is something new that MDC A or any of the other stakeholders would want to tell our SA friends, they can still go ahead and say it. Let us have all the facts on the table so we have a well informed public debate on a matter of great national importance. No more of this “for your ears only” nonsense!

The South Africans knows already that Nelson Chamisa and his MDC A are gunning for a power sharing arrangement with Zanu PF where Chamisa and a few others will get cabinet posts, for example. Chamisa insists that this time, unlike during the 2008 to 2013 GNU, his party will implement “comprehensive democratic reforms to ensure future elections are free, fair and credible”.

Whilst the South Africans have Chamisa’s attention they would do well to ask why MDC failed to implement even one reform during the 2008 GNU? It would only be a rhetorical question because we all know the answer to that – MDC leaders sold-out big time.

Robert Mugabe bribed the MDC leaders with the trappings of high office; ministerial limos, generous salaries and allowance, endless overseas trips, etc., etc.; all rained down on Chamisa and company like confetti at a wedding. In return, the MDC leaders threw all the reforms out of the window!

“MDC leaders were busy enjoying themselves during the GNU, they forgot why they were there!” remarked one SADC diplomat in disgust at MDC leaders’ failure to implement even one reform in five years.

One would really have to be naive to believe MDC A will not sell-out again and implement “comprehensive reforms” this time, particularly when Zanu PF will have its 2/3 MP majority plus many other tramp cards beside.

To end Zimbabwe’s economic and political crisis, one has to first acknowledge that Zimbabwe’s July 2018 elections were rigged; to pretend otherwise is a waste of time. If you accept the elections were rigged, it follows that the country had no legitimate government post the July 2018 elections and therefore needs a transitional government to transition from the current illegitimacy back to legitimacy.

The primary task of the transitional government will be to implement the democratic reforms necessary to ensure the next elections are free, fair and credible, producing a legitimate government and not a repeat of the flawed and illegal July 2018 elections.

Zanu PF and MDC cannot play a role in the transition government; definitely not. They were in the 2008 GNU that failed to implement even one of the democratic reform. They are plenty of other Zimbabweans, with the help from SADC and the UN, who can be entrusted this important task of implement the reforms.

The only reason President Ramaphosa would request a meeting with Mnangagwa and his Zanu PF cronies will be to warn them that SA be endorsing the position that Zimbabwe’s July 2018 elections were not free, fair and credible, that Zanu PF is illegitimate and must step down. That is bomb shell and it would only be kind to warn Mnangagwa before dropping it! As for the rest, Chamisa, etc.; President Ramaphosa does not need to meet every man and his dog!

Paul Nyathi

President Emmerson Mnangagwa recently appointed His Excellency Ronny Levi Musan as Honorary Consul of Zimbabwe in Israel.

The Israeli born Musan is on record saying he only started having a relationship with Zimbabwe a few years ago.

“My connection with Zimbabwe began few years ago on the spiritual plane. I’m happy about that, since only God can guide us the true way.” Musan posted on Twitter recently.

Musan thanked the President for giving him the important role of running the Embassy of Zimbabwe in Israel.

“My appointment as honorary consul of Zimbabwe in Israel. My sincere gratitude to His Excellency President Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa, for the trust he has placed in me, to act in His name for the sake of Zimbabwe and its citizens. May God bless Israel & Zimbabwe.”

Musan, has indicated that he has two short term targets: to pray for peace and bring investments into Zimbabwe and restore its lost bread basket status.

Since his appointment last month, the diplomat has hit the ground running as he moves to lure Israeli companies to invest in Zimbabwe.

Musan presented his letters of commissioning to the Israel government on August 13 and will be based in Tel Aviv.

He will be reporting to Zimbabwe’s Ambassador to Egypt Shebba Shumbayaonda.

Zimbabwe’s relations and Israel have not been at an alltime high after the Middle East national closed its Embassy in Harare at the turn of the millennium despite the two countries having diplomatic relations for a long time.

Zimbabwe has been supporting Palestine and at one time wanted the UN to recognise it as a sovereign state.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration is on a mission to boost relations with Israel to lure foreign direct investment under the Zimbabwe is open for business thrust.

Last year, President Mnangagwa met Israeli Foreign Affairs Minister Israel Katz during the UN General Assembly, the first such highlevel meeting between the two nations in 20 years.

In an interview with Business Times this week, Musan said his foremost goal is to pray for peace in Zimbabwe, that “may God give peace between the various groups despite the differences of opinion”.

“The second thing is to act with all might to bring investments to Zimbabwe that will drive the development of Zimbabwe in the fields of agriculture, health, water, education, security and technology, and restore Zimbabwe to its glory as the “grain basket” of Africa,” he said.

This has seen the diplomat meeting groups of investors, companies, and scientists in various fields of tourism, agriculture, solar energy, water, health “who want to take part in our work for Zimbabwe”.

But he said that alone is incomplete as there is need to look at the financial aspect to help Zimbabwe fund the projects with “external financial assistance”.

President Mnangagwa is driving the Zimbabwe is open for business thrust which has seen the Southern African economy remove restrictions on company ownership to lure foreign investors after discarding the 51:49% threshold that favoured locals under the economic empowerment legislation.

Musan said Zimbabwe has the natural resources and the human capacity base to reboot the economy.

“If we know how to combine these elements and bring technologies to Zimbabwe, there is no doubt that its economic future will be rosy,” he said, adding that Israel can help Zimbabwe deal with the “political and international issues”.

“It is important to note that in the beginning of Israel, she was a rocky land and many people abandoned her.

But those who remained in her developed her and brought her after 72 years to be a world empire.

There is no reason why this should not happen to Zimbabwe as well. It depends only on good will and strong faith and of course financial assistance,” the diplomat said.

The Covid-19 pandemic has led to global lockdowns and reduction in trade due to limitations in movements.

For Musan, the pandemic requires development of “smarter and more creative” courses of action that allow one to push the cart forward despite the limitations created by the virus.

“Covid-19 is not going anywhere… We are!!! We are going to work hard to succeed in the task for which I was given the mandate from the President,” he said.

For the past 20 years, Musan has been involved in initiating various projects and representing business companies, government agencies, leaders and churches from around the world, seeking to promote and develop their joint business and interests with Israel.

For the past 18 years, the diplomat has been senior consultant to the Catholic Church in the Holy Land as well as for many other international Christian organisations and ministries around the world, in the field of fundraising and development of international projects.

He has been working in Zimbabwe for five years in deepening relations between local churches and those in Israel.

It was from his works that caught the eyes of President Mnangagwa.

“I believe that the power of Israel and Zimbabwe begins with a connection with God… He gives all the power to the countries to act and grow.

That is why I am glad that I started my relationship with Zimbabwe in a spiritual connection and not in a business or political connection,” said Musan who owns a strategy company that provides strategic advice to politicians, organisations, churches, private and government companies in the areas of public relations, business development and diplomacy.

Additional reporting by Business Times

President Emmerson Mnangagwa was in 2018 a buoyant man as he welcomed a historical transaction between a consortium from Zimbawe and neighbouring South Africa, and the National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) to deliver rolling stock to the rail agency estimated at over $400 million calling it a mega deal.

Government called off the deal and called for fresh tenders after it cancelled a 400 million U.S. dollar deal involving the Diaspora Infrastructure Development Group (DIDG) and South Africa’s Transnet in October.

The cancellation followed DIDG’s failure to provide proof of funding for almost two years.

A US$236m lawsuit by the Diaspora Infrastructure Development Group (DIDG) will dent National Railways of Zimbabwe’s (NRZ) prospects of securing international funders, Business Times can report.

DIDG are demanding US$236m in damages after the government terminated its US$400m recapitalisation of the rail parastatal.

The damages have to be paid within 10 days after taking receipt of correspondence, according to a September 1 letter to NRZ board chairman by DIDG’s lawyers Atherstone and Cook.

The lawsuit according to sources close to the ongoing battle will increase NRZ’s risk in the eyes of funders considering that the state-owned rail company is already battling political risk associated with being a state enterprise in Zimbabwe.

Cabinet terminated the multi-million dollar contract last year arguing DIDG lacked the financial wherewithal to implement the project.

But to date Transport and Infrastructure Development Minister Biggie Matiza has been advised of the ramifications associated with unprocedurally terminating the multi-million dollar transaction.

“This is going to be a tall order and from the look of things the government is banking on the merits of its case at the courts but the bigger battle on the funders where no funder is willing to take a risk on an asset that can wake up one day being attached,” the source said.

“This means NRZ’s recapitalisation plans going forward are on shaky grounds because already some funders like China Exim-bank at the advice of Sinosure are not willing to take the risk.”

Business Times heard this week that international financiers for instance China Exim-bank have already expressed reservations around the impact of the DIDG claim.

Regional banks such as Afreximbank, Nedbank, Absa, Standard Bank, CBZ, Ecobank and TDB, together with asset and wealth management firms that include Old Mutual, Imara Asset Managers, the National Social Security Authority, Harith Pan African Infrastructure Development Fund had already mobilised over US$1bn to finance the project.

DIDG chairman Donovan Chimhandamba said “the case was before the courts” while NRZ chairman Martin Dinha requested questions in writing.

He had not responded to written questions.

The consortium, which won the tender to recapitalise NRZ in 2017, is claiming damages to the tune of US$236m split into two parts, namely project costs and “reasonable profits” that DIDG projected to reap if the deal had come to fruition.

In a letter dated September 1, DIDG lawyers warned that if the amount stipulated is not paid within the given timeframe, DIDG would institute proceedings “without further notice”.

According to latest reports, NRZ has announced its intention to defend the US$236m lawsuit filed by DIDG. Government, however, has since moved on by engaging Russia’s Union Wagons in a bid to revive the rail company that requires more than US$1bn to realise a complete turnaround.

Sources have however said that NRZ failed to provide US$1.5m deposit for 100 wagons valued at US$10m, raising questions on how the rail parastatal would deliver a US$1bn deal with the Russians.

The 100 wagons were supposed to have been delivered in January 2020. In contrast, DIDG delivered 14 locomotives and 200 wagons in February 2018 demonstrating the speed and capacity of the diasporans with less complicated financing structures.

At its peak, the NRZ employed over 17,000 workers in the late 1980s.

Today the staff complement has dwindled to 4,600.

Freight declined to 2.6m tonnes in 2016 from 18m tonnes in 1998.

DIDG’s intervention boosted the volumes to 3.6m tonnes in 2018.

State Media

Chivhu residents were left in awe of the manner in which security services tracked, shot and killed two gunmen who had attacked two other soldiers on Saturday, killing one and seriously wounding another.

Residents said the follow-up and chase by the security forces led by the army could only have been the work of a specialised team.

The small, mainly transit and farming town, which had endured a long weekend of chatter, almost came to a standstill when two army trucks drove through late Saturday evening on a search and find mission. And they did not disappoint.

Starting their mission at the crack of dawn on Sunday, the two gunmen had been accounted for by mid-morning, resulting in jubilation by the residents as the news filtered through.

In a show of support and appreciation, the residents gave a guard of honour to the soldiers as they drove out of Chivhu on Sunday afternoon.

An ominous wind, which had blown through Chivhu the day before, had given residents of this sprouting town more attention than usual, summoning a coordinated response from the Zimbabwe Republic Police and the Zimbabwe National Army.

Investigations by The Herald in Chivhu at the weekend established that soldiers in two army trucks were immediately deployed to Chivhu as soon as reports of the shooting incident reached authorities in Harare.

They got into Chivhu at night and waited for daybreak to revisit the scene together with officers from other law enforcement agencies.

The team then visited the crime scene at Innscor food court, where it immediately picked a spoor.

It followed the trail of the two gunmen into the bush.

The assailants had escaped into the bush using a pathway between the food court and Liebenberg Primary School at the edge of Chivhu town along the Harare-Masvingo Highway, combing nearby bushes for clues.

The search led them deep into the nearby forest. Along the way, they interviewed members of the public for information regarding the pair’s movements, asking them if they had come across any suspicious characters and if they were armed.

The crack team is said to have used GPS technology to zero in on the position of the two gunmen.

The team sensed that it was getting closer to confronting the gunmen when the last member of the public to give them information, who had a speech impairment, used hand signals to direct them to where the two were hiding.

After a brief search, the team tracked the assailants who were hiding on an anthill about 16 kilometres from Chivhu town along Gutu road.

When the gunmen realised that their position had been found, they retreated into a ditch seeking cover.

“They acted as if they were anticipating a firefight with the crack team,” a source told The Herald.

“There was an exchange of fire for a few minutes. One of the gunmen knew how to operate a firearm as he was shooting manual and appeared to be using the AK47 assault rifle that they had stolen from the soldiers they had attacked the previous day,” said the source.

Security forces took the fight to the hiding gunmen, leading to the fatal shooting of the experienced gunman first.

The other one, who was said to be a novice, showing very little combat knowledge tried to escape, abandoning the ditch while continuing to shoot at the advancing team and again, he was shot a few metres from his colleague.

In the gunfight, Corporal Stanalious Chiunye who was leading the team, was shot on the leg.

The drama had started on Saturday afternoon when two men stormed a police post armed with a pistol and shot two soldiers who were helping with the enforcement of Covid-19 regulations.

Victims of the attack, Lance Corporal Lorance Mupanganyama (deceased) and Corporal Zvirevo (injured) had barely been in Chivhu for three days when the attack occurred.

“These soldiers had just come into the area and in the short time they were here, they had already made friends with people because of the manner in which they conducted themselves and their duties.

“They went around educating people on Covid-19 and were encouraging social distancing. As far as I know, they did not have problems with anyone,” an elderly vendor told The Herald.

Like most people in the town on Saturday, she was sceptical of entertaining questions around the much-talked about incident that had been subject of both speculation and conjecture.

“It is not true that people were being beaten up before the incident. These boys (soldiers) actually bought airtime from me before they went back to the police post,” she said, dismissing some social media rumours doing rounds. She also dismissed the story of the altercation which was said to have triggered the incident.

The good manner in which the two soldiers had conducted themselves since their deployment in the small town was reason why citizens quickly sprang to their assistance after the incident.

All the vendors who spoke to The Herald said the two quietly went about their business professionally.

One of the good Samaritans who helped the soldiers get medical attention, wished Corporal Zvirevo a speedy recovery, such was how he had endeared himself to the community.

“When we got into the police post, we saw the two soldiers lying on the floor. One was in pain, trying to bravely get up while the other was lifeless.

We rushed him to Chivhu hospital in a colleague’s vehicle, where we heard he was later transferred to Harare,” he said.

State Media

Corruption cases will now be expedited within two months after a suspect is arrested with nine of the 27 recently opened court cases ready for trial — a departure from the previous trend where accused persons waited longer for a trial date.

According to the Special Anti-Corruption Unit in the Office of the President and Cabinet (Sacu), the State is ready to deal with cases related to Harare City Council stands and Zesa tender scandals.

The suspected corruption officials were arrested between July and August and will face trial from next week.

Sacu chair Mr Thabani Mpofu said the main thrust was to expedite corruption cases in the courts for effective delivery of justice.

President Mnangagwa has declared zero tolerance to corruption and warned that all suspected corrupt activities will be thoroughly investigated while those found on the wrong side of the law will face the full wrath of the law.

Mr Mpofu said, “The objective is to process these corruption cases in our courts in the shortest possible period with minimum delays. This includes the allocation off trial dates within a maximum period of two months of the accused persons’ first appearance in court.”

He added that between this month and October, those who were arrested for corruption in the past two months will be dragged for trial.

According to court documents, some of the accused persons who will face trial on 17 September 2020 are former Harare Mayor Councillor Herbert Gomba who is facing charges of criminal abuse of office for allegedly allocating State land to Taringana Housing Cooperative.

Others in the dock are Harare human resources director Matthew Marara who allegedly fraudulently sold stands in Kuwadzana.

His co-accused Aaron Tayerera, Charles Sigauke, Tutsirai Kanojerera who are all facing charges of prejudicing council of land valued at US$670 000.

The State will also put other council officials namely, Harare acting town planner Samuel Nyabezi and chief land surveyor Munyaradzi Bowa who are facing criminal abuse of office charges over the allocation of State land to Taringana Housing Cooperative.

The duo is accused of creating a bigger layout plan and approved land worth US$416 700 for allocation despite it being State land, which can only be demarcated by the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works.

Police director of intelligence Commissioner Douglas Nyakutsikwa will stand trial on 29 September 2020, for criminal abuse of office after he allegedly used his power to benefit from council stands under suspicious circumstances.

He allegedly received three residential stands in Vainona — two of which were allocated to his friend Trynos Shonhiwa and his brother-in-law Luke Buroma.

The trial of businessman Farai Jere and two Zesa officials Leonard Chisina and Freeman Kuziva has been set for 15 September 2020, for alleged fraud in a case involving a smart meter tender valued at US$3,5 million.

The trio is accused of misrepresenting to ZETDC that a Factory Acceptance Test (FAT) for smart meters and Head End Systems was done in the United Kingdom. It is alleged that the meters did not meet the required specifications.

State Media

Government has exposed a human trafficking ring of individuals domiciled in Canada and believed to be working with local fraudsters who are luring Zimbabweans to apply for non-existent jobs in North America and other parts of the world.

Some of the suspected human traffickers were disguising themselves as owners of the world’s largest hotel chain, Marriot International, whose global assets in the hospitality industry are valued at over US$25 billion.

Three people implicated in the scam following investigations by Zimbabwean authorities, have been identified as William Smith, George Harkins and Rooney Cardwell.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade spokesperson Ms Constance Chemwai said following reports in the local media suggesting that Marriot International Hotels and Resorts in Canada was recruiting medical personnel, due diligence and verification was conducted and it emerged that the American hospitality giant was not involved in such an exercise.

“The ministry wishes to advise members of the public that Marriot International Hotels and Resorts have never been involved in the recruitment of medical staff.

“The ministry further advises that some individuals suspected to be human traffickers are disguising themselves as owners of Marriot Hotels and Resorts and floating job advertisements under the name of Marriot Hotels,” she said.

“Members of the public are warned that these criminal syndicates are demanding US$400 as documentation and visa processing fees.”

Individuals who responded to the advertisements usually received job offers without any interviews, two hours after making payment. This was being done through social media platforms, including WhatsApp.

Ms Chemwai urged members of the public to be alert to human trafficking activities disguised as job recruitments.

“Members of the public are encouraged to check with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade and our embassies abroad, to verify the authenticity of any such suspicious job offers.”

After responding to such advertisements and paying money to have applications processed, unsuspecting job-seekers are usually forced to work as child minders, cooks, carpenters, hairdressers, bakers and helpers in old peoples’ homes to cover skills shortages in developed countries.

In other cases, they are not taken to their intended destinations and end up being forced to work in different countries under conditions akin to slavery.

Last year, it was reported that about 200 unsuspecting and desperate Zimbabweans left Harare via South Africa, where they were promised to be issued with Canadian visas before getting jobs.

The human trafficking syndicate involved was said to be led by a former Zimbabwe national soccer team player and his wife.

In 2018, a 31-year-old Harare woman Norest Maruma was jailed for 20 years for facilitating the trafficking of five Zimbabwean women to Kuwait where they were turned into slaves and prostitutes.

Trafficking in persons is a major international issue, but poor documentation in Southern Africa is masking the extent of this modern-day slavery.

Despite its rising profile in many parts of the world, and periodic efforts to raise public awareness in Southern Africa, the region remains a fertile ground for traffickers who prey on the vulnerabilities created by a number of factors.

These factors include conflict, poverty, limited access to healthcare and education, gender inequalities, high unemployment, and a general lack of opportunities, especially for women.

Poverty and inequality are the major challenges facing Sadc in this regard, with negative impacts on many aspects of human and social development.

According to a United Nations Protocol (2000) popularly known as the Palermo Protocol, human trafficking refers to the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring or receipt of persons by means of threats or use of force or misrepresentation for purposes of exploitation.

A distinction is made between Trafficking in Persons (TIP) and smuggling, although there are linkages between the two.

Human smuggling refers to the illegal movement of an individual into a country in which she/he is not a national or a permanent resident.

The smuggled individual is assisted for a fee by criminal syndicates to cross into another country.

State Media

GOVERNMENT has pledged to extend the foreign currency non-taxable Covid-19 allowance for civil servants and pensioners to December as it maintains its position of providing a living wage for its employees.

The offer was made during the National Joint Negotiating Council (NJNC) meeting yesterday which brings Government and civil servants representatives under one roof to tackle issues affecting workers.

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

Government had said the forex allowance was just for three months meaning it was supposed to end last month.

The forex allowance is part of President Mnangagwa’s measures to cushion Government workers from the adverse impact of Covid-19.

When it announced the Covid-19 forex non-taxable allowances, Government stated that civil servants had to open nostro accounts so that the money is deposited in the accounts and used electronically to guard against channelling the forex to the black market.

However, last month, Treasury observed that some banks were colluding with retail shops to deny the civil servants access to their money hence sabotaging the Government programme.

Finance and Economic Development Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube last month challenged the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) to bring the banking sector to order and address the artificial hurdles depriving employees from accessing their forex.

RBZ last month ordered banks to ensure that all civil servants are issued with bank cards to enable them to access their foreign currency allowances.

Apex Council chairperson Mrs Cecilia Alexander said negotiations to improve civil servants’ salaries are on-going and Government has tabled an offer to extend the Covid-19 allowance to December.

Mrs Alexander said Government made it clear that it understood the plight of its employees and was working to address some of the challenges they were facing.

“We had a meeting today with Government representatives who made an undertaking to extend the Covid- 19 forex allowance to December. We also discussed the issue of salary increase and the negotiations are ongoing,”she said.

Zimbabwe Teachers Association secretary general Mr Tapson Sibanda said the Government agreed to pay civil servants foreign currency allowances until year end. He said Government also promised a 40 percent salary increase.

Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Minister Professor Paul Mavima said salary negotiations for civil servants were ongoing and therefore he did not want to pre-empty the negotiations.

“I’m not at liberty at this particular time to discuss those issues because they are subject to our negotiations in the NJNC meetings. A full statement will be issued once we conclude the negotiations,” said Minister Mavima. —

State Media

There will be an early population census allowing a new delimitation of constituencies by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) before the 2023 harmonised elections after President Mnangagwa approved the Census and Statistics Amendment Act yesterday.

The amendment Act brings the census forward from 2022 to before July next year to give ZEC time to delimit all 210 constituency boundaries for the presidential, parliamentary and local government elections using up-to-date census data as required by the Constitution.

The signing into law of the Act was announced by the Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet Dr Misheck Sibanda in a Government Gazette recently.

The coming into effect of the law means ZEC will delimitate the 210 constituency seats for 2023 polls in a manner that reflects the present population distribution premised on latest census data.

Parliament passed the law without amendments in July this year.

Constituencies are supposed to be of equal size, within modest limits caused by provincial and district boundaries, but continual movement of people changes the distribution.

Since the last delimitation, land reform has seen major re-distribution of rural populations, with some constituencies having huge numbers, while the continuous rural-to-urban migration has seen many urban constituencies growing.

Presenting the Bill in Senate last month, Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister, Ziyambi Ziyambi, said the Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (ZimStat) should conclude the population census by July next year, instead of 2022 to allow ZEC enough time to use the information to delimit constituencies for the 2023 harmonised elections.

Minister Ziyambi said in terms of the law, delimitation of electoral boundaries must be completed less than six months before polling day in a general election, and if that failed to happen, boundaries that existed before the delimitation would be applicable.

He said in the absence of the proposed law, Zimbabwe faced an “undesirable” prospect of using the same electoral boundaries used in the 2013 election for two reasons.

“The first is that the next census is only due to be completed in 2022. Even if all the data for 2022 was availed timeously, that still brings us uncomfortably close within the range of six months of the next election in 2023,” he said.

“Secondly, ZEC will simply not have the time to do the consultation, produce the report and table it before Parliament its preliminary and final delimitation reports to enable Parliament and the President to properly consider them. Remember also that voter registration is done on a continuous basis by ZEC.”

 

Paul Nyathi | Zimbabwe’s ZANU PF and South Africa’s ANC have issued a joint communique where the two ruling parties in their respective countries agreed that there is no crisis in Zimbabwe but just a combination of challenges that are similar to all other countries.

The joint communiqué was read by Zanu PF secretary for Administration Obert Mpofu, after the meeting between the two parties, resolved “to have vigilance over fake news and social media agenda-setting for the two parties.

Addressing journalists after the meeting, ANC secretary-general Ace Magashule expressed concern over the manner in which social media was being used to set the agenda on the continent and called upon the two countries to take control of their destinies by way of controlling natural resources.

The meeting was attended by Zanu PF Politburo and Central Committee members, who included Mpofu, Patrick Chinamasa, Simbarashe Mumbengegwi, July Moyo, Sibusiso Moyo and Ziyambi Ziyambi.

The ANC delegates who attended were the party’s national executive council members, namely Lindiwe Zulu, Mapisa Ngakhula, Nomvula Mokonyane, Enock Godongwana, Tony Yengeni and Dakota Lekgoete.

Watch video downloading below.

Correspondent

Zimbabwe Institute of Strategic Thinking (ZIST) has welcomed the move by South Africa President Cyril Ramaphosa to send ANC delegation to ‘politically problematic’ Zimbabwe following a spate of alleged human rights violations which have since been met with wide condemnation.

In an interview with this publication, the organization’s director Tinashe Eric Muzamhindo has expressed optimism about the South African envoys and urged the delegation to engage all political parties, civic organizations and stakeholders to get unadulterated information concerning the situation obtaining in the country.

“We welcome Mr. Ramaphosa’s delegation and we are optimistic they will engage all relevant stakeholders to identify possible ways of addressing the problems which are eating into the sinews of the country’s economic and political fabric. You will agree with me that of late we have been vociferous as ZIST calling for honest discussions and the forthcoming Strategic National Dialogue Forum (SNDF) which provides a neutral space for all stakeholders bears testimony to our commitment towards nation building”, said Muzamhindo adding that they are looking forward to meeting the delegation.

However Platform for Youth Development director Claris Madhuku is skeptical about the SA envoy’s sincerity and believes Zimbabwe has the ability to sculpt home-grown solutions and the foreigners should only facilitate talks among Zimbabweans.

“South African team will be driven more by wanting to understand ZANU PF and less in attending to the issues being raised by the civic society and the main opposition MDC Alliance. As Zimbabweans we must believe more in ourselves than foreign interventions and the role of foreign intervention must be only about facilitating Zimbabweans to talk between and among ourselves”, said Madhuku.

The country is arguably on the verge of implosion with rising political tension amid high profile arrests in connection with protests. Some MDC Alliance activists are still in hiding and others are said to have fled the country. The visit by South Africans is expected to help Zimbabweans find each other and end political strife.

THE Midlands State University (MSU) has reopened for face-to-face lectures for first year students who will be on campus for two weeks before they start online learning.

The university has put in place measures under World Health Organisation (WHO) and Ministry of Health and Child Care recommendations to prevent the spread of Covid-19.

In an interview, MSU director of information and public relations, Mrs Mirirai Mawere:

“I can confirm that we have opened the university starting with First Year, Level 1.1, who are going to be on our campuses for orientation and face-to-face lectures from September 7 up to September 19, 2020.”

Mrs Mawere said measures to ensure students adhered to social distancing guidelines have been put in place.

Lupane State University (LSU) director of marketing and communication Mr Zwelithini Dlamini said first year students at the institution will come to the campus for orientation for about three to four weeks before going back home for virtual learning.

“Around September 14, we are welcoming our first-year students on campus, he said.

They will be there for between three to four weeks depending on the faculty because some faculties require practical lessons after which they will go back home and continue virtual learning since we will have taught them how it’s done.”

At the National University of Science and Technology (Nust), students from three faculties, namely Commerce, Applied Sciences and Engineering have been on campus since Monday to complete final examinations that were disrupted by the Covid-19 induced lockdown.

Nust director of communication and marketing Mr Thabani Mpofu said their focus was to complete the 2019-2020 calendar.

“We reopened on Monday for the final year students in the Faculties of Commerce, Applied Sciences and Engineering who had not completed writing their examinations, he said. So, we called them back so that they finish their examinations.

After that we will start on working on results of all students who wrote their examinations.”

Mr Mpofu said the shortage of on-campus accommodation in the face of Covid-19 forced the university to work on finishing examinations before focus was turned to first-year students.

“Accommodation for students is very limited, we don’t have space on campus and that is why these students are coming in batches to mitigate against the spread of Covid-19, he said.

So, we will release the calendar for the March intake after we are done with examinations.

Dates for orientation, registration and all that will be announced.”-The Herald

Domestic and international flights are set to resume, but with all passengers tested for Covid-19 within 48 hours before they travel, while bottle stores can reopen under strict rules as the Government continues to relax the economy following success in containing Covid-19 infection.

In addition, the Government is urgently drilling boreholes to boost Bulawayo water supplies and buying $654 million worth of equipment and supplies to ensure schools can open safely for examination classes
Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Monica Mutsvangwa said last night after yesterday’s Cabinet meeting that domestic flights will resume tomorrow, with international flights set to resume on October 1.

Bottle stores and other liquor outlets can now sell alcohol, but on the strict condition that no one drinks on or around the premises.

Since the start of the lockdown, only supermarkets, with their tight security and refusal to allow on-site drinking, have been able to sell alcoholic beverages.

“Following representations from the Liquor Retailers’ Association, seeking permission for liquor retailers to commence operations, Cabinet resolved that operations could resume in line with Covid-19 regulations and on condition that no liquor is consumed at their premises,” said Mutsvangwa.

For the resumption of flights, Mutsvangwa said standard operating procedures had been put in place for the safe reopening of airports.

“The national guidelines for aviation safety and security have been developed by the Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe to ensure the safety of both the travellers and airport staff.

These are additional to temperature testing, social distancing, sanitisation, and mandatory wearing of masks.

“All travellers will be required to have a PCR Covid-19 clearance certificate issued by a recognised facility within 48 hours from the date of departure, in line with WHO guidelines,” said
Mutsvangwa.

She said the decisions were made after Cabinet received an update on the steps that are being taken to contain the Covid-19 pandemic from the chairperson of the Ad-Hoc Inter-Ministerial Task Force, Minister of Defence and War Veterans Affairs Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri.

Mutsvangwa said Cabinet had approved the appointment of a Covid-19 Experts Advisory Committee, whose objective was to provide science-based evidence, advice and guidance on the national Covid-19 preparedness and response in support of timely evidence-based policy decisions.-The Herald

Police will impound vehicles without registration plates.

National police spokesperson, Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi, yesterday said:

“Any vehicle seen on the road without displaying number plates will be impounded by police on roadblocks and check points.

“In this regard, all vehicle owners who are displaying temporary number plates for 2019 and backwards are implored to visit the Central Vehicle Registry (CVR) offices and acquire permanent number plates with immediate effect.”

Asst Comm Nyathi said CVR had enough permanent plates and they cost US$80.-The Herald

CHAOTIC scenes were witnessed at Bulawayo City Council (BCC)’s Magwegwe reservoir as scores of thirsty residents stampeded to fetch treated water which gushed out of the 140-megalitre overnight storage tank for about four hours.

Although residents claimed that there was excess water being pumped into the reservoir resulting in excessive pressure on the pipes, BCC attributed the leakage to vandalism by local communities desperately in need of water.

As Bulawayo’s water woes continue to mount, with most suburbs going for weeks without running tap water, some residents are now resorting to unhygienic water sources in swampy areas, oblivious to the dangers of contracting water-borne diseases. High lying areas have gone for months without water.

This comes at a time the country is battling Covid-19, which has claimed hundreds of thousands of lives and infected millions across the globe.

The city is on a 144-hour shedding schedule but the gruelling timetable has been suspended for almost all Western suburbs supplied by Magwegwe and Criterion reservoirs due to water supply challenges.

News broke out at around 9AM that water was gushing from the reservoir.-Chronicle

Farai Dziva|The MDC Alliance has slammed Zanu PF Political Commissar Victor Matemadanda for “boasting of abducting innocent citizens.”

Addressing Zanu PF members at a meeting in Manicaland On Sunday, Matemadanda said sell-outs would disappear mysteriously.

Below is MDC Alliance Namibia’s statement on Matemadanda’s remarks:

09 SEPTEMBER 2020

COUNTERFEIT WAR VETERAN VICTOR MATEMADANDA CONFESSED ZANUPF’S PIVOTAL ROLE IN THE ABDUCTIONS, ARBITRARY ARRESTS AND TORTURE OF SOCIAL DEMOCRATS, MDC ALLIANCE NAMIBIA CONCEIVED.

The Defence and War Veterans Minister Victor Matemadanda has given a chilling warning to ‘sell-outs’ that they will disappear mysteriously.

These diabolic sentiments come as Zimbabwe is confronting an escalation of politically motivated and suspected state-sanctioned abductions and disappearances.

The public confession by the bogus war veteran mirrors Zanupf at the epicentre of a wholesale of the current as well as past abductions and torture inflicted on the advocates of Social Democracy in the country.

Moreso, addressing a Zanupf Manicaland provincial co-ordinating committee meeting in Mutare on Sunday, the artificial war veteran said, “I told other people that if you are a sellout, and if you wake up and pursue your sell-out activities while people are sleeping, this country has something that it will do to you” The empty-headed Matemadanda vomitted these stinking words when the grieved Dzamara family is desperately seeking answers to the whereabouts of the democratic and revolutionary journalist-cum activist who was stolen from a barber shop in March 2015 to date. Itai Dzamara was abducted by suspected Zanupf sponsored thugs. We demand justice to all abductees.

Tonderai Ndira, Talent Mabika and Patrick Nyabanyana all perished in these Zanupf engineered abductions.

Under the so-called ‘new dispensation’ we have seen dozens of activists vanishing into thin air.

Artuz President Obert Masaraure, Citizens Manifesto, Tatenda Mombeyarara, Peter Magombeyi only to mention but a few, were abducted, tortured and left for dead. Some were dumped in captured police stations for further incarceration at the hands of a ruthless and anti-people police.

As Mdc Alliance Namibia, we think that it’s not imperative to suspect abductors but go straight to Zanupf and urgently demand those activists who mysteriously disappeared.

Moreover, more activists and government critics such as Joana Mamombe, Cecilia and Netsai , the MDC Alliance trio suffered sexual harassment during their abduction after demonstrating against corruption and artificial hunger during lockdown. No perpetrators were brought to book. The legacy of Zanupf’s impunity must be condemned with equal measure.

As I pen this statement, Mdc Alliance MP for Harare West has been hospitalised on account of severe trauma and torture she suffered when she was forcibly abducted by Zanupf thugs who arrested the trio. Mdc Alliance Namibia advocates for serious action against any attempt to silence constitutionalism and rule of law. Citizens must brace for dangerous freedom to fight Matemadanda and his desperate cabal.

As social democrats in the diaspora, we urge the Zimbabwe Republic Police to arrest the factitious and empty-headed war veteran for inciting public violence. This thugocrat is the ideal candidate for Chikurubi Maximum Prison.

We demand the immediate freedom of our innocent Job SaroWiwa Sikhala, Godfrey Kurauone, Last Maengahama and all prisoners of conscience who are victims of state-sponsored torture and abductions.

Mdc Alliance Namibia is cobra-headed on the perpetual incarceration of its leaders and membership in the Motherland.

Fake criminals must be freed and real culprits should be brought to book without fear or favour.

Furthermore, these utterances proved to be a Zanupf authoritarian chorus meant to eliminate the so-called ‘bad apples’.

The threat to butcher all opposition voices becomes synonymous to both the Zanupf President Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa and Patrick Chinamasa (Zanupf politburo member) who echoed the same hence inciting public violence.

No to selective application of the law by Zanupf terrorists! The posture to decimate the voice of the voiceless unearthes Zanupf’s thirst for innocent blood in Zimbabwe.

This is totally unacceptable, irresponsible, evil and it also reflects who has been behind the abductions of our people in the Motherland.

In a nutshell, our message to Matemadanda, Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa, Patrick Chinamasa and the satanic cult of Zanupf is that , we shall continue to fight against thugocracy and maltreatment of Social Democrats in our beloved country. Zimbabwe is not a Zanupf’s private property, we all own Zimbabwe.

Lets rise and reclaim a Constitutional Democratic society free from Bornapatism punctuated by abductions, torture, arbitrary arrests, senseless and barefaced corruption and gross misgovernance.

#ZimbabweanLivesMatter
#jobwiwasikhalamustbefreenow
#godfreykurauonemustbefreenow
#freelastmaengahama
#bringbackitaidzamara
#FreeAllPrisonersOfConscience

Mdc Alliance Namibia
Rundu Branch Spokesperson
Robson Ruhanya

A rooster recently attacked and killed a 42-year-old woman in Chigodora village under Chief Zimunya in Manicaland Province.

Acting Chief Zimunya summoned Zvikomborero Takarinda to appear before his court to explain the death of Chandapiwa Makaza, nee Bushu after she was attacked by his cock.

The traditional leader said:
Before this incident, this had never happened in my area before. It’s mysterious and abnormal. I will soon summon him to my court to explain how a mere rooster could attack a woman, thereby leading to her death.

We could not hold our usual court sessions due to the Covid-19 lockdown but business is slowly getting back to normal.
We want to get to the bottom of this issue. Many people thought the matter had died a natural death but we will probe it further and hear the case in full. What happened is taboo, an abomination. Justice should prevail.

Reports claim that two days after Makaza’s death, her corpse “wept”, something that horrified relatives and friends who had attended her funeral in July.

Takarinda had earlier told the
Manica Post that the bird had a habit of attacking people, especially women.

Villagers threatened to manhandle Takarinda if he insisted on his refusal to kill and burn the rooster and he reluctantly terminated the cock’s life.- Manica Post

Farai Dziva|A Zanu PF official has revealed that Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa personally created the dreaded Central Intelligence Organisation.

Gokwe-Nembudziya MP Justice Mayor Wadyajena has revealed that Mnangagwa “planted” his intelligence operatives across Zimbabwe to sniff out “sell-outs”.

Wadyajena, quoted by NewsDay said:

“President Mnangagwa is the one who created the CIO [Central Intelligence Organisation] in 1980 and there is nowhere he can fail to get information on what is happening.

You will be caught. Imagine people getting money in secret, but it came out.”

Farai Dziva|Murdered MDC activist, Tonderai Ndira’s family has received grocery items from well-wishers.

Ndira was murdered by Zanu PF activists in 2008.

See statement below:

The Fund remembered the late Tonderai Ndira’s family with Grocery items.

Tonderai Ndira was murdered by ZanuPF thugs in 2008 run-off elections and we should never forget him and many others.

Receiving the groceries are Mrs Ndira and her daughter. A big thank you to all who donate, together we will do more. We are also very grateful for Ngoni Danzwa and his assistance in delivering the goods God bless you.

To donate please visit the link:

The Fund remembered the late Tonderai Ndira's family with Grocery hamper.

Receiving the groceries are Mrs Ndira and her daughter. A big thank you to all who donate, together we will do more.

To donate please visit the link; https://t.co/302SIwwxe5

Thank you for retweeting? pic.twitter.com/CtX3a1RQ1o

— Chambii (@AmChambi) September 9, 2020

Farai Dziva|Murdered MDC activist, Tonderai Ndira’s family has received grocery items from well-wishers.

Ndira was murdered by Zanu PF activists in 2008.

See statement below:

The Fund remembered the late Tonderai Ndira’s family with Grocery items.

Tonderai Ndira was murdered by ZanuPF thugs in 2008 run-off elections and we should never forget him and many others.

Receiving the groceries are Mrs Ndira and her daughter. A big thank you to all who donate, together we will do more. We are also very grateful for Ngoni Danzwa and his assistance in delivering the goods God bless you.

To donate please visit the link:

The Fund remembered the late Tonderai Ndira's family with Grocery hamper.

Receiving the groceries are Mrs Ndira and her daughter. A big thank you to all who donate, together we will do more.

To donate please visit the link; https://t.co/302SIwwxe5

Thank you for retweeting? pic.twitter.com/CtX3a1RQ1o

— Chambii (@AmChambi) September 9, 2020

 

Deputy Defence and War Veterans Minister Victor Matemadanda has given a chilling warning to ‘sell-outs’ that they will disappear mysteriously.

Matemadanda’s sentiments come as Zimbabwe is facing an increase in politically motivated and suspected state sanctioned abductions and disappearances.

Addressing a Zanu PF Manicaland provincial co-ordinating committee meeting in Mutare on Sunday, Matemadanda said , “I told other people that if you are a sell-out, and if you wake up and pursue your sell-out activities while people are sleeping, this country has something that it will do to you.”

The Zanu PF political commissar continued, “You will disappear without anyone touching you. This country will deal with you mysteriously.

This country is a mystery, you just can’t do as you please.” His remarks came as human rights activists have recorded a spike in abductions and torture of opposition activists by suspected State security agents.

Political activists and government critics such as Itai Dzamara, Patrick Nyabanyana and dozens others disappeared without trace in the last few years.

The Zanu PF government has always maintained abductions are stage manage but this latest revelation by a high ranking official is not consistent with the government’s position.

Matemadanda took at former Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors Association (ZIDA) Peter Magombeyi and comedian Samatha Kureya better known as Gonyeti for claiming that they were abducted by state agents.

Jameson Timba, secretary for presidential affairs in MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa’s office, said it was unfortunate to have Matemadanda incite violence.

“These remarks are not dissimilar from the remarks made by Patrick
Chinamasa (Zanu PF politburo member and acting spokesperson), which were basically inciting violence in the country,” he said.

“His suggestion in the context of the abductions that have been taking place in this country, that if you sell out then you will disappear, is totally unacceptable and irresponsible and also shows who has been behind the abductions in the country.”-NewsDay

Deputy Defence and War Veterans Minister Victor Matemadanda has given a chilling warning to ‘sell-outs’ that they will disappear mysteriously.

Matemadanda’s sentiments come as Zimbabwe is facing an increase in politically motivated and suspected state sanctioned abductions and disappearances.

Addressing a Zanu PF Manicaland provincial co-ordinating committee meeting in Mutare on Sunday, Matemadanda said , “I told other people that if you are a sell-out, and if you wake up and pursue your sell-out activities while people are sleeping, this country has something that it will do to you.”

The Zanu PF political commissar continued, “You will disappear without anyone touching you. This country will deal with you mysteriously.

This country is a mystery, you just can’t do as you please.” His remarks came as human rights activists have recorded a spike in abductions and torture of opposition activists by suspected State security agents.

Political activists and government critics such as Itai Dzamara, Patrick Nyabanyana and dozens others disappeared without trace in the last few years.

The Zanu PF government has always maintained abductions are stage manage but this latest revelation by a high ranking official is not consistent with the government’s position.

Matemadanda took at former Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors Association (ZIDA) Peter Magombeyi and comedian Samatha Kureya better known as Gonyeti for claiming that they were abducted by state agents.

Jameson Timba, secretary for presidential affairs in MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa’s office, said it was unfortunate to have Matemadanda incite violence.

“These remarks are not dissimilar from the remarks made by Patrick
Chinamasa (Zanu PF politburo member and acting spokesperson), which were basically inciting violence in the country,” he said.

“His suggestion in the context of the abductions that have been taking place in this country, that if you sell out then you will disappear, is totally unacceptable and irresponsible and also shows who has been behind the abductions in the country.”-NewsDay

A KEZI man has been arrested after he fatally struck his wife with an axe for demanding a separation.

Matabeleland South provincial police spokesperson, Chief Inspector Philisani Ndebele confirmed the incident which occurred on Sunday in Magololo Village Sontala area though he said the cause of the attack was yet to be ascertained.

He said Sicelo Ncube (44) met the now deceased Nanziwe Phiri (37) while she was coming from the river where she had gone to fetch water and attacked her.

“I can confirm that we recorded a murder case which occurred in Magololo Village in Sontala area.

Nanziwe Phiri was on her way from Simukwe River where she had gone to fetch water in the company of other ladies when they met her husband Sicelo Ncube who was armed with an axe. Ncube approached Phiri with saying a word, tripped her and she fell to the ground.

“He struck her with an axe on the forehead. The other ladies fled to the nearest homesteads where they alerted villagers.

Upon their return they found Phiri lying on the ground motionless and Ncube had fled the scene. The matter was reported to the police who attended the scene,” he said.

Chief Insp Ndebele said Ncube had since been arrested and was assisting police with investigations.

He said Ncube was arrested with the assistance of community members who informed police of his whereabouts.

Chief Insp Ndebele urged members of the public to desist from engaging in violence when faced with disputes.

“We would like to thank members of the public who assisted us with information that led to Ncube’s arrest. He is assisting police with investigations.

People should also desist from engaging in violence when faced with disputes. If people have domestic problems they must seek counselling,” he said.

A village head from Sontala area, Mr Andrew Dube said Ncube is suspected to have attacked his wife after she demanded a divorce. She said the couple had now been living separately.-Chronicle

By A Correspondent- 2 National Pharmaceuticals Bad members are reportedly in court facing criminal abuse of office charges the Daily News reports.

The duo, Gerald Gore and Charles Enos Mapanga is accused of not retiring the company’s Managing Director Florah Nancy Sifeku, when she reached her retirement age,

Its is the state’s case that:

On June 1, 2006, Sifeku was appointed managing director for NatPharm under a renewable three-year contract, which was extended starting on June 1, 2015 to May 31, 2018.

On November 28, 2018, NatPharm received a circular from the Office of the President and Cabinet outlining procedure for termination of public entities’ chief executives who had served for more than 10 years as guided by the Public Entities Corporate Governance Act. On July 18 of the same year, a human resources committee meeting chaired by Harinavamwe Chifamba was held and the issue of recruiting a new managing director was raised and captured in the minutes.

On November 30, Sifeku’s six-month contract extension expired and she reportedly continued to work without a contract and without the president’s approval of her re-appointment. On January 9, a full NatPharm board meeting was held in which the two were present and they discussed the issue that Sifeku was working without a contract. They continued working with Sifeku knowing that she had no valid contract.

They negated their obligation as public officers by failing to terminate Sifeku’s employment from the position of managing director for NatPharm as she had reached her retirement age and had served for more than 10 years. Due to their actions, Sifeku continued with her duties without a contract and received salaries and benefits which amounted to $631 997,75 and US$2 865,42

The magistrate remanded them to 24 September on $3 000 Bail.-DailyNews

#ZimbabweanLivesMatter https://t.co/BhZXVLzbah

— Prof. Mlambo (@MlamboProf) September 9, 2020

By A Correspondent- Exiled activist Josphat Mzaca Ngulube has accused an unnamed daughter of a prominent national hero for setting him up to be abducted by suspect Zimbabwe state agents at his Rosebank base in South Africa.

Mzaca who fled political persecution to South Africa after his niece was abducted and sexually abused survived another attempt on his life in August and had to seek protection from the local police station.

Read his unedited statements on the matter below:

My attack in South Africa was an eye opener and revelation on the people who work for Zanupf but in public insulting it!

Was sold out by someone you cant think of whom i trusted and the person sold me out and was mounted by the agents at the residential place where my nieces were staying, person phoning and asking me when I was going to see the kids and like time not realizing was being set up

Its a lady Claiming to be a National hero Daughter based in South Africa very vocal on Matebeleland issues and you all know her her on social media the name told my family and close people lina abanye sengilitshelile, she claiming to be one of the most popular Heroes in Matebeleland daughter.

Indeed was attacked in Johannesburg because of trusting wrong people you consider to be Matebeleland kids while they are sellouts eating with the enemies, we have a lot of people who have been trapped arrested and killed because of the same person.

The state broadcaster the ZBC, has made a sensational invitation for Zimbabweans to watch a Main News SPECIAL tonight or listen on radio station Classic263 as it runs what it claims to be an exposè of the “alleged abduction” of MDC Alliance’s Joana Mamombe, Netsai Marova and Cecelia Chimbiri. Unravelling “an almost perfect hatchet job”.

Watch video downloading below:

The ANC delegation to Zimbabwe has scored a diplomatic point after Zanu-PF agreed they should meet the opposition and civil society groups on their next trip to Harare.

The Ace Magashule-led team drawn from the ANC national executive and working committees arrived in the capital on Tuesday to meet Zanu-PF leaders on Wednesday.

The party-to-party meeting was to discuss the escalating political and economic crisis in Zimbabwe. Since July, with a crackdown on opposition politicians and journalists characterised by kidnappings and torture, the country’s woes have drawn international attention. Zanu-PF, however, insists there is no crisis in the country.

Magashule told journalists there was an agreement between Zanu-PF and the delegation that on the next visit the South Africans should meet rival parties.

“We felt that together with Zanu-PF, indeed there is no problem in meeting with the structures. Therefore, we are going to make arrangements to once more come back and meet these organisations,” he said.

Watch video downloading below.

Paul Nyathi

Zengeza West Member of Parliament and MDC Deputy Chairperson Job Sikhala’s High Court bail hearing was off to a false start on Wednesday and was postponed to Friday.

The Court heard that the documents from the lower court were not yet ready and not available at the High Court.

The postponementis to allow for enough time for the preparation and uplifting of the record of proceedings in which Magistrate Lazini Ncube denied him bail on 3 September.

Sikhala was arrested last month in the Harare western suburb of Tynwald North on allegations of inciting public violence.

In a statement MDDC said, “Hon Job Sikhala’s Harare High Court bail hearing has been postponed due to the fact that the records of the Magistrates Court proceedings are still to be signed by the Presiding Officer who is said to have now gone on leave. We continue to demand his release.”

Sikhala who is being represented by ZLHR has been detained at Chikurubi Maximum Security Prison since he was arrested in August on charges of inciting people to commit public violence through staging protests

A Zimbabwean-born millionaire-cum-politician has been slapped with an contempt of court for owing about R323 000 in child maintenance in a divorce settlement matter.

The man, who cannot be named to protect the identity of his children, appeared at the North Gauteng High Court on Monday where his dirty divorce and child maintenance legal battle between him and his estranged South African wife was heard.

The businessman’s spouse filed a contempt of court application against her husband after he failed to comply with a court order issued in October last year which ordered him to pay R30 000 a month in maintenance for her and their three minor children, among other things. He is in R323 000 in arears.

The couple were married in community of property for about nine years until the husband proposed a divorce in December 2018 before moving into the cottage attached to their matrimonial home in Joburg.

The lawyers of the two parties, who cannot be named to protect the identities of their young children, had a virtual sitting of North Gauteng High Court on Monday.

The couple were married in community of property for about nine years until the husband proposed a divorce in December 2018 before moving into the cottage attached to their matrimonial home.

The tycoon owns several companies and assets in the southern African region and is a big political figure in his home country, where he also ran for presidential candidacy.

According to court documents seen by The Star, the court ordered the husband to pay R30 000 a month in maintenance for his spouse and their children; pay all costs and expenses for the children’s education; reinstate the children and ex-wife on his medical aid scheme; make payments for all the children’s clothing, cellphones, pocket money and all birthday gifts; return the wife’s Mercedes-Benz together with all sets of keys; and make payments towards the wife’s legal costs which was about R30 000.

The wife’s attorney Graeme Krawitz, said in court that the businessman had not complied with the order.

“He has not delivered the car, which he could have done, he has not placed the children on medical aid, he has not paid contribution towards legal fees and has not paid one cent of maintenance apart from R7 000 in October,” Krawitz said.

The wife told The Star that she’s had to rely on her family members to aid her financially.

“I pay for all transport, whatever food I use with donations from my family. I am absolutely destitute despite the fact that I am married in community of property to an extremely wealthy man,” she said.

The husband’s attorney, Kevin Schaafsma, said his client was not in complete default of the court order because his client did pay all costs and expenses for the children’s education, clothing, cellphones, pocket money and all birthday gifts.

He said the vehicle was handed over to the wife but it did not work and was removed from the property.

Schaafsma added that his client did not comply with the payment of maintenance and reinstate the wife and children on the medical aid scheme because the businessman could not afford to pay because his company was under suspension.

“The bank statements before the court contend that he had an overdraft limit and he lives on the overdraft limit and he is not in a position to make payments,” he said.

The businessman’s attorney contested that the wife was destitute and said she had not tried to find employment to support herself.

“The applicant continues to believe that she can live a life of luxury without working, notwithstanding being a healthy 33-year-old woman with formal qualifications,” the husband wrote in his answering affidavit.

The judge in the matter indicated that he would hold the businessman in contempt for not fully complying with the previous order and gave him a 60 day sentence suspended for five years.

Schaafsma confirmed to the Star that his client intended to appeal against the order. We will be taking it on appeal,” he said. He added that his client asked for privacy.

The wife said she was relieved about the outcome but was hoping her estranged husband would comply.

The Star

Lawyers representing MDC Alliance deputy chair Job Sikhala say the Zengeza West legislator’s health is deteriorating at Chikurubi Maximum Security Prison where he is being held pending his trial.

In addition, Sikhala’s lawyers said efforts to see him came to nought after prison authorities said they had missed the visiting hours for inmates.

Sikhala is said to be suffering from excessively swollen legs, possibly as a result of hypertension.

Source: Daily News

A man from Bindura has appeared in court in the town, accused of indecent assault of his 18-year old daughter after he allegedly physically inspected her virginity.

The State, represented by Patience Chair, told the court on Tuesday that Saymore Mhene allegedly sneaked into the bedroom of his biological daughter, Mandivavarira, at around midnight in August last year and pulled her pants aside while she slept, and inserted his fingers into her private parts to inspect her virginity.

The daughter, who was sleeping with two other siblings, was allegedly awakened by the inspection, and asked her father what he was doing.

Chair told the court that, upon being discovered and confronted, Mhene allegedly just walked away from his daughter.

“She asked the accused what he was doing but he walked away without answering her,” Chair told the court.

Bindura magistrate Moreblessing Makate remanded Mhene out on $500 bail to October 1st.

– New Ziana

The July 31st Movement heartily welcomes the initiatives by the South African governing party, the African National Congress (ANC) and President Cyril Ramaphosa, to deploy envoys and delegations to help resolve the multi-faceted humanitarian, human rights, socio-economic and political crisis in Zimbabwe. It is trite that there is definitely a crisis in Zimbabwe! To fully understand the challenges and find a lasting solution, it is critical that all key stakeholders be consulted and engaged with; including the government of Zimbabwe, the main political parties, churches, civil society, trade unions, the media and grassroots citizens’ movements.

They then proceeded to outline the key areas for consideration and said:

• There is rampant high-level corruption in Zimbabwe, including Covid-19-related corruption which is going on without any accountability or recovery of stolen resources.
• Zimbabwe has a major human rights problem under Emmerson Mnangagwa’s presidency, including unresolved cases of abductions and torture of government critics; which has escalated without the arrest of any of the abductors. As usual, the Zimbabwe government denies these abductions and tortures; we challenge them to allow the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Torture to carry out an independent investigation into the growing reports of torture.
• The Zimbabwe government has been unwilling to listen and engage with its citizens. Instead of addressing the issues raised by critics, the critics who have genuine concerns, were described as “dark forces”, “a few rogue Zimbabweans” and “terrorist opposition groupings”. Nothing was said about the constitutional rights of Zimbabweans to peacefully protest or the violations of government’s domestic and international human rights obligations.
• Zimbabwe faces an acute humanitarian crisis and violations of the right to food, as acute food shortages persist. According to the United Nations, 7,7 million people are food insecure. Around 5,5 million of these people live in the rural areas and 2,2 million in urban areas. The Covid-19 pandemic has worsened Zimbabwe’s food crisis as government adopted nuanced containment measures. The very measures have been associated with violations of fundamental rights, including public beatings, hefty unwarranted fines and shaming of people over allegations of not wearing the masks correctly.
• Zimbabwe’s security forces frequently use excessive force to crush protests and silence government critics. The security forces used excessive lethal force to crush nationwide protests in January 2019 which had been triggered by Mnangagwa’s sudden announcement of a fuel price increase. During the demonstrations throughout Zimbabwe, government forces fired live ammunition on civilians killing 17 people. There has been no accountability or justice enforced for these gruesome atrocities on civilians and to date no soldier has been arrested.
• On August 1, 2018, protests over delayed election results consequential in widespread violence erupted in Harare. The Motlanthe Commission of Inquiry was appointed, found that six people died and 35 others were injured as a result of actions by State security forces. The commission’s important recommendations were ignored, including the need to hold those responsible for the abuses to account through compensation to families of those killed and compensation to those who lost property.
• The government continues to encroach upon leaders, by threatening and conducting arrests, issuing wanted notices for all organisers of any anti-government protests and arresting protest leaders like MP Job Sikhala. Sikhala is currently in prison after being denied bail. We are aware that most of our activists are living in the bush for fear of arrests due to simply being suspected of having intended to protest. There is nowhere in the Constitution where an intention to participate in a peaceful protest against corruption is a crime.
• Zimbabwe’s offer to pay US$3,5 billion compensation to white farmers should not sanitise the region and make South Africa, Sadc and the African Union ignore the serious on-going human rights abuses with impunity. International re-engagement should be based on good governance, anti-corruption, respect for the rule of law and human rights.
• Zimbabwe urgently needs strong and independent justice systems, electoral systems, governance systems and anti-corruption institutions that are not controlled by the ruling Zanu PF party. Without independent institutions, it will be impossible to transform Zimbabwe and successfully resolve the crisis.
• South Africa’s initiatives to help resolve Zimbabwe’s challenges should lead to a national dialogue process that leaves no-one behind and that openly confronts the challenges in full transparency and demands justice and accountability.

We petition that your envoy consider and make representation to the government of Zimbabwe on the following:

1. Process and victim-led broad-based national dialogue: led by a neutral, reputable former president of an African state, underwritten by Sadc and the AU, at a neutral venue.
2. A National Transitional Authority (NTA) to work on electoral reforms, demilitarisation and restoration of the independence of State institutions and processes.
3. Including economic and electoral reforms and freeing the media, leading to free and fair elections based on agreed timelines.
   National healing, truth telling and the release of all political prisoners.
4. Economic reforms that centre on the inclusive improvement of people’s livelihoods, including the elimination of corruption and bringing to account those fingered in corruption activities.
5. Respect of Section 59 of the Constitution, allowing freedom to protest.
6. Investigations by a regional tribunal or an international criminal court; of all cases of torture and State-sponsored violence thus bringing perpetrators to book.

---

Zimbabwe Electoral Commission has announced that it will be soon holding by elections besides the Covid-19 pandemic.

The commission has announced guidelines that have to be adhered to at polling stations.

They are as follows:

• The Presiding Officer shall ensure disinfection and regular cleaning of polling stations and ablution facilities.
• The Presiding Officer shall ensure that an Attendance Register is maintained for all persons visiting the polling station for contact tracing purposes.
• Election officials, Voters, Polling Agents and Election Observers are to wash their hands thoroughly using soapy running water, be sanitized upon entering and exiting polling stations, wear face masks, maintain social distancing and have temperature checks before commencement of any electoral activity.
• The Commission shall provide adequate gloves for all the electoral officers during all stages of the electoral process.
• For composite polling stations, temperature checks should be centralized and a screening certificate issued out to all persons entering polling stations.
• Persons whose temperature is lower or higher than the recommended national standard ranges are recorded and not allowed into polling stations. Such persons shall be advised to visit their nearest health centres.
• Polling stations to be arranged in such manner as to allow the required social distancing to be observed.
• The pens provided at the polling station should be sanitized after use by each voter. Voters are however allowed to bring and use their own pens if they so wish.
• Polling shall take place between 7 am and 7 pm. However, anyone in the queue at the close of the poll shall not be turned away.

ANC Secretary General Ace Magashule has announced that they will return to meet the opposition MDC Alliance, ZAPU and Transform Zimbabwe among other stakeholders who requested to meet with them.

Magashule was speaking inside ZANU-PF headquarters after meeting with Obert Mpofu and other top officials from the ruling party.

Watch our SG @robohchere speaking on our position on the @ZctuZimbabwe organised Monday protests. USD salaries for all workers. pic.twitter.com/FamtVNSSvK

— Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe,ARTUZ (@ARTUZ_teachers) September 9, 2020

Farai Dziva|Murdered MDC activist, Tonderai Ndira’s family has received grocery items from well-wishers.

Ndira was murdered by Zanu PF activists in 2008.

See statement below:

The Fund remembered the late Tonderai Ndira’s family with Grocery items.

Tonderai Ndira was murdered by ZanuPF thugs in 2008 run-off elections and we should never forget him and many others.

Receiving the groceries are Mrs Ndira and her daughter. A big thank you to all who donate, together we will do more. We are also very grateful for Ngoni Danzwa and his assistance in delivering the goods God bless you.

To donate please visit the link:

The Fund remembered the late Tonderai Ndira's family with Grocery hamper.

Receiving the groceries are Mrs Ndira and her daughter. A big thank you to all who donate, together we will do more.

To donate please visit the link; https://t.co/302SIwwxe5

Thank you for retweeting? pic.twitter.com/CtX3a1RQ1o

— Chambii (@AmChambi) September 9, 2020

 

Deputy Defence and War Veterans Minister Victor Matemadanda has given a chilling warning to ‘sell-outs’ that they will disappear mysteriously.

Matemadanda’s sentiments come as Zimbabwe is facing an increase in politically motivated and suspected state sanctioned abductions and disappearances.

Addressing a Zanu PF Manicaland provincial co-ordinating committee meeting in Mutare on Sunday, Matemadanda said , “I told other people that if you are a sell-out, and if you wake up and pursue your sell-out activities while people are sleeping, this country has something that it will do to you.”

The Zanu PF political commissar continued, “You will disappear without anyone touching you. This country will deal with you mysteriously.

This country is a mystery, you just can’t do as you please.” His remarks came as human rights activists have recorded a spike in abductions and torture of opposition activists by suspected State security agents.

Political activists and government critics such as Itai Dzamara, Patrick Nyabanyana and dozens others disappeared without trace in the last few years.

The Zanu PF government has always maintained abductions are stage manage but this latest revelation by a high ranking official is not consistent with the government’s position.

Matemadanda took at former Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors Association (ZIDA) Peter Magombeyi and comedian Samatha Kureya better known as Gonyeti for claiming that they were abducted by state agents.

Jameson Timba, secretary for presidential affairs in MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa’s office, said it was unfortunate to have Matemadanda incite violence.

“These remarks are not dissimilar from the remarks made by Patrick
Chinamasa (Zanu PF politburo member and acting spokesperson), which were basically inciting violence in the country,” he said.

“His suggestion in the context of the abductions that have been taking place in this country, that if you sell out then you will disappear, is totally unacceptable and irresponsible and also shows who has been behind the abductions in the country.”-NewsDay

By A Correspondent| Yesterday, popular musician, Mukudzei Mukombe aka Jah Prayzah posted on his Twitter handle that he had purchased a residential stand at Pokugara Estate in Borrowdale, Harare.

“We have made up our mind, my wife and I have decided to purchase this piece of land at Pokugara Residential Estate in Borrowdale. I will continue to show you more amazing options from @WestPropZim. You can do it too,” wrote Jah Prayzah.

His legion of fans rushed to congratulate him but environmentalists however reminded the popular musician that the area was largely contested since it was on a wetland and building on it was going to impact on water availability in Harare.

Some of the commentators reminded the musician that it was unethical for him to be associated with activities that are impacting negatively on water availability, and ultimately human life in Harare.

Below are some of the comments;
Dorothy Wakeling , “With respect Jah Prayzah, your community protects its wetlands in Uzumba so why would you destroy a wetland in Borrowdale, Harare by building your own house on it? Rather promote the preservation of Harare’s wetlands including the iconic Borrowdale Vlei, for water for all.”

Orphah Ruzvidzo, “The area is in dispute though. The whole area is a wetland which was helping Vainona and Mt Pleasant residents with underground water recharge and water quality of their borehole. It’s OK, you are showing domination. Nature loses, humans win.”

Harry Davies, “Regrettably, the whole area is on disputed land obtained by developers through corrupt means. Developing that wetland will seriously impact the quality and quantity of Harare’s water supply. You should pull out of the deal Sir. They are using your profile to very bad ends.”

Ashirayi Maphosa, “Sadly it’s not talked about enough (wetlands issues) and they keep building.”

3XMaSpaghets, “Muchageza nei? (Where are you going to get bathing water?). You know that place is being built on a wetland due to corruption. Groundwater for boreholes for the area can’t be replenished if you have built all over it. Also, this area has not had city water for 16-25 years. Why contribute towards what is already a water crisis?”

Environmentalists are concerned over the continuous destruction of wetlands which is impacting negatively on water supply in Harare.

Harare is located on its headwater wetlands and relies on the wetlands for water supply.

 

 

By Mari Matutu | MDC A must be wise and not clever. There is wide difference between being wise and being clever.

You can be wise by being stupid when the outcome is to your advantage

I saw a headline by Zimeye on ANC delegates. It looked so catchy and as far as ZimEye is concerned I believe their sincerity. However that is where the division line for wisdom and cleverness crosses.

You need a little bit of study on desception to understand criminals. Luckily, I am a well trained and experienced Jail guard. Now listen to this all of you MDC A members. I will first open your eyes with things that you know but could not interpret.

In 2008 MDC T won elections and Thabo Mbeki was the SADC chair as well as the appointed mediator. The rest of his actions we all know but we forgot one thing.

The day he made Mugabe and Tsvangirai sign an agreement to form the government of National unity upon his return to South Africa he was told to pack and go. He did go.

In November 2017 Zuma was Chair for Sadc troika for politics and security. He tried to protect Mugabe. Because of that, he never lasted 2 months as President of South Africa.

Cyrial Ramaphosa as the Chair of AU and President of South Africa did send a delegation to meet stake holders in the Zimbabwean crisis. Upon the return of the delegation Cyril was before an ANC NEC corruption interrogation.

Ace Magashule the Secretary General of ANC commented on the Zimbabwean crisis and he was reminded of his corruption files.

Now back to the revolutionary movement. ANC is mother of all these revolutionary movement. All liberation soldiers were trained by the same institutions and they all fall as one.

If reasoning does not tell you that ANC is a voluntary organisation joined through personal choice but South Africa and AU are institutions for all. Then revise.
Ask yourselves why Ramaphosa who is the true representative of South Africa would opt to withdraw a delegation that is of South Africa, whose input has value in SADC and AU or UN and put a delegation of a voluntary organisation not accountable to anyone but its membership to go and negotiate a national crisis for a whole state like Zimbabwe.

Wake up. Imagine ANC comes and get all the facts from all stake holders, where do you expect ANC to take this information?

Here is the trick. The power and authority in these revolutionary parties was exposed by July 31. They cannot sweep it under the carpert but cannot allow reputable institutions with authority to control the pace.

1. Chamisa has refused to budge in POLAD and they now dangle a carrot in his eyes. They say you refuse POLAD we give you CRIMAD( Criminal Actors Dialogue).
   This whole pretence by ANC of saying “we are seeing Zanu and other stakeholders” is to create a debate to the effect that MDC will also within its circle cry to see ANC . They want to make currency out of their visit and bring MDC to crave to see ANC.

Common sense must tell you it is ANC that forced Ramaphosa and even threatened him with recall after he sent a delegation that was standing for South Africa. If you fail to see the reason why then know for a fact you are dealing with a gynaecologist who uses his own p_enis to treat your problem of not having a child with your wife. Wake up.

The point is both ANC and Zanu Pf have noted and accepted that there is a crisis in Zimbabwe. The mere fact that they are making trips and meetings that cost money talking about it is your card. Now do not give out your card.

There are two parts of the day within 24hrs. The daylight time and darkness. In deception never accept a game that is played during the night even if more people are spectators. During the day, do not accept a game that is played without spectators. Not all bodies are spectators. A blind man’s presence raises figures but does not add to spectators. This is the rule. Once you know your opponent wants to play the game never keep secrets, even if these things are known between the two of you.

All desception games are there to fool the third parties to believe a story. So MDC must make the public aware that ANC has noted the crisis but it is a corrupt political party that has twisted the state president of SA who has power and authority to stand on behalf SA, who has authority of African Union to stand on its behalf and directed him to drop his delegation. Now ANC which has no where to report or is not accountable to anyone but its own members wants to handle a national crisis of a country and MDC A wants to buy that.

Kana muchiramba Polad which is just a dog then it will not save you any meaningful purpose to start eating a jackle just because it lives in the bush.

Makuda kuregedza button remoto nekuuchira.

Dzvanya Chamisa. Chamisa dzvanya. Vanhu ndovamwe vaiti sanctions must go zuro uno. Usabura poto yofazha uchida kupambira. Kurungira usvusvu udire. Pavapedo…..!

By A Correspondent- Former Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe governor Gideon Gono has shed an astonishing 35kgs in 9 months after investing in a home gym and hiring the services of well-known personal trainer Kenny Murungweni.

Gono who also occasionally uses the services of fitness trainer and Norton independent MP Temba Mliswa, says he is now putting on suits he used to wear 20 years ago.

 

A prominent Bulawayo businessman and his ex-wife allegedly hired bouncers on Monday to prevent a woman the couple sold a house to, from occupying the property.

The stage was set for an epic clash when the woman allegedly got her own crew of “muscle heads”, with Romney Park residents along Constable Street coming out to watch the drama unfold.

Some residents said they were disappointed when the hired muscle discovered they were friends and decided not to bash each other.

Mr Dumisani Mutorera and his ex-wife Ms Taisekwa Rosie Mtungwazi allegedly sold a three-bedroom house for US$36 500 to Ms Duduzile Gumede in December but have allegedly refused to vacate the premises, claiming Ms Gumede still owes them an undisclosed balance.

On Monday, Ms Gumede brought some of her property to the house saying she had become impatient with Ms Mtungwazi who no longer wants to vacate her house while Mr Mutorera does not stay there.

When a Chronicle news crew visited the house in the morning, Ms Gumede and Ms Mtungwazi had both gone to Queens Park Police Station.

A group of bouncers was flexing muscles and threatened the news crew.

Later, Ms Gumede returned to the house but Ms Mtungwazi could not be located.

The bouncers that were allegedly hired by both parties said the situation became neutralised when they realised they were colleagues.

Ms Gumede told the news crew that Ms Mtungwazi has refused to leave the house since March.

“When I bought the house in December, I notified my landlord that I would be leaving the house at the end of March to occupy my new house. But I’ve tried in vain to occupy my house as Ms Mtungwazi has refused to entertain me. I have been forced to squat with my two children in one room yet I bought a house,” said Ms Gumede.

She showed the news crew an agreement of sale between her and Mr Mutorera, which she said was confirmation that she was the rightful owner of the Romney Park house.

Ms Gumede said Ms Mtungwazi tried to get her arrested for forcibly entering the yard but police cleared her as they saw the papers confirming that she owned the property.

“After making full payment for the house in December, Mutorera accused me of giving him US$2 500 counterfeit notes. I engaged my lawyer who advised me that I should just pay the money as he was a difficult person and I would spend my days in court contesting the issue and end up losing both my money and the house. I grudgingly looked for the money and paid it. I didn’t expect that I would have to stay this long without occupying my house,” she said.

“He didn’t even return the said counterfeit notes, and even today the police asked why he didn’t report that I had given him such notes. So, I’ve decided to not just put my property in the yard, I will not go inside the house lest they claim that there is a certain amount that they have lost due to my presence in the house.”

Contacted for comment, Ms Mtungwazi said she did not know anything about the case. “Who are you? Call the owners, I don’t know anything. You called a wrong number,” said Ms Mtungwazi.

Mr Mutorera said his ex-wife was not vacating the house as Ms Gumede has not paid him in full.

“I don’t stay in that house they just like talking about me. The person who stays in that house is my ex-wife. The house used to be mine so all I want is my money. I gave them options that if they cannot pay my money they should go to their lawyers and reverse the deal. I’m being owed a lot of money. I’m not sure the exact figures but it could be US$5 500, I would need to check on my papers,” said Mr Mutorera.

He said Ms Gumede has taken the matter to court and he does not understand why she does not wait for due processes to be completed.

He hung up without specifying the processes.

-State Media

By A Correspondent- The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) is grappling with severe transport and fuel shortages resulting in its officers failing to attend crime scenes and other duties.

This was confirmed by Home Affairs minister Kazembe Kazembe while addressing senior police officers in Bulawayo last week.

“I have noted that the Bulawayo police province and the organisation in general are facing an acute shortage of transport and fuel,” he said.

“It is exceedingly imperative that police officers be highly mobile in order to enhance prevention, investigation, and detection of crime. Police officers need to attend crime scenes in time in order to guard against the loss of evidence.”

The minister said government was determined to address police’s transport challenges.

“This is a challenge the government is seized with and continuous efforts are being made to improve police agility and effectiveness through procurement of more operational vehicles.

“I want to assure you that the government will continue to be seized with the need to mobilise resources in order to enhance police operations as well as improving the welfare of members. “We will never lose sight of the fact that effective policing is a very expensive exercise though it comes along with invaluable rewards,” said Kazembe.

The minister also lamented accommodation shortages in police camps. The shortages, he said, has resulted in some police officers seeking private rental accommodation.

“This situation is unpalatable given that apart from compromising the security of members, has huge financial implications,” he said.

The minister also expressed concern over the police‘s unpreparedness in dealing with cybercrime.

“It is common knowledge that emerging crimes such as cybercrimes are redefining the policing terrain.

“Criminality has become complex and sophisticated given that perpetrators are harnessing technological advancement to enhance their criminal activities.

“We are, thus, mindful of the need to capacitate ZRP with technological aided crime prevention, investigation, and detection equipment in order for the organisation to keep abreast of criminal sophistry smart policing is indeed the way to go,” he added.-newsday

By A Correspondent- Zanu PF has pleaded with the electorate to give it more time to resolve the country’s economic mess, saying the 40 years the party has been in power was not long enough for an economic turnaround.

The call was made at the weekend by acting party spokesperson Patrick Chinamasa at a provincial co-ordinating committee meeting in Mashonaland East.

“Development is not a day’s thing, it’s not a month’s thing, it’s not a year’s thing, but it is a journey to be travelled for many years so that we reach our destination. But for us to get there, like what professor (Finance minister Mthuli) Ncube said, we need to have targets and agree on a roadmap to be used,” Chinamasa said.

The southern African country is currently experiencing its worst economic meltdown in a decade characterised by hyperinflation and liquidity challenges which have spawned shortages of food and other essential imports.

The new dispensation has also been choked by high-level corruption at a time ordinary citizens are living below the poverty datum line.

“I hear a lot of people mocking the government saying we are behind China and America in terms of development. Do you know that China came from 6 000 years of uninterrupted civilisation? In Europe, wars were fought, their development is not recent, it came after hundreds of years. And now someone says what we have done in 40 years cannot be compared with what was achieved in Europe, how do you want it to be done? You need to know that development is not instant. Our President (Emmerson Mnangagwa) is moving towards vision 2030 he added.

The Zanu PF government has been accused of running down the economy, which was once a jewel of Africa, through weak policies and corruption, but the regime blames economic sanctions, the opposition and natural disasters for derailing its programmes.-newsday

By A Correspondent- A 30 year old Harare woman appeared in court yesterday charged with swindling the Defence ministry out of $2 700 546 after she allegedly misrepresented that she bought 79 air tickets for members of the army.

The suspect, Moreen Tatenda Nago, who is director of Cheryl Ethan Travel Services was remanded to October 1 after being granted $30 000 bail by magistrate Trynos Utawashe.

She was ordered to report twice a week, surrender her passport to the clerk of court, not to interfere with witnesses and stay at her given address.

Allegations are that on January 16, 2016, Nago and her accomplice Shepherd Chiriga, who is also out on bail, registered their company Cheryl Ethan Travel Services. On March 7, 2017, they allegedly opened a company bank account with FBC Bank.

It is alleged on November 16, 2016, Denson Muvandi and his wife Rachel Derby Muvandi also registered their company Right Turn Travel Services and opened a company bank account with FBC Bank, Harare on April 17, 2019.

At the beginning of July 2019, Nago in connivance with Chiriga and Muvandi, who is allegedly on the run, misrepresented to the Defence ministry that Cheryl Ethan Travel Services had purchased air tickets for 79 Zimbabwe army officers who wanted to travel outside the country.

The State alleges that on July 15, 2019, the trio presented an invoice of $2 700 546 to the Defence ministry purporting that Cheryl Ethan Travel Services had facilitated the trip.

It is alleged that Muvandi, who was the ministry’s finance director, recommended and authorised the transfer of $2 700 546 on July 16 from the ministry’s account to Cheryl Ethan Travel services FBC Bank account.

Between July 16 and 25 last year, the money was transferred from Cheryl Ethan Travel Services to Right Turn Travel Services and subsequently to different individual and company bank accounts.

Investigations carried out by the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission revealed that the companies did not render any services to the Defence ministry.

Instead, they swindled government of $2 700 546 and nothing was recovered.-Newsday