Farai Dziva|MDC Alliance leader, Advocate Nelson Chamisa has described the death of human rights activist, Dr Patson Dzamara as devastating…
“I’m so devastated..Just received bad news from the Dzamaras.
The young Dr Patson Dzamara gone too soon. This has been a terrible 2020,” said President Chamisa.
Patson Dzamara, brother to missing journalist-cum political activist Itai Dzamara, passed away away on Wednesday morning before his scheduled operation for colon cancer.
THE Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education has dismissed as misleading information circulating on social media to the effect that schools will reopen on September 2.
In a statement the ministry said schools remain closed until further notice.
“Contrary to misleading social media reports that schools will reopen on 2 September 2020 or 15 September 2020 for examination classes, the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education would like to reiterate to its valued stakeholders that the Government deferred the reopening of schools until further notice,” reads part of the statement.
“Government is currently in widespread consultations and will only announce any schools reopening date once Cabinet has taken a position.
It is in this light that the ministry advises all schools to remain closed until a Government directive on reopening is issued”.
According to the statement, those who defy the order for schools to remain closed may face criminal charges.
“Our valued stakeholders need to be advised that the ministry continues to prioritise health and safety as it strives to provide equitable, quality, inclusive, relevant and competence driven Primary, Secondary and Non-formal education at all times,” the statement said.
So far, Government has not come up with a position on the reopening of schools after they were closed in March due to the threat posed by Covid-19.
However, the June-July Zimbabwe School Examinations Council (Zimsec) public examinations were completed without a Covid-19 case being reported in centres countrywide.
There was nationwide anxiety when
Government announced the examinations would go ahead.
Teachers’ unions had said running them was risky and could spread the deadly virus.-Chronicle
Opposition activist Patson Dzamara’s death has united Zimbabweans with leaders from both Zanu PF and MDC taking to social media to express grief at his passing on.
Below are messages from Zanu PF Director of Information Tafadzwa Mugwadi and Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Information and Publicity Nick Mangwana.
“I learnt of the passing on of Patson Dzamara with sadness and grief. His passing on at such a young age puts us in touch with our mortality and the feebleness of life to which we hold no control. My heartfelt condolences to the Dzamara family, his friends and colleagues. MHSRIP,” said Nick Mangwana.
Zanu PF Director of Information Tafadzwa Tuboy Mugwadi said, “I have learnt with shock, the passing on of prominent opposition activist & Pastor, Mr Patson Dzamara It is most painful to have lost him to cancer, at a time when the world is battling another vicious pandemic Our prayers are with his family in this difficult time RIP.”
Opposition MDC Alliance Deputy President Tendai Biti said, “The loss of Patson Dzamara is a huge blow to the Democracy Movement .A young passionate revolutionary, he has left us too early .We pray for his family that has gone through a lot at the hands of a callous illegitimate regime .We know one day they will be free.”
MDC Alliance Treasurer General David Coltart had this to say about Dzamara.
“Rest in peace Dr Patson Dzamara . The Coltart family is deeply saddened by your death. You will be sorely missed.”
12.53hrs
The case of the trio has been further remanded to 15 September 2020.
10.24.
Court session had just started in three minutes, the trial was sat down for 11.15hrs.
So the girls were sat, ready for 11.15hrs Wed 2020
09.30 Court session has not yet started.
09.00 Arrival at court
Today 26 August the trio, Joana Mamombe, Cecilia Chimbiri and Netsai Marova are in Court 14 for trial. This day is also a sad walk for the trio having their close friend Patson Dzamara passing away. He was always visiting the trio in hospital and at Court whenever he gets free time. MHSRIP.
By A Correspondent- A famous Harare preacher was arrested last week on allegations of bribery involving National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) officials.
Nixon Chibuzor Ohizu (46) the leader of Empowerment Ministries Church along Seke Road, Harare, gave US$2 000 to two high ranking NRZ officials to have them reverse the cancellation of a lease agreement between his church and the transport utility.
Ohizu reportedly met Colonel Nyabambi and Clive Ncube at the NRZ offices and tried to bribe them to reverse the cancellation of a lease agreement between his church and NRZ served on him on August 7.
The two NRZ officials reportedly accepted a bribe offer of US$2 000 during their initial meeting.
When the preacher returned to the offices with the money, the NRZ officials had already notified the police and a trap had been set for him.
He was arrested when he brought the money – the whole US$2 000 in $100 denominations. The money is being kept as an exhibit.
Ohizu was not asked to plead to the allegations when he appeared before Harare magistrate Richard Ramaboa.
He was remanded out of custody to October 1 on $10 000 bail and was ordered to surrender his passport.
-DailyNews
By Wilbert Mukori- China and Russia are the two countries that have played a major role in many African countries’ fight for independence.
It is a historic fact that most of these African countries have since found that they got rid of one oppressive and exploiting colonial power only to inherit another.
For whatever help assistance, mostly guns and other war materials and military training, the two Asian countries gave to each African country; they not only kept a tag but kept a lodger on how the every penny plus interest would be paid.
As each African country attained her independence, China and Russia saw to it that the country fell into its sphere of influence. Where the two countries had supported separate liberation movements, which was very often the case, there was a proxy war as happened in Angola and Mozambique.
Before the newly independent country has had time to sober up from the euphoria of independence and the end of the war; China and Russia would present the new leaders with the IOY and detailed proposals on how the bill can be paid.
Russia’s proxy, Mozambique Liberation Front (FRELIMO) led by the late Samora Machel, defeated the colonial rulers and the Chinese proxy to form the governing party in that country. Within weeks a fleet of Russian fishing vessels claimed exclusive fishing right off the coast Mozambique and many, many more such one-sided and exploitative deals were to follow.
In Zimbabwe, it was China’s proxy Zanu PF led by the late Robert Gabriel Mugabe that prevailed over the Russian back PF Zapu. The Chinese presented Mugabe with the IOY and the exploitation of Zimbabwe by China started in earnest.
The exploitative deals were so lucrative, China and Russia would recover every penny of the IOY ten times within the first decade, two decades.
With the exception of one or two countries most African leaders did not want to share power and thus imposed a de jure or de facto one-party dictatorship. Both China and Russia have assisted in this and thus cementing their continued influence in Africa to this day.
There is no such thing as a free lunch, certainly not from the Chinese and Russians. It is therefore surprising that the Chinese Embassy in Harare had the chic to claim otherwise!
“The Standard carried an article on August 23 by Tawanda Majoni. By questioning Anjin’s return, the author falsely claims the Chinese government is somehow involved in Anjin’s business deals and conflicts in the country, which is a distortion and smearing of the Chinese foreign policy towards Zimbabwe,” reported News Day,
“The piece is full of unfounded accusations, conjectures and sheer lies, proving nothing but an appalling lack of common sense and self-confidence.”
It is no exaggeration to say corruption is the root cause of all Zimbabwe’s political, economic and social problems. And nothing epitomises the sheer extend and depth of the rampant corruption than the wholesale looting of the country’s Marange and Chiadzwa diamonds. The wealth from the sell of diamonds, valued at US$ 2 million plus a month, should have been used in the country’s developed is instead going into the pockets of the few ruling elite. Worst of all, the looted wealth is being used to bankroll the Zanu PF dictatorship and thus keeping it in power against the democratic wishes of the people.
The Chinese company Anjin has been at the very heart of the looting of diamonds in Zimbabwe. It is laughable that the Chinese Embassy should now try to disown Anjin!
China’s foreign policy towards Zimbabwe is premised of the later paying back China for the military and other assistance Mugabe received before independence and thereafter. Anjin is one of the many Chinese companies who have benefited from this policy.
Indeed, Anjin’s diamond mining operations were terminated and the company booted out of Zimbabwe by the late Zanu PF dictator, Robert Mugabe, after he publicly complained of nations that have made promises that they have failed to honour.
The people of Zimbabwe remember, no doubt the Chinese Embassy officials don’t remember and need reminding, of the many “mega deals” Mugabe signed with China. Deals that were never honoured.
Patrick Chinamasa, then Minister of Finance and a member of the high powered delegation accompanying Mugabe to China, admitted that the Chinese had complained of Zimbabwe’s failure to pay its debts.
“Shǒuxiān chánghuán zhàiwù!” (First pay your debts!) the Chinese told Mugabe to his face!
No doubt, Mugabe did not take the demand to pay up seriously; after all he, of all people, knew that ever since the country’s independence whatever the Chinese had given to Zimbabwe with one hand they always took away took back and more with the other hand. Mugabe’s fallout with the West; he has maintained it was over the seizure of white owned farms to give to blacks, but the truth is it was over the failure pay debts; forcing him to adopt the “Look East!” policy. The move left Zimbabwe totally dependent on China and with the greater dependence came greater exploitation!
So when China insisted on Zimbabwe paying its outstanding debts before it would spend one more Yuan on the “mega deals”; Mugabe’s knee jerk reaction was to booted out Anjin!
A few moon after Anjin was booted out of Zimbabwe, Mugabe was himself booted out of office in the November 2017 military coup; history will reveal what role China played in this. Emmerson Mnangagwa, who succeeded Mugabe, signed an impressive list of “mega deals” forming the skeleton Zanu PF’s 2018 election manifesto.
Mnangagwa disregarded his own earlier promise to hold free, fair and credible elections and, instead, blatant rigged the July 2018 elections. What further role, beside the mega deals promise, the Chinese played in the rigged elections, time will tell. Anjin was back in Marange and Chiadzwa soon after the July 2018 elections; no doubt Mnangagwa thanking the Chinese for their help in getting him into State House.
Needless to say, most of the “mega deals” Mnangagwa signed with China have not materialised nor are they likely to ever materialise. And we all know why. “Shǒuxiān chánghuán zhàiwù!” That’s right!
It is not likely that Mnangagwa will dare vent his frustration with the Chinese’s refusal to bankroll at least one of the mega deals and give him something to boast about. The western nation is dismissal of the July 2018 elections as a farce and his government as an illegitimate and pariah state has left Mnangagwa high and dry.
The country’s worsening economic situation has made the ordinary people more restless and desperate for real change. To hang on to power, Mnangagwa has resorted to brute force. The pressure for meaningful change is mounting and it is as clear as day, that change is coming. It would be unwise to boot out Anjin out of Zimbabwe and earn the wrath of the Chinese.
“Chinese government is NOT involved in Anjin’s business deals or Zimbabwe’s internal affairs. To suggest otherwise is a distortion and smearing of the Chinese foreign policy towards Zimbabwe!” Nonsense, China is but Zimbabwe’s new colonial master and corrupt one-side business deals and meddling in Zimbabwe’s internal affairs to keep Zanu PF in power at all cost are core pillars of China’s foreign policy towards Zimbabwe!
By A Correspondent- Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (ARTUZ) president Obert Masaraure said the November public examinations should be deferred to May 2021 as the majority of learners will not have enough preparation time this year.
Masaraure was responding to Information Minister Monica Mutsvangwa who told a post-cabinet news conference last Tuesday that schools will reopen next month with examinations for Ordinary and Advanced Level classes going ahead between November and December.
Masaraure argued that only a few elite pupils have access to online learning material while the majority of leaners are totally ill-equipped for the Zimbabwe Schools Examinations Council (ZIMSEC) exams.
He said:
The examinations will be forced down the throats of over 650 000 unprepared learners who had no access to remote learning after COVID-19-induced schools closure of 24 March 2020.
An average of 32 000 elite learners who enjoyed exclusionary access to online learning will be ready for these apartheid examinations.
Examination candidates have lost five solid months of learning time in the critical final year of their studies.
They are likely to lose more. Traditionally, these lost months are dedicated to completing the syllabi and embarking on a robust revision process to recall concepts covered in the first academic year of the two-year course.
It is practically impossible to frog march these ill-prepared learners into the examination room and expect them to cough out good results.
Schools were closed in March this year due to the coronavirus outbreak and were initially set for reopening in July but those plans were aborted following a surge in local transmission cases.-newsday
By Patrick Guramatunhu- Sadly, I too tested positive for the Covid-19 virus. This virus is real and we need to fight it by following the guidelines that our Government has given us which is in line with the WHO regulations,” said Lands, Agriculture, Water, Climate and Rural Resettlement Deputy Minister Vangelis Peter Haritatos.
Deputy Minister Haritatos, you were tested for covid-19 as soon as you suspected of catching the virus; possibly as soon as you learned your boss, the late Minister Perrance Shiri had the virus.
Do you know that there are hundreds of thousands of frontline workers, like nurses and doctors, who work with covid-19 patients without the recommended WHO PPE, not even the most basic face mask?
Deputy Minister, do you also know that WHO has recommended that frontline corona virus workers must be tested on regular bases? In Zimbabwe, many of the nurses and doctors let alone the ordinary people with the corona virus symptoms, are not being tested.
As soon as you learned you had the corona virus, you went into isolation to protect your family and friends. Has it ever occurred to you that all those poor Zimbabweans who have the virus but don’t know it because they are denied a US$6 test would too want to go into isolation to protect their family and friends?
Zimbabwe has carried out a total of 145 000 tests as of the end of July, that is 1 in 110 people tested. Compared to SA that has done 3 million tests which 1 in 20. This is contrary to the WHO clarion call to “Test! TEST!! TEST!!!”
There is a sinister reason why Zanu PF is not testing aggressively, at least not testing povo. The regime is hiding its blundering incompetence in the handling of the pandemic by sweeping the grime reality under the carpet.
Zimbabwe’s confirmed covid-19 cases and deaths is one of the lowest per capita in the world. Whilst other nations have earned the accolade by stamping out the virus Zimbabwe is cheating. Of course, if you do not test you will keep the confirmed cases and deaths very low.
The price of not testing is that many, many infected people who should be in isolation remain in the community spreading the virus far and wide. It is the povo, not the ruling elite, who are paying with their suffering and deaths for Zimbabwe’s rigged corona virus statistics!
Zanu PF is blatantly rigging the corona virus statistics, just as the regime has rigged the country’s elections, with the usual callous indifference to tragic suffering and deaths the spreading corona virus is causing to the ordinary people. Deputy Minister Haritatos, please, please spare us your insulting lies; the criminal negligence and dereliction of duty to save lives by this Zanu PF government is not what WHO ordered!`
WATCH documentary on Zimbabwe and the arrest of top journalist Hopewell Chin’ono.
By A Correspondent- The Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions has announced that all workers’ unions should mobilise their constituencies for a national strike starting Monday August 31 2020.
In a tweet posted Tuesday afternoon, the workers’ body urged workers to protest at their workplaces demanding United States dollars.
Said the ZCTU:
From Monday 31 August, we have called for workplace protests every Mondays aimed @ expressing our Demand for USD SALARIES. We are also protesting against EXPLOITATIVE Working Conditions, Deepening POVERTY Economic & Social CRISIS and Endemic CORRUPTION
All UNIONS are called to mobilize!
From Mon 31 August we have called for workplace protests every Mondays aimed @ expressing our
Demand for USD SALARIES
And protesting against
EXPLOITATIVE Working Conditions
Deepening POVERTY
Economic & Social CRISIS
Endemic CORRUPTIONAll UNIONS in are called to mobilize pic.twitter.com/3r1Zglgaqt
— ZCTU – Zimbabwe (@ZctuZimbabwe) August 25, 2020
By Wilbert Mukori- China and Russia are the two countries that have played a major role in many African countries’ fight for independence.
It is a historic fact that most of these African countries have since found that they got rid of one oppressive and exploiting colonial power only to inherit another.
For whatever help assistance, mostly guns and other war materials and military training, the two Asian countries gave to each African country; they not only kept a tag but kept a lodger on how the every penny plus interest would be paid.
As each African country attained her independence, China and Russia saw to it that the country fell into its sphere of influence. Where the two countries had supported separate liberation movements, which was very often the case, there was a proxy war as happened in Angola and Mozambique.
Before the newly independent country has had time to sober up from the euphoria of independence and the end of the war; China and Russia would present the new leaders with the IOY and detailed proposals on how the bill can be paid.
Russia’s proxy, Mozambique Liberation Front (FRELIMO) led by the late Samora Machel, defeated the colonial rulers and the Chinese proxy to form the governing party in that country. Within weeks a fleet of Russian fishing vessels claimed exclusive fishing right off the coast Mozambique and many, many more such one-sided and exploitative deals were to follow.
In Zimbabwe, it was China’s proxy Zanu PF led by the late Robert Gabriel Mugabe that prevailed over the Russian back PF Zapu. The Chinese presented Mugabe with the IOY and the exploitation of Zimbabwe by China started in earnest.
The exploitative deals were so lucrative, China and Russia would recover every penny of the IOY ten times within the first decade, two decades.
With the exception of one or two countries most African leaders did not want to share power and thus imposed a de jure or de facto one-party dictatorship. Both China and Russia have assisted in this and thus cementing their continued influence in Africa to this day.
There is no such thing as a free lunch, certainly not from the Chinese and Russians. It is therefore surprising that the Chinese Embassy in Harare had the chic to claim otherwise!
“The Standard carried an article on August 23 by Tawanda Majoni. By questioning Anjin’s return, the author falsely claims the Chinese government is somehow involved in Anjin’s business deals and conflicts in the country, which is a distortion and smearing of the Chinese foreign policy towards Zimbabwe,” reported News Day,
“The piece is full of unfounded accusations, conjectures and sheer lies, proving nothing but an appalling lack of common sense and self-confidence.”
It is no exaggeration to say corruption is the root cause of all Zimbabwe’s political, economic and social problems. And nothing epitomises the sheer extend and depth of the rampant corruption than the wholesale looting of the country’s Marange and Chiadzwa diamonds. The wealth from the sell of diamonds, valued at US$ 2 million plus a month, should have been used in the country’s developed is instead going into the pockets of the few ruling elite. Worst of all, the looted wealth is being used to bankroll the Zanu PF dictatorship and thus keeping it in power against the democratic wishes of the people.
The Chinese company Anjin has been at the very heart of the looting of diamonds in Zimbabwe. It is laughable that the Chinese Embassy should now try to disown Anjin!
China’s foreign policy towards Zimbabwe is premised of the later paying back China for the military and other assistance Mugabe received before independence and thereafter. Anjin is one of the many Chinese companies who have benefited from this policy.
Indeed, Anjin’s diamond mining operations were terminated and the company booted out of Zimbabwe by the late Zanu PF dictator, Robert Mugabe, after he publicly complained of nations that have made promises that they have failed to honour.
The people of Zimbabwe remember, no doubt the Chinese Embassy officials don’t remember and need reminding, of the many “mega deals” Mugabe signed with China. Deals that were never honoured.
Patrick Chinamasa, then Minister of Finance and a member of the high powered delegation accompanying Mugabe to China, admitted that the Chinese had complained of Zimbabwe’s failure to pay its debts.
“Shǒuxiān chánghuán zhàiwù!” (First pay your debts!) the Chinese told Mugabe to his face!
No doubt, Mugabe did not take the demand to pay up seriously; after all he, of all people, knew that ever since the country’s independence whatever the Chinese had given to Zimbabwe with one hand they always took away took back and more with the other hand. Mugabe’s fallout with the West; he has maintained it was over the seizure of white owned farms to give to blacks, but the truth is it was over the failure pay debts; forcing him to adopt the “Look East!” policy. The move left Zimbabwe totally dependent on China and with the greater dependence came greater exploitation!
So when China insisted on Zimbabwe paying its outstanding debts before it would spend one more Yuan on the “mega deals”; Mugabe’s knee jerk reaction was to booted out Anjin!
A few moon after Anjin was booted out of Zimbabwe, Mugabe was himself booted out of office in the November 2017 military coup; history will reveal what role China played in this. Emmerson Mnangagwa, who succeeded Mugabe, signed an impressive list of “mega deals” forming the skeleton Zanu PF’s 2018 election manifesto.
Mnangagwa disregarded his own earlier promise to hold free, fair and credible elections and, instead, blatant rigged the July 2018 elections. What further role, beside the mega deals promise, the Chinese played in the rigged elections, time will tell. Anjin was back in Marange and Chiadzwa soon after the July 2018 elections; no doubt Mnangagwa thanking the Chinese for their help in getting him into State House.
Needless to say, most of the “mega deals” Mnangagwa signed with China have not materialised nor are they likely to ever materialise. And we all know why. “Shǒuxiān chánghuán zhàiwù!” That’s right!
It is not likely that Mnangagwa will dare vent his frustration with the Chinese’s refusal to bankroll at least one of the mega deals and give him something to boast about. The western nation is dismissal of the July 2018 elections as a farce and his government as an illegitimate and pariah state has left Mnangagwa high and dry.
The country’s worsening economic situation has made the ordinary people more restless and desperate for real change. To hang on to power, Mnangagwa has resorted to brute force. The pressure for meaningful change is mounting and it is as clear as day, that change is coming. It would be unwise to boot out Anjin out of Zimbabwe and earn the wrath of the Chinese.
“Chinese government is NOT involved in Anjin’s business deals or Zimbabwe’s internal affairs. To suggest otherwise is a distortion and smearing of the Chinese foreign policy towards Zimbabwe!” Nonsense, China is but Zimbabwe’s new colonial master and corrupt one-side business deals and meddling in Zimbabwe’s internal affairs to keep Zanu PF in power at all cost are core pillars of China’s foreign policy towards Zimbabwe!
By A Correspondent- A famous Harare preacher was arrested last week on allegations of bribery involving National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) officials.
Nixon Chibuzor Ohizu (46) the leader of Empowerment Ministries Church along Seke Road, Harare, gave US$2 000 to two high ranking NRZ officials to have them reverse the cancellation of a lease agreement between his church and the transport utility.
Ohizu reportedly met Colonel Nyabambi and Clive Ncube at the NRZ offices and tried to bribe them to reverse the cancellation of a lease agreement between his church and NRZ served on him on August 7.
The two NRZ officials reportedly accepted a bribe offer of US$2 000 during their initial meeting.
When the preacher returned to the offices with the money, the NRZ officials had already notified the police and a trap had been set for him.
He was arrested when he brought the money – the whole US$2 000 in $100 denominations. The money is being kept as an exhibit.
Ohizu was not asked to plead to the allegations when he appeared before Harare magistrate Richard Ramaboa.
He was remanded out of custody to October 1 on $10 000 bail and was ordered to surrender his passport.
-DailyNews
By A Correspondent- President Mnangagwa has received 100 tonnes of mealie meal from a local company, Better Brands Jewellery, to be distributed to vulnerable communities affected by Covid-19.
The donation was handed over to the President at State House this morning.
Vice Presidents Constantino Chiwenga and Kembo Mohadi, Ministers and Senior Government officials were in attendance as the donation was being handed over to Mnangagwa.
Speaking after receiving the donation, Mnangagwa said the company had shown a good gesture and lauded Better Brands’ chief executive, Mr Scott Sakupwaya for his good heart in helping others.
“We are thankful. This is a good gesture. If we have many young people with such a good heart, then we are assured the nation will move on. This will reduce the burden,” he said.
Mr Sakupwaya said his company saw it fit to help those in need during these hard times.
“We have seen it fit that during this difficult time we also help people in need. The 10 0000 by 10 kilogrammes bags of mealie will be distributed by the President to those in need, where there is need,” he said.
-newsday
By A Correspondent- ZESA Holdings has said power outages being experienced in different parts of the country are due to a technical fault at Kariba and Hwange Power station.
Power supply had vastly improved since March until recently when some areas have been experiencing power cuts.
ZESA Holdings acting group stakeholder relations manager Ms Prisca Utete said the situation had been compounded by the unavailability of normal import levels due to constraints in the region.
“Hwange unit 5 has been out and works are at an advanced stage to recover it, while Unit 2 developed tube leaks and repairs are almost complete with expectations of bringing it back as soon as possible, hence minimising the demand supply mismatch,” she said.
“Unit 8 is out of service due to a technical fault at Kariba power station, which is currently operating with seven units. Efforts are underway to restore this unit.” She said that power supply should be stable starting this week.
By A Correspondent- The Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions has announced that all workers’ unions should mobilise their constituencies for a national strike starting Monday August 31 2020.
In a tweet posted Tuesday afternoon, the workers’ body urged workers to protest at their workplaces demanding United States dollars.
Said the ZCTU:
From Monday 31 August, we have called for workplace protests every Mondays aimed @ expressing our Demand for USD SALARIES. We are also protesting against EXPLOITATIVE Working Conditions, Deepening POVERTY Economic & Social CRISIS and Endemic CORRUPTION
All UNIONS are called to mobilize!
From Mon 31 August we have called for workplace protests every Mondays aimed @ expressing our
Demand for USD SALARIES
And protesting against
EXPLOITATIVE Working Conditions
Deepening POVERTY
Economic & Social CRISIS
Endemic CORRUPTIONAll UNIONS in are called to mobilize pic.twitter.com/3r1Zglgaqt
— ZCTU – Zimbabwe (@ZctuZimbabwe) August 25, 2020
Farai Dziva|The entire nation has been shaken by the untimely death of prominent human rights activist, Dr Patson Dzamara.
Patson Dzamara, brother to missing journalist and activist, Itai Dzamara, died before undergoing an operation for cancer of the colon.
“We are deeply saddened to learn of the untimely passing of NEC member #PatsonDzamara this morning. We extend our deepest condolences to the Dzamara family on the loss of yet another pillar of the struggle for a better #Zimbabwe.
May his soul rest in peace,” MDC Alliance said in a statement.
“A brother, a fighter and a friend is gone
Rest in everlasting Peace Patson Dzamara
You did yr part brother we will not betray you we will keep the fight,” said Happymore Chidziva.
Bishop Ancelimo Magaya wrote:
I have been saddened to the core by the passing on of Patson Dzamara, a young man whose future appeared bright.
Forced into activism by the state induced dissappearance of his brother Itai, we together formed Itai Dzamara trust. If his death is human induced then Lord have mercy.
Missing journalist and political activist Itai Dzamara’s young brother Partson who has died after being diagnosed of colon cancer was hopeful of overcoming his ailment if his last message is anything to go by.
On the 22nd of August, he posted his last tweet to appreciate the efforts that had been made towards his medical bills and how he was looking forward to testifying after overcoming the cancer ailment. Sadly he passed on ahead of his scheduled operation that was set for today.
“I am humbled at the amount of people who have shared strength with me in the past few days. The outpouring of assistance and goodwill in many forms is heartening. Together we will testify. Thank you. Mega blessings,” said Dzamara.
Efforts to crowdsource for his medical expenses had amassed USD14 000 from a targeted USD28 000.
Farai Dziva|MDC Alliance leader, Advocate Nelson Chamisa has described the death of human rights activist, Dr Patson Dzamara as devastating…
“I’m so devastated..Just received bad news from the Dzamaras.
The young Dr Patson Dzamara gone too soon. This has been a terrible 2020,” said President Chamisa.
Patson Dzamara, brother to missing journalist-cum political activist Itai Dzamara, passed away away on Wednesday morning before his scheduled operation for colon cancer.
“I’m so devastated..Just received bad news from the Dzamaras.The young Dr Patson Dzamara gone too soon. This has been a terrible 2020!”
The MDC Alliance reports that Patson Dzamara who was declared stuffing from cancer of the colon has died.
Our Good friend and leader @PatsonDzamara had passed on this Morning RIP pic.twitter.com/SBhxr6vv0X
— Masvingo Province (@Citizens4Chamis) August 26, 2020
Nigel Chanakira has also confirmed the news.
It is with profound sadness to advise you that Dr Patson Dzamara has passed on this morning ahead of his scheduled cancer operation. Thanks to all those that had been contributing to the Fund where +US$14k had already been raised. I am personally devasted. MHDSRIP. ????! pic.twitter.com/znxB4wEUzO
— Nigel MK Chanakira (@nigelchanakira) August 26, 2020
Police have reported arresting the MDC Alliance member who threw verbal bullets at one of their officers at the Rotten Row Magistrates Court during Job Sikhala’s court appearance.
The man was captured on video being beaten up by the police and accused of having a knife.
1/2 The ZRP confirms the arrest of Terrence Manjengwa (26) for possessing a specified knife at Rotten Row Court, criminal nuisance and inciting public violence at Harare Magistrates’ Court on 24/08/20.
— Zimbabwe Republic Police (@PoliceZimbabwe) August 25, 2020
State Media
LOCAL companies have failed to remit at least $887 million in employee pension contributions to pension funds for the first six months of the year.
Speaking during a virtual conference with journalists on Tuesday Insurance and Pensions Commission Commissioner, Dr Grace Muradzikwa has most companies have been struggling to remit pension funds to insurance companies due to various reasons.
Dr Muradzikwa said there are also more than 153 000 pensioners who have not claimed their benefits from the insurance companies and the unclaimed benefits have accumulated to $196 million.
“Some of the challenges that the pensions and insurance sector are facing are that companies have not been able to remit pension funds. There are contribution arrears of $887 million. The pension fund has also been affected by reduced disposable income owing to company closures, retrenchments and lack of formal employment opportunities.
There are also unclaimed Benefits. There are at least 153,000 members with unclaimed Benefits that have accumulated to about $196 million.
The challenges that the pensions sector are poor investment climate and low confidence owing to hyperinflationary legacy issues,” she said.
Dr Muradzikwa said despite the challenges bedevilling the sector that have also been exacerbated by Covid-19 effects , the pensions and insurance sectors have managed to pay more than $ 1.2 billion in claims combined between January and June this year.
“Notwithstanding the macroeconomic challenges and the global Covid-19 pandemic, the industry remains resilient as indicated by the fact that the Industry has continued to operate, paying claims and benefits even during Covid-19-induced lockdowns. The insurance sector paid about $726 million in claims from April to June 2020 while the Pensions Sector paid benefits worth $483 million from January to June 2020.
The industry is capital intensive as opposed to labour intensity,” she said.
Dr Muradzikwa said the pensions sector has witnessed a nominal increase in asset base between January and June this year as compared to the same period last year.
“The pensions sector had growth in asset base after recording an increase of 843 percent from June 2019 to June 2020, which is above the June annual inflation rate of 732 percent.
The increase in asset base was mainly on account of the revaluation gains in equities and properties. The pension sector now has assets worth ZWL$ 66.41 billion up from $ 29.81 billion recorded last year.
The increase in pension contributions could be attributed to salary increases in response to inflation though salaries aren’t tracking inflation. The pensions contributions increased to$ 1.2 billion in June up from $ 212 million recorded in June last year,” she said.
Paul Nyathi
ZANU PF National Spokesperson Patrick Chinamasa says Norton legislator, Temba Mliswa is not an advisor to President Emmerson Mnangagwa, hence his move to discredit the recent appointment of ministers should be dismissed with the contempt it deserves.
This comes on the wake of what he described as unethical behaviour by Mliswa to record his private conversation with businessman, Kudakwashe Tagwirei.
Chinamasa said this in his weekly press briefing on Tuesday at the ZANU PF Headquarters in Harare.
Watch the video downloading below. Please be patient while the video downloads.
State Media
Police have arrested Zimbabwe’s seven most wanted armed robbers, including the notorious Musa Taj Abdul, commonly known as Salim Rahman (46) who had dramatically evaded police for close to two decades.
A Beitbridge police officer who was allegedly harbouring the robbers was also arrested.
Abdul was arrested in dramatic fashion in Beitbridge on Monday night, with dog teams playing a leading role, along with former Masvingo Central police officer Rudolf Kanhanga alias Tapiwa Munatsi (29), Beitbridge-based police officer Tapiwa Mangoma alias Tapa (27), Liberty Mupamhanga (29), Prince Makodza (31), Godfrey Mupamhanga (27), Charles Lundu (47), and Innocent Jairos (32), all of Harare.
The gang is linked to a number of armed robberies, including the famous Mashwede case in Harare recently.
Police swooped on the seven suspected robbers and their police officer host in the Mashavire area, now known as Tshitaudze suburbs.
The Herald is reliably informed that the suspects were caught unawares by a team of detectives, duty uniform police, Support Unit and the canine unit. A police source close to the case said the dogs had to be used to help arrest the suspects and police were forced to fire warning shots.
“Abdul, Mupamhanga, Makodza, Lundu and Munatsi incurred some injuries from dog bites during a tussle with the police. They were taken to Beitbridge District Hospital for treatment and their condition is stable,” said the official.
Police officer commanding Beitbridge, Chief Superintendent Tichaona Nyongo, yesterday confirmed the arrest but referred further questions to national police spokesperson, Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi.
Asst Comm Nyathi confirmed the arrests and said investigations were still in progress.
“The gang was arrested while hiding at a certain house and tried to scale precast walls while trying to escape with police officers in hot pursuit, assisted by ZRP canine section, and firing warning shots to effect arrests on the armed robbers,” he said.
A statement released by Beitbridge police said the suspects had arrived in Beitbridge at the invitation of their point man, Mangoma, a police officer in the border town.
“They were using a silver BMW and they intended to rob a house in the Mashavire area but were stopped before hitting the target when police detectives received a tip-off. These suspects are also wanted persons in Harare in connection with over five armed robberies including the Mashwede, Makoni Shopping Centre, Blue Circle, Glen Norah B safe and the Marlborough shoot-out murder and many other armed robbery cases around Zimbabwe,” reads the statement.
A silver Noringo pistol with an obliterated serial number and a magazine with 11 live rounds, 19×12 bore gauge live rounds in a webbing belt placed in a black satchel stashed in a washing basket, and a pair of number plates AEX 1577 were recovered from the suspects.
In addition, a black face mask (balaclava) was found stashed in their getaway car.
A team of detectives tracked the suspects to Mangoma’s house near Mashakada Business Centre in Beitbridge after police spotted Carrington Marasha driving the vehicle around the same business centre.
When the crack team arrived at Mangoma’s house, the suspects ran in different directions, scaling the precast wall, prompting police officers to fire warning shots and setting police dogs to subdue them, until they were finally arrested.
Abdul is believed to be the chief architect of a spate of armed robberies committed in Zimbabwe between August last year and this month.
In South Africa, Abdul is thought to have been arrested several times but released with the help of his police connections.
In March, five armed robbers were killed in a shootout with police along Glenara Avenue South in Harare, while three others were captured alive but the gang leader, another Abdul (alias Musa Mahommed or Kedha), made good his escape.
He was initially reported to be among the five dead robbers, but it turned out to be a case of mistaken identity.
The three dead Zimbabweans were identified as Dennis Stanley Dube alias Dingola (29), Taurai Chitepo (36) and another only identified as Johnson.
Three survivors of the shootout — Godfrey Mupamhanga (27), Prince Zakeo (25) and Maxwell Stanley alias Dennis Mateta (25) — were arrested on nine counts of armed robbery.
The breaking up of both suspected robbery gangs and the arrest or death of most of their members is likely to slash Zimbabwe’s armed robbery rates.
Zimbabwe Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC) coronavirus situation report as of 25 August 2020.
Eleven people, 10 of them from Harare, died of coronavirus Tuesday pushing the death toll to 166.
There were 126 new cases but only 11 recoveries.
The accumulative number of cases rose to 6 196 while that of active cases increased to 1 069 reversing the downward trend.
So far 4 961 people have recovered from the virus.
Paul Nyathi
Giant mobile money company Ecocash has given into the new host of restrictions imposed by the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe governor John Mangudya in his monetary policy last week.
The facility is now limiting transactions by individuals to ZWL$5 000 per day in line with a directive from the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ).
In a notice to all its customers, Ecocash said the ZWL$5 000 per day limit applies to all individual transactions which include payments to merchants for goods and services and payments for utility bills, send money and purchase data and airtime, and wallet to bank transfers, among other things.
Ecocash has also banned individuals from having more than one account. Agents’ mobile money wallets have also been banned. Below is the company’s notice to its customers:
Sponsored: Click here to buy NetOne, Telecel Airtime online using EcoCash
Dear Valued Customers Please be advised that we have received a directive from the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe to the following effect:
1. Transactions by all individuals shall be pegged at a maximum of ZW$5,000 (five thousand Zimbabwe dollars) per day with immediate effect. This threshold relates to all transactions by the individual, including:
a. Payments to merchants for goods and services and payments for utility bills
b. Send Money and purchase of airtime and data
c. EcoCash Debit Card
d. Wallet to bank transfers
2. With immediate effect, no individual shall be allowed to operate more than one EcoCash
line.
3. Merchants and Billers will continue to accept EcoCash Payments from customers.
a. Merchants and Billers are required to liquidate funds in their wallets to their Bank accounts only.
4. Agents
a. Agents’ mobile money wallets are to be abolished with immediate effect
b. Funds in frozen Agent lines will only be liquidated into the Agent’s Bank Account. The
liquidation will require RBZ approval on a case by case basis
5. Bulk Payers
a. The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe shall only approve the use of Bulk Payer lines for purposes of:
i. Disbursing low-value payments, such as disbursements for humanitarian aid
ii. Payments related to agricultural activities
b. Funds in frozen Bulk Payer lines can only be liquidated into the Bulk Payer’s Bank
Account upon approval by the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe for each Bulk Payer
We would like to reassure all our valued customers that EcoCash is committed to offering mobile money services that make a difference in people’s lives.
We would also like to take this opportunity to thank you for your valued and continued support.
Source: ZBC
ZANU PF has sensationally claimed that targeted sanctions on some of its leaders and institutions is the reason why they are involved in mass corruption activities.
Addressing a Press conference at the ruling party’s headquarters in Harare yesterday, the ZANU PF spokesperson Patrick Chinamasa said the sanctions imposed on them are fuelling corruption as they have somehow incapacitated both Government and the private sector from providing competitive salaries, leaving workers susceptible to the pervasive vice.
He added that there is a clear link between corruption and the illegal sanctions imposed by some Western nations as punishment for embarking on the land reform programme.
“There is a relationship between sanctions and corruption, whereupon due to incapacitation of Government or the private sector to provide competitive salaries in the region, workers end up engaging in acts of corruption to supplement what they get which is, however, unfortunate.
“The illegal sanctions have affected our economy and continuously affect the value of our currency and consequently our returns. Again, due to sanctions our institutions mandated to fight corruption have been incapacitated to investigate swiftly both local and external cases,” said Chinamasa.
However, the United States, which still maintains the illegal sanctions has repeatedly said that the sanctions do not hurt ordinary Zimbabweans.
“It is for this reason that we implore and remind comrades in the media of their patriotic duty to report on corruption and call upon the removal of sanctions, the twin evils that are haunting our society. Daily we hear comrades in the media echoing the US Ambassador’s fake news narrative that Zimbabwean problems are a result of corruption and not sanctions.
“If sanctions were not meant to and are not affecting our economy, why have successive administrations in these countries and the US in particular kept these sanctions. For leisure or fun?” asked Chinamasa as he reiterated the call for the unconditional removal of the sanctions.
The party’s acting spokesperson added that the media should play a leading role in exposing corruption which is a threat to the nation Vision 2030 to become a middle-class economy.
“Zanu PF in 2018 earmarked the fight against corruption as one of its key deliverables and to achieve that President ED Mnangagwa declared a zero-tolerance to corruption towards building a corruption-free society,” he said.
With the fight against corruption a key priority, Chinamasa said the media was a key ally in the fight against the cancerous vice that is ubiquitous, which also rampant in churches and the civil society organisations.
Paul Nyathi
An alert Simba Chikanza of ZimEye.com on Tuesday foiled a poorly executed CIO effort to incriminate arrested MDC Alliance Vice Chairman Job Sikhala on insurgency charges this after a stranger called the media house raising claims that he was set to meet with Sikhala at some place in Mozambique to execute an unexplained move against the goverment of Zimbabwe.
The stranger who identified himself as France Museveni based in Botswana also threw in the names of MDC Alliance President Nelson Chamisa and Treasurer General David Coltart expressing willingness to meet with them in a place outside the country.
Watch the ZimEye.com exposè of the foiled move in the video downloading below. Please be patient while the video downloads.
Paul Nyathi
ZANU PF has confirmed yet again that it has completely closed the door for dialogue to discuss the issues of governance in the country especially on the widely recommended move of forming a transitional government.
The failing ruling party says forming a transitional authority to better the country’s fortunes will be in violation of the country’s laws.
As reported in the state media,
The party says that the country must wait for 2023 elections, and those wishing to take part in any dialogue should do so “in several dialogue platforms availed by President Mnangagwa to address whatever challenges afflicting the country”
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Mr Nick Mangwana said recent calls by United States Ambassador to Zimbabwe Brian Nichols for dialogue were unfounded as Zimbabweans were already dialoguing under the Political Actors Dialogue (POLAD).
“There is a platform for dialogue already. Everyone else came to that platform, there is only one political party that didn’t come for dialogue. President Mnangagwa has no problem with dialogue (and) that is why there is POLAD. There is nothing sinister about dialogue as long as people don’t think that dialogue is a power sharing platform. Dialogue is about Zimbabweans speaking to one another, charting a course for their country.
“The issue of a power sharing arrangement is not on the table as that is unconstitutional. Our Constitution is very clear. There is no room for such an animal, after the elections. We can only wait for 2023. The issue of who will govern this nation, that matter was settled in 2018. So that is not going to be a negotiated thing because that is a settled issue. If there is anything to talk about as to find out what is best for our country, Zimbabweans should talk to one another, but when it comes to political actors, the platform is there already,” said Mr Mangwana.
Zanu PF acting spokesperson Patrick Chinamasa yesterday told journalists that some foreign countries should seek clarity on what is happening in Zimbabwe instead of relying on fake news peddled by the country’sdetractors.
“We have noted the desire to present Zimbabwe as being in a crisis that is sponsored by civic rights groups working with the US and its allies to spread malicious fake news that Zimbabwe is in a crisis of human rights violations. Working with the MDC and ghost social media accounts and trolls created by one person, these groups are taking every opportunity they get to spread lies against the situation in our country.
“They also have recruited some sections of the local media to spread the malice, some who we know are paid to do that. While we reiterate that there is no crisis in Zimbabwe, we call upon concerned countries to seek clarity from the Foreign Affairs Ministry, Information Ministry or ourselves or visit Zimbabwe and experience the beauty, love, unity, peace and stability of our nation rather than relying on faceless organisations like Tajamuka,” said Chinamasa.
“We refer them to the POLAD Dialogue platform which shows our desire to unite the nation by carrying all views on board, we refer them to the periodic dialogue which the President is constantly having with the Matabeleland Collective groups to bring finality to Gukurahundi,” said Chinamasa.
Over the weekend, Mnangagwa was in Bulawayo where he held meetings with the MDC-led council to tackle problems bedevilling the second capital and another indaba with the Matabeleland Collective, an amalgamation of civic rights organisations in the region.
During the meeting with the Matabeleland Collective, the President reiterated his commitment towards tackling the emotive Gukurahundi issue as well as implementing stalled development projects in the region such as the Zambezi Water Project.
Chinamasa said this only goes to demonstrate the President’s commitment to engagement.
“The party wishes to applaud our President and his Government for sterling efforts in working with interest groups, churches and societal leaders in Matabeleland to find each other and bring finality to the Gukurahundi issue. Everyone acknowledges this was previously a very difficult topic to discuss.
“President Mnangagwa, however, must be saluted for taking the giant step to confront the Gukurahundi issue head on, allowing the affected to speak out and have reburials, access to birth certificates and healing addressed. Zanu PF is fully and emotionally behind President Mnangagwa’s act of statesmanship displayed in this ongoing initiative. The party further thanks the affected communities for their cooperation with Government to bring finality to this emotive issue,” said, Chinamasa.
Source: State Media
State Media
MDC Alliance vice chairperson Job Sikhala will know his fate today when a Harare magistrate makes a ruling on his application challenging placement on remand on charges of inciting public violence ahead of the foiled July 31 protests.
Harare magistrate, Mr Lazini Ncube, is expected to make the ruling this afternoon.
Sikhala, through his lawyers Advocate Eric Matinenga, Mr Jeremiah Bamu and Mr Harrison Nkomo, has challenged his placement on remand, saying the allegations raised by the State are insufficient to build charges against him.
The lawyers are arguing that the State failed to furnish the court with videos and audios which the police allege carry the words formulating his charges.
Prosecutors Mr Garudzo Ziyaduma and Mrs Tendai Shonhai said they had sufficient grounds to place Sikhala on remand.
The prosecutors contend that although Sikhala claimed to have been championing human rights, he should have done it within the limits of the country’s laws.
“The rights should be exercised with due regard of other citizens and the law,” said Mr Ziyaduma. “The deprivation of liberty is premised on facts that he overstepped his limits by calling for the protests.
“The human rights defender is also a citizen who should abide by the laws of the land.
“It was clear from what he did that it warrants the placement of accused on remand.
“The facts are sufficient to raise reasonable suspicion.”
Circumstances leading to Sikhala’s arrest are that between March 1 and August 21, 2020, he originated and posted videos on different social media platforms with intent to incite public violence.
In the videos, Sikhala is alleged to have said: “People from the Zambezi to Limpopo and Forbes Border Post to Victoria Falls, 31 July 2020 should be your day.
“This is the kind of war that we have. If we do not fight this war, nothing will come out until we die.
“These men have oppressed people for a long time.”
The State also alleges that Sikhala used his social media accounts to incite Zimbabweans living in the United Kingdom, Australia and South Africa to attack Zimbabwean embassies.
Specialist doctors at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals, the largest referral hospital in Zimbabwe, have notified hospitals of their decision to suspend their services over potential exposure to the novel coronavirus.
In a letter to the hospital’s medical superintendent last week, senior resident medical officers (SRMOs) said a sustained number of front line workers had contracted the deadly virus as a result of the inadequacy of personal protective equipment (PPEs) hence the decision to down tools.
The letter reads in part:
A considerable number of SRMOs have tested positive for SARS-COVID-19 and a sizeable number are showing symptoms of COVID-19 and await to be tested.
They further implored the superintendent’s office to order mandatory tests for all patients who are admitted.
The development comes when nurses have for a sustained period of time been on industrial action over poor salaries and potential exposure to Coronavirus.
Meanwhile, Dr Agness Mahomva, the chief coordinator for the national response to the COVID-19 pandemic in the Office of the President and Cabinet (OPC) recently said the health and welfare of frontline workers was a priority for the government.
Over 300 health caregivers have so far tested positive for the Coronavirus while some have since defected to the private sector in search of better conditions of service and remuneration.-Daily News
A GWANDA based cop died on the spot after he lost control of the vehicle he was driving and it rammed into a tree along the Bulawayo-Beitbridge Road in Nsindi area.
Matabeleland South provincial police spokesperson, Chief Inspector Philisani Ndebele confirmed the incident which occurred on Sunday at around 8PM at the 106 kilometre peg.
He said Paul Chiwoto (45) who was stationed at Gwanda Traffic was on his way to Gwanda from Bulawayo when the incident occurred.
“I can confirm that we recorded a fatal road accident involving a member of the police force which occurred along Bulawayo-Beitbridge Road.
Paul Chiwoto who was stationed at Gwanda Traffic was travelling along the said road in a Toyota Corolla vehicle.
Upon reaching the 106 kilometre peg in Nsindi area he lost control of the vehicle which veered off the road and hit a tree.
The scene was attended by the police and his body was taken to Gwanda Provincial Hospital Mortuary,” he said.
In another incident a mine worker from Gwanda died after a shaft he was working in collapsed burying him underneath.
Chief Insp Ndebele confirmed the incident which occurred on Sunday at Lerato Mine in Shape Farm.
He said the now deceased Notice Sibanda (35) was working in a 20-metre-deep shaft when it collapsed.
“I can confirm that we recorded a mine accident which occurred at Lerato Mine in Shape Farm.
Notice Sibanda was working with his colleagues when he entered a 20-metre-deep shaft to collect some gold ore samples. The shaft curved in and buried Sibanda underneath,” he said.
“His workmates dug him out and retrieved him from the shaft while he was still alive and they rushed him to Tshelanyemba Hospital where he died the following day while admitted.”
Chief Insp Ndebele urged mine owners and managers to ensure that their workers have all the necessary protective clothing when operating.
He said they also had to ensure that their mining areas were safe for workers.-Chronicle
ILLEGAL sanctions imposed on the country by some Western nations are fuelling corruption as they have incapacitated both Government and the private sector from providing competitive salaries therefore leaving workers susceptible to the pervasive vice, Zanu PF acting spokesperson, Cde Patrick Chinamasa said.
Addressing a Press conference at the governing party’s headquarters in Harare yesterday, Cde Chinamasa said there was a clear link between corruption and the illegal sanctions imposed by some Western nations as punishment for embarking on the land reform programme.
“There is a relationship between sanctions and corruption, whereupon due to incapacity of Government or the private sector to provide competitive salaries in the region, workers end up engaging in acts of corruption to supplement what they get which is however, unfortunate.
“The illegal sanctions have affected our economy and continuously affect the value of our currency and consequently our returns. Again, due to sanctions our institutions mandated to fight corruption have been incapacitated to investigate swiftly both local and external cases,” said Cde Chinamasa.
The illegal sanctions that manifested themselves as financial, trade, cultural, academic, sport embargoes, diplomatic isolation, travel bans, freezing of financial accounts of the national leadership have cost the country more than US$42 billion since 2001. However, the United States, which still maintains the illegal sanctions has been trying to hide behind a finger by claiming that the sanctions do not hurt ordinary Zimbabweans.
“It is for this reason that we implore and remind comrades in the media of their patriotic duty to report on corruption and call upon the removal of sanctions, the twin evils that are haunting our society. On a daily basis we hear comrades in the media echoing the US Ambassador’s fake news narrative that Zimbabwean problems are a result of corruption and not sanctions.
“If sanctions were not meant to and are not affecting our economy, why have successive administrations in these countries and the US in particular kept these sanctions. For leisure or for fun?” asked Cde Chinamasa rhetorically as he reiterated the call for the unconditional removal of the illegal sanctions.
The revolutionary party’s acting spokesperson added that the media should play a leading role in exposing corruption which is a threat to the nation Vision 2030 to become a middle class economy.
“Zanu PF in 2018 earmarked the fight against corruption as one of its key deliverables and to achieve that President ED Mnangagwa declared a zero tolerance to corruption towards building a corruption free society,” he said.
With the fight against corruption a key priority, Cde Chinamasa said the media was a key ally in the fight against the cancerous vice that is ubiquitous, which also rampant in churches and the civil society organisations.
He, however, said the media should be wary of being used to drive political agendas but must remain “frank and objective” and apply the highest standards of investigative journalism to unravel the intricacies inherent in corruption cases. -Herald
THE Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education has dismissed as misleading information circulating on social media to the effect that schools will reopen on September 2.
In a statement the ministry said schools remain closed until further notice.
“Contrary to misleading social media reports that schools will reopen on 2 September 2020 or 15 September 2020 for examination classes, the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education would like to reiterate to its valued stakeholders that the Government deferred the reopening of schools until further notice,” reads part of the statement.
“Government is currently in widespread consultations and will only announce any schools reopening date once Cabinet has taken a position.
It is in this light that the ministry advises all schools to remain closed until a Government directive on reopening is issued”.
According to the statement, those who defy the order for schools to remain closed may face criminal charges.
“Our valued stakeholders need to be advised that the ministry continues to prioritise health and safety as it strives to provide equitable, quality, inclusive, relevant and competence driven Primary, Secondary and Non-formal education at all times,” the statement said.
So far, Government has not come up with a position on the reopening of schools after they were closed in March due to the threat posed by Covid-19.
However, the June-July Zimbabwe School Examinations Council (Zimsec) public examinations were completed without a Covid-19 case being reported in centres countrywide.
There was nationwide anxiety when
Government announced the examinations would go ahead.
Teachers’ unions had said running them was risky and could spread the deadly virus.-Chronicle
Allegations that Helcraw Electricals supplied defective electricity meters were “cooked” in a bid to elbow the company out of the project, the firm’s managing director, Farai Jere, told a magistrate yesterday when giving evidence to support his application for bail on fraud charges.
He is being charged alongside two Zesa engineers over the supply of electricity meters and related equipment worth US$3 566 878 by his company, with the State alleging that he falsified documents to win the contract.
Jere, in his bail application, told Harare magistrate Mr Lazini Ncube that accusations against him stemmed from other companies and individuals that want to take over the meter supply project, which he said was past the pilot stage and now ready for roll out.
He was being led by defence lawyer Mr Tafara Hove when he took the witness stand to testify during his bail application.
Jere denied defrauding Zesa, saying the factory which the State alleges does not exist, is situated in the United Kingdom and he visited it along with Zesa management.
He is jointly charged for fraud with suspended Zesa engineers Leonard Chisina and Freeman Kuziva.
Jere said after the contract was awarded, Zesa was given an option to go to India or the UK where the meters were manufactured.
“During that time, engineers Chuma and Shereni were the ones involved in the project, including testing of the meters,” he said.
“We then went to the UK and we wrote a letter to ZETDC for names of officials that we needed to travel to the UK with and they gave us four names”.
Jere said Zesa decided to pay his company for the supplied meters after being satisfied with the quality of the products.
“On the contract, we were supposed to install 500 meters in each of the regions, which we did, and ended up installing 600 to their satisfaction,” he said.
Jere said Zesa had previous dealings with Secure Meters since in 2013, it supplied state-of-the-art statistical metering worth US$8,5 million and they are still functioning.
He said he was surprised to receive a complaint from Zesa saying the meters were not functioning according to their expectations two years after their supply since these meters had already passed their defect-liability period.-The Herald
Two former cabinet ministers have made applied to re-join the ruling Zanu-PFparty, two years after they were expelled, the Midlands provincial chairperson has said.
In an interview, ZANU-PF Midlands chairperson Daniel Mackenzie Ncube confirmed that former Minister of Sports Recreation, Arts and Culture, Makhosini Hlongwane and former Deputy Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Tapiwanashe Majaya Matangaidze are among former party members who have re-applied t be re-admitted into Zanu PF.
Hlongwane, a former ZBC reporter. was the legislator for Mberengwa East while the former Premier Soccer League president Matangaidze was the Shurugwi South legislator.
“We have applications from former ministers. We have got applications from Makhosini Hlongwane and Tapiwa Matangaidze. We will be sitting down to make our decision on them.”
“It’s something we should have done about two weeks ago, so we are trying to get a slot so that we can sit down and make the necessary recommendation to headquarters. We are far behind on the issue.
The provincial chairperson said Zanu-PF is a “big tent”, and that people who want to join or re-join the party were most welcome after being vetted.
“But they will have to be properly vetted and most likely they will start at the bottom of the rank,”said Mackenzie Ncube.
“ They will be observed over time to ensure that they are now compliant in everything they do.”
Hlongwane, Matangaidze and five other executive members were expelled from the party ove two years ago after Zanu-PF Midlands provincial executive accused them of misconduct, peddling falsehoods to the party’s leadership and dividing the province.
The other Midlands provincial executive members who were also affected Anastacia Ndhlovu, Lot Mpofu Chihwereva, Tsitsi Zhou, Mercy Mashunye and Tapiwa Njovana.
New Ziana
Leo Messi has sent a certified letter –
known as a burofax in Spain – to Barcelona, communicating his intention to leave the club.
The player intends to take advantage of a clause in his contact that allows him to unilaterally break the contract at the end of each season.
Messi believes he can still break his contract with Barcelona
Barcelona had understood that this clause expired at the end of each 31 May, meaning that the contract had automatically renewed for another year.
However Messi’s lawyers argue that the season within the meaning of the clause did not finish on 31 May due to the coronavirus pandemic and that Messi therefore retains the option to terminate the contract.
Where the contract had automatically renewed Messi’s buy-out clause of €700 million would still be in effect through to 30 June 2021.
According to various sources, Messi’s decision is final and he will not play for Barcelona again.-AS
Farai Dziva|MDC Alliance leader, Advocate Nelson Chamisa has said Zimbabwe is now an epicentre of evil actions.
President Chamisa also accused Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa of harassing innocent and hapless citizens.
President Chamisa also said:”This is the time to act.”
Watch video below :
https://youtu.be/hlZyzE_2Dsc
Farai Dziva|
The Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (ARTUZ) has urged government to postpone public examinations to May 21.
ARTUZ president Obert Masaraure argued November public examinations should be deferred to May 2021.
Masaraure, quoted by NewsDay, said :
The examinations will be forced down the throats of over 650 000 unprepared learners who had no access to remote learning after COVID-19-induced schools closure of 24 March 2020.
An average of 32 000 elite learners who enjoyed exclusionary access to online learning will be ready for these apartheid examinations.
Examination candidates have lost five solid months of learning time in the critical final year of their studies.
They are likely to lose more. Traditionally, these lost months are dedicated to completing the syllabi and embarking on a robust revision process to recall concepts covered in the first academic year of the two-year course.
It is practically impossible to frog march these ill-prepared learners into the examination room and expect them to cough out good results.
Stay aware of the latest information on the COVID-19 outbreak, available on the WHO website and through your national and local public health authority. Many countries around the world have seen cases of COVID-19 and several have seen outbreaks.
The situation is unpredictable so check regularly for the latest news.
You can reduce your chances of being infected or spreading COVID-19 by taking some simple precautions:
Regularly and thoroughly clean your hands with an alcohol-based hand rub or wash them with soap and water.
Why?Washing your hands with soap and water or using alcohol-based hand rub kills viruses that may be on your hands.
Maintain at least 1 metre (3 feet) distance between yourself and anyone who is coughing or sneezing.
Why? When someone coughs or sneezes they spray small liquid droplets from their nose or mouth which may contain virus. If you are too close, you can breathe in the droplets, including the COVID-19 virus if the person coughing has the disease.
Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth
Why? Hands touch many surfaces and can pick up viruses. Once contaminated, hands can transfer the virus to your eyes, nose or mouth. From there, the virus can enter your body and can make you sick.
Make sure you, and the people around you, follow good respiratory hygiene. This means covering your mouth and nose with your bent elbow or tissue when you cough or sneeze. Then dispose of the used tissue immediately.
Why? Droplets spread virus. By following good respiratory hygiene you protect the people around you from viruses such as cold, flu and COVID-19.
Stay home if you feel unwell. If you have a fever, cough and difficulty breathing, seek medical attention and call in advance. Follow the directions of your local health authority.
Why? National and local authorities will have the most up to date information on the situation in your area. Calling in advance will allow your health care provider to quickly direct you to the right health facility. This will also protect you and help prevent spread of viruses and other infections.
Keep up to date on the latest COVID-19 hotspots (cities or local areas where COVID-19 is spreading widely). If possible, avoid traveling to places – especially if you are an older person or have diabetes, heart or lung disease.
Why? You have a higher chance of catching COVID-19 in one of these areas.
Credit:WHO
Inserted by Zimbabwe Online Health Centre
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Councillor Kurauone Trial Postponed To September 24
https://t.co/KmcoIN0U8r pic.twitter.com/10a9PEByAn— ZimEye (@ZimEye) August 25, 2020
Farai Dziva|MDC Alliance leader, Advocate Nelson Chamisa has said Zimbabwe is now an epicentre of evil actions.
President Chamisa also accused Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa of harassing innocent and hapless citizens.
President Chamisa also said:”This is the time to act.”
Watch video below :
Councillor Kurauone Trial Postponed To September 24
https://t.co/KmcoIN0U8r pic.twitter.com/10a9PEByAn— ZimEye (@ZimEye) August 25, 2020
MDC Alliance supporters clashed with State agents during the trial of Councillor Godfrey Kurauone in Masvingo on Tuesday morning.
Watch video below :
https://youtu.be/53t5OxWFsqI
MDC Alliance supporters clashed with State agents during the trial of Councillor Godfrey Kurauone in Masvingo on Tuesday morning.
Watch video below :
THE country’s Covid-19 active cases have dropped to less than 1 000 for the first time in more than a month.
Since last month the country Covid-19 cases had been increasing following a surge in local transmissions.
The Ministry of Health and Child Care daily report shows that as of Sunday, Covid-19 active cases had dropped to just over 900.
On Sunday, 37 new cases were recorded while two people succumbed to Covid-19 related illnesses in Manicaland province as the death toll increases to 155.
“As of 23 August 2020, Zimbabwe has now recorded 5 930 cases, 4872 recoveries and two deaths,” reads the ministry’s report.
The report further states that the country has 903 active cases.-Chronicle
POPULAR preacher Nixon Chibuzor Ohizu, 46, the leader of Empowerment Ministries Church along Seke Road, Harare, has been arrested on allegations of bribery.
He allegedly tried to bribe National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) officials to reverse the cancellation of a lease agreement between his church and NRZ.
Ohizu was not asked to plead to the allegations when he appeared before Harare magistrate Richard Ramaboa last week.
He was remanded out of custody to October 1 on $10 000 bail and was ordered to surrender his passport.
Allegations are that on August 19, Ohizu went to NRZ offices where he found two high ranking officials, Colonel Nyabambi and Clive Ncube.
He allegedly tried to bribe the two officials to reverse the cancellation of a lease agreement between his church and NRZ served on him on August 7.
The two NRZ officials reportedly accepted a bribe offer of US$2 000 and he left the premises to collect the money.
The officials reportedly notified the police and a trap was set.
He allegedly gave US$2 000 to Ncube in $100 denominations, money which is being held as exhibit.
Prosecutor Sabastian Mutizirwa appeared for the State.-Daily News
ZENGEZA West constituency legislator Hon. Job Sikhala on Monday 24 August 2020 laid bare the grim conditions prevailing at Chikurubi Maximum Security Prison where he alleged that prisoners were dying after contracting coronavirus while detained at the notorious prison.
Through his lawyers Jeremiah Bamu, Advocate Eric Matinenga and Harrison Nkomo of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, Hon. Sikhala, who was arrested by Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) members on Friday 21 August 2020 and charged with incitement to commit public violence, told Magistrate Lazini Ncube that some inmates were dying in prison after contracting coronavirus.
Hon. Sikhala, who is detained in the D class section at Chikurubi Maximum Security Prison, which is reserved for some convicted people currently serving their prison sentences, protested that prison guards were ill-treating him and singled out two officers namely George Mutimbanyoka, the Officer In Charge of Chikurubi Maximum Security
Prison and a junior officer only identified as Murima who told him that he will die in prison.
Mutimbanyoka, Hon. Sikhala said, had asked him to advise prison guards about the identity of his next of kin so as to inform the person as he would die while detained in prison.
The Zengeza West legislator said he was being detained while handcuffed and in leg irons without personal protective equipment and asked the court that he be detained elsewhere other than Chikurubi Maximum Security Prison.
This ill-treatment by prison officers, Hon. Sikhala said, was a transgression of his fundamental rights.
In response, Magistrate Ncube said the complaints by Sikhala were serious as they affect every inmate’s health and ordered the state to conduct investigations into the state of conditions at Chikurubi Maximum Security Prison and to furnish the court with a report.
The 48 year-old Hon. Sikhala returns to court on Wednesday 26 August 2020 when Magistrate Ncube will hand down his ruling on his application challenging his placement on remand. Through his application, Hon. Sikhala is arguing that he did not commit an offence
warranting to be arrested and detained through recording and circulating the alleged videos as he was exercising his constitutional rights to freedom of expression and petition.
Hon. Sikhala was arrested on Friday 21 August 2020 and charged with incitement to commit public violence as defined in section 187(1)(a) as read with section 36(1)(a) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act.
He was also charged with incitement to commit public violence as defined in section 187(1)(b) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act as read with section 36(1)(b) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act or alternatively incitement to participate in a gathering with intent to promote public violence, breaches of peace or bigotry as defined in section 37(1)(a) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act.
ZRP officers alleged that the Zengeza West constituency legislator incited people between 1 March 2020 and 21 August 2020 to participate in public demonstrations that would cause public violence and breach of peace among people in Zimbabwe on 31 July 2020 and on 31 August 2020 by posting video clips with some inciting messages.
Meanwhile, Harare Magistrate Ngoni Nduna on Monday 24 August 2020 denied bail to freelance journalist Hopewell Chinóno, who has been in detention since 20 July 2020 when he was arrested by ZRP members and charged with inciting people to revolt against President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration during some planned anti-government
protests.
ZRP members charged Chin’ono with incitement to participate in a gathering with intent to promote public violence, breaches of peace or bigotry as defined in section 187(1)(a) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act as read with section 37(1)(a)(i) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act.\
ZRP members also pressed alternative charges of incitement to commit public violence as defined in section 187(1)(a) as read with section 36(1)(a) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act.
The law enforcement agents alleged that Chin’ono, who is represented by Advocate Taona Nyamakura, Gift Mtisi and Douglas Coltart of ZLHR, allegedly posted various messages on his Twitter account using the handle @daddyhope between May 2020 and July 2020 calling upon Zimbabweans across the country to engage in acts of public violence against the government on 31 July 2020.
The journalist allegedly posted several messages on Twitter which read; “@Ngarivhume and many others have come to put their hands up and said they will lead anti-looting demo on 31 July”, “Zimbabwe will never be free from looters through elections it is just a waste of time” and “If you feel like shouting#zanuPFMustGo and Mnangagwa and his regime has failed, how they will go will be determined by history and yet Mnangagwa refuses change will come by any means.”
ZRP members alleged that by posting such messages Chin’ono intended to disturb the peace, security or order of the public.
This is the third time that Chinóno has been denied bail after the first two unsuccessful bids before Magistrate Nduna in July and before High Court Judge Justice Tawanda Chitapi.
Besides Chinóno, Harare Magistrate Trynos Utahwashe on Friday 21 August 2020 denied bail for the third time to Transform Zimbabwe party leader Jacob Ngarivhume, who has been in jail for more than one month after he was arrested on 20 July 2020.
Magistrate Utahwashe said Ngarivhume, who is represented by Moses Nkomo of ZLHR, cannot be freed on bail because he was a danger to the public.
Ngarivhume was arrested by ZRP members on Monday 20 July 2020 and charged with incitement to participate in a gathering with intent to promote public violence, breaches of peace or bigotry as defined in section 187(1)(a) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act as read with section 37(1)(a)(i) of the Criminal Law (Codification and
Reform) Act. He was also charged with incitement to commit public violence as defined in section 187(1)(a) as read with section 36(1)(a) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act.
Prosecutors alleged that Ngarivhume incited people to revolt against President Mnangagwa’s administration during some planned anti-government protests called for 31 July 2020.
-ZLHR
Watch video on the tweet below:
#GodfreyKurauone 's lawyer Martin Mureri addresses journalists outside Masvingo Magistrate Courts this afternoon. @ZimMediaReview pic.twitter.com/3KFpWbGvw7
— TellZim News (@TellZimbabwe) August 25, 2020
China and Russia are the two countries that have played a major role in many African countries’ fight for independence. It is a historic fact that most of these African countries have since found that they got rid of one oppressive and exploiting colonial power only to inherit another.
For whatever help assistance, mostly guns and other war materials and military training, the two Asian countries gave to each African country; they not only kept a tag but kept a lodger on how the every penny plus interest would be paid.
As each African country attained her independence, China and Russia saw to it that the country fell into its sphere of influence. Where the two countries had supported separate liberation movements, which was very often the case, there was a proxy war as happened in Angola and Mozambique.
Before the newly independent country has had time to sober up from the euphoria of independence and the end of the war; China and Russia would present the new leaders with the IOY and detailed proposals on how the bill can be paid.
Russia’s proxy, Mozambique Liberation Front (FRELIMO) led by the late Samora Machel, defeated the colonial rulers and the Chinese proxy to form the governing party in that country. Within weeks a fleet of Russian fishing vessels claimed exclusive fishing right off the coast Mozambique and many, many more such one-sided and exploitative deals were to follow.
In Zimbabwe, it was China’s proxy Zanu PF led by the late Robert Gabriel Mugabe that prevailed over the Russian back PF Zapu. The Chinese presented Mugabe with the IOY and the exploitation of Zimbabwe by China started in earnest.
The exploitative deals were so lucrative, China and Russia would recover every penny of the IOY ten times within the first decade, two decades.
With the exception of one or two countries most African leaders did not want to share power and thus imposed a de jure or de facto one-party dictatorship. Both China and Russia have assisted in this and thus cementing their continued influence in Africa to this day.
There is no such thing as a free lunch, certainly not from the Chinese and Russians. It is therefore surprising that the Chinese Embassy in Harare had the chic to claim otherwise!
“The Standard carried an article on August 23 by Tawanda Majoni. By questioning Anjin’s return, the author falsely claims the Chinese government is somehow involved in Anjin’s business deals and conflicts in the country, which is a distortion and smearing of the Chinese foreign policy towards Zimbabwe,” reported News Day,
“The piece is full of unfounded accusations, conjectures and sheer lies, proving nothing but an appalling lack of common sense and self-confidence.”
It is no exaggeration to say corruption is the root cause of all Zimbabwe’s political, economic and social problems. And nothing epitomises the sheer extend and depth of the rampant corruption than the wholesale looting of the country’s Marange and Chiadzwa diamonds. The wealth from the sell of diamonds, valued at US$ 2 million plus a month, should have been used in the country’s developed is instead going into the pockets of the few ruling elite. Worst of all, the looted wealth is being used to bankroll the Zanu PF dictatorship and thus keeping it in power against the democratic wishes of the people.
The Chinese company Anjin has been at the very heart of the looting of diamonds in Zimbabwe. It is laughable that the Chinese Embassy should now try to disown Anjin!
China’s foreign policy towards Zimbabwe is premised of the later paying back China for the military and other assistance Mugabe received before independence and thereafter. Anjin is one of the many Chinese companies who have benefited from this policy.
Indeed, Anjin’s diamond mining operations were terminated and the company booted out of Zimbabwe by the late Zanu PF dictator, Robert Mugabe, after he publicly complained of nations that have made promises that they have failed to honour.
The people of Zimbabwe remember, no doubt the Chinese Embassy officials don’t remember and need reminding, of the many “mega deals” Mugabe signed with China. Deals that were never honoured.
Patrick Chinamasa, then Minister of Finance and a member of the high powered delegation accompanying Mugabe to China, admitted that the Chinese had complained of Zimbabwe’s failure to pay its debts.
“Shǒuxiān chánghuán zhàiwù!” (First pay your debts!) the Chinese told Mugabe to his face!
No doubt, Mugabe did not take the demand to pay up seriously; after all he, of all people, knew that ever since the country’s independence whatever the Chinese had given to Zimbabwe with one hand they always took away took back and more with the other hand. Mugabe’s fallout with the West; he has maintained it was over the seizure of white owned farms to give to blacks, but the truth is it was over the failure pay debts; forcing him to adopt the “Look East!” policy. The move left Zimbabwe totally dependent on China and with the greater dependence came greater exploitation!
So when China insisted on Zimbabwe paying its outstanding debts before it would spend one more Yuan on the “mega deals”; Mugabe’s knee jerk reaction was to booted out Anjin!
A few moon after Anjin was booted out of Zimbabwe, Mugabe was himself booted out of office in the November 2017 military coup; history will reveal what role China played in this. Emmerson Mnangagwa, who succeeded Mugabe, signed an impressive list of “mega deals” forming the skeleton Zanu PF’s 2018 election manifesto.
Mnangagwa disregarded his own earlier promise to hold free, fair and credible elections and, instead, blatant rigged the July 2018 elections. What further role, beside the mega deals promise, the Chinese played in the rigged elections, time will tell. Anjin was back in Marange and Chiadzwa soon after the July 2018 elections; no doubt Mnangagwa thanking the Chinese for their help in getting him into State House.
Needless to say, most of the “mega deals” Mnangagwa signed with China have not materialised nor are they likely to ever materialise. And we all know why. “Shǒuxiān chánghuán zhàiwù!” That’s right!
It is not likely that Mnangagwa will dare vent his frustration with the Chinese’s refusal to bankroll at least one of the mega deals and give him something to boast about. The western nation is dismissal of the July 2018 elections as a farce and his government as an illegitimate and pariah state has left Mnangagwa high and dry.
The country’s worsening economic situation has made the ordinary people more restless and desperate for real change. To hang on to power, Mnangagwa has resorted to brute force. The pressure for meaningful change is mounting and it is as clear as day, that change is coming. It would be unwise to boot out Anjin out of Zimbabwe and earn the wrath of the Chinese.
“Chinese government is NOT involved in Anjin’s business deals or Zimbabwe’s internal affairs. To suggest otherwise is a distortion and smearing of the Chinese foreign policy towards Zimbabwe!”
Nonsense, China is but Zimbabwe’s new colonial master and corrupt one-side business deals and meddling in Zimbabwe’s internal affairs to keep Zanu PF in power at all cost are core pillars of China’s foreign policy towards Zimbabwe!
She has been assaulted, arrested and detained in the course of her career, and now Beatrice Mtetwa, one of Zimbabwe’s most famous human rights lawyers, faces the threat of being struck off the professional register.
Remember that iconic photograph of a lawyer, dressed in green prison garb, climbing into the back of a police truck and turning to wave undaunted to supporters in Harare in 2013? That was Mtetwa.
“The system is afraid of her. She is steadfast, determined & resolute. Don’t omit her when names of heroes of this generation are called,” Zimbabwean activist Victor Chimhutu said in a tweet earlier this week.
For more than two decades Mtetwa has taken on high-profile cases in the defence of human rights and press freedom in the southern African country.
Mtetwa was born in Swaziland (now Eswatini) and moved to Zimbabwe to practice law in 1983. Her name has frequently appeared in international news copy, due to the cases and clients she’s taken on.
These include human rights activist Jestina Mukoko, director of the Zimbabwe Peace Project, who was abducted, held incommunicado and tortured by security agents in 2008, when the late Robert Mugabe was still president.
Glare of cameras
Mtetwa helped to successfully defend Mukoko when she was finally brought to court on terrorism charges, which were also levelled against a number of opposition activists. at the time.
Long before Hopewell Chinono, who she has been defending in court this month, she had a history of defending journalists, including Andrew Meldrum, who worked for Britain’s Guardian newspaper. Mtetwa got Meldrum acquitted of “publishing a falsehood” in 2003. The state went on to deport him.
Having contacts in the press has sometimes come in useful for Mtetwa.
She told the Committee to Protect Journalists in a 2005 interview that getting as many reporters as possible to accompany her on potentially dangerous assignments helped.
“In the glare of cameras I find that people don’t want to do what they would want to do,” she said. “So in a lot of ways I think I’ve been lucky, and I haven’t received as much harassment as one would have expected, or as much as other human rights defenders have had.”
It hasn’t always worked. Mtetwa, who has won numerous awards, including the 2014 International Women of Courage Award and the 2005 International Press Freedom Award, was assaulted in police custody in 2003 and beaten by riot police armed with truncheons during a protest march in 2007.
‘Another level of madness’
She was also arrested while defending a client in 2013 ahead of presidential polls and held in police custody for more than a week.
This week she was accused of undermining the justice system.
Keep up to date with international news by downloading the RFI app
Magistrate Ngoni Nduna on Tuesday barred her from representing detained journalist and anti-corruption activist Hopewell Chin’ono, and urged state prosecutors to get her practising certificate cancelled.
In a tweet following the ruling, the EU delegation in Harare said: “We urge the authorities to respect the right of accused persons to bail & representation by a lawyer of their choice.”
Evan Mawarire, the founder of the #ThisFlag movement, who was defended by Mtetwa after he was charged with treason over last year’s anti-government protests, said the court’s decision to bar Mtetwa from Chin’ono’s case was “another level of madness.”
He tweeted: “Beatrice the one woman super power gave them hell and they lost their marbles.”
State Media
A GWANDA based cop died on the spot after he lost control of the vehicle he was driving and it rammed into a tree along the Bulawayo-Beitbridge Road in Nsindi area.
Matabeleland South provincial police spokesperson, Chief Inspector Philisani Ndebele confirmed the incident which occurred on Sunday at around 8PM at the 106 kilometre peg.
He said Paul Chiwoto (45) who was stationed at Gwanda Traffic was on his way to Gwanda from Bulawayo when the incident occurred.
“I can confirm that we recorded a fatal road accident involving a member of the police force which occurred along Bulawayo-Beitbridge Road. Paul Chiwoto who was stationed at Gwanda Traffic was travelling along the said road in a Toyota Corolla vehicle. Upon reaching the 106 kilometre peg in Nsindi area he lost control of the vehicle which veered off the road and hit a tree. The scene was attended by the police and his body was taken to Gwanda Provincial Hospital Mortuary,” he said.
In another incident a mine worker from Gwanda died after a shaft he was working in collapsed burying him underneath.
Chief Insp Ndebele confirmed the incident which occurred on Sunday at Lerato Mine in Shape Farm. He said the now deceased Notice Sibanda (35) was working in a 20-metre-deep shaft when it collapsed.
“I can confirm that we recorded a mine accident which occurred at Lerato Mine in Shape Farm. Notice Sibanda was working with his colleagues when he entered a 20-metre-deep shaft to collect some gold ore samples. The shaft curved in and buried Sibanda underneath,” he said.
“His workmates dug him out and retrieved him from the shaft while he was still alive and they rushed him to Tshelanyemba Hospital where he died the following day while admitted.”
Chief Insp Ndebele urged mine owners and managers to ensure that their workers have all the necessary protective clothing when operating. He said they also had to ensure that their mining areas were safe for workers.
By A Correspondent- President Mnangagwa has received 100 tonnes of mealie meal from a local company, Better Brands Jewellery, to be distributed to vulnerable communities affected by Covid-19.
The donation was handed over to the President at State House this morning.
Vice Presidents Constantino Chiwenga and Kembo Mohadi, Ministers and Senior Government officials were in attendance as the donation was being handed over to the President.
Speaking after receiving the donation, Mnangagwa said the company had shown a good gesture and lauded Better Brands’ chief executive, Mr Scott Sakupwaya for his good heart in helping others.
“We are thankful. This is a good gesture. If we have many young people with such a good heart, then we are assured the nation will move on. This will reduce the burden,” he said.
Mr Sakupwaya said his company saw it fit to help those in need during these hard times.
“We have seen it fit that during this difficult time we also help people in need. The 10 0000 by 10 kilogrammes bags of mealie will be distributed by the President to those in need, where there is need,” he said.
-Newsday
I think political pressure on Zanu regime needs to be spread out. It’s long over due. We all so the wonders the #Zinbabweanlivesmatter did in one week as far as raising awareness around the world. The truth is the MDC Alliance alone does not have enough resources at this juncture to cover all bases.
The party is under a constant hurricane of pressure from the regime which is hell-bent on incarcerating its leadership. Our only trump card shouldn’t be the threat of demos.
A political struggle needs more. The struggle for a democratic and functional Zimbabwe needs a lot of ‘social capital’ especially from outside Zimbabwe. Those who have come across the concept of social capital will know it’s essentially about having a wide network of people who back your cause so to speak.
In terms of the Zim crisis, if various officially non party political groups, charities and international celebrities are involved in both raising awareness of the problem and giving material support (including intellectual support), the people on the ground will benefit a lot and governments which have influence on the regime will have no choice but to pressurise the regime’s handlers in South Africa. Incidentally, this is how apartheid was ended.
The black people of South Africa received a lot of social capital from the outside world (civil rights groups, celebrities etc) which led to stringent sanctions and serious political pressure on the handlers of the regime in South Africa. ANC alone did not have the capacity to fight the Apartheid Regime.
For example, it’s as clear as day that the MDC in the UK alone cannot raise the funds needed by the activists on the ground, that is a fact! Therefore, there needs to be space for other organisations led by Zimbabweans, the British or International citizens who then work with the MDC UK and Ireland or directly with the people in Zimbabwe towards the same goals.
This should be the next step as far as the MDC in the diaspora is concerned. The current political and economic model for the party is pretty much reacting to events in Zim. Those of us outside Zim can theorize and argue about the same old wretchedness that is being carried out by Zanu, but the struggle is on the back foot.
There is a whole lot of dynamism required in the diaspora. People in the MDC UK need to be given the space to source other support or to create avenues of support for the struggle without some of the inconvenient elements of the beaurocracy in the party. No single body has ownership on helping the people on the ground.
BBC
THE International Monetary Fund (IMF) has expressed concern about the president of Zambia dismissing the governor of the country’s central bank, just days after a cut in interest rates alongside a warning about the country’s economic problems.
President Edgar Lungu fired Denny Kalyalya on Saturday, without giving a reason and replaced him with a former deputy finance minister, Christopher Mphanza Mvunga, a close ally.
The ousted central bank head has been credited with stabilising the Zambian economy.
The IMF believes that stability in developing countries has relied on the increased independence of central banks from government.
In a statement the fund said: “it is imperative that central banks’ operational independence and credibility is maintained, particularly at this critical time, when economic stability is threatened by the Covid-19 pandemic.”
The summary dismissal of the governor of the Bank of Zambia also provoked criticism from South Africa’s Finance Minister Tito Mboweni, who demanded an explanation.
In a message posted on Twitter he said: “Presidents in Africa must stop this nonsense.”
However, that attracted a reprimand from the South African President, Cyril Ramphosa, who assured the Zambian government that the finance minister’s “unfortunate remarks do not reflect the views” of the government.
Tito Mboweni admitted his criticism of the president of Zambia had got him into trouble, but he refused to back down saying “central bank independence is key, not negotiable.”
That view from South Africa echoes the concerns of the IMF, about the independence of the Bank of Zambia from the government.
By A Correspondent- The Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions has announced that all workers’ unions should mobilise their constituencies for a national strike starting Monday August 31 2020.
In a tweet posted Tuesday afternoon, the workers’ body urged workers to protest at their workplaces demanding United States dollars.
Said the ZCTU:
From Monday 31 August, we have called for workplace protests every Mondays aimed @ expressing our Demand for USD SALARIES. We are also protesting against EXPLOITATIVE Working Conditions, Deepening POVERTY Economic & Social CRISIS and Endemic CORRUPTION
All UNIONS are called to mobilize!
From Mon 31 August we have called for workplace protests every Mondays aimed @ expressing our
Demand for USD SALARIES
And protesting against
EXPLOITATIVE Working Conditions
Deepening POVERTY
Economic & Social CRISIS
Endemic CORRUPTIONAll UNIONS in are called to mobilize pic.twitter.com/3r1Zglgaqt
— ZCTU – Zimbabwe (@ZctuZimbabwe) August 25, 2020
The MDC-T party led by Thokozani Khupe has submitted to the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission its list of candidates to replace expelled MDC Alliance Proportional Representative legislators who were expelled from Parliament at the former’s instigation.
The MDC-T has nominated seven (7) candidates to fill the MDC Alliance’s vacant seats in the National Assembly, with Khupe top of the list.
The party has also submitted to ZEC eight (8) of its members to fill the MDC Alliance vacant seats in the Senate. Below are the lists:
National Assembly
Khupe Thokozani
Musarurwa Winfielda Yvonne
Moyo Lindani
Sawuke January
Munochinzwa Memory
Sibanda Lwazi
Mokone Sipho
Senate
Ndlovu Dorothy Molly
Phugeni Khaliphani
Moyo Tamani
Moyo Getrude
Denga Piniel
Ndlovu Chief
Khumalo Nomalanga
Chisorochengwe Teti
At 6pm tonight, I offload how these Mnangagwa criminals were today trying to plant evidence against @jobsikhala Sikhala in Mozambique, I will release the phonecall evidence. How low can you get @edmnangagwa ?
— Simba Chikanza (@schikanza) August 25, 2020
VIDEO LOADING BELOW…
State Media
The Ministry of Primary and Secondary education has dismissed as misleading news circulating on social media to the effect that schools will be re-opening on 2 September.
In a statement today the Ministry said schools remain closed until further notice.
“Contrary to misleading social media reports that schools will reopen on 2 September 2020 or 15 September 2020 for examination classes, the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education would like to reiterate to its valued stakeholders that the Government deferred the re-opening of schools until further notice,” reads part of the statement.
“Government is currently in widespread consultations and will only announce any schools re-opening date once Cabinet has taken a position.
“It is in this light that the Ministry advises all schools remain closed until a Government directive on re-opening is issued”.
According to the statement, any school that defies the order to remain closed may face criminal charges.
“Our valued stakeholders need to be advised that the Ministry continues to prioritise health and safety as it strives to provide equitable, quality, inclusive, relevant and competence driven Primary, Secondary and Non-formal education at all times,” it said.
Prior to the latest development there his been growing anxiety among Zimbabweans after a news article started circulating purporting that the school reopening for examination classes was imminent.
The Matabeleland Forum, a break away group from Jenny Williams led Matabeleland Collective, says any initiative that seeks to deal with the Gukurahundi atrocities must be coordinated by the National Peace and Reconciliation Commission (NPRC) which is constitutionally mandated to promote national healing in the country.
Matabeleland Forum also claims to represents the clergy and civil society organisations in the Matabeleland region as claimed by the Collective.
The claims by the Forum comes after President Mnangagwa met the leadership of Matabeleland Collective at the Bulawayo State House on Saturday where they came up with a plan of action to issue out documentation to victims of Gukurahundi.
The NPRC was not present at the meeting.
In a statement, Matabeleland Forum said it acknowledged that Zimbabwe’s constitution mandates the NPRC to “promote national healing, encourage people to tell the truth about the past and make sure there is post-independence conflict justice and reconciliation.”
The forum said it would not support any reconciliation process that failed to recognise principles, truth telling and conflict transformation.
The grouping also called for a national dialogue as expressed in the Pastoral letter from the Zimbabwe Catholic Bishop Conference dated August 14, 2020.
“As the Matabeleland Forum we support the need for dialogue, truth telling and reconciliation towards Nation Building.”
While acknowledging past efforts by the government through the Office of the President and Cabinet to engage with Civil Society in Matabeleland and the traditional leaders to address the past injustices in particular the Gukurahundi genocide, the Forum expressed concern at the deteriorating human rights situation in the country.
“We are further concerned that the Government of Zimbabwe has responded with disdain and contempt to the contents of the statements and position papers deposited by the various non-state actors.”
In an effort to foster nation-building, reconciliation and accountability, the Matabeleland Forum proposed that efforts that seek to promote reconciliation with regards to Gukurahundi massacres should avoid tokenism and must place the affected individuals and survivors at the fore.
“Truth-telling must be conducted ahead of any compensation or assistance to the victims and or survivors of Gukurahundi. An inclusive and holistic approach must be considered to make sure there is sustainable conflict transformation within affected communities,” said the forum.
The umbrella body also said the issue of exhumations of Gukurahundi victims should be guided by a policy framework in accordance with the Constitution and International Norms.
“Non-State Actors should be allowed to present evidence-based reports on the political, social and economic impact of the Gukurahundi Genocide before the relevant Parliamentary Portfolio Committee(s),” said the grouping.
Source: Centre for Innovation and Technology (CITE)
Paul Nyathi
The Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services has barred Beatrice Mtetwa from visiting jailed journalist Hopewell Chinono.
Mtetwa who was blocked from representing Chinono in court by a Harare Magistrate attempted visiting “her client” at the complex but was barred by the prison authorities.
The authorities have since written the letter below to Mtetwa:
The Thokozani Khupe led MDC-T stands accused of throwing recalled Mayor Herbert Gomba and five others under the bus despite reports that he chipped in with funds towards the suspended July 31 Extra Ordinary Congress (EOC).
A source close to the events said Gomba and another Harare Councillor, Hammy Madzingira financed the EOC to save themselves from an impending recall.
“At the beginning of the Parliamentary recalls, some councilors were told that they will also face the axe. Gomba and Madzingira of Sunningdale were part of those targeted. Sensing danger they went and approached members of the MDC who promised that they will make sure that they won’t be recalled.
“Gomba and Madzingira pumped in money that was going towards sponsorship of the congress. The two were in comfort zone bragging that they won’t be recalled. It seems they had been giving someone money thinking it was getting to the party.” said the source for fear of reprisals
However, MDC-T spokesperson Dr. Khaliphani Phugeni dismissed the reports claiming that party funding comes from taxpayers.
“There’s no truth whatsoever to such claims. The MDC-T receives funding from the taxpayers therefore we don’t take money from our deployees for congresses!” said Phugeni.
Gomba and Madzingira who were once buddies before a fallout are currently on remand facing charges of corruption and abuse of office in relation to the illegal sale of residential and commercial stands.
Together with four other Harare Councilors, they were recalled from council on allegations that they had ceased to be MDC-T members by associating with the Nelson Chamisa led MDC Alliance.
Efforts to get a comment from Gomba were fruitless as his mobile number was not reachable.
263chat
The Zimbabwe dollar once again fell against the United States dollar at today’s auction but by only 48 cents.
It averaged $83.40 down from $82.92 last week.
A total of US$15 million was allotted to both the main auction and the small and medium enterprises auction with the main auction getting US$14.1 million and the SME auction US$960 791.84.
Some 33 bids out of 139 were disqualified in the main auction while only 10 out of 85 were rejected in the SME auction.
The bulk of the money, $8.8 million, went to raw materials, machinery and equipment.
The highest rate offered today was $88 and the lowest $75.
Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube has promised to provide more money to the auction market as 87 percent of the country’s imports are now funded by the auction market.
Source: 263chat
Mashonaland Central Provincial War Veterans Chairperson, Samuel Parirenyatwa has labelled Catholic Bishops as puppets who are serving foreign interests after they called out the government on its human rights abuses in recent weeks.
The Bishops’ letter was met with restraint from the government when Information Minister torched a tribalism storm after she said the leader, Bishop Robert Ndlovu, represents a minority, Ndebele group.
Her sentiments were preceded by a 22 paged response to the Bishops by Justice Minister, Ziyambi Ziyambi, who said the clerics were harbouring political ambitions.
The sledging has not stopped as the war vets have also weighed in saying the Bishops are wolves in sheep’s clothing as they have an agenda they are serving.
“I think everybody was somewhat surprised to get such a letter from people considered to be men of the cloth. Men of the cloth are considered to be people who preach peace, love and respect and when you see them now preaching violence and disunity then you begin to wonder if they are really men of the cloth or they are just wolves in sheep’s clothing.
“We were surprised to see the so-called Bishop Ndlovu and his team making such a pronouncement, we thought that maybe if they could do such a thing, they should at least check the facts on the ground and rely on tangible facts not rely on fiction.
“We then understand that these are not really men of the cloth as they are pronouncing themselves but they are actually people being used to destabilize the country,” Parirenyatwa said.
He said contrary to the Bishops’ claims of a crisis, there is no human rights crisis in Zimbabwe. Parirenyatwa said the only crisis in the country is the one caused by sanctions and COVID-19.
He said the public should ignore the statement because”it is a non-entity.
He further stated that his organisation and its affiliates have since stopped treating the Bishops as men of the cloth but as politicians.
“It should be noted that from now on, the rules of politics now apply when dealing with People like Ndlovu and his group
Paul Nyathi
Job Sikhala has been sent back to Chikurubi Prison For another night after Harare magistrate Lazini Ncube postponed ruling on his application not to be placed on remand.
He was arrested last Friday accused of inciting the public to commit violence. Sikhala is challenging the charges brought against him by State claiming they do not constitute an offence.
“Speaking out cannot be by any means interpreted as inciting violence,” Matinenga told the court.
“Political bantering using the words ‘fight’ and ‘war’ does not constitute inciting violence.
“It is very sad that we do not have a culture of tolerance in this country. Instead of protecting those who want to demonstrate or petition, they are sent away from the streets yet the Constitution provides for this,” the lawyer added.
The state said the charges brought against Sikhala showed that his message in the videos encouraged violence by inciting people to besiege Zimbabwe’s embassies in foreign countries.
“He said he is not afraid meaning that he was taking a confrontational approach. We do not dispute that citizens have rights, but they should be exercised within the law by also safeguarding other people’s rights,” the prosecutor told the court.
“Sikhala is a human rights defender but he is also a citizen. If he oversteps, the law will catch up with him.”
The magistrate is expected to hand down his ruling Wednesday afternoon.
Godfrey Bakasa has hit out at South African football agent Mike Ngobeni over comments on Khama Billiat over the weekend.
Bakasa, who is known as Vokal, says he now manages the player and Ngobeni has no right to talk on his behalf since they parted ways last year.
The South African agent was quoted in The Standard newspaper giving his thoughts on Billiat’s under-performance at Kaizer Chiefs. He said the forward is going through a rough patch, maybe, due to the coach’s different demands.
“It’s a phase, which is affecting everyone [at Kaizer Chiefs]. But to some people it’s like he is the only one playing there,” Ngobeni told the publication.
“Sometimes it depends on what the coach requires from a player.
“Maybe the coach wants him to come from deep inside to collect the ball and start the build-ups, while maybe other coaches from his previous clubs wanted him to focus only on the attack.”
Responding to comments, Bakasa disowned Ngobeni, saying he can’t talk about Billiat because he is no longer his client.
“Mr Ngobeni and Khama stopped working together last year, there was an official notification sent to him, and he acknowledged,” Bakasa said, according to H-Metro.
“We were surprised by Mr Ngobeni’s recent comments on Khama’s footballing status.
“All this happened because the media wasn’t notified of the developments.”
Bakasa went on to reaffirm that he is now managing the player and will ‘attend to all tasks regarding his football business’.-Soccer 24
Brazilian football legend Ronaldinho is now free to return to Brazil after he was released from house arrest in Paraguay on Monday.
The 40-year old was arrested along with his brother, Roberto Assis (who is also his business manager), in March for trying to enter the South American country using a fake passport.
They spent a month behind bars before paying a $1.6 million bail each to get under house arrest at the plush Palmaroga Hotel in Asuncion.
The pair have now been released with Ronaldinho paying a fine of $90,000, while Assis has been fined $110,000 “to repair social damage”.
“The precautionary measure of arrest is lifted, there are no more restrictions placed by Paraguayan justice,” Judge Gustavo Amarilla told the court on Monday.-Soccer 24
At 6pm tonight, I offload how these Mnangagwa criminals were today trying to plant evidence against @jobsikhala Sikhala in Mozambique, I will release the phonecall evidence. How low can you get @edmnangagwa ?
— Simba Chikanza (@schikanza) August 25, 2020
Mamelodi Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane says the odds are not in their favour ahead of the top-of-the-table clash against Kaizer Chiefs on Thursday.
The two teams are separated by three points and the result in their meeting could shape the title race with three matches left thereafter.
Speaking to SuperSport TV after Sundowns won 1-0 against Golden Arrows on Monday, Mosimane said:
“The coming game [against Kaizer Chiefs] is not in our favour, nothing is in our hands, the title is on Chiefs to lose, not on us.
“We’re just chasing, they’ve got the goals, they’ve got the points, they can’t ask for more. I would have swapped my positions with them, to be honest. I think [Ernst] Middendorp is in a good position.”-Soccer 24
Farai Dziva|
The Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (ARTUZ) has urged government to postpone public examinations to May 21.
ARTUZ president Obert Masaraure argued November public examinations should be deferred to May 2021.
Masaraure, quoted by NewsDay, said :
The examinations will be forced down the throats of over 650 000 unprepared learners who had no access to remote learning after COVID-19-induced schools closure of 24 March 2020.
An average of 32 000 elite learners who enjoyed exclusionary access to online learning will be ready for these apartheid examinations.
Examination candidates have lost five solid months of learning time in the critical final year of their studies.
They are likely to lose more. Traditionally, these lost months are dedicated to completing the syllabi and embarking on a robust revision process to recall concepts covered in the first academic year of the two-year course.
It is practically impossible to frog march these ill-prepared learners into the examination room and expect them to cough out good results.
Marshall Munetsi played the entire ninety minutes of Stade de Reims’ season opener against Monaco on Sunday.
The Zimbabwean was deployed as one of the two defensive midfielders in a 4-2-3-1 formation.
His team managed to control the game in the initial periods, taking a two-goal cushion after the 21st-minute mark, thanks to efforts from Boulaye Dia in the early moments of the tie and then El Bilal Toure.
But the hosts came back into the game in the injury time of the first half through Axel Disasi. They levelled the terms ten minutes from the interval courtesy of Benoit Badiashile to share the spoils at fulltime.
Meanwhile, another Zimbabwean player in the French Ligue 1, Tinotenda Kadewere, will not be in action in this opening weekend as his Lyon side will only play their first game of the season on next Friday against Dijon.
The delay is due to the team’s involvement in the Uefa Champions League.-Soccer 24
Cold temperatures slow the rate of inflammation.
Applying an ice pack to the area as soon after a bite as possible will reduce inflammation, itching, and discomfort.
Avoid putting ice directly on the skin, wrap it in a cloth or towel first.
Applying a topical antihistamine to a bite may help treat itching.
One study suggested that some antihistamines might be an effective treatment for mosquito bites.
Histamine is a chemical that the body releases as part of the inflammatory response to a mosquito bite.
It is histamine that causes itching, and antihistamines help to prevent histamine from taking effect.
People can take antihistamines in pill form, but other options include topical creams that a person can apply directly to the bite.
Hydrocortisone cream is a topical medication that can reduce inflammation and itching.
Hydrocortisone is available over the counter and on prescription but may not be suitable for everyone.
Children, pregnant women, or those with skin infections should not use hydrocortisone cream.
People should use these creams in moderation and only over short periods, or for as long as a doctor recommends in the case of prescription hydrocortisone.
Concentrated forms of heat might be useful for treating mosquito bites. One study from 2011 in Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology looked at the effectiveness of a device that emits concentrated heat. In most cases, the device was able to reduce the discomfort resulting from insect bites within 10 minutes of its application.
The study took place at beaches and bathing lakes in Germany. It is important to note, however, that of the 146 people in the study, only 33 had mosquito bites, with the majority having wasp stings.
There is some evidence that aloe vera can treat skin conditions, including
psoriasis. It has a wide range of potential uses and people usually apply the gel to the skin to relieve burns, frostbite , and
cold sores.
Some research on rats showed that Aloe littoralis, which is a close relative to aloe vera, might have anti-inflammatory and wound-healing properties.
The scientists concluded that A. littoralis might help reduce the inflammation from mosquito bites and applying a gel may soothe the area, too.
Honey may have properties that make it useful for healing wounds .
Applying honey to a bite may help reduce inflammation and prevent infection, and in a similar way to aloe, applying it to the skin may also help soothe the area.
A person should see a doctor if a bite lasts longer than a week or shows signs of infection.
Sometimes, mosquito bites and other insect stings can cause allergic reactions. This can lead to an anaphylactic shock in extreme cases.
Anyone who experiences any of the following symptoms will require immediate medical attention:
breathing problems, swelling,
nausea,
vomiting,
dizziness.
It is also possible for mosquito bites to cause an infection.
If the bite lasts longer than a week or causes significant discomfort, consult a doctor.
Although it is difficult to avoid mosquito bites completely, people can reduce their chances of being bitten by:
using insect repellent
covering exposed skin as much as possible
using mosquito nets at night
installing mosquito screens on windows and doors
being aware of visiting places with a high density of mosquitoes or other insects
Avoiding all mosquito bites can be difficult.
However, home remedies can help reduce itchiness or irritation and provide comfort until a bite fully heals.
Source :Medical News Today
Inserted by Zimbabwe Online Health Centre
For more information follow /like our Facebook page :Zimbabwe Online Health Centre
email :[email protected]
Twitter :zimonlinehealthcentre
@zimonlinehealt1
YouTube: zimbabwe online health centre
Councillor Kurauone Trial Postponed To September 24
https://t.co/KmcoIN0U8r pic.twitter.com/10a9PEByAn— ZimEye (@ZimEye) August 25, 2020
From Mon 31 August we have called for workplace protests every Mondays aimed @ expressing our
Demand for USD SALARIES
And protesting against
EXPLOITATIVE Working Conditions
Deepening POVERTY
Economic & Social CRISIS
Endemic CORRUPTIONAll UNIONS in are called to mobilize pic.twitter.com/3r1Zglgaqt
— ZCTU – Zimbabwe (@ZctuZimbabwe) August 25, 2020
Farai Dziva|MDC Alliance leader, Advocate Nelson Chamisa has said Zimbabwe is now an epicentre of evil actions.
President Chamisa also accused Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa of harassing innocent and hapless citizens.
President Chamisa also said:”This is the time to act.”
Watch video below :
By A Correspondent- The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education has dismissed as misleading reports which suggested that schools will reopen on the 2nd of September.
The Ministry issued a statement this Tuesday saying schools remain closed until further notice.
Reads part of the statement:
Contrary to misleading social media reports that schools will reopen on 2 September 2020 or 15 September 2020 for examination classes, the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education would like to reiterate to its valued stakeholders that the Government deferred the re-opening of schools until further notice.
Government is currently in widespread consultations and will only announce any schools re-opening date once Cabinet has taken a position.
It is in this light that the Ministry advises all schools remain closed until a Government directive on re-opening is issued.
The Ministry also threatened action against schools that would reopen without the government’s permission.
Social media was awash with messages which also urged candidates to prepare for the November examinations.
Schools were prematurely closed in March after the country had recorded cases of the coronavirus.
-statemedia
Farai Dziva|MDC Alliance leader, Advocate Nelson Chamisa has said Zimbabwe is now an epicentre of evil actions.
President Chamisa also accused Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa of harassing innocent and hapless citizens.
President Chamisa also said:”This is the time to act.”
Watch video below :
Julie Askana: when I say our justice system is captured pic.twitter.com/tgct3K4n5T
— ZimEye (@ZimEye) August 25, 2020
Farai Dziva|In an interview with ZimEye.com, MDC Alliance Youth Assembly national deputy spokesperson, Womberaiishe Nhende accused the police of taking orders from Zanu PF.
Scores of MDC Alliance were on Tuesday morning barred from attending Councillor Godfrey Kurauone’s trial.
Kurauone’s wife was also barred from attending her husband’s trial.
Also watch video below:
By Israel Dube- Even if you, Jenni Williams and members of your little known Matabeleland Collective, count it repeatedly, it will never be more than 30 pieces of silver, the price money paid to selfish and greedy sellouts who betray innocent blood.
No no no! The lives of Matabeleland genocide victims, living or dead, are not worth a mere 30 pieces silver.
“This meeting was called so that we discuss the implementation matrix of our programme to address the challenges of the victims which include issues to do with exhumation and issuance of birth and death certificates.
We are ecstatic that the President has reaffirmed his commitment to these programmes as we start implementing them. I must therefore assure people in the various communities that we will now be coming to them to both engage and implement these programmes,” said Ms Williams.
This statement can tell that you have no idea of what you are doing or talking about as far as Matabeleland genocide is concerned. What is evident is that you are assisting and abating Matabeleland genocide perpetrators to bury the evidence and get away with murder.
You are undermining and weakening Matabeleland cause. Obviously, your eyes are too focused on money that the government of Zimbabwe is giving you to sanitise it and therefore failing to read the tense political climate in Matabeleland and the anger of the people of Matabeleland.
The clouds of war are massing up in the horizon while you are busy collecting blood money from our enemies. Uphambana lomumo womkhathi.
The best you can do is withdraw from Matabeleland genocide matter and leave it to politicians who have the knowledge and capacity to deal with it.
Further more, this should be clarified as a matter of urgency for the benefit of Jenni Williams and her little known Matabeleland Collective and a few others who might develop an appetite for blood money.
MLO does not recognise Matabeleland Collective and the National Peace & Reconciliation Commission, two organisations which were hurriedly formed by Matabeleland genocide perpetrators in an effort to rescue themselves from facing justice.
Its outcome will be rejected with contempt it deserves as it will be that of the perpetrator, which is the government of Zimbabwe.
Matabeleland genocide is a political issue. It was perpetrated by a political party in government, without consulting anyone, and therefore its solution lies within the political framework.
That is where MLO comes in and we are here to see the end of this issue. We are here to see that justice is done in Matabeleland. We here to see that the people of Matabeleland are free from the oppressive government of Zimbabwe. We do not need anyone’s invitation.
We firmly stand on our two demands ie the restoration of Matabeleland state and US$100 billion compensation for Matabeleland genocide.
We are happy that the government of Zimbabwe has finally recognised and acknowledged Matabeleland genocide after 40 years of denial and trying by all means possible to get rid of the evidence. It is now time to pay.
MLO will make sure that the above demands are met in full. In the mean time the government of Zimbabwe may continue to play political games like it has been doing for the last 40 years.
It can continue wasting its scarce financial resources paying Judas Iscariots of our time like Jenni Williams of Matabeleland Collection and Justice Sello Nare of National Peace and Reconciliation Commission.
But they will not ignore MLO forever. No one ignores the AK47. The AK 47 has a history of solving tough and complicated problems.
The lives of the people of Matabeleland are not worth 30 pieces of silver.
Izenzo kungemazwi!
MLO Secretary for Information and Public Affairs
Cold temperatures slow the rate of inflammation.
Applying an ice pack to the area as soon after a bite as possible will reduce inflammation, itching, and discomfort.
Avoid putting ice directly on the skin, wrap it in a cloth or towel first.
Applying a topical antihistamine to a bite may help treat itching.
One study suggested that some antihistamines might be an effective treatment for mosquito bites.
Histamine is a chemical that the body releases as part of the inflammatory response to a mosquito bite.
It is histamine that causes itching, and antihistamines help to prevent histamine from taking effect.
People can take antihistamines in pill form, but other options include topical creams that a person can apply directly to the bite.
Hydrocortisone cream is a topical medication that can reduce inflammation and itching.
Hydrocortisone is available over the counter and on prescription but may not be suitable for everyone.
Children, pregnant women, or those with skin infections should not use hydrocortisone cream.
People should use these creams in moderation and only over short periods, or for as long as a doctor recommends in the case of prescription hydrocortisone.
Concentrated forms of heat might be useful for treating mosquito bites. One study from 2011 in Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology looked at the effectiveness of a device that emits concentrated heat. In most cases, the device was able to reduce the discomfort resulting from insect bites within 10 minutes of its application.
The study took place at beaches and bathing lakes in Germany. It is important to note, however, that of the 146 people in the study, only 33 had mosquito bites, with the majority having wasp stings.
There is some evidence that aloe vera can treat skin conditions, including
psoriasis. It has a wide range of potential uses and people usually apply the gel to the skin to relieve burns, frostbite , and
cold sores.
Some research on rats showed that Aloe littoralis, which is a close relative to aloe vera, might have anti-inflammatory and wound-healing properties.
The scientists concluded that A. littoralis might help reduce the inflammation from mosquito bites and applying a gel may soothe the area, too.
Honey may have properties that make it useful for healing wounds .
Applying honey to a bite may help reduce inflammation and prevent infection, and in a similar way to aloe, applying it to the skin may also help soothe the area.
A person should see a doctor if a bite lasts longer than a week or shows signs of infection.
Sometimes, mosquito bites and other insect stings can cause allergic reactions. This can lead to an anaphylactic shock in extreme cases.
Anyone who experiences any of the following symptoms will require immediate medical attention:
breathing problems, swelling,
nausea,
vomiting,
dizziness.
It is also possible for mosquito bites to cause an infection.
If the bite lasts longer than a week or causes significant discomfort, consult a doctor.
Although it is difficult to avoid mosquito bites completely, people can reduce their chances of being bitten by:
using insect repellent
covering exposed skin as much as possible
using mosquito nets at night
installing mosquito screens on windows and doors
being aware of visiting places with a high density of mosquitoes or other insects
Avoiding all mosquito bites can be difficult.
However, home remedies can help reduce itchiness or irritation and provide comfort until a bite fully heals.
Source :Medical News Today
Inserted by Zimbabwe Online Health Centre
For more information follow /like our Facebook page :Zimbabwe Online Health Centre
email :[email protected]
Twitter :zimonlinehealthcentre
@zimonlinehealt1
YouTube: zimbabwe online health centre
(THE 31ST. JULY DEMONSTRATION CONVENER
We endure the mental pains of missing a promising Leader who is imprisoned for alerting our Government, and specifically the Head of State of the prevailing systemic corruption and looting that has grown rampant in his government, right from within his cronies to lower ranks of leadership within our society. We bemoan such mistaken identity in arrest, believing, a day of reckoning and reasoning will come for his liberation and our joy is coming.
Jacob Ngarivhume, is well known in the political circles for one bold statement, that, and I quote *” The failure of Zimbabwe is a failure of leadership.”*
On completing his degree, in Statistics, he worked as a consultant in research and consequently formed an organization Voice of Democracy (VOD), whose sole objective was to research, expose and lobby for a paradigm shift in government leadership mindset regarding handling human rights. He realised that this first organisation had little influence and impact in pressurising for national leadership change and then formed an interdenominational organization, Prayer Network Zimbabwe (PNZ) in 2010, whose objectives entailed praying for the national, leadership as well as capacity building for future national leadership.
Within two years, PNZ membership had grown to more than 100 000 because of a well coordinated approach which involved elders from various churches who appreciated this programme.
A 3 day PNZ Convention in 2013, led to the formation of Transform Zimbabwe a Christian values based Political Party at which JN was unanimously nominated its President for his sound Visionary leadership.
Transform Zimbabwe became active in national politics where JN mobilised and led Zimbabweans to demonstrate and stand against injustices done by the Government, namely,
★ the introduction of the National Schools Pledge, a creed which was imposed by Lazarus Dokora the then Minister of Education
★ the march against the introduction of the Bond Note introduced by the Reserve Bank as a surrogate currency.
Stop Blaming Start Acting Cleanup Campaign nationwide, upon realising that both the local and national governments had neglected providing basic social amenities in the cities, towns and growth points.
In all these acts, JN managed to draw people from across the political and religious divide, civic society and organisations to participate and win attention of Government and remedial actions were effected.
In the build up to the 2018 Harmonised Elections, the late hero Morgan Tsvangirai invited Jacob Ngarivhume and his Party to form an Alliance which created a strong opposition front to contest against the ruling party whose leadership had made a trail of poor and failed governance decisions that had brought the socio-economic status of this nation to it’s knees. JN had to buy in to this idea as he had a strong desire for change in government. He had to relinquish contesting as a presidential candidate in 2018 in the spirit of uniting the opposition to a formidable force that would win more seats and dilute the ruling party influence and power; if not winning even the presidential seat for a change. However, this was not to be come the election results.
“The failure of Zimbabwe is a failure of leadership.” He ever said.
In early July this year, JN could not stomach the uncontrolled continuous corruption and looting by the second republic leadership at the expense of the suffering masses, thus his outburst and blast, declaring a day 31 July for a Demonstration if the Head of Government would not immediately confront this hernias systemic act by government officials.
It is a mistake for the Government to have arrested JN, as it should have consulted him as to where he sees corruption being rampant. It called for the listening President to deploy the Zimbabwe Anti Corruption Commission for fact finding mission with JN first than to arrest him.
The Zimbabwe Anti Corruption Commission has not even dared to visit the prisoner to investigate what he has seen to bring this national outcry and draw such international attention.
Perhaps it’s some of his ministers colluding with the West, the government enemies looting our natural resources, our gold or hard earned foreign currency. The Government has not dared to give ear. By the way, JN has spiritual eyes and ears to see and hear what the naked physical eyes and ears can’t comprehend
Surely, the failure of Zimbabwe has been the failure of its leadership.
JN stands out for the people and his voice and outcry needs the attention of our leaders in government. The voice of the people is the voice of God, as our President normally proclaim.
Let’s investigate this matter Zimbabwe.
All the political parties, the civic society and international community and the general populace within and in the diaspora are urged to stand in solidarity with this right minded leader to press for his release from the Chikurubi dungeon for he has a story to tell.
Matabeleland Region Sympathisers and Supporters of Jacob Ngarivhume.
#Zimbabwelivesmatter
# Release Jacob Ngarivhume and Hopewell Chin’ono.
Farai Dziva|In an interview with ZimEye.com, MDC Alliance Youth Assembly national deputy spokesperson, Womberaiishe Nhende accused the police of taking orders from Zanu PF.
Scores of MDC Alliance were on Tuesday morning barred from attending Councillor Godfrey Kurauone’s trial.
Kurauone’s wife was also barred from attending her husband’s trial.
Also watch video below:
THE country’s Covid-19 active cases have dropped to less than 1 000 for the first time in more than a month.
Since last month the country Covid-19 cases had been increasing following a surge in local transmissions.
The Ministry of Health and Child Care daily report shows that as of Sunday, Covid-19 active cases had dropped to just over 900.
On Sunday, 37 new cases were recorded while two people succumbed to Covid-19 related illnesses in Manicaland province as the death toll increases to 155.
“As of 23 August 2020, Zimbabwe has now recorded 5 930 cases, 4872 recoveries and two deaths,” reads the ministry’s report.
The report further states that the country has 903 active cases.-Chronicle
MDC Alliance supporters clashed with State agents during the trial of Councillor Godfrey Kurauone in Masvingo on Tuesday morning.
Watch video below :
Riot back at Masvingo Magistrate Court. At 14:15pm magistrate will court give judgement on removal from Remand of Councillor @godfreykurauone @SABCNews @ZimEye @SADC_News https://t.co/eS2k16h0cs
— Masvingo Province (@Citizens4Chamis) August 25, 2020
By A Correspondent| Zanu PF aligned youths today caused a scene at the Media Centre in Harare where Pastor Shingi Munyeza was a guest speaker.
According to an eye witness, Dr Pedzisai Ruhanya, the visibly drunk youths disrupted proceedings while they confronted Munyeza who has of late been fiercely opposed to the way the country is being run by Zanu PF and President Emmerson Mnangagwa,
Munyeza is part of the Presidential Advisory Council, a body put in place to advise Mnangagwa.
WATCH VIDEO posted on Pedzisai Ruhanya’s Twitter…..
This is what we call lawlessness, @ShingiMunyeza encountered it today from rogue Zanu PF youths pic.twitter.com/kpZtFnq4PO
— Pedzisai Ruhanya (@PedzisaiRuhanya) August 25, 2020
Bulawayo voters are plotting an overwhelming rejection of MDC-T leader Thokozani Khupe following her nomination to fill the proportional representation seat for Bulawayo.
This followed the recall of MDC Alliance legislators by Khupe’s party after the Supreme Court nullified the election of Nelson Chamisa to replace the late party founder Morgan Tsvangirai.
Last week, ZEC gazetted that Khupe and other politicians from her party were nominees set to fill in seats in the National Assembly and Senate that fell vacant following their recalling from Parliament of MDC Alliance MPs by the MDC-T Secretary-General Douglas Mwonzora.
Following the gazetting of the names, ZEC chairperson Justice Priscilla Chigumba invited voters with objections to lodge them with her office before the nominations are confirmed.
On Sunday, some voters in Bulawayo East held an emergency meeting in Mahatshula where they resolved to block Khupe’s nomination.
“As Bulawayo East voters, we are saying during the July 2018 harmonised elections, we overwhelmingly voted for the MDC Alliance led by Nelson Chamisa. Our constituency and our votes contributed to the cumulative provincial votes which formed the basis for the allocation of the proportional representative according to the Electoral Act,” said Gilbert Sibanda, who is spearheading the objection process.
“ZEC has a duty to respect our choices and should not allow the MDC-T to usurp our rights to choose our preferred representatives. Failure to abide by this duty is a clear infringement of our rights of association as spelt out in Section 58 of the Constitution,” he said Gilbert Sibanda.
Sibanda said voters in the constituency feel cheated by the replacement of their elected MPs by someone who was not voted for.
“The whole essence of elections the world over is for people to choose their representatives. Why have elections when people’s preferred candidates can be replaced by other people without the approval of their political parties?”
He said his team will this week hold meetings in all the constituency’s wards mobilising voters to lodge their objections.
Sibanda said they are also planning to meet voters in other affected constituencies and share notes on how best they can “protect their choices”.
Besides Khupe, other names set to replace expelled MDC Alliance MPs are; Yvonne Musarurwa, Lindani Moyo, January Sawuke, Memory Munochinzwa, Lwazi Sibanda, Sipho Mokone, Molly Dorothy Ndlovu, Tamani Moyo, Gertrude Moyo, Piniel Denga, Chief Ndlovu, Nomalanga Khumalo, and Teti Chisorochengwe. Khupe’s spokesperson Khalipani Phugeni has also been nominated.
By-elections are expected to be held soon for parliamentary seats that also fell vacant following the recall of more MDC Alliance MPs who include secretary general, Charlton Hwende, organising secretary Amos Chibaya, former chief whip Prosper Mutseyami, and Highfields West MP, Happymore Chidziva.
-Online
By A Correspondent- A 30 year old jilted husband from Jejeti Village, Kasibo area under Chief Whange set his former mother-in-law Mrs Moyo’s homestead on fire after his wife Nobuhle Mrs Moyo’s daughter left him, the Chronicle reports.
Absalom Nkomo had gone to Mrs Moyo’s house at night to enquire about his wife’s whereabouts and he was told she was not home and he proceeded to set Mrs Moyo’s huts on fire in a fit of rage.
According to the publication, Mrs Moyo and her 2 granddaughters survived the fire because they were already outside the house when he set the houses on fire.
The matter came to light in court where Nkomo stood accused of malicious damage to property. It is the state’s case that:
On the 9th day of August at around 11pm the complainant was in her bedroom hut with her grandchildren when the accused arrived. The accused asked his mother-in-law about his wife Nobuhle Moyo’s whereabouts and the complainant told him that she didn’t know where her daughter was. The accused became furious and insulted the complainant
Nkomo threatened to burn a kitchen hut and a bedroom hut unless they disclosed his wife’s whereabouts. Mrs Moyo and her granddaughters went out of the bedroom hut and begged Nkomo not to burn their huts but he became more violent, the court was told. Nkomo then entered the kitchen hut and took a burning log which he used to set the same hut alight.
Nkomo was fined $6000 by Hwange magistrate Ms Rangarirai Gakanje who also sentenced him to 10 months in prison before suspending 2 months on condition of good behaviour and also suspended the remaining 8 months on condition that he restitutes $203 400 the total value of the property destroyed in the fire and US$25 by Monday next week.
-statemedia
By A Correspondent- The ruling ZANU PF has instructed its newly elected Bulawayo Provincial executive committee to start recruiting new members for the party to retain power in the expected 2023 elections.
The party’s political commissar, Victor Matemadanda who is also the deputy minister of Defence and War Veterans Affairs spelt out the huge task for the Bulawayo committee. He said:
As the party, we have a 5 million target which we have set for ourselves. Remember the president has put a vision but before we get to that vision we have said 2018 elections have created problems for us.
The president was in the same bracket with the opposition (2 million bracket). What we plan to do is to have a 5 million vote in the 2023 election so that the margin is big for all to see.
Fifteen (15) members of the 25-member executive committee for Bulawayo Province were elected at the event with reports saying the remaining 10 will be filled in due course.
While President Emmerson Mnangagwa and the ruling party are adamant that they have since fulfilled most of the promises made during the 2018 harmonised elections, some cite the socio-economic and political crises in the country as a failure on the party of the government.
-statemedia
High Court bail hearing for Jacob Ngarivhume set for Thursday, 27 August 2020.
Ngarivhume has been denied bail for a record three times, twice at Harare Magistrates Court and once at High Court.
He was arrested in the run-up to the 31 July planned protests and has been languishing in remand prison since then.
More to follow….
By Fanuel Chinowaita- Magistrate Ncube has ordered the immediate sanitisation of prison cells at Maximum Chikurubi today.
Ncube responded to MDC Alliance National Deputy Chairperson Job Sikhala’s order that the cells should be fumigated.
Through Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights Sikhala said:
“I do not feel safe being detained at Chikurubi prison and i want to be detained anywhere else except Chikurubi.
“The State must also fumigate cells and provide PPE to inmates.”
It is reported that Sikhala was locked, in the D class section of Chikurubi where four inmates had tested Covid 19 positive.
The Zengeza West legislator was not given Personal Protective Equipment exposing him to the disease.
By Patrick Guramatunhu- ”Sadly, I too tested positive for the Covid-19 virus. This virus is real and we need to fight it by following the guidelines that our Government has given us which is in line with the WHO regulations,” said Lands, Agriculture, Water, Climate and Rural Resettlement Deputy Minister Vangelis Peter Haritatos.
Deputy Minister Haritatos, you were tested for covid-19 as soon as you suspected of catching the virus; possibly as soon as you learned your boss, the late Minister Perrance Shiri had the virus.
Do you know that there are hundreds of thousands of frontline workers, like nurses and doctors, who work with covid-19 patients without the recommended WHO PPE, not even the most basic face mask?
Deputy Minister, do you also know that WHO has recommended that frontline corona virus workers must be tested on regular basis? In Zimbabwe, many of the nurses and doctors let alone the ordinary people with the corona virus symptoms, are not being tested.
As soon as you learned you had the corona virus, you went into isolation to protect your family and friends. Has it ever occurred to you that all those poor Zimbabweans who have the virus but don’t know it because they are denied a US$6 test would too want to go into isolation to protect their family and friends?
Zimbabwe has carried out a total of 145 000 tests as of the end of July, that is 1 in 110 people tested. Compared to SA that has done 3 million tests which 1 in 20. This is contrary to the WHO clarion call to “Test! TEST!! TEST!!!”
There is a sinister reason why Zanu PF is not testing aggressively, at least not testing povo. The regime is hiding its blundering incompetence in the handling of the pandemic by sweeping the grime reality under the carpet.
Zimbabwe’s confirmed covid-19 cases and deaths is one of the lowest per capita in the world. Whilst other nations have earned the accolade by stamping out the virus Zimbabwe is cheating. Of course, if you do not test you will keep the confirmed cases and deaths very low.
The price of not testing is that many, many infected people who should be in isolation remain in the community spreading the virus far and wide. It is the povo, not the ruling elite, who are paying with their suffering and deaths for Zimbabwe’s rigged corona virus statistics!
Zanu PF is blatantly rigging the corona virus statistics, just as the regime has rigged the country’s elections, with the usual callous indifference to tragic suffering and deaths the spreading corona virus is causing to the ordinary people. Deputy Minister Haritatos, please, please spare us your insulting lies; the criminal negligence and dereliction of duty to save lives by this Zanu PF government is not what WHO ordered!
Harare Magistrate Lazini Ncube will tomorrow make a determination on the application by MDC Alliance Deputy Chairperson Job Sikhala against his placement on remand.
Addressing journalists outside the Harare Magistrates Court, Sikhala’s lawyer Jeremiah Bhamu said after submissions from both sides, Ncube will make a determination at 1400hrs.
Sikhala is challenging his placement on remand insisting that the charges being levelled against him do not constitute a criminal offence.
More to follow….
By A Correspondent- The ruling ZANU PF has instructed its newly elected Bulawayo Provincial executive committee to start recruiting new members for the party to retain power in the expected 2023 elections.
The party’s political commissar, Victor Matemadanda who is also the deputy minister of Defence and War Veterans Affairs spelt out the huge task for the Bulawayo committee. He said:
As the party, we have a 5 million target which we have set for ourselves. Remember the president has put a vision but before we get to that vision we have said 2018 elections have created problems for us.
The president was in the same bracket with the opposition (2 million bracket). What we plan to do is to have a 5 million vote in the 2023 election so that the margin is big for all to see.
Fifteen (15) members of the 25-member executive committee for Bulawayo Province were elected at the event with reports saying the remaining 10 will be filled in due course.
While President Emmerson Mnangagwa and the ruling party are adamant that they have since fulfilled most of the promises made during the 2018 harmonised elections, some cite the socio-economic and political crises in the country as a failure on the party of the government.
-statemedia
WATCH MDC Alliance Youth Leader Godfrey Kurauone’s lawyer Martin Mureri speak to ZimEye outside Masvingo High Court today
WATCH VIDEO LOADING BELOW…..
https://www.facebook.com/watch/live/?v=315244289793925¬if_id=1598345356335781¬if_t=live_video_explicit
By A Correspondent- Zanu Pf’s Victor Matemadanda has attacked United States President Donald Trump, accusing him of fuelling chaos in Zimbabwe by sponsoring protests through civil society organisations and the opposition MDC Alliance.
Said Matemadanda:
“They (opposition) think things won’t work without the Americans or the British, others brag that they are a phone call away from Trump. The sell-outs call America and even resort to faking kidnappings.
There is a (Economic Freedom Fighters leader, Julius) Malema in South Africa who thinks he knows Zimbabwe more than we do. Zanu PF and ANC [African National Congress] are sister parties. We want to maintain the relations because we know that after defeating Zanu PF today, they will go after ANC and other sister lib-eration movements.”
The Zanu PF national political commissar accused Malema of working with exiled former Zanu PF members based in South Africa to portray Zimbabwe as a country in crisis.
“We want to know who our real enemy is. Malema and (former Local Government minister Saviour) Kasukuwere say people were denied their rights to march, yet those who organised say they did not want to do that. Malema is a fool. You can say now that those we have here are stooges, the pushing factor is from outside – the Trumps when they blow their trumpets,” he said.
-Newsday
