Top economic analyst Vince Musewe has come to the defense of the government over its controversial move to re- offer land to former commercial farmers, violently repossessed during the chaotic land reform exercise saying the narrative in the public domain was misleading.

Posting on Twitter, Musewe urged people to get facts right on the government move which he said was not about reversing the land reform exercise.

“There is NO land reform reversal I don’t know who created that narrative. Let’s get the facts right. Returning farms to foreigners and those blacks with title whose land was wrongly repossessed is not a reversal of anything. Compensation is also the right thing to do,” said Musewe.

“There is this false myth that ALL white farmers unfairly inherited stolen land. That is another false narrative. Most of them bought that land in the market place post 1980 just as blacks also bought land post 1980 and the latter are getting their land back,” he added.

Government has also clarified that only those farmers covered by BIPPAs entered into between Zimbabwe and countries such as South Africa, Germany and Netherlands.

State Media

Zimbabweans who benefited under the Land Reform Programme should not panic, but focus on improving productivity since their farms will not be repossessed, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Monica Mutsvangwa has said.

Speaking during a live ZBC Radio Zimbabwe programme yesterday afternoon, Minister Mutsvangwa reiterated that the land redistribution programme was irreversible, although a few indigenous farmers were likely to be affected by re-allocations, while 37 farms covered by Bilateral Investment Promotion and Protection Agreements (BIPPAS) would be offered back to former farmers.

The remarks follow spirited efforts by some MDC Alliance and exiled G40 politicians who are claiming that Zimbabwe was now reversing the Land Reform Programme, through the US$3,5 billion Global Compensation Deed announced by Government.

Compensation for improvements done on farms is in line with the Constitution, the Zanu PF 2018 election manifesto, a position held even in the opposition MDC and civic society.

The funds to be used for compensation would be sourced from the international market, and not locally, while the payments will be done gradually and not once-off.

Said Minister Mutsvangwa: “There is absolutely nothing that should be misinterpreted from this agreement.

“It’s very clear, it’s not a form of land reform reversal. What Zimbabwe now want is agricultural productivity, that’s what we want.”

In a joint statement on Wednesday, Lands, Agriculture, Water and Rural Resettlement Minister Dr Anxious Masuka and Finance and Economic Development Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube, reiterated the irreversibility of the Land Reform Programme.

Minister Mutsvangwa yesterday challenged farmers to focus on boosting productivity through the Pfumvudza programme.

Senior opposition MDC official and economist, Dr Tapiwa Mashakada, yesterday said: “Some of the farms belonged to South African nationals, Swiss nationals, German nationals, Italians, Malaysians and other states.

“We must remember that acquisition without compensation by the Government infuriated Western countries who were not happy with the act of acquiring the land including BIPPA farms without compensation.”

Farai Dziva|MDC Alliance is mobilising voters to reject the attempt by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission to replace the party’s MPs with nominees from Thokozani Khupe’s political formation.

MDC Alliance Secretary General Chalton Hwende, quoted by NewsDay, accused ZEC of violating the rights of thousands of voters who chose legislators of their choice.

“It is the same as what happened in 2018 when a man who lost the Presidential elections was sworn in as President.

What is happening now is that Zanu PF is using Zec in a subtle process of stealing seats from MDC Alliance and giving them to the MDC-T.

We are not surprised, they can do what they want, but we will not betray the people’s struggle.

They took away the rights of people who woke up at 4am to go and cast their votes.

I am here in Kuwadzana doing projects and residents are already signing their objections to imposition of MPs by ZEC and Khupe.

A number of people will challenge this move throughout the country, but we also know that dictators do not respect the Constitution and will do anything to subvert the people’s vote,” said Hwende.

Paul Nyathi

President Emmerson Mnangagwa has signed into law new provisions increasing the retirement age of civil servants from sixty years to sixty five years.

In a circular to all ministries, signed by the Public Service Commission Secretary, goverment said that all employees who have reached the age of sixty need not apply to extent their retirement until they reach sixty five years.

Below is the circular:

Xinhua

HARARE: The government said Thursday it is keen to preserve the pristine condition of the country’s largest game park, Hwange National Park, in the western part of the country.

Environment, Climate, Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister Mangaliso Ndlovu made the remarks at a press conference following reports that government had granted special permits to two foreign companies to mine coal in the vast game reserve.

“We are trying to look at different ways of resolving the issue. Obviously we are not too keen to disturb a national park. We would consider other areas but the discussions are around making sure that we preserve the pristine standing of our national park,” Ndlovu said in response to a question from Xinhua.

He said government will make a public announcement on the matter in due course.

According to media reports, two firms are reportedly exploring for coal in the game reserve, raising concern from wildlife activists, tour operators and the local community.

Zimbabwe boasts of vast coal reserves, particularly in the north-west and southern parts of the country.

Several coal mines have opened in Hwange District over the years, joining Hwange Colliery Company, the country’s oldest coal mine, and several other major coal miners including Makomo Resources and Zambezi Gas.

Coal is a strategic mineral for Zimbabwe, as the country’s biggest power plant, Hwange Power Station, is coal-fired.

The power plant is currently undergoing a 1.5 billion U.S. dollars upgrading and expansion program by Chinese firm Sinohydro, to add 600 megawatts. This will raise the plant’s capacity to 1, 520 MW.

State Media

Kwekwe City Council is set to get back two ambulances that were impounded by the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) on allegations that they were not properly imported.

Then Mbizo legislator, Vongaiishe Mpereri bought the ambulances from neighbouring South Africa and donated them to the local authority.

The State confiscated them at the height of investigations into former State House principal director Douglas Tapfuma who was facing allegations of abusing authority and fraudulently importing vehicles.

The two ambulances were allegedly part of a large fleet imported by Tapfuma.

Tapfuma was found guilty and is serving a four-year jail term. The local authority has been making frantic efforts to get the fleet back after the conclusion of the Tapfuma saga.

Updating on the matter during a full council meeting recently, Kwekwe District Development Coordinator, Mr Fortune Mpungu said he had been briefed that the ambulances were being released to the local authority.

“As you are aware the matter was in the hands of our Provincial Affairs Minister Hon Larry Mavima and he briefed me to the fact that the matter has been cleared by Cabinet. I am reliably told that the matter was tabled before cabinet and they agreed that the ambulances be given back to the local authority,” said Mr Mpungu.

He said all logistics have been completed and the local authority was awaiting finalisation of the paperwork and delivery of the two vehicles. If they are successfully returned to the local authority, the vehicles are expected to go a long way in boosting the councils depleted ambulance fleet.

The local authority is presently depending on a single ambulance while another one needs repairs.

All Africa

HIGH Court judge, Siyabona Paul Masithu Thursday removed from the court roll, an application by late businessman Eddies Pfugari’s daughter, Henrietta in which she was seeking an order declaring her a 50% shareholder in her late father’s flagship company, E. Pfugari Properties (Private Limited).

Henrietta is one of the late property mogul’s five children who are embroiled in a vicious wrangle over his US$30 million estate.

Pfugari, born Edward Nyanyiwa, was one of the pioneers of Zimbabwe’s black economic empowerment crusade.

He died on February 10 last year at his Milton Park home in Harare, leaving behind a massive business empire and a number of assets.

Just a year after the famous tycoon died aged 82, a battle over his estate has erupted, pitting sibling against sibling and sullying the businessman’s name.

Henrietta filed an urgent chamber application at the High Court on August 14 challenging the sole directorship of Pfugari’s eldest son, Edward Nyanyiwa Junior in the company and seeking to be installed as a co-director.

Edward Jnr was Pfugari’s first born with his first wife, a South African he married after migrating to the neighbouring country in 1952 before coming back to Zimbabwe, then Rhodesia, in 1962.

In her application, Mildred, along with her late mother’s appointed estate executor, accused Edward Jnr of having defrauded her, arguing she held 50% stake in the company.

The executor, Stern Mafara, was a co-applicant in the matter.

Justice Masithu however said the hearing could not proceed as Henrietta’s application was based on an erroneous assumption that her mother, Mildred, held an equal shareholding with Pfugari.

Pfugari Properties (Private) Limited and Edward Junior were the first and second respondents respectively.
Edward Jnr opposed the application saying Mildred was never a shareholder in the company and that the share certificates indicated that only him and his father were the co-shareholders.

According to Pfugari’s will, which was also produced in court, Edward Junior would inherit his shareholding upon his death.

Ruled Justice Masithu, “First applicant’s claim to directorship in first respondent was based on the erroneous supposition that the late Mildred held a 50% shareholding in first respondent.

“In any case, it was disputed that first applicant was ever appointed director of first respondent.

“The alleged appointment was irregular as nothing was placed before the court to show that it was made at a general meeting of members. First applicant’s name never appeared on the company’s documentation.

“The particulars of directors of first respondent show the directors of first respondent as the late Edward and Edward junior as at 5 July 2010. The application therefore failed to meet the threshold for urgency.”

The judge also accused Mafara and Henrietta of trying to mislead the court into believing that Mildred was a shareholder without any supporting documentation.

“Even more bizarre was the failure to disclose first applicant’s summons claim for a declaratur which in my makes the present application inessential.

“The non-disclosures had the effect creating material disputes of fact once first and second respondent filed their opposition revealing the genesis of the dispute between the parties.

“This court would have been misled had it not invited the parties to appear and argue their cases. I find the preliminary objection meritorious.

“Having found in favour of first and second respondents in respect of these key preliminary objections which in my view go to the root of the application, I find it needless to traverse the merits of the application and the remaining preliminary objections. The application must fall on this premise,” Justice Masitu ruled.

Mafara and Henrietta will also meet the cost of the lawsuit on the ordinary scale.

Paul Nyathi 

The opposition MDC Alliance spokesperson Fadzayi Mahere has challenged government to extend its compensation policy to farm workers who also lost property during the country’s chaotic land grab at the turn of the century.

This comes after the Emmerson Mnangagwa led administration has inked a US$3.5 billion compensation deal with commercial farmers representative groups.

Speaking at a press conference in Harare on Thursday Mahere said there were over four million former farm workers who were displaced during the land grab and lost priorities and investments in the processes.

According to her some are now living in abject poverty as a result of losses incurred.

Watch the video downloading below for the full press conference.

https://twitter.com/ZimEye/status/1301730721837481985?s=20

Paul Nyathi

The opposition MDC Alliance has reimbursed all Murewa vendors who were fined for cheering at their party President Nelson Chamisa.

Police on Monday rounded up 15 vendors who were part of a group that cheered on Chamisa when he passed through the area on Saturday.

Chamisa’s convoy was mobbed by scores of residents including children who were chanting ‘President! President!’ as he returned from the burial of activist Patson Dzamara in Mutoko.

The MDC leader stepped out of the vehicle and took time to talk to some of his supporters.

MDC Alliance spokesperson Fadzayi Mahere said the vendors, mostly women, were detained for several hours.

“They were asked: ‘Don’t you know your president?’ Some were fined as much as Z$500 under dubious charges,” Mahere said.

An admission of guilt form signed by one of the vendors said they had been arrested for “obstructing free movement of traffic and persons” on the Harare-Nyamapanda Road.

1/ Y.Assembly @mdcwelfare repaid the #MurewaVendors money they lost to @PoliceZimbabwe after they were forced to pay fines over a flimsy charge of blocking traffic.The 13 were arrested for cheering President Chamisa.Thank you all for the great show of support.#LoveLeadsLoveWins

— Maureen Kademaunga: Sunningdale Constituency (@MaureenKade) September 3, 2020

Correspondent

President Emmerson Mnangagwa is preparing to defend his decision to exhume and rebury Gukurahundi victims at the High Court.

Mnangagwa’s stance was revealed by his lawyers at the High Court in Bulawayo on Thursday when they asked the court for a postponement to give them time to prepare themselves in a case in which a Gukurahundi survivor and local pressure groups are seeking to stop the victim exhumations linked to the 1980s holocaust.

Gukurahundi survivor Charles Thomas, opposition Zapu and Ibhetshu Likazulu last week filed a joint urgent application at the Bulawayo High court seeking an interdict to bar government from exhuming victims of the state-sponsored massacres for reburial.

President Mnangagwa and Home Affairs Minister Kazembe Kazembe, Jenni Williams, Matabeleland Collective, National Peace and Reconciliation Commission (NPRC) chairperson Retired Justice Sello Nare as well as the Commission were all cited as respondents.

Justice Martin Makonese postponed the hearing to Thursday next week after Mnangagwa and Kazembe’s lawyer Rejoice Hove of the Attorney General‘s office requested postponement.

“The 1st respondent (Mnangagwa) and 2nd respondent (Kazembe Kazembe) indicated through the AG’s office that they are not yet ready for the hearing.

“They said they only received the papers yesterday (Wednesday) and they need enough time to prepare their defence,” said the litigants‘ lawyer Nqobani Sithole soon after emerging from a closed door meeting in Justice Makonese’s chambers.

Mnangagwa was expected to officially launch the issuance of identity documents to Gukurahundi victims at Maphisa growth point in Matabeleland South next month.

ZBC

The Ministry of Environment, Climate, Tourism and Hospitality Industry has given a greenlight for all tourism activities to resume operations with immediate effect albeit strict compliance to COVID-19 health regulations.

The decision, however, comes while travel restrictions are still in place and all borders and airports still shut raising concerns how the sector will operate.

Briefing the media in Harare on Thursday, the Minister of Environment, Climate, Tourism and Hospitality Industry, Mangaliso Ndlovu welcomed the decision by cabinet allowing the tourism sector to resume operations.

He also indicated that his ministry and other stakeholders are working together in developing effective health and safety guidelines for the tourism sector.

“We need to appreciate that this is a delicate balancing act between saving the economy and strengthening our response systems. For now all tourism players must go to their drawing boards and begin the process of re-opening our facilities, ensure all our staff are tested prior to commencement and that the guidelines which were developed are religiously followed.

“Industry must therefore invest in and ensure safe operations through protocols such as temperature check points, contact tracing, recording on arrival of guests, physical distancing markings at their premises, deep cleaning and disinfection of the facility among many others. On its part, Government will intensify compliance checks together with the relevant arms of Government to ensure players are fully compliant.”

Minister Ndlovu also highlighted how bad Tourism had been hit by the pandemic, saying massive retrenchments were looming in this sub sector, hence the decision to resume operations .

This decision by Cabinet is indeed welcome as it comes at a time when massive retrenchments were looming in the sector and such layoffs would have threatened the many lives that are dependent on tourism. As Government we acknowledge that it has not been an easy journey for our sector and I am aware that most players had to send employees on forced leave.

“Most employees were on half salaries, and in the worst case scenarios, on unpaid leave. The negative impact of the Coronavirus induced shutdown was felt across the whole tourism sector and its value chains. However, the impact was more severe in towns such as Kariba and Victoria Falls, which are predominantly tourism reliant cities. We hope that with this decision to reopen, the sector will breathe life into the sector and allow us to pick up the pieces again.”

Despite the impending resumption of all tourism related activities, the minister appealed to sector players to strengthen Health and Safety Protocols as they continue to spearhead a sustainable and resilient tourism sector for the benefit of all Zimbabweans.

State Media

A teenage gold panner in the company of five colleagues was shot dead after they raided a gold mine in Guruve and attacked three security guards.

The teenagers, aged between 15 and 19, were reportedly armed with stones and a firearm when the incident occurred on Monday afternoon.

Investigations carried out so far revealed that the teenagers had gone to the mine to confront the guards after one of them, aged 15, had earlier been caught illegally searching for gold ore at the premises.

The 15-year-old teenager was made to roll on some ashes at the mine before being released. After being released, he then went and informed his colleagues and together they ganged up to attack the security guards.

This resulted in one of the guards who was armed with a rifle firing shots, which hit the other teenager on the shoulder and he died on the spot.

Police have since arrested the security guard and investigations are still in progress.

National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the incident.

“We can confirm that a security guard at a mine in Guruve has been arrested for the killing of a 17-year-old juvenile whom he shot with a rifle,” he said.

Asst Comm Nyathi added that: “The arrest comes after a 15-year-old had earlier on been caught at the mine which was being guarded by the accused person and his workmates who made him to roll on some ashes. He later returned to the mine with his friends to confront the accused person over the issue.

“The youths became violent and attacked the security guards with stones, prompting the accused person to open fire, shooting the 17-year-old on the shoulder and killing him instantly.”

He said investigations were still in progress.

The shooting incident comes in the wake of recent reports of machete gangs resurfacing countrywide, targeting individuals with large amounts of cash.

This has prompted police to relaunch “Operation Chikorokoza Ngachipere/Isitsheketsha Kasipele” and “No to Machete Wielding Gangs”.

A few months ago, police restored order in mining areas after taking on the gangs, arresting large numbers and thwarting a wave of violence.

Since January this year, 12 501 machete gang members and other criminal elements had been arrested in mining communities countrywide.

Between August 29 and 30, 65 people were arrested in Mazowe for criminal trespass, failure to observe national lockdown regulations and theft of gold ore during the ongoing operation.

The ZRP also accounted for 13 suspects on Tuesday in another ongoing operation to protect Upper Mazowe National Monument against illegal mining, illegal settlers and any other illegal activities taking place thereat.

According to statistics to date, 105 arrests have been arrested in the area.

Meanwhile, an unidentified woman was found dead in a bushy area in Chegutu with two deep cuts on her head.

Two blood-stained stones were found near the body.

The body was taken to Kadoma Hospital mortuary for post mortem.

Another man’s body with a stab wound on the left side of the chest was also discovered in Cowdray Park, Bulawayo on Monday.

Paul Nyathi

Former MDC Alliance top official, Tapiwa Mashakada says that the ongoing process of compensating and giving back land to former white commercial farmers has always been on the opposition party’s priority list.

In a statement, published on his blog, the former MDC-Alliance Treasurer General said what the ZANU PF government is doing now in its new agreement with commercial farmers is not reversal of the land redistribution exercise but the party is sorting out the mess it created during the land grabs.

Below is Mashakada’s full statement to the effect.

In 2000, about 4500 white farmers were chased away from their farms when government compulsorily acquired the Land under the chaotic land reform program. In 2000, Veterans of the 1970s guerilla war invaded farms owned by white farmers. Out of Zimbabwe’s 39 million hectares white farmers owned 12 million hectares mostly of rich arable land, plantations and conservancies.

Siyabonga

Zimlive

BULAWAYO – Bulawayo residents have reacted with anger after town clerk Christopher Dube was offered a stand measuring 24,407 square meters as part of his new four-year contract with the local authority.

The stand, in the upmarket neighbourhood of Selbourne Park, is so big it is the size of 122 average stands in the working-class suburb of Cowdray Park.

Dube proposed the stand as one of his conditions of service after the MDC Alliance-run council agreed to a contract extension for his second and final term.

The matter was discussed by the council’s General Purpose Committee chaired by mayor Solomon Mguni which acceded to his demands, including giving him an Isuzu twin cab which is currently being used in the Bulawayo Water and Sewerage Services Improvement Project (BWSSIP) due to conclude next year.

Dube previously got a stand (Stand No. 14662) of an unknown size adjacent to the land he is eyeing when he took over in 2016.

Councillors have deferred discussing Dube’s conditions of service to a later date “to digest the matter”, according to an extract of minutes of a meeting of councillors held on August 5, but released on Thursday.

Bulawayo currently has a housing waiting list of more than 121,000.

“This is scandalous. Currently we have water problems and the housing waiting list is ballooning. Instead of them working on servicing residents, they are busy looting. The mayor can’t be relied upon to bring sanity because he is also defending his loot,” fumed the Bulawayo Progressive Residents Association (BPRA) coordinator Emmanuel Ndlovu.

He added: “Just like in the case of the mayor’s land, the process might have satisfied all internal requirements (which is the excuse that they will probably give) it’s still wrong and falls far short. BCC has degenerated into an elitist, self-serving institution.”

In May, the local authority sparked outrage when it offered Mguni a 25-year lease for 3.5 hectares of agricultural land in Lower Rangemore at Z$165 per month.

Writing to the mayor Mguni on September 1, Dube appeared eager to have his terms accepted and contract signed.

“It will be noted that the Town Clerk’s current contract of employment expires at the end of this month. A renewed or roll-over contract has to be completed, signed and sent to the Local Government Board during the course of this month,” Dube wrote.

He then resubmitted the report of the council’s General Purpose Committee, the same document which came up for discussion at the August 5 full council meeting which ended without resolution.

Dube survived ouster in July last year after some councillors took advantage of the mayor’s absence and passed a no-confidence vote in him.

The councillors led by then deputy mayor Tinashe Kambarami accused Dube of failing to manage the water crisis in Bulawayo through effective management of repairs and maintenance works.

He was also accused of misappropriating the ward retention fund and paying some contractors in advance without council approval.

Dube, the councillors further said, had violated council procedures when he was awarded an offer letter to mine gold at the Good Hope/Aisleby Farms in 2017.

Dube was restored, however, and Kambarami arrested after the Town Clerk, a former soldier, reported him for assault. The deputy mayor was convicted by a magistrate, but the High Court later quashed the conviction.

A policeman and an intelligence officer have been arrested on allegations of being part of a gang that has been raiding peoples’ houses in and around Harare demanding cash and valuables at gunpoint.

Constable Fidelis Katsande, who is based at Mbare Police Station, was arrested together with Chris Risanamhodzi, who is believed to be an intelligence officer, and Belfa Zvamaida Kwaramba, a civilian.

Police have since launched a manhunt for the fourth suspect, Adoni Chipangamati, who is also thought to be an intelligence officer.

National police spokesperson, Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi, yesterday confirmed that three people have been arrested with investigations still in progress.

Sources close to the investigations yesterday said on Saturday around 8pm, the four raided a house in Queensdale where they attacked a family.

They are alleged to have fired shots in the air to scare the family while at the same time demanding cash.

The stole cell phones before they attacked another person in the same house, and stole another cell phone from him.

It is alleged that after failing to get money, the gang threatened the family that they would come back.
The gang then disappeared.

On Monday the victims saw the three suspects at Queensdale Shopping Centre and alerted the police. The three were arrested while they were standing near their Nissan X-Trail car.

The suspects were found in possession of two cell phones allegedly stole at the house.

They are still assisting police with investigations and a manhunt has since been launched for the fourth suspect who is still at large.

The latest incident comes after police last week warned officers against harbouring criminals, and being involved in criminal activity.

Last Saturday, a policeman was arrested on allegations of issuing fake Covid-19 exemption letters to the unsuspecting public.

Constable
Oswald Jonga, who is based at Borrowdale Police Station, was arrested after investigations revealed he issued fake exemption letters to MDC-Alliance councillor for Harare’s Ward 16, Denford Ngadziore and political activist Prince Mandenga, plus many others.-The Herald

A 12-YEAR-OLD boy died on the spot while the driver and two others, aged 10 and 15, sustained injuries when a vehicle they were travelling in veered off the road and rolled several times in Fort Rixon.

Matabeleland South provincial police spokesperson Chief Inspector Philisani Ndebele confirmed the incident which occurred on Tuesday at around 4PM at the 4 kilometre peg along the Fort Rixon-Shangani Road.

He said the vehicle was being driven by Christian Ndlovu (18) when he lost control.

“I can confirm that we recorded a fatal road accident which occurred in Fort Rixon where a 12-year-old boy died on the spot.

Christian Ndlovu (18) was driving a Honda Fit along Fort Rixon-Shangani Road with three passengers on board. Upon reaching the four kilometre peg he lost control of the vehicle which rolled several times before landing on its side.

“Tinotenda Mtakavawa, aged 12, died on the spot while the driver and two passengers aged 10 and 15 years sustained injuries.

They were ferried to Shangani Rural Hospital where they are reported to be in a stable condition,” he said.

Chief Insp Ndebele urged parents to ensure that they did not allow youngsters to drive vehicles without supervision.

He urged motorists to be cautious when travelling on roads and adhere to regulations in order to avoid loss of life.-Chronicle

AN elderly couple was burnt beyond recognition after robbers allegedly forced their way into their house, stole their belongings before setting their homestead on fire.

The heart-wrenching incident happened on Tuesday in Empandeni, Matebeleland South, police confirmed on Wednesday.

Matabeleland South police spokesman Inspector Philisani Ndebele said investigations were still ongoing.

“I can confirm that we have had report of such an incident but the information is still trickling in as of now and investigations as investigations are still ongoing,” he said.

Inspector Ndebele said police would release more information on the incident through the national spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi either today or tomorrow.

Social media accounts the couple noted that the couple was in their house when the robbers ghosted in, robbed them then set their house on on fire.

Neighbours reportedly tried to put out the inferno but could not rescue the couple.-Chronicle

“…. wish to be occupied, hegemonized by SADC’s youngest State which is still grappling to overcome its apartheid legacy?..”

By George Charamba| What motivates supposedly national journalism to play such a servile, nay, treacherous, anti-nation role on behalf of foreign powers? Lastly, whence comes this impression that South Africa can intervene in Zimbabwe, assuming there are grounds for such intervention?? On what basis, what might, what capacity, beyond that of solidarity, camaraderie and good-natured concern by a neighbour?? South Africa is the youngest State in our region. It faces myriad problems of a long apartheid. It has no capacity to help any African.

State in Sadc, beyond friendly solidarity. Let that sink into minds of all and sundry. In any event, Zimbabwe, alongside many SADC countries which got their Independence before South Africa, has gone quite some way in resolving its colonial legacy and empowering its people,

…something the ANC govt is grappling to do just now. South Africa is no donor State in SADC. If anything, its long apartheid legacy makes its post-1994 subregional role quite problematic for the rest of Sadc States who know the continued dominance of Afrikaner capital in Sadc …does not benefit the ANC or blacks in Soweto or Khayilisha. That is the sordid truth. South Africa can not intervene militarily in any Sadc country. That lesson was driven home during the Mandela days when it sought to do so in Lesotho. Since that disastrous escapade, South

African diplomacy has been tempered and restrained to function within Sadc structures, as should be!! Just what is the logic & implication of Zimbabweans of insufficient history and national consciousness asking for South African intervention in Zimbabwe outside Sadc structures?

A wish to be occupied, hegemonized by SADC’s youngest State which is still grappling to overcome its apartheid legacy? Is that the erudition which political scientists like Masunungure are supposed to show and share? Or is South Africa being urged to be a pawn of US diplomacy?

Businessman Farai Jere who is facing fraud charges has has been granted $20 000 bail by the High Court.

This follows an appeal against the Harare Magistrates’ Court decision refusing him bail.

Justice Pisirayi Kwenda granted the appeal by Jere citing misdirection on the part of the lower court.

He has also been ordered to surrender travel documents, not to interfere with witnesses and to report once a week at the nearest police station.-The Herald

Farai Dziva|The MDC Alliance says the land reform programme should be transparent and balanced in essence.

The party has also accused Zanu PF of using the compensation process to siphon state resources.

This was said by MDC Alliance Spokesperson, Advocate Fadzai Mahere at a news conference in the capital Harare on Thursday.

Watch video below:

Farai Dziva|The MDC Alliance says the land reform programme should be transparent and balanced in essence.

The party has also accused Zanu PF of using the compensation process to siphon state resources.

This was said by MDC Alliance Spokesperson, Advocate Fadzai Mahere at a news conference in the capital Harare on Thursday.

Watch video below:

By Farai D Hove | The capital city is where the throne is, and whoever runs Harare, governs the whole country, technically. After all the noisy commotion using the courts to destroy the MDC Alliance led by Nelson Chamisa, perrenial nemesis Douglas Mwonzora was yesterday given a taste of reality, a slap on the head that voters are not produced by courts. You have to earn your political capital.

Chamisa ‘s candidate, councillor, Jacob Mafume, was yesterday elected the new Mayor for Harare following an election held on Thursday.

He polled 19 votes against Luckson Mukunguma who had 14. Mafume replaces Hebert Gomba who was recently recalled by the MDC-T led by Thokozani Khupe.

Watch MDC Alliance supporters celebrate Jacob Mapfume’s victory.

The victory was described by political analyst Pedzisai Ruhanya as a warning to Khupe of more embarassing defeats to the MDC Alliance ahead. He said:

If Khupe, Mudzuri, Komichi and @DMwonzora can lose an elitist poll like this what about the battles ahead where us the voters will take part. Surely seeing out does not help. The masses, the people have a date with you @DMwonzora

— Pedzisai Ruhanya (@PedzisaiRuhanya) September 3, 2020

Farai Dziva|Transform Zimbabwe leader, Jacob Ngarivhume has declared that Zimbabwe shall be free despite attempts by the present day government to suppress the will of the people.

See Ngarivhume’s statement below :

By Jacob Ngarivhume

My fellow Zimbabweans the past 45 days have been an indictment of this government.

There is no greater admission of guilt or self implication than denying citizens of their constitutional rights on the basis of fear.

Hopewell,Job Sikhala and myself along with many others were stripped of our civil rights in front of the whole world in order to protect the secrets of a few who are profiting during our nation’s period of crisis.

But despite the cruel and undeserved treatment my heart is more determined and my spirit made stronger.

We have nothing to be ashamed of for our demands are simple and noble.

For 40 years we have lived as prisoners in our own land denied of basic rights that many in this world enjoy without restriction.

What we want is simple; a government that is truly for and by the people. The right to life, freedom and happiness.

Challenging the government to that end is not a crime but a great commission for this generation.

A commission we have accepted and one we will not fail.

Zimbabwe will be a free country in our lifetime.

God bless you

And God bless Zimbabwe.

Farai Dziva|Heavily armed police details have barred vendors in Murehwa from conducting their business.

15 vendors were also arrested on Monday for cheerfully greeting President Nelson Chamisa as he was returning from Patson Dzamara’s funeral.

The vendors are being persecuted for merely greeting President Chamisa, it has emerged.

“We have received worrying reports that armed police have besieged the Murehwa vending space with dogs, preventing the
Murewa Vendors from working.

Their daily earnings have been disrupted and they are living in fear.

#LoveLeadsLoveWins
#ZimbabweanLivesMatter,” MDC Alliance said in a brief statement.

Farai Dziva|Heavily armed police details have barred vendors in Murehwa from conducting their business.

15 vendors were also arrested on Monday for cheerfully greeting President Nelson Chamisa as he was returning from Patson Dzamara’s funeral.

The vendors are being persecuted for merely greeting President Chamisa, it has emerged.

“We have received worrying reports that armed police have besieged the Murehwa vending space with dogs, preventing the
Murewa Vendors from working.

Their daily earnings have been disrupted and they are living in fear.

#LoveLeadsLoveWins
#ZimbabweanLivesMatter,” MDC Alliance said in a brief statement.

EFF ZIMBABWE’S STATEMENT ON GOVERNMENT’S DECISION TO COMPENSATE FORMER WHITE FARMERS

On the 30th of July 2020, EFF Zimbabwe issued a statement strongly condemning the Zimbabwean
government’s decision to compensate former White Farmers.

We knew it then that the Zimbabwe
government had sold out the souls and the blood of the gallant sons and daughters of Zimbabwe
who fought the war to liberate our country from the calamities of colonialism.

Yesterday, the
government of Zimbabwe confirmed that it has indeed sold out the land of our ancestors to the
former colonial masters.

EFF Zimbabwe is horrified by this treasonous act of betrayal of our people by the Zimbabwean
government which has effectively and verifiably reversed the agrarian land reform program.

Zimbabweans fought a war for the restoration of their land and their dignity and now the
Zimbabwean government has stripped our people off their land and dignity.

Those who violently
took the land from our forbearers more than a century ago, benefitted from it through cheap labour
and exploitation have now been given the land back by the Zimbabwean government.

Why is the government giving back our land to the former White Farmers who about a century ago
forcefully and fraudulently displaced our forbearers?

Were they not the beneficiaries of stolen
property in the first place? Our ancestors were violently removed from their land by the White
Settlers.

Who is going to compensate the loss our ancestors suffered? Our forbearers had structures
on their land and their structures were burnt down and destroyed when our land was stolen by the
invading thieves.

The Zimbabwe government has sold out the entire generation of our people – consequently the
generations to come too. There is no greater treachery than this.

As EFF Zimbabwe we condemn this
treachery in the strongest possible terms.

We will use whatever is at our disposal to fight this
historical mistake and racial injustice.

The government of Zimbabwe must make no mistake about
this, we will fight this injustice by every means possible until justice prevails.

We promise the people of Zimbabwe that, we will be with them in this fight all the way until victory
is achieved.

We cannot allow the former white farmers sponsored by rogue elements of the
Zimbabwean government to defecate and urinate on the graves of our forefathers and those of our
fallen heroes who fought and died for this land.

We demand that the government of Zimbabwe
reverses this treasonous decision and flush down the toilet this so-called Global Compensation
Deed. The agreement is not worth the paper it is written on.

As the Economic Freedom Fighters of Zimbabwe, expropriation of land without compensation is one
of our cardinal pillars and we will defend it tooth and nail, blood and sweat, limb and spirit.

We
declare that the land is for the indigenous people of Zimbabwe and will remain so forever until our
ancestors decide otherwise.

Yonke Indawo EFF!!!
Kwese Kwese EFF!!!
Everywhere EFF!!!

EFF ZIMBABWE’S STATEMENT ON GOVERNMENT’S DECISION TO COMPENSATE FORMER WHITE FARMERS

On the 30th of July 2020, EFF Zimbabwe issued a statement strongly condemning the Zimbabwean
government’s decision to compensate former White Farmers.

We knew it then that the Zimbabwe
government had sold out the souls and the blood of the gallant sons and daughters of Zimbabwe
who fought the war to liberate our country from the calamities of colonialism.

Yesterday, the
government of Zimbabwe confirmed that it has indeed sold out the land of our ancestors to the
former colonial masters.

EFF Zimbabwe is horrified by this treasonous act of betrayal of our people by the Zimbabwean
government which has effectively and verifiably reversed the agrarian land reform program.

Zimbabweans fought a war for the restoration of their land and their dignity and now the
Zimbabwean government has stripped our people off their land and dignity.

Those who violently
took the land from our forbearers more than a century ago, benefitted from it through cheap labour
and exploitation have now been given the land back by the Zimbabwean government.

Why is the government giving back our land to the former White Farmers who about a century ago
forcefully and fraudulently displaced our forbearers?

Were they not the beneficiaries of stolen
property in the first place? Our ancestors were violently removed from their land by the White
Settlers.

Who is going to compensate the loss our ancestors suffered? Our forbearers had structures
on their land and their structures were burnt down and destroyed when our land was stolen by the
invading thieves.

The Zimbabwe government has sold out the entire generation of our people – consequently the
generations to come too. There is no greater treachery than this.

As EFF Zimbabwe we condemn this
treachery in the strongest possible terms.

We will use whatever is at our disposal to fight this
historical mistake and racial injustice.

The government of Zimbabwe must make no mistake about
this, we will fight this injustice by every means possible until justice prevails.

We promise the people of Zimbabwe that, we will be with them in this fight all the way until victory
is achieved.

We cannot allow the former white farmers sponsored by rogue elements of the
Zimbabwean government to defecate and urinate on the graves of our forefathers and those of our
fallen heroes who fought and died for this land.

We demand that the government of Zimbabwe
reverses this treasonous decision and flush down the toilet this so-called Global Compensation
Deed. The agreement is not worth the paper it is written on.

As the Economic Freedom Fighters of Zimbabwe, expropriation of land without compensation is one
of our cardinal pillars and we will defend it tooth and nail, blood and sweat, limb and spirit.

We
declare that the land is for the indigenous people of Zimbabwe and will remain so forever until our
ancestors decide otherwise.

Yonke Indawo EFF!!!
Kwese Kwese EFF!!!
Everywhere EFF!!!

A virtual meeting hosted by the Meteorological Services Department National Climate Outlook Forum had to break midway after hackers posted pornographic material on the platform.

Environment, Climate, Tourism and Hospitality Industry permanent secretary Mr Munesu Munodawafa apologised on behalf of the Government, and spoke of the need to expedite the Cyber Security Bill.

The virtual meeting is discussing the 2020/21 agricultural season forecasted weather pattern.

“We had to break the Zoom virtual meeting following the posting of offensive adult material during the meeting by some unidentified hackers.

Government seriously needs to expedite passage of the Cyber Security Bill. We need to create secure virtual platforms where Government business is conducted,” said Mr Munodawafa.

The virtual meeting resumed after about 10 minutes.-The Herald

More than 20 houses that were illegally built in a cantonment area next to the National Heroes Acre have been demolished by the Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) with the endorsement of Harare City Council, almost a year after the house owners ignored a court order to move.

The houses were built on fake stands created and parcelled out by land barons in the area opposite the National Sports Stadium on land assigned to the army.
More than 100 stands were fraudulently created in the open space, with the affected house owners yesterday claiming to have bought the stands from a cooperative they declined to name.

But they were unable to produce receipts or other documents showing proof of purchase, even fraudulent purchase.

A claim that the cooperative was in direct contact with Harare City Council was immediately shot down by the local authority which said it fully supported the demolitions as the houses had been built illegally.

Council said the house owners ignored a court order and repeated warnings for them to vacate.
“Council has a number of court orders to remove illegal structures.

We would like to advise all people who were served with eviction orders to voluntarily move off the illegally occupied pieces of land,” said City of Harare spokesperson Mr Michael Chideme.

A visit to the site yesterday showed that among the destroyed structures, were occupied houses and incomplete buildings at various stages of construction.
There was also a crèche which was operational.

ZNA spokesperson Lieutenant-Colonel Alphios Makotore yesterday confirmed that the land was a military zone and warned land barons and corrupt council officials against illegally creating and selling stands.

“Some corrupt land barons were parcelling out stands and selling them to desperate home-seekers. If offered a stand near the Heroes Acre, someone should ordinarily be circumspect,” he said.-Chronicle

By A Correspondent- MDC-T leader Thokozani Khupe’s spokesperson, Khalipani Phugeni said the party is a Tsvangirai family project and having members of the family in the structures is not a way of trying to gain public sympathy.

In an interview on Tuesday Talk, Phugeni said the fact the party is named after Tsvangirai is proof that the party belongs to the Tsvangirai family.

Said Phugeni:

We are not trying to rope in the Tsvangirai family, this is their project, the party is called Movement for Democratic Change Tsvangirai, so this is their thing.

Phugeni said there was nothing wrong with Khupe putting her name on the list of the party’s proportional representative nominees forwarded to electoral officials.

He said it was the party’s desire to have its president in Parliament leading the caucus.

The MDC-T has been accused of trying to use the late Morgan Tsvangirai’s family to appear like the genuine party since the party’s founding president died in 2018.

The MDC-T has roped in Vincent Tsvangirai, Morgan’s son, and Manase Tsvangirai, Morgan’s young brother, in its structures.

Earlier this year, the entire MDC-T leadership performed some rituals at Tsvangirai’s grave and promised to take care of his mother.

-OpenParly

BULAWAYO Zanu-PF youth leader Blessed Mushandu, accused of swindling a Chinese businessman with interests in mining of over US$100 000 using Vice President Kembo Mohadi’s name, has been denied bail.

Mushandu allegedly claimed to be a secretary in the VP’s office in Bulawayo and that the VP would facilitate him to conduct mining in the country before collecting various amounts of money from him.

He appeared before Harare magistrate Vongai Muchuchuti-Guuriro charged with fraud with the State opposing his admission to bail.

The court heard that sometime in 2018, the complainant was introduced to Mushandu by his former business partner. Mushandu reportedly introduced himself as the Bulawayo youth leader and secretary to Mohadi stationed in Bulawayo.

It is alleged that they met at a hotel in Harare and Mushandu and his accomplice misrepresented to the complainant that all rivers in the country are administered and managed in the office of the vice president who approved any investor to mine alluvial gold, hence they should meet him to access the rivers.

It is alleged Mushandu and his colleague demanded US$20 000 for the vice president for engagement and as a facilitation fee, money which was paid.

The court heard that during the period, the complainant was then invited to the office of the vice president at his Harare office where he was introduced as an investor from China.

After the meeting, it is alleged that Mushandu demanded US$5 000 indicating that Mohandi had sent them to collect his wife at the airport and to take her to his farm.

Allegations are that between January and March 2019, Mushandu and Mabhena concocted different invoices in the name of Umguza Rural District Council, ministry of Mines, Zinwa and Environmental Management Agency demanding US$5 000, US$47 000, US$20 000 and US$10 900 for different levies yet there was nothing from the offices.

It is further alleged that sometime in March 2019, Mushandu demanded another $100 000 meant for mining levies and it was transferred into his bank account.

Daily News

State Media

GOVERNMENT has given the tourism industry greenlight to resume all business activities in their operations with immediate effect, putting an end to a five months closure as a result of Covid-19.

The decision comes at a time when massive retrenchments were looming in the sector and thereby threatening many lives that are dependent on tourism for survival.

The restart of the sector is expected to excite the market and reignite global attention on “Destination Zimbabwe” as well as breathe in new life down the value chain.

Environment, Climate, Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister Nqobizitha Mangaliso Ndlovu announced the decision yesterday, which follows Cabinet endorsement.

Following intense stakeholder engagements and lobbying by industry leaders, the country has resolved to restart the tourism sector towards recovery. The industry had been heavily battered by the global Covid-19 pandemic as all activities virtually grounded to a halt.

“I am pleased to announce that following Cabinet approval, all tourism activities can now resume operations,” said Minister Ndlovu.

“These include but are not limited to: game drives, bungee jumping, zip liners, helicopter rides, lion walks, elephant rides and all registered tourism activities.

“For the avoidance of doubt, this also includes the resumption of boat operations on our lakes both for tourism and fishing (and other tourism related activities), in strict compliance with Covid-19 pandemic guidelines, which have been developed.

“I mention this particularly because in areas such as Kariba, the boating industry is a key anchor of their tourism industry for both leisure and fishing.”

The minister commended the tourism sector for resilience during the difficult times and assured that the industry will bounce back and achieve the US$5 billion tourism economy by year 2025. The road towards re-opening of tourism started about two months ago when Government began widespread consultations with stakeholders, a process which culminated in the launch of the National Tourism Recovery and Growth Strategy by President Mnangagwa in Victoria Falls last month.

Ndlovu said the negative impact of the coronavirus induced lockdown was felt across the whole tourism sector and its value chains.

“I am nevertheless convinced that the launch of the National Tourism Recovery and Growth Strategy leaves us with clarity as to what Government intends to do to deliver the sector from the current downturn. This however can only be achieved with support of the private sector.

“One of the key questions that had remained unanswered after this launch related to those tourism activities deemed recreational and leisure, which had remained closed.”

Zimbabwe Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC) coronavirus situation report as of 03 September 2020:

New cases: 40
Locals – 5
Returnees – 35
Deaths: 0
Recoveries: 13
PCR Tests Done: 1 095
National Recovery Rate: 79%
Active Cases: 1 209
Total Cumulative Cases: 6 678
Total Recoveries: 5 263
Total Deaths: 206

By A Correspondent- Jailed opposition stalwart Job Sikhala has been denied bail.

Paul Nyathi

Tensions were high both inside and outside the court as MDC deputy chairman Job Sikhala was denied bail on Thursday following his arrest on August 21 accused of incitement of public violence.

As the Magistrate was some what expectantly denied Sikhala bail inside the court, nine MDC Alliance members who were attending the court in solidarity with Sikhala were arrested by the police on yet to be established charges.

Terence Manjengwa who was last week briefly arrested by the police for telling a police officer that government was under paying them was one of the people arrested outside the court.

Sources indicated that the full list of MDC Alliance supporters arrested by the police include Dambudzo mhike, Brian mushakwe, Terrence Manjengwa, Barnabas Gura, Blessed Changara, Dorothy Musungavarume, Richard Mangena, Last Mangena and Tafadzwa Mangoya.

The group was reportedly taken away to Harare Central Police Station.

Denying Sikhala bail, Magistrate Ncube said Sikhala was arrested while evading police by hiding inside the ceiling of the house he was in.

“Cumulatively the witnesses had no reasons to lie against the accused,” Ncube said. “If he had gone to collect his wife (from the house), then why was he hiding in the ceiling? It shows he was avoiding justice.”

The magistrate further refused to believe that Sikhala may not have known that he was wantes by the police as they issued a statement days before the July 31 planned anti-government protests, saying Sikhala was wanted for an “interview”.

“Assuming that he never saw the press statement, from the videos it shows that he was somehow aware that the police was looking for him,” Lazini said. “He was aware that the police was already looking for him. If he was not hiding, he should have surrendered himself to the police. It was incumbent on the accused to approach the nearest police station to check for his name, but he went on to shoot some videos which he publicised.”

“In light of this evidence, this court is of the view that this candidate is not suitable for bail and it is hereby denied,” the magistrate ruled.

ZIM JUDGES END CHIN’ONO AND NGARIVHUME’S MONTH-LONG INCARCERATION, IMPOSES ONEROUS BAIL CONDITIONS

Two High Court Judges on Wednesday 2 September 2020 ended the lengthy detention of freelance journalist Hopewell Chin’ono and Transform Zimbabwe party leader Jacob Ngarivhume, who had been languishing in prison for more than one month after they were arrested in July for allegedly inciting people to revolt against President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration.

Chin’ono and Ngarivhume had spent more than one month while detained at Chikurubi Maximum Security Prison after they were arrested by Zimbabwe Republic Police 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.

The award-winning freelance journalist and the opposition political party leader were also charged with incitement to commit public violence as defined in section 187(1)(a) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act as read with section 36(1)(a) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act.

Prosecutors alleged that Chin’ono and Ngarivhume incited people to revolt against President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration during some anti-government protests called for on 31 July 2020.

On three occasions, Magistrate Ngoni Nduna and Magistrate Trynos Utahwashe together with High Court Judge Justice Tawanda Chitapi denied Chin’ono and Ngarivhume bail after they petitioned the courts to be set free.

But on Wednesday 2 September 2020 Justice Siyabona Musithu ordered the release of Ngarivhume from prison after granting him RTGS$50 000 bail and imposing some stringent conditions which include banning him from posting messages on his Twitter handle @jngarivhume pending the finalisation of his matter and to report three times every week on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at a local police station until his matter is finalised.

Ngarivhume was also ordered to surrender his passport with the Clerk of Court at Harare Magistrates Court and to continue residing at his given residential address until his matter is finalised.

In arriving at the decision to set free Ngarivhume, Justice Musithu faulted Magistrate Utahwashe for erring and misdirecting himself on 21 August 2020 in refusing to release the opposition politician on bail as there was a change in circumstances from the time he appeared for his initial bail hearing on 22 July 2020.

The Judge ruled that the state had failed to adduce evidence supporting its opposition to the release of Ngarivhume on bail on the basis that there was a formation called #31 July Movement which intended to carry out nationwide protests beyond 31 July 2020.

Justice Chitapi also set free Chin’ono on RTGS$10 000 bail and similarly imposed some stringent conditions such as restricting the freelance journalist from posting on his Twitter handle namely @daddyhope or create any Twitter account for the use of inciting the holding of mass demonstrations for whatever purpose until his case is finalised.

Justice Chitapi, who ruled that Magistrate Nduna misdirected himself when he denied Chin’ono bail on 24 August 2020 after initially dismissing his first freedom bid on 24 July 2020, ordered the freelance journalist to report at a local police station two times every week on Mondays and Fridays, surrender title deeds to his residential property, continue residing at his given residential address and to surrender his passport with Clerk of Court at Harare Magistrates Court.

Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights

MDC Alliance councillor, Jacob Mafume, has been elected as the new Mayor for Harare following an election held on Thursday.

He polled 19 votes against Luckson Mukunguma who had 14. Mafume replaces Hebert Gomba who was recently recalled by the MDC-T led by Thokozani Khupe.

Watch MDC Alliance supporters celebrate Jacob Mapfume’s victory.

The victory has been described by political analyst Pedzisai Ruhanya as a warning to Khupe of more embarassing defeats to the MDC Alliance ahead.

If Khupe, Mudzuri, Komichi and @DMwonzora can lose an elitist poll like this what about the battles ahead where us the voters will take part. Surely seeing out does not help. The masses, the people have a date with you @DMwonzora

— Pedzisai Ruhanya (@PedzisaiRuhanya) September 3, 2020

Congratulations to the Jacob Mafumhe for being elected the New Mayor of Harare! pic.twitter.com/djtdRDSwZI

— nelson chamisa (@nelsonchamisa) September 3, 2020

Opposition MDC Alliance Deputy Chairperson and Zengeza West legislator, Job Sikhala has been denied bail and remanded in custody to 17 September for routine remand.

Sikhala was arrested on the 21st of July and charged with inciting public violence.

In denying bail to Sikhala, Harare Magistrate Lazini Ncube said that it took the police a long time to arrest him and that he did not submit himself to the police despite knowing that he was wanted for an interview.

Sikhala’s defence counsel made up of Advocate Eric Matinenga, Jeremiah Bhamu and Harrison Nkomo had told the court that their client was entitled to bail he is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

They had also brought three witnesses to prove that their client was a strong candidate for bail including Beatrice Mtetwa who said she represented Sikhala in Masvingo when he was facing treason charges.

The state, on the other hand, argued that it took the police a long time to arrest him to locate him from his hiding place yet he knew that he was on a list wanted persons.

Speaking to journalists outside the court, Sikhala’s lawyer Harrison Nkomo said they disagreed with the ruling.

Nkomo added that Sikhala had instructed them to file an appeal with the High Court.

Sikhala had an initial application against his placement on remand dismissed by the same magistrates court last week.

Businessman Farai Jere who is facing fraud charges has has been granted $20 000 bail by the High Court.

This follows an appeal against the Harare Magistrates’ Court decision refusing him bail. Justice Pisirayi Kwenda granted the appeal by Jere citing misdirection on the part of the lower court.

He has also been ordered to surrender travel documents, not to interfere with witnesses and to report once a week at the nearest police station.

State Media

A policeman and an intelligence officer have been arrested on allegations of being part of a gang that has been raiding peoples’ houses in and around Harare demanding cash and valuables at gunpoint.

Constable Fidelis Katsande, who is based at Mbare Police Station, was arrested together with Chris Risanamhodzi, who is believed to be an intelligence officer, and Belfa Zvamaida Kwaramba, a civilian.

Police have since launched a manhunt for the fourth suspect, Adoni Chipangamati, who is also thought to be an intelligence officer.

National police spokesperson, Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi, yesterday confirmed that three people have been arrested with investigations still in progress.

Sources close to the investigations yesterday said on Saturday around 8pm, the four raided a house in Queensdale where they attacked a family.

They are alleged to have fired shots in the air to scare the family while at the same time demanding cash.

The stole cell phones before they attacked another person in the same house, and stole another cell phone from him.

It is alleged that after failing to get money, the gang threatened the family that they would come back.

The gang then disappeared. On Monday the victims saw the three suspects at Queensdale Shopping Centre and alerted the police. The three were arrested while they were standing near their Nissan X-Trail car.

The suspects were found in possession of two cell phones allegedly stole at the house.

They are still assisting police with investigations and a manhunt has since been launched for the fourth suspect who is still at large.

The latest incident comes after police last week warned officers against harbouring criminals, and being involved in criminal activity.

Last Saturday, a policeman was arrested on allegations of issuing fake Covid-19 exemption letters to the unsuspecting public. Constable

Oswald Jonga, who is based at Borrowdale Police Station, was arrested after investigations revealed he issued fake exemption letters to MDC-Alliance councillor for Harare’s Ward 16, Denford Ngadziore and political activist Prince Mandenga, plus many others.

He was allegedly using his personal computer and fake date stamps to produce the documents while charging people at least US$10 per letter.

Last week, a Beitbridge policeman Constable Tapiwa Mangoma, was arrested for harbouring and assisting seven armed robbers, including Zimbabwe’s most wanted suspected criminal, Musa Taj Abdul.

Police had been tracking Taj Abdul for nearly two decades and his run came to an abrupt end on August 24 when he was arrested together with Rudolf Kanhanga alias Tapiwa Munatsi (29), Liberty Mupamhanga (29), Prince Makodza (31), Godfrey Mupamhanga (27), Charles Lundu (47) and Innocent Jairos (32).

Farai Dziva|President Nelson Chamisa has taunted the “MDC Thoko” political formation for attempting to destabilize the MDC Alliance.

In his congratulatory Message to Councillor Jacob Mafume, following his victory in the Harare Mayoral election, President Chamisa said:

Congratulations to Cnlr Jacob Mafumhe for being elected the New Mayor of Harare!

This is to replace Cnlr Hebert Gomba who was recalled by MDC Thoko! Togaraseiiko …

By A Correspondent- Jailed opposition stalwart Job Sikhala has been denied bail.

By A Correspondent- It has been revealed that the Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) is responsible for the recent demolitions of houses that were built adjacent the National Heroes Acre in Belvedere West.

The houses were demolished on Tuesday with rumours rife that it was the responsibility of Harare City Council.

Harare Council Denied Responsibility

The local authorities, though admitting to possessing court orders for demolitions, however denied responsibility for the actions.

“Dear residents occupying land illegally, Council has a number of court orders to remove illegal structures”.

We would like to advise all people who were served with eviction orders to voluntarily move off the illegally occupied pieces of land”, Council said.

“For the record, Council has this week not removed any illegal structures in Belvedere West

Soldiers Responsible for Demolitions

Zimbabwe Defence Forces spokesperson Colonel Makotore has since confirmed that the structures in question were demolished by the ZNA.

Makotore was quoted in the press stating that the structures were illegal having been built on an army zone.

“These houses were built in cantonment, when an outsider invades your territory you do not wait for external help,” he said.

Many settlements have been coming up across Harare with some of them illegal creations of land barons.

Authorities have however found the going tough stopping the practice as some of the land barons have the support of Council officials.

Recently some Council officials were arrested on charges of corruption involving illegal land sales.-OpenCouncilHarare

#BREAKING– @JacobMafume elected new Harare Mayor pic.twitter.com/qvrzYzncIh

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) September 3, 2020

MDC Alliance's @JacobMafume polled 19 votes while
Mukunguma who was representing MDC T led by @DrThokozaniKhupe polled 14votes. 1 vote was spoiled hence the total Votes cast were 34 pic.twitter.com/oVpQHZXUKS

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) September 3, 2020

By A Correspondent- Councillor Jacob Mafume who beat his rival after garnering 19 votes against Councillor Enock Mupamawonde’s 14 votes has pledged to turn Harare into a SMART city.

Clr Mupamawonde was the Acting Mayor after Councillor Herbert Gomba was recalled by the MDC-T led by Thokozani Khupe for supporting MDC Alliance president Nelson Chamisa.

35 councillors were expected to vote but one councillor was absent and sent an apology while one ballot was spoilt.

Mayor Mafume promised to lead a corruption-free council and urged his team to prioritise service delivery.

He said there is a need for stability at the townhouse and though it is a difficult time for workers, he promised to look into their welfare.

Farai Dziva|The MDC Alliance says the land reform programme should be transparent and balanced in essence.

The party has also accused Zanu PF of using the compensation process to siphon state resources.

This was said by MDC Alliance Spokesperson, Advocate Fadzai Mahere at a news conference in the capital Harare on Thursday.

Watch video below:

Farai Dziva|Heavily armed police details have barred vendors in Murehwa from conducting their business.

15 vendors were also arrested on Monday for cheerfully greeting President Nelson Chamisa as he was returning from Patson Dzamara’s funeral.

The vendors are being persecuted for merely greeting President Chamisa, it has emerged.

“We have received worrying reports that armed police have besieged the Murehwa vending space with dogs, preventing the
Murewa Vendors from working.

Their daily earnings have been disrupted and they are living in fear.

#LoveLeadsLoveWins
#ZimbabweanLivesMatter,” MDC Alliance said in a brief statement.

EFF ZIMBABWE’S STATEMENT ON GOVERNMENT’S DECISION TO COMPENSATE FORMER WHITE FARMERS

On the 30th of July 2020, EFF Zimbabwe issued a statement strongly condemning the Zimbabwean
government’s decision to compensate former White Farmers.

We knew it then that the Zimbabwe
government had sold out the souls and the blood of the gallant sons and daughters of Zimbabwe
who fought the war to liberate our country from the calamities of colonialism.

Yesterday, the
government of Zimbabwe confirmed that it has indeed sold out the land of our ancestors to the
former colonial masters.

EFF Zimbabwe is horrified by this treasonous act of betrayal of our people by the Zimbabwean
government which has effectively and verifiably reversed the agrarian land reform program.

Zimbabweans fought a war for the restoration of their land and their dignity and now the
Zimbabwean government has stripped our people off their land and dignity.

Those who violently
took the land from our forbearers more than a century ago, benefitted from it through cheap labour
and exploitation have now been given the land back by the Zimbabwean government.

Why is the government giving back our land to the former White Farmers who about a century ago
forcefully and fraudulently displaced our forbearers?

Were they not the beneficiaries of stolen
property in the first place? Our ancestors were violently removed from their land by the White
Settlers.

Who is going to compensate the loss our ancestors suffered? Our forbearers had structures
on their land and their structures were burnt down and destroyed when our land was stolen by the
invading thieves.

The Zimbabwe government has sold out the entire generation of our people – consequently the
generations to come too. There is no greater treachery than this.

As EFF Zimbabwe we condemn this
treachery in the strongest possible terms.

We will use whatever is at our disposal to fight this
historical mistake and racial injustice.

The government of Zimbabwe must make no mistake about
this, we will fight this injustice by every means possible until justice prevails.

We promise the people of Zimbabwe that, we will be with them in this fight all the way until victory
is achieved.

We cannot allow the former white farmers sponsored by rogue elements of the
Zimbabwean government to defecate and urinate on the graves of our forefathers and those of our
fallen heroes who fought and died for this land.

We demand that the government of Zimbabwe
reverses this treasonous decision and flush down the toilet this so-called Global Compensation
Deed. The agreement is not worth the paper it is written on.

As the Economic Freedom Fighters of Zimbabwe, expropriation of land without compensation is one
of our cardinal pillars and we will defend it tooth and nail, blood and sweat, limb and spirit.

We
declare that the land is for the indigenous people of Zimbabwe and will remain so forever until our
ancestors decide otherwise.

Yonke Indawo EFF!!!
Kwese Kwese EFF!!!
Everywhere EFF!!!

By A Correspondent- Speaker of parliament Jacob Mudenda announced that Zanu Pf assigned Hon Esther Nyathi to serve on the Information, Media and Broadcasting Services. and  Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development portfolio committes.

Said Mudenda Wednesday:

“…..I have to inform the House that ZANU PF Party has assigned Hon. Esther Nyathi to serve on the following Portfolio Committees: (a) Information, Media and Broadcasting Services. (b) Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development.”

JUST IN- "We have received worrying reports that armed police have besieged the vending space with dogs, preventing the #MurewaVendors from working.Their daily earnings have been disrupted & they are living in fear." the MDC Alliance Social Welfare Department has said pic.twitter.com/tioJWDdpeX

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) September 3, 2020

By A Correspondent- Speaker of Assembly Jacob Mudenda has revealed that several legislators including two parliament staffers  who tested COVID-19 positive have fully recovered.

Said Mudenda:

“…… Following the testing of COVID – 19 to Members of Parliament and staff on Monday, 31^st August, 2020 and Tuesday, 1^st September, 2020 we have been advised that the City of Harare and Parliament Clinic will be contacting only those who tested positive to Covid-19 from today until Friday, 4^th September, 2020.

Consequently, those who do not receive any call by Friday, 4 September, 2020 would have tested negative to Covid-19.

We urge those who test positive to strictly observe the World Health Organisation guidelines on isolation as advised by the Ministry of Health and Child Care and the Parliament Clinic.

We also urge you to remain very calm and positive and we would like to assure you that we are together in this Covid-19 pandemic.  You will be in our prayers everyday and we wish you a speedy recovery.

Further details that relate to those who have tested positive will be given by the Parliament of Zimbabwe and the Medical Team that has been assisting Parliament of Zimbabwe.

I must say before we opened for this session here, there were quite a number of Members of Parliament and two staff members who had tested positive, but I was very pleased to learn that they have taken the results well and all of them have recovered.”

1/2 JUST IN- At the Masvingo Magistrate Court where MDC Alliance councillor's trial is currently underway, journalist are being denied entry to cover proceedings. @misazimbabwe @ZLHRLawyers @zanupf_patriots @PoliceZimbabwe @nickmangwana @schikanza @Sophie_Mokoena @MakomboreroH

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) September 3, 2020

2/2 Matthew Takaona (pictured below) pleads with the authorities to let journalists cover the trial of Godfrey Kurauone @misazimbabwe @nickmangwana @MdcMasvingo @waltermzembi @WellenceMujuru @MaureenKade pic.twitter.com/PAHFXZ6hdr

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) September 3, 2020

By A Correspondent- Two Rusape-based police officers were arrested for stealing a commuter omnibus, while a suspended police detective allegedly teamed up with two accomplices for an extortion spree in Mutare and surrounding areas.

The Rusape pair has since appeared in court, while investigations are in progress in the matter involving the Mutare CID detective and his accomplices.

It is alleged that the two Rusape cops stole an impounded kombi that was parked at Rusape Central Police Station before releasing it to its owner who had bribed them to carry out the mission.

Last week, Rusape Central Police station’s Lawrence Muzanda and Golden Cheneka appeared before Rusape magistrate, Mr Gift Manyika, facing one count of criminal abuse of office.

They were represented by Mr Leonard Chigadza of Chigadza and Associates who successfully applied for $5 000 bail for each of them after the State had opposed it.

Public prosecutor, Mr Tawanda Munjanja said the policemen released a Toyota Hiace belonging to Percivical Jongwe after receiving a US$40 bribe.

“On August 13, Jongwe was arrested for carrying passengers in contravention of Section 4 (2) of Statutory Instrument 83/2020. His Toyota Hiace kombi was impounded. Jongwe later approached one Tafadzwa to facilitate the release of the vehicle.

“Tafadzwa, who is still at large, approached Muzanda and Cheneka as they were manning ZRP Rusape Central’s main gate. The three connived to release the vehicle for a fee. At around 2am, Muzanda called Jongwe and instructed him to come and collect his vehicle.

“Accused persons demanded a payment of US$60 to facilitate the release of the motor vehicle, but Jongwe told them that he only had US$40. The accused persons accepted the money on condition that he would pay the balance the following day.

“The US$40 was given to Tafadzwa, who later handed it over to the accused persons. Muzanda drove the motor vehicle out of the police station before handing it over to Jongwe at Engen Service Station in Rusape.

“On the same day around 6am, Cheneka called Jongwe and advised him to immediately leave Rusape as it had been discovered that the vehicle had been stolen,” said Mr Munjanja.

As Jongwe fled, alert police officers in Marondera intercepted him at a roadblock. The vehicle was impounded and handed over to CID Rusape, where it is being held as an exhibit.

The duo is expected back in court on September 4. In the Mutare case, the three suspects are alleged to have been targeting illegal fuel dealers whom they would threaten with arrest before demanding bribes for their freedom.

Deputy Manicaland police spokesperson, Assistant Inspector Luxton Chananda could not disclose the name of the implicated detective as investigations are still in progress.

He, however, confirmed the arrest of Thomas Chanaka (33) and Wallace Muranganwa (29). They are facing charges of fraud, theft and impersonating police officers.

Assistant Inspector Chananda said police officials stationed at Dangamvura Police Station received a report that the two suspects were disguising themselves as cops and terrorising residents.

A team led by Sergeant Machona, as well as Constables Chitukula, Ndonda, Urayayi and Moyo made a follow-up. Informers were planted in and around Dangamvura to trace the whereabouts of the accused persons.

On June 29, one of the complainants, Mr John Mukonowenhata from Sakubva in Mutare, parked his truck along Jeff Road as he was fixing his tent.

The two accused persons blocked his way with their private vehicle and identified themselves as police officers. One of the suspects produced a police identity card, Number 069218I, which belongs to one Constable Phiri.

The duo then searched Mr Mukonowenhata’s vehicle and found 100 litres of diesel. They told him that he was under arrest for dealing in petroleum substances without proper documentation.

They demanded US$130 and Mr Mukonowenhata handed it over to them.

However, Mr Mukonowenhata later learnt that the two were bogus cops and filed a police report at the ZRP Dangamvura station.

Weeks later, the suspects approached Mr Renias Chakauya of Federation, Dangamvura, at his workplace at Tsvingwe, Redwing Mine.

They identified themselves as police officers and one of them produced the aforementioned identity card. They told Mr Chakauya that he was under arrest for dealing in petroleum substances without a permit.

They demanded US$30 from Mr Chakauya, before going on to disappear with his US$120 in a botched fuel deal a few days later.

On August 10, Chanaka was at Beta Shopping Centre in Dangamvura when he borrowed Mr Blessing Munyebvu’s cellphone. He went on to disappear with it.

The following day, police informants alerted the police that the suspects were at Beta Shopping Centre.

The police reacted swiftly and arrested the duo.

In an effort to evade arrest, one of the suspects tried to stab Constable Ndonda with an Okapi knife.

Further investigations have revealed that the suspects committed a series of offences in Sakubva, Penhalonga and Mutare’s Central Business District. Some of these were not reported. The cops also uncovered that one of the suspects is a police detective who is currently on suspension.

The suspects told the cops that Constable Phiri’s police ID, which they were using for their shenanigans, was picked in Sakubva. Constable Phiri is stationed at Mutare Central Police Station.-statemedia

By A Correspondent- Sports and Recreation Commission (SRC) has reportedly instructed a number of gyms around the country to close shop as it emerged they are not adhering to COVID-19 containment measures set by the government and the World Health Organisation.

A letter from SRC’s director-general Prince Mupazvirihoto one gym in Harare seen by the publication reads in part:

The Sports and Recreation Commission (SRC) notes with concern that you have failed to comply with the stipulated conditions for re-opening in line with the provisions of Statutory Instrument 200 of 2020, in particular registration of your facility with the Sports and Recreation Commission. Registration with the SRC is key to both the streamlining of activities and protection accorded by the laws of the country. To this end, all facilities, clubs, institutions and national associations that participate in sport and recreational activities must be registered in accordance with the law. In this regard this serves to advise that the facility in hereby closed with immediate effect until regularisation has been effected

The publication did not give the specific number of gyms which were closed by the SRC and the SRC is yet to comment on the development. Statemedia

Update :Kurauone Trial to continue at 14:15

State fails to provide adequate witnesses -only one police officer is available to testify..#ZimbabweansLivesMatter @MakomboreroH @MaureenKade pic.twitter.com/IRzViBPABp

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) September 3, 2020

By A Correspondent- Popular songstress Sandra Ndebele has released the following video titled Usabvume. The song is meant to empower people from all walks of life to not let other people marginalise them on any grounds.

Sandra hogged the limelight a few weeks ago when a few photos from her photoshoot broke the internet.

By A Correspondent- Zanu PF has conceded that it erred by engaging in the “chaotic” land reform exercise in 2000 where it parcelled out commercial land to its supporters without following procedure.

The ruling party yesterday said this had prompted the process of compensating farmers who were kicked off their farms.

Addressing journalists in Harare yesterday, acting party spokesperson Patrick Chinamasa conceded that the land reform programme was chaotic, saying the move to compensate the farmers was a constitutional requirement of righting the wrong.

“Pajambanja ipapo, takaita zvainge zvisingafaniri kuti tiite (we did something that we were not supposed to do during the chaotic land redistribution exercise),” Chinamasa said.

“We took land from those who had bought their own land and settled our people.

“The people are still there, but the Constitution says if there is such an issue, we compensate for the land and the improvements. If the previous owner then says he wants the land back, not money, we will give him back the land which we took and gave to A2 farmers.”

At the turn of the millennium, Zanu-PF led a chaotic land reform programme which the late former President Robert Mugabe said was meant to address colonial land imbalances.

The land reform programme saw over 4 000 white commercial farmers being displaced.

Some black farmers and those whose land was protected under Bilateral Investment Promotion and Protection Agreements (BIPPAs) were also evicted.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government on Monday announced that government would compensate black farmers who lost their land during the land reform exercise .

Farmers whose land was protected under the BIPPAs will also be compensated.

Both can choose to reapply to go back on their previously owned land, a move that will likely trigger mass displacements of some of the beneficiaries of the land reform programme, the majority of them combatants of the 1970s liberation war.

The new order came after Mnangagwa, on July 20, signed a pact to compensate white former commercial farmers for the improvements they made on the farms they were displaced from.

Mnangagwa’s latest decision caused anxiety among even his followers in the ruling party, with most, particularly war veterans, accusing him of trying to reverse the land reform programme.

In his Press briefing, Chinamasa said: “Where we settled our people on land previously owned by a black indigenous Zimbabwean and the land was parcelled out into A2 or A1 farms, the Constitution obliges us to pay full compensation to that black person for land and any improvement on the farm.

“In the case where the land was not settled, but gazetted we are saying we restore to that person titles of the farm which we compulsorily acquired through the jambanja process. We restore it to that black person. That must be made very clear.

“On the land that fell under BIPPA, the Constitution is very clear also because under BIPPA we were under obligation to pay compensation for both land and improvements and our Constitution providees exactly for that.

“If any land under BIPPA was affected by jambanja and we settled our people, we are obliged to pay compensation for both land and improvements.”

Chinamasa said for the land seized from white former commercial farmers, the government was only obliged to pay for improvements and not the land.

He added that the announcement by government to compensate the former farmers had caused confusion in and outside the party.

“The party has noted that the contents of that statement, ( jointly issued by Finance minister Mthuli Ncube and Agriculture minister Anxious Masuka), has caused confusion among our people on the policy of Zanu-PF regarding the land question,” Chinamasa said.

He said the MDC Alliance and its allies should not lecture Zanu-PF on the land redistribution exercise, in apparent reference to opposition party vice-president Tendai Biti who has described the move as reversing the land reform programme.

“We will never allow anyone to lecture us. We have never taken an inch of any soil anywhere in the world. There was a moment we had to take a step back in order to take two steps forward and we will not allow them to lecture us on these things.”

Chinamasa said the government took the decision to grab land from the white former commercial farmers after the United Kingdom, through then Prime Minister Tony Blair, refused to pay compensation to the affected farmers as previously agreed.

He accused Blair and the Westminster Foundation of financing the opposition MDC, hence the decision to engage in the land grab.

“Zanu-PF is gravely concerned at the emerging trends over land that was acquired and distributed under the land reform programme. Of particular interest is the tendency by the beneficiaries of A2 farms to lease out those farms in return for rent,” Chinamasa said.

Meanwhile, Justice minister Ziyambi Ziyambi was yesterday also grilled in the National Assembly by Biti over the land issue .

“The Constitution is very clear in section 295(4) that compensation can only be payable if there is an Act of Parliament,” Biti said.

“So on what legal basis was that agreement executed when there is no Act of Parliament to define the agreement and the methods of payment, as well as the implications of that on the Consolidated Revenue Fund because it was approved outside Parliament?”

But Ziyambi denied that the government was reversing the land reform programme.

He said the Constitution stipulated that there be compensation for both land and improvements on the farms.

“It is not true that we need an Act of Parliament to do that because we have the Land Acquisition Act, which has provisions for that. In any case, if we decide to use taxpayers’ money, then the appropriation will be approved by Parliament,” Ziyambi said.

Biti insisted that taking land from resettled black people was a reversal of the land reform programme.

Magwegwe legislator Anele Ndebele (MDC Alliance) asked Ziyambi to make the land audit results public to bring closure to the land issue, to which the Justice minister said that would be done.-Newsday

By A Correspondent- Gwanda mayor Jastone Mazhale yesterday pledged undying loyalty to the MDC Alliance and its leadership as he denied reports of crossing the floor to the Thokozani Khupe led MDC-T.

Mazhale is among five Gwanda councillors who had a meeting with a delegation from MDC-T over the weekend to nudge them to voluntarily quit the MDC Alliance or risk recall from council.

Khupe last month recalled five MDC Alliance councillors in Bulawayo and six in Harare for refusing to recognise her following a Supreme Court ruling which declared her the interim leader of the MDC-T.

“The correct position is that I still remain an MDC Alliance member where at provincial level I am the secretary for policy and research,” Mazhale, who is also ward 7 councillor, said as he confirmed attending the Khupe-facilitated meeting.

“It’s true I attended the meeting agreeing to engage them in my personal capacity. We engaged and they put their side of the story and eventually I had to tell them that no, I do not buy their story.

“It was out of courtesy that I gave them room for dialogue; and even on Tuesday they were saying can we meet again so that we pursue the issue, but I refused because the moment we engage each other, we then spread falsehoods and that affects my principles and personality and it also affects my community role.”

Acting MDC-T spokesperson Khalipani Phugeni, who led the Khupe delegation, refused to reveal the outcome of the meeting.

“What I can only say is that we are trying to put our priorities right and deliver. We are seized with making sure that services to the people are delivered as we focus on alleviating the people’s suffering,” Phugeni told Southern Eye.

The former Deputy Prime minister has also recalled 21 MDC Alliance legislators on allegations of severing ties with her party.

Indications are that more MDC Alliance members face recall for refusing to recognise Khupe’s legitimacy, instilling panic into some Bulawayo councillors and legislators.-Newsday

By A Correspondent- Zimbabwe National Roads Administrator (ZINARA) has appointed Nkosinathi Ncube Chief Executive Officer following the dismissal of former CEO Nacy Masiyiwa Chamisa over graft allegation.

The appointment of Ncube was confirmed by ZINARA Chairman Mike Madanha who said:

Yes I can confirm his appointment but I don’t want to pre-empt because we are going to make an official announcement soon.

Ncube’s appointment is expected to improve the running of the road administrator which has of late been dogged by allegations of abuse of funds scandals. A recent audit report exposed massive financial abuse where US$142m was paid to illegally hired road maintenance contractors.-BusinessTimes

By A Correspondent- The High Court has given Econet Wireless a 48-hour ultimatum within which to release cellphone records pertaining to the three MDC activists’ movements, tracked through their mobile phones on the day they were allegedly abducted by State security agents.

The order was made on Wednesday by Justice Clement Phiri following an application by the opposition activists Joanah Mamombe, Cecilia Chimbiri and Netsai Marova.

“The respondent (Econet Wireless) be and is hereby ordered to, within 48 hours from the date of this order, deliver to the applicants (Mamombe, Chimbiri and Marova) through their legal practitioners, cell-phone records for the period between May 13, 2020 and June 9, 2020 together with cellular phone triangulation, cell tower tri-angulation or GPS tracking data for lines 07*****, 07***** and 07***** for the same period,” Justice Phiri ruled.

The trio was reportedly abducted by State security agents on May 13, 2020, leading to a worldwide condemnation of the incident which government dismissed as stage-managed.

Instead, the State charged the women for falsifying their abduction. However, as the trio’s trial date was set by the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), on charges of publishing false statements prejudicial to the State, they approached the High Court for an order to compel Econet Wireless, whose mobile network they use and has the GPS tracking system, to release the May 13, 2020 records, saying they will show how they were allegedly tracked down by State security agents, leading to their abduction.

The three women, who are currently out of custody on $10 000 bail each, argue that they were arrested by the police at a COVID-19 checkpoint along Samora Machel Avenue after staging a demonstration in Warren Park, Harare.

Despite Zimbabwe having gone through a number of crises since independence in 1980, regrettably, the country’s ruling political elite has never at one point in time acknowledged the existence of any crisis, a former cabinet minister said Wednesday.

Zimbabwe is today facing a crippling political and economic crisis, which has attracted the attention of the international community.

However, the Zanu-PF-led government maintains there is no crisis in the country, claiming Zimbabwe is being demonised by her detractors and economic saboteurs.

Speaking during a CITE virtual public lecture on the crisis in Zimbabwe, Professor Jonathan Moyo, a former cabinet minister in late former president Robert Mugabe’s government, said the denial of the existence of a crisis in the country by the powers-that-be was not something new.

“Zimbabwe’s officialdom is notorious for not acknowledging any crisis,” said Prof Moyo.

“It has never at any point in the life and history of our country acknowledged the existence of a crisis. As far as the official line is concerned, it is immune from crisis. It is a kind of paradise on earth. The tendency of the officialdom is to at least present the country as one that has not really gone through any crisis since 1980.”

Prof Moyo said the authorities in 2017 failed to acknowledge that the military coup which deposed Mugabe was a crisis.

“There was a crisis in the republic,” said Prof Moyo.

“But even with that intervention which deposed President Mugabe and imposed Emmerson Mnangagwa as President of the country, really ZDF and Zanu-PF themselves did not acknowledge the intervention as a crisis. I think it will be fair to say in as far as Zanu-PF is concerned and ZDF which has become one and the same thing with Zanu-PF, the word crisis is a bad word. It is something that others suffer but not them, not Zanu-PF, not ZDF and certainly not Zimbabwe under Zanu-PF.”

Evidence on the ground, Prof Moyo said, points to the existence of a crisis in the country despite denials by government officials.

“But of course we know that the Zimbabweans today, are in fact, if we were to use the precedent of the ZDF intervention in 2017, we have not seen in our country an anxious and despondent population as Zimbabweans are today,” bemoaned Prof Moyo.

“If anxiety and despondency are the basis of intervening and if as a rule ZDF intervenes when Zimbabweans are anxious and despondent, I don’t think there will be a time equivalent to what is going on today because it is a self-evident fact that the country is in the jaws of a crippling crisis. This is so for many reasons.”

He cited the shrinking of the economy by 8 percent, seven million Zimbabweans living from hand to mouth, unemployment as high as 90 percent and over six million nationals residing outside the country as ample evidence of the existence of a crisis in the Southern African nation.

“I suppose it is fair to say that the denial of the crisis by the government, by Zanu-PF and by the ruling political class is in itself a crisis,” said Prof Moyo.

“It is probably the most unfortunate part of the crisis because in the civilised world the responsible authorities are often the first ones to accept the crisis and commit themselves to its resolution.”

-CITE

THE High Court has given Econet Wireless a 48-hour ultimatum within which to re-lease cellphone records pertaining to the three MDC activists’ movements, tracked through their mobile phones on the day they were allegedly abducted by State security agents.

The order was made on Wednesday by Justice Clement Phiri following an application by the opposition activists Joanah Mamombe, Cecilia Chimbiri and Netsai Marova.

“The respondent (Econet Wireless) be and is hereby ordered to, within 48 hours from the date of this order, deliver to the applicants (Mamombe, Chimbiri and Marova) through their legal practitioners, cell-phone records for the period between May 13, 2020 and June 9, 2020 together with cellular phone triangulation, cell tower tri-angulation or GPS tracking data for lines 07*****, 07***** and 07***** for the same period,” Justice Phiri ruled.

The trio was reportedly abducted by State security agents on May 13, 2020, leading to a worldwide condemnation of the incident which government dismissed as stage-managed.

Instead, the State charged the women for falsifying their abduction. However, as the trio’s trial date was set by the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), on charges of publishing false statements prejudicial to the State, they approached the High Court for an order to compel Econet Wireless, whose mobile network they use and has the GPS tracking system, to release the May 13, 2020 records, saying they will show how they were allegedly tracked down by State security agents, leading to their abduction.

The three women, who are currently out of custody on $10 000 bail each, argue that they were arrested by the police at a COVID-19 checkpoint along Samora Machel Avenue after staging a demonstration in Warren Park, Harare.

-Newsday

By A Correspondent- The outgoing National Railway of Zimbabwe General Manager and 3 other directors are reportedly demanding hefty exit packages from the parastatal, the Chronicle reports.

Engineer Lewis Mukwada ( General Manager) Mr Misheck Matanhire (director corporate services), Mr Samson Bhuza (director operations) and Mr Elector Mafunga (director marketing) were relieved of their duties after the Transport minister Joel Biggie Matiza ordered the board to restructure the parastatal.

The quartet is reportedly demanding US $80 000 each and a Prado V8 for Mukwada and 3 Fortuners for the other 3 directors.

As shopfloor workers within NRZ, we are saying these guys should not even leave with anything. They destroyed the NRZ and some of them have worked for over two decades but haven’t done anything worth their stay at NRZ.

We hear that they want to be given hefty exit packages of US$80 000 each or an equivalent of that amount in local currency. This is in addition to top of the range vehicles they bought themselves sometime this year.

Another NRZ Employee also said:

Most of our customers are complaining that we have got over 200 wagons grounded at NRZ stations dotted across the country and yet over US$300 000 that was sourced to repair the locomotives was diverted to buying the cars and its actually being selfish

When contacted for comment, NZR Public Relations Manager Nyasha Mataranyika said:

This is a policy issue to be determined by Government through the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development as well as the Office of the President and Cabinet.

I am sure the Government will definitely not do things that will cripple NRZ because the shareholder’s thrust is to revive NRZ. We believe that it is in the hands of the ministry and the board. Remember there are laws, regulations and procedures to follow.

We believe the shareholder will do what would make NRZ tick and also if these people have worked to satisfaction, definitely Government will be obliged to ensure they are given exit packages that are in tandem with their contracts.

By A Correspondent- A 14 year old Zimbabwean whizkid, Taida Mapara after scoring 15 points in the June ZIMSEC examinations has enrolled at Malawi Medical School, Newsday reports. Taida who was a student at Hillbright Science College sat for Mathematics, Biology and Chemistry after a nine-month intensive study and passed with flying colours according to the publication.

Speaking to the publication about her academic journey, Taida said:

From Grade 2 to 6, I attended Maranatha Junior School. In 2016, March, I moved to Ghana, where I was home-schooled until August 2016, Home-schooling was not challenging enough for me, so I asked to be enrolled in a regular school set-up, which my parents gladly accepted.

We relocated to Zimbabwe in August 2019 and I struggled to find a school I could enrol with for A-Level since most schools had already begun the syllabus.

I eventually got a place at Hilbright Science College end of September 2019 just to while up time while waiting for a boarding school to accept me for A-Level. I was also fortunate to have very supportive teachers who understood my potential and were always willing to put in extra effort to see me achieve

Mapara managed to study the two-year GCE Advanced-Level course in a period of nine months and scored 15 points. Taida becomes the second whizkid to enrol at university at such a tender age after Maud Chifamba who enrolled at UZ when she was also 14.-newsday

An @impalacarrental employee has told a ZimEye correspondent the real Impala co' owner is a military gen who was promoted to an ambassadorial job after the 1 Aug'18 crackdown. As we reach out to the ex-soldier & the CEO Mr Thompson Dondo, we interview the general's family MORE…

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) September 3, 2020

Cabinet ministers will he held in contempt of Parliament if they continue missing business sittings, Speaker of the National Assembly Advocate Jacob Mudenda warned yesterday.

He issued the warning after only a handful of ministers and deputy ministers attended yesterday’s weekly Question and Answer Session.

Most members of the National Assembly resorted to directing their questions to the Leader of the House, Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi who deals with Government business.

“These ministers are undermining the President and Government. There have been no apologies that have been tendered. If next week there are no ministers, there must be someone from the floor who moves a point of order and raise a motion so that we can deal with them for contempt of Parliament,” said Adv Mudenda.

He urged Minister Ziyambi to ensure ministers attended Parliament and take its business seriously.

Some of the ministers that were present included Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Monica Mutsvangwa, Defence and War Veterans Affairs Minister Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri, Women’s Affairs, Community and Small and Medium Enterprises Development Dr Sithembiso Nyoni, Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation and Science and Technology Development Minister Professor Amon Murwira, Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Deputy Minister Mike Madiro, Finance and Economic Development Deputy Minister Clemence Chiduwa, and Energy and Power Development Deputy Minister Magna Mudyiwa.

The ministers who took the trouble to seek official leave of absence are Information Communication Technology, Postal and Courier Services Minister Dr Jenfan Muswere, Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Minister Kazembe Kazembe, Mines and Mining Development Minister Winston Chitando, Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister Joel Biggie Matiza, National Housing and Social Amenities Minister Daniel Garwe, Primary and Secondary Education Minister Cain Mathema, Local Government and Public Works Minister July Moyo and Industry and Commerce Minister Dr Sekai Nzenza.

Adv Mudenda said MPs who tested positive for Covid-19 following tests conducted on Monday and Tuesday would be contacted individually and be required to self-isolate.

Parliament would provide the necessary support to those who test positive.

Devex.com

BRUSSELS — Ongoing mismanagement and corruption mean it is “out of the question” that the European Union will resume aid directly to the government of Zimbabwe anytime soon, according to the bloc’s ambassador to the country.

The government of President Emmerson Mnangagwa has “indicated that they would be interested in reverting back to budget support,” EU Ambassador Timo Olkkonen told Devex in an interview last week. “I can’t prejudge, of course, what happens with the [EU’s upcoming development assistance] programming exercise — but I would say, from my personal perspective, I think it would be impossible.”

The EU stopped sending money directly to government coffers in the southern African nation in 2002, citing violations of human rights and democratic principles under then-President Robert Mugabe. Three years ago, when Mnangagwa seized power from his former mentor in a coup and declared the country “open for business,” Brussels offered the prospect of greater assistance in exchange for free and fair elections.

“We have to think about how we can support the country in a situation where the level of governance is not where we would like it to be.”

Instead, soldiers killed at least six people in the aftermath of the 2018 election that was won by Mnangagwa and criticized by international observers. In recent months, a government crackdown has seen the arrest of domestic opponents and journalists, such as Hopewell Chin’ono, who had reported on a corruption scandal involving COVID-19 supplies.

“Is there really a break with the past?” Olkkonen asked. “Security forces are very heavy-handed, and the treatment of many of these government critics just seems very, very unfair.”

Asked whether the country’s judiciary is independent of the ruling ZANU-PF party, Olkkonen said that “there are clearly cases where you can question [whether] there are political motives behind some of those decisions.” Citing unsuccessful bail applications and countercharges against government critics, he said that “many of these cases really look like overreaction, and then there is also a [question] of fairness and equality of treatment.”

Economically, Olkkonen said skyrocketing inflation following the reintroduction of the Zimbabwe dollar was a symptom of structural problems, such as the “dysfunctional” agriculture sector, as well as “large-scale corruption” in the “very opaque” mining sector. More than half of the population requires food aid, he said. And around 90% of people working in the informal sector, the ambassador said. COVID-19, which has yet to peak in the country, has exacerbated the preexisting humanitarian, economic, social, and political crises.

“The expected reforms have not been made,” Olkkonen said of Mnangagwa’s administration. “The country is in a very difficult place. They had discussions with the IMF [International Monetary Fund], but that has also now broken off. … We have to think about how we can support the country in a situation where the level of governance is not where we would like it to be.”

Between 2014 and 2020, the EU focused on health, agriculture, and good governance, steering funds through consultants and NGOs rather than the government. In the coming months, EU delegations around the world will report back to HQ in Brussels on what their priorities should be for the 2021-2027 period.

After more than two years, European Union leaders finally agreed on a new budget for the bloc. But the results for development are mixed.

“What’s happening in the country and where the country is now will also influence our forthcoming programming exercise,” Olkkonen said. “It can’t be disengaged from that fact.”

In July, the EU foreign affairs chief, Josep Borrell, tweeted: “Recent developments in Zimbabwe are deeply worrying. The work of human rights defenders, journalists, and civil society organisations is essential to support reforms that stand the test of time. Upholding constitutional rights is a principle which cannot be compromised.”

However, that is not enough for Thandekile Moyo. During an online panel discussion last month, the Zimbabwean human rights advocate said that she had lost faith in the international community.

“I believe it is up to us Zimbabweans to save ourselves,” Moyo said, citing international inaction over the Gukurahundi massacres in the 1980s, the killings in Harare in 2018 despite the presence of election observers, and the recent disappearance and torture of government opponents. “I don’t think the international community will do anything. They’ve never done anything, and we might have to wake up to that reality and take it upon ourselves to free ourselves.”

Olkkonen said the EU had reacted to abuses in Zimbabwe, suspending aid to the government in the early 2000s and enforcing an arms embargo and an asset freeze on a company close to the military. However, he said he understood the frustration of locals, “seeing that the international community is, yes, condemning the situation, but then that would be the limit of it. Then the question would be, what would they expect the EU or other western countries to do? And obviously there are limitations to that, what is possible and what is not.”

He said the EU had been encouraging regional African bodies to get more involved in Zimbabwe. “So far we haven’t heard much from [the Southern African Development Community], but we did have for the first time quite a critical comment from the African Union Commission, and I think that’s encouraging.”

Zimbabwe Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC) coronavirus situation report as of 02 September 2020:

New cases: 79
Locals – 59
Returnees – 20
Deaths: 3
Recoveries: 9
Tests Done: 939
PRC – 939
National Recovery Rate: 79%
Active Cases: 1182
Total Cumulative Cases: 6 638
Total Recoveries: 5 250
Total Deaths: 206

THE High Court has given Econet Wireless a 48-hour ultimatum within which to release cellphone records pertaining to the three MDC activists’ movements, tracked through their mobile phones on the day they were allegedly abducted by State security agents.

The order was made on Wednesday by Justice Clement Phiri following an application by the opposition activists Joanah Mamombe, Cecilia Chimbiri and Netsai Marova.

“The respondent (Econet Wireless) be and is hereby ordered to, within 48 hours from the date of this order, deliver to the applicants (Mamombe, Chimbiri and Marova) through their legal practitioners, cellphone records for the period between May 13, 2020 and June 9, 2020 together with cellular phone triangulation, cell tower triangulation or GPS tracking data for lines 07*****, 07***** and 07***** for the same period,” Justice Phiri ruled.

The trio was reportedly abducted by State security agents on May 13, 2020, leading to a worldwide condemnation of the incident which government dismissed as stage-managed.

Instead, the State charged the women for falsifying their abduction.

However, as the trio’s trial date was set by the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), on charges of publishing false statements prejudicial to the State, they approached the High Court for an order to compel Econet Wireless, whose mobile network they use and has the GPS tracking system, to release the May 13, 2020 records, saying they will show how they were allegedly tracked down by State security agents, leading to their abduction.

The three women, who are currently out of custody on $10 000 bail each, argue that they were arrested by the police at a COVID-19 checkpoint along Samora Machel Avenue after staging a demonstration in Warren Park, Harare.

NewsDay

A 71-year-old security guard in Lupane has been sentenced to 30 months in jail after he used a duplicate set of keys to break into a supermarket on various occasions and stole groceries.

Moses Ndlovu of Mpofu village outside Lupane Centre was employed as a security guard at #57 Bar.

He broke into Friserve Investment supermarket on various occasions between August 18 and last Thursday and stole mealie meal, flour, beans and beef among other grocery items.

Ndlovu, a father of 13, was arrested when workers at the shop who were puzzled by mysterious disappearance of goods, hatched a plan to lay an ambush at night.

He pleaded guilty to unlawful entry in aggravating circumstances when he appeared before Lupane resident magistrate Mr Ndumo Masuku.

The magistrate said the crime was premeditated making Ndlovu’s moral blameworthiness high.

“The accused gained entry in aggravating circumstances which entails violation of other people’s rights. He used a duplicate key to open the complainant’s shop and stole various grocery items on several occasions. The offence was well calculated and premeditated as he used the same modus operandi to open the premises on several occasions.

“At 71 and as a senior citizen, the accused was expected to be a role model to the younger generation and as a watchman he was supposed to display a high degree of responsibility. As such the court is of the view that community service will be too light in this case,” said the magistrate before slapping Ndlovu with 30 months in jail.

Ndlovu will however serve an effective 24 months after the magistrate suspended six months for five years on condition of good behavior.

Prosecuting, Mr Clive Gumbo said the owner of the shop Mr Talent Kembo who is the complainant noticed the anomaly and hatched a plan to catch the thief.

“During the period extending from 18 August 2020 to 27 August 2020 Moses Ndlovu went to Friserve Investment and opened the closed door using a homemade key and gained entry through the door.

He stole 7x10kg mealie meal and 3x2kg flour and went away,” said the prosecutor.

Mr Tembo and Ms Phumuzile Moyo, one of workers, remained in the shop last week Thursday after other workers knocked off and they laid an ambush.

On Friday around 3.30am, they saw Ndlovu approaching the shop and unlocking the front door, the court was told.

While inside, Ndlovu went to the butchery and took 2kg of beef before taking 10×500 grammes of beans.

The court was told that Mr Tembo and Ms Moyo rushed to the door and closed it while Ndlovu was still inside and called for backup.

A security guard from a nearby bar heard the noise and rushed to the scene before arresting Ndlovu who was handed over to the police.

The total value of stolen groceries was $4 450 and $1 050 worth of goods were recovered.

The duplicate key was also recovered.

ZimEye today investigates how government by yesterday potentially opened a loophole to cause over USD91 million to vanish: what began as a noble exercise to compensate white farmers has quickly turned into a massive looting operation.

This is exposed from the time Ministers yesterday responded to the public on the issue of reversing the Land Reform Programme, saying the government is not at all doing that. VIDEO LOADING BELOW..M

https://youtu.be/51VRy1KRi68

The development comes as 2 months ago, Zimbabwe agreed to pay $3.5 billion in compensation to local white farmers whose land was forcibly taken by the government to resettle Black families, moving a step closer to resolving one the most divisive policies of the Robert Mugabe era.

SEE BELOW THE JOIN STATEMENT BY FINANCE MINISTER MTHULI NCUBE AND HIS COUNTERPART IN THE AGRICULTURE MINISTRY.

We are not at all reversing the land reform programme, says @MthuliNcube pic.twitter.com/Y75Fuju7u5

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) September 2, 2020

They said there would be no major disruptions to agriculture as only a few indigenous farmers were likely to be affected by reallocations, while a mere 37 farms covered by Bilateral Investment Promotion and Protection Agreements (BIPPAS) would be offered back to farmers who were dispossessed.

Lands, Agriculture, Water and Rural Resettlement Minister Dr Anxious Masuka yesterday said only indigenous farmers who were dispossessed of their properties during the Land Reform Programme and those covered under BIPPAs, would have the opportunity to get their land back.

The Government classifies indigenous farmers as people of Zimbabwean origin who were previously marginalised before 1980 and had acquired land either through direct purchase or through Government commercial farm schemes before the land revolution.

These farmers would either get their land back or get full compensation for the agricultural land acquired and improvements that were done on the farms.

Section 295 (1) subsection 2 of the Constitution also provides for the full compensation of persons whose agricultural land was acquired, yet it was protected.

“There is no confusion because the Constitution of Zimbabwe is very clear, Section 295 subsection 1 and subsection 2 that we have an obligation to compensate for land and improvements for indigenous Zimbabweans who constitute only 1,3 percent of the 18 600 farmers that were allocated land.

“We also have an obligation under the Constitution, to consider the BIPPAS and Bilateral Investment Treaty and those constitute just under one percent of the 18 600 beneficiaries. Those fall in the category that the SI 62 of 2020 clearly explains.

“When an application is lodged with the minister, there is consideration whether in the public interest and security of the country there is merit in doing so. Where it is no longer possible then compensation is offered,” he said.

Minister Masuka said former owners, who are still on the farms but had not regularised, should immediately approach the relevant Government offices around the country to lodge their applications.

“This indicates that the land reform programme is irreversible. So those that are there ought to follow the law because the land is vested in the State and that category of farmers is 294 and again about one percent of the 18 600. Altogether the numbers that we are looking at addressing, redressing for the clarity we gave on Monday affects a mere 3,2 percent of the beneficiaries. You will not notice because it’s a minute proportion of the beneficiaries,” he said.

He said the ministry would explain the process in vernacular to ensure everyone understood that land reform was irreversible.

“The Global Compensation Deed clearly articulates that and there is acceptance by both parties that we now want to move to a second stage which is ensuring that we increase agricultural productivity, we increase production and profitability; agriculture becomes a business and this country is way up in into food security territory from now into the future.

“Government is genuine and has done the best under the circumstances and provision of the Constitution which we overwhelmingly adopted in 2013,” he said.

This position was also reaffirmed in Parliament yesterday by Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi after queries from the opposition on the import of the new Government policy which has been misinterpreted in many circles.

Responding to questions from MDC Alliance Harare East legislator Mr Tendai Biti, Minister Ziyambi said the pronouncement on compensation for white former commercial farmers was not a reversal of the Land Reform Programme.

“What we are doing now is to bring closure to the Land Reform Programme so that we move forward and focus on production,” he said.

He shot down suggestions that Parliament should have been involved in discussing the compensation deal.

“That is the role of the Executive and we will only bring it to Parliament for approval. If there is need to use taxpayers’ money, the Appropriation Bill for that will come to Parliament,” Minister Ziyambi added.

In an earlier interview with The Herald , Minister Ziyambi allayed fears of a reversal of the land revolution, saying Government would only offer land back to two categories of farmers who were dispossessed under land reform, namely black indigenous farmers and white farmers who were protected by Bilateral Investment Promotion and Protection Agreements (BIPPAs) signed between Zimbabwe and their countries.

There have been misinterpretations of Statutory Instrument 62 with some people speculating that the Government was reversing the land reform programme.

Meanwhile, Zanu PF acting secretary for Information and Publicity Patrick Chinamasa yesterday said land reform was something that the revolutionary party guarded jealously.

Speaking at the ruling party’s weekly press conference, Chinamasa said: “The issues pertaining to the land question where settled in a referendum in 2013 giving rise to our current Constitution. Section 295 of the Constitution as read with subsections 7 and 8 of section 72 of the Constitution clearly spell out the issues pertaining to compensation for land under three categories: land compulsorily acquired which was owned by indigenous black Zimbabweans, land compulsorily acquired which was owned by citizens of other countries who enjoyed protection under Bilateral Protection Agreements (BIPPAs) and land and falling outside of these two categories

Chinamasa said that land which fell under BIPPAs and compulsorily acquired would not constitute 1 percent of the total hectarage compulsorily acquired.

He warned the MDC-A and the former colonisers to stop lecturing the Government on the land redistribution exercise.

“The MDC and its allies who resisted the land reform process, and begged sanctions for our people to be punished for taking back the land cannot lecture or school us about land reform,” said Chinamasa.

The revolutionary land redistribution programme embarked upon by the Zanu PF Government from 2000 to date has been a most powerful and effective tool of empowering the previously disadvantaged black population of Zimbabwe and had made the Zimbabwean population, post-colonialism, one of the most empowered populations regionally and continentally.

In order to render the land redistribution programme irreversible in practical terms and to bring finality to the land question, it was incumbent on Government to expedite the issuance of permits to the more than 350 000 households who benefited under the A1 scheme and granting of 99-year leases to the more than 19 000 beneficiaries under the A2 scheme. -Herald/additional reporting

NewsDay

GWANDA mayor Jastone Mazhale yesterday pledged undying loyalty to the MDC Alliance and its leadership as he denied reports of crossing the floor to the Thokozani Khupe-led MDC-T.

Mazhale is among five Gwanda councillors who had a meeting with a delegation from MDC-T over the weekend to nudge them to voluntarily quit the MDC Alliance or risk recall from council.

Khupe last month recalled five MDC Alliance councillors in Bulawayo and six in Harare for refusing to recognise her following a Supreme Court ruling which declared her the interim leader of the MDC-T.

“The correct position is that I still remain an MDC Alliance member where at provincial level I am the secretary for policy and research,” Mazhale, who is also ward 7 councillor, said as he confirmed attending the Khupe-facilitated meeting.

“It’s true I attended the meeting agreeing to engage them in my personal capacity. We engaged and they put their side of the story and eventually I had to tell them that no, I do not buy their story.

“It was out of courtesy that I gave them room for dialogue; and even on Tuesday they were saying can we meet again so that we pursue the issue, but I refused because the moment we engage each other, we then spread falsehoods and that affects my principles and personality and it also affects my community role.”

Acting MDC-T spokesperson Khalipani Phugeni, who led the Khupe delegation, refused to reveal the outcome of the meeting.

“What I can only say is that we are trying to put our priorities right and deliver. We are seized with making sure that services to the people are delivered as we focus on alleviating the people’s suffering,” Phugeni told Southern Eye.

The former Deputy Prime minister has also recalled 21 MDC

Alliance legislators on allegations of severing ties with her party.

Indications are that more MDC Alliance members face recall for refusing to recognise Khupe’s legitimacy, instilling panic into some Bulawayo councillors and legislators.

State Media

Ten more carcasses of elephants have been found in the Pandamasue Forests of Matabeleland North, bringing the number of elephants that have died mysteriously in the forest in less than a week to 22.

ZimParks is still investigating the cause of death of 12 elephants whose carcasses were found in the same forest last week, but have ruled out poaching and poisoning since their tusks were intact while no other animal species has been affected.

Most of the dead elephants are juveniles and ZimParks now suspects the stress of overpopulation and lack of food as a likely cause of death.

ZimParks spokesperson Mr Tinashe Farawo said experts were still waiting for laboratory tests to establish the cause of deaths.

“Most of the elephants dying are young, and we now believe the cause of death is the density of the species. They suffer from stress and inadequate food especially this time of the year. They end up eating anything and some of the things might be poisonous,” said Mr Farawo.

“We have removed the ivory for safekeeping and we have burnt the carcases to avoid more deaths.”

Zimbabwe is struggling with an unsustainable elephant population of around 84 000 against a carrying capacity of around 50 000, the second largest population in the world after Botswana.

Botswana’s herd has also been affected by natural disasters, with an estimated 350 elephants dying between May and August this year.

“We continue to mobilise stakeholder support, and what we are saying is that we should be allowed to sell our elephants and ivory so that the country benefits from its herd.

“The burden on the animals becomes too much especially in these dry months, and we hope the ban on the sale of the jumbos and ivory will be lifted,” said Mr Farawo.