ZANU-PF is set to come up with provincial social media teams to defend the party and Government programmes on social media following campaigns by opposition elements fomenting violence while tarnishing the country’s image.

Last month, the opposition working with some western embassies and non-governmental organisations, used social media to try effect regime change through violence disguised as demonstrations against corruption.

The opposition has also deliberately misconstrued the signing of the Global Compensation Deed (GCD) designed to compensate white former farm owners as a reversal of the land reform programme by the Second Republic.

Speaking during a Matabeleland North Provincial Co-ordinating Committee (PCC) meeting yesterday, Zanu-PF Politburo member Munyaradzi Machacha, said while many people were spreading misinformation about the country on social media, party members were slackening in defending the party’s programmes.

He said land reform will never be reversed but the Government in signing the GCD was following the dictates of the Constitution.

“We therefore should come up with provincial social media teams to articulate the party and Government policies. While some people would be going to the farms while others work in industries, we should also have a cyber unit which will be involved in defending the party’s programmes on social media platforms.

Social media has become the new battlefield for control, but the opposition is using it to portray the country in bad light which is not the situation of the ground,” said Machacha.

“We have facts and statistics of what is happening on the ground. While they send lies on social media our teams should counter that with facts and we expect each province to be doing this.”

He said the Politburo has resolved to set up District Co-ordinating Committees (DCC) in eight provinces as has already been done with Bulawayo and Harare.

“Remember we had DCCs in the past but they became more powerful and influential than what they were designed to be.

They became more powerful than their superior structures that is why the party resolved to disband them.

But we have observed that there is a gap that has been caused by their absence in the districts that is why we are bringing them back,” he said.

“We had cases where the PCC would go and ask for permission from them yet the PCC was superior. When we set up the new structures, we will allow them to fly but we will clip their wings so they will not fly like eagles. They would not assume the same powers as they did previously.”

Speaking at the Bulawayo PCC meeting at Davies Hall in the city yesterday, party Secretary for Administration Obert Mpofu challenged the party’s newly elected Bulawayo provincial executive to play a leading role in mobilising support to ensure that the party resoundingly wins in the 2023 harmonised elections.

He said the interim provincial executive committee should also help instil discipline among members and strengthen structures in preparation for the 2023 harmonised elections.-Chronicle

Farai Dziva|MDC Alliance vice president Hon Tendai Biti has accused Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa of running the country like a bottle store.

Hon Biti also took a swipe at Mr Mnangagwa and Zanu PF apparatchiks for stealing State resources at an alarming rate.

“The challenge of Zim is a leadership that runs the country like a bottle store Patronage extraction and primitive accumulation are the DNA of regime Everything is for sale. Everything has a price and in every transaction the pimp must get a cut.A Head of State should not pimp country…

Zim has huge coal deposits that extend from Gokwe all the way to Hwange Sinamatela.The granting of coal concessions in Hwange National Park is extremely crude&reflects that the grantee of those rights is not fit for the office he holds . He is an imposter #ZimbabaweanLivesMatter

Special Grants are only issued by one office in Zim . Under Emmerson we are are witnessing the primitive asset stripping of Zim from resources ,concessions and land,” argued Hon Biti.

By A Correspondent- The ruling ZANU PF party says it will create provincial social media teams to articulate and defend its policies and government programmes.

This was revealed by Politburo member Munyaradzi Machacha, during a Matabeleland North Provincial Co-ordinating Committee (PCC) meeting on Sunday.

He said:

We, therefore, should come up with provincial social media teams to articulate the party and Government policies.

Social media has become the new battlefield for control, but the opposition is using it to portray the country in bad light which is not the situation of the ground.

Machacha said the party’s social media teams will counter “lies” sent out on the platforms by the country’s detractors.

Meanwhile, ZANU PF already has a presence on social media platforms and critics have accused the party of using multiple “ghost” social media accounts to mislead the gullible.-statemedia

By A Correspondent- The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) said it will go ahead with replacing recalled MDC Alliance legislators with nominees from the judicially-created MDC-T led by Thokozani Khupe unless a court order stops the process.

ZEC chief elections officer Utoile Silaigwana said they will proceed with the process as prescribed by the Electoral Act.

Silaigwana said:

The Commission has no discretion as to whether the process should or should not commence. Once a notice is given and received by ZEC, as prescribed in section 39(3) of the Electoral Act, the process … must be carried out, lest ZEC is in breach of the law.

Silaigwana was responding to concerns raised by Zimbabwe Elections Support Network (ZESN) chairperson Andrew Makoni who had said ZEC must wait until ongoing court challenges against the replacements were finalised.

The Nelson Chamisa-led MDC Alliance has already lodged an objection to the process, saying the MDC-T has no right to replace or even recall members elected under its name, banner and logo.

Khupe is expected to bounce back into Parliament as Leader of the Lower House even though she contested and lost in the 2018 presidential elections.-Newsday

By A Correspondent- The government on Thursday released the mandatory Standard Operating Procedures in response to the coronavirus and compliance to the World Health Organisation (WHO) and Ministry of Health and Child Care, coronavirus prevention regulations.

The document outlines the dos and don’ts when schools reopen for examination classes this month and going forward.

Cambridge examinations pupils will resume lessons on September 14th while Zimbabwe School Examinations Council (ZIMSEC) candidates will reopen on September 28th.

Below is a summary of the Standard Operating Procedures that will be adopted by all schools to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus:

• Pupils to wear masks
• Use hand sanitisers
• No hugs, no handshakes, no desk sharing
• No visitors in schools except essential service providers
• Break, lunchtime staggered
• Sports banned
• No school if unwell
• Underlying conditions must be declared to schools
• Maximum 35 kids in a classroom
• One metre apart
• Teachers to be trained to become health coordinators
• Temperature checks
• Schools mandated to have temporary isolation rooms

By A Correspondent- The late former Zimbabwean leader Robert Mugabe’s nephew, Patrick Zhuwao, said he once warned then Zimbabwe Defence Forces commander Constantino Chiwenga against supporting then Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s takeover bid, describing the latter as “unelectable”.

Zhuwao said he tried to convince Chiwenga that ZANU PF needed someone who was charismatic to win an election and ability to lead the country.

Speaking to South African media during a discussion to mark exactly one year since Mugabe’s death, the exiled former cabinet minister said:

I said to General Chiwenga, ‘no General, this man is unelectable. He does not have the capacity to deal with people, he does not have the intellect to be able to lead the country’.

The General said, ‘okay fine, we will see what we can do’ and they then recognised that Emmerson Mnangagwa was unelectable but because of their entitlement mantra, they decided that the elections are not necessary.

By A Correspondent| MDC Alliance Harare Councillors boycott another meeting called today at Morgan Richard Tsvangirai House for the eighth time.

Another Harare Councillors meeting of the Judiciary constructed MDC-T flopped again with only 9 Councillors attended the meeting called by one Tapiwa Mashakada, Gandhi Mudzingwa and Bernard Chiondegwa.

The four Councillors who were part of those who secretly voted for Councillor Mukunguma just met the new Mayor of Harare Councillor Mafume this morning at Town House. They have since rejoined back to MDC Alliance, REBELS alone cannot constitute Harare City Council required quorum.

In total now MDC Alliance has 24 Councillors in Harare City excluding 10 Councillors who were recently recalled.

All remaining MDC Alliance Councillors have committed themselves to take the Party Position of either boycotting Council or total withdrawal if rebels recall any of the remaining 24 Councillors.

A local environmental advocacy group, Zimbabwe Environmental Lawyers Association has approached the High Court to stop the Chinese from mining coal inside Hwange National Park.

There was a global outcry last week following revelations that a Chinese company had been given mining rights to extract coal from the largest wildlife park in the Southern Africa.

Posting on Twitter, ZELA Director Shamiso Mutisi said the Chinese’s appetite for coal from Hwange should be stopped.

“Chinese insatiable appetite for coal in biodiversity rich Hwange National Park must be stopped! @ZELA_Infor has gone to court,” said Mutisi.

Concerns have also been raised by scientists who say the government should prioritize sustainable environmental programs such as tourism and wildlife conservation in the Hwange National Park rather than potentially destructive mining activities for coal which Zimbabwe still relies on heavily for its electricity generation.

As MDC T meeting led by Mr Dumbu hosted at Senator Mudzuri’s house flopped in Zaka Central

6 September 2020

*Wezhira Munya and Kimberely Tariro Mamhende*

In Zaka North- Yesterday, MDC Alliance led by President Nelson Chamisa proved its popularity in Zaka North constituency. Many Zaka North MDC Alliance party members met MDC National women assembly acting chairlady Hon. Mugidho and MDC Alliance National member senator Marava yesterday.

MDC Alliance National acting women assembly chairlady honourable Mugidho said, “Yesterday we met MDC Alliance party leaders in Zaka North. 97% of all 2014 MDC members who were in structures attended this meeting. In addition, all 2018 MDC Alliance structures were in attendance. The Zaka North residents and MDC Alliance party members are fully supporting president Nelson Chamisa.”

In addition, Senator Misheck Marava said, “The popularity of president Nelson Chamisa and MDC Alliance is increasing. Surely, in 2023, we are going to win presidential vote, Zaka North member of parliament seat and all councillor seats.”

Zaka North MDC Alliance chairperson said, “We as MDC Alliance party members we want to assure MDC Alliance President Nelson Chamisa and Party leadership at large that we are solidly behind MDC Alliance party and we will never join Zanu PF and MDC T.”

Also, losing MDC Alliance 2018 harmonized election candidate Mr Dumbu who has joined MDC T had a meeting with some Zaka Central residents yesterday.

The meeting was held at Senator Mudzuri’s house.

One MDC T member said, “I could not attend this meeting because of the venue- Mudzuri’s house. I am Senator Komichi’s supporter.

I can’t go to a MDC T meeting being held at the house of another candidate-Mr Mudzuri who is contesting to be MDC T president at extraordinary congress. It’s unfair. MDC T meetings must be held at neutral venues.”

One Zaka Central resident who attended MDC T meeting said, “Very few people from Zaka Central attended this meeting. Majority of the people were from Zaka North and Chiredzi.

Mr Dumbu was campaigning for Senator Mudzuri to be MDC T president during the forthcoming extraordinary congress. MDC T Khupe, Komichi and Mwonzora supporters were angry after the meeting turned out to be campaign “rally” for Mudzuri.”

One MDC T member who attended the meeting who refused the publication of his name for fear of victimization said, “There is high factionalism in MDC T as we prepare for extraordinary congress.

In addition, most 2014 MDC members who were in structures are not willing to join MDC T in Zaka Central . MDC Alliance led by President Chamisa commands great following.”

He further comments that, “MDC T is perceived as Zanu PF proxy through our involvement in POLAD.”

A picture taken at the MDC T meeting held at Mudzuri’s house yesterday showed a paltry 20 people attended this meeting including those who travelled from Zaka North and Chiredzi.

Tomorrow, there will continuation of trial of MDC National youth organiser Godfrey Kuraone at Masvingo Magistrate court at 8am.

By A Correspondent| Sacked Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services (ZPCS) spokesperson, Assistant Commissioner Elizabeth Banda, who was facing a US$1,2 million fraud charge in a botched fuel donation scam has been removed from remand after long delays by the prosecution in bringing her to trial.

Banda (51) was charged along with Glow Trading company supervisor Raymond Mazodze (34) and the two were on remand on $1 800 bail each.

Through her lawyer Mr Tinofara Hove, Banda successfully applied for removal from remand before Harare magistrate Ms Barbara Mateko last week.

If the State now wants to proceed with the trial it will have to summon the two to court. Until then, they face no charge.

Mr Hove made the application for removal from remand arguing that his client could not remain on perpetual remand when the prosecution was not ready to start trial.

Prosecutor Ms Linda Gadzikwa did not oppose the application.

Banda and Mazodze were accused to trying to evade payment of duty when importing fuel from South Africa.

It was alleged that in August 2017, Mazodze, representing Glow Trading, which was purported to be registered in South Africa, approached ZPCS offering a donation of four million litres of diesel that was in South Africa.

ZPCS engaged the Ministry of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs for a duty free certificate which was handed over to Mazodze so that he could import the fuel.

The original allegations were that Mazodze and Banda drew a total of 1 130 500 litres of diesel from the Noczim Msasa depot through CMED, but only delivered 77 010 litres to the prisons and allegedly converted the rest to their own use.

In December 2017, Banda allegedly raised a fictitious acquittal in respect of the fuel, saying the four million litres of fuel were delivered to ZPCS.

The original allegations said as a result, Zimra was prejudiced of US$464 589 duty for 1,053 million litres of fuel and a potential prejudice of US$1 299 410 if the rest of the four million litres were collected, but not delivered to the prisons.-statemedia

Kwekwe mayor Angeline Kasipo has dismissed as false reports alleging that she had crossed the floor and joined the Thokozani Khupe led camp.

Kasipo pledged allegiance to MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa adding that she is not moved by the recent recalls of those aligned to Chamisa by the Khupe camp.

Her comment comes after social media reports alleged that the country’s only female mayor and Kwekwe councillor for Ward 10 had dumped Chamisa for Khupe.

She said::

I am an MDC Alliance councillor and my loyalty lies with Chamisa. I am not going anywhere.”

ZANU-PF is set to come up with provincial social media teams to defend the party and Government programmes on social media following campaigns by opposition elements fomenting violence while tarnishing the country’s image.

Last month, the opposition working with some western embassies and non-governmental organisations, used social media to try effect regime change through violence disguised as demonstrations against corruption.

The opposition has also deliberately misconstrued the signing of the Global Compensation Deed (GCD) designed to compensate white former farm owners as a reversal of the land reform programme by the Second Republic.

Speaking during a Matabeleland North Provincial Co-ordinating Committee (PCC) meeting yesterday, Zanu-PF Politburo member Cde Munyaradzi Machacha, said while many people were spreading misinformation about the country on social media, party members were slackening in defending the party’s programmes.

He said land reform will never be reversed but the Government in signing the GCD was following the dictates of the Constitution.

“We therefore should come up with provincial social media teams to articulate the party and Government policies. While some people would be going to the farms while others work in industries, we should also have a cyber unit which will be involved in defending the party’s programmes on social media platforms. Social media has become the new battlefield for control, but the opposition is using it to portray the country in bad light which is not the situation of the ground,” said Cde Machacha.

“We have facts and statistics of what is happening on the ground. While they send lies on social media our teams should counter that with facts and we expect each province to be doing this.”

He said the Politburo has resolved to set up District Co-ordinating Committees (DCC) in eight provinces as has already been done with Bulawayo and Harare. “Remember we had DCCs in the past but they became more powerful and influential than what they were designed to be. They became more powerful than their superior structures that is why the party resolved to disband them. But we have observed that there is a gap that has been caused by their absence in the districts that is why we are bringing them back,” he said.

“We had cases where the PCC would go and ask for permission from them yet the PCC was superior. When we set up the new structures, we will allow them to fly but we will clip their wings so they will not fly like eagles. They would not assume the same powers as they did previously.”

Speaking at the Bulawayo PCC meeting at Davies Hall in the city yesterday, party Secretary for Administration Dr Obert Mpofu challenged the party’s newly elected Bulawayo provincial executive to play a leading role in mobilising support to ensure that the party resoundingly wins in the 2023 harmonised elections.

He said the interim provincial executive committee should also help instil discipline among members and strengthen structures in preparation for the 2023 harmonised elections.

The province had been without an executive following the dissolution of structures in 2019 and had been operating under the chairmanship of Politburo member Cde Absalom Sikhosana who died in May.

The 15-member Bulawayo provincial leadership, which is led by Cde Obert Msindo comprises elected District Co-ordinating Committees (DCC) members.

Dr Mpofu urged the executive committee to work as a team and shun factionalism in line with the thrust of the new dispensation.

“We are here to build Bulawayo and therefore we should all work together towards achieving that goal.

“Zanu-PF is a mass party and therefore we expect the leadership to work with everyone in the party and mobilise enough support for us to win the next elections, which are due in 2023,” he said.

Dr Mpofu also urged party members to desist from the divisive politics of tribalism, saying Zimbabweans were one people regardless of language and cultural diversity.

“Bulawayo is a cosmopolitan city and don’t discriminate against anyone basing on the language they speak or region they come from,” he said.

“We want to build strong provincial structures and this can only be possible if we work as a team because power is the people not individuals. Our focus and energy should be channeled towards winning elections. We want to reclaim those parliamentary and council seats come 2023.”

Dr Mpofu also revealed that the ruling party’s supreme decision-making body, the Politburo will be meeting South Africa’s African National Congress (ANC) leadership in Harare on Wednesday.

A 10-member delegation is expected in the country tomorrow to meet its Zanu- PF counterparts as part of the revolutionary parties’ efforts to strengthen mutual cooperation and apprise each other of developments on either side of the Limpopo.

“President Mnangagwa and his South African counterpart Cyril Ramaphosa including myself and my ANC counterpart Ace Magashule are in constant touch, which is why we are meeting at party-to-party level on Wednesday. In fact, as Zanu-PF, we raised our concern about the issue of alleged gross human rights violations in Zimbabwe being discussed at government to government level. We then agreed as Zanu-PF and ANC to first discuss it at party-to-party level,” said Dr Mpofu.

“Presidents Mnangagwa and Ramaphosa agreed on the date, and we are now meeting as Zanu-PF Politburo and ANC NEC to discuss. We are aware that there are G-40 elements who are actually peddling lies about the situation on Zimbabwe and they are hiding in South Africa.”

“While there is a dedicated onslaught on Zimbabwe and Zanu-PF in particular to disfigure the political situation in the country, we hope our ANC counterparts will be better acquainted with the genuine state of affairs in our country beyond the sinister propagandas of our detractors,” he said.

Zanu-PF Secretary for Legal Affairs, Cde Munyaradzi Paul Mangwana, who was also part of yesterday’s meeting, explained to members the significance of the GCD.

“There has been a lot of talk and distortions about what is happening regarding the land reform programme. In 2009, we had a constitutional reform programme under the Copac (Constitution Parliamentary Committee), a constitution select committee of the Parliament mandated with the drawing up a new constitution for Zimbabwe during the inclusive Government,” he said.

“When we entered into the negotiations for the constitution, we agreed that we will not buy the land which was taken from our forefathers. President Mnangagwa is a lawyer, and he knows that for as long as we have not completed what is contained in our constitution, we will continue to have problems with Zimbabwe continuing to be under sanctions no matter how much we try to solve our economic challenges.”

Cde Mangwana said when President Mnangagwa signed the compensation deed agreement with the former white farmers, he only agreed to pay for improvements on the land, not to buy the land.

-State Media

By A Correspondent- Zanu PF politburo member Patrick Chinamasa yesterday said the Cabinet must answer to the ruling party, and threatened they would fire ministers that do not file reports with the secretariat, igniting an old age debate about the separation between government and Zanu-PF.

The line between the party and government has been blurred for much of Zanu-PF’s four-decade-old rule, but analysts say the old guard, overlooked for ministerial posts in President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s new dispensation, wanted more say in State affairs.

At the start of his “second republic”, Mnangagwa moved a number of senior party officials from ministerial positions to Zanu-PF headquarters and kept their ministerial perks intact.

These include Chinamasa, Obert Mpofu, David Parirenyatwa and Simon Khaya Moyo, among others. But now with very little say in how the economy is run, the former ministers have been lobbying for the party to have more say in government affairs.

Chinamasa, who is also the ruling party’s acting spokesperson, told a provincial co-ordinating committee meet-ing (PCC) in Mashonaland East that because Zanu-PF was the party that sponsored the ministers into government, then its interest should be served by anyone appointed by it. Power, Chinamasa argued, resided at Zanu-PF headquarters and the party would not hesitate to pull the plug on anyone who does not conform to its dictates.

“I want to thank the ministers who came here, because these are our ministers in Zanu-PF. They should serve Zanu-PF interests not their own, but Zanu-PF,” he said.

“All the programmes that they are doing, be it fixing the roads and any other works, these are programmes driven by Zanu-PF.”

Chinamasa’s utterances came at a time Finance minister Mthuli Ncube and Lands minister Anxious Masuka last week came under fire over a statement they jointly issued, which most people said was ultra vires the ruling party’s position on land compensation.

The two had to hold a second Press briefing in a week to defend their position that government would compensate indigenous and white farmers whose land was seized during the land reform programme yet it fell under the Bilateral Investment Protection and Promotion Agreement.

They claimed that their move was not tantamount to reversal of the land reform programme.

Chinamasa was forced to also hold a Press conference to support the duo before Mnangagwa also backed them while addressing members of the Political Actors Dialogue on Friday.

The former Finance minister said all government programmes which were funded by all Zimbabweans through tax collections, regardless of political affiliation, should be credited to his party.

“There should be no programme done by government that should be done without Zanu-PF being given credit and being at the forefront,” Chinamasa said.

“We don’t want to hear that you are commissioning a road, yet Zanu-PF does not know when we are the ones who sent you; we are going to construct a dam, then you proceed to build a dam without informing the party.

“It is the party that should get credit for all the work that you do in government, us as Zanu-PF.”

He added: “If you behave and act in that manner, we will not have any problems. All ministers in government should not forget that we sent them there, and we are watching if you are toeing the line of the party. If we see that you are pulling in your own direction, we know what to do.”

At a time the market has self-dollarised, Chinamasa said the local currency remained central to reviving the economy, blasting those demanding to be paid in United States dollars ahead of the weak local currency.

“No country can prosper without its own currency. You will not achieve anything by using other people’s currencies, because if you have your own money, you are the ones who print it, and control how to balance money supply,” he said.

Chinamasa, who was accompanied by Ncube, praised the latter for reintroducing the local currency, saying he (Chinamasa) had failed to make the bold move when he was in the same portfolio.

He, however, conceded that the economy had dollarised, calling it a problem that Ncube should fix.

“Doctors are charging in US dollars, vendors are charging in US dollars, it has made life difficult for people. This should be fixed,” Chinamasa said.

“I have a relative who wanted to visit an optician, to remove a cataract from one eye. They were charging US$800. That needs to be fixed.”-newsday

By A Correspondent- The two men who shot two soldiers, one fatally, at Chivhu Police Post on Saturday, were shot and killed on Sunday during a firefight with security forces.

The duo, who were armed with a pistol and the two rifles they seized from the soldiers they shot on Saturday, were cornered in an anthill pit, 16km along the Chivhu-Gutu road.

During the gun battle, Corporal Stanalious Chiunye, from 1 Commando Regiment, was seriously injured in the leg.

Following the tragic shooting of two security service members in a murder, attempted murder and robbery incident at Chicken Inn Police Base, Chivhu on September 5, 2020, and the subsequent deployment of investigation teams, the security services inform the public that the two suspects have been accounted for after an exchange of fire at Waterbury Farm, Ward 8 Chivhu, off Chivhu-Gutu Road.

… The suspects were then shot and seriously injured. They were taken to Chivhu Hospital where they were pronounced dead on arrival.

Ass Comm Nyathi added that the two rifles, four magazines which were robbed from the two shot soldiers plus the pistol used by the criminals to commit the murder and armed robbery were recovered from the scene.

An internal police memo revealed that Corporal Stanalious Mupanganyama and Corporal Peter Zvirevo were seated inside a small makeshift police station called Innscor Police Base.

Police said a man wearing a green face mask, a black bomber jacket, tattered blue jean trousers and black safety shoes approached and signalled Mupanganyama to meet him outside.

Mupanganyama was reportedly angry when he realised that the man who had summoned him was not his superior, and he stormed off and went back inside the police base. The memo from the Criminal Investigations Department said:

The purported ex-member followed the deceased into the police base talking to the deceased on top of his voice. All of a sudden, the other accused approached at the entrance of the police base and without saying anything he produced a corked pistol and started firing directly at the two army members. Sensing danger, a female police officer took cover under the visitors’ bench.

The two attackers “automatically disarmed the two soldiers and took away the two AK47 rifles and fled into the bush.

The two suspects are yet to be identified.-online

The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) has said only the court can stop it from filling vacant positions in the Legislature caused by deaths and recalls on MDC Alliance MPs by the Thokozani Khupe-led MDC-T.

Zec has already advertised to replace proportional representation MPs recalled by the Khupe MDC-T faction after a March 30 Supreme Court ruling that nullified Nelson Chamisa’s leadership of the MDC Alliance.

Responding to concerns by Zimbabwe Elections Support Network (Zesn), which said it was important for Zec to wait until ongoing court challenges were put to rest, the electoral board said it would go ahead as long as they had not been stopped.

Zesn chairperson Andrew Makoni said there were two conflicting judgments issued by the High Court and, therefore, Zec should withhold filling the posts until all outstanding court cases were concluded.

“This is coming at a time conflicting decisions have been handed down by different judges of the High court,” Makoni said.

“In one case, a High Court judge granted a provisional order interdicting the replacement of some recalled proportional representation Members of Parliament and in another, a judge of the High Court dismissed the urgent application.”

These matters have both been appealed, and Zesn believes it would only make fair administrative justice for an impartial Zec to wait for final verdicts.

“In both instances, we understand that the matters have been taken on appeal. In our view, it would have been prudent to await the finalisation of the appeals in the Supreme Court before initiating the replacement process,” Makoni said.

In response, Zec, however, said it was acting in line with the law and would be filling the 15 vacant seats, which would see, Khupe, the MDC-T acting president, bounce back into Parliament to take the role of the leader of the opposition.

-Newsday

By A Correspondent- Vice President Constantino Chiwenga, who is also the Minister of Health and Child Care, on Sunday night, visited two members of the Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) who were injured following a shootout with two assailants in separate incidents in Chivhu.

Corporal Peter Zvirevo and Corporal Stanalious Chiunye were transferred to Harare for further management and are admitted at West End Hospital in Harare.

Corporal Zvirevo is critical and is admitted in the intensive care unit after undergoing an operation. He had a bullet lodged in the abdomen, while his kidney was shattered and was removed.  His spleen and liver that had been damaged were treated.

Corporal Chiunye was part of the army and police crack-team on an operation to arrest the two assailants when he was injured in a shootout with the duo that was eventually killed, 16km from Chivhu along the Chivhu-Gutu road.

Following his interaction with the injured at West End Hospital, VP Chiwenga said the two were in a stable condition. He said:

I am satisfied that the doctors have done the best they can. The operation on Zvirevo went on well.

VP Chiwenga also commended the security forces crack team that accounted for the assailants in less than 24 hours after the shootout.

He expressed his condolences to the family of Corporal Mupanganyama who was shot dead by the assailants at a police post in Chivhu on Saturday. Said Chiwenga:

We are really sorry about what happened. We lost a fine young man dedicated to his duty.
We lost a soldier who was doing his job, protecting people at a time we are fighting this invisible enemy, Covid-19.

He was not suspecting anything at all. What is good is that the two fugitives have been accounted for.-Statemedia

Speaking at the ZANU PF, Bulawayo PCC meeting at Davies Hall in the city on Sunday, party Secretary for Administration Dr Obert Mpofu confirmed that the ruling party will have a closed door meeting with the South African envoys sent to Zimbabwe by President Cyril Ramaphosa.

Dr Mpofu revealed that the party’s supreme decision-making body, the Politburo will be meeting with the envoys in Harare on Wednesday.

A 10-member delegation is expected in the country tomorrow to meet various stakeholders in the country to address the issue of human rights abuses inflicted on citizens by President Emmerson’s government.

“President Mnangagwa and his South African counterpart Cyril Ramaphosa including myself and my ANC counterpart Ace Magashule are in constant touch, which is why we are meeting at party-to-party level on Wednesday. In fact, as Zanu-PF, we raised our concern about the issue of alleged gross human rights violations in Zimbabwe being discussed at government to government level. We then agreed as Zanu-PF and ANC to first discuss it at party-to-party level,” said Dr Mpofu.

“Presidents Mnangagwa and Ramaphosa agreed on the date, and we are now meeting as Zanu-PF Politburo and ANC NEC to discuss. We are aware that there are G-40 elements who are actually peddling lies about the situation on Zimbabwe and they are hiding in South Africa.”

“While there is a dedicated onslaught on Zimbabwe and Zanu-PF in particular to disfigure the political situation in the country, we hope our ANC counterparts will be better acquainted with the genuine state of affairs in our country beyond the sinister propagandas of our detractors,” he said.

Media Statement

I am so shocked and disturbed by New Ziana’s headlines which states that 3 MDC ALLIANCE Kwekwe Councillors defected to KHUPE, which mentioned ward 12 ,I represent .

I have personally known MDC ALLIANCE as my only political home and remain steadfast in supporting the collective vision of the Party , I unreservedly stand with the people’s Advocate, President Nelson Chamisa . He have proved beyond any doubt that he is a force to reckon, with all the forces attached to ZANU Pf and some who were internal comrades turned sword on him, is a clear sign of how he have transformed the MDC ALLIANCE and being a frightful force. I was voted MDC ALLIANCE and i cannot abandon people’s project for personal interests, Hebrew 11v9 -10

As it appear that there are some individuals who are working towards my character assassination, I found our Members very inspirational, and I have made it a priority to meet members in every corner of my ward to say my official position and I have found encouragement and I am learning much from them.

I will continue to campaign on issues of principles that have motivated me as ward 12 Youths leader of this party for almost 3 and 1/2 terms of office and as a Councillor. I also have a firm belief that we must fully support our President Advocate Chamisa in building the bridge of peace and mend the broken lives .

As I conclude, I want to thank you for all the support you have given the Party, and me personally for these full 2 years after being elected as your councillor. It’s a Honour to be a deployee of this great party and I am so proud to be a member, leader and a deployee of MDC ALLIANCE, party of 2,6 million voters +. I have.already submitted my action plans on bolting Partly mobilisation to my ward leadership, and to our Party Minister of Local Government for guidance

Thank you Once again, God bless you

Cllr Washington Max Moyo
Ward 12

#MDC ALLIANCE, THE PEOPLE’S PARTY

#WASHINGTON M MOYO – THE PEOPLE’S COUNCILLOR

#ADVOCATE N CHAMISA- THE PEOPLE’S PRESIDENT

Paul Nyathi

Defence and War Veteran Affairs Minister, Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri, has showered praises to the soldiers who gunned down two Chivhu murder suspects at the weekend indicating that the shooting is a warning that soldiers will never tolerate anyone who tamper with them.

Muchinguri said Zimbabwe’s security forces remain prepared to protect citizens and the country’s territorial integrity.

Speaking after a Provincial Coordinating Committee extraordinary meeting in Mutare yesterday, Minister Muchinguri-Kashiri said: “Because of the bravery of our soldiers and police, they were able to neutralise the assailants and kill the two.

“This should serve as a warning to criminals who try to tamper with our security forces that they will be met with equal force. Our soldiers and police are giving assurance to the nation that they will always protect our people and protect our territorial integrity.

“We are pleased that our police and members of the ZNA, working on a tip-off from the public, managed to track down the assailants to near Gutu. In trying to disarm the two, who were now armed with not only a pistol, but also two of our rifles, another soldier was injured when they opened fire. We understand that he is in a stable condition.”

Source: State Media

State Media

VICE President Constantino Chiwenga last night visited two members of the Zimbabwe National Army who are admitted at West End Hospital in Harare, following a shootout with two assailants in separate incidents in Chivhu.

Corporal Peter Zvirevo and Corporal Stanalious Chiunye were transferred to Harare for further management.

Corporal Zvirevo is critical and is admitted in the intensive care unit after undergoing an operation.

He was in the company of Lance Corporal Mupanganyama enforcing lockdown regulations in Chivhu when they were shot at a police post. Lance Corporal Mupanganyama died on admission at Chivhu General Hospital, while Zvirevo suffered multiple injuries.

Corporal Stanalious Chiunye was part of the army and police crack-team on an operation to arrest the two assailants when he was injured in a shootout with the duo that was eventually killed.

VP Chiwenga, who is also the Health and Child Care Minister, was accompanied to West End Hospital by his deputy, Dr John Mangwiro.

VP talking to Corporal Stanalious Chiunye who was injured in the ensuing gun battle yesterday.

Speaking to journalists after interacting with the injured, VP Chiwenga expressed confidence that the two would recover quickly.

He commended the doctors for working round the clock to ensure the two were in a stable condition.

“I am satisfied that the doctors have done the best they can,” said VP Chiwenga. “The operation on Zvirevo went on well.”

VP Chiwenga hailed the security forces crack team that accounted for the assailants in less than 24 hours after the shootout.

“It is a great lesson to everyone in the country that such acts should not be done,” he said. “Anyone daring to do such evil acts would be accounted for.”

The Vice President expressed his heartfelt condolences to the family of Corporal Mupanganyama following his death. “We are really sorry about what happened,” he said. “We lost a fine young man dedicated to his duty. We lost a soldier who was doing his job, protecting people at a time we are fighting this invisible enemy, Covid-19. He was not suspecting anything at all. What is good is that the two fugitives have been accounted for.”

Dr Mangwiro said the two were recovering well. He said Corporal Zvirevo suffered multiple injuries and underwent a successful operation.

He said Corporal Zvirevo had a bullet lodged in the abdomen, while his kidney was shattered and was removed. His spleen and liver that had been damaged were treated.

The deputy minister said Corporal Chiunye was hit on the left leg and sustained a compound fracture. He was expected to go for operation last night.

Meanwhile, Defence and War Veteran Affairs Minister, Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri, said Zimbabwe’s security forces remain prepared to protect citizens and the country’s territorial integrity.

Speaking after a Provincial Coordinating Committee extraordinary meeting in Mutare yesterday, Minister Muchinguri-Kashiri said: “Because of the bravery of our soldiers and police, they were able to neutralise the assailants and kill the two.

The pit in which the two assailants were hiding during a shootout with members of the uniformed forces, 16km along Chivhu-Gutu Road.

“This should serve as a warning to criminals who try to tamper with our security forces that they will be met with equal force. Our soldiers and police are giving assurance to the nation that they will always protect our people and protect our territorial integrity.

“We are pleased that our police and members of the ZNA, working on a tip-off from the public, managed to track down the assailants to near Gutu. In trying to disarm the two, who were now armed with not only a pistol, but also two of our rifles, another soldier was injured when they opened fire. We understand that he is in a stable condition.”

Paul Nyathi

In trouble with its supporters, the ruling Zanu PF party has embarked on a countrywide tour to try and clarify the move to somehow reverse the gains of the land redistribution exercise.

Following the signing of the Global Compensation Agreement on the 29th of July, there has been a general outcry over the move as it threatens to reverse the land reform programme.

The government has since been battling to clarify the correct position, with panicking ZANU PF going on a nationwide tour meant to ensure their message cascades to the grassroots.

In his address in Harare this Sunday, Politburo member Dr Joram Gumbo explained the categories entitled to compensation.

“Our party members are out in all the country’s provinces where they are ironing all the issues which are being misinterpreted. There are categories of people who should benefit.

“The former farmers who fall in this category can apply to the Ministry of Lands and if the situation does not allow can be issued somewhere and the compensation is for improvements made.

“Section 295 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe which was adopted in 2013 provides only for two categories that will receive compensation for both the land and compensation. 1. Indigenous Black African Zimbabweans whose land was acquired by the state. 2. Any person whose Agricultural land was protected by Bilateral investment Protection and Protection and Promotion Agreements. For the avoidance of doubt, these categories are only entitled to benefits.”

In Bulawayo the party’ Secretary for Legal Affairs, Paul Mangwana explained the land issue and the compensation deed agreement signed by President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

“The compensation deed by the president is not a reversal of the land reform but it puts to closure the land issue in that all the outstanding issues are being attended to and this will then allow the country to focus on other issues because this is a constitutional obligation which has been affecting the inflow of investments as investors were fearing that government does not honour its commitments. Now investment is expected to flow because the government stands by its laws.”

In Masvingo, ZANU PF Politburo member July Moyo explained to the party leadership the tenets of the land compensation deed, assuring them that there is no going back on land reform.

“Our agrarian revolution is unstoppable. Our economy that is based on agriculture is now unstoppable.”

A delegation from the ZANU PF politburo graced the Midlands Provincial Coordinating Committee meeting this Saturday where ZANU PF Secretary for Science and Technology Ambassador Chris Mutsvangwa spoke on the land reform programme saying it is irreversible as it forms the basis of the liberation struggle.

“We have seen our detractors on various social media platforms trying to sell us a dummy that the new dispensation is up trying to reverse the land reform programme. Let me point out that this is by far a figment of the imagination of our detractors. The land reform programme is here to stay and I am sure that our responsible ministers have since issued statements to that effect.”

Source: ZBC News

State Media

ZIMBABWE is losing at least US$100 million worth of gold every month, which is being smuggled out of the country through porous borders with Government now in the process of rolling out measures to plug the leakages.

Gold is the country’s biggest foreign currency earner. Last year, the country earned US$946m from US$1,3bn in 2018 from exports of the metal.

Some of the measures that Government is working on to plug the leakages include installing a sophisticated computerised system at the country’s border posts and airports which will be able to detect illegal activities.

Treasury also intends to procure 500 police vehicles as part of raft of measures to help fight crime and improve efficiency in terms of policing and fighting corruption among other illegal activities.

Speaking during a familiarisation tour of selected police stations in Bulawayo on Friday, Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Minister Kazembe Kazembe said Government was concerned about the leakages of gold, among other precious stones, which prejudices the country of US$100 million every month.

Minister Kazembe said as part of a raft of measures to fight smuggling among other criminal activities, his ministry is in the process of equipping the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) with modern technology and channelling more resources towards the fight against crime.

“We are losing close to US$100 million worth of gold every month which is being smuggled out of the country through our borders. Criminality has become complex and sophisticated given that perpetrators are harnessing technological advancement to enhance their criminal activities,” he said.

“In fact, it’s common knowledge that emerging crimes such as cybercrimes are redefining the policing terrain. There is therefore, the need to capacitate ZRP with technologically aided crime prevention, investigation and detection equipment in order for the organisation to keep abreast of criminal sophistry. Smart policing is, indeed, the way to go.”

Minister Kazembe said Treasury is in the process of procuring 500 cars for use by police in combating crime. Already, drones for use in patrolling borders, have been acquired.

“The Ministry of Finance and Economic Development is in the process of procuring 500 more vehicles for police although they may not be enough. This is a process and going forward more resources would be availed to address the challenges faced by police in the fight against crime,” he said.

Minister Kazembe said they are working on a roadmap to harmonically computerise all the departments in his ministry since they work hand in hand.

“We want a situation where if somebody is coming into our country and upon presenting their passports, the immigration officer can tell that this person is on the police wanted list. The same should also apply with police that if there is someone who has just come into the country, they should be able to tell that the culprit has just entered our borders,” he said.

“This is already happening in other countries and our technical team is working tirelessly towards achieving that goal and they already have the matrix and the scope of work has been done.

“We are installing a sophisticated system in our borders and airports that will be able to automatically identify culprits without them even knowing.”

Minister Kazembe urged police to shun corruption and assured them that Government was seized with measures to improve their welfare.

“Shun corruption and fingers are being pointed at the police that they are corrupt. We may have bad apples, but nonetheless we have a duty to perform and mandate to maintain peace and security. Generally, police are doing a good job and they should also play a leading role in curbing corruption and leakages of minerals, especially gold which is finding its way out of our borders,” he said.

“We will never lose sight of the fact that effective policing is a very expensive exercise though it comes along with invaluable rewards in the form of peace, stability and investment attraction. A safer and secure environment remains a critical enabler in attaining an upper middle-income economy 2030 as espoused by His Excellency, President Mnangagwa in Vision 2030.”

Minister Kazembe also commended police for remaining steadfast in maintaining law and order and professionally discharging their duties by thwarting planned demonstrations by anti-Government elements pushing the illegal regime change. “Zimbabwe is a peace-loving nation and the people will never be hoodwinked into blindly serving interests of a few misguided elements at the expense of the common good.

Furthermore, the security architecture of the country, including ZRP, is very much prepared to continue ring-fencing the tenets that define us as a people, that is peace and stability,” he said.

The minister also lashed out at the opposition for peddling falsehoods on social media claiming that there was gross violation of human rights in the country.

Paul Nyathi 

The opposition MDC Alliance has heavily condemned the killing of two men in a gun shootout with members of the security forces.

The two men, who are yet to be identified, killed a member of the Zimbabwe National Army on Saturday at a Chivhu police post and disarmed the soldiers of two AK47 before fleeing into the near by bush.

Joint operation of the police and the army tracked them down and caught up with them near Gutu where gun exchange took place leaving the two suspects dead and a soldier injured.

In a Tweet on Sunday,  MDC Vice President Tendai Biti condemned the killing of the thugs indicating that they should have been captured and brought to court for justice to take its course.

https://twitter.com/BitiTendai/status/1302669216600989704?s=20

Party spokesperson, Fadzai Mahere, also condemned goverment for the killing.

Who decided that these citizens killed the soldier? By what process? What happened to arresting, investigating & prosecuting? These extrajudicial killings point to a breakdown of our social structure. This illegality, violence & militarization of civilian spaces must end. https://t.co/ve10tpDG1m

— Fadzayi Mahere?? (@advocatemahere) September 6, 2020

This must be condemned by all right thinking Zimbabweans. This is not justice! People are not killed because they have committed a crime- nomatter the crime. Suspects are arrested & brought before the justice system! They even paraded the dead bodies! #ZimbabweanLivesMatter https://t.co/q0o9DFknmJ

— Hlatywayo Gladys Kudzaishe ?? (@gladyshlatywayo) September 6, 2020

State Media

TWO men who stormed Chivhu Police Post on Saturday and shot two soldiers, one fatally, were yesterday killed in a gun battle with security forces, who had cornered the duo hiding in an anthill pit, 16km along the Chivhu-Gutu road.

Besides the pistol they used in the murder, the assailants were also armed with the two rifles they seized from the soldiers they shot on Saturday.

A combined team from the police and army mounted a search immediately after the Saturday shooting in Chivu and tracked down the pair.

The two resisted arrest and instead opened fire on the police and army team. An exchange of fire ensued during which both assailants were shot and Corporal Stanalious Chiunye, from 1 Commando Regiment, was seriously injured in the leg.

Giving official details, police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said: “Following the tragic shooting of two security service members in a murder, attempted murder and robbery incident at Chicken Inn Police Base, Chivhu on September 5, 2020 and the subsequent deployment of investigation teams, the security services inform the public that the two suspects have been accounted for after an exchange of fire at Waterbury Farm, Ward 8 Chivhu, off Chivhu-Gutu Road,” he said.

Assistant Comm Nyathi said the suspects observed a security service team approaching and tried to run away. They hid in an anthill pit and exchanged fire with the security services. In the process, one security service member was shot in the leg.

“The suspects were then shot and seriously injured. They were taken to Chivhu Hospital where they were pronounced dead on arrival,” he said.

He added that two rifles, four magazines which were robbed from the two shot soldiers plus the pistol used by the criminals to commit the murder and armed robbery were recovered from the scene.7
Asst Comm Nyathi commended the public for their cooperation, which assisted in the location of the robbers.

“The security service applauds the public for swiftly supplying information and cooperation with the investigation teams, leading to the location of the two robbers.

“The security services reiterates that criminal elements who want to cause alarm and disturb the peace currently existing in the country will be decisively

dealt with in terms of the country’s laws.”

Eyewitnesses told The Herald that the suspects spent part of Saturday preceding the mishap, monitoring how the security agents were carrying out their duties.

One of the good Samaritans who assisted the injured soldier after the attack, Willard Mugabe, said he witnessed the incident in disbelief.

“It happened so fast like a movie. The two men were loitering around the area drinking beer yet they were monitoring the movements of the security forces at the Police Base. At around 3pm the officers entered the post for their daily routine. Some few minutes later we heard some gun shots and we ran away.”

Two women police officers were lucky to escape the ordeal unhurt.

After the duo had left clutching the stolen firearms disappearing into a bush behind the police post, vendors rushed into the police base to see if they could lend a hand.

“We observed from a distance only to realise that one of the soldiers was killed and the other one was seriously injured. We organised a car and took the injured soldier to Chivhu hospital, the other one had already died,” said Mugabe.

An employee with Chicken Inn, who declined to be named said after hearing gunshots at the complex, they closed their food outlet.

“When we realised that there were some skirmishes outside the shop, we closed our doors,” he said, adding that security forces, reacted swiftly to the scene.

A manhunt for the assailants was launched immediately until they located yesterday in a bushy area near the border of Chivhu and Gutu, where they were shot dead.

The two suspects are yet to be identified.

State Media

Sacked Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services (ZPCS) spokesperson, Assistant Commissioner Elizabeth Banda, who was facing a US$1,2 million fraud charge in a botched fuel donation scam has been removed from remand after long delays by the prosecution in bringing her to trial.

Banda (51) was charged along with Glow Trading company supervisor Raymond Mazodze (34) and the two were on remand on $1 800 bail each.

Through her lawyer Mr Tinofara Hove, Banda successfully applied for removal from remand before Harare magistrate Ms Barbara Mateko last week.

If the State now wants to proceed with the trial it will have to summon the two to court. Until then, they face no charge.

Mr Hove made the application for removal from remand arguing that his client could not remain on perpetual remand when the prosecution was not ready to start trial.

Prosecutor Ms Linda Gadzikwa did not oppose the application.

Banda and Mazodze were accused to trying to evade payment of duty when importing fuel from South Africa.

It was alleged that in August 2017, Mazodze, representing Glow Trading, which was purported to be registered in South Africa, approached ZPCS offering a donation of four million litres of diesel that was in South Africa.

ZPCS engaged the Ministry of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs for a duty free certificate which was handed over to Mazodze so that he could import the fuel.

The original allegations were that Mazodze and Banda drew a total of 1 130 500 litres of diesel from the Noczim Msasa depot through CMED, but only delivered 77 010 litres to the prisons and allegedly converted the rest to their own use.

In December 2017, Banda allegedly raised a fictitious acquittal in respect of the fuel, saying the four million litres of fuel were delivered to ZPCS.

The original allegations said as a result, Zimra was prejudiced of US$464 589 duty for 1,053 million litres of fuel and a potential prejudice of US$1 299 410 if the rest of the four million litres were collected, but not delivered to the prisons.

State Media

The three-year-old wrangle over the estate of former Chief Justice Godfrey Chidyausiku involving his two widows has been settled for now after the High Court last week ruled that they are both eligible to share the national hero’s pension.

Chidyausiku died three months after retirement in May 3, 2017.

He was the first judge to be interred at the National Heroes Acre.

At the time of his death, Chidyausiku was staying with Farai Kunaka, while he was legally married to Mary.

His death sparked a fierce wrangle between over his wealth.

This resulted in the fight spilling into the High Court with Kunaka suing the Judicial Service Commission, Pension Master, Paymaster, Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs and Mary Chidyausiku.

She asked the court to compel the respondents to process the terminal benefits of the late Chief Justice in equal shares with Mary and paid into their separate nominated bank accounts.

The only dispute before the judge was whether or not Kunaka and Chidyausiku had an unregistered customary law union and if such union is recognised as a marriage for purposes of the widows’ pension benefits.

All the cited State institutions took a position that they would abide by the court’s decision, leaving the battle between the two widows.

Mary wedded Chief Justice Chidyausiku in February 1974 under the African Marriages Act, it being a potentially polygamous marriage.

The marriage existed at the time of Chief Justice Chidyausiku’s death.

The dispute arose when Mary filed a High Court application for widow and children’s pension in January 2018.

Kunaka followed suit and filed hers in May the same year, setting the stage for a tussle for Chief Justice Chidyausiku’s inheritance in motion.

Faced with two competing applications, the Pension Master held any disbursements in abeyance pending a decision of the court as to who is the surviving spouse.

It emerged during the hearing of the dispute that Kunaka changed her surname to Chidyausiku through a notarial deed of change of name in August 2012 at the behest of the late.

She was even issued with a diplomatic passport at the instance of the late Chief Justice, who wrote to the Secretary of Foreign Affairs in March 2014 requesting for the issuance of the document to her, as his wife.

Upon retirement, Chief Justice Chidyausiku completed a pension form in which he recorded his status as “married” and described his marriage as “unregistered customary” and on the column for name of spouse he stated, “Farai Chidyausiku nee Kunaka”.

It was on that basis, along with the law governing the pension of a male judge upon death that Justice Jacob Manzunzu declared Kunaka the second widow of the late.

“Applicant proved her case as fully supported by the conduct of the late,” he said. “I have no doubt that there was a customary law union between the applicant and the late Godfrey Guwa Chidyausiku. The applicant is the second wife of the late.

“The applicant is the second widow to the late . . . and is entitled to the widows’ pension in as much as the fifth respondent (Mary Chidyausiku) is entitled to the widows’ pension being the first widow of the late.”

Justice Manzunzu then ordered the JSC to sign all relevant papers and process the late Chief Justice’s terminal benefits and pension to be shared equally between the two widows.

The pensions master was ordered to do the same and make payouts to the widows.

In his judgment, Justice Manzunzu noted that the fact that the customary law union had not been registered in terms of the Customary Marriages Act, making it invalid, but is recognised for certain limited purposes.

He said pension does not form part of the deceased estate, thus the Administration of Estate Act will not assist to validate the marriage of Kunaka and the late Chief Justice, for purposes of entitlement to pension neither are the provisions of the Customary Marriages Act of any assistance to Kunaka.

But the Judges Salaries, Allowances and Pension Act recognises payment of pension to the widows of a judge, particularly Section 24 which makes it clear that Pension Regulations “shall apply mutatis mutandis, where a male judge or pensioner dies and leaves more than one widow.”

Mr Blessing Mutiro of Rubaya and Chatambudza law firm acted for Kunaka, while Mellisa Chinyangarara-Kaseke of Honey and Blankenberg, represented Mary Chidyausiku.

Own Correspondent|Opposition leader Noah Manyika has said he is not desperate to join Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa’s POLAD.

Manyika described POLAD as a “captured platform.”

“I have just received an inquiry from a journalist about Mnangagwa’s statement today inviting those who have so far refused to join POLAD to do so. I responded as follows:

Mnangagwa is still operating under the delusion that everyone is desperate to join the gravy train. I am not.

He still believes everyone can be bought, threatened, coerced into cooperating with his repressive, corrupt and incompetent regime.

The fight is not to join POLAD, but for freedom. The fight is to change a sadistic and selfish system whose true colours have now become evident to all.

The real message from Mnangagwa is when we saw the abduction and torture of Mathuthu’s relative, and Hopewell Chin’ono and Jacob Ngarivhume in leg irons and much much more.

The message is evident through the Neanderthal thinking that the brutal reality in our country can be changed by denying it, or that calls by the clergy for the government to do what’s right should be used as an opportunity to threaten Ndebeles.

Mnangagwa’s message is clear when he attempts to use an issue as critical as land to separate the white community from the rest of the Zimbabweans who live tortured lives under his regime.

Mnangagwa’s imperious statements that assume everyone will go crawling to State House at his call demonstrate the extent of his delusions of grandeur.

Ultimately, no authoritarian, no matter how vicious, can escape the consequences of their own folly.

One day, Zimbabwe shall be free,” said Manyika.

Own Correspondent|Opposition leader Noah Manyika has said he is not desperate to join Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa’s POLAD.

Manyika described POLAD as a “captured platform.”

“I have just received an inquiry from a journalist about Mnangagwa’s statement today inviting those who have so far refused to join POLAD to do so. I responded as follows:

Mnangagwa is still operating under the delusion that everyone is desperate to join the gravy train. I am not.

He still believes everyone can be bought, threatened, coerced into cooperating with his repressive, corrupt and incompetent regime.

The fight is not to join POLAD, but for freedom. The fight is to change a sadistic and selfish system whose true colours have now become evident to all.

The real message from Mnangagwa is when we saw the abduction and torture of Mathuthu’s relative, and Hopewell Chin’ono and Jacob Ngarivhume in leg irons and much much more.

The message is evident through the Neanderthal thinking that the brutal reality in our country can be changed by denying it, or that calls by the clergy for the government to do what’s right should be used as an opportunity to threaten Ndebeles.

Mnangagwa’s message is clear when he attempts to use an issue as critical as land to separate the white community from the rest of the Zimbabweans who live tortured lives under his regime.

Mnangagwa’s imperious statements that assume everyone will go crawling to State House at his call demonstrate the extent of his delusions of grandeur.

Ultimately, no authoritarian, no matter how vicious, can escape the consequences of their own folly.

One day, Zimbabwe shall be free,” said Manyika.

Farai Dziva|MDC Alliance MP Joana Mamombe has been hospitalized after showing signs of severe traumatic disorders, it has emerged.

Joana, Mamombe, Netsai Marova and Cecilia Chimbiri were abducted, tortured and sexually assaulted by State Security agents for speaking on behalf of suffering citizens.

In a brief statement MDC Alliance spokesperson, Advocate Fadzayi Mahere said:

“We are advised that MDC Alliance MP Joanna Mamombe, one of the 3 activists abducted, tortured & sexually abused in May has been hospitalized.

She suffered severe trauma from the torture & abuse. Let’s keep her in our thoughts & prayers. #ZimbabaweanLivesMatter.”

Farai Dziva|MDC Alliance MP Joana Mamombe has been hospitalized after showing signs of severe traumatic disorders, it has emerged.

Joana, Mamombe, Netsai Marova and Cecilia Chimbiri were abducted, tortured and sexually assaulted by State Security agents for speaking on behalf of suffering citizens.

In a brief statement MDC Alliance spokesperson, Advocate Fadzayi Mahere said:

“We are advised that MDC Alliance MP Joanna Mamombe, one of the 3 activists abducted, tortured & sexually abused in May has been hospitalized.

She suffered severe trauma from the torture & abuse. Let’s keep her in our thoughts & prayers. #ZimbabaweanLivesMatter.”

Farai Dziva|MDC Alliance leader, Advocate Nelson Chamisa has described veteran journalist Hopewell Chin’ono as a true freedom fighter.

Chin’ono was arrested and detained by Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration for exposing corruption.

President Chamisa visited Chin’ono at his house on Saturday.

President Chamisa said:
“Today(Saturday), I visited a Hero and Veteran Journalist, Hopewell Chin’ono.

We thank God that he is recovering well after being released on bail. The freedom fighter spent 45 days in prison upon denial of bail.

Hope ignites hope. He remains steadfast in fighting corruption and speaking truth to power.

The March is not ended.#ZimbabaweanLivesMatter.”

Farai Dziva|MDC Alliance leader, Advocate Nelson Chamisa has described veteran journalist Hopewell Chin’ono as a true freedom fighter.

Chin’ono was arrested and detained by Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration for exposing corruption.

President Chamisa visited Chin’ono at his house on Saturday.

President Chamisa said:
“Today(Saturday), I visited a Hero and Veteran Journalist, Hopewell Chin’ono.

We thank God that he is recovering well after being released on bail. The freedom fighter spent 45 days in prison upon denial of bail.

Hope ignites hope. He remains steadfast in fighting corruption and speaking truth to power.

The March is not ended.#ZimbabaweanLivesMatter.”

Two children from Majindane area in Nyamandlovu died instantly on Friday morning when a suspected grenade detonated at their homestead while they were washing dishes.

The massive explosion tore through the Mthethwa homestead in Ward 10 in Nyamandlovu, killing a 13-year-old girl and her three-year-old brother, leaving their body parts strewn all over the yard.

One of the neighbours who spoke to CITE said they were working at a community nutrition garden, with the mother of the deceased when the explosion occurred.

“We were working at our community garden with the mother of the deceased children. She then returned home and barely 30 minutes later when we heard a massive explosion.

People ran to the scene and the mother, who was in the kitchen, rushed out to find her two children lying on the ground with some of their body parts all over the place,” said the neighbour.

“We then picked up the body parts and covered the deceased with blankets. The explosion was so massive that all the plates and other utensils were reduced to fragments.”

The police were called to the scene and they came and collected the remains of the two children.

While searching for clues as to what might have caused the explosion, the mother of the deceased children reportedly picked up a piece of metal which they suspected to have been a part of a grenade.

“She handed over the metal pieces to the army bomb disposal unit which came to the homestead to carry out investigations.

They inquired if the children had gone into the bush and whether they had been playing with some strange objects. These children were always at home and we are not sure where this grenade came from.”

Matabeleland North police spokesperson Chief Inspector Siphiwe Makonese, confirmed the incident but referred this publication to the national police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi for more details.

“So far there are no leads, the army bomb disposal unit came to do their investigations.

The information I have is it was a sister and her sibling who were doing dishes outside when the incident occurred. We don’t have a result from that investigation,” she said briefly.

Nyathi said he did not have more information and he was out of office.-CITE

Two children from Majindane area in Nyamandlovu died instantly on Friday morning when a suspected grenade detonated at their homestead while they were washing dishes.

The massive explosion tore through the Mthethwa homestead in Ward 10 in Nyamandlovu, killing a 13-year-old girl and her three-year-old brother, leaving their body parts strewn all over the yard.

One of the neighbours who spoke to CITE said they were working at a community nutrition garden, with the mother of the deceased when the explosion occurred.

“We were working at our community garden with the mother of the deceased children. She then returned home and barely 30 minutes later when we heard a massive explosion.

People ran to the scene and the mother, who was in the kitchen, rushed out to find her two children lying on the ground with some of their body parts all over the place,” said the neighbour.

“We then picked up the body parts and covered the deceased with blankets. The explosion was so massive that all the plates and other utensils were reduced to fragments.”

The police were called to the scene and they came and collected the remains of the two children.

While searching for clues as to what might have caused the explosion, the mother of the deceased children reportedly picked up a piece of metal which they suspected to have been a part of a grenade.

“She handed over the metal pieces to the army bomb disposal unit which came to the homestead to carry out investigations.

They inquired if the children had gone into the bush and whether they had been playing with some strange objects. These children were always at home and we are not sure where this grenade came from.”

Matabeleland North police spokesperson Chief Inspector Siphiwe Makonese, confirmed the incident but referred this publication to the national police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi for more details.

“So far there are no leads, the army bomb disposal unit came to do their investigations.

The information I have is it was a sister and her sibling who were doing dishes outside when the incident occurred. We don’t have a result from that investigation,” she said briefly.

Nyathi said he did not have more information and he was out of office.-CITE

GRADE SEVEN candidates will be the first to sit for the Zimbabwe School Examinations Council (Zimsec) public exams in December, with results set to be published in the same month to allow them ample time to look for Form One places.

The exams are set to begin on December 1.

Advanced Level exams will similarly be written in the same month, while exams for Ordinary Level candidates are expected to spill into January 2021.

About 1,2 million learners will be sitting for their exams this year.

Preparations have already begun following an announcement by Cabinet to reopen schools this month.

Government has decided to reopen schools on September 28 for Zimsec exam classes only.

Cambridge classes will reopen on September 14, with exams set by a British-based board beginning on October 1.

The drafting of timetables for Zimsec candidates has begun, while Cambridge is distributing question papers countrywide.

Zimsec board chairperson Professor Eddie Mwenje told The Sunday Mail that after the timetables have been drafted, there would be extensive consultations with various stakeholders, after which they will be shared with the candidates.

“Examinations will start on December 1, with Grade Seven candidates being the first to sit for the exams,” he said.

“This will enable their answer scripts to be marked and the results to be published in December so that parents have enough time to look for Form One places.

“Advanced Level candidates will also write and complete their examinations in December, while the Ordinary Level classes will be the ones that have their examinations spill into January.

“Zimsec is now seized with the drafting of the timetables, which will be shared to the stakeholders before they are released to the students.”-The Sunday Mail

HIGHLANDERS legend, Willie Luphahla, popularly known as Matholwane during his playing days has died.

Luphahla died in Bulawayo yesterday morning at the age of 64 after a lengthy illness.

Indications are that he will be laid to rest tomorrow in the city. His family has a rich history with Highlanders. His late father, George Luphahla is a former Bosso president.

Albert Magagula, who shares the same mother with Willie is an ex-Highlanders chairman, a post he held from 1963 until 1966 and then served as team manager for two years after that.

According to his older brother Kynot, who is also a former Bosso player, Willie started off at Bosso in the juniors in 1966 before he broke into the first team in 1971.

He retired in 1976 because of a broken right leg. Luphahla played for Highlanders at the same time with the likes of Douglas Mloyi, Barry Daka (late), Tymon Mabaleka, Lawrence Phiri, Josiah Nxumalo, Tommy Masuku (late) and Billy Sibanda.

Those who watched Luphahla during his playing days described him as one of the finest midfielders to come out of Highlanders.

His exploits in the middle of the park are put in the same bracket as those of the also late duo of Willard Khumalo as well as Benjamin Nkonjera.
Luphahla is survived by three children and four grandchildren.

Mourners are gathered at P71 Mzilikazi.-The Sunday News

WATCH THE LIVE VIDEO LOADING BELOW…….

By A Correspondent- After being denied bail by a Harare Magistrate on Thursday, MDC Alliance Job Sikhala has taken his freedom bid to the High Court of Zimbabwe and he is arguing that the magistrate who denied him bail erred and misdirected himself in denying him bail.

In court papers seen by the publication, Job Sikhala’s lawyers are arguing that:

The finding by the court a quo that appellant went into hiding for some time before he could be arrested is inconsistent with established evidence in that no evidence was adduced by the State of any effort to contact appellant for him to surrender himself to the police at any stage. No evidence was adduced by the State that they made it public that they wanted the appellant in connection with any offence.

The magistrate court that denied him bail sided with the state and said there was no reason the arresting officer would lie that Sikhala was found hiding in the ceiling to avoid arrest. Sikhala vehemently denied the allegations citing his physical statue as a limiting factor for performing such a task.-DailyNews

By A Correspondent- 30 000 voters reportedly responded to ZEC’s call to lodge their complaints should they have any objections in letting the elections body replace elected MDC Alliance legislators with nominees of a rival faction, The Daily News on Sunday reports.

ZEC confirmed receiving the voters’ objections as Chief Elections Officer Utoile Silaigwana said:

We have received the volumes of objections, but as you might be aware, the closing date for their receipt was yesterday (Friday), so we have not gone through them as yet. We have to verify to see if they were submitted in terms of the electoral law. If they are valid, there is a provision to disqualify someone from occupying the seat.

Having considered every objection received, and having found that there are valid grounds for objecting to the candidature, afford the political party concerned to make representations on the matter. If, having considered any representations of the political party received in terms of subsection (7)(b), the Commission is still of the view that there are valid grounds for objecting to the candidature, the Commission shall proceed in accordance with subsection (4)(a), and subsections (5), (6) and (7) shall thereafter apply until a qualified person is identified to fill the vacancy concerned,

Khupe had nominated herself and 15 other people to replace the legislators she recalled from parly.

A local human rights advocacy group, Zimbabwe Peace Project (ZPP) has described the month of August as the most complicated in terms of human rights violations.

In its monthly report for August, ZPP said in August, the ruling Zanu PF celebrated two years after its contested electoral victory in August 2018 whilst families of those who were killed and injured were still to get compensation.

“For Zimbabwe, August 2020, has been the most complicated month. During this month, the ruling Zanu PF started off by celebrating two years after its contested electoral victory in August 2018.Amid these celebrations, victims and families of those killed and injured when soldiers opened fire on unarmed protesting civilians on August 1, 2018, were still to get any recourse in the form of compensation, prosecution of perpetrators, or at the very least, an apology,” noted the report

ZPP said the month was characterized with scenes reminiscent of August 2018 as there was repression and brutal attacks on political activists.

“Ironically, August 2020, similarly to August 2018, started off on a bad note. In the same way six people were killed and injured by the army on August 1 2018, on August 1, 2020 the State had moved into full-time repression modem abducting, arresting and brutalising political activists and human rights defenders.

“The month started off with activist Tawanda Muchehiwa having been abducted and missing, only to be dumped three days later after the High Court ordered the police to release him. Several activists, including MDC Alliance spokesperson, Fadzayi Mahere, international award winning author Tsitsi Dangarembga, human rights activist Godfrey Kurauone and dozens others started off the month in police custody and while August 1 might have appeared like a hangover moment from the July 31 planned protests, it turned out that for government, the party was just starting.” reported ZPP

With a deepening socio-economic crisis, ZPP said Government responded with unmatched brutality marked by arbitrary arrests, abductions, torture and intimidation.

“This invited international attention, and once again, Zimbabwe was on the spotlight for human rights abuses. The #ZimbabweanLivesMatter campaign started early in the month and several local and international politicians, artistes, human rights defenders and citizens used this to air concerns about the deteriorating human rights situation in Zimbabwe.

“Despite the overwhelming evidence of a mounting crisis, the Zimbabwean government continued to deny there being a crisis. Instead of addressing the concerns, officials in government pulled the excuse that there were ‘some foreign hands’ behind the #ZimbabweanLivesMatter campaign and all the actions calling for government to end corruption and respect human rights,”

The pressure group said the state security agents were the chief perpetrators of human rights violations with police accounting for 42.65 percent of perpetrators, army at 25.11 percent, unspecified state agents at 2.73 percent.

Political parties also had a share with Zanu PF leading the way at 12.92 percent, MDC Alliance at 2.52 percent and MDC-T Khupe at 0.32 percent.

-263Chat