August 2020 you wrote a letter attacking the Zimbabwe Catholic Bishop Conference,(ZCBC) you mentioned Archbishop Robert Ndlovu in particular,
Let me remind you that the Catholic Church is not MDC but it is a universal church for all
By attacking our bishops, you have attacked us all, The Catholic church has got millions of Zimbabweans who subscribe to it including Zanu PF members, VP Guvheya Chiwenga is a Catholic, Patrick Chinamasa is a Catholic, many government officials are Catholics, Catholic church is not a political party but it is a church of Christ
You have declared war on the church and it is very unacceptable, Zanu PF is not a demi-god, allow constructive criticism and the country will move forward, As Catholics, we don’t take orders from you Mrs Mutsvangwa but we take orders from our bishops who leads us to Christ, VP Chiwenga knows that,, your nonsensical utterances have reached an alarming level, the bishops must be allowed to preach any gospel without any hindrances, who are you to tell the bishops what to say and what not to say, the bishops were not anointed by you but they were anointed by Christ, therefore, they should speak without fear and favour, they don’t take orders from Zanu PF,
Who doesn’t know that we have a crisis in Zimbabwe, our annual inflation is on 635%, isn’t that a crisis, there is catch and release for those who are corrupt, Obediah Moyo never slept in police cells isn’t that a crisis, civil servants are being paid peanuts isn’t that a crisis, there is no freedom of expression you are already attacking our bishops for speaking against oppression isn’t that a crisis, ??? So we urge you Madam Mutsvangwa to shut up and allow our bishops to do their job, it is their duty to give you advise and correct you,, The Catholic holy mass is more important than Zanu pf ideologies, we focus on Christ and not on so-called gwara remusangano, and I’m sure you are forgetting that Zanu pf is not Zimbabwe, by attacking the Catholic Church, you have decided to play with fire, you have declared war on Zimbabwe as a whole and the whole world, as Catholic members and Christ-followers, we will not listen to your rubbish, we don’t subscribe to you and we will never allow the devil to attack our church using people like you…..
Manchester City coach Pep Guardiola has rued Raheem Sterling’s miss in their defeat to Lyon in the Champions League on Saturday.
The EPL side failed to progress through to the semifinals for a third consecutive season following a 3-1 loss to the French club. Moussa Dembele struck twice late in the game after Kevin De Bruyne had cancelled out Maxwel Cornet’s opener.
But the complexion of the game could have changed by Sterling in the 86th minute. The striker blazed his shot over the bar in front of an open goal from five-yards out which would have made it 2-2.
City went on to concede within a minute after the miss when Dembele pounced on a poor parry from Ederson to extend the lead.
Speaking after the game, Guardiola said: “We created chances, scored a magnificent goal, but unfortunately missed another one.
“In this situation, you have to equalise and go to extra-time in the last minutes, and after, we concede the third goal.
“In this competition, you have to be perfect. We created more chances, more shooting, but unfortunately, we are out again.”
On his thoughts about the team’s performance, the coach said: “One day we will break this gap to the semis. In the first 20, 25 minutes, we struggled to find spaces to attack.
“The second half was okay – we were there. I had a feeling we were better. You have to be perfect in this competition.”-Soccer 24
Barcelona captain Lionel Messi has reportedly told the club hierarchy that he will leave in 2021 if drastic changes are not made at the Catalan giants.
The Argentine ace reacted to Baryen’s demolition of Barcelona in the Champions League quater-final with a bold call for change, failure to which he is willing to leave.
According to Spanish radio Cadena Cope, Messi spoke to Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu after the game and told him openly that he is not happy with the situation at the club and if there are no big changes this summer, he will leave.
There is a clause in Messi’s Barcelona contract which states that the he can leave for free next summer.
Barcelona’s humiliating defeat to the Bavarians, was the first time in Champions League history that a team conceded 8 goals in the knockout stages and also the first time since 1946 that the Catalans were breached eight times in a single game, a catastrophe which also paved way for defender Gerard Pique offering to be the first player to step aside if there is need for an overhaul.
-Soccer 24
Farai Dziva|President Nelson Chamisa has denounced the persecution of ordinary Zimbabweans by Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa’s “paranoid” administration.
The MDC Alliance leader, quoted by NewsDay bemoaned the deepening political crisis in the country.
“We are uncompromising, principled and relentless for real change. As a people, we have seen the worst of our times but we are getting over it soon.
We are focused and on course. We have seen the worst because our people are homeless, no opportunities, no food, no business; politics is at its worst with extreme and advance human rights abuses.
Children are dying in hospitals, curable diseases are killing people.
People are being beaten up every day and I am receiving reports that people are being pursued as if they are common criminals.
There cannot be a free Zimbabwe when people can’t walk free, having State agents breaking into their homes. It cannot be a free Zimbabwe when belonging to an alternative party attracts detention and arrest.”
President Chamisa also accused Zanu PF of attempting to annihilate genuine opposition.
“They have been fighting us as the MDC Alliance. They are trying to take away the people’s party and its name, the people’s headquarters, the MPs, financial resources allocated to us on account of the voters.
Anything they see they are taking away. They want to take everything, but Zimbabwean lives matter. We are the way to the future, the only. It is not as if we don’t know what we are doing.
What we don’t want is to play a game with predetermined results. We don’t want a question with a predetermined answer.
No one fights a weak opponent. They are resorting to hair raising terror against citizens,” President Chamisa told the publication.
Which Way Forward For the Education System in Zimbabwe
15 August 2020
After the heroic resistance by progressive teacher-unions to the reopening of schools without due consideration of the health, safety and welfare of pupils and teachers, the government now seem to have adopted a wait and see approach over the issue of reopening of schools.
Rather than taking a pro-active role in preparing for reopening of schools, the government in general and Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education in particular, have taken a lackadaisical approach to the crucial issue of opening of schools.
As Ptuz we have no regrets for the crucial and national role we played in resisting the reopening of schools. As much as we were blamed by some politicians and yellow unions, history has absolved us.
It is becoming more clearly that chances of opening schools this year are far fetched and remote. But even if schools are to open next year, there is a need for preparation towards that, let alone clarity over the 2020 academic year.
Our humble submission is that this is the time for the Ministry to make meaningful engagement with teacher unions in order to map an agreeable possible way forward. The health, safety and welfare of teachers and pupils remain crucial issues to be addressed before schools can open, yet nothing towards this is seriously considered by the government and line Ministry.
There are no clear plans to assist pupils other than homelitic bellicose and rhetoric of radio and television lessons. While the efficacy of such lessons is certainly undoubted, we wonder how this would become a reality in a country where 75 to 80 percent of areas have no television and radio frequencies.
Our sober reflection is that
the country cannot afford to cancel the 2020 academic year even if schools open in January next year. Rather, pupils must be given an opportunity to learn for two to three months before they can write end of 2020 academic year exams.
This can be followed by a 2021 academic year divided into two-three months learning terms and ensure that by end of 2021 we have rectified learning challenges emanating from COVID-19 related closure of schools.
Any other options could give permanent challenges to the education sector. There are those who argue for the cancellation of 2020 academic year.
This would entail that there would be too many students for ECD and grade 1 classes in 2021 as the current pupils would be joined by other pupils in 2021 thereby posing infrastructural challenges. Such students will create permanent challenges every year, and after Grade 7, will create challenges associated with form 1 enrolment.
It is our hope that the govt will learn from history and avoid the challenges faced during the early 1970s when both standard 5 and standard 6 were integrated and allowed to write end of primary education examinations without creating room for expansion and absorption of such pupils for form 1. Consequently, several pupils found themselves out of school.
It is also worrisome that the government is silent about the recently generated discrepancies between teachers’ salaries and other sectors in government.
With a salary ranging from $3800 to $4200 (inclusive of allowances) all teachers have tested positive to poverty and are always scavenging for food.
It is callous for government to ignore the plight of teachers at a time it is pampering other sectors with less qualifications, years of experience and responsibilities with salaries that are 5 times that of teachers.
Government need to invest in quality public education and restore the purchasing power parity of the salary of teachers that was pegged at US$550 in October 2018.
Anything less than this is unacceptable, degrading and monumental labour injustice.
We have noted with concern how the government has used the moribund Apex Council for firefighting, romance and pulling cotton on the eyes of teachers. We, therefore, urge the government to do the most honourable thing by paying teachers US$550 that government unilaterally culled without teachers’ consent. Only well paid and motivated teachers living in safe environment can be dynamic and innovative even during covid-19 pandemic and find acceptable and safe ways to assist their pupils.
To all teachers, the time to unite and fight for an improvement of salaries and conditions of service is now. The time to see that Apex Council is a liability rather than an asset is now. This is a struggle that need everyone, male and female, tall and short, head and simple teacher. We either have to unite as professionals or else we will perish as fools.
By and large, the current parlous state of the education system is unenviable. Indeed, it is the so-called new dispensation that has allowed the education system to degenerate into the terminal ward. The officials in the Ministry of education lack the vision and power to drive the education system to greater heights particularly during the covid-19 pandemic. The government is indifferent and urinating upon teachers and telling them it’s raining.
Extraordinary times call for extraordinary solutions. As managers of the world’s greatest asset, viz, students, we implore the government to plan for a robust improvement of the education system and pay educators well. Failure to plan is planning to fail.
We will not stand idle by to witness cold and calculated educational vandalism. The time to plan for a credible education system is now.
The time to pay teachers well is now. Teachers are workers too and must never be treated as second class citizens of Zimbabwe. We are in essence a vital cog of societal and national development and deserve best treatment by the state in order to engineer a skills revolution and benchmarks towards Agenda 2030.
More pictures of Kuwadzana man assaulted by soldiers while being accused of being an MDC member at 7pm Friday night in Kuwadzana. Soldiers accused him of trying to remove @edmnangagw, the family tells ZimEye pic.twitter.com/31PmauAGT6
Access to a quality education should be universal.
Yet with less access to the internet and learning materials, COVID-19 related school closures have hit the most vulnerable children hardest.
As schools reopen, UNICEF is calling on governments to double down on learning support for the most marginalized children, especially those living in poverty, from ethnic minority groups, children with disabilities, girls and displaced or refugee children.
Together with partners, we must reimagine a world where every child has an equal opportunity to learn.
Credit: UNICEF
Inserted by Zimbabwe Online Health Centre
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Farai Dziva|In typical and predictable Zanu PF style, Information Minister Monica has released a lengthy statement attacking Catholic Bishops.
In her epistle loaded with offensive diction and circumlocution, Mutsvangwa accused the Catholic Bishops of Inciting civil unrest.
Read part of Mutsvangwa’s statement below:
As the GoZ, we vehemently object to and strongly condemn the Pastoral letter of Archbishop Christopher Ndlovu and his coterie of Catholics Bishop prelates.
Its evil message reeks with all the vices that have perennially hobbled the progress of Africa.
It trumpets petty tribal feuds and narrow regionalist agendas so that it can sow seeds of internecine strife as a prelude to national disintegration.
Below is the Catholic Bishops Letter:
The struggle in Zimbabwe, between those who think they have arrived and those on the march, has resulted in a multi-layered crisis of the convergence of economic collapse, deepening poverty, food insecurity, corruption and human rights abuses among other crises in urgent need of resolution
The call for demonstrations is the expression of growing frustration and aggravation caused by the conditions that the majority of Zimbabweans themselves are in. Suppression of people’s anger can only serve to deepen the crisis and take the nation into deeper crisis.
The voices of various governments, the European Union, the African Union and the United Nations on the desperate situation in Zimbabwe have not only confirmed the seriousness of human rights breaches by government agents but the need to rally behind #ZimbabweanLivesMatter.
Their failure to make broad consultations with the church and civic society at this most tempestuous time was most regrettable. Was this not an opportunity missed.
In the meantime, some of our people continue to live in hideouts, with some incarcerated, while others are on the run. Fear runs down the spine of many of our people today.
The crackdown on dissent is unprecedented. Is this the Zimbabwe we want? To have a different opinion does not mean to be an enemy,
It is precisely from the contrast of opinions that the light comes.
Our government automatically labels anyone thinking differently as an enemy of the country: That is an abuse. We want our politics to build a united nation and not to divide us, turning the military who ought to continue the memory of the late heroes against the people who fed them and clothed them and who gathered intelligence at great risk and saved many of our fighters from peril.
As your bishops, we feel that this described situation is true of Zimbabwe. It feels as though the poor have no one to defend them. They don’t seem to feature on the national agenda. Their cries for an improved health system go unheeded.
Their plea for a transport system that meets their transport blues are met with promises and more promises and no action.
The only time we see real action is when our leaders are jostling for power.
The clerics said while some fellow African countries were strengthening their democratic institutions, Zimbabwe was busy weakening
Refusal to listen to the people has led us to where we are today.-Catholic Bishops
By A Correspondent-Zimbabwe Ezekiel Guti University (ZEGU) employees, an institution run by the ZAOGA have gone for months without any salaries.
The ZAOGA run university, is named after the church’s founding father Ezekiel Handinawangu Guti.
Last month, Guti hit the headlines after his name appeared as one of the beneficiaries of the controversial farm mechanisation scheme where he reportedly pocketed US$116 693.00.
Together with several other women and men of the cloth including Nolbert Kunonga, Rutendo Wutawunashe, Bishop Nehemiah Mutendi, Guti never repaid the money, the burden of which was later offloaded to tax payers.
Said an employee at the university who spoke on condition of anonymity:
“Yes it is true that we have gone for two full months without getting salaries. We have not been told why. No one, including the Human resources department has given the employees any explanation as to why we havent received salaries.
Ou worry is that while the salary issue is there, the biggest problem is that we are expected to use our own finances to further university business in this difficult time.
We are now being subjected to a forced contribution of not only our services as labourers, but also our finances.
As if thats not enough, the level of victimisation and threats for just asking this salary is too much to bear hence no one has ever asked this question.
We have been reduced into slaves to say the least. I won’t get into details as to the amount that we are getting as salaries. It’s undoubtedly worse than peanuts and we have been promised a review which has never materialised.”
ZimEye is waiting for correspondence from the ZEGU regards the issue.
Refresh this page for more details on this story and more…
Farai Dziva| The reasons why Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa abruptly fired Fortune Chasi, have been revealed following a ZimEye leak in November last year.
On the 21st November 2019, ZimEye revealed that the then ZESA boss Sydney Gata and Mnangagwa are close relatives.
“ED and Sydney Gata married the Mayahle sisters of Chipinge. Gata left Ntombana Regina Mugabe for Angeline and ED married Molline,” part of the leak read.
The leak has since been developed by the exiled Prof Jonathan Moyo who says Chasi was sacked for attempting to reverse a deal that was fraudulently crafted by SB Moyo and Mnangagwa to loot State cash.
Mnangagwa and (Foreign affairs Minister) Sibusiso Moyo allegedly stole USD $ 1,2 disguised as a state loan from SOTIC International.
See Prof Moyo’s argument :
In May 2019 Mnangagwa & SB Moyo stole USD 1,2 billion disguised as a State loan from SOTIC INTERNATIONAL, fronted by Kuda Tagwirei. The theft was structured by SB, using NOIC assets as mortgage. Chasi found out, tried to reverse it & got fired yesterday.
So, @fortunechasi
was fired not because of #Zesa affairs but because his conduct in investigating & seeking to cancel the USD 1,2 billion SOTIC deal at NOIC is INCOMPATIBLE with Mnangagwa’s EXPECTATIONS as a beneficiary of the SOTIC deal along with SB Moyo & Kuda Tagwirei!
Criminally, the SOTIC USD 1,2 billion was structured by
@MinisterSBMoyo
, who got USD 12 million for “structuring it”; and it was sent to #NOIC after it had already been approved by
@edmnangagwa
,
@FinanceZim and
@ReserveBankZIM
; with USD 1,2 billion paid to PRIVATE ACCOUNTS!
Either bravely or naively, after his investigation,
@fortunechasi
sought an alternative to the SOTIC deal & negotiated it with GLENCORE. But no alternative was possible to implement; without costing SOTIC its USD 12 million a month or refunding the USD 1,2 billion advance!
Without having been briefed on the SOTIC Agreement & thus unaware of its architects & its beneficiaries,
@fortunechasi
got the deal investigated.
Chasi’s investigation found that the deal was comprehensively & shockingly detrimental to the national interest on every score!
When Chasi became Energy Minister, the USD 1,2 billion advance payment had been paid, all NOIC assets had been mortgaged as collateral for the advance payment, SOTIC was running NOIC & demanding only forex for the fuel; thus making it unaffordable to the majority of locals!
However, Chasi has claimed during his tenure as Energy Minister, he never caused any investigation into NOIC.
“I have seen a set of tweets Jonathan moyo suggesting that I caused an investigation into what he calls the SOTIC deal .
I have no knowledge of this deal nor did I cause the alleged investigation. I am not sure what the source of the investigation is nor the motive.”
LAW SOCIETY OF ZIMBABWE STATEMENT ON DETERIORATING HUMAN RIGHTS SITUATION IN ZIMBABWE: 16 AUGUST 2020
The Law Society of Zimbabwe notes with grave concern and condemns the deteriorating human rights situation in the country, including the wanton and unmitigated attacks on legal practitioners carrying out their Constitutionally protected jobs of representing citizens, by the State or certain of its organs.
It is unacceptable that remand prisoners such as Hopewell Chin’ono and Jacob Ngarivume should have to incur legal expense in order to enforce respect by the State of simple and obvious rights such as private counsel with their lawyers, access to clothing and food, and not being subjected to inhuman and degrading treatment in prison, amongst other rights clearly spelt out in the Constitution of Zimbabwe. Remand prisoners remain innocent until proven guilty.
We condemn the arrest of innocent citizens, not wanted for any crime, but simply because they are related to a suspect and are seemingly being used as bait, in gross violation of their right to liberty, such as in the case of Mduduzi Mathuthu’s sister, Nomagugu Mathuthu.
We also condemn the illegal and wanton use of unnecessary force by State Security Services in the enforcement of lockdown regulations, such as in Beitbridge, where police officers set dogs on unarmed and non-violent civilians, causing extensive injuries to some who had to be hospitalized, simply because the citizens failed to get public transport home before 6 pm. Such arbitrariness and use of violence by arms of the State undermines the Constitution and the rule of law.
The Law Society further condemns the abduction and torture of citizens across the country by State Security agents and individuals allegedly unknown but clearly aligned to the State, with the case of Mduduzi Mathuthu’s nephew, Tawanda Muchehiwa being a sad example of such after he was abducted and severely tortured and only produced at court after the intervention of the High Court following a petition by his diligent lawyer.
We call upon the State to seriously investigate these cases and bring these perpetrators of human rights abuses to justice.
It is extremely concerning that no arrests have been made or action taken against known State officials who have knowingly committed these human rights abuses.
Urgent action to reverse and eradicate these abuses needs to be taken by the State as a tangible assurance to the nation that the State does not approve of this conduct and that it has no hand in these activities. Failure to do so renders the State complicit.
Expelled former Energy and Power Development Minister Fortune Chasi has refuted conspiracy theories being pushed by exiled former cabinet minister Jonathan Moyo about his dismissal from government, saying he has no hard feeling about President Mnangagwa’s decision.
Chasi said he will revert to being a back bencher and continue to work in his constituency.
Below are Chasi’s Twitter posts in response to Jonathan Moyo…
By A Correspondent- A Zimbabwean national has been arrested in Botswana on carjacking and robbery charges after he allegedly ganged up with locals to steal from a villager.
Thabani Moyo recently appeared before Francistown Chief Magistrate Faith Dlamini-Ng’andu facing carjacking charges together with three Batswana, Onkemetse Babakisi, Jabulani Kesiile and Kenanao Tshabatau.
The four are charged with robbing Elias Fani of a BMW 1 series car worth P48 000 at Borolong village on June 17.
They were remanded in custody to September 1.
The court was told that the total amount of goods stolen by the accused is P56 275 inclusive of the value of mobile phones of different brands and Fani’s money.
Prosecutor Mpho Kebodiretswe told the court that investigations were still ongoing and made an application for postponement of the trial.
Zimbabwe’s Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Senator Monica Mutsvangwa on Saturday verbally attacked Catholic Archbishop Robert Ndlovu over his criticism of the human rights violations in the country.
Mutsvangwa described the pastoral letter that raised concerns over human rights violations as evil and misguided adding that it could cause divisions in the country.
Ndlovu had rallied the citizenry to stage anti-government protests over the alleged human rights violations. Below is Mutsvangwa’s statement.
STATEMENT BY THE MINISTER OF INFORMATION, PUBLICITY AND BROADCASTING SERVICES MONICA MUTSVANGWA (SENATOR) 15 AUGUST 2020
Tomorrow is Sunday, a holy day on the weekly Christian calendar.
Ahead of the Catholic Sunday Mass, the Government of Zimbabwe (GoZ) draws the attention of the national Catholic congregation shards of a Pastoral Letter issued under the misguided if evil-minded leadership of the Archbishop of Harare.
As the GoZ we vehemently object to and strongly condemns the Pastoral letter of Archbishop Ndlovu and his coterie of Catholics Bishop prelates.
Its evil message reeks with all the vices that have perennially hobbled the progress of Africa. It trumpets petty tribal feuds and narrow regionalist agendas so that it can sow seeds of internecine strife as a prelude to national disintegration.
Indeed Archbishop Ndlovu dons the robes of Archbishop Arthanase Seromba who was the chief spiritual ideologist and violent practitioner of the 1994 Hutu-Tutsi Genocide of Rwanda. These crimes against humanity took place during the Rwandan Civil War that saw more than 800 000 Tutsi minority, pygmy baTwa tribe, and moderate Hutus massacred on such a large scale.
The infamous Rwandese Catholic Archbishop would eventually be tried and sentenced to life imprisonment by the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda.
Such was the horrendous and abominable conduct of the Rwanda Catholic Church that Pope Francis, the global head of the worldwide Catholic Church had to be obliged into a formal papal visit to Kigali and offer a contrite apology for the heinous crimes of the Rwanda Catholic Clergy.
With nefarious cynicism to history, Archbishop Robert Christopher Ndlovu is inching to lead the Zimbabwe Catholic congregation into the darkest dungeons of Rwanda-type genocide.
The letter seeks the revival and continuation of the perennial vices of division. It has a selective and warp-sided reading of history. The errant and evil Bishop has a nauseating mental amnesia of the blight of minority settler rule and its baggage of exploitative racism against the totality of the black majority popular of Zimbabwe.
The levity of his mental amnesia is worsened by the fact that he tears off pages of the progressive crusade for justice and democracy that has hitherto been the shining virtue of the Catholic Church in Zimbabwe.
Who can forget the venerable Bishop Lamont of Mutare and his brave defiance of the illegal and racist rule of Ian Smith and his 1965 Unilateral Declaration of Independence?
How Bishop Lamont of the Carmelite Missionary Order in Zimbabwe went on to be a victim of a probably contrived car accident, his incarceration and eventual deportation.
Yes, that brave man of the cloth could only return to Zimbabwe after 1980 in the wake of the victory of the National Liberation Movement.
It is equally not so that the priests and nuns of the Catholic Church led high among the victims of the Rhodesian Selous Scout secret army as they hunted down religious sympathizers of the National Liberation War- Chimurenga-Impi YoMvukela.
Shutting aside the glorious past of the venerable Zimbabwe Catholic Church, the malicious and mischievous Archbishop seeks to tarnish history precisely during the National Heroes Day and Defence Forces Holiday.
He wants to posit as the leader of righteous Ndebele minority by fanning the psychosis of tribal victimization. Concurrently he sows sins of collective guilty on the Shona majority. That way he seeks to numb the spirit of collective national vigilance against the known and proven enemies of the populace of Zimbabwe.
His transgressions acquire geopolitical dimensions as the chief priest of the agenda of Regime Change that is the hallmark of the post-imperial major Western powers for the last two decades
Fellow Zimbabweans, Gukurahundi is indeed a dark spot in the tortuous task of nation-building by Zimbabwe. The two parties of that needless chapter of history need to be hailed for seeking peace and unity as they avoided the abyss that could have been a full-blown civil war. Happily, we ended up with the 1987 Unity Accord.
For the record, not even newly independent America could avoid a Civil War between 1861-65. Yes, the America of the virtues you selectively allude to.
For goodness sake why invoke and desecrate John Robert Lewis the venerated American Civil Rights leader and principled Congressman for your divisive national schemes?
Archbishop Christopher Ndlovu, you ardently call that the March has not stopped. This is a pathetic admission of the failure of the 31 July 2020 Uprising.
You were born into the 1970s Generation thousands of whom became ZANLA-ZIPRA cadres of the guerrilla army that made the supreme sacrifice for freedom and independence.
I am even much younger than you yet I fought in that war. Admittedly made that fateful decision to join the armed struggle. What I ask is if you have such a charged political spirit, why did you not answer to that call of heroism in the 1970s.
Your pastoral letter feigns contrived courage by a dyed in the wool coward.
The Government of Zimbabwe calls upon the Catholic Congregation to ignore the specious Pastoral letter. Bishop Christopher Ndlovhu is leading a coterie of Zimbabwe Catholic Bishops along the wrong path of bygone petty tribalism, narrow regionalism and the debunked and defeated racial antagonism.
The letter is full of generalized accusations. By way of contrast, the meticulous Catholic Peace and Justice Commission of the anti-colonial, anti-racist epoch collated, compiled and published dossiers of specific crimes committed by the colonial settler minority regime.
The Archbishop and his flock of misled Catholic Bishops have none of that diligence. Instead, they wallow in generalized and baseless accusations. Absolutely no shred of reported evidence of so-called victims.
This is the era of COVID 19 pandemic. The World Health Organization daily announces strictures to assist national governments to fight and contain the pandemic.
In the face of all that, our narrow-minded Bishop pontificates against COVID 19 rules. Even when America, his much-admired paragon of democracy and justice is complying. Recently President Trump had to call off the National Convention of his Republican Party slated for Jacksonville, Florida.
In the eyes of the reckless Archbishop, pride of place is accorded to the crusade against the governing and ruling party of Zimbabwe. The cause of national health in face of a pandemic is of no consequence. By calling people to march in the midst of the pandemic The Bishop relishes the prospect mass deaths. To him maybe that speeds up the ascend of the populace of Zimbabwe to their biblical judgement of heaven or hell.
And behold Pastoral Letter of the Zimbabwe Catholic Bishops Conference of 14th August 2020 does not bother to invoke the repeated Papal calls for a global ceasefire in regions of war and strive. Clearly the Pope’s to allow nations to concentrate effort and resources to the fight against global pandemic. None other than Pope Francis once again implored the United Nations Security Council to pass a Resolution to this effect as recently as 5 July 2020.
This noble aspiration of the Pope as head of the global Catholic Church is cited nowhere in the offending Pastoral Letter of the hate-mongering Archbishop Christopher Ndlovu.
For God’s sake, why ignore the letter and spirit of the supreme Archbishop in the Vatican? If wars and strife can be wished away, how about a mere political uprising under the guise of an ill-fated mass demonstration?
To Catholics in Zimbabwe, you were part to the total rebuff to the call of an Uprising on 31 July 2020. You already showed your mettle of sound and mature political judgement.
Do not be fooled anew by the ill-advised call which says “The March has Not Ended”.
No No No! His Excellency President Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa will have none of that. He will strive to dutifully protect the wellbeing and health of the people of Zimbabwe.
The Town Clerk
Chitungwiza Municipality
Chitungwiza
Dear sir,
*Re: Nyatsime Stands Allocations*
This letter serves as a formal request from Chitungwiza Residents Trust for information pertaining to the allocation of stands in the Nyatsime Housing Scheme.
In particular, we would want to know the steps that Chitungwiza Municipality is taking to ensure that people who paid for the Nyatsime stands more than ten years ago get their stands.
As a residents association we have had numerous inquiries from our members who bought stands from the municipality who want clarity on the status of their stands since allocation has taken longer than they anticipated.
We will appreciate a report detailing the steps being taken by the municipality, if any, and the timelines set to resolve this matter. This will assist us to give accurate information to our members when they inquire.
The high Court has ordered the Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services (ZPCS) to stop the persecution and abuse of investigative journalist Hopewell Chin’ono and opposition leader Jacob Ngarivhume.
ZPCS was told to ensure Chin’ono and Ngarivhume, who were arrested last month over the July 31 protests enjoy their basic rights while in detention at Chikurubi Maximum Security Prison.
Through their lawyers Beatrice Mtetwa, Gift Mtisi, Douglas Coltart, Roseyln Hanzi and Moses Nkomo of Zimbabwe Lawyers for human Rights, the duo had filed an urgent chamber application seeking an order compelling ZPCS to stop subjecting them to inhumane or degrading treatment or punishment.
The ruling came amid charges that prosecutors were trying to block Chin’ono from giving evidence about the alleged abuse he was being subjected to while in prison.
Prosecutros blocked Chin’ono from testifying in a public court saying his testimony would jeopardise prison officers’ security.
But the defence argued that Chin’ono’s testimony would help the prison officers in complying with Covid-19 protocols as they were taking care of different prisoners, who at times might have contracted the coronavirus inside correctional facilities.
The state filed different applications that included one demanding the removal of Mtetwa as the lead counsel in a bid to stop her from representing Chin’ono.
The developments at the high Court are being seen as counter measures to stop Chin’ono from testifying at the lower court since the issues of abuse have been dealt with by the higher court.
On Friday Mtetwa complained to harare magistrate Ngoni Nduna that her client was taken to the high Court by prison services without communicating to his lawyers in a move meant to delay the matter in which Chin’ono was expected to testify.
Despite Chin’ono’s plea to have him transported to the Harare magistrates court, the prison officers refused him the chance to phone his lawyers and advise them that he was at the high Court.
In their application, which was argued before high Court Judge Justice Jester Charewa, Chin’ono and Ngarivhume said they were unlawfully deprived of several of their fundamental rights, including the use of personal protective equipment despite the rise in coronavirus infections.
Chin’ono and Ngarivhume also asked to be allowed to receive food from private sources or to provide for themselves.
Chin’ono and Ngarivhume told the court that they have a right to conditions of detention that were consistent with human dignity as enshrined in the constitution.
The duo said by denying them the right to food, personal protective equipment and warm clothing, ZPCS was deliberately placing their lives in danger.
Justice Charewa ordered ZPCS to allow Chin’ono and Ngarivhume access to their legal practitioners and to ensure that the privacy of their communication is respected and also to access medical practitioners of their choice in line with reasonable administrative measures.
The ZPCS has to allow the two “access to food in line with reasonable administrative measures, access to social visits, in line with reasonable administrative measures.”
And explain to the Nation the source of her son Neville's USD790000 which was frozen by the Financial Intelligence Unit in the last couple of days , WHY & WHAT is the source of that income !
By A Correspondent- A 48-year-old employee of platinum mining giant Unki Mines is demanding justice after he was brutalised by police in April this year while queuing at a bank in Gweru.
Amos Siska, a rock support assistant at the Anglo American-owned company, has not been to work for the past four months due to a broken forearm.
“About 20 police officers enforcing the Covid-19 lockdown regulations descended on us at Stanbic bank on April 28 as we waited to withdraw cash,” Siska told Sunday Southern Eye.
“They then started beating up people and when I tried to flee, I unfortunately fell down and the riot police assaulted me with baton sticks while I lay on the ground.
“I suffered a broken forearm during the incident.
“I have been to several hospitals trying to get medical attention but it’s been difficult.
“I now risk being laid off at work due to my condition and the future of my family is at stake right now.”
Siska reported the case at Gweru Central Police Station under case number CR 53/5/20, but he believes the cops are not keen to bring his tormentors to book.
“The police keep saying they are investigating the case up to now and no one has been arrested,” he said.
“They told me that Stanbic bank failed to give them CCTV footage to help identify the cops, who injured me but its unconvincing because they know the officers, who were on patrol on the day.”
Documents seen by this publication indicate that Siska has spent about US$3 000 on medical bills.
He forked out US$1 730 to pay a Gweru specialist doctor, who carried out an operation on the hand on July 2.
This was after he paid US$447 as anaesthetist fees and US$149 in surgical assistant’s fee. He also paid more for flourospot compact ex-rays and earlier medical bills.
“The forearm failed to heal after I was put on a plaster so I had to go for an operation last month at my personal cost,” Siska said.
“The wound is still fresh and I am in pain.
“I require justice as my assailants are being protected by their colleagues.”
Midlands police spokesperson Inspector Joel Goko said he was not aware of the case and promised to make a follow-up.
“If the case was reported it means there is a record on it. I will follow up to find out the status of the case,” Goko said.
“But I can reveal to you that a case can never be covered up because for example I do not know the guy personally so I would not kill the case.”
I have read the “Pastoral Letter of the Zimbabwe Catholic Bishops’ Conference.” I agree with every word in this letter and I stand with the Bishops. It is an opportunity for a durable solution to the crises we are enduring. #ZimbabaweanLivesMatter ?? pic.twitter.com/Ha3ktNeIqV
Vendors Initiative for Social and Economic Transformation (VISET) welcomes remarks made by Minister of Women Affairs, Community and Small and Medium Enterprises Development, Dr Sithembiso Nyoni during her visit to Ensimbini Odds and Arts market in Makokoba.
Dr. Nyoni urged local authorities to ensure they provide infrastructure for informal traders at their markets rather than just milking them for taxes without reinvesting in improving market spaces.
Traders at Ensimbini erected a perimeter fence at a cost of USD 5000 as part of compliance to Covid-19 measures. They are also sanitizing and conducting temperature checks on all those visiting the market.
It is VISET’s contention that such partnerships should be encouraged and that local authorities should offer incentives to informal traders for infrastructure development rather than looking to private partnerships that will result in them charging unrealistic fees in order to recoup investment.
VISET’s Information Department
As VISET we will continue to lobby central government so that we ensure that changes are made at policy level to empower traders to be involved in issues to do with developing their market places
Prepared by VISET’s Information and Publicity Department
LAW SOCIETY OF ZIMBABWE STATEMENT ON DETERIORATING HUMAN
RIGHTS SITUATION IN ZIMBABWE: 16 AUGUST 2020
The Law Society of Zimbabwe notes with grave concern and condemns the deteriorating human rights situation in the country, including the wanton and unmitigated attacks on legal practitioners carrying out their Constitutionally protected jobs of representing citizens, by the State or certain of its organs.
It is unacceptable that remand prisoners such as Hopewell Chin’ono and Jacob Ngarivume should have to incur legal expense in order to enforce respect by the State of simple and obvious rights such as private counsel with their lawyers, access to clothing and food, and not being subjected to inhuman and degrading treatment in prison, amongst other rights clearly spelt out in the Constitution of Zimbabwe. Remand prisoners remain innocent until proven guilty.
We condemn the arrest of innocent citizens, not wanted for any crime, but simply because they are related in a suspect and are seerringly being used as bait, in gross violation of their right to liberty, such as in the case of Mduduzi Mathuthu’s sister, Nomagugu Mathuthu. We also condemn the illegal and wanton use of unnecessary force by State Security Services in the enforcement of lockdown regulations, such as in Beitbridge, where police officers set dogs on unarmed and non-violent civilians, causing extensive injuries to some who had to be hospitalized, simply because the citizens failed to get public transport home before 6pm. Such arbitrariness and use of violence by arm of the State undermines the Constitution and the rule of law.
The Law Society further condemns the abduction and torture of citizens across the country by State Security agents and individuals allegedly unknown but clearly
By Kennedy Kaitano- After the revelations or allegations that have been raised of possible corruption by President Emmerson Mnangagwa in the Zesa crisis which saw the Zesa Executive Chair, Board, and the Minister of Energy and Power Development fired in a very short space of time, it would be appropriate if President Mnangagwa responded to the revelations or allegations. This would be appropriate for purposes of transparency.
I am not at all implying that the President did or did not do what he is alleged to have done, and it is him and those involved who would know. The allegations which have real names of people given and positions to which they were appointed are given, names of businesses that benefited from the alleged USD$1.2 Billion deal that appears not to be above board mentioned, and some of the people behind the companies named, making it appear very real.
President Mnangagwa must simply accept or deny the alleged customary marriage to Moline Mayahle, a confirmed member of the Zesa Board who got appointed to the Board after President Mnangagwa came into office.
Apart from the President explaining himself, those in the know should provide evidence to the Anti-Corruption Commission and to international investigators who can establish the truth.
By Nomusa Garikai- By having one of the lowest per capita confirmed covid-19 cases and deaths in the world, this Zanu PF government is already boasting about it as proof its competence in containing the virus.
This is all very well if it is true; there is growing evidence that Zimbabwe’s corona virus situation is far worse than the official report suggest.
“As at 14 August 2020, Zimbabwe had 5 072 confirmed cases, (up by 82 new cases) including 1 998 recoveries and 128 deaths,” stated the Ministry of Health and Child Care daily update report.
Compare this with a detailed report in the New Zimbabwe on the same day, 14 August 2020.
“80 people that work at Munhumutapa Building, the building that houses president Mnangagwa’s offices reportedly tested positive for COVID-19,” reported New Zimbabwe.
“A source privy to the developments told the publication that, Public Service Commission even sent 85% of its staffers on quarantine after the novel coronavirus hit the government department’s offices in Harare.
“The matter came to light in a memo seen by the publication from PSC Secretary Ambassador Jonathan Wutawunashe to other staff members which reads in part:
“In view of the continued increase in the number of COVID-19 cases within the civil service, the Commission has been left without a choice but to further reduce the number of essential staff. Reduce the number of essential service staff to 15% of the current members coming to work. Reduce the number of people who use public transport since local community transmission is on the increase PSC reportedly also sent memos to ministerial heads advising them to reduce the number of workers in their offices and introduce remote working.”
So 80 workers in one government building, Munhumutapa Building, alone had tested covid-19 positive; how is it then possible that the whole country had only 82 covid-19 new cases?
The other day 26 workers in Zanu PF HQ tested positive of covid-19. This suggests that covid-19 tests are being ramped up in those areas where Zanu PF ruling elite frequent to reduce the chances of the elite getting the virus.
The covid-19 positive cases from Munhumutapa Building, Zanu PF HQ, etc. are not being included to the national total but at least the tests are being done and those with the virus sent into isolation. There is nothing to suggest that the regime is doing any tracing and tracking of the Munhumutapa Building and Zanu PF HQ covid-19 positive workers, the initial tests were to protest the chefs and the rest are not important.
Indeed, the most effective way Zanu PF has managed to keep the country’s corona virus figures down is by conducting very few tests. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has been calling on all governs to “Test, trace and track!” Zimbabwe has conducted one of the lowest per capita covid-19 tests in the world!
Whilst SA had done 3 million covid-19 tests by the end of July 2020. Zimbabwe with 1/4 the population of SA should have done 750 000 tests in the same period. Zimbabwe had done only 145 000 tests or 20%.
SA has 579 000 confirmed confirmed cases and , it is highly probable that Zimbabwe has 144 000 (1/4 that of SA) cases instead of the official figure of 5 000!
So, for every one covid-19 case send into isolation there were as many as 30 others with the virus who continue to roam freely in the community spreading the virus all because the regime ignore WHO’s advice, common sense really, to test aggressively.
At the outbreak of the corona virus pandemic Zimbabwe’s economy was already in total meltdown and its health care service had long all but collapsed. Zanu PF has not had any discernible strategy to stop the virus outbreak in the country and, once the virus was within the border, to contain it.
By failing to test aggressively and thus failing to implement some of the common sense precautions such as isolation, Zimbabwe has allowed corona virus to spread far and wide.
Zimbabwe’s corona virus figures should therefore be 1/4 those of SA, at the very best. Zimbabwe’s official covid-19 figures are certainly off the mark, it is nonsense to report of 82 new cases country wide when one government office has just reported 80 cases. The official figures are 30 times below the expected and by the time the pandemic finally blows over the difference will probably be tens if not hundreds of thousands of times below the real figures.
There is no doubt that Zanu PF is rigging the corona virus statistics. If the nation was to carry out thorough investigation into Zimbabwe’s corona virus story the report will uncover “numerous errors, lack of transparency, traceability and verifiability”; just as the EU 2018 Election Mission said the election!
The purpose of rigging the July 2018 elections was to keep Zanu PF in power. The purpose of rigging the corona virus figures is to bury, metaphorically and literally too, Zanu PF’s blundering incompetence in the handling of the pandemic. In both cases it is the ordinary Zimbabweans who have paid dearly in lost treasure and human suffering for the bad governance and in hundreds of thousands of human lives for corona virus.
Corona virus has also destroyed the economy not just of Zimbabwe but the world over. The economic recovery will be hard work for all but near impossible for a country like Zimbabwe with a corrupt and incompetent government like Zanu PF.
Zanu PF has rigged everything else but rigging economic recover has proved a bridge too far. Unless the people finally get their act together and implement the democratic reforms necessary to stop the curse of rigged elections there is a lot more weeping, gnashing of teeth and burying the dead ahead for Zimbabwe.
By Nomusa Garikai- “Government reiterates that Zimbabwe, like most countries in the world is currently grappling with challenges attendant to illegal sanctions, drought and the Coronavirus pandemic.
There is no ‘crisis’, political or otherwise. It is unfortunate that the Zimbabwe Catholic Bishop’s Conference has evidently joined the bandwagon of individuals and entities seeking to manufacture ‘crises’ in the country with the sole aim of achieving known political goals.
“President Mnangagwa and his Government, have since inauguration, sought to implement policies that result in a robust economy in line with Vision 2030. Indeed, one of the President’s leading targets is for Zimbabwe to be an Upper Middle Economy by 2030.
It is however, mischievously misleading for the Bishops to deliberately ignore the impact of illegal sanctions on the country, in their purported assessment of problems afflicting the country. Given the forces against it, natural and man-made, domestic and foreign, Government has managed to keep the country’s economy commendably stable.”
It is to be expected that Government will deny that there is a political and economic crisis in Zimbabwe and insist on the economic crisis only. We have all heard the list of the root causes of the country’s economic problems, sanctions, drought and now corona virus. We have also heard what the new dispensation is doing to revive the economy and its upper middle income vision 2030.
What you and your Zanu PF masters have failed to address is the reality that the Zimbabwe economy has been in decline for the last 40 years of Zanu PF rule. After two years of the new dispensation corruption is still rampant, not one of those looting the diamonds have been arrested.
Even before the corona virus outbreak, it was clear the economy was sinking deeper and deeper into the morose. All these raises the fundamental question which Zanu PF has refused to address these last 40 years: If Zanu PF fails to deliver the economic recovery what recourse does the people have?
The answer is, there is nothing the people can do about it since Zanu PF will just rig the elections and deny the people a meaningful say in the governance of the country. This is the political dimension you are denying exist!
After 40 years of being denied free, fair and credible elections this is the one right we, the people of Zimbabwe, are now demanding as our birth right!
We need to implement the raft of democratic reforms agreed at the on set of the 2008 to 2013 GNU, the prerequisite for free, fair and credible elections. It is self evident that Zanu PF will never implement the reforms and hence the reason we are demanding that the part steps down to create the political space for an independent body that will be tasked to implement the reforms.
Zanu PF rigged the July 2018 elections; the regime does not have the democratic mandate to govern, never did; it is illegitimate and must step down. Zanu PF has held the nation to ransom and this is totally unacceptable!
Note, even if Mnangagwa was making progress in reviving the country’s economic fortunes the fight for a meaningful say in the governance of the country will still be on the national agenda because it will be too late to ask for the restoration of the right the day he or his successor falters!
By A Correspondent- The reasons why Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa abruptly fired Fortune Chasi, have been revealed following a ZimEye leak in November last year.
On the 21st November 2019, ZimEye revealed that the then ZESA boss Sydney Gata and Mnangagwa are close relatives.
“ED and Sydney Gata married the Mayahle sisters of Chipinge. Gata left Ntombana Regina Mugabe for Angeline and ED married Molline,” part of the leak read.
The leak has since been developed by the exiled Prof Jonathan Moyo who says Chasi was sacked for attempting to reverse a deal that was fraudulently crafted by SB Moyo and Mnangagwa to loot State cash.
Mnangagwa and (foreign affairs minister) Sibusiso Moyo allegedly stole USD $ 1,2 disguised as a state loan from SOTIC International.
See Prof Moyo’s argument :
In May 2019 Mnangagwa & SB Moyo stole USD 1,2 billion disguised as a State loan from SOTIC INTERNATIONAL, fronted by Kuda Tagwirei. The theft was structured by SB, using NOIC assets as mortgage. Chasi found out, tried to reverse it & got fired yesterday.
So, @fortunechasi
was fired not because of #Zesa affairs but because his conduct in investigating & seeking to cancel the USD 1,2 billion SOTIC deal at NOIC is INCOMPATIBLE with Mnangagwa’s EXPECTATIONS as a beneficiary of the SOTIC deal along with SB Moyo & Kuda Tagwirei!
Criminally, the SOTIC USD 1,2 billion was structured by
@MinisterSBMoyo
, who got USD 12 million for “structuring it”; and it was sent to #NOIC after it had already been approved by
@edmnangagwa
,
@FinanceZim and
@ReserveBankZIM
; with USD 1,2 billion paid to PRIVATE ACCOUNTS!
Either bravely or naively, after his investigation,
@fortunechasi
sought an alternative to the SOTIC deal & negotiated it with GLENCORE. But no alternative was possible to implement; without costing SOTIC its USD 12 million a month or refunding the USD 1,2 billion advance!
Without having been briefed on the SOTIC Agreement & thus unaware of its architects & its beneficiaries,
@fortunechasi
got the deal investigated.
Chasi’s investigation found that the deal was comprehensively & shockingly detrimental to the national interest on every score!
When Chasi became Energy Minister, the USD 1,2 billion advance payment had been paid, all NOIC assets had been mortgaged as collateral for the advance payment, SOTIC was running NOIC & demanding only forex for the fuel; thus making it unaffordable to the majority of locals!
By Tinashe Eric Muzamhindo- In 2016, APR, a US company won the Dema project through a proper tender system, and on the last minute the tender was reversed and awarded to Sakunda Holdings which is owned by Kudakwashe Tagwirei.
The deal was worth 1.2 Billion United States Dollars. The whole nation failed to come to terms with what led to the cancellation of the APR tender which was properly constituted by the tender board. In other words, the Dema project was controversially awarded to Tagwirei through his Sakunda Holdings subsidiary.
Today, as we speak there is nothing at Dema project to show that USD1.2 Billion was used including all the purchased generators and contractors. All the money went down the drain, and they pocketed the USD1.2 Billion. This money could have built a proper energy plant, and today we may not be talking of loadshedding. That money, according to the lootersmust simply be forgotten. It’s now water under the bridge.
Remember these are the same figures which are used for looting the country. Deals are pegged at USD1.2 Billion to accommodate others in the line of pocketing state funds. Dema project collapsed, if you go to Dema now, it’s history, there is nothing to show of the huge investment. It is also worth noting that while Sakunda Holdings never submitted a tender bid, they controversially won the tender under unclear incompatible circumstances.
In 2017, the same Sakunda Holdings was awarded the Command Agriculture project which did not go to the tender system. The project was pegged at USD3 billion, after compiling the first and second project. The funds were meant for farmers’ inputs nationally. They were to be awarded the inputs in advance.
The funds were looted, and they were excuses in front of the Public Accounts Parliamentary Committee chaired by Harare legislator and Former Finance Minister, Tendai Biti. Today, there is nothing to show that there was Command Agriculture. USD3 Billion could have purchased grain which could have lasted the nation for the next 20 years without doing any farming activities.
The money went down the drain, and it was pocketed by few individuals. Struggling Zimbabweans are now bearing the brunt of repaying that money. They are paying through their nose because the debt was offloaded to them.
Zupco scandal
The same company Sakunda Holdings, purchased buses from China at 50 000 per bus , and supplied the bid to Zimbabwe Government at rate of 250 000 each. Don’t forget that there was no tender system on this deal. It was simply awarded.
This deal was compatible with the President’s expectations, and this is why the case has died a natural death, and never surfaced in the courts of law. In other words, Zimbabwe Government was shortchanged a scandal involving over 80 Million.
Today, people are stranded at Copa Cabana, fighting for transport, and the whole country is failing to come to terms with what happened at Zupco. Some have resorted to walking to high density surburbs because of transport problems. Compatible with the President’s expectations.
Drax International scandal
Drax a paper bag, brief case company was controversially awarded a tender amounting to 60 million United States Dollars in the midst of Covid – 19 , and further implicated the first family, Health Minister and other senior officials, and the case was set to roll in the courts of law, and nothing has materialized.
The Health Minister was relieved off his duties after an outcry of citizens, and further protest of July 31, 2020. Today, Hopewell Chin’ono is behind bars over releasing corruption threads on social media platforms. 60 million disappeared at the Government complex, and nothing has been said over the disappearance of the funds.
Today, citizens are being asked to pay 65 USD for testing covid – 19 , amid relevations that the state does not have money to bankroll the testing.
Controversial Gata was appointed Executive Chairman of the largest parastatal, Zesa holdings, according to a thread released by Jonathan Moyo last night, he was appointed at the instigation of Emmerson Mnangagwa the State President.
Gata was suspended by the then Minister of Energy, Fortune Chasi, and Gata fought back, insisting that he was still the Chairman of Zesa board. To end the story, Chasi was relieved off his duties as Minister of Energy, after he tried to block another 1.2 Billion scandal which implicated Mnangagwa and S.B Moyo according to Moyo’ s thread and release.
My simple question is where Parliament?
Parliament was supposed to play an oversight role of approval of such deals involving huge amounts of the state. We have Command Agriculture which never went to the tender system, we have Drax International which is plastic bag company, it never went to the tender system, we have Zupco scandal, we have Dema project, we have many other deals involving huge amounts, which never followed the procedure of Parliamentary approval and tender board system. My simple question, where is Parliamentary role in all this?
After writing all these dismissal letters to Government Ministers, still at large the whole nation is not yet convinced that ED is ready to fight the graft and rot of the system. There is something beyond these deals which is now beyond redemption.
If people can sign deals behind the back of Parliament, behind the back of ordinary Zimbabweans, then we have a huge crisis, and it’s now beyond redemption.
1.2 Billion fuel scandal which was never disclosed to the public.
Tinashe Eric Muzamhindo is the Head of Zimbabwe Institute of Strategic Thinking – ZIST, and he can be contacted at [email protected]
Farai Dziva| The reasons why Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa abruptly fired Fortune Chasi, have been revealed following a ZimEye leak in November last year.
1/2- Dear Editor. Some info about Sydney Gata's recent appointment as ZESA boss. ED and Sydney Gata married the Mayahle sisters of Chipinge. Gata left Ntombana Regina Mugabe for Angeline and ED married Molline…
On the 21st November 2019, ZimEye revealed that the then ZESA boss Sydney Gata and Mnangagwa are close relatives.
“ED and Sydney Gata married the Mayahle sisters of Chipinge. Gata left Ntombana Regina Mugabe for Angeline and ED married Molline,” part of the leak read.
The leak has since been developed by the exiled Prof Jonathan Moyo who says Chasi was sacked for attempting to reverse a deal that was fraudulently crafted by SB Moyo and Mnangagwa to loot State cash.
Mnangagwa and (foreign affairs minister) Sibusiso Moyo allegedly stole USD $ 1,2 disguised as a state loan from SOTIC International.
See Prof Moyo’s argument :
In May 2019 Mnangagwa & SB Moyo stole USD 1,2 billion disguised as a State loan from SOTIC INTERNATIONAL, fronted by Kuda Tagwirei. The theft was structured by SB, using NOIC assets as mortgage. Chasi found out, tried to reverse it & got fired yesterday.
So, @fortunechasi
was fired not because of #Zesa affairs but because his conduct in investigating & seeking to cancel the USD 1,2 billion SOTIC deal at NOIC is INCOMPATIBLE with Mnangagwa’s EXPECTATIONS as a beneficiary of the SOTIC deal along with SB Moyo & Kuda Tagwirei!
Criminally, the SOTIC USD 1,2 billion was structured by
@MinisterSBMoyo
, who got USD 12 million for “structuring it”; and it was sent to #NOIC after it had already been approved by
@edmnangagwa
,
@FinanceZim and
@ReserveBankZIM
; with USD 1,2 billion paid to PRIVATE ACCOUNTS!
Either bravely or naively, after his investigation,
@fortunechasi
sought an alternative to the SOTIC deal & negotiated it with GLENCORE. But no alternative was possible to implement; without costing SOTIC its USD 12 million a month or refunding the USD 1,2 billion advance!
Without having been briefed on the SOTIC Agreement & thus unaware of its architects & its beneficiaries,
@fortunechasi
got the deal investigated.
Chasi’s investigation found that the deal was comprehensively & shockingly detrimental to the national interest on every score!
When Chasi became Energy Minister, the USD 1,2 billion advance payment had been paid, all NOIC assets had been mortgaged as collateral for the advance payment, SOTIC was running NOIC & demanding only forex for the fuel; thus making it unaffordable to the majority of locals!
The permanent secretary in the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development, George Guvamatanga and 8 members of his family have tested positive for the coronavirus.
This was announced by Nick Mangwana the permanent secretary in the Ministry of Information Publicity and Broadcasting Services. Mangwana posted on Twitter Saturday night saying:
Perm Sec @GGuvamatanga is one of our #Covid19Zim recovered cases. This virus affected 9 members of his household.
Tomorrow (Sunday) at 2100 he will talk of his experience inluding a lack of appetite that made it a challenge to push down just a teaspoonful of food.
Guvamatanga joins a long list of government officials that have tested positive for the coronavirus while some including the former minister of Lands and Agriculture, Perrance Shiri have since died.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health and Child Care on Saturday night stated that the country had recorded two (2) more deaths and 104 new local coronavirus deaths.
The country has so far registered 130 deaths linked to the deadly virus since March when the first fatality was reported.
By A Correspondent- Former Minister of Energy, advocate Fortune Chasi has dismissed as false allegations which say he was fired for ordering an investigation into the SOTIC deal that prejudiced the state of US$1.2 billion.
Jonathan Moyo had claimed that in May 2019, President Emmerson Mnangagwa and Foreign Affairs Minister Sibusiso B. Moyo “stole USD1.2 billion disguised as a State loan from SOTIC INTERNATIONAL, fronted by Kuda Tagwirei.”
He added that the theft was structured by SB Moyo using NOIC assets as a mortgage. The exiled former Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education further claimed that advocate Chasi found out, tried to reverse it and got fired.
Below is Chasi’s full Twitter thread in response to Jonathan Moyo’s allegations.
I have seen a set of tweets Jonathan Moyo suggesting that I caused an investigation into what he calls the SOTIC deal. I have no knowledge of this deal nor did I cause the alleged investigation. I am not sure what the source of the investigation is nor the motive.
In my entire tenure at the ministry, I never caused any investigation or enquiry into anything at NOIC. I had no issues at that level.
I must make it very very clear that I don’t harbour any bitterness regarding my current position. I accept the decision to relieve me of my position as that is the President’s prerogative. I remain committed to serve in any capacity whatsoever.
Meanwhile, I shall revert to being a backbencher and continue to work in the constituency and party.
Chasi was fired last week and replaced with one Soda Zhemu.
Nick Mangwana: army dismisses reports that soldiers were attacked by bees in Kuwadzana because no officers were hospitalised at our military hospitals | ARE THEY TELLING THE TRUTH ?
@fortunechasi was a good minister, ZESA powercuts were now a thing of the past in many parts of the country. | WILL @edmnangagwa manage the country after this?
Zimbabweans have been humbled by how French Ligue 1 side Olympique Lyon has stood with Zimbabwe warriors player Tino Kadewere who lost his brother Prince Kadewere last week.
Lyon overpowered English side Manchester City in the Uefa Champions League Quarter Finals by 3 goals to one and the squad has dedicated the magical win to the late Prince Kadewere.
Lyon’s main star Memphis Depay said he is with Tino Kadewere in prayers.
Former Energy and Power Development Minister Fortune Chasi is under investigation by the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission on allegations of bribery.
This comes at a time when Chasi was recently relieved of his duties following revelations that he has been working closely with two businessmen to resuscitate their failed projects while he received kick backs to push the projects through cabinet.
Sorces close to the matter said Chasi was on ZACC radar and in a bid to cripple President Mnangagwa’s administration he was now working with G40 in discrediting every company, whether local or international, that deals with government.
“Chasi is under investigation by ZACC and from developments of last night it shows he approached Professor Jonathan Moyo as a way of diverting attention from his ills in the Ministry of Energy and Power Development. Very soon he will be in trouble.
“The reason why Chasi is doing all this is because he knows he is on ZACC radar following shaddy deals with businessman Wicknell Chivayo and Farai Jere..
He has been given kickbacks involving thousands of dollars and thats why he has gone to every paper trying to keep the Gwanda solar project afloat. Who doesn’t know that the Gwanda solar project has failed in the past years but surprisingly, Chasi has tried to resuscitate the deal.” said the source.
Any company dealing with the current government is being branded corrupt.
Jonathan Moyo yesterday took to twitter claiming that Chasi was fired for trying to reverse a deal in which “Mnangagwa and SB Moyo stole USD 1,2 billion disguised as a state loan from SOTIC INTERNATIONAL fronted by Kuda Tagwirei. The theft was structured by SB, using NOIC assets as mortgages.”
Sources said the explanation by Jonathan Moyo did not add up and showed he is on a mission.
“This is a well coordinated attack on President Mnangagwa, Zanu-PF and its benefactors who have always stood by government in these difficult times,” said the source.
“Look at the character pushing the agenda its non other than Jonathan Moyo and who is feeding him all those falsehoods? It is Fortune Chasi,” said a source.
It has also emerged that Chasi is working with G40 proponents who include Professor Jonathan Moyo in his efforts to discredit President Mnangagwa’s government.
“But let me assure you that no matter how clever he wants to be this idea of trying to play victim will never work because he is facing arrest and it will be soon before he is locked,” said the source.
The source said to show that Jonathan Moyo was on a dangerous smear campaign it did not make sense that USD 1.2 billion could be moved in the country without the knowledge of the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe.
“We are being told that USD 1.2 billion is brought into the country and stolen by the same people alleged to have brought it into the country. If there is logic in whatever they are saying then the money should have first been deposited into a NOIC account before being transferred to private entities. NOIC accounts are there for everyone to verify and see that no such amount entered NOIC account..
In any case no such big amounts can be moved without the involvement of the RBZ.How did those transaction take place for sure. This is just nonsensical and doesn’t make sense.”
Two more people died of the coronavirus in Bulawayo on Saturday raising the national death toll to 130 and that for the second city to 26.
There were 104 new cases pushing the total to 5 176.
The number of active cases rose to 2 999 after the country recorded 49 recoveries.
Masvingo, which has so far not recorded any deaths, now has only two active cases.
Harare leads with 1 827 active cases and 71 deaths, followed by Matebeleland South which has 429 active cases but two deaths and Bulawayo with 373 active cases.
Goverment run fixed telephone network service provider, Telone, which is battling recover outstanding debts from customers dating back to the days of the 2008 economic collapse has sent out a threatening statement to blacklist the debtors.
Here is the latest statement from the State owned Telecoms company:
So far, 48000 people have been blacklisted.
Don’t be the next one!
Pay your outstanding telephone bill today.
We have so far blacklisted 48 000 individuals and companies who did not heed our warning to settle their outstanding telephone bills. If you have not paid off your TelOne phone bill, avoid being backlisted by making your payment to TelOne right away.
No further warnings will be issued
If you are blacklisted, you will not be able to open a bank account, access loans, or get credit approved for clothing or furniture amongst many other inconveniences that come with a bad credit rating,
Settle your bill immediately at any TelOne Service Centre or online through ourTelPay facility.
TelOne Voice
But will this work?
In normal economy blacklisting would probably have more effect than this.
The fact that 48 000 people have already been blacklisted shows the strategy is not work and does not carry the threat TelOne thinks it does. That’s a lot of people and it points to something fundamentally wrong within the economy rather: it’s not that debtors don’t want to pay, debtors simply cannot pay.
There are no credit facilities either and so people will happily brave the threat of blacklisting than sacrifice their little earnings to pay legacy debts.
With the poverty line now above $10 000 people would rather not pay than starve so they can pay. The government forgave the debts of bigwigs who couldn’t pay their Farming Equipment loans surely they can forgive these debts too.
Outgoing members of the SADC troika on defence and security.
Mozambique cannot deal with its terrorism problem alone, and urgently needs help from its Southern African neighbours.
Mozambique is under attack from violent extremists, and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) doesn’t seem to have a clear plan on how to protect the country’s residents. It needs to act fast to avoid further instability in the region.
SADC’s intervention is urgently needed as Mozambique’s overstretched security forces battle attacks on all fronts. Apart from the new insurgency, the age-old military confrontation with RENAMO has reignited.
From a regional perspective, the Southern African bloc should have stopped the violent extremists in their tracks years ago, before they gained a foothold in the region.
In its defence, for SADC to intervene, Mozambique needed to formally ask for help. It took the government two and a half years to make such a representation to the bloc.
This is telling in what it reveals about Southern African states’ confidence in their neighbours and SADC. The Mozambican government sought the services of private security companies – first from Russia and then from Zimbabwe and South Africa – to contain the insurgency. The government has reached out to other member states in their individual capacities rather than the collective.
But what are the specific steps that SADC could take:
Develop a comprehensive operational strategy that allows for a range of military, economic, political and humanitarian measures.
Send a fact-finding mission to Cabo Delgado to determine the extent of the crisis and the humanitarian needs of the population.
Consider appointing a special envoy to coordinate efforts to assist Mozambique.
Engage with Mozambique’s development partners, international institutions and private companies active in the country to draw up a relief plan for victims and mobilise resources to help end the insurgency.
Outline measures for the effective coordination of security, surveillance and control of borders by neighbouring countries.
Communicate on the matter effectively and publicly when appropriate, to reassure citizens of SADC’s commitment.
Assist Mozambique to develop a long-term strategy to address the root causes of the violence, including the confiscation of land for mining, unemployment, high illiteracy, underdevelopment and a lack of basic services.
The AU should:
Engage with SADC to strengthen its efforts in Mozambique.
Table the crisis on the monthly agenda of the Peace and Security Council.
Use its convening power to mobilise international support from Mozambique’s development partners and international institutions.
Facilitate a process of sharing lessons from similar crises in the Sahel, the Lake Chad Basin and Somalia.
As chair of the AU for 2020 and a SADC member state, the South African government is well placed to spearhead these efforts. This will be in line with the AU’s theme for 2020 – ‘Silencing the Guns: creating conditions for Africa’s development’.
Former Energy and Power Development Minister Advocate Fortune Chasi has poured cold water on claims made by fugitive politician Professor Jonathan Moyo that Sotic International availed USD1.2 billion loan to NOIC in a deal that saw the oil company using its assets as mortgage.
Professor Moyo took to Twitter to justify the recent firing of Chasi from government over corruption.
Prof Moyo also roped in President Mnangagwa and Foreign Affairs Minister SB Moyo into the deal saying they were all beneficiaries of the USD 1.2 billion.
“Mnangagwa and SB Moyo stole USD 1,2 billion disguised as a state loan from SOTIC INTERNATIONAL fronted by Kuda Tagwirei. The theft was structured by SB, using NOIC assets as mortgages.” claimed Moyo.
But Advocate Chasi, whom many believed was feeding Prof Moyo with the wrong information has distanced himself from the claims.
He said during his tenure as Energy Minister, he never caused any investigation into NOIC.
“I have seen a set of tweets Jonathan moyo suggesting that I caused an investigation into what he calls the SOTIC deal .
“I have no knowledge of this deal nor did I cause the alleged investigation. I am not sure what the source of the investigation is nor the motive,” he said.
The response by Chasi shows that dark forces within Zimbabwe have escalated their hatred of the Mnangagwa’s administration by working with G40 proponents whose bitterness is aptly expressed in vitrol being spewed by the fugitive Professor Moyo.
“In any case no such big amounts like USD 1.2 billion can be moved without the involvement of the RBZ.How did those transaction take place for sure. This is just nonsensical and doesn’t make sense,” said a source within the central bank
Jonathan Moyo has been fighting the Mnangagwa administration from the day he ran away from his crimes and its not suprising to see what he has done.
“Jonathan Moyo thinks he can cause confusion via Twitter. He needs to come back home and face his crimes in a court of law as his efforts are not yielding results,” said a source in government.
Hopewell Chinono and Jacob Ngarivhume going to court in leg irons.
Officers at Chikurubi Prison on Saturday denied journalist Hopewell Chin’ono and Transform Zimbabwe leader Jacob Ngarivhume access to warm food from outside demanding their food should be purchased online and from “reputable suppliers”.
The decision was in defiance of a High Court judgment the incarcerated duo should receive warm food from their relatives or lawyers according to the Prisons Act.
Last week, the duo filed an urgent application at the High Court seeking an order for Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services (ZPCS) officers to allow them to meet their lawyers in private, have social visits, access to warm clothing and food.
The application was granted by Justice Jester Charewa Friday.
On Saturday, lawyer Beatrice Mtetwa and Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) director Roselyn Hanzi visited the two in prison.
According to ZLHR, the lawyers managed to interact in private with their clients, but the inmates were denied food from outside prison.
“Beatrice Mtetwa and Rose Hanzi were finally allowed access to Hopewell Chin’ono and Jacob Ngarivhume in private. This private consultation was after lawyers insisted on compliance with the court order and the ZPCS officers consulted their superiors,” ZLHR said in a statement.
“Although social visits were allowed, Chin’ono and Ngarivhume were denied access to warm food. Lawyers were advised that the administrative measures did not allow the two to access food that is not purchased online from ‘reputable sources’.”
Information Ministry Secretary, Nick Mangwana, has revealed that the Finance Ministry secretary George Guvamatanga and his entire family of nine members were recently quarantined after they tested positive for Covid-19.
Mangwana confirmed the development in a tweet on Saturday night indicating that Guvamatanga will be on national television on Sunday to tell his story.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa wielded the axe on Energy minister Fortune Chasi over a litany of issues that were allegedly causing a strain between them including factionalism in the ruling party, it has emerged.
Chasi, who was one of the most popular ministers in Mnangagwa’s Cabinet, is also said to have been deemed a threat to the first family’s interests.
The Zanu PF leader announced the
shock removal of the former Justice and
Transport deputy minister from government on Friday.
According to a statement by chief
secretary to the President and Cabinet
Misheck Sibanda, Chasi’s “conduct of
government business had become incompatible with the president’s expectations.”
He was replaced by the little-known
Soda Zhemu, the Zanu PF MP for Muzarabani in Mashonaland Central province.
Insiders said a Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (Zacc) report on the chaos at Zesa would be used as an excuse for Chasi’s sacking, but the issues were much deeper.
A week ago, Mnangagwa ordered Zacc
to investigate Zesa after suspending the
power utility’s executive chairman Sydney Gata and the entire board.
Insiders now say the Zesa issue was a
decoy and Gata would be used to implicate Chasi in alleged shady deals.
Insiders said the real issues were that
Chasi was being targeted because of suspicions that he had ambitions for higher office.
They said the Mazowe South MP was
viewed as an ally of Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga and that he was one of those allegedly plotting against Mnangagwa.
“There is suspicion that the Chiwenga
faction considered Chasi as presidential
material and in the event the army takes
over from Mnangagwa, he could be the
new face of Zanu PF,” the source said.
“Others also considered him a G40 person because he was receiving praise from
exiled former G40 hawks.”
A fortnight ago, Mnangagwa and Chiwenga allegedly clashed during a politburo meeting where evidence was allegedly
produced that a faction linked to the vice president was plotting against the president.
A politburo member Cleveria Chizema was suspended after posters allegedly promoting the July 31 protests by opposition groups were found at her Harare home.
Chizema was accused of being part of
Zanu PF people that allegedly wanted to
use the protests to push for Chiwenga to
take over from Mnangagwa.
Zanu PF sources said Chasi’s sacking
was to some extent part of a continuation
of a purge that will target those suspected
to be involved in the alleged plot.
The Mnangagwa family is also said to
have played a big role in the minister’s
unceremonious exit.
“Chasi was caught in the crossfire, he
has been a victim of family politics and
factionalism in Zanu PF,” the source said.
“Chasi failed to read the politics.”
Information minister Monica Mutsvangwa yesterday refused to comment on Chasi’s dismissal and allegations that Mnangagwa’s family had a role in the
minister’s sacking.
“How do I comment on a decision by my principal? You heard it,” Mutsvangwa said.
“It is factual and clear that he was relieved of his duties.
“I am not the one who appointed him so
the person, who appointed him relieved him of his duties.”
Factionalism is said to be resurfacing
in Zanu PF over Chiwenga’s alleged ambitions to take over from Mnangagwa
ahead of the 2023 election.
SOUTH AFRICAN president Cyril Ramaphosa’s despacth of envoys to Zimbabwe in a bid to defuse the latest crisis, in which the government has engaged in a vicious crackdown on opponents, journalists and the freedoms of speech, association and protest, has been widely welcomed.
Such has been the brutality of the latest assault on human rights by President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s regime that something had to be done. And, as the big brother neighbour next door, South Africa is the obvious actor to do it.
It may be guaranteed that Ramaphosa’s envoys – Sydeny Mufamadi, , a former government minister turned academic, and Baleka Mbete, a former deputy president of South Africa, former speaker of the National Assembly and former chairperson of the African National Congress (ANC) – were sent off to Harare with a very limited brief.
They were accompanied by Advocate Ngoako Ramatlhodi and diplomat Ndumiso Ntshinge.
The mission quickly ran into trouble. The envoys returned to South Africa without meeting members of the opposition.
Observers and activists are rightly skeptical about how much will come out of it. The best that is seriously hoped for is that South African diplomacy will bring about immediate relief.
This would include: the release of journalists, opposition figures and civil society activists from jail; promises to withdraw the military from the streets; perhaps even some jogging of the Mnangagwa government to meet with its opponents and to make some trifling concessions.
After all, the pattern is now well established: crisis, intervention, promises by the Zanu PF regime to behave, and then relapse after a decent interval to the sort of behaviour that prompted the latest crisis in the first place.
But in a previous era, South Africa once made Zimbabwe’s dependence count.
South Africa has done it once
Back in 1976, apartheid South Africa’s Prime Minister John B. Vorster fell in with US plans to bring about a settlement in then Rhodesia, and hence relieve international pressure on his own government, by withdrawing military and economic support and closing the border between the two countries.
Ian Smith had little choice but to comply. Today, no one, not even the most starry-eyed hopefuls among the ranks of the opposition and civil society in Zimbabwe, believe that Ramaphosa’s South Africa will be prepared to wield such a big stick. The time is long past that Pretoria’s admonitions of bad behaviour are backed by a credible threat of sanction and punishment.
So, why is it that Vorster could bring about real change, twisting Smith’s arm to engage in negotiations with his liberation movement opponents that eventually led to a settlement and a transition to majority rule, and ANC governments – from the time of Nelson Mandela onwards – have been so toothless?
If we want an answer, we need to look at three fundamental differences between 1976 and now.
First, Vorster was propelled into pressuring Smith by the US, which was eager to halt the perceived advance of communism by bringing about a settlement in Rhodesia which was acceptable to the West. In turn, Vorster thought that by complying with US pressure, his regime would earn Washington’s backing as an anti-communist redoubt. Today there is no equivalent spur to act. It is unlikely that US president Donald Trump could point to Zimbabwe on a map.
Britain, the European Union and other far-off international actors all decry the human rights abuses in Zimbabwe. But they have largely given up on exerting influence, save to extend vitally needed humanitarian aid (and thank God for that). Zimbabwe has retreated into irrelevance, except as a case study as a failed state. They are not likely to reenter the arena and throw good money and effort at the Zimbabwean problem until they are convinced that something significant, some serious political change for the good, is likely to happen.
Second, South African intervention today is constrained by liberation movement solidarity. They may have their differences and arguments, but Zanu PF and the ANC, which governs South Africa, remain bound together by the conviction that they are the embodiments of the logic of history.
As the leading liberators of their respective countries, they believe they represent the true interests of the people. If the people say otherwise in an election, this can only be because they have been duped or bought. It cannot be allowed that history should be put into reverse.
Former South African president Thabo Mbeki played a crucial role in forging a coalition government between Zanu PF and the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) after the latter effectively won the parliamentary election in 2008.
But South Africa held back from endorsing reliable indications that MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai had also won the presidential election against Robert Mugabe.
As a result, Tsvangirai was forced into a runoff presidential contest, supposedly because he had won less than 50% of the poll. The rest is history.
Zanu PF struck back with a truly vicious campaign against the MDC, Tsvangirai withdrew from the contest, and Mugabe remained as president, controlling the levers of power. The ANC looked on, held its nose, and scuttled home to Pretoria saying the uneasy coalition it left behind was a job well done.
Third, successive Zanu PF governments have become increasingly militarised. Mnangagwa may have put his military uniform aside, but it is the military which now calls the shots. It ultimately decides who will front for its power. There have been numerous statements by top ranking generals that they will never accept a government other than one formed by Zanu PF.
The African Union and Southern African Development Community have both outlawed coups, but everyone knows that the Mnangagwa government is a military government in all but name.
Lamentably inadequate
So, it is all very well to call for a transitional government, one which would see Zanu PF engaging with the opposition parties and civil society and promising a return to constitutional rule and the holding of a genuinely democratic election. But we have been there before.
The fundamental issue is how Zimbabwe’s military can be removed from power, and how Zimbabwean politics can be demilitarised.
Without the military behind it, Zanu PF would be revealed as a paper tiger, and would meet with a heavy defeat in a genuinely free and fair election.
According to Ibbo Mandaza, the veteran activist and analyst in Harare, what Zimbabwe needs is the establishment of a transitional authority tasked with returning the country to constitutional government and enabling an economic recovery. Nice idea, but a pipe dream.
No one in their right mind believes that a Ramaphosa government, whose own credibility is increasingly threadbare because of its bungled response to the coronavirus epidemic, its corruption and its economic incompetence, has the stomach to bring this about. We can expect fine words and promises and raised hopes, but lamentably little action until the next crisis comes around, when the charade will start all over again.
Any relief, any improvement on the present situation will be welcomed warmly in Zimbabwe. But no one in Harare – whether in government, opposition or civil society – will really believe that Ramaphosa’s increasingly ramshackle government will be prepared to tackle the issue that really matters: removing the military from power.
Roger Southall, Professor of Sociology, University of the Witwatersrand
Younger brother of President Donald Trump, died Saturday at a New York hospital, Donald Trump announced in a statement.
“It is with heavy heart I share that my wonderful brother, Robert, peacefully passed away tonight. He was not just my brother, he was my best friend. He will be greatly missed, but we will meet again. His memory will live on in my heart forever. Robert, I love you. Rest in peace,” the President said.
Donald Trump is expected to attend his brother’s funeral. However no details were immediately available on plans. Additionally, a source familiar said the President personally dictated the White House statement on his brother.
“Uncle Robert, we love you. You are in our hearts and prayers, always,” Ivanka Trump posted on Twitter Saturday night.
The President called his brother’s hospital room late on Saturday as it seemed his death was near, two people familiar with the matter told CNN. It’s not clear whether they connected or whether Robert Trump’s condition allowed him to speak by phone with the President.
Separately, several people who spoke to Trump Saturday said he appeared saddened by the impending loss of his brother.
Donald Trump made a last minute decision to go to New York Friday to visit his brother as he headed to New Jersey for the weekend.
Robert Trump had been admitted to New York-Presbyterian Hospital in Manhattan.
Details of Robert Trump’s illness have not been released. He had been sick for several months, a person familiar with knowledge of the matter told CNN.
During a White House briefing on Friday, Trump declined to provide reporters with details on his brother’s illness.
“I have a wonderful brother. We have a great relationship for a long time, from day one, so long time ago. And he’s in the hospital right now,” Trump said Friday when asked about his brother.
“Hopefully he’ll be alright, but he’s — he’s pretty — he’s having a hard time,” he added.
Later Friday as he headed to see his brother Trump told reporters:
“He’s having a tough time.”
The younger Trump was previously hospitalized in June with an undisclosed serious condition CNN has previously reported.
Robert Trump had served as an executive vice president of the Trump Organization. Part of his duties including overseeing the organization’s Atlantic City casinos.
Robert Trump was born in 1948 and was one of four siblings to the President, including the late Fred Trump, Jr. He was a former top executive at the Trump Organization. He married Ann Marie Pallan earlier this year and was previously married to Blaine (Beard) Trump.
Before his death, Robert Trump resided in Millbrook, New York, in the Hudson Valley.
Robert Trump said in 2016 that he supported his brother’s presidential run and according to Town & Country, he hosted events and fundraisers in Millbrook for his brother and other Republicans.
In June, Robert Trump filed a temporary restraining order in an attempt to block the publication of an unflattering tell-all book by Mary Trump, Fred Trump Jr.’s daughter.
Robert Trump said in a statement to The New York Times at the time that he was “deeply disappointed” in Mary Trump’s decision to publish the book, which included details about the President’s family, childhood and upbringing.
Mary Trump said in an interview with Greenpeace earlier this week that Robert Trump had been sick and hospitalized “a couple of times in the last three months.”
THE messy tug-of-war between MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa and his MDC-T nemesis Thokozani Khupe has taken a new twist after it emerged the two will once again square off in the Supreme Court over the extension of Khupe’s leadership.
In March, the Supreme Court ruled that Nelson Chamisa was an illegitimate leader of the MDC, paving the way for Khupe to return as the interim leader of the party pending an extraordinary congress which was supposed to have been held by July 31.
The congress, however, failed to proceed due to the ongoing Covid-19-induced restrictions.
This effectively means Khupe’s mandate as interim president has expired.
As such, the MDC-T made an application at the Supreme Court on July 29 seeking an extension to Khupe’s current term and citing Chamisa as a respondent.
Chamisa, through his lawyer, Advocate Thabani Mpofu, notified the court of his intention to oppose the application.
MDC-T secretary general Douglas Mwonzora confirmed the development in a recent interview with the Zimbabwe Independent saying lawyers from both sides have since met and deliberated on the issue.
He said Chamisa’s legal team has been given time to prepare their papers.
“We were supposed to have held our extraordinary congress on July 31 but we were stopped by the health officials and police because of the Covid-19 restrictions,” Mwonzora said.
“We have therefore applied for an extension and the matter is going to be argued in the Supreme Court. So the lawyers met and agreed on certain timelines to manage the case. In other words, we have filed our application. The respondents were given time within which to respond because they indicated that they want to oppose the application.
“Chamisa wants to oppose the application and he is going to be given time to file his papers. We have no problem with that. The application was made two days before the expiry of the term of the interim president,” he said.
Mwonzora also said apart from Khupe, other office bearers were not affected.
“The mandates of other office bearers do not expire. They can only expire after the holding of the ordinary congress, not even the extraordinary congress because as you know, the extraordinary congress is for the election of a president and after that, that president will organise the ordinary congress to elect everyone. So the mandate continues until the holding of that congress.
“So my mandate for example doesn’t expire until the holding of a congress that chooses the secretary general,” he said.
Efforts to get a comment from MDC Alliance spokesperson Fadzayi Mahere were fruitless as she was not answering calls to her mobile phone. Advocate Mpofu was also not reachable.
Chamisa took over as MDC president in controversial circumstances in 2018 after he outwitted his then two co-vice-presidents, Khupe and Elias Mudzuri during a nasty fight which played out at a time when Tsvangirai was on his deathbed in South Africa.
Relying on a militant youth wing, known as the Vanguard, which allegedly launched violent raids in Khupe’s camp, Chamisa managed to outfox her. Khupe was his most potent rival then.
The Zimbabwean government has been extremely agitated by an open letter published by the Zimbabwe Catholic Bishops Conference.
Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Monica Mutsvangwa has come out guns blazing against the Bishops, describing the bishops as genocidal and evil-minded.
The pastoral letter, signed by ZCBC president Archbishop Charles Ndlovu, Archbishop Alex Thomas (ZCBC deputy president), and bishops Paul Horan (ZCBC secretary and treasurer), Michael Bhasera (Masvingo), Albert Serrano (Hwange), Rudolf Nyandoro (Gokwe) and Raymond Mupandasekwa (Chinhoyi), was published on Friday.
In the letter, the bishops accuse the Government of human rights violations, while highlighting allegations against President Mnangagwa’s administration.
In an address at her offices in Harare on Saturday, Minister Mutsvangwa said: “The Government of Zimbabwe calls upon the Catholic congregation to ignore the specious pastoral letter. Bishop Christopher Ndlovu is leading a coterie of Zimbabwe Catholic Bishops along the wrong path of bygone petty tribalism, narrow regionalism and the debunked and defeated racial antagonism.
“Its evil message reeks with all the vices that have perennially hobbled the progress of Africa. It trumpets petty tribal feuds and narrow regionalist agendas. That he (Archbishop Ndlovu) hopes to sow seeds of internecine strife as a prelude to civil war and national disintegration.”
Minister Mutsvangwa likened Archbishop Ndlovu to Rwandan bishop Athanase Seromba, the infamous Rwandese Catholic Archbishop who was tried and sentenced to life imprisonment by the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda for inciting genocide.
“Such was the horrendous and abominable conduct of the Rwanda Catholic Church that Pope Francis, the global head of the worldwide Catholic Church had to make a formal Papal visit to Kigali in 2017. The reason was to offer a contrite apology for the heinous crimes of the Rwanda Catholic Clergy.
“With nefarious cynicism to history, Archbishop Robert Christopher Ndlovu is inching to lead the Zimbabwe Catholic congregation into the darkest dungeons of Rwanda-type genocide.”
“The letter is full of generalised accusations. By way of contrast, the meticulous Catholic Peace and Justice Commission of the anti-colonial, anti-racist epoch collated, compiled and published dossiers of specific crimes committed by the colonial settler minority regime.
“The Archbishop and his flock of misled Catholic bishops have none of that diligence. Instead they wallow in generalised and baseless accusations. Absolutely no shred of reported evidence of so-called victims.”
“He (Archbishop Ndlovu) wants to posit as the leader of the righteous Ndebele minority by fanning the psychosis of tribal victimisation. Concurrently, he sows sins of collective guilt on the Shona majority. That way he seeks to numb the spirit of collective national vigilance against the known and proven enemies of the populace of Zimbabwe,” said Minister Mutsvangwa.
“His transgressions acquire a geopolitical dimension as the chief priest of the agenda of regime change that is the hallmark of the post-imperial major Western powers for the last two decades.”
Minister Mutsvangwa said the bishops chose to ignore risks posed by Covid-19 to incite people to demonstrate yet the World Health Organisation daily announces strictures to assist national Governments to fight and contain the pandemic.
“In the face of all that, our narrow minded bishop pontificates against Covid-19 rules. Even when America, his much-admired paragon of democracy and justice is complying. Recently President Trump had to call off the National Convention of his Republican Party slated for Jacksonville, Florida,” she said.
It was unfortunate that in the eyes of the “reckless Archbishop”, pride of place was accorded to the crusade against the governing and ruling party of Zimbabwe.
“The cause of national health in face of a pandemic is of no consequence. By calling people to march in the midst of the pandemic the bishop relishes the prospect of mass deaths. To him maybe that speeds up the ascent of the populace of Zimbabwe to their biblical judgement of heaven or hell.
“And behold, pastoral letter Bishops Conference of 14th August 2020 does not bother to invoke the repeated Papal calls for a global ceasefire in regions of war and strive.”
The Minister said the Pastoral Letter goes against the Pope’s call on nations to concentrate effort and resources to the fight against global pandemic.
Pope Francis recently implored the United Nations Security Council to pass a resolution 5 July 2020.
“This noble aspiration of the Pope as head of the global Catholic Church is cited nowhere in the offending pastoral letter of the hate-mongering Archbishop Christopher Ndlovu.
“For God’s sake, why ignore the letter and spirit of the supreme Archbishop in the Vatican? If wars and strife can be wished away, how about a mere political uprising under the guise of an ill-fated mass demonstration?”
She said during the liberation struggle, Catholic bishops gained fame for protecting people’s rights unlike the ZCBC which is pushing political interests.
“Who can forget the venerable Bishop Lamont of Mutare and his brave defiance of the illegal and racist rule of Ian Smith and his 1965 Unilateral Declaration of Independence?
“How Bishop Lamont of the Carmelite Missionary Order in Zimbabwe went on to be a victim of a probably contrived car accident, his incarceration and eventual deportation. Yes, that brave man of the cloth could only return to Zimbabwe after 1980 in the wake of the victory of the National Liberation Movement.”
She challenged Zimbabweans not to be fooled by the call that “The march is not ended”.
Paul Nyathi|It is now becoming the norm that anyone relegated by President Emmerson Mnangagwa from any position will come out claiming not to be grudging the move perhaps because it is known that the ZANU PF system is brutal,. Mnangagwa himself had to skip the border fleeing the same system after being fired, other former ministers did the same.
Fortune Chasi, the latest causality to be kicked out by Mnangagwa for a host of reasons including mishandling of his close relative Sydney Chasi has come out claiming not to be having any grudges against his dismissal. It is airways understandable to show appreciation and admiration of the ZANU PF system for safety after being fired.
Chasi wrote as follows on Twitter.
I have seen a set of tweets Jonathan moyo suggesting that I caused an investigation into what he calls the SOTIC deal . I have no knowledge of this deal nor did I cause the alleged investigation. I am not sure what the source of the investigation is nor the motive.
In my entire tenure at the ministry I never caused any investigation or enquiry into anything at NOIC. I had no issues at that level.
I must make it very very clear that I don’t harbour any bitterness regarding my current position. I accept the decision to relieve of me of my position as that is the President’s prerogative. I remain committed to serve in any capacity whatsoever .
Meanwhile I shall revert to being a back bencher and continue to work in the constituency and party .
The Tweet thread is as below:
I have seen a set of tweets Jonathan moyo suggesting that I caused an investigation into what he calls the SOTIC deal . I have no knowledge of this deal nor did I cause the alleged investigation. I am not sure what the source of the investigation is nor the motive.
PRESIDENT Mnangagwa will tomorrow end his successful tenure as Southern African Development Community (Sadc) chairperson for the Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation, and pass the baton to his Botswana counterpart President Mokgweetsi Eric Masisi at the 40th SADC Heads of State summit that will be held virtually.
How would you rate his time in office?
Click on the link below and give your thought.
Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa will on Monday end his tenure as Southern African Development Community (Sadc) chairperson for the Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation. His Collegues have praised him for the time in office. What's your take on his term?
Foreign Affairs and International Trade Minister Sibusiso Moyo says the agenda of the SADC summit on Monday has been set and excludes the Zimbabwean and Mozambiquen crisis.
Moyo says the agenda was set with the “primary focus being to facilitate the handover of chairmanship of the SADC Summit from the United Republic of Tanzania to the Republic of Mozambique”.
He said the summit will be held under the theme, “40 Years Building Peace and Security, and Promoting Development and Resilience in the Face of Global Challenges”.
SADC and the African Union (AU) should urgently assist Mozambique to stem the violent insurgency in Cabo Delgado province and bring relief to thousands of people in dire need.
This should be a priority for SADC leaders as they meet for their 40th annual summit on Monday. At the summit, Tanzania will hand over the position of SADC chair to Mozambique.
The security situation in northern Mozambique is deteriorating at an alarming rate. Attacks by violent extremists have claimed over 1 000 lives and displaced 250 000 people since October 2017. Infrastructure has been destroyed and citizens robbed of their livelihoods.
The number of incidents has dramatically escalated this year, forcing scores to abandon their homes. Communities are caught between heavy-handed government responses and attacks by insurgents, some of which the Islamic State has claimed responsibility for.
Military action by the Mozambique government, including the continued use of mercenaries, has not stopped the attacks and has worsened the plight of civilians. Left unchecked, the insurgency is likely to grow and spill over into neighbouring countries. Human security in the region could further deteriorate as seen in other parts of Africa afflicted by violent extremism such as the Sahel, the Horn of Africa and the Lake Chad Basin.
Mozambique should not be expected to deal with a potential regional security threat of this gravity alone. As a member of SADC and the AU, it has recourse to regional and continental support.
Mozambique is also a state party to 15 of the 19 international conventions and protocols against terrorism, and the AU Convention on the Prevention and Combating of Terrorism – all of which provide for assistance from the international community under the current circumstances.
Various SADC instruments oblige the regional body to come to Mozambique’s aid. For instance, Article 6(1) of the SADC Mutual Defence Pact stipulates that an ‘An armed attack against a state party shall be considered a threat to regional peace and security and such an attack shall be met with immediate collective action.’
In addition, SADC’s 2015 regional counter-terrorism strategy, which was developed in line with the United Nations global counter-terrorism strategy, provides for assistance in preventing youth radicalisation, border security, humanitarian aid and tackling the root causes of terrorism.
SADC should invoke Article 6(1) of the Pact and implement its 2015 counter-terrorism strategy to help combat the insurgency in northern Mozambique and prevent a spill-over into the region.
The SADC summit of the Troika of the Organ on Politics, Defence and Security held in Harare on 19 May 2020 put the Mozambican insurgency on the SADC agenda. But after hours of deliberations, the meeting concluded its work without any concrete agreement on SADC’s role. The upcoming SADC summit is a crucial opportunity to take decisive action to help end the crisis.
Asked whether recent reports that Maputo had specifically asked for Zimbabwe’s military assistance were true, Dr Moyo said:
“On 19 May 2020, Zimbabwe convened an Extraordinary Organ Troika Summit plus Mozambique which specifically focused on the security situation in the Republic of Mozambique.
“That meeting was an important milestone in the efforts to address the challenges in Cabo Delgado. More importantly, it was a demonstration of the fact that the matter was not a problem of Mozambique alone but a regional concern which called on all SADC member states to join forces to deal with the terrorism situation.”
He said Zimbabwe, in its capacity as chair of the Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Co-operation, has been championing a regional approach to address the terrorism threat and has confidence in the capacity of regional security institutions to deal with the matter.
Zimbabwe and the rest of the region, said Dr Moyo, are unequivocal in their support and solidarity with the Republic of Mozambique.
ZANU-PF says controversial and obviously corrupt businessman Kudakwashe Tagwirei a respected player and stakeholder in the local economy and sanctions slapped on him are just “the continuation of an assault against the country and its leaders.”
Earlier this month, The United States Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (Ofac) finally saw it fit to place Tagwirei and his Sakunda Holdings on its sanctions list, accusing him of corruption.
“Tagwirei and other Zimbabwean elites have derailed economic development and harmed the Zimbabwean people through corruption,” US Deputy Secretary of Treasury Justin G Muzinich said while announcing the latest round of sanctions.
In a statement, acting Zanu-PF Secretary for Information and Publicity Patrick Chinamasa, said the party had taken note of the sanctions against Tagwirei and Sakunda and acknowledged them as the latest act of aggression by a country determined to cripple the Government of Zimbabwe for the land reform programme it initiated at the turn of the millennium.
“Zanu-PF has noted and acknowledged the Ofac sanctions imposed on Mr Kudakwashe Tagwirei and Sakunda Holdings. This comes as no surprise as these sanctions follow relentless orchestrated attacks over the past 12 months targeting the President Cde ED Mnangagwa, members of the First Family, Government of Zimbabwe and its institutions, Zanu-PF and its leadership since the Zanu-PF Government embarked on the Land Reform and Redistribution Programme in 2000, Zimbabwe has been wilting under the yoke of USA sanctions whose main objective has been, to quote former US Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Mr Chester Crocker, ‘to make the economy of Zimbabwe scream and to separate Zanu-PF from the people to achieve an illegal regime change’,” Chinamasa said.
He said the US was acting on false information peddled by enemies of the country, mainly the leadership of the MDC-Alliance, who were only happy to see more economically damaging action taken against Zimbabwe. He said allegations of Sakunda’s corruption through the Command Agriculture Programme were also made without a shred of evidence proffered by his accusers.
“On the issue of Command Agriculture again, the USA has conveniently chosen to act on the basis of falsehoods such as the allegations that Mr Tagwirei and Sakunda Holdings defrauded Government under the very successful Command Agriculture Scheme initiated and then funded by Government to ensure the success of the land reform programme. The scheme was successful and boosted agricultural output. The scheme was one of the many schemes introduced by the Zanu-PF Government to assist farmers and the schemes included the Presidential Inputs Scheme targeting peasant and small-scale farmers in semi-arid areas of the country as well as the Farm Mechanisation Support Scheme targeting both small-scale and large-scale farmers recently beneficiaries of the Land Redistribution Programme.”
He said the allegations that formed the basis of the sanctions decision by the USA have been deliberated upon by the Public Accounts Committee of Zimbabwe’s Parliament, chaired by Tendai Biti, whom he said along with MDC-Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa are “perennial honoured guests” of the chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee of the USA Senate, Senator Jeff Flake.
“Their missions in visiting Washington are always to plead for the extension, continuation of and intensification of USA sanctions against themselves and the Zimbabwean people. During the Public Accounts Committee Hearing chaired by Mr Biti, Sakunda Holdings placed before the committee, all documentation pertaining to all transactions on Command Agriculture and successfully demonstrated that the allegations of corruption were false, fake, fabricated and malicious including allegations that they had received US$3 billion from Government.”
Chinamasa said if Biti was man enough, he would have reported that to Senator Flake. He said without evidence of his corruption, the ruling party would continue to consider Tagwirei and Sakunda key cogs in the country’s economy and the emergence of more local business like him could only further the country’s goal of being an upper middle-class economy by 2030, Cde Chinamasa said.
“Until evidence to the contrary is established, Zanu-PF wishes to place it on record that it considers Mr Tagwirei and Sakunda Holdings a respected player and stakeholder in the economy of Zimbabwe just as we are sure General Electric is considered a respected economic player in the USA and globally. Under our policy of indigenisation and economic empowerment of previously disadvantaged under colonialism, Zanu-PF’s expectations are that the country will be able to nurture many more Tagwireis and fellow indigenous entrepreneurs to be successful world class businesses that will make impactful contribution to the reconstruction of our economy and the attainment of President ED Mnangagwa’s 2030 vision to make Zimbabwe an upper middle-income country.”
Chinamasa said Zanu-PF would not tire its efforts to safeguard the interests of Zimbabweans, while it would also not buckle under the economic pressure exerted by the US.
“Zanu-PF reiterates its unshakable position that Zimbabwe is an independent sovereign state and is not accountable to the USA or any other country. Our policy is to defend the sovereignty, freedom and independence of our people from any external threat or attack. Zanu-PF remains resolute and unshaken in discharging the mandate given to it by the blood of our people.”
JOSE Filomeno de dos Santos, the former head of Angola’s $5 billion sovereign wealth fund, was found guilty, along with three other defendants, of transferring the money to a Credit Suisse account in London.
His trial has been the most high-profile case to date under the anti-corruption drive of President Joao Lourenco, who took the helm after dos Santos stepped down in 2017 after a near four-decade grip of power in Africa’s second-biggest oil exporter.
Judge Joao Pitra found Dos Santos – nicknamed “Zenu” – guilty of fraud, embezzlement and influence trafficking, Lusa said.
Valter Filipe, former governor of the National Bank of Angola, was sentenced to eight years in the case.
António Samalia Bule, former director of Banco Nacional de Angola, and Jorge Gaudens Sebastião, a businessman and longtime friend of Zenu’s, got five years and six years respectively.
All were acquitted of money laundering, Lusa said.
Former president Dos Santos appointed close allies and kin to key positions but his successor, also a member of the ruling People’s Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) party, has rooted out some of his loyalists and initiated anti-corruption trials against senior members of the former regime.
Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa will on Monday end his tenure as Southern African Development Community (Sadc) chairperson for the Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation, and pass the baton to his Botswana counterpart President Mokgweetsi Eric Masisi at the 40th SADC Heads of State summit that will be held virtually.
Foreign Affairs and International Trade Minister Dr Sibusiso Moyo said as outgoing chair of the Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Co-operation, President Mnangagwa will table a report to highlight his tenure which began in August 2019.
“In line with the organisation’s principle of rotation, the Republic of Mozambique will take over from the United Republic of Tanzania as Chair of Summit. The Republic of Botswana will assume chairmanship of the Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Co-operation from the Republic of Zimbabwe,” said Dr Moyo.
“The Summit will also elect new deputy chairpersons of the SADC Summit and the SADC Organ who will then assume chairmanship in August 2021. The Summit will receive a report from the outgoing chair of the Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation, President of the Republic of Zimbabwe. In his report, he will outline the key activities of the Organ during Zimbabwe’s tenure, covering the period of August 2019 to August 2020.”
Tomorrow’s main summit was preceded by meetings of Ministers and senior officials to clear the path for the Heads of State.
During his tenure as chair of the Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Co-operation, President Mnangagwa received plaudits from his regional colleagues for successfully mediating in regional security issues such as the situation in Lesotho and most recently the boundary dispute between Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Farai Dziva| The reasons why Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa abruptly fired Fortune Chasi, have been revealed following a ZimEye leak in November last year.
1/2- Dear Editor. Some info about Sydney Gata's recent appointment as ZESA boss. ED and Sydney Gata married the Mayahle sisters of Chipinge. Gata left Ntombana Regina Mugabe for Angeline and ED married Molline…
On the 21st November 2019, ZimEye revealed that the then ZESA boss Sydney Gata and Mnangagwa are close relatives.
“ED and Sydney Gata married the Mayahle sisters of Chipinge. Gata left Ntombana Regina Mugabe for Angeline and ED married Molline,” part of the leak read.
The leak has since been developed by the exiled Prof Jonathan Moyo who says Chasi was sacked for attempting to reverse a deal that was fraudulently crafted by SB Moyo and Mnangagwa to loot State cash.
Mnangagwa and (foreign affairs minister) Sibusiso Moyo allegedly stole USD $ 1,2 disguised as a state loan from SOTIC International.
See Prof Moyo’s argument :
In May 2019 Mnangagwa & SB Moyo stole USD 1,2 billion disguised as a State loan from SOTIC INTERNATIONAL, fronted by Kuda Tagwirei. The theft was structured by SB, using NOIC assets as mortgage. Chasi found out, tried to reverse it & got fired yesterday.
So, @fortunechasi
was fired not because of #Zesa affairs but because his conduct in investigating & seeking to cancel the USD 1,2 billion SOTIC deal at NOIC is INCOMPATIBLE with Mnangagwa’s EXPECTATIONS as a beneficiary of the SOTIC deal along with SB Moyo & Kuda Tagwirei!
Criminally, the SOTIC USD 1,2 billion was structured by
@MinisterSBMoyo
, who got USD 12 million for “structuring it”; and it was sent to #NOIC after it had already been approved by
@edmnangagwa
,
@FinanceZim and
@ReserveBankZIM
; with USD 1,2 billion paid to PRIVATE ACCOUNTS!
Either bravely or naively, after his investigation,
@fortunechasi
sought an alternative to the SOTIC deal & negotiated it with GLENCORE. But no alternative was possible to implement; without costing SOTIC its USD 12 million a month or refunding the USD 1,2 billion advance!
Without having been briefed on the SOTIC Agreement & thus unaware of its architects & its beneficiaries,
@fortunechasi
got the deal investigated.
Chasi’s investigation found that the deal was comprehensively & shockingly detrimental to the national interest on every score!
When Chasi became Energy Minister, the USD 1,2 billion advance payment had been paid, all NOIC assets had been mortgaged as collateral for the advance payment, SOTIC was running NOIC & demanding only forex for the fuel; thus making it unaffordable to the majority of locals!
French side Olympique Lyon striker Moussa Dembele has dedicated their 3-1 win over English giants Manchester City to his team mate Tino Kadewere who lost his brother Prince Kadewere.
The French side has touched the hearts of many Zimbabweans after showing full support to Tino during his loss with players donning t-shirts inscribed “Rest in Heaven Prince Kadewere”.
After their match yesterday, Dembele who scored two goals said their victory was for Tino who missed the match to be with his family back in Zimbabwe.
“My brother Tino this victory is for you, be strong my brother! Mon frère Tino cette victoire est pour toi, soit fort mon frère!???,” said Dembele.
@DMwonzora 's girlfriend Eunice Nyakutsikwa was arrested after submitting his (Mwonzora's) bank statement with an inflated figure for an EU visa. She spent the night in prison cells together with a loyale, Cnlr Warship Dumba. The first incident happened on 13th October 2016… pic.twitter.com/zt2cM95qsd
A prolific prisons-authority source speaks to ZimEye making serious allegations of how the MDC founder Morgan Tsvangirai was poisoned. The TV whistleblower, Shepherd Yuda also speaks concerning an alleged plot to poison the jailed journalist, Hopewell Chin’ono.
THREE machete wielding robbers allegedly attacked four miners and fled with US$1 500 and property.
Matabeleland South provincial police spokesperson Chief Inspector Philisani Ndebele confirmed the incident which occurred on Friday at around 11pm at Myezi Village in Filabusi.
He said the three unknown suspects who were armed with machetes and a cross bar attacked the four complainants at their home before fleeing with
US$1 500, $150, a solar panel, television set, gold detector and a cellphone.
“I can confirm that we recorded a robbery case which occurred in Myezi Village in Filabusi. Mr Laxon Moyo, Mr Thompson Sithole, Mr Lyton Moyo and Mr Mosisili Ncube were asleep at their home when the three suspects who were armed with machetes and a cross bar arrived.
“They forced open a door using the cross bar and gained entry. The trio assaulted the complainants using the weapons and demanded cash. They took US$1 500, $150, a solar panel, television set, gold detector and a cellphone before fleeing the scene. The matter was reported to the police,” he said.
Chief Insp Ndebele appealed to members of the public with information that could lead to the arrest of the suspects to contact the police. He urged people to take precautionary measures such as engaging security services when they knew that they have large sums of money or other valuables that could make them a target of robbers.
In another incident, a Gwanda man has been jailed 18 months after he broke into his neighbour’s house and stole property worth $23 280.
Israeli Ndlovu (24) of Makokwe Village in Guyu was convicted on his own plea of guilty to unlawful entry and theft by Gwanda magistrate, Miss Lerato Nyathi.
He was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment of which six months were suspended on condition that he does he commit a similar offence within the next five years. Prosecuting, Miss Faith Mutukwa said Ndlovu broke into Ms Doris Mlilo’s homestead where he stole property.
“On 13 July the accused person went to the complainant’s homestead while there was no one. He used an unknown object to open the door and gained entry into the house. While he was inside, he took property which includes groceries, clothing and electrical gadgets all valued at $23 280. The complainant discovered that her property had been stolen upon her return and reported the matter to the police. Investigations were conducted resulting in the arrest of the accused person and recovery of the property,” she said.
In an extremely embarassing and very unusual circumstance, the Somali President, Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed has been caught on video exchanging blows with his DeputyPresident, Mahdi Mohamed Guled, during a press conference.
Following government’s response to Roman Catholic’s Pastoral Letter on the current human rights situation in the country, Zimbabweans have hit back accusing the President Emmerson Mnangagwa administration for being careless and perpetuating tribal wars.
Self exiled former Zanu PF Commissar Savior Kasukuwere said;
“Monica has lost her marbles. She personalizes a careless response to the Church from government. They simply don’t get it.”
MDC Alliance Secretary General, Charlton Hwende had this to say;
“As a Catholic I am shocked by the reaction of the Government of @edmnangagwa represented by the tribalist Minister Monica Mutsvangwa. The way they have singled out the Archbishop should be condemned unreservedly. Surely Zanu-PF is now heading to the political dustbins of history.”
Zimbabwe Yadzoka chairperson, Dr Victor Chimhutu said the response was uncalled for while condemning the labelling of the letter as evil and misguided.
“This attack on the church is uncalled for. Gvt labels the pastoral letter that raised concerns over rights violations as evil and misguided. Raising tribal sentiments won’t help but worsens the crises in Zimbabwe- point of no return.”
The Government says plans for the reopening of ZISCO steel are now at an advanced stage as the nation intensifies the import substitution initiative through the capacitation of local industry.
The committee tasked with overseeing the reopening of ZISCO Steel is working hard to ensure the steel giant reopens for business with a lasting solution now on the horizon.
Finance and Economic Development Minister, Professor Mthuli Ncube, who met the ZANU PF Midlands provincial coordinating committee this Saturday, says capacitation of the local industry is also government’s priority.
“We understand that this is a province which is anchored on mining. We will resuscitate ZISCO. We have a committee that is working flat out to make sure that this comes to fruition. We want to create more jobs and as such, this is part of that trajectory.
“We also have a programme to support local industry. What comes to mind is Sable Chemicals also located here in the Midlands province. We want to ensure that they reach their maximum capacity utilisation. This will help us in import substitution.”
Professor Ncube hailed the RBZ weekly foreign currency auction system as having managed to stabilise the rates.
“Now we can plan without many hurdles. Since we started the auction system, we are now experiencing stability on the pricing regime. We want stability in the country and this is exactly what we are witnessing. The system has dealt with speculative tendencies that were driving inflation. We want to see more companies and banks participating in this auction system.”
The Finance Minister also urged banks to ensure that civil servants purchase goods and services using their foreign currency allowances as opposed to converting it to local currency.
THERE was a time when Olympic Lyon striker Tino Kadewere used to play barefoot at Highfield Academy in Harare, until his brother Prince bought him his first pair of football boots.
Tino still remembers well that pair of Diadora boots.
There was also a time when Tino’s favourite shirt number was 14, especially when he was still playing for Zimbabwe’s international youth teams — the Under-17 and Under-20 squads.
Three-time Ballon d’Or winner and Dutch football legend Hendrik Johannes Cruyff, popularly known as Johan Cruyff, is the greatest player in the history of the game to wear the number 14 shirt.
Arsenal legend Thierry Henry also used to wear the same jersey number when he was still a Gunners player.
But Tino was inspired to wear that number 14 jersey by his brother Prince, who used to don the same jersey number when he was still a star player at now-defunct sides Monomotapa and Air Zimbabwe Jets.
Sadly, Prince is gone and Tino, who now wears jersey number 24 at Lyon, is a devastated young man.
Coach Pipi, as Prince was affectionately known, died after a short illness at a medical facility in Harare on Wednesday at the age of 40.
At the time of his death, Prince was coaching Division Two side Highfield Youth Academy, a club that was founded by his late father, Onias.
Tino flew back into the country on Thursday afternoon and was part of the grieving Kadewere family members and relatives who attended Prince’s burial at Murombedzi in Zvimba yesterday, after Government gave him an exemption to leave quarantine on Friday.
After receiving the sad news from Lyon director Juninho’s phone, Tino was helped by his club to get an immediate flight — Ethiopian Airways plane — which arrived in Harare on Thursday afternoon.
He was sent into quarantine at Bronte Hotel before he was released on Friday.
The Warriors forward poured his heart out a few hours before Prince’s burial in Zvimba yesterday.
“This is another sad chapter in my life. I have lost a caring brother. I will miss him; it is not going to be easy.
“But I believe he is now an angel looking after me, sitting next to my late dad,” Tino told The Sunday Mail Sport.
Tino, who is settling well at French Ligue 1 giants Lyon, revealed how his fledging football career was inspired by his late brother Prince.
“My first pair of football boots, I got them from Pipi when I was still at Highfield Academy. Before that I used to play barefooted.
“I chose to wear jersey number 14 at the Academy, at Prince Edward High School, with the Under-17 and Under-20 national teams because that was the same jersey number worn by my brother Prince.
“When I went to Sweden, Pipi helped me a lot as he would help me with some drills whenever I came back home.
“To be honest with you, I never really got to watch Prosper, our eldest brother, but I watched Prince play for Monomotapa and Air Zim jets.
“Everyone knows how good Pipi was as a player and I always wanted to be like him.”
Tino also revealed how he managed to immediately secure a flight back to Zimbabwe, given the prevailing coronavirus situation through which flights, especially those into Southern Africa, are limited.
“Ethiopian Airways was the only flight available and my club played a crucial
role in helping me secure the flight on the same day I got news of my brother’s death.
“Olympic Lyon sent their condolences to the family.
They wrote some e-mails to the Zimbabwean football authorities to help me get an exemption to attend my brother’s burial.-The Sunday Mail
Statement by the Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Hon Monica Mutsvangwa (Senator) on August 15, 2020
TOMORROW (today) is Sunday, a holy day on the weekly Christian calendar.
Ahead of the Catholic Sunday Mass, the Government of Zimbabwe (GoZ) draws the attention of the national Catholic congregation shards of a Pastoral Letter issued under the misguided if evil-minded leadership of the Archbishop of Harare.
As the GoZ, we vehemently object to and strongly condemns the Pastoral letter of Archbishop Christopher Ndlovu and his coterie of Catholics Bishop prelates.
Its evil message reeks with all the vices that have perennially hobbled the progress of Africa.
It trumpets petty tribal feuds and narrow regionalist agendas so that it can sow seeds of internecine strife as a prelude to national disintegration.
Indeed, Archbishop Ndlovu dons the robes of Archbishop Arthanase Seromba who was the chief spiritual ideologist and violent practitioner of the 1994 Hutu-Tutsi Genocide of Rwanda.
These crimes against humanity took place during the Rwandan Civil War that saw more than 800 000 Tutsi minority, pygmy baTwa tribe, and moderate Hutus massacred on such a large scale.
The infamous Rwandese Catholic Archbishop would eventually be tried and sentenced to life imprisonment by the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda.
Such was the horrendous and abominable conduct of the Rwanda Catholic Church that Pope Francis, the global head of the world-wide Catholic Church had to be obliged into a formal papal visit to Kigali and offer a contrite apology for the heinous crimes of the Rwanda Catholic clergy.
With nefarious cynicism to history, Archbishop Robert Christopher Ndlovu is inching to lead the Zimbabwe Catholic congregation into the darkest dungeons of Rwanda-type genocide.
The letter seeks the revival and continuation of the perennial vices of division.
It has a selective and warp-sided reading of history. The errant and evil Bishop has a nauseating mental amnesia of the blight of minority settler rule and its baggage of exploitative racism against the totality of the black majority people of Zimbabwe.
The levity of his mental amnesia is worsened by the fact that he tears off pages of the progressive crusade for justice and democracy that has hitherto been the shining virtue of the Catholic Church in Zimbabwe.
Who can forget the venerable Bishop Lamont of Mutare and his brave defiance of the illegal and racist rule of Ian Smith and his 1965 Unilateral Declaration of Independence?
How Bishop Lamont of the Carmelite Missionary Order in Zimbabwe went on to be a victim of a probably contrived car accident, his incarceration and eventual deportation.
Yes that brave man of the cloth could only return to Zimbabwe after 1980 in the wake of the victory of the national liberation movement.
It is equally noteworthy that the priests and nuns of the Catholic Church led high among the victims of the Rhodesian Selous Scout secret army as they hunted down religious sympathisers of the National Liberation War — Chimurenga — Impi YoMvukela.
Shutting aside the glorious past of the venerable Zimbabwe Catholic Church, the malicious and mischievous Archbishop seeks to tarnish history precisely during the National Heroes Day and Defence Forces Holiday.
He wants to posit as the leader of righteous Ndebele minority by fanning the psychosis of tribal victimisation.
Concurrently, he sows sins of collective guilt on the Shona majority.
That way he seeks to numb the spirit of collective national vigilance against the known and proven enemies of the populace of Zimbabwe.
His transgressions acquire a geopolitical dimension as the chief priest of the agenda of regime change that is the hallmark of the post-imperial major Western powers for the last two decades.
Fellow Zimbabweans, Gukurahundi is indeed a dark spot in the tortuous task of nation building by Zimbabwe.
The two parties of that needless chapter of history need to be hailed for seeking peace and unity as they avoided the abyss that could have been a full-blown civil war.
Happily we ended up with the 1987 Unity Accord. For the record not even newly independent America could avoid a Civil War between 1861-65.
Yes the America of the virtues you selectively allude to. For goodness sake why invoke and desecrate John Robert Lewis the venerated American Civil Rights leader and principled Congressman for your divisive national schemes?
Archbishop Christopher Ndlovu, you ardently call that the march has not stopped.
This is a pathetic admission of the failure of the 31 July, 2020 uprising.
You were born into the 1970s Generation thousands of whom became ZANLA-ZIPRA cadres of the guerrilla army that made the supreme sacrifice for freedom and independence. I am even much younger than you, yet I fought in that war.
Admittedly I made that fateful decision to join the armed struggle.
What I ask is if you have such a charged political spirit, why did you not answer to that call of heroism in the I970s?
Your pastoral letter feigns contrived courage by a dyed-in-the-wool coward.
The Government of Zimbabwe calls upon the Catholic Congregation to ignore the specious Pastoral Letter.
Archbishop Christopher Ndlovhu is leading a coterie of Zimbabwe Catholic Bishops along the wrong path of bygone petty tribalism, narrow regionalism and the debunked and defeated racial antagonism.
The letter is full of generalised accusations.
By way of contrast, the meticulous Catholic Peace and Justice Commission of the anti-colonial, anti-racist epoch collated, compiled and published dossiers of specific crimes committed by the colonial settler minority regime.
The Archbishop and his flock of misled Catholic Bishops have none of that diligence.
Instead they wallow in generalised and baseless accusations.
Absolutely no shred of reported evidence of so-called victims. This is the era of Covid-19.
The World Health Organisation daily announces strictures to assist national governments to fight and contain the pandemic.
In the face of all that, our narrow minded Archbishop pontificates against Covid-19 rules. Even when America, his much-admired paragon of democracy and justice is complying.
Recently President Trump had to call off the National Convention of his Republican Party slated for Jacksonville, Florida.
In the eyes of the reckless Archbishop, pride of place is accorded to the crusade against the governing and ruling party of Zimbabwe.
The cause of national health in face of a pandemic is of no consequence.
By calling people to march in the midst of the pandemic the Archbishop relishes the prospect of mass deaths.
To him, maybe that speeds up the ascent of the populace of Zimbabwe to their biblical judgement of heaven or hell.
And behold Pastoral Letter of the Zimbabwe Catholic Bishops Conference of 14th August 2020 does not bother to invoke the repeated Papal calls for a global ceasefire in regions of war and strife — clearly the Pope’s call to allow nations to concentrate effort and resources to the fight against global pandemic.
None other than Pope Francis once again implored the United Nations Security Council to pass a Resolution to this effect as recently as 5 July 2020.
This noble aspiration of the Pope as head of the global Catholic Church is cited nowhere in the offending Pastoral Letter of the hate-mongering Archbishop Christopher Ndlovu.
For God’s sake, why ignore the letter and spirit of the supreme Archbishop in the Vatican? If wars and strife can be wished away, how about a mere political uprising under the guise of an ill-fated mass demonstration?
To Catholics in Zimbabwe, you were part to the total rebuff to the call of an uprising on 31 July, you already showed your mettle of sound and mature political judgement.
Do not be fooled anew by the ill-advised call which says “The March has Not Ended”.
No No No! His Excellency President Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa will have none of that.
He will strive to dutifully protect the well-being and health of the people of Zimbabwe.
French ligue 1 outfit Olympique Lyon players yesterday joined their recently signed striker Tino Kadewere in mourning the loss of his brother Prince Kadewere by donning t-shirts inscribed “Rest in Heaven Prince Kadewere” during their warm up session in preparation for their clash against English giants Manchester City.
Kadewere missed the match after flying to Zimbabwe to attend the funeral.
The move attracted a lot of positive comments from Zimbabweans who showed support to the club for showing sportsmanship.
Lyon eventually overpowered an expensively assembled Manchester City to book a place in the semi final where they will now face Germany giants Bayern Munich.
Barcelona defender Samuel Umtiti has tested positive for coronavirus his club has confirmed adding that the player is asymptomatic, is in good health and is isolating at home.
The Frenchman was not with the rest of the squad for their Champions League quarter-final defeat to Bayern Munich.
He tested positive at Barcelona’s training ground on Thursday.
In a statement said:
After the PCR tests carried out on Thursday the first team player Samuel Umtiti has tested positive for Covid-19. The player is asymptomatic, is in good health and is isolating at home.
The club has informed the relevant sporting and health authorities as well as tracing all the people who have had contact with the player so that they can undergo the corresponding PCR tests.
Umtiti is the second player to test positive during the build-up to Barcelona’s 8-2 loss to Bayern Munich , both players who have tested positive did no travel to Lisbon.-Sky Sports
Which Way Forward For the Education System in Zimbabwe
15 August 2020
After the heroic resistance by progressive teacher-unions to the reopening of schools without due consideration of the health, safety and welfare of pupils and teachers, the government now seem to have adopted a wait and see approach over the issue of reopening of schools.
Rather than taking a pro-active role in preparing for reopening of schools, the government in general and Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education in particular, have taken a lackadaisical approach to the crucial issue of opening of schools.
As Ptuz we have no regrets for the crucial and national role we played in resisting the reopening of schools. As much as we were blamed by some politicians and yellow unions, history has absolved us.
It is becoming more clearly that chances of opening schools this year are far fetched and remote. But even if schools are to open next year, there is a need for preparation towards that, let alone clarity over the 2020 academic year.
Our humble submission is that this is the time for the Ministry to make meaningful engagement with teacher unions in order to map an agreeable possible way forward. The health, safety and welfare of teachers and pupils remain crucial issues to be addressed before schools can open, yet nothing towards this is seriously considered by the government and line Ministry.
There are no clear plans to assist pupils other than homelitic bellicose and rhetoric of radio and television lessons. While the efficacy of such lessons is certainly undoubted, we wonder how this would become a reality in a country where 75 to 80 percent of areas have no television and radio frequencies.
Our sober reflection is that
the country cannot afford to cancel the 2020 academic year even if schools open in January next year. Rather, pupils must be given an opportunity to learn for two to three months before they can write end of 2020 academic year exams.
This can be followed by a 2021 academic year divided into two-three months learning terms and ensure that by end of 2021 we have rectified learning challenges emanating from COVID-19 related closure of schools.
Any other options could give permanent challenges to the education sector. There are those who argue for the cancellation of 2020 academic year.
This would entail that there would be too many students for ECD and grade 1 classes in 2021 as the current pupils would be joined by other pupils in 2021 thereby posing infrastructural challenges. Such students will create permanent challenges every year, and after Grade 7, will create challenges associated with form 1 enrolment.
It is our hope that the govt will learn from history and avoid the challenges faced during the early 1970s when both standard 5 and standard 6 were integrated and allowed to write end of primary education examinations without creating room for expansion and absorption of such pupils for form 1. Consequently, several pupils found themselves out of school.
It is also worrisome that the government is silent about the recently generated discrepancies between teachers’ salaries and other sectors in government.
With a salary ranging from $3800 to $4200 (inclusive of allowances) all teachers have tested positive to poverty and are always scavenging for food.
It is callous for government to ignore the plight of teachers at a time it is pampering other sectors with less qualifications, years of experience and responsibilities with salaries that are 5 times that of teachers.
Government need to invest in quality public education and restore the purchasing power parity of the salary of teachers that was pegged at US$550 in October 2018.
Anything less than this is unacceptable, degrading and monumental labour injustice.
We have noted with concern how the government has used the moribund Apex Council for firefighting, romance and pulling cotton on the eyes of teachers. We, therefore, urge the government to do the most honourable thing by paying teachers US$550 that government unilaterally culled without teachers’ consent. Only well paid and motivated teachers living in safe environment can be dynamic and innovative even during covid-19 pandemic and find acceptable and safe ways to assist their pupils.
To all teachers, the time to unite and fight for an improvement of salaries and conditions of service is now. The time to see that Apex Council is a liability rather than an asset is now. This is a struggle that need everyone, male and female, tall and short, head and simple teacher. We either have to unite as professionals or else we will perish as fools.
By and large, the current parlous state of the education system is unenviable. Indeed, it is the so-called new dispensation that has allowed the education system to degenerate into the terminal ward. The officials in the Ministry of education lack the vision and power to drive the education system to greater heights particularly during the covid-19 pandemic. The government is indifferent and urinating upon teachers and telling them it’s raining.
Extraordinary times call for extraordinary solutions. As managers of the world’s greatest asset, viz, students, we implore the government to plan for a robust improvement of the education system and pay educators well. Failure to plan is planning to fail.
We will not stand idle by to witness cold and calculated educational vandalism. The time to plan for a credible education system is now.
The time to pay teachers well is now. Teachers are workers too and must never be treated as second class citizens of Zimbabwe. We are in essence a vital cog of societal and national development and deserve best treatment by the state in order to engineer a skills revolution and benchmarks towards Agenda 2030.
Farai Dziva|President Nelson Chamisa has denounced the persecution of ordinary Zimbabweans by Emmerson Mnangagwa’s “paranoid” administration.
The MDC Alliance leader, quoted by NewsDay bemoaned the deepening political crisis in the country.
“We are uncompromising, principled and relentless for real change. As a people, we have seen the worst of our times but we are getting over it soon.
We are focused and on course. We have seen the worst because our people are homeless, no opportunities, no food, no business; politics is at its worst with extreme and advance human rights abuses.
Children are dying in hospitals, curable diseases are killing people.
People are being beaten up every day and I am receiving reports that people are being pursued as if they are common criminals.
There cannot be a free Zimbabwe when people can’t walk free, having State agents breaking into their homes. It cannot be a free Zimbabwe when belonging to an alternative party attracts detention and arrest.”
President Chamisa also accused Zanu PF of attempting to annihilate genuine opposition.
“They have been fighting us as the MDC Alliance. They are trying to take away the people’s party and its name, the people’s headquarters, the MPs, financial resources allocated to us on account of the voters.
Anything they see they are taking away. They want to take everything, but Zimbabwean lives matter. We are the way to the future, the only. It is not as if we don’t know what we are doing.
What we don’t want is to play a game with predetermined results. We don’t want a question with a predetermined answer.
No one fights a weak opponent. They are resorting to hair raising terror against citizens,” President Chamisa told the publication.
The struggle in Zimbabwe, between those who think they have arrived and those on the march, has resulted in a multi-layered crisis of the convergence of economic collapse, deepening poverty, food insecurity, corruption and human rights abuses among other crises in urgent need of resolution
The call for demonstrations is the expression of growing frustration and aggravation caused by the conditions that the majority of Zimbabweans themselves are in. Suppression of people’s anger can only serve to deepen the crisis and take the nation into deeper crisis.
The voices of various governments, the European Union, the African Union and the United Nations on the desperate situation in Zimbabwe have not only confirmed the seriousness of human rights breaches by government agents but the need to rally behind #ZimbabweanLivesMatter.
Their failure to make broad consultations with the church and civic society at this most tempestuous time was most regrettable. Was this not an opportunity missed.
In the meantime, some of our people continue to live in hideouts, with some incarcerated, while others are on the run. Fear runs down the spine of many of our people today.
The crackdown on dissent is unprecedented. Is this the Zimbabwe we want? To have a different opinion does not mean to be an enemy,
It is precisely from the contrast of opinions that the light comes.
Our government automatically labels anyone thinking differently as an enemy of the country: That is an abuse. We want our politics to build a united nation and not to divide us, turning the military who ought to continue the memory of the late heroes against the people who fed them and clothed them and who gathered intelligence at great risk and saved many of our fighters from peril.
As your bishops, we feel that this described situation is true of Zimbabwe. It feels as though the poor have no one to defend them. They don’t seem to feature on the national agenda. Their cries for an improved health system go unheeded.
Their plea for a transport system that meets their transport blues are met with promises and more promises and no action.
The only time we see real action is when our leaders are jostling for power.
The clerics said while some fellow African countries were strengthening their democratic institutions, Zimbabwe was busy weakening
Refusal to listen to the people has led us to where we are today.-Catholic Bishops
Farai Dziva| The reasons why Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa abruptly fired Fortune Chasi, have been revealed following a ZimEye leak in November last year.
1/2- Dear Editor. Some info about Sydney Gata's recent appointment as ZESA boss. ED and Sydney Gata married the Mayahle sisters of Chipinge. Gata left Ntombana Regina Mugabe for Angeline and ED married Molline…
On the 21st November 2019, ZimEye revealed that the then ZESA boss Sydney Gata and Mnangagwa are close relatives.
“ED and Sydney Gata married the Mayahle sisters of Chipinge. Gata left Ntombana Regina Mugabe for Angeline and ED married Molline,” part of the leak read.
The leak has since been developed by the exiled Prof Jonathan Moyo who says Chasi was sacked for attempting to reverse a deal that was fraudulently crafted by SB Moyo and Mnangagwa to loot State cash.
Mnangagwa and (foreign affairs minister) Sibusiso Moyo allegedly stole USD $ 1,2 disguised as a state loan from SOTIC International.
See Prof Moyo’s argument :
In May 2019 Mnangagwa & SB Moyo stole USD 1,2 billion disguised as a State loan from SOTIC INTERNATIONAL, fronted by Kuda Tagwirei. The theft was structured by SB, using NOIC assets as mortgage. Chasi found out, tried to reverse it & got fired yesterday.
So, @fortunechasi
was fired not because of #Zesa affairs but because his conduct in investigating & seeking to cancel the USD 1,2 billion SOTIC deal at NOIC is INCOMPATIBLE with Mnangagwa’s EXPECTATIONS as a beneficiary of the SOTIC deal along with SB Moyo & Kuda Tagwirei!
Criminally, the SOTIC USD 1,2 billion was structured by
@MinisterSBMoyo
, who got USD 12 million for “structuring it”; and it was sent to #NOIC after it had already been approved by
@edmnangagwa
,
@FinanceZim and
@ReserveBankZIM
; with USD 1,2 billion paid to PRIVATE ACCOUNTS!
Either bravely or naively, after his investigation,
@fortunechasi
sought an alternative to the SOTIC deal & negotiated it with GLENCORE. But no alternative was possible to implement; without costing SOTIC its USD 12 million a month or refunding the USD 1,2 billion advance!
Without having been briefed on the SOTIC Agreement & thus unaware of its architects & its beneficiaries,
@fortunechasi
got the deal investigated.
Chasi’s investigation found that the deal was comprehensively & shockingly detrimental to the national interest on every score!
When Chasi became Energy Minister, the USD 1,2 billion advance payment had been paid, all NOIC assets had been mortgaged as collateral for the advance payment, SOTIC was running NOIC & demanding only forex for the fuel; thus making it unaffordable to the majority of locals!
Farai Dziva|President Nelson Chamisa on Friday sent a powerful MDC Alliance delegation to Masvingo in solidarity with the party’s jailed Youth Assembly Organizer and ward 4, Masvingo Urban councillor Godfrey Kurauone.
Kurauone is accused of plotting to overthrow Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government.
See full statement :
15 August 2020
By Wezhira Munya
On Friday, the caring MDC Alliance President Nelson Chamisa sent a high -powered delegation to Masvingo Urban to give solidarity to councillor Godfrey Kuraone who is in remand prison.
The MDC Alliance delegation comprised MDC Alliance main wing National Secretary of Welfare leader Maureen Kademaunga, MDC Alliance National youth Secretary for Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, Advocate Agency Gumbo, Chiredzi councillor
Gilbet Mtubuki who is also National Youth Secretary for Lands and Agriculture and leader Desmond who is the national director in the MDC Alliance Social welfare Department.
The delegation came from Harare yesterday.
At the Masvingo Magistrate Court, Masvingo Remand Prison officers only allowed Advocate Agency Gumbo to talk to Kuraone.
Kurauone was in leg chains and handcuffs when he appeared at the Magistrate Court for routine remand.
Councillor Kuraone will be back in court on the 18 August 2020 for the trial date for the second case he is alleged to have committed on 31 July 2020, according to his lawyer, Advocate Martin Mureri.
Advocate Martin Mureri said: “I have requested the prosecutor to set the trial date for the first case on the 25th of August 2020.
This means, MDC Alliance National youth organiser Godfrey Kuraone will be in court on the 18th August 2020 and 25th August for trial.”
MDC Alliance Masvingo Urban Member of Parliament Honourable Jacob Nyokanhete also said :
“We continue to pray for our councillor and MDC Alliance youth leader Godfrey Kuraone’s freedom.”
After the court proceedings, the MDC Alliance national leaders visited Kuraone’s family at his house.
At Kurauone’s house, Advocate Agency Gumbo said:
“President Nelson Chamisa has sent us as a delegation to convey a special message to Councillor Kuraone and his family during this difficulty period.
I met councillor Kuraone and we discussed lot of issues. Councillor Godfrey Kuraone is our senior MDC Alliance National youth member and he deserves solidarity. We thank his parents, wife , children and relatives for their support.”
Leader Maureen Kadengaunga said: “National youth organiser Godfrey Kuraone is a warrior and he is fighting for our emancipation.
President Chamisa is proud of the hardwork our National Youth Organiser is doing.
As the Social Welfare Department we have agreed with advocate Martin Mureri to give councillor Kuraone jersey to wear.
Councillor Kuraone is not feeling well. He is having stomach and ear problems. His personal doctor will see him.
Advocate Mureri has submitted the medical records to Masvingo Remand Prison officials as per their request.”
MDC Alliance youth leader Mr Kingsley Sibanda said: “As the MDC Alliance Youth Assembly led by President Nelson Chamisa, we are encouraged by our fearless National youth organiser Godfrey Kuraone. His persecution by state is strengthening us as Masvingo MDC Alliance Youth Assembly members.”
The following MDC Alliance members also attended the prayer meeting :Ms Lee Mahachi, Mr Chitando, Mrs Boroma, Mrs Magomo, Mai Hazel, Mr Murinye, Mr Mabena, Mrs Sedeya, Mr Wakura among others…
MDC Alliance Masvingo City Councillor Godfrey Kurauone
Farai Dziva|President Nelson Chamisa on Friday sent a powerful MDC Alliance delegation to Masvingo in solidarity with the party’s jailed Youth Assembly Organizer and ward 4, Masvingo Urban councillor Godfrey Kurauone.
Kurauone is accused of plotting to overthrow Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government.
See full statement :
15 August 2020
By Wezhira Munya
On Friday, the caring MDC Alliance President Nelson Chamisa sent a high -powered delegation to Masvingo Urban to give solidarity to councillor Godfrey Kuraone who is in remand prison.
The MDC Alliance delegation comprised MDC Alliance main wing National Secretary of Welfare leader Maureen Kademaunga, MDC Alliance National youth Secretary for Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, Advocate Agency Gumbo, Chiredzi councillor
Gilbet Mtubuki who is also National Youth Secretary for Lands and Agriculture and leader Desmond who is the national director in the MDC Alliance Social welfare Department.
The delegation came from Harare yesterday.
At the Masvingo Magistrate Court, Masvingo Remand Prison officers only allowed Advocate Agency Gumbo to talk to Kuraone.
Kurauone was in leg chains and handcuffs when he appeared at the Magistrate Court for routine remand.
Councillor Kuraone will be back in court on the 18 August 2020 for the trial date for the second case he is alleged to have committed on 31 July 2020, according to his lawyer, Advocate Martin Mureri.
Advocate Martin Mureri said: “I have requested the prosecutor to set the trial date for the first case on the 25th of August 2020.
This means, MDC Alliance National youth organiser Godfrey Kuraone will be in court on the 18th August 2020 and 25th August for trial.”
MDC Alliance Masvingo Urban Member of Parliament Honourable Jacob Nyokanhete also said :
“We continue to pray for our councillor and MDC Alliance youth leader Godfrey Kuraone’s freedom.”
After the court proceedings, the MDC Alliance national leaders visited Kuraone’s family at his house.
At Kurauone’s house, Advocate Agency Gumbo said:
“President Nelson Chamisa has sent us as a delegation to convey a special message to Councillor Kuraone and his family during this difficulty period.
I met councillor Kuraone and we discussed lot of issues. Councillor Godfrey Kuraone is our senior MDC Alliance National youth member and he deserves solidarity. We thank his parents, wife , children and relatives for their support.”
Leader Maureen Kadengaunga said: “National youth organiser Godfrey Kuraone is a warrior and he is fighting for our emancipation.
President Chamisa is proud of the hardwork our National Youth Organiser is doing.
As the Social Welfare Department we have agreed with advocate Martin Mureri to give councillor Kuraone jersey to wear.
Councillor Kuraone is not feeling well. He is having stomach and ear problems. His personal doctor will see him.
Advocate Mureri has submitted the medical records to Masvingo Remand Prison officials as per their request.”
MDC Alliance youth leader Mr Kingsley Sibanda said: “As the MDC Alliance Youth Assembly led by President Nelson Chamisa, we are encouraged by our fearless National youth organiser Godfrey Kuraone. His persecution by state is strengthening us as Masvingo MDC Alliance Youth Assembly members.”
The following MDC Alliance members also attended the prayer meeting :Ms Lee Mahachi, Mr Chitando, Mrs Boroma, Mrs Magomo, Mai Hazel, Mr Murinye, Mr Mabena, Mrs Sedeya, Mr Wakura among others…
MDC-T led by Dr Thokozani Khupe has recommended the recalling of five Bulawayo councillors as the party continues to weed out officials who are failing to respect its leadership.
The party has been axing members who refuse to recognise the Supreme Court judgement declaring Dr Khupe as the interim leader of the party. Supreme Court judge Justice Bharat Patel, sitting with Justices Paddington Garwe and Antonia Guvava, in April ruled that Mr Nelson Chamisa is not the legitimate MDC leader in terms of the party’s constitution and subsequently ordered the convening of an extra-ordinary congress to elect a new president. The decision by the superior court settled the acrimonious MDC leadership wrangle pitting Mr Chamisa and Dr Khupe.
MDC-T Bulawayo provincial secretary Ms Nomvula Mguni has since written to Dr Khupe and party secretary-general, Mr Douglas Mwonzora requesting the recalling of the five, noting that they had been expelled from the party after they supported another political party which was against the MDC-T’s constitution.
The affected councillors are former Deputy Mayor, Tinashe Kambarami (Ward Three) who is already barred from office pending the outcome of a Supreme Court appeal on his legitimacy to be a councillor, Concillia Mlalazi (Ward 18), Alderman Earnest Rafamoyo (Ward 20), Councillor Tinevimbo Maphosa (Ward 21) and Ald Norman Hlabani (Ward 26).
Bulawayo will be the second local authority in which the party has recalled councillors after Harare.
“The Bulawayo Province has decided to recall the councillors guided by the party’s constitution which states that every member shall have the duty to accept and conform to the constitution, policies, principles, rules and regulations of the party. And also to conduct oneself in a manner which is not prejudicial to the interests of the party and in particular to adhere to the code of conduct of the party, to observe discipline, not engage in any form of violence, to behave honestly and carry out loyal decisions of the party,” reads part of the letter.
Ms Mguni further notes that the five councillors had rendered themselves expelled from the MDC-T after they pleaded allegiance to and joined another political party — the MDC-Alliance. Confirming the developments, Ms Mguni said she was communicating a decision that had been reached by the party’s provincial executive.
“As the party’s provincial secretary, it is my duty to communicate such decisions to the national leadership for implementation,” said Ms Mguni.
Dr Khupe is due to convene an extraordinary congress to elect the substantive leader of the MDC-T following the death of Morgan Tsvangirai in 2018. So far, she has recalled 21 parliamentarians, with her axe swinging above the heads of legislators who are refusing to accept the Supreme Court ruling that made her the interim president of the MDC-T. -Sunday News
INFORMATION, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Monica Mutsvangwa has come out guns blazing against the Zimbabwe Catholic Bishops Conference (ZCBC), describing the bishops as genocidal and evil-minded for publishing a Pastoral Letter that incites the public and makes unsubstantiated allegations against Government.
The controversial Pastoral Letter, which was signed by ZCBC president Archbishop Charles Ndlovu, Archbishop Alex Thomas (ZCBC deputy president), and bishops Paul Horan (ZCBC secretary and treasurer), Michael Bhasera (Masvingo), Albert Serrano (Hwange), Rudolf Nyandoro (Gokwe) and Raymond Mupandasekwa (Chinhoyi), was published on Friday and is ridden with political undercurrents.
In the letter, the bishops accuse the Government of human rights violations, while repeating fatigued and unproven allegations against President Mnangagwa’s administration. The letter also appears to incite Catholics and other peace-loving Zimbabweans to overthrow the Government, as it makes reference to a famous statement by the late American politician and civil rights leader John Robert Lewis “that the march is not over”, in what appears to be a reference to the failed 31 July protests. In a hard-hitting address at her offices in Harare yesterday, Minister Mutsvangwa said the Pastoral Letter seeks to sow seeds of war.
“The Government of Zimbabwe calls upon the Catholic congregation to ignore the specious Pastoral Letter. Bishop Christopher Ndlovu is leading a coterie of Zimbabwe Catholic Bishops along the wrong path of bygone petty tribalism, narrow regionalism and the debunked and defeated racial antagonism. Its evil message reeks with all the vices that have perennially hobbled the progress of Africa. It trumpets petty tribal feuds and narrow regionalist agendas. That he (Archbishop Ndlovu) hopes to sow seeds of internecine strife as a prelude to civil war and national disintegration.”
Minister Mutsvangwa likened Archbishop Ndlovu to Rwandan bishop Athanase Seromba, the infamous Rwandese Catholic Archbishop who was tried and sentenced to life imprisonment by the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda for inciting genocide.
“Such was the horrendous and abominable conduct of the Rwanda Catholic Church that Pope Francis, the global head of the worldwide Catholic Church had to make a formal Papal visit to Kigali in 2017. The reason was to offer a contrite apology for the heinous crimes of the Rwanda Catholic Clergy. With nefarious cynicism to history, Archbishop Robert Christopher Ndlovu is inching to lead the Zimbabwe Catholic congregation into the darkest dungeons of Rwanda-type genocide.”
She castigated the bishops for relying on unsubstantiated claims against Government, noting that there is neither evidence nor named victims to back-up the claims of human rights abuses.
“The letter is full of generalised accusations. By way of contrast, the meticulous Catholic Peace and Justice Commission of the anti-colonial, anti-racist epoch collated, compiled and published dossiers of specific crimes committed by the colonial settler minority regime. The Archbishop and his flock of misled Catholic bishops have none of that diligence. Instead they wallow in generalised and baseless accusations. Absolutely no shred of reported evidence of so-called victims.”
In the letter the bishops attempted to stir up emotions and divisions by making reference to the Matabeleland disturbances of the 1980s. Minister Mutsvangwa castigated the bishops for attempting to abuse the disturbances for their own ends while ignoring the 1987 Unity Accord that brought an end to the period after the unification of Zanu and PF-Zapu to form Zanu-PF.
“He (Archbishop Ndlovu) wants to posit as the leader of the righteous Ndebele minority by fanning the psychosis of tribal victimisation. Concurrently, he sows sins of collective guilt on the Shona majority. That way he seeks to numb the spirit of collective national vigilance against the known and proven enemies of the populace of Zimbabwe. His transgressions acquire a geopolitical dimension as the chief priest of the agenda of regime change that is the hallmark of the post-imperial major Western powers for the last two decades.”
Addressing Zimbabweans directly, Minister Mutsvangwa said: “Fellow Zimbabweans, Gukurahundi is indeed a dark spot in the tortuous task of nation building by Zimbabwe. The two parties of that needless chapter of history need to be hailed for seeking peace and unity as they avoided the abyss that could have been a full-blown civil war. Happily, we ended up with the 1987 Unity Accord.” She also accused the bishops of having a warped view of history.
“The letter seeks the revival and continuation of the perennial vices of division. It has a selective and warp-sided reading of history. The errant and evil bishop has a nauseating mental amnesia of the blight of minority settler rule and its baggage of exploitative racism against the totality of the black majority of Zimbabwe. The levity of his mental amnesia is worsened by the fact that he tears off pages of the progressive crusade for justice and democracy that has hitherto been the shining virtue of the Catholic Church in Zimbabwe.”
Minister Mutsvangwa said the bishops chose to ignore risks posed by Covid-19 to incite people to demonstrate yet the World Health Organisation daily announces strictures to assist national Governments to fight and contain the pandemic.
“In the face of all that, our narrow-minded bishop pontificates against Covid-19 rules. Even when America, his much-admired paragon of democracy and justice is complying. Recently President Trump had to call off the National Convention of his Republican Party slated for Jacksonville, Florida,” she said. It was unfortunate that in the eyes of the “reckless Archbishop”, pride of place was accorded to the crusade against the governing and ruling party of Zimbabwe.
“The cause of national health in face of a pandemic is of no consequence. By calling people to march in the midst of the pandemic the bishop relishes the prospect of mass deaths. To him maybe that speeds up the ascent of the populace of Zimbabwe to their biblical judgement of heaven or hell. And behold, Pastoral Letter Bishops Conference of 14th August 2020 does not bother to invoke the repeated Papal calls for a global ceasefire in regions of war and strive.”
The minister said the Pastoral Letter goes against the Pope’s call on nations to concentrate effort and resources to the fight against global pandemic. Pope Francis recently implored the United Nations Security Council to pass a resolution 5 July 2020. “This noble aspiration of the Pope as head of the global Catholic Church is cited nowhere in the offending Pastoral Letter of the hate-mongering Archbishop Christopher Ndlovu. For God’s sake, why ignore the letter and spirit of the supreme Archbishop in the Vatican? If wars and strife can be wished away, how about a mere political uprising under the guise of an ill-fated mass demonstration?”
She said during the liberation struggle, Catholic bishops gained fame for protecting people’s rights unlike the ZCBC which is pushing political interests.
“Who can forget the venerable Bishop Lamont of Mutare and his brave defiance of the illegal and racist rule of Ian Smith and his 1965 Unilateral Declaration of Independence?
“How Bishop Lamont of the Carmelite Missionary Order in Zimbabwe went on to be a victim of a probably contrived car accident, his incarceration and eventual deportation. Yes, that brave man of the cloth could only return to Zimbabwe after 1980 in the wake of the victory of the National Liberation Movement.”
She challenged Zimbabweans not to be fooled by the call that “The march is not ended”.
“No No No! His Excellency President Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa will have none of that. He will strive to dutifully protect the well-being and health of the people of Zimbabwe,” she said. -Sunday Mail
VICE-President Dr Constantino Chiwenga has warned hospitals which are demanding Covid-19 clearance certificates from people seeking medical services as well as those capitalising on the global pandemic to charge exorbitant fees saying Government will soon take corrective action.
The turning away of patients without Covid-19 clearance certificates is reportedly happening across the country at both private and public hospitals.
A Covid-19 test certificate is beyond the reach of many as PCR test cost between US$20 and US$65 at private institutions while at public institutions it’s free for people identified during contact tracing.
VP Chiwenga, who was recently appointed Health and Child Care Minister, also promised a new era in the country’s healthcare system, saying there would be massive restructuring of the health sector.
The Vice-President was recently assigned an additional task of taking charge of the Health Ministry which is under the spotlight because of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The country had by Wednesday recorded 122 Covid-19 deaths and 4 893 confirmed cases.
The country’s situation has been worsened by nurses that are on strike demanding better salaries.
Speaking during a tour of Bulawayo Kraal Irrigation Scheme in Binga on Thursday, VP Chiwenga said health institutions should prioritise the protection of human lives.
“Government is aware of some hospitals which are turning away patients seeking medical help by demanding Covid-19 test certificates.
Some hospitals are also taking advantage of the pandemic to charge exorbitant fees and we are saying that should stop,” he said.
Dr Chiwenga said Government will soon demand an explanation from hospitals which have been turning away patients or charging exorbitant fees.
“No one has authority or right to turn away any person seeking help and we will be taking tough measures,” he said.
Dr Chiwenga said hospitals should not take advantage of the Covid-19 pandemic to profiteer at the expense of people’s lives.
VP Chiwenga said Government is also in the process of procuring more PPE and testing kits.
“Let’s work together, Government on its part is buying more equipment, PPE and PCR test kits,” he said-Chronicle
Three machete wielding robbers allegedly attacked four miners and fled with US$1 500 and property.
Matabeleland South provincial police spokesperson Chief Inspector Philisani Ndebele confirmed the incident which occurred on Friday at around 11pm at Myezi Village in Filabusi.
He said the three unknown suspects who were armed with machetes and a cross bar attacked the four complainants at their home before fleeing with US$1 500, $150, a solar panel, television set, gold detector and a cellphone.
“I can confirm that we recorded a robbery case which occurred in Myezi Village in Filabusi. Mr Laxon Moyo, Mr Thompson Sithole, Mr Lyton Moyo and Mr Mosisili Ncube were asleep at their home when the three suspects who were armed with machetes and a cross bar arrived.
“They forced open a door using the cross bar and gained entry. The trio assaulted the complainants using the weapons and demanded cash. They took US$1 500, $150, a solar panel, television set, gold detector and a cellphone before fleeing the scene. The matter was reported to the police,” he said.
Chief Insp Ndebele appealed to members of the public with information that could lead to the arrest of the suspects to contact the police. He urged people to take precautionary measures such as engaging security services when they knew that they have large sums of money or other valuables that could make them a target of robbers.
In another incident, a Gwanda man has been jailed 18 months after he broke into his neighbour’s house and stole property worth $23 280.
Israeli Ndlovu (24) of Makokwe Village in Guyu was convicted on his own plea of guilty to unlawful entry and theft by Gwanda magistrate, Miss Lerato Nyathi.
He was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment of which six months were suspended on condition that he does he commit a similar offence within the next five years. Prosecuting, Miss Faith Mutukwa said Ndlovu broke into Ms Doris Mlilo’s homestead where he stole property.
“On 13 July the accused person went to the complainant’s homestead while there was no one. He used an unknown object to open the door and gained entry into the house. While he was inside, he took property which includes groceries, clothing and electrical gadgets all valued at $23 280. The complainant discovered that her property had been stolen upon her return and reported the matter to the police. Investigations were conducted resulting in the arrest of the accused person and recovery of the property,” she said. -SUNDAY NEWS
Constantino Chiwenga Minister of Health and Child Care
VICE-President Dr Constantino Chiwenga has warned hospitals which are demanding Covid-19 clearance certificates from people seeking medical services as well as those capitalising on the global pandemic to charge exorbitant fees saying Government will soon take corrective action.
The turning away of patients without Covid-19 clearance certificates is reportedly happening across the country at both private and public hospitals.
A Covid-19 test certificate is beyond the reach of many as PCR test cost between US$20 and US$65 at private institutions while at public institutions it’s free for people identified during contact tracing.
VP Chiwenga, who was recently appointed Health and Child Care Minister, also promised a new era in the country’s healthcare system, saying there would be massive restructuring of the health sector.
The Vice-President was recently assigned an additional task of taking charge of the Health Ministry which is under the spotlight because of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The country had by Wednesday recorded 122 Covid-19 deaths and 4 893 confirmed cases.
The country’s situation has been worsened by nurses that are on strike demanding better salaries.
Speaking during a tour of Bulawayo Kraal Irrigation Scheme in Binga on Thursday, VP Chiwenga said health institutions should prioritise the protection of human lives.
“Government is aware of some hospitals which are turning away patients seeking medical help by demanding Covid-19 test certificates.
Some hospitals are also taking advantage of the pandemic to charge exorbitant fees and we are saying that should stop,” he said.
Dr Chiwenga said Government will soon demand an explanation from hospitals which have been turning away patients or charging exorbitant fees.
“No one has authority or right to turn away any person seeking help and we will be taking tough measures,” he said.
Dr Chiwenga said hospitals should not take advantage of the Covid-19 pandemic to profiteer at the expense of people’s lives.
VP Chiwenga said Government is also in the process of procuring more PPE and testing kits.
“Let’s work together, Government on its part is buying more equipment, PPE and PCR test kits,” he said-Chronicle
BY DR MASIMBA MAVAZA | The EFF leader Julius Malema was left with egg shells in his face after realising that he backed a dead horse. Malema did not do a fact finding inquiry before he issued puke on Zimbabwe.
Julius Malema did not read through the article by George Shire stating facts about Hopewell Chin’ono if he had read through it he would be retreating in his cuckoo.
George Shire in his article Simple Facts made perfect sense which Malema need to see. If one understands who is Hopewell Chin’ono then this whole issue will make sense.
Hopewell Rugoho-Chin’ono is a Harvard University-trained Zimbabwean journalist. He has won numerous awards in journalism and has worked in both print and broadcasting journalism. He is currently employed by the ITV.
Hopewell wrote an article against Robert Mugabe which made him a darling of the USA and became the USA government contact point on Zimbabwe. He embraced the YSA foreign policy on Zimbabwe and Chin’ono’s writings assisted the USA to make decisions on Zimbabwe. Hopewell’s rise to fame, which earned him accolades and his ‘made in the US’ point of self identification came about from writing crap about Robert Mugabe to the satisfaction of the Western gaze on Zimbabwe. The decisions to sanction Zimbabwe by the USA largely was based on the articles by Chin’ono. The label ‘international repute’ is about how hope made negative opinion that and nothing more. He is America”s reputed point of contact and his opinion on Zimbabwe and it leaders has been given more weight by the Americans. He is not A journalist who covers‘international news’ in the true meaning of ‘international’. He is an opinion writer but doing it for one particular country which is the USA. This is the reason why Hopewell is made an instant hero by America and the more reason why it is America which is pushing other countries to act against Zimbabwe. In other words Chin’ono manages to attract world class attention even if he is silent. George Shire made a very important observation when he said “Hopewell’s output is ‘Harare News’ and Harare is not Zimbabwe, the continent, let alone international. My political beef with him is with his enthusiasm for American foreign policy on Zimbabwe.”
Hopewell represents the colonial mindset and in his mind a Zimbabwean can never run a country. He sees nothing wrong with Pompeo’s idea of ‘reforms’ which would be tantamount to rewriting the Zimbabwean constitution and goes beyond the compensation of the developments white farmers made to the land, and wants to see all the land ‘returned’ to white farmers and to a land distribution map of the 1980’s. Chin”ono works to please his paymasters who wish him to advance the narative that the only solution to Zimbabwe’s problems is when the land is given back to the white men. That is simply unacceptable. When it comes to ZIDERA Chin’ono agreed with America and he celebrated the sanctions on Zimbabwe. Hopewell speaks from the same script as the USA and this has made him a darling of the States. He has worked against anything Zimbabwean for a long time. Regardless of his treasonous adventures he was not arrested for this. He then obviously got engaged with ITV as a cover up job yet he he was in a job on the American ticket. But these are not the reasons he has been arrested for. It is a straightforward lie that Hopewell is the only investigative journalist who stepped on anybody’s toes. Nor is he the only journalist journalist who has brought up cases of corruption.
It is very true that there are a lot of corruption cases in the country. To that end the Zimbabwean government has made public declarations of war against corruption. So Chin”ono is not the only journalist who has written about corruption. It should be known that all his disclosures were not the result of investigative journalism. Chin’ono was simply given the information. He fed them on his Twitter and thus did not write news on the corruption instead he simply sent a report of what he was told to his paymasters.
There are many journalists in Zimbabwe from hostile and friendly papers who have written about corruption and they have not been arrested or threatened. Hopewell Chin’ono has behaved like a demi god in that he accused many people without evidence. He has taken after his bosses in America who accuse everybody on earth except themselves. Chin’ono has been accused by many for smearing people without providing the evidence to back the claims he makes or giving those people the right of reply before his sensational so called whistleblowing. His style of destroying people’s characters reputations lives and credibility is not the reason of his arrest.
So the narrative which is being thrown around about Chinono is wrong. He is not being persecuted for exposing corruption. One can as himself since when did America become interested in corruption in Zimbabwe to such an extent that they put their weight towards exposing it. We need to look beyond the print.
After exposing the suspected corruption the government investigated and the law is taking its course. The truth of the matter is that Hopewell was given information about the PPEs by the senior Civil Servant who was having her fight with the minister of Health.
This played in the hands of Chin’ono and his paymasters. He then was connected to the investigators in Zimbabwe Anti Corruption Commission. These investigators have worked closely with the former minister of Information Jonathan Moyo. They have kept that closeness hence Jonathan Moyo was ahead of all current information in the Draxegate. Moyo then formed a stronger link with Chinono remember they had worked together before.
So Moyo and Chin’ono shared the notes thats why their Twitts were verbatim.
When Chin’ono realised that he has been taken seriously in his whistleblowing escapade he moved away from being an investigative journalist to a political activist.
There is nothing wrong for Chin’ono to front a course he believes in only that he is fronting a course which is not his. He is simply being an American agent. Still he was not arrested for that.
Chin’ono entangled himself in an illegality disguised as whistle blowing.
He incited people to come together and demonstrate against a government which was constitutionally elected.
Chin’ono originated a hush tag which says “ZANU PF MUST GO” that point he became a political activist. Then he goes on to encourage people to congregate against the COVID laws. This was a crime. After his arrest he refused to give a promise that he will not break the law until the case is over. He could not give that assurance and the court had no choice but to keep him safe in the holding cells. This was for his own safety and the safety of the nation.
George Shire observed in his article that “His electronic fingerprints were all over the place in self styling himself as agent provocateur and allowed his public persona to be seen as somebody inciting others to commit violence. That is why he is in trouble.”
This is confirmed by the High Court in the bail ruling.
The message in the twitter is a deliberate misinformation and it is being crafted by Jonathan Moyo who is a sworn Munangagwa enemy. His reasons for spreading falsewoods are clear and must no be confused with human rights championing. Of all the people on earth Jonathan Moyo must not pretend to be a human rights activist. He has a grudge with Mnangagwa he hopes to settle.
While Chin’ono is singing for his super. So we have two eloquent writers experts in false wood one powered by a grudge and hate and the other powered by money. Then we have the blind followers in the background and a powerful nation which has been scheming a revenge on a little nation. How do you expect Zimbabwe to succeed. The only weapon which will assist Zimbabwe is the People themselves.
Surprisingly Chin’ono’s social media fan base has resorted to targeting those that are critical of Hopewell’s practice with hateful, abusive and threatening posts which ain’t kosher. Some noble journalists have been compromised and are refusing to see the truth from all this smoke screen.
There is no abuse at all in Zimbabwe. If you know any critics of Zimbabwean government who have been abducted as opposed to being arrested please tell us who they are. If you know anybody who has ‘disappeared’ and never to be seen again since Mnangagwa came to power, please let us know. The reality is since the advent of the second republic Zimbabwe is not drifting towards an authoritarian coercive pole. What this government faces are it’s midterm blues compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic, project regime change 2 and ‘sleepers’ of the US hell bent on generating dissent in the country. Pompeo, Donald Trump’s hard man the US Secretary of State is quoted in Bloomberg advocating for an uprising in Zimbabwe. He boldly says nothing short of returning the land to the whites will make Zimbabwe governable.
America has declared without shame that they will not rest until Zimbabwe returns the land to the former colonisers. The most painful thing is that most Zimbabweans especially in Diaspora have joined the chorus against their mother land. Zimbabwe’s political crisis is very evident in the social media.
It is Zimbabweans who are demonising their own nation.
Zimbabwe’s economy is not doing great but this is not corrected by the back biting and selling out of the nation. Zimbabwe is the only country we can call ours in the whole world. We need to stand up and protect and defend our sovereignty.
Yes we have bad aples in the government. There are corrupt people in the government but corruption is not solved on Twitter.
The talk of illegality is a fuss. The opposition took their illegitimacy to the highest court in the land. Mnangagwa was the people’s choice and the courts’ reason. Any illegitimacy was solved and settled by court.
Zimbabwean problems can only be solved by Zimbabweans not by AU not USA not by Botswana or EEF.
Journalists must learn to be responsible in their reporting they must not be swayed by the wind of revenge being blown by Jonathan Moyo.
Zimbabwean government must grow up and remove the weeds in the fields.
The former dear President Mugabe was right when he cried that “Zimbabwe will never be a Colony again.”
Farai Dziva|MDC Alliance leader, Advocate Nelson Chamisa has said there is no backsliding as far as the struggle is concerned.
President Chamisa said no form of intimidation would thwart the people’s struggle.
“We are uncompromising, principled and relentless for real change.
As a People we have seen the worst of our times but we are getting over it soon. We’re focused and on course.
True Change is imperative in Zimbabwe.People power triumphs.
Strategy is everything! Hatiitiswe tinoita tega!Tinosvika chete!
#freehopewell
#freeJacob
#ZimbabweanLivesMatter,” President Chamisa wrote on Twitter.
He added:”I thank all progressive voices in Africa &beyond for standing with the people of Zimbabwe in this great hour of need.
Thank you former President Khama,@Julius_S_Malema,@MmusiMaimane,Dumelang Saleshando.Your voices amplify people’s voices. One Africa One pple! #ZimbabweLivesMatter”
Farai Dziva|MDC Alliance leader, Advocate Nelson Chamisa has said there is no backsliding as far as the struggle is concerned.
President Chamisa said no form of intimidation would thwart the people’s struggle.
“We are uncompromising, principled and relentless for real change.
As a People we have seen the worst of our times but we are getting over it soon. We’re focused and on course.
True Change is imperative in Zimbabwe.People power triumphs.
Strategy is everything! Hatiitiswe tinoita tega!Tinosvika chete!
#freehopewell
#freeJacob
#ZimbabweanLivesMatter,” President Chamisa wrote on Twitter.
He added:”I thank all progressive voices in Africa &beyond for standing with the people of Zimbabwe in this great hour of need.
Thank you former President Khama,@Julius_S_Malema,@MmusiMaimane,Dumelang Saleshando.Your voices amplify people’s voices. One Africa One pple! #ZimbabweLivesMatter”
ZIMBABWE’S Covid-19 death toll has risen to 128 from 122 with 97 more people testing positive, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 4 990 cases.
A total of six new deaths were reported in the last 24 hours, however, the Ministry of Health and Child care did not disclose in its latest report, if they were at facility level or community deaths.
Manicaland Province recorded the most fatalities, with three people having succumbed to Covid-19 in the last 24 hours bringing the total number of deaths in the province to 13.
Bulawayo recorded one new death, bringing the total number of deaths in the province to 24.
The other two deaths were recorded in Mashonaland Central and Mashonaland West Provinces which recorded one case each.
According to the health ministry, all the 97 new Covid-19 cases are local transmissions.
Bulawayo recorded 11 new cases from 282 PCR tests conducted, bringing the total number of cases in the province to 1 161.
Mashonaland West province recorded the highest number of new cases, with 32 more people testing positive for the virus.
Harare recorded 28 new cases while the Midlands province recorded 17 new Covid-19 cases.
A total of 307 new recoveries were reported, bringing down the number of active cases to 2935.
“As of 12 August 2020, Zimbabwe has now recorded 4 990 cases and 128 deaths. 307 new recoveries were reported and active cases have gone down to 2 935,” read the ministry statement-Chronicle
THE messy tug-of-war between MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa and his MDC-T nemesis Thokozani Khupe has taken a new twist after it emerged the two will once again square off in the Supreme Court over the extension of Khupe’s leadership.
In March, the Supreme Court ruled that Nelson Chamisa was an illegitimate leader of the MDC, paving the way for Khupe to return as the interim leader of the party pending an extraordinary congress which was supposed to have been held by July 31.
The congress, however, failed to proceed due to the ongoing Covid-19-induced restrictions.
This effectively means Khupe’s mandate as interim president has expired.
As such, the MDC-T made an application at the Supreme Court on July 29 seeking an extension to Khupe’s current term and citing Chamisa as a respondent.
Chamisa, through his lawyer, Advocate Thabani Mpofu, notified the court of his intention to oppose the application.
MDC-T secretary general Douglas Mwonzora confirmed the development in a recent interview with the Zimbabwe Independent saying lawyers from both sides have since met and deliberated on the issue.
He said Chamisa’s legal team has been given time to prepare their papers.
“We were supposed to have held our extraordinary congress on July 31 but we were stopped by the health officials and police because of the Covid-19 restrictions,” Mwonzora said.
“We have therefore applied for an extension and the matter is going to be argued in the Supreme Court. So the lawyers met and agreed on certain timelines to manage the case. In other words, we have filed our application. The respondents were given time within which to respond because they indicated that they want to oppose the application.
“Chamisa wants to oppose the application and he is going to be given time to file his papers. We have no problem with that. The application was made two days before the expiry of the term of the interim president,” he said.
Mwonzora also said apart from Khupe, other office bearers were not affected.
“The mandates of other office bearers do not expire. They can only expire after the holding of the ordinary congress, not even the extraordinary congress because as you know, the extraordinary congress is for the election of a president and after that, that president will organise the ordinary congress to elect everyone. So the mandate continues until the holding of that congress.
“So my mandate for example doesn’t expire until the holding of a congress that chooses the secretary general,” he said.
Chamisa took over as MDC president in controversial circumstances in 2018 after he outwitted his then two co-vice-presidents, Khupe and Elias Mudzuri during a nasty fight which played out at a time when Tsvangirai was on his deathbed in South Africa.
The government on Saturday strongly rebuked Catholic Bishops who wrote a letter this week accusing government of human rights abuses.
Trading under the banner, The Zimbabwe Catholic Bishops Conference, the men of cloth become the latest actors to join the regime change agenda.
The Bishops based their accusations on the foiled July 31 street protests which were foiled by the government.
In a strongly worded statement, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Monica Mutsvangwa said the pastoral letter was misguided.
“As the Government of Zimbabwe we vehemently object to and strongly condemn the Pastoral letter of Archbishop Ndlovu and his coterie of Catholics Bishop prelates. Its evil message reeks with all the vices that have perennially hobbled the progress of Africa. It trumpets petty tribal feuds and narrow regionalist agendas so that it can sow seeds of internecine strife as a prelude to national disintegration,” she said.
Mutsvangwa likened Archbishop Ndlovu to Archbishop Arthanase Seromba of Rwanda who was regarded as a chief spiritual ideologist during the Rwanda genocide.
“The infamous Rwandese Catholic Archbishop would eventually be tried and sentenced to life imprisonment by the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda. Such was the horrendous and abominable conduct of the Rwanda Catholic Church that Pope Francis, the global head of the world-wide Catholic Church had to be obliged into a formal papal visit to Kigali and offer a contrite apology for the heinous crimes of the Rwanda Catholic Clergy.
“With nefarious cynicism to history, Archbishop Robert Christopher Ndlovu is inching to lead the Zimbabwe Catholic congregation into the darkest dungeons of Rwanda-type genocide. The letter seeks the revival and continuation of the perennial vices of division. It has a selective and warp-sided reading of history.”
She urged the Catholic congregation in Zimbabwe to ignore the pastoral letter, highlighting that it sought to turn the people against the government.
“Bishop Christopher Ndlovu is leading a coterie of Zimbabwe Catholic Bishops along the wrong path of bygone petty tribalism, narrow regionalism and the debunked and defeated racial antagonism.The letter is full of generalized accusations. By way of contrast, the meticulous Catholic Peace and Justice Commission of the anti-colonial, anti-racist epoch collated, compiled and published dossiers of specific crimes committed by the colonial settler minority regime.
“The Archbishop and his flock of misled Catholic Bishops have none of that diligence. Instead they wallow in generalized and baseless accusations. Absolutely no shred of reported evidence of the so-called victims,” she said.
New Ziana
A prolific prisons-authority source speaks to ZimEye making serious allegations of how the MDC founder Morgan Tsvangirai was poisoned. The TV whistleblower, Shepherd Yuda also speaks concerning an alleged plot to poison the jailed journalist, Hopewell Chin’ono.
A Zaka teacher, Livingstone Chipato will pay five heads of cattle after a traditional leader established that he was bedding with another teacher’s wife.
Chipato who is married teaches at Dabwa Primary while his mistress Rumbidzai Nemanhanga, who is also married, teaches at Mushungwa Primary and both schools are in Zaka.
Chipato vehemently denied the allegations at first but pleaded guilty after overwhelming evidence including confession by Nemanhanga were put before acting Chief Bota.
Kamurai Charuka who is acting Chief Bota confirmed the case and told The Mirror that he gave his verdict on Wednesday this week in the presence of a horde of relatives that accompanied Chipato to court.
The aggrieved husband Alec Makundidze is a teacher at Chimbwembwe Secondary.
Makundidze said he was no longer interested to talk about the case which was resolved at the chiefs court when The Mirror sought his comment. He also said there was no need for the issue to be published since it will reduce the moral standing of other individuals in the community. Chipato confessed ignorance about the case but later asked The Mirror reporter about the benefit of publishing peoples personal matters in newspapers. He urged the reporter to visit him for more information.
Sources said that the two adulterers had been in love for three months and they would see each other in the bushes along the Zaka – Jerera road. It is alleged that Chipato would buy groceries for Nemanhanga.
The matter came out after a tip-off to Makundidze who later went through his wife`s cell-phone and found text messages between the two lovebirds.
“I presided over the matter. Chipato initially denied the allegations but pleaded guilty due to overwhelming evidence. The court found Chipato guilty of adultery and ordered him to pay five beasts to Chipato.
“The wife apologised and co-operated with the court leading to the conviction of Chipato who came to the court with relatives,” said Chief Bota.
In a not so shocking move, ZANU PF has thrown its weight behind controversial business tycoon Kuda Tagwirei after he was slapped with sanctions by the United States government accusing Washington of making the decision out of sour grapes after the mogul beat an American company to the lucrative Dema emergency diesel power plant five years ago.
“Zanu PF and the world at large is at a loss to understand the geopolitical reasons motivating the Sole Global Super Power which the USA is; descending on a small country like Zimbabwe with a sledge hammer on the basis of falsehoods perpetrated by individuals and the 4 000 NGOs or so it has sponsored to peddle lies and fake news against the Zanu PF government and its national leadership,” Patrick Chinamasa, the Zanu PF acting spokesperson said in a statement.
PRESIDENT Cyril Ramaphosa has announced that the country will be moving to alert level 2 with bans on travel between provinces and the sale of alcohol and tobacco products being lifted.
The easing from level 3 is effective from Monday midnight.
The move follows a special cabinet meeting on Saturday afternoon. Throughout the week, cabinet received advice from health experts who advised that the country has now managed to arrest rapid transmission of the Covid-19 virus and that health-care infrastructure would not be undermined.
On day 142 of the nationwide lockdown, which was announced in March, Ramaphosa has given the go-ahead for the sale of tobacco products which have been prohibited throughout the period, resulting in a number of legal challenges. Finance minister Tito Mboweni had publicly expressed his unhappiness with the move which has severely affected the country’s ability to collect revenue even as the economy tanks.
Another legal challenge has been around the prohibition of liquor in eateries which the government says will be allowed under level 2 with strict conditions.
Eateries may only serve alcohol on site until 10 pm while liquor stores can only trade from Monday to Thursday between 9 am and 5 pm.
Intra-provincial travel had been allowed as of two weeks ago. Ramaphosa announced that interprovincial travel will also be allowed along with social visits and gatherings — capped at 50 people.
A curfew will also remain in place between the hours of 10 pm and 4 am.
While domestic flights have been permitted since level 3, international travel remains restricted.
Ramaphosa has been conducting a series of consultations since Wednesday. These included big business and labour unions at Nedlac on Thursday as well as provincial and local government leaders earlier on Saturday.
The government is urging South Africans to continue with social distancing, mask-wearing and hand hygiene. It also wants those who can, to work from home.
In an extremely embarassing and very unusual circumstance, the Somali President, Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed has been caught on video exchanging blows with his DeputyPresident, Mahdi Mohamed Guled, during a press conference.
Foreign Affairs Minister, Sibusiso Moyo on Saturday strongly criticised the African Union Commission AUC on the statement the Union made during the week condemning Zimbabwe government’s human rights violations.
Responding to Mahamat, Moyo, said there was no crisis in Zimbabwe of a magnitude warranting the AU’s attention.
Even if there was, Moyo said, Mahamat could have used the rightful channels to convey his message.
“I write to express my surprise and concern over the statement issued in your name, on 7 August 2020, concerning the situation in Zimbabwe which appears to lend credence to the raft of erroneous and highly misleading reports circulating on a variety of social media platforms, deliberately placed so as to cause embarrassment to my country and its leadership,” Moyo wrote.
“Let me stress, at the outset, that there is no crisis in Zimbabwe neither are there any human rights violations as purported in your statement.
“The innuendoes and insinuations contained therein could have been avoided had AUC done some due diligence.
“While my country is not averse to justifiable or evidence based on criticism, the rules of natural justice and common courtesy demand that you hear the other side before making any conclusions.
“This did not happen in this case, notwithstanding the fact that H.E the President, myself and the Permanent Mission of Zimbabwe in Addis Ababa are always at your disposal to consult and clarify matters,”
“The principle of subsidiarity demands that the chairperson should have consulted with the sub-regional organisation SADC in order to clearly establish the true facts on the ground before such a statement was issued.
“I am sure SADC would have clarified matters and put the attacks against Zimbabwe in their true context,” Moyo wrote.
“The fact that the statement was issued shortly after a visit to AU Headquarters by the British Minister of Africa and reflects a disturbing alignment with the United Kingdom’s well-known negative perspective on Zimbabwe and London’s abiding antipathy towards Zanu PF,” he said.
I am breaching my own covenant I made never to critique Thokozani Khuphe in the public taking into consideration the trauma she had to endure at the funeral of Richard Morgen Tsvangirai funeral in Bhuhera I February 2018. I t is not only trauma, Thokozani Khuphe could have lost her life together with Douglas Mwonzorwa and their security details. These are hard and painful times to remember, at best we want to forget and move on.
But politics by its nature will force us to comment on issues in this country: Zimbabwe is dear to all those born in it. I followed the politics of Thokozani Khuphe and her MDC-T a bit closer when the supreme court ruling came out in her favour. Critiques from all corners of party divides appeared to lean on Thokozani as the victim of Chamisa’ tribalism and undemocratic tendencies that are obvious to some of us who come from Matabeleland. Nelson Chamisa outsmarted Thokozani Khuphe, the message was clear, no power to be given to a Ndebele and a female! For a tribalistic, misogynist MDC-Alliance party immersed with unsympathetic men in the higher echelons of power, they did not take it, what, female as head of MFC-T, they had to act. The rest is history.
For Thokozani Khuphe and Khaliphani Phugheni to celebrate the downfall of MDC-Alliance is the height of folly. Thokozani may not be the big brains in town, but Phugheni is a highly intelligent man, eloquently brilliant: it beggar’s belief, his inability to read the messages on the wall that very soon this Zanu regime will be no more. This Zanu government they openly support will be history soon. Zanu PF days as a government are numbered. Mnangagwa will leave the political arena in a painful way because the mood, the pain, the anger in the public domain is great. Can’t they see what is coming? We can feel it 7 thousand miles away from home that there is a bloody revolution coming. It is just a question of time, Zimbabwe will be ungovernable, implode in favour of the citizens. It is the citizens who will bring change in Zimbabwe.
In the event of a violent revolution in Zimbabwe, what will happen to Sis Thokozani? Where will she go? Please readers, allow me to tell you a story like the one I am talking about in this article. In 1989, I was a student in West Berlin when a revolution took place in Germany: The Berlin wall fell. I had lived in East Germany for 5 years and enjoyed the best education. I was trying to get to the University: Technical University of Berlin West Berlin, when I saw scores, masses of German people from the East, they crowded the West Berlin city collapsing the transportation system to a standstill. German peoples were shouting in jubilation: The Berlin wall has fallen. The Berlin wall has fallen! Der Mauer ist gefallen ohne Blutvergießen! The joy, the euphoria, elation, the jubilation mood was tangible!! That was thirty years ago.
To cut the story short because its long dear readers: I abandoned going to the University: on the way to my flat, on foot, I asked myself two questions because I was deeply concerned about the two: Where is Erick Honecker? Where is Margot his wife? The First Secretary Erick Honecker was the President of East Germany back then: he was the last President of the Socialist East Germany. Erick Honecker had visited Zambia in 1979 at the height of race war between Zapu/Zanu and the Rhodesia Front. He visited refugee camps devastated by Smith’s napalm bombings in Zambia. Douglas Smith regime bombed Zapu refugee camps indiscriminately disregarding even camps for civilians and women. Scholarships were given to students who left the camps soon after his Zambia visit. I was one of the recipient of a scholarship to study in East Germany. I was Erick Honecker’s immediate benevolence to ease congestion in civilian camps.
It will not be long, very soon I will find myself asking the same question I did in 1989 when the Berlin wall fell. My concerned questions this time around will be: Where is Thokozani Khuphe: where is Khaliphani Phugheni? Mnangagwa gave Khuphe a shaky and temporal political lifeline and she was not supposed to dwell on it for whatever reason. I would like to believe that the supreme court ruling was a calculated political move to destroy MDC-Alliance: I wonder why Khuphe would be full of it; accept a temporal political move that has no benefit on the general populace except herself and the rank and file of the MDC-T party.
Curiously, Thokozani does not realize if Mnangagwa was removed from power today, violently removed, it can equally harm her adversely. Khuphe and Phugheni are Ndebele people who should never salute Mnangagwa with “Excellency” tag. Khuphe and Phugheni are the Ndebele people who should instead work together with Chamisa and his MDC-Alliance it did not matter how false Chamisa is, Chamisa is better than Mnangagwa by any stretch of our own imagination. Thokozani Khuphe is telling all and sundry that there is no legitimacy issue in Zimbabwe. Really! How does she manage to go against the tide? There are serious legitimacy issues in Zimbabwe ever since the coup in 2017.
Phugheni and Khuphe are Ndebele politicians spitting on the graves and survivors of thousands of Gukurahundi victims: victims of farm invasions, victims of Murambatsvina, victims of 2008 general elections, victims of 2018 elections, victims of abductions and incarcerations of Hopewell Chinono and Gharivhume, victims of MDC-alliance young women Mamombe who were forced to drink urine and eat their faeces. To work so closely with a regime like Zanu PF is to tell all that politics is if her stomach is full! But that is not politics but civil service. I challenge Thoko and Phugheni to tell us which group of people are they are representing?
Thokozani Khuphe and Khaliphani Phugheni are on the wrong side of the pale. If the people did not vote for Khuphe presidency in the last general elections: she got a paltry 49,000 votes, what is she still doing in politics? Did the people, even from Matabeleland, not show her a middle finger in the 2018 general elections? What is going to happen to get Thokozani in power either than assisting a despotic regime: the enemy of Zimbabwe: Zanu PF and Mnangagwa to subjugate the general population further? Please Thoko wake up and smell the coffee. The people are angry out there. The people of Zimbabwe cannot breathe. How long are you going to be part of a failing regime; you are risking your lives going down with a despotic that has blood on its hands since independence.
Ask Jonathan Moyo and Saviour Kasukuwere how they managed to escape death after the coup in 2017: This will happen to you too and it will not be long. You may not be lucky as Jonathan because the people are angry, hungry, robbed of their rights to assemble and effect regime change. To continue to give statements that boosts Zanu PF regime and Mnangagwa is becoming tasteless. Both you and your spokesperson Phugheni come from this region still ravaged by genocide and marginalization. Your reference to Mnangagwa as “your excellency” is the worst insult we can endure. It is high time you told to stop it; it stinks to high heavens.
This very Mnangagwa called your relatives and countrymen and women cockroaches and ticks to be gamatoxed in 1983. Mnangagwa was butchering the people of your region where you come from. Mahatma Gandhi spoke about seven deadly sins: wealth without work, pleasure without conscience, science without humanity, knowledge without character, politics without principle, commerce without morality and worship without sacrifice. These seven deadly sins put you both Thokozani Khuphe and Khaliphani Phugheni into scrutiny and your political perspective. The the moral fabric of your immaturity in politics is put on the spotlight and is found wanting. To continue to ask you to examine your conscience is asking too much from you. Remember the people shall take what belong to them one day.
Allow me to finish my story about the First Secretary Erick Honecker and his wife Margot. After the fall of the famous Berlin Wall, Honecker and his wife fled to then Soviet Union for refuge. In the SU the situation was turbulent, Goberchew was transforming SU: Perestroika and Glasnost was the buzzword then. Erich was deported back from the Soviet Union to Germany to face crimes against humanity, was subsequently incarcerated: extremely ill person then suffering from advanced cancer. He was freed on humanitarian grounds, was permitted to join his wife who had fled to Santiago, Chile. Chile managed to give both a decent asylum because Sonja, his Stepdaughter was married to a Chilean husband. He died in Santiago Chile and his ashes were dispersed in Germany according to his wishes.
The moral of this story about the First Secretary Erich Honecker is to warn Sister Thokozani Khuphe that the end of time of despots like Mnangagwa is painful. The temporal glory you are dwelling on with Zanu PF will end faster than you think. You are on the wrong side of the pale. You have no future in a democratic Zimbabwe; the people openly rejected you at the polls in 2018. What politics are you doing if the electorate said no, pointing their middle finger at you?
Why did @edmnangagwa lie saying the place he's building a giant statue is where Nehanda used to drink water when it's the spot he killed Silvia Maphosa?
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa is addressing the nation on Saturday evening on the strategy to manage the spread of COVID-19.
The President’s address follows a meeting earlier this week of the National Coronavirus Command Council and meetings on Saturday of the President’s Coordinating Council and Cabinet.
Barcelona have ‘already decided’ on the future of Quique Setien with the coach likely to be axed after the team was humiliated by Bayern Munich in the Champions League.
The Spanish gaffer, 61, took over in January and guided the side to a trophyless season.
According to Barca president, a decision on Setien’s future could have been made before Friday’s result, and a formal announcement is expected in the coming days.
“There are some decisions that we had already made, and others that we will make over the next few days,” Bartomeu told Spanish television station Movistar Plus after the game.
“Announcements will be made from next week, we need to make decisions after things have calmed down. Today is a day for reflection. Tomorrow we will try to raise our fans’ spirits following such a heavy defeat.
“It was a devastating result. I congratulate Bayern, they played a great game and deserved to go to the semi-finals. We were not up to the occasion, and we can only apologize to the members and fans.”
The coach, however, offered no indication that he would resign in the immediate aftermath of the defeat.
“It’s too soon to think about whether or not I will continue,” Setien said. “It doesn’t depend on me. There needs to be a wider reflection, taking into account the situation and the importance of this defeat which is so painful.”-Soccer 24
Bayern Munich thrashed an out of sorts Barcelona 8-2 in a one sided UEFA Champions League quater-final clash on Friday.
The monumental clash lived up to its billing when Bayern took thr lead as early as the 4th minute, Thomas Muller’s left-footed strike beating Marc-Andre Ter Stegen.
Barcelona restored parity in bizarre circumstances 3 minutes later, David Alaba beat his own goalkeeper Manuel Neur in an attempt to clear Jodi Alba’s cross from the left frank.
The Bavarians restored their advantage in the 20th minute, a well-worked move was finished off by Croatian Ivan Pericic.
Serge Gnabry made it 3-1four minutes later, finishing off Muller’s chip with a half-volley as Hans -Dieter Flick’s men activated cruise control.
It went from bad to worse for Barca on the half hour mark, as Muller got his brace when he reacted quicker than Clement Lenglet to pounce on a Joshua Kimmich cross for the Bavarians’ 4th.
4-1 at the half time interval, with Bayern one foot in the semi-finals.
Luis Suarez restored some hope for Quique Setien’s men just after the restart; his brilliant strike making it 4-2.
It was soon to be goals galore for the German Bundesliga champions, as Kimmich and Robert Lewandowski got on the scoresheet; before Philippe Coutinho added to Barca’s misery with a late brace.-Soccer 24
