By A Correspondent- The jailing of MDC Alliance MP Joanna Mamombe on Wednesday at Harare Remand Prison by Harare magistrate Bianca Makwande so that her mental illness is evaluated has been described as simply cruel.

A mental health doctor, Denver Ncube, has explained how mental health can affect any person and the need to have empathy for mental patients rather than subjecting them to inhumane treatment.

He wrote on Twitter:

At some point in my life, I did an attachment at Parirenyatwa Ward 12 or Annexe/Psychiatric Ward. It was a pivotal experience in my life and partly contributed to the career I have taken up in Neuroscience.

Seeing young and old people afflicted by various mental ailments, albeit some of them not of their own doing. Mental illness has multiple causes if you have noticed some people can abuse alcohol for years and yet some only do the same for a few weeks/months and they tip over.

I remember how hard it was to encourage patients to understand how some seemingly harmless behaviours could impact their mental health outcomes. Talking to patients daily was really touching, many would express how their illness had robbed them of friends and family.

The stigma around mental health in Zimbabwe is appalling, our people need a lot of help to understand that anyone can become afflicted. We all don’t know what life events could tip us over. This realization made me understand the need for empathy in such matters.

So when I hear that Joanna is afflicted by mental illness my first response is to trust the diagnosis of the doctor who made that conclusion. I have seen it first hand, people who are fully functional one day and patients the next. It is not a surprising phenomenon at all.

I know of patients who were teachers, some were officials in Government, yet on medication for various mental conditions, some were even doctors but they still needed that support from institutions. Mental illness isn’t any different from hypertension or diabetes.

That Joanna would be seen in a shop buying foodstuffs and alcohol is not anything to make noise about. Would it be surprising if Minister X was leading a meeting yet they have a mental health problem? If you are on effective medication you can function normally.

But like any condition you have good days/weeks and bad ones too. Persecuting someone because they differ with you on a political level yet there is evidence that they are unwell is just cruel. It is cruel to detain someone in a maximum-security prison so that u assess them

By A Correspondent- CID Director Commissioner Chrispen Charumbira was arrested Thursday morning by the Special Anti-Corruption Unit (SACU) in the office of the President, on allegations of accepting protection money from drug and gold dealers to stop criminal investigations.

The allegations against the CID director emanate from his junior officers who alleged he had been interfering with their duties by protecting drug and gold dealers after accepting unclean money.

CID boss Commissioner Charumbira was picked up for questioning by SACU officers Thursday morning and spent the night at Rhodesville Police Station.

Sources close to the developments told this reporter that these are internal squabbles which have resulted in the arrest and suspension of senior police officers including CID Commercial Crimes boss Obeylaw Moyo.

According to the complaints, three detectives from CID Drugs and Narcotics arrested two Mufakose drug dealers, Norman Chabata and his brother Charles, after raiding their Mufakose home where they recovered 443g of dagga packed in sachets and bottles of BronCleer cough syrup.

While at the scene, it is alleged that they received a call from  Charumbira ordering them to release the two. Their immediate boss told them to instead follow the proper procedures and proceed with the investigations.

They were all later allegedly summoned by Charumbira who informed them that their days at CID Drugs were numbered and should brace for transfers. The three compiled the dockets which saw the two tried with Charles Chabata given an eight-month jail term and Norman Chabata a US$100 fine by Harare Magistrates Court.

The three detectives were transferred to CID Chiredzi, CID Lupane and CID Mount Darwin. After a complaint to CID Headquarters, they were transferred back to CID Harare.

GOVERNMENT has set tough measures for doctors intending to leave the country and also ordered the closure of three programmes at the University of Zimbabwe (UZ)’s medical school in a move viewed as punishment to specialist health practitioners for demanding personal protective equipment.

Doctors, most of them mulling leaving the country when lockdown restrictions are lifted, have been on successive job actions for better salaries in the last 12 months.

According to new requirements viewed as a manoeuvre to block a possible mass exodus, the doctors wanting to go outside the country will now be required to pay US$200 upfront for a clearance certificate signed by the Medical and Dental Practitioners Council of Zimbabwe.

The same clearance cost $1 500, about US$20, at the beginning of the year.

Most doctors earn about $9 000, which is equivalent to about US$110 using the auction rate.

The doctors will also be required to obtain a “Certificate of Good Standing” signed by three people.

First to sign will be the hospital clinical director, provincial medical director or medical superintendent, followed by the director of curative services in the Health ministry, before the application finally goes to the ministry’s permanent secretary for “approval”.

In the past, only a senior doctor with five years experience, provincial medical director or medical superintendent they practised with in the previous six months was supposed to sign.

Yesterday, Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga, who is also Health minister, blocked top medicine students from accessing public hospitals as punishment for demanding better working conditions.

He also forced the UZ to immediately stop studies in three key programmes at the school of medicine to ensure that the doctors cannot proceed with their education as part of a cocktail of punitive measures.

In a letter to the UZ dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Health Services on Wednesday, one Mutongereni said they had received communication from the Ministry of Health and Child Care to suspend classes.

“Following communication from the Ministry of Health and Child Care to the effect that registrars enrolled for the University of Zimbabwe’s Masters of Medicine and Masters of Obstetrics and Gynaecology programmes are no longer allowed to access public hospitals, the university has suspended classes for the programmes with immediate effect,” Mutongereni said.

But a letter released by Zimbabwe Association of Doctors for Human Rights secretary Norman Matara, addressed to the ministry by the registrars, revealed that the specialist students were being punished for requesting minimum requirements for their safety as well as that of patients.

“A number of registrars stationed at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals have indicated their willingness to resume clinical services, but are hoping that minimum requirements for healthcare workers and patient safety are met as we continue in the pandemic,” the letter read.

“These include the provision of Doppler’s, CTGs [cardiotocography, a technical means of recording the feotal heartbeat and the uterine contractions during pregnancy], adequate personal protective equipment as appropriate for tasks, adequate nursing staff levels for theatres and the wards, two functional theatres at MMH at any given day and time including weekends, the ready availability of consultants to teach and assist, a commitment to resumption of elective surgeries and outpatient clinics and adequate junior levels.”

The specialist students reiterated that the hospital and the university must treat them as qualified doctors and postgraduate students and not mere cheap labour.

“It is our expectations that both the hospital and the university treats us as qualified doctors and post-graduate students and not mere cheap labour providers. Our salaries amount to nothing and providing services on a voluntary basis like this, we hope will be accorded some level of kindness,” they wrote.

The doctors also demanded that they be provided with fuel, airtime, data allowances and meals for doctors on call.

Contacted for a comment, Health and Child Care permanent secretary Jasper Chimedza asked NewsDay to send the questions on his mobile phone, but had not responded by the time of going to print last night.

The banning of specialist training has been described as a command and militaristic approach to matters of public health.

Chiwenga, his deputy John Mangwiro and Chimedza are all former military men and have been accused of using their military tactics to run the ministry.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa last week boasted that he appointed Chiwenga as Health minister to instil discipline in the ministry.

— NewsDay

The bail appeal for ZINASU leader Takudzwa Ngadziore has been postponed to Tuesday 29 September 2020, ZimEye has learnt.                  More details to follow. Refresh this page for this story and more.

By A Correspondent- Workers at State universities have declared incapacitation and threatened to return to work only after government reviews their salaries.

Institutions of higher learning were set to reopen on October 5.

But the Zimbabwe State University Staff Associations (ZSUSA) yesterday said engagements with government through the Higher Education minister Amon Murwira had yielded no positive results, leaving them with no choice, but to down tools.

In a letter released on Wednesday, the employees said they were struggling to take care of their families and live normal lives.

“Prices of basic commodities have risen to unprecedented levels and most shops are demanding foreign currency, which we are not earning. Zimbabwe dollar prices are beyond the reach of many,” they said in a letter, jointly signed by ZSUSA president Readyforward Dube and the Zimbabwe State Universities’ Union of Academics president Alois Muzvuwe. The university staff unions have resolved that the employees would not be fully operational until their grievances were addressed by their employer.

“In light of the above developments, Zimbabwe State University Staff Association representatives as mandated by their members resolved that all State university employees are incapacitated to report for duty with immediate effect.”

The workers said they had a meeting with Murwira in March this year over salaries, but the minister said they should be either patient with government or pack their bags.

“He showed disinterest in issues brought to him. He reiterated that State university workers should exercise patience, trust and collegiality or pack their bags,” the workers said.

Zimbabwe National Students Union spokesperson Donald Marevanhema also issued a statement in solidarity with the university workers.

“Inasmuch as we want the lecturers to go to work and report for duty on time and serve the students like they are supposed to, it is very sad to also note that their pleas and requests to the minister are so genuine but the minister is casting a blind eye and a deaf ear to all that,” Marevanhema said.

University lecturers join other government workers including doctors, nurses and teachers who have been demanding better salaries. Teachers have vowed not to report to work next week when schools reopen unless their salaries are reviewed upwards.-Newsday

By A Correspondent- A Netherlands embassy official, Harry Davies, is being sued for US$100 000 in damages after he allegedly defamed two real estate companies in comments posted on his Twitter handle.

West Properties (Private) Limited and Pokugara Properties (Private) Limited claim to have been defamed by Davies on September 7 this year when the latter commented on musician Jah Prayzah’s purchase of a residential stand in Borrowdale, which Davies alleged had been acquired through “corrupt means”.

Davies, who is being sued is his personal capacity, posted the alleged offensive message soon after the popular musician tweeted images of himself and representatives of the two property firms, at the stand he had just purchased.

“On the 7th of September 2020 one of the plaintiff’s clients popularly known as Jah Prayzah celebrated the purchase of a piece of land on one of the properties owned by the 2nd plaintiff (Pokugara Properties) by posting a picture of himself and the representatives of the plaintiff on his Twitter handle.

“The said plaintiff’s client has more than 167 100 followers (on Twitter). “As at the time of filing the summons, his celebratory tweet had been re-tweeted by 152 people, including a re-tweet by one Morgan Heritage, who has a singular following of more than 105 300 people.

“The said tweet has a potential of having reached more than one million people inclusive of those who reacted to it and those who did not react to it.

“In the same tweet, the defendant commented that the plaintiffs obtained the property through corrupt means,” said the two companies in their summons filled at High Court.

West Properties (Private) Limited and Pokugara Properties (Private) Limited claimed Davies’ tweet was defamatory and was meant to portray the companies to his readers, as dishonest and fraudulent.

“The words in the context of the tweet are wrongful and defamatory to the plaintiffs in that they were intended and were understood by readers of the tweet to mean that plaintiffs are dishonest, fraudulent and used bribery to obtain the land in question.

“Everyone who comes across the said tweet by Jah Prayzah is also exposed to the defamatory comments made by the defendant,” they said.

They also complained that their business reputation was tarnished by  the tweet and it would affect their potential to attract customers as they would be perceived to be selling corruptly acquired land.-statemedia

TWENTY-SEVEN new Covid-19 cases were recorded on Thursday while 36 people recovered from the virus as the cumulative figure rose to 7752.

Bulawayo had the highest number of new infections after recording 15 cases with Harare coming second with six while Manicaland recorded five.

Of the new cases, 26 are local transmissions and one imported case from Germany.

The Ministry of Health and Child Care’s daily report shows that the country recovery rate is at 78 percent as 36 people recovered from the pandemic.

Mashonaland West had the highest number of recoveries with 15 cases followed by Mashonaland Central with 12 cases, Bulawayo coming third with eight and while Matabeleland North recorded a single recovery.

On Wednesday the country’s active cases stood at 1491 dropping to 1482.

No Covid-19 death was recorded yesterday.

“As at 24 September 2020, Zimbabwe had 7 752 confirmed cases, including 6 043 recoveries and 227 deaths,” reads the daily report.

Harare remains with the highest number of active cases 1122 cases, Matabeleland South coming second with 164 cases while Bulawayo came third with 100 cases.

The rest of the country’s provinces have 30 or less active each.

Despite the Covid-19 cases steadily decreasing in the country, Government has challenged citizens to guard against complacency as the country is not out of the woods.

The public is encouraged to wear face masks, sanitize hands while observing social and physical distance.

-State Media

By A Correspondent- Parliament heard yesterday that citizens preferred a five-year jail term for people who take and distribute nude videos and pictures without the victim’s consent.

This is contained a report by Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Information Communication Technology (ICT).

The report was presented in the National Assembly on Wednesday by Hurungwe North MP Ability Gandawa (Zanu-PF) during the Second Reading of the Cyber Security and Data Protection Bill.

Gandawa said during public hearings on the Bill, people suggested that clause 163 of the Bill should stipulate that anyone who forwarded or distributed messages of a criminal nature should be sanctioned.

“Some stakeholders proposed that on clause 164(f ), the Bill should also include terminology that criminalises the recording of up skirting and nudity,” Gandawa said.

“It was suggested that any person who unlawfully and intentionally records an image or video without the person’s consent should be guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding level 10 or imprisonment for a period not exceeding five years or both.”

On clause 165 which deals with child pornography, Gandawa said members of the public suggested that the term “child pornography” should be replaced with the term “child sexual abuse material” throughout the Bill.

This will be to ensure that the Bill focuses on the law towards other child sexual harassment and violence-related cases within the cyber space.

“Children’s representatives submitted that there is need to accommodate the right to be heard when considering consent given on behalf of children. Stakeholders submitted that there should be a provision for data processors and service providers to protect and ensure children’s rights are upheld. “It was mentioned that the Bill should incorporate the five co-provisions, namely a clear minimum age, age limit to consent, protection of accounts that are opened by those under 18 years, management of inappropriate or illegal content forced on their platforms, use of age verifications in identity authentication solutions. There should be clear safeguard to ensure
children’s rights online,” he said.

On protection of whistleblowers, the ICT committee said people emphasised that most cases of corruption were unearthed by whistleblowers, hence the need for protection.

“The public underscored the need to put necessary safeguards to protect the whistleblowers in the statute, as well as other concrete steps in the handling of investigations that result from whistleblower revelations.”

ICT minister Jenfan Muswere, who had moved the Second Reading Stage of the Bill, said its purpose was to consolidate cyber-related offences and provide for data protection with regards to the declaration of rights under the Constitution and the public and national interest, to establish a cyber security centre and a data protection authority, among other functions.

Muswere said the Bill would deal with the transmission of data messages inciting violence or damage to property, and protection of citizens from receiving threatening messages.

“Clause 164(b) deals with cyber bulling and harassment, it also deals with any data message or intimidation which is sent to coerce, harass or intimidate.

“In 164(c), in section 6, the Bill proposes to punish any person who distributes, makes available or broadcasts data containing an identifiable person knowing it to be false intending to cause psychological or economic harm,” Muswere said.

By A Correspondent- Police have arrested the driver of a fleeing unregistered kombi and two cops following the fatal shooting of a 37-year-old woman which occurred in Gletwyn, Harare, on Wednesday.

National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi yesterday said police fired warning shots after the driver refused to stop at a vehicle checkpoint, resulting in the fatal shooting of a female passenger.

He identified the driver as Nyasha Sawada.

The two cops were identified as Constable Paradza T (ZRP Support Unit, Headquarters) and Constable Kondo (ZRP Highlands) and are now being charged with murder and attempted murder after they allegedly killed Linda Zimbiti, while Jeremiah Chidzukwa (21) sustained serious gunshot injuries.

According to a leaked police memorandum, Chidzukwa and Zimbiti, all from Murewa, were shot in the shoulder blade and abdomen, respectively, along the Harare-Nyamapanda Highway near Shamva tollgate while in Sawada’s commuter omnibus.

It is reported that at around 9am, a silver Toyota Hiace being driven by Sawada loaded passengers at Cross Musami and headed for Harare.

After the Shamva turn-off tollgate, the driver turned left at Chishawasha turn-off to avoid the Highlands security checkpoint.

The kombi got to a boom gate manned by security guards in Gletwyn and was denied entrance.

A scuffle ensued and the kombi crew damaged the boom gate and went through.

It is reported that the commuter omnibus was later intercepted by a Toyota Prado which was being driven by an unidentified male adult who was in the company of the two armed police officers picked up at the roadblock.

When the kombi driver realised that there were police details in the car, he made a U-turn and sped towards Murewa with the Toyota Prado in pursuit.

On arrival at the Shamva tollgate, the armed police officers fired two shots at the commuter omnibus and hit Chidzukwa and Zimbiti, but the driver kept on speeding towards Murewa.

Once they got to Juru Growth Point, Sawada turned into a dust road and after driving for about 7km, he dumped all the passengers by the roadside and fled.

A motorist took one of the passengers to Juru Police Station where a report was made.

Police at Juru visited the scene and took the complainants to Musami Hospital, where Zimbiti was pronounced dead on arrival, while Chidzukwa was transferred to Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals, where he is reportedly in a critical condition.

A murder and attempted murder docket was opened and referred to ZRP Highlands for further investigations under Juru CR65.09.20 and 66.09.20.

By A Correspondent- A junior officer stationed at Karoi urban dog section allegedly teamed up with Zanu-PF youths early this week to conduct night raids on shops in the farming town, demanding trading licences and bribes.

Constable Bwanyali allegedly carried out the nocturnal visits in the company of two Zanu-PF youths, NewsDay has heard.

Their last raid was on Wednesday night.

Sources revealed that the trio arrived at Chikangwe kiosk shops around 8:30pm and demanded trading licences.

One of the victims said: “The ZRP officer, who was in uniform with his police dog demanded a licence. When I enquired the rationale of asking for a licence at night without Karoi Town Council officials, he said we were under arrest and wanted to take us to the charge office.

“After I refused to give him the licence, two youths who claimed to be from the Zanu-PF party said we could pay US$5 to avoid arrest. I refused and they went away.”

Several shop keepers confirmed the visit by the police officer and Zanu-PF youths. A security guard, Solomon Mabhutsu, also confirmed seeing the uniformed officer raiding shops at around 8pm.

“Yes, it is true that some shopkeepers were forced to release their licences to the cop who had his dog with him,” Mabhutsu said.

“He claimed he was working under instructions from his superiors. When he was confronted, he left immediately.”

Zanu-PF acting national spokesperson Patrick Chinamasa yesterday said he was not aware of the incident, but accused the youths, if indeed it was true, of tarnishing the image of the party.

Chinamasa asked for time to investigate the matter to establish the truth about the incident.

“As a matter of fact, Zanu-PF is not a police force,” he said.

“Therefore, no one within the Zanu-PF structures can arrest people. We don’t have the powers to arrest, but it’s the duty of law enforcement agencies. There may be some people masquerading as Zanu-PF youths whose aim is to tarnish the ruling party. We need to investigate the case so that culprits are brought to book,” he said.

National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi called on those affected to make a formal report so that investigations can be carried out.

“As ZRP, we call upon those who have cases against any of our officers to make formal complainants so that investigations can commence. No one is above the law and those found to be against the law will face the full wrath of law,” Nyathi said.

Of late, some former and serving army and police officers have been implicated in robberies across the country.

By A Correspondent- The Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ), has accused the government of “bribing” the directorate at Provincial and Head Offices by offering them soft loans so that they facilitate the reopening of schools.

In a statement, PTUZ president Takavafira Zhou said the directors are getting $200 000 loans each from the government within five days of applying.

Said Zhou:

… we want to make it clear that this attempt to oil the directorate to drive teachers back to schools is futile. We urge the directorate that government oppressive generosity to them must never be abused against teachers.

Zhou urged the government to capacitate teachers and ensure that their safety concerns in light of the coronavirus crisis are addressed before the phased reopening of schools starting later this month.

He said:

We urge the government to do the most honourable thing of capacitating teachers and prioritising their health and safety if it dreams of successfully re-opening schools in 2020.

Teachers remain ready to open schools, but only after addressing their welfare, health and safety concerns. Time is ticking away with Minister Matema failing to engage and facilitate the capacitation of teachers.

By A Correspondent- The Zimbabwean government has ruled out the possibility of school pupils repeating grades in 2021 due to limited learning this year caused by the coronavirus induced lockdown.

This was revealed by Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Monica Mutsvangwa during the Question and Answer session in the Senate on Wednesday.

Mutsvangwa, who is also the new leader of Government business in Senate, was responding to Mashonaland East traditional leader, Chief Nechombo who had asked if pupils were going to proceed to the next grade. Said Mutsvangwa:

There are pupils that are also waiting behind so if they do not proceed it will affect those pupils who were behind who should be coming on board. So they will have to proceed to the next grade.

Mutsvangwa admitted that learners’ time was indeed lost but the government came up with several initiatives such as online learning and radio lessons to recover the lost time.

All school classes will reopen over the next six weeks in three phases.-statemedia

By A Correspondent- Three police officers who were actively involved in the arrest of Delish Nguwaya, the Zimbabwean representative of Drax International, a company implicated in the US$60 million COVID-19 equipment procurement scam, have been arrested.

National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the arrests but referred further questions to the Special Anti-Corruption Unit (Sacu), which also refused to comment on the matter, throwing back the questions to police.

“You can check with Sacu, is the one handling the case,” Nyathi said.

Sacu head Tabani Mpofu said his organisation had no arresting powers.

“I don’t have the full details now; I cannot assist you beyond this. I am yet to receive the full details.”

But NewsDay is reliably informed that Sacu investigators arrested Criminal Investigations Department head Chrispen Charumbira and his two subordinates Superintendent Naboth Nyachega and Obeylaw Moyo.

It is understood that on May 14, Nyachenga wrote to Finance secretary George Guvamatanga raising a red flag over suspected money laundering in the Drax saga.

Nyachenga was the investigating officer in the Drax case where Nguwaya was arrested by Moyo. Charumbira sanctioned the arrest. Charumbira was last night detained at Rhodesville Police Station while the whereabouts of Moyo and Nyachenga could not be established.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa last night told the UN General Assembly that one-sided political dialogue platform he initiated after the 2018 general elections, POLAD is gaining momentum.

Mnangagwa did not dwell into the political and economic problems currently bedeviling the country choosing to praise POLAD and claim non-existent momentum.

This is despite repeated calls by South Africa and the rest of the world for an inclusive dialogue.

“My administration places great important on fostering national unity and cohesion. The culture of dialogue across all sectors is taking root with activities and programmes under the auspicies of our homegrown Political Actors Dialogue (POLAD), gaining momentum,” said Mnangagwa.

By A Correspondent- Police in Mashonaland Central have urged locals to respect the sanctity of human life following a couple of murders recorded last week.

Two murder incidents recorded Mashonaland Central, in a space of just one week, have raised concern that people are disregarding human life when disputes arise.

In the first incident recorded on 17 September in Bindura a 26-year-old woman killed her drunken 23-year-old brother with a hoe following a dispute.

On the 26th of September in Mukaradzi mining area four miners killed a suspected burglar after catching him stealing.

ZRP Mashonaland Central Spokesperson Inspector Milton Mundembe appealed to the public to cherish human life and approach law enforcement agencies when wronged.

“We are very much concerned how precious life is being lost. We urge members of the public to respect sanctity of human life,” he said.

All the five suspects implicated in murder cases have since been arrested and arraigned before the criminal courts.-statemedia

By A Correspondent- Police on Wednesday arrested a Murehwa herdboy, Tafadzwa Shamba, on kidnap and murder charges following the discovery of a mutilated body of a seven-year-old boy in the area last week.

Shamba and two suspects who are still at large allegedly kidnapped and murdered Tapiwa and harvested his body parts which they sold for US$1 500 for ritual purposes.

In a statement on Wednesday, national police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi gave details of the progress of investigations.

He said:

It is alleged that Tafadzwa Shumba, a herd boy in the same village with the victim, worked with the other suspects to way lay the victim at a garden. They took him to a mountain where they kept him for the whole day.

They then killed him at night and one of the other suspects, who is from Juru Growth Point, took away the head leaving the herd boy with the other body parts after promising to give him US$1 500 on coming back.

Tapiwa was abducted while on his way to a garden last week where he had been sent by his mother.

His mutilated body was found being eaten by dogs a few days after his enforced disappearance.

A 21 year old Bindura man who stole a donkey valued at US$500 has been jailed by a Bindura magistrate.

Samuel Gadzikai was sentenced to 5 months in prison by magistrate Ethel Chichera.

Prosecutor Vincent Marunya told the court that September 6 Gadzikai stole Kudzai Chinyani’s donkey.

Following a tip off on September 20 the police stormed the convict’s homestead and recovered the donkey.

Consumers will pay 50 percent more for power usage after the Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC) raised power tariff s by that margin with effect from Wednesday.

In a notice of 2020 electricity tariff indexation, the power company, a subsidiary of Zesa Holdings, said yesterday that the power tariff s will be reviewed on a monthly basis in line with inflationary trends.

The new charges reflect the electricity tariff s on the prepaid system excluding the fixed monthly charge as well as the Rural Electrification Levy of six percent. The upward review comes at a time when there have been concerns within the utility that delays in reviewing electricity tariff s to be cost reflective would leave Zesa in a huge debt with the risk of bringing back power cuts as operations weaken.

However, consumers are likely to cry foul given the low disposable incomes against the high cost of living, which has been pegged at $17 200 a month for a family of five, as at August 2020, according to ZimStat.

“ZETDC has adjusted the electricity tariff s by 50 percent. This is in accordance with the Tariff Award of 2 October 2019, which approved implementation of monthly tariff indexation formula for changes above 10 percent,” reads part of the notice.

The upward review means that the first 50 units of electricity for the month, which used to cost $24,50 will now cost $37. This follows the increase in the electricity tariff s of the first 50 units from $0,49 (49 cents) per kWh to $0,74 (74 cents) per kWh. T e next 150 units, which used to cost $162,50 now cost $243.

The lifeline of 200 units of electricity now cost $280 up from $186. For 300 units and above consumers will now go for a punitive $6,92 per kWh compared to $4,61 per kWh previously.

“The rates are exclusive of the six percent Rural Electrification Levy and 14,5 percent VAT (Value Added Tax),” said the utility.

“In terms of Statutory Instrument 168 of 2012, electricity charges for domestic customers are zero rated for VAT and in terms of Statutory Instrument 215 of 2005, fixed charges on commercial and domestic electricity are zero rated for VAT.”

ZETDC urged maximum demand (MD) customers to utilise more of the off -peak periods.

“For a customer who attains MD during off peak, the applicable MD is the one attained during the peak or standard period.

“Reactive energy charge shall be applied to any reactive energy in excess of 48 percent (power factor less than 0,90) of the active power recorded (kWh) during a billing period,” it said.

ZETDC made a 320 percent electricity tariff increase last October to 162,16 cents per kilowatt hour (kWh) in March this year as a way to help the power utility improve electricity supply.

Suppliers of coal have threatened to stop supplies owing to incapacitation caused by the Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC).

Last year, the Government took a decision to implement a tariff indexation formula that would align Zesa tariff s to movements caused by inflation and the exchange rate.

The decision was aimed at obtaining cost reflectivity in the supply of electricity and maintenance of value of tariff s to ensure viability and sustainability of the power supply utility.

-State Media

Paul Nyathi

Two highly placed Zimbabwean health officials have come up with surprise new conspiracy on the spread of the dieses claiming that it could be sexually transmitted or even by open defecation.

Speaking to State Media, Professor Solwayo Ngwenya, the Mpilo Central Hospital acting chief executive officer said:

“Coronavirus is a very infectious virus and invades any mucus membranes in the body and these are found in the eyes, mouth, nose and by extension any membrane in the body.

“This means members of the public must be careful, the virus can invade the vagina, anal passage and it is not clear whether indeed Covid-19 is sexually transmitted. However, for now, I will not be keen to let anyone touch my privates with their dirty hands as this can lead to transmission. This virus is new to many of us, it keeps changing and still under lots of study hence we cannot say it can be transmitted through sex. The main routes that we know now are the mouth, nose, eyes and it has been found in faeces.”

In an interview, Deputy Minister of Health and Child Care Dr John Mangwiro warned that open defecation could lead to an upsurge in Covid-19 cases.

“Open defecation is not encouraged even in towns facing water shortage challenges like here in Bulawayo. Let us use the bucket system as opposed to open spaces as this may increase our risk to Covid-19 which we are battling to contain as a country. The coronavirus is found in any body fluid such as saliva, tears, vaginal secretion, semen, blood and faeces. Any secretion from the body carries the virus as it is a metabolic virus so it’s important that we are careful in how we dispose of such,” said Dr Mangwiro.

Paul Nyathi

HARARE magistrate Bianca Makwande has sent Harare West legislator Joanah Mamombe (MDC Alliance) to prison for two weeks allegedly to enable two government doctors to assess her mental condition after she failed to attend trial due to a confirmed mental disorder.

Makwande made the ruling out of her own without the state pushing for the imprisonment. The State had applied for the court to invoke section 26 of the Mental Health Act to allow Mamombe to be examined by government doctors at a government hospital.

Mamombe’s lawyer Jeremiah Bhamu had opposed the application, saying his client could volunteer to go to a mental institution of her choice if recommended by the court.

But magistrate Bianca Makwande ruled that she be sent to Chikurubi Prison besides her being on bail.

“The court is not an expert on mentality and it requires expert advice to ascertain if the diagnosis was correct, to what extent and whether it will affect the trial. The testimony of her doctor could not be clear and she could not be neutral,” she said.

The magistrate said she was exercising her mandate judiciously by invoking section 26 of the Mental Health Act.

“Accused person has to be examined by neutral doctors. She has to be examined by two doctors who must each give independent reports,” she said

Mamombe will be placed under the care of the superintendent of Harare Remand Prison for two weeks effective today.She is expected back in court on October 8.

The decision of the court is different from that taken on former Cabinet minister and Zanu PF heavyweight, Priscah Mupfumira, who is facing fraud charges involving US$95 million.

Mupfumira filed a similar application with the court, saying she was not mentally fit to stand trial and asked for three months to recover.

In her application, Mupfumira said she was not mentally fit to stand trial and that her psychiatrist had recommended that she be given three months to recover.

Mupfumira’s then lawyer Charles Chinyama submitted that she had been experiencing depression since her release from remand prison, which he said saw her visiting psychiatrists and requested the trial to be postponed for six weeks. She filed the application in December 2019, but nine months later, her trial has not started.

NewsDay

GOVERNMENT has set tough measures for doctors intending to leave the country and also ordered the closure of three programmes at the University of Zimbabwe (UZ)’s medical school in a move viewed as punishment to specialist health practitioners for demanding personal protective equipment.

Doctors, most of them mulling leaving the country when lockdown restrictions are lifted, have been on successive job actions for better salaries in the last 12 months.

According to new requirements viewed as a manoeuvre to block a possible mass exodus, the doctors wanting to go outside the country will now be required to pay US$200 upfront for a clearance certificate signed by the Medical and Dental Practitioners Council of Zimbabwe.

The same clearance cost $1 500, about US$20, at the beginning of the year.Most doctors earn about $9 000, which is equivalent to about US$110 using the auction rate.

The doctors will also be required to obtain a “Certificate of Good Standing” signed by three people.

First to sign will be the hospital clinical director, provincial medical director or medical superintendent, followed by the director of curative services in the Health ministry, before the application finally goes to the ministry’s permanent secretary for “approval”.

In the past, only a senior doctor with five years experience, provincial medical director or medical superintendent they practised with in the previous six months was supposed to sign.

Yesterday, Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga, who is also Health minister, blocked top medicine students from accessing public hospitals as punishment for demanding better working conditions.

He also forced the UZ to immediately stop studies in three key programmes at the school of medicine to ensure that the doctors cannot proceed with their education as part of a cocktail of punitive measures.

In a letter to the UZ dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Health Services on Wednesday, one Mutongereni said they had received communication from the Ministry of Health and Child Care to suspend classes.

“Following communication from the Ministry of Health and Child Care to the effect that registrars enrolled for the University of Zimbabwe’s Masters of Medicine and Masters of Obstetrics and Gynaecology programmes are no longer allowed to access public hospitals, the university has suspended classes for the programmes with immediate effect,” Mutongereni said.

But a letter released by Zimbabwe Association of Doctors for Human Rights secretary Norman Matara, addressed to the ministry by the registrars, revealed that the specialist students were being punished for requesting minimum requirements for their safety as well as that of patients.

“A number of registrars stationed at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals have indicated their willingness to resume clinical services, but are hoping that minimum requirements for healthcare workers and patient safety are met as we continue in the pandemic,” the letter read.

“These include the provision of Doppler’s, CTGs [cardiotocography, a technical means of recording the feotal heartbeat and the uterine contractions during pregnancy], adequate personal protective equipment as appropriate for tasks, adequate nursing staff levels for theatres and the wards, two functional theatres at MMH at any given day and time including weekends, the ready availability of consultants to teach and assist, a commitment to resumption of elective surgeries and outpatient clinics and adequate junior levels.”

The specialist students reiterated that the hospital and the university must treat them as qualified doctors and post-graduate students and not mere cheap labour.

“It is our expectations that both the hospital and the university treats us as qualified doctors and post-graduate students and not mere cheap labour providers. Our salaries amount to nothing and providing services on a voluntary basis like this, we hope will be accorded some level of kindness,” they wrote.

The doctors also demanded that they be provided with fuel, airtime, data allowances and meals for doctors on call.

Contacted for a comment, Health and Child Care permanent secretary Jasper Chimedza asked NewsDay to send the questions on his mobile phone, but had not responded by the time of going to print last night.

The banning of specialist training has been described as a command and militaristic approach to matters of public health.

Chiwenga, his deputy John Mangwiro and Chimedza are all former military men and have been accused of using their military tactics to run the ministry.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa last week boasted that he appointed Chiwenga as Health minister to instil discipline in the ministry.

Paul Nyathi

PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwa says that his government is going ahead with putting up twenty seven amendments to the constitution besides widespread resistance against the move.

Addressing the UN General Assembly, Mnangagwa claimed that the amendments would strengthen the country’s Constitution.

“New pieces of legislation continue to be enacted to strengthen our institutions. The raft of political reforms will benefit the generality of Zimbabweans as we consolidate our respect for human rights,” Mnangagwa said.

“My administration is decisive in entrenching constitutionalism, democracy, and rule of law, including the protection of property rights. The commitment of my government to these cardinal principles remains unwavering.”

The opposition has accused Mnangagwa of making constitutional amendments that were a clear attempt by the Zimbabwe incumbent to consolidate his power.

President Chamisa on Twitter :

The unlawful detention and sending to Chikurubi maximum prison of Youth leader and MP Hon Mamombe is another new low, a classic case of continuing victimization.

It is clear that the State which is implicated in this case can not deliver justice. We demand an INDEPENDENT INQUIRY!

This continued persecution of these emblems of change is a direct threat to democratic tenets and freedom. Oppressors fear the power of the future that the young women represent. We stand with the young & fearless. We fight for their right to dignity, freedom and justice.

The MDC trio represent what Zimbabwe could be if we made room for the NEW.They are women of courage and conviction.The trio and all young pple are the embodiment of a New Zimbabwe we can create in which young women can freely participate in political activity and nation building.

State Media

Eradication of poverty and increased education are among key factors in dealing with early sexual activity among adolescents, Vice President and Minister of Health and Child Care Dr Constantino Chiwenga has said.

VP Chiwenga said this when he appeared before a joint sitting of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Health and Child Care and the Thematic Committee on HIV and Aids on adolescents’ access to sexual reproductive health services.

The Vice President said statistics showed that children, especially girls from vulnerable backgrounds were likely to engage in early sexual activities, enter into child marriages and have early pregnancies.

“As we are discussing, let me make it very clear that the minors aged 12 or 13 or even younger are having these problems. We are very aware,” he said.

“The issue of child sex workers we are aware and various strategies are being formulated to try and address that problem and it’s an issue which we should all look at.

“Fundamentally it is an issue of education, communication and eradication of poverty that is key. Once we look at the fundamentals, the causers we reduce these cases.”

He said the Ministry of Health and Child Care was in the process of amending the Public Health Act which would incorporate stakeholder views on improving adolescents access to sexual reproductive health services.

VP Chiwenga said the ministry was guided by the Adolescent Sexual Reproductive Health Strategy 2016-2020 in responding to sexual reproductive health challenges faced by adolescents. He said the strategy offers guidelines on the provision of age appropriate sexual reproductive health services.

“The underlying principle of the strategy is in the provision of services that are in the best interests of the child given their presenting circumstances.

“The aim is to reduce morbidity and mortality associated with sexual reproductive health activities among adolescents and young people through; increasing safe sexual health and HIV practices; increasing uptake of quality youth friendly integrated sexual reproductive health and HIV services; strengthening the protective environment of adolescent and young people,” VP Chiwenga said.

Other strategies include provision of friendly sexual reproductive and health services as an entry point for expanding adolescent health, establishment and creation of community based spaces for parent-child communication on sexual and reproductive health, capacity building for both pre and in-services health workers to provide friendly and age appropriate sexual reproductive health services.

Prepaid electricity charges rose 50 percent on Wednesday, raising the monthly bill for most families, who buy the basic subsidised 200 units by almost $100 from $198 to $297.

In a notice yesterday, Zesa’s distribution arm ZETDC, said the first 50 units a month would now cost 74c each for a total of $37, the next 150 units were now charged at $1,62, the third band of 100 units were now $4,41 and everything over 300kWh a month is charged at $6,92 a unit.

On top of these charges consumers need to add six percent for the rural electrification levy. While the tariffs exclude VAT there is no VAT on household supplies and no fixed charges on domestic or commercial supplies.

To benefit from subsidised rates consumers need to make a single purchase of a token in any one month, all subsequent tokens being charged at the full rate of $6,92 a unit.

Thus a family wanting to buy just 50 units needs to pay $39,22 once the levy is included. For a 200 unit token, the charge is $296,80 and for a 300 unit token the charge is $764,26. Every additional 100 units will cost $733,52.

The notice reminded consumers that Zesa can review tariffs monthly in line with inflation.

The increases come amid concerns that delays in raising the electricity tariff to a level that reflects generation, import and distribution costs was likely to return Zesa to the days when it could not afford to buy coal, pay for imports, maintain its power stations or repair faults.

Maximum demand customers, the giant consumers such as major factories or mines, have been asked to use more energy during off peak periods. A maximum demand tariff charges on the maximum power demand used in any month, even if that is just for a fraction of a second. So these consumers pay for power, not energy. But there are complicated tariff formulas that kick in when one of these consumers has large peaks and troughs in their demand, and basically they have to pay for energy they do not use in off-peak periods.

This is to encourage them to reduce their maximum peak in a month by using less at peak periods and more in off-peak periods.

Last year, Government took a decision to implement a tariff indexation formula that would align Zesa tariffs to movements caused by inflation and the exchange rate.

The decision was aimed at obtaining cost reflectivity in the supply of electricity and maintenance of value of tariffs to ensure Zesa’s viability and sustainability.

Paul Nyathi

PRESIDENT Mnangagwa has addressed the United Nations General Assembly giving out a rather unconvincing speech which sounded more of a local State of The Nation Address than an UNGA address.

In his address, Mnangagwa called for mutual respect among nations, genuine multilateralism buttressed by the much-needed reforms in the United Nations (UN) to achieve a peaceful and stable world.

As expected Mnangagwa called for the unconditional removal of the targeted sanctions imposed by the United States and some Western nations in the European Union (EU).

The President said the economic sanctions imposed on the country must be removed as they were stifling the country’s economic growth.

“There is no better way of achieving a peaceful and stable world than through mutual respect, genuine multilateralism buttressed by much needed reforms and respect for international law. Recommitting ourselves to these ideals will pave the way for the just world that we all yearn for.” President Mnangagwa raised concern at the lack of reform of the Security Council, which has hitherto excluded the voice of Africa and Africans. “It is now more than 15 years since the adoption of the Ezulwini Consensus, reaffirmed in the Sirte Declaration. It is deeply regrettable that reform of the Security Council and implementation of Africa’s position has not been achieved. We cannot continue with a situation where over 16 percent of the world’s population does not have a voice in decision making. This is a serious indictment to our avowed commitment to multilateralism and the basic principles of natural justice, fairness and equity.”

Watch Mnangagwa’s Full Address to the UN in the video downloading below:

State Media

CID director Commissioner Chrispen Charumbira was arrested yesterday on allegations of accepting protection money from drug and gold dealers to stop criminal investigations.

He was arrested by the Special Anti-Corruption Unit (Sacu) after seven of his junior officers alleged he had been interfering with their duties by protecting drug and gold dealers after accepting bundles of US dollars in protection money.

Comm Charumbira was picked up for questioning by Sacu officers in the morning before being taken to Morris Depot for further investigations and last night was detained at Rhodesville Police Station.

He is expected to appear in court tomorrow.

Sacu has apparently recorded statements from some of the junior officers who claim to have been transferred to outlying stations for defying Comm Charumbira’s orders to release arrested suspects.

Head of SACU, Mr Thabani Mpofu, said he was still checking for the details of the matter.

However, among the allegations is one dating from the days Comm Charumbira was CID co-ordinator for Harare.

According to the complaints, three detectives from CID Drugs and Narcotics arrested two Mufakose drug dealers, Norman Chabata and his brother Charles, after raiding their Mufakose home where they recovered 443g of dagga packed in sachets and bottles of BronCleer cough syrup.

While at the scene, it is alleged that they received a call from Comm Charumbira ordering them to release the two. Their immediate boss told them to instead follow the proper procedures and proceed with the investigations.

They were all later allegedly summoned by Comm Charumbira who informed them that their days at CID Drugs were numbered and should brace for transfers. The three compiled the dockets and saw the two tried with Charles Chabata given an eight-month jail term and Norman Chabata a US$100 fine by Harare Magistrates Court.

But the three detectives were transferred to CID Chiredzi, CID Lupane and CID Mount Darwin. After a complaint to CID Headquarters they were transferred back to CID Harare but understood they might still be sent to stations outside the city.

Another junior officer also alleged that between February 2016 and March 2016, he received information from a truck driver who suspected that a consignment he was carrying from Malawi might be dagga.

The driver was to meet with the recipients in the city and the junior officer teamed up with some of his colleagues and intercepted the consignment. The two sacks of mbanje were collected by two suspects who were arrested but were later acquitted by the courts.

Comm Charumbira is alleged to have also intervened when the two were arrested.

The junior officer told SACU that he was transferred from Harare to CID Hwange.

The latest arrest comes after the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (Zacc) recently arrested some police officers and chief public prosecutor, Clement Chimbare, on allegations of abuse of office and bribery over their handling of the investigation into the illegal sale of stands in Kuwadzana in a US$1 million scam.

Some of them were deputy director for the police CID commercial crimes unit, Assistant Commissioner Obeylaw Moyo (47), Superintendent Naboth Nyachega, Detective Assistant Inspector Claudious Majonga (37) and Detective Constable Aaron Karuru (32).

It was alleged that they were paid off with housing stands for not arresting or not charging suspected kingpins in the scam.

State Media

Pupils will proceed to the next grade next year despite limited learning this year, Senators heard yesterday.

Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Monica Mutsvangwa said preventing pupils from going to the next grade would clog their streams.

Minister Mutsvangwa, who is the new leader of Government business in Senate, said this during the Question and Answer session.

Mashonaland East traditional leader, Chief Nechombo had asked if pupils were going to proceed to the next grade.

Minister Mutsvangwa said while the Government came up with several initiatives such as online learning and radio lessons to mitigate the challenges admitted time was lost.

She said this was because some pupils did not have access to radio programmes and online learning.

“There are pupils that are also waiting behind. So if they do not proceed it will affect those pupils who were behind who should be coming on-board, so they will have to proceed to the next grade,” said Minister Mutsvangwa.

Turning to the preparedness of the schools for reopening, Minister Mutsvangwa said Government had provided funding to ensure there were no hurdles.

“Government is concerned that teachers and students should be safe.

“That concern cannot just remain as a concern without the requisite budget to procure personal protective equipment. That is why we provided a budget for that,” said Minister Mutsvangwa.

All school classes will reopen over the next six weeks in three phases.

A 63-year-old Chitungwiza man died on Saturday afternoon after he was assaulted by three touts along High Glen Road in Harare.

The touts allegedly wanted to force him to board their unregistered commuter omnibus.

Mr Anias Chiyangwa of Zengeza 1 was pronounced dead at Parktown Clinic in Waterfalls where he was taken by his relatives.

Mr Chiyangwa was walking near Mashwede service station when he was approached by the touts who were travelling in an unregistered Nissan Caravan.

The touts tried to force him to board their vehicle, but he resisted and they started assaulting him until he became unconscious.

According to a witness, one of the touts kicked him several times on the head and another on the chest, until some members of the public intervened.

The touts jumped into their vehicle and sped off.

Members of the public searched Chiyangwa’s pockets and found his mobile phone, which they used to inform one of his relatives who attended the scene.

National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the incident and appealed for information leading to the arrest of the suspects.-The Herald

The Rapid Results approach adopted by the Second Republic has contributed to tangible socio-economic transformation and realisation of development goals set out in the Transitional Stabilisation Programme (TSP).

Preliminary assessment by Government has picked positive indicators on the effectiveness of the Rapid Results Approach and the 100-day target based programme in expediting implementation of projects.

The current trajectory has laid a firm foundation for the attainment of Vision 2030, whose objective is to ensure that the country becomes a middle income economy in nine years’ time.

With massive infrastructure development programmes underway countrywide including rehabilitation and upgrading of roads, construction of dams and drilling of boreholes among others, the delivery tools have been identified as key performance indicators.

Infrastructure development is expected to spur economic development.

Speaking during a monitoring and assessment tour of the TelOne Makuti-Chirundu Fibre Optic Link project and the containerised village information centre in Chirundu, Minister of State for Presidential Affairs and Monitoring, Implementation of Government Programmes Dr Joram Gumbo expressed satisfaction with the implementation of Government programmes.

Government adopted the performance enhancement tools after realising that there were inadequacies in some sectors.

After touring several projects across the country, results have been encouraging.

“The adoption of the programme (100 Day target based programme) therefore reflects a pledge by Government to ensure speedy and efficient implementation of projects for the benefit of citizens.

“I am happy to report that results on the ground indicate that the Rapid Results Approach is producing positive results and contributing to the improvement of the livelihoods of our people,” said Dr Gumbo.

Government is in the process of compiling a publication on achievements under the 100-day cycle showcasing projects that were successfully implemented during the 2nd and 5th 100-Day Cycles-The Herald

A Murewa herd boy was on Thursday arrested by police in connection with the gruesome murder of Tapiwa Makore (7) from Makore Village under Chief Mangwende, in a suspected ritual killing.

Tafadzwa Shamba (40) is suspected to have connived with other suspects to ambush the victim who was looking after the family garden on September 17 in the morning.

The suspect, together with others still on the run, are said to have abducted the boy, shepherded him to a mountain and kept him for the whole day before brutally murdering and chopping off his head, arms and legs at night.

It is understood that one of the suspects from Juru Growth Point took away the head leaving the herd boy guarding the other body parts.

Police allege that Shamba had been promised US$1 500 when the Juru suspect had returned to pick up more body parts.-The Herald

Impala Car Rental has claimed police are investigating the abduction and torture of Tawanda Muchehiwa.

The company has also claimed it has nothing to do with the abdcuction of Muchehiwa.

Watch video below:

Farai Dziva|The trial of Councillor Godfrey Kurauone has been postponed because of the of the absence of the Prosecutor.

Councillor Kurauone is being charged with undermining the authority of the President.

“The trial was postponed because of the absence of the Prosecutor.

The trial has been postponed to October 26,” an MDC Alliance official told ZimEye.com.

The official added :
“The State papers were not readily available so trial was postponed.This shows how the whole process has been captured by Zanu PF.”

Former liberation stalwart and former war veterans leader, Rugare Gumbo has said for President Emmerson Mnangagwa to solve Zimbabwe’s problems, he must unite all people and be open to speaking to members of the opposition.

Speaking to the publication, Gumbo said:

The situation on the ground doesn’t seem to allow the continuation of the crises because people are now tired of all this. There must be a change in the attitude of those who are in power.

They must unite the people, as any failure to do that will mean that they will be digging their own political graves,He (Mnangagwa) must absolutely make sure that he unites Zimbabweans as he is the president. He has the power to sit down with all Zimbabweans.

Gumbo spoke at length about the need for oneness and even cited fellow liberation war hero Simon Muzenda and his quest for unity:

He must be able to contact his rivals and talk with them so that they can solve the current problems I was watching vaMuzenda’s (the late former Vice President Simon Muzenda’s) video, where he was encouraging unity among Zimbabweans.

Without unity, the future of Zimbabwe is bleak. It is going to be problematic for the ruling party to go into 2023 without uniting Zimbabweans. They are digging their own grave if they fail to talk to all political parties and unite all people to solve the country’s current crises,

He (Mnangagwa) must seriously rethink the future of the country and … the young generation. He must not think about himself and power, but the young generation that we have.What are they going to inherit? Are they going to inherit the violence and divided country? These are the kind of things the president must think about.

Gumbo also condemned people who prioritise power only and said the ruling party must either shape up or ship out:

If you think of power only without thinking about the life of the ordinary person you have a problem. The ruling party must shape up or ship out. Mnangagwa must be man enough and accept the challenges facing the country. If there is no unity, there will always be external and internal threats. You don’t need that. You need … to unite even with people who oppose your views so that you can bring stability in the country.

The ruling party must know that one doesn’t know what lies in the future. Change does occur and for anybody to think that he will remain in power for ever is not good. In Shona they say chinobhururuka chinomhara.

Hakuna chisingaperi (everything ends) and we say let’s not do that.

Everyone is a Zimbabwean. There is no Zimbabwe for Zanu PF or MDC … Zimbabwe is for everybody.

Meanwhile, another Zanu PF stalwart and a member of the politburo Tshinga Dube over the weekend echoed Rugare Gumbo’s sentiments and said the leaders have to first accept that they need help for the ANC to intervene and mediate in Zimbabwe. -Daily News

Farai Dziva|Fearless MDC Alliance vice chairperson Job ‘Wiwa’ has bemoaned the pathetic situation at Chikurubi Maximum Prison.

Addressing journalists at Chikurubi Maximum Prison on Wednesday, Sikhala said Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration should consider the sad plight of civil servants.

“When I was arrested a civil servant’s salary was worth five road runners.Now it is even worse – a civil servant’s salary is worth three road runners.

This is totally unacceptable . Zimbabwe resembles Chikurubi Maximum Prison.I see Zimbabwe as another prison because people are suffering.

I want to assure you that Zimbabwe shall be free.They think they can silence us but that will never happen. I am ready to go to jail for speaking the truth.To me incarceration is a reward for confronting the wicked regime,” said Sikhala.

Farai Dziva|Fearless MDC Alliance vice chairperson Job ‘Wiwa’ has bemoaned the pathetic situation at Chikurubi Maximum Prison.

Addressing journalists at Chikurubi Maximum Prison on Wednesday, Sikhala said Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration should consider the sad plight of civil servants.

“When I was arrested a civil servant’s salary was worth five road runners.Now it is even worse – a civil servant’s salary is worth three road runners.

This is totally unacceptable . Zimbabwe resembles Chikurubi Maximum Prison.I see Zimbabwe as another prison because people are suffering.

I want to assure you that Zimbabwe shall be free.They think they can silence us but that will never happen. I am ready to go to jail for speaking the truth.To me incarceration is a reward for confronting the wicked regime,” said Sikhala.

Farai Dziva|The MDC Alliance led by President Nelson Chamisa will on Saturday hold an e-rally to celebrate the Movement for Democratic Change’s 21st anniversary.

The e-rally will be held under the theme “Mobilizing and Fighting for a People’s Govt”.

“On Saturday 26 September 2020, the MDC Alliance will host an E-rally to celebrate 21 years since our cause was founded. Tune in to all our platforms. This year’s theme is “Mobilizing and Fighting for a People’s Govt”. #ZimbabweanLivesMatter,” the MDC Alliance tweeted.

A FILABUSI man fell to his death off a moving vehicle while a man from Gwanda died after a vehicle he was travelling in overturned in two separate incidences.

Matabeleland South acting provincial police spokesperson Inspector Loveness Mangena confirmed the two incidents.

She said in the first incident which occurred on Sunday, Nkosiyapha Nyoni (39) was seated in the loading box of a pick-up truck when he stood up to talk to the driver while the vehicle was in motion.

“I can confirm that we recorded two fatal road accidents. The first one occurred in Dekezi Business Centre in Filabusi. Mr Danisa Nyoni was driving a pick-up truck along the Filabusi-Avoca Road with nine passengers on board. When he got to Dekezi Business Centre one of the passengers who was in the loading box Nkosiyapha Nyoni stood up intending to talk to the driver.

“He fell off the vehicle and he was run over by the right rear wheel and he died on the spot after sustaining head injuries. The matter was reported to the police who attended the scene and Nyoni’s body was ferried to Filabusi District Hospital Mortuary,” she said.

Insp Mangena said in the second incident one person died while five others sustained injuries after a vehicle, they were travelling in overturned at Manama Business Centre-Chronicle

HARARE magistrate Mrs Bianca Makwande has ordered that MDC-Alliance member Joana Mamombe be examined by two neutral doctors while in the care of Harare Remand Prison authorities.

Mrs Makwande also stayed the trial proceedings in which Mamombe is facing allegations of faking her abduction, along with Cecilia Chimbiri and Netsai Marova.

The court made the decision after the State applied that she be mentally examined under the Mental Health Act after her lawyers said she was not able to comprehend proceedings because of anxiety disorders.

In the interim, Prosecutor Michael Reza has applied that the matter be deferred to October 8, 2020.

ZIMBABWE’S active Covid-19 cases continue to decline with the country recording a further 28 recoveries on Wednesday.

According to statistics provided by the Ministry of Health and Child Care, the country recorded 14 new cases and a single death bringing the total cases recorded in the country to 7 725 and 227 deaths.

“630 PCR tests were done today (Wednesday), positivity for today 2,2 percent. All 14 are local cases, the death was reported by Manicaland province. 28 total new recoveries were recorded, national recovery rate stands at 78 percent and active cases go down 1 491.

“As of 23 September 2020, Zimbabwe has now recorded 7 725 cases, 6 007 recoveries and 227 deaths,” reads part of the statistics.

Harare still remains the Covid-19 hotspot with 3 243 cases and 2006 recoveries.

You raise Zesa tariffs by 50%, Doves raises subs by over 350%, NSSA by 100% and then keep teachers' salaries stagnant, then say let's meet in class. @nickmangwana and @MthuliNcube get serious. Pay us USD520 now pic.twitter.com/McSZCdaewo

— PTUZ_Official (@ProgressiveOf) September 24, 2020

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A 19-year-old Marange teen, Talent Samupindi, has been slapped with an 18-year jail term following his conviction on two counts of stock theft.

The teenager who pleaded guilty to two counts of stock theft has been handed down the jail term by a Mutare court.

The teenager stole a total of 10 heifers from two complaints on different days and sold them in neighbouring villages.

He was apprehended after police was tipped off that he was selling heifers.

In a similar matter, Taona Adhonzi 36 and James Chitsiku, 46, were each sentenced to 9 years in jail for stock theft, by the Mutare court.

ZBC

Business Times

EMIRATES will resume flights between Dubai and Harare on October 1 with two weekly flights after Zimbabwe relaxed measures which had been imposed to contain the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Emirates stopped flights to Harare on March 20 in response to global lockdowns to contain the spread of the virus.

“Emirates will operate to Harare with two weekly flights linked to its Lusaka service. The linked services will connect Zambia and Zimbabwe to key destinations across Europe, the Far East, the Americas, Australasia and West Asia with one convenient stop in Dubai,” the airline said.

Flights between Lusaka, Zambia and Dubai resumed on September 4.

Before it halted flights, one of the world’s leading airlines had daily flight to Harare since August 2012. The airline began flights to Harare since February 2012 with five weekly flights.

In a post Cabinet briefing on Tuesday, Information minister Monica Mutsvangwa said Cabinet received a report from Vice President and Health minister Constantino Chiwenga on his to take stock of preparedness of the airports and related infrastructure ahead of the resumption of the international flights on October 1.

“Cabinet noted with satisfaction that the three airports visited, namely the Robert Mugabe International, the J.M. Nkomo and Victoria Falls Airports as well as hotels are now ready to receive travellers in line with Covid-19 guidelines. The necessary guidelines and Standard Operating Procedures for travellers will be announced by the sector as the dates approach,” Mutsvangwa said.

Police have confirmed arresting a suspect in the murder of a seven-year-old Murewa boy Tapiwa Makore who was found with missing body parts.

According to the police, they recovered blood stained clothes worn by Shamba on the day he allegedly murdered the 7-year-old boy.

The police further noted that two other suspects involved in the Makore’s murder were still at large.

“The Zimbabwe Republic Police confirms that a suspect, Tafadzwa Shamba (40) has been arrested in connection with the murder of Tapiwa Makore (7) for ritual purposes. The other two suspects are currently on the run and police are looking for them.’

“It is alleged that Tafadzwa Shamba, a herd boy in the same village with the victim, worked with other suspects to waylay the victim at the garden. They took him to a mountain where they kept him for the whole day. They then killed him at night and one of the other suspects who is from Juru Growth Point took away the head/skull leaving the herd boy with the other body parts after promising to give him US$1 500 on coming back.

“The police has recovered the blood stained clothes worn by Tafadzwa Shamba on the day he committed the crime. No stone will be left unturned in order to account for the other suspects,” said Police.

State Media

Zupco has been appointed to co-ordinate urban public transport but does not have a monopoly since all transport operators can register with Zupco and provide services, Local Government and Public Works Minister July Moyo told Parliament yesterday.

Government had rationalised the urban transport system but any owner of a bus or kombi in urban areas could register with Zupco since the Government was not intending to exclude private operators.

Minister Moyo was responding to questions in the National Assembly from backbenchers who wanted to know why other operators were not allowed to provide urban public transport. They accused the Government of creating a monopoly for Zupco.

“We have rationalised the urban transport system. We have given an opportunity to everyone with a bus or kombi in the urban areas to come and register with Zupco. The choice of Zupco does not create a monopoly that excludes other operators. We are clear on what we want to achieve,” said Minister Moyo.

Responding to another question, Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister Joel Biggie Matiza said most long-distance bus operators were complying with the Government directives on how to provide inter-city services after Cabinet approved the resumption of these services.

Operators, including taxis, could resume operating subject to strict compliance to Covid-19 regulations.

Responding to another question, Health and Child Care Deputy Minister John Mangwiro said there was no need re-test those who tested positive to Covid-19 when they had no symptoms or when their condition was improving.

It had been established and agreed by scientists and the World Health Organisation that after eight or 10 days the virus causing Covid-19 would have died down thereby removing the need for a retest. He was responding to a question on why people were deemed as negative even without a retest.

“We know that after eight or 10 days the virus would have died down. It would therefore be futile to retest that person especially when he or she is showing signs of recovery or when there are no symptoms,” said Deputy Minister Mangwiro.

Government remained the major provider of testing for Covid-19 although it still allowed private facilities to test given the intensity of the pandemic. “In a pandemic like this you cannot stop a private facility from testing. But the Government provides about 80 percent of testing,” said Deputy Minister Mangwiro.

Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi said all was on course for the reopening of schools. The necessary personal protective equipment was being mobilised on time for the reopening of schools.

Armed police opened fire on an unregistered speeding kombi yesterday killing one passenger and seriously injuring another near Juru along the Mutoko-Nyamapanda road.

Police have launched an investigation into the shooting.

The kombi was on its way to Bhora when it diverted through Glenwin suburb to avoid a tollgate, had an altercation with the owner of a boomgate in the suburb, sped off back to the tollgate when police were called, hit the boom at the tollgate, escaped on a road to Shamva, dumped the passengers including the injured, and drove off.

Police described the death and injury as sad and unfortunate saying they had launched a full-scale investigation into the matter. Police were still looking for the driver of the unregistered kombi last night.

National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said the injured passenger was admitted in hospital while the name of the dead woman will be disclosed today.

“The ZRP is deeply saddened by the death of a woman and another passenger who were on board following the unfortunate shooting incident which happened this afternoon along the Mutoko-Nyamapanda Road.

“There was a kombi, which was travelling along the road going to Bhora with passengers on board. It then diverted route in an attempt to evade the tollgate by going through Glenwin suburb,” he said.

Assistant Commissioner Nyathi said the commuter omnibus reached a boom-gate at one of homes in the suburb, which was being manned by security guards, and the crew had an altercation with the guard, who then informed their employer.

“The owner of the house who installed a boom-gate in front of his house called police who reacted swiftly.

“Upon seeing the police, the kombi crew sped off with passengers on board resulting in a high speed chase towards the tollgate. Upon arrival at the tollgate, the driver of the kombi hit the boom-gate and did not stop. Along the way, police fired shots which unfortunately hit some passengers,” he said.

Assistant Commissioner Nyathi said upon reaching Juru Growth Point the kombi driver turned into a road leading to Shamva and then dumped the passengers including the woman who died and the other injured passenger.

“Commuter omnibus crew especially the drivers should abide by the law, the behaviour of some of them is deplorable,” said Assistant Commissioner Nyathi.

Business Times

MDC-T secretary general Douglas Mwonzora could be headed on a collision course with President Emmerson Mnangagwa and Zanu PF after he said South Africa should play a mediatory role in pacifying Zimbabwe’s socio-economic crisis.

Mwonzora, who is currently one of the most senior opposition officials in Parliament, said Zimbabwe’s situation required assistance from outside.

His remarks contradict Mnangagwa’s assertion that there was no crisis and that Zimbabwe would not welcome South Africa to address her domestic affairs.

The southern African nation is battling rising inflation, critical shortages of medicines in public hospitals, high unemployment levels, hunger and political intolerance.

“There is no question that we have a crisis in this country. We have a crisis of the economy, we have a crisis of corruption, the social crisis—poverty and the crisis of contested legitimacy.

“Every time after elections, there is a contest on legitimacy and so on. We have a crisis that needs the help of our neighbours and we think that the coming in of South Africa is a very good initiative. It is part of the African diplomacy by a neighbour who is affected when something wrong happens in Zimbabwe,” Mwonzora said in an interview with Business Times.

“It is very regrettable that Mr. Chinamasa [Zanu PF acting spokesperson Patrick] says something like that. This is a neighbour who wants to help; this is a neighbour who is affected if something wrong happens here. Yes, Zimbabwe is not a province of South Africa but South Africa has played throughout history a positive role in Zimbabwe’s affairs.”

Pretoria played a crucial role in the mediation process that came after the contested 2008 presidential election runoff.

The negotiations led to the signing of the Global Political Agreement which gave birth to a coalition government which included Zanu PF and two MDC formations.

“We must thank them for being responsible neighbours; we must thank them for being concerned about what is happening in Zimbabwe.

To say that there is no crisis in Zimbabwe, that is very, very wrong because first of all the economy is not normal, we have unprecedented levels of poverty, we have debilitating corruption that is happening at local government level as well as national government level,” he said.

Mwonzora’s remarks tally with African National Congress chairperson of the International Affairs committee Lindiwe Zulu’s assertion that South Africa has every right to ask questions on the Zimbabwe crisis because the situation affects Pretoria too.

“I think we will stand by that statement (that there is a political crisis in Zimbabwe) until the situation has improved,” Zulu told Business Times last week.

“Let me also say that we must not be dragged into words, using those words at all. We must be able to first of all appreciate the situation because if the situation was happening in South Africa, we take it that Zanu PF would stand up and say hey ANC, you can’t afford to do the following things because they have a negative impact on us.” Zulu said this after the ANC had announced that it would soon engage with opposition parties, civic society organisations and the clergy as many look up to South Africa to assist resolving challenges in Zimbabwe.

Earlier on, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa sent envoys led by Sydney Mufamadi to meet with Mnangagwa over the prevailing political situation in the country.

However, South Africa overtures to the opposition have riled Mnangagwa and other hawkish Zanu PF officials who oppose the move saying Zimbabwe can resolve her domestic affairs.

Immediate past Botswana President Ian Khama has also waded into the crisis urging SADC to intervene.

“Forty years after independence in Zimbabwe the only thing that’s changed is the name of the country and leaders, in plain English, there’s a crisis in Zimbabwe, not just challenges and that’s why Zanu PF officials used the word crisis more than 40 times and Zimbabwean lives matter,” Khama said in a virtual meeting on Zimbabwe.

“I call upon Sadc to urgently convene a special summit on Zimbabwe. If they don’t do that they are culpable in the suffering of the people of Zimbabwe. I call on civic society organisations in other countries to get involved.”

After taking over from long-time ruler Robert Mugabe, Mnangagwa promised to tackle corruption in the public sector but his critics say his administration appears to have lost steam in this fight.

Mnangagwa has also clamped down on dissent leading to the arrest of opposition leaders and activists.

Commenting on the divisions within the main opposition party, Mwonzora said there has been an “ideological rupture” which he said would be fixed by the time Zimbabwe goes for the next elections in 2023.

“Former trade unionists went on one side then you have former student leaders and pro-capital people went on the other side.

This is an ideological rupture and that does not spell doom for opposition politics,” Mwonzora said.

“In 2005, the MDC split. It was split by Welshman Ncube as a result of very simple issues but it split nevertheless.

“But it 2008 posted its biggest win against Zanu PF since its formation in 1999—it won the presidential election, it won the Parliamentary election and it won almost all the local authority elections. The fact that there has been a problem in the opposition does not spell doom.”

HARARE magistrate Mrs Bianca Makwande has ordered that MDC-Alliance member Joana Mamombe be examined by two neutral doctors while in the care of Harare Remand Prison authorities.

Mrs Makwande also stayed the trial proceedings in which Mamombe is facing allegations of faking her abduction, along with Cecilia Chimbiri and Netsai Marova.

The court made the decision after the State applied that she be mentally examined under the Mental Health Act after her lawyers said she was not able to comprehend proceedings because of anxiety disorders.

In the interim, Prosecutor Michael Reza has applied that the matter be deferred to October 8, 2020.

By A Correspondent- Transport minister Joel Biggie Matiza yesterday said government ordered a clampdown on vehicles without number plates after witnessing a spike in accidents involving unregistered vehicles.

Responding to questions in the National Assembly, Matiza also disclosed that vehicle number plates were being manufactured locally.

Binga North MP Prince Dubeko Sibanda had sought clarity over the impounding of vehicles without number plates.

Sibanda also demanded to know how the Transport ministry would deal with the chaos at the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) and Central Vehicle Registry (CVR) offices with motorists seeking to secure the number plates.

This was after it emerged that the CVR had run out of number plates, with motorists paying but only getting receipts, which were not recognised at police roadblocks.

“A study has been done by our institutions of higher learning and approved by Cabinet, where we will be coming up with superior number plates,” Matiza said.

“As we speak now, the production of number plates is done locally,” he said; but did not explain why motorists were being forced to pay for the number plates in foreign currency.

He said the reason why there was chaos in the issuance of number plates was due to the COVID-19 lockdown, whereby imported number plates arrived late due to transport problems.

“Secondly, disbursements of number plates started in July and we noticed that there were cars that were not registered and had no number plates. There was a spike in accidents related to vehicles without number plates and security became an issue. We had to intervene and ask the police to do what they did,” Matiza said.

He said after the clampdown, people started coming in large numbers to get number plates, thus crowding CVR and Zimra offices.

“We have increased the number of hours and decentralised the offices and as we speak, we have number plates which will last us up to the first week of November.”

But Sibanda said Matiza was misleading Parliament as currently there were no number plates at centres throughout the country.

He asked Matiza to explain why he reversed the position set two years ago, where motorists were allowed to use temporary number plates, adding that the congestion at Zimra and CVR offices was exposing people to COVID-19.

“On temporary number plates – this gesture was being abused,” Matiza said.

Meanwhile, Home Affairs minister Kazembe Kazembe said the Central Registry had started issuing birth certificates after it had closed due to the COVID-19 lockdown restrictions.

“During the lockdown period we were not issuing birth certificates. We only issued burial orders, but we have partially reopened for services. We are starting with those children born when the lockdown started and then we will look at those born in September. People that want birth certificates are given numbers and dates to get them to avoid crowding,” Kazembe said.

By A Correspondent- One person was shot dead and another seriously injured in Harare yesterday as police pursued an unregistered commuter omnibus.

National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi last night confirmed the incident.

He said the victims were taken to Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals.

“What we have collected is that a kombi was coming to Harare from Murewa and went through Gletwin to avoid paying toll fees,” Nyathi said.

“Because the kombis avoiding the tollgate are becoming a menace, Gletwin residents have mounted some boom gates manned by guards. The driver of the kombi had an altercation with the guards at a boom gate. The kombi crew overpowered the guards and went past. The owner of the house where the boom gate is located rushed to pick up police officers and pursued the kombi, which went past the tollgate towards Murewa, with the police in pursuit.”

“The police fired warning shots, but he did not stop. The kombi finally stopped and dumped all the passengers. Unfortunately, one of the woman was shot in the shootout and died while a man was injured. They have been taken to Parirenyatwa. We shall give you more details when we get them.”

He condemned the behaviour of the kombi driver, who is still at large.

By A Correspondent Zanu-PF Chivi South legislator Killer Zivhu has made a passionate plea for his readmission into the ruling party.

Before his full readmission, the outspoken former MP had requested to be enrolled as a student at the Zanu-PF’s Herbert Chitepo School of Ideology.

The politician was fired from Zanu-PF on charges of misconduct after he wrote on his Twitter handle that for Zimbabwe’s challenges to end there was a need to push for dialogue between the first lady, Auxillia Mnangagwa, and MDC Alliance president Nelson Chamisa’s wife Sithokozile.

However, after his expulsion, Zivhu further infuriated some identified senior Zanu-PF Politburo members for pushing his fall after a US$1.5 million deal went sour.

Zivhu, a property developer, later made threats to expose corruption in the ruling party, but to-date, he has remained mum on the issue.This week, the politician admitted it was cold outside the ruling party and wrote to the principal of the Herbert Chitepo School of Ideology begging for a chance to enrol at the indoctrination centre.

“I wish to be enrolled at the Herbert Chitepo School of Ideology, I appreciate the role and function of this important institution in reorienting party cadres, teaching us the history of the party,” he said in the letter to the school’s director Munyaradzi Machacha.

“I further wish to express my sincere apologies to His Excellency, the President and first secretary of the party Cde ED (Emmerson) Mnangagwa and his two deputies (Constantino Chiwenga and Kembo Mohadi), the entire party leadership and the Masvingo party leadership for the whole spectacle and bad publicity that happened to the party.”

Zivhu said he remained a loyal son of Zanu-PF and believes his enrolment at the school of ideology will further enrich his knowledge and understanding of the vision of the party.

Machacha is yet to respond to Zivhu.

Farai Dziva|Fearless MDC Alliance vice chairperson Job ‘Wiwa’ has bemoaned the pathetic situation at Chikurubi Maximum Prison.

Addressing journalists at Chikurubi Maximum Prison on Wednesday, Sikhala said Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration should consider the sad plight of civil servants.

“When I was arrested a civil servant’s salary was worth five road runners.Now it is even worse – a civil servant’s salary is worth three road runners.

This is totally unacceptable . Zimbabwe resembles Chikurubi Maximum Prison.I see Zimbabwe as another prison because people are suffering.

I want to assure you that Zimbabwe shall be free.They think they can silence us but that will never happen. I am ready to go to jail for speaking the truth.To me incarceration is a reward for confronting the wicked regime,” said Sikhala.

By A Correspondent- Joanna Mamombe, Harare West MP has been placed under the care of a superintended at Harare Remand Prison effective today for 2 weeks to assess her mental problem to stand trial.

This was after her lawyers argued that Mamombe was not well and she could not stand trial after she failed to attend court last week.

Police officers had to “discharge” Mamombe from a local medical facility she was seeking medical attention from last week when a warrant for her arrest was issued.

Meanwhile, the state is alleging that Mamombe is not unwell as she was caught on CCTV shopping on 4 September the day she was reported to be unwell to stand trial.

This is a developing story we will update it as new details emerge.

Impala Car Rental has claimed police are investigating the abduction and torture of Tawanda Muchehiwa.

The company has also claimed it has nothing to do with the abdcuction of Muchehiwa.

Watch videos below:

https://youtu.be/uzH_M7iJ5hQ

By A Correspondent- Zimbabwe is one huge Chikurubi Maximum Security Prison, where people need to be freed from the yokes of dictatorship and gross human rights violations, opposition MDC Alliance vice-chairperson Job Sikhala said on his release from prison yesterday.

Sikhala was arrested last month after spending close to a month in hiding, fearing arrest for his alleged role in planning the foiled July 31 protests.

He was released on $50 000 bail after appealing to the High Court.

Sikhala said the conditions in which he lived in remand prison at Chikurubi were no better than those of an ordinary person outside the prisons.

“We must also believe that Chikurubi Maximum prison is a prison in which all Zimbabweans are confined in.

The conditions that are there in the prison are also the conditions that the people of Zimbabwe are experiencing.

I define Zimbabwe as a big Chikurubi Maximum Prison where the people are currently under incarceration and are also in prison because of the dictatorship that is in our country. We know that the civil liberties and rights of our people have been taken away.”

The fight for liberties and civil rights is something that is very fundamental. It is not criminal for us to say that we need a government that is accountable to the people that they are governing. We have seen how this country has been brought to where it is because of corruption and theft of public resources.”

By A Correspondent- ZACC’s chairperson, Justice Loice Matanda Moyo implored Parliament to enact legislation that ensures the recovery of assets from high profile individuals nabbed for corruption.

On Wednesday, the Speaker of the National Assembly Jacob Mudenda revealed that the country had lost more than US$3 billion in illegal financial flows between 2015 and 2017.

Matanda-Moyo said:

It is the role of Parliament to ensure corruption prevention measures are in place, to promote transparency and accountability, the criminalisation of corruption and the recovery of assets and, therefore, this will require APNAC to influence Parliament to enact favourable laws to assist Zacc to recover all assets siphoned within and outside the borders of Zimbabwe.

She was speaking during the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between Parliament, Transparency International Zimbabwe (TIZ) and the African Parliamentarians Network against Corruption (APNAC) where the organisations vowed to collaborate in fighting graft.

When President Emmerson Mnangagwa rose to power in 2017, he pledged to confront corruption “head-on” but observers say there is no concrete action to support the rhetoric as corruptio cases are also being reported within his inner circle.

The government has with immediate effect suspended the University of Zimbabwe’s Masters of Medicine and Masters of Obstetrics and Gynecology programmes and banned enrolled students from accessing public hospitals.

In a letter dated 23 September 2020, addressed to the Dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Health Science, Dr Mutongoreni suggests the decision had been handed down from the Ministry of Health and Child Care.

Reads the letter:

SUBJECT: RE: SUSPENSION OF THE MASTER OF MEDICINE AND MASTER OF OBSTETRICS AND GYNECOLOGY CLASSES
Reference is made to the above subject. Following communication from the Ministry of Health and Child Care to the effect that Registrars’ enrolled for the University of Zimbabwe’s Masters of Medicine and Masters of Obstetrics and Gynecology programmes are no longer allowed to access public hospitals, the University has suspended dasses for the programmes with immediate effect. Be advised accordingly.

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ZimEye will be livestreaming a press conference by Impala Car Rentals this afternoon.

More details to follow……

By A Correspondent- Government has given commuter omnibuses the nod to start operating but they have to register with relevant authorities and also strictly comply with Covid-19 health guidelines.

The kombis among other public transporters excluding pirate taxis, can approach the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure Development for licences to start operating. Kombis had been banned from operating since the start of the national lockdown at the end of March except for those operating under Zupco.

Addressing journalists during a post-Cabinet media briefing on Tuesday, Defence and War Veterans Minister Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri, who is also the chairperson of the Ad Hoc Inter-Ministerial Taskforce on the Covid-19 said once kombis regularise their operations they will be allowed to start operating.

She said Cabinet took the decision after considering that Covid-19 cases were relatively declining in the country.

“Originally, every private operator who wanted to operate had to register with Zupco but we realise that Zupco also has some challenges. There are now new players in the economy hence the need to open up the transport sector especially the inter-city transport,” she said.

“Those that are legal including kombis, will be required to register with the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure Development and comply with the rules and regulations.” Minister Kashiri said some kombis were not roadworthy and as such could not regularise their operations.