Zanu PF leaders are behaving as if they hold title deeds to a country called Zimbabwe and have in the process become some of the world’s most notorious abusers of human rights, veteran politician Dzikamai Mavhaire has said.

Addressing hundreds of mourners gathered at the burial of MDC founder member, Crispa Musoni in Nyazvidzi, Gutu on Sunday, Mavhaire said most Zanu PF leaders making noise about the liberation struggle were nowhere near the war and identified Deputy Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare, Senator Lovemore Matuke as a culprit.

Matuke is also Zanu PF secretary for security in the politburo.

“Zanu PF refuses people food, harasses, torments and vilifies those who criticise it. Some of its leaders speak like they came from Mozambique literally carrying the country called Zimbabwe on their heads (Saka kana vamwe vachingoita sevakadengezera nyika kuti tisu takauya nayo vatibetserevo nokuti Mwari unoziva. Kune vamwe vakauya madeko, vese vamunoona vanaMatuke vanga vasipo, hapana akanga ariko. Vabvunzei vanga vasiko, ini ndaiveko. Tisataurirwe zvinhu nevanhu vakanga vasiko. Asi Musoni waiveko!).

“They behave like they hold title deeds to the country and in the process they choose who to give welfare food and who not to give food. There is no one with a title deed to Zimbabwe. They label those who disagree with them as sellouts.

“Don’t be told lies. I was there, these noise makers were nowhere near the war. Matuke was nowhere near the war yet today he vets our heroes.

“Musoni who lies in that coffin was there before most of us. He brought food to Nkomo, Mugabe, Zvobgo, myself and many other politicians when we were in prison and he worked for the Red Cross. Therein lies a great unsung hero of both the liberation war and the democratic struggle of Zimbabwe.

“If you see your hero status being determined by a caucus of a few pretenders then you must know that there is something terribly wrong about it. God knows his heroes,” said Mavhaire to applause from the mourners.

Mavhaire said Zimbabweans are being cowards for allowing Zanu PF to refuse deserving people food aid. He said there is no Zanu PF politician who can claim that food aid is coming from his or her mother’s granary.

“Chikafu ichi hachibvi mudura ramai nhingi. The food aid distributed by Government comes from the tax payers’ money. It is your money and why should anyone refuse you food bought by your own money. Youth, where are you when all this is happening?

“As Zimbabweans we are being cowards for allowing this to happen,” said Mavhaire.

Musoni who was one of the founder members of the MDC in 1999 died at a private surgery at Nyika Growth Point in Bikita at 6pm on Friday. He was buried at his farm where MDC supporters from both Nelson Chamisa’s MDC Alliance and Khupe’s MDC T turned up in large numbers.

Prominent politicians present were Mavhaire from the MDC A, Masvingo Mayor Collen Maboke, former MPs Jeffryson Chitando, and Renson Makamure, Oliver Chirume, an emissary from MDC T bigwig Elias Mudzuri.

Musoni’s nephew and war veteran Kudakwashe Mubika fought hard to stop MDC from participating at the funeral but this was in vain as the vociferous party faithfuls would have none of that.

Apart from Mavhaire, Gutu North chairman Philip Mahachi also addressed the mourners.

— Mirror

Women in small-scale mining communities in Bindura, Mashonaland Central have ventured into pr0stitution for survival as the sector has been ravaged by the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Institute for Young Women`s Development representative Constance Mushayi confirmed many teen mothers in areas such as Foothill and Benridge have resorted to se_x work after they were excluded from government-run social safety net programmes.

“Women in small-scale artisanal mining communities are now engaging into se_x work due to Covid-19 induced poverty. The challenge is that we have more teen mothers who were relying on mining activities but due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the sector is under performing.

“The situation has been worsened by the fact that these teen mothers have been excluded from social safety net programmes by the government and they have remained vulnerable to economic woes,” said Mushayi during a virtual meeting convened by Green Governance Zimbabwe Trust (GGZT).

She implored the government to support the women with social safety nets as well as availing relevant information about Covid-19.

“Covid-19 has led to significant loss of income in areas such as Bindura because local business is supported by mining activities. The demolition of the flea markets has also worsened the plight of over 400 families who rely on selling their goods to miners,” said Mushayi.

Due to lack of transport and movement restrictions, she said, most local women have not been able to restock their businesses while those employed in mines have been told to go on forced leave.

“Mines have downsized due to Covid-19 pandemic. Artisanal mining is a major source of employment in Mashonaland Central with women constituting around 30 to 50% of the total workforce.

“Women have primarily been involved in crushing, sluicing, washing, panning, sieving, and sorting and in some occasions, actual mining. Women have been very active in the provision of goods and services at the mining for example food and drinks and sales of artisanal mining equipment such as sieves, flash lights to mention but a few,” Mushayi.

She added Covid-19 had also led to a surge in vices such as domestic violence, corruption and crime in areas such as Shava, Matepatepa and Mazowe.

-Online

ZANU PF Central Committee member Cde Justice Zvandasara is under investigation for allegedly purchasing land earmarked for the construction of party offices in Harare and leasing it to a local bank without permission from the ruling party.

Cde Zvandasara is suspected to have connived with four others to fraudulently buy and lease out 8 000 square meters that had been set aside for party offices in Pomona.

The property, known as Lot 55 Pomona Estate or 8 Campbell Road, Pomona was purchased by a private company, Pebney (Pvt) Ltd, from the City of Harare.

It is alleged that Cde Zvandasara and his accomplices Lameck Taruhwa, George Mashavave and two others purchased the property that was being used as district party offices by Zanu PF Borrowdale District since 1990.

It is understood the party had a right of first refusal over the property.

Cde Zvandasara allegedly went on to lease the land in question to CBZ Bank for US$26 000 which was paid into one Fungai Chiboora’s account.

The case was reported under CR 503/07/2020 — CCD DR55/07 with Cde Zvandasara and his accomplices now facing fraud charges.

National Police Spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the case, but could not give details.

“I can confirm that the matter was reported to police. We we will avail more information once investigations are complete. We are still on the ground doing the necessary enquiries,” he said.

Zanu PF Harare Provincial chairperson Cde Oliver Chidau said the matter was still to be formally brought to his attention.

“The matter is still being handled at district level. As a province, we are still to receive a report pertaining to the matter. I will give a response once I have been formally informed of the matter and we will also handle it from there,” he said.

-State Media

A junior police officer in Plumtree has been arrested for allegedly using social media to incite members of the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) and Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) to defy orders from their superiors to enforce lockdown regulations.

Levias Ngwenya (36), a police constable stationed at Plumtree Police Station allegedly wrote on his Facebook timeline, urging his colleagues in the security service sector to disregard Government directive by allowing people to engage in anti-Government protests.

He accused the Government of “bribing” police and soldiers by offering them a pay rise and US$75 Covid-19 risk allowances so that they descend on protestors.

Ngwenya appeared before Plumtree magistrate Tayengwa Chibanda facing charges of causing disaffection among members of the police force or defence forces as defined in section 30 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act.

He was released on $500 bail and remanded to July 28 for trial.

Ngwenya was ordered not to access his social media accounts and to continue residing at his given address until the matter is finalised. He was also ordered not to interfere with State witnesses as part of the bail conditions

Prosecuting, Ms Dorothy Kanengoni said on July 8 at about 2.58AM, Ngwenya posted on his Facebook page, alleging that soldiers and police were being used by the Zanu-PF-led Government to turn against the generality of impoverished Zimbabweans.

The post read: “Soldiers and police don’t be fooled and brainwashed with the money, which has little buying power. You should not allow Zanu-PF and Government to use you to attack your fellow brothers and sisters.”

“The reason why police officers and soldiers were given the money is to oil them so that they are able to descend heavily on impoverished civilians who are scheduled to demonstrate on July 31 as it is a divide and rule tactic,” wrote Ngwenya.

Ms Kanengoni said the message was aimed at inciting security forces to revolt against the Government.

“The accused person had no lawful right to induce other members of the ZRP and Zimbabwe Defence Forces to disregard Government directive,” she said.

The court heard that on August 9, Ngwenya using his Facebook account posted: “Zimbabwe police officers and ZNA must wake up and smell the coffee. It is time to embrace change not to fight our fellow citizens. Zanu-PF Government is using you for nothing.”

“What can you achieve with a paltry ZW$10 000 and useless Covid-19 risk allowance of US$75, which is not even accessible in banks. Wake up guys.”

Mr Bruce Masamvu who is being instructed by the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights is representing Ngwenya.

-State Media

George Guvamatanga, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development recently recovered from the killer Coronavirus.

He spoke to ZBC on Sunday reflecting his fight against the virus.

Watch the video downloading below:

Gokwe-Nembudziya and ZANU PF legislator Justice Mayor Wadyajena has said MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa’s political career will not thrive because of the people he associates with.

The ZANU PF politburo member claims that Chamisa is surrounded by a group of violent people, the Vanguard who are misleading him. He said:

https://twitter.com/JusticeMayorW/status/1295239636105797632?s=19

His outbursts appears to have started after he was attacked for commenting negatively on a post by Chamisa on spaghetti roads on Sunday.

https://twitter.com/JusticeMayorW/status/1295081389168250883?s=19

State Media

GOVERNMENT regulations restricting business hours to between 8am and 3pm to curb the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic are not in violation of the country’s laws, the High Court has ruled.

The ruling on Friday came after the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) challenged the legality of Statutory Instrument 174 of 2020 which compels businesses to close by 3pm.

The recent spike in confirmed coronavirus infections, prompted Government to impose a dusk-to-dawn curfew as part of a raft of measures to stop the spread of the lethal pandemic which has so far killed 132 people from 5 261 recorded cases.

Security forces are enforcing the curfew between 6pm and 6am while all non-working people are required to stay at home, except when they want to buy groceries or seek medical attention.

Only those providing essential services are allowed to work outside the stipulated hours.

Following the arrest of jpolitical activist Hopewell Chin’ono and opposition politician Jacob Ngarivhume, lawyers representing the duo, Ms Beatrice Mtetwa and Moses Nkomo — both instructed by the ZLHR — could not persuade a Harare magistrate to continue hearing bail applications beyond 3pm.

Court officials said they were adhering to Government regulations on business hours.

This prompted the ZLHR to rush to the High Court, challenging the regulations, arguing this was unconstitutionally disadvantaging arrested persons.

In its lawsuit, ZLHR listed the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) and National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), the Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs and the Minister of Health and Child Care as respondents.

They wanted Statutory Instrument 174 of 2020 not to limit the sitting of the magistrates’ court when dealing with initial bail applications and challenges to placement on remand.

But Justice Clement Phiri dismissed the application for interim relief sought, finding merit on the preliminary points raised by JSC lawyer Mr Addington Chinake of Kantor and Immerman.

Mr Chinake had argued that allegations against Chin’ono, Ngarivhume and Harare mayor Herbert Gomba mentioned in the ZLHR’s founding affidavit, were not properly before the High Court.

He said in the absence of any cogent and acceptable proof of the allegations made in the form of supporting affidavits, his client believed that the applicant’s case was speculative.

The allegations, he argued, were based on hearsay and conjecture and the JSC was of the view that the court could not grant the relief sought on the grounds of such speculative apprehension.

Mr Chinake also argued that the ZLHR’s seeking of a declaration of constitutional invalidity of the law on return date, was not proper at the interim stage.

After considering the preliminary points raised by Mr Chinake at the beginning of the legal proceedings, the judge found merit in the issues raised against the human rights lawyers.

“It is this court’s considered view that the applicant in this matter, has failed to take this court into its confidence and justify why this matter should be treated as urgent,” he said.

In that regard, ZLHR failed to prove a strong case that the regulations are unlawful hence the court was not in a firm position to grant the relief sought.

“Accordingly, the points in limine raised for and on behalf of the first respondent are upheld and the application for interim relief is hereby dismissed with costs,” said Justice Phiri.

In their urgent application, the ZLHR wanted an order compelling the respondents, in the interim, to put into place measures and facilities which ensure that the courts, when dealing with challenges to placement on remand and bail applications shall not be imperilled by the timelines set out under the Public Health (Covid-19 Prevention, Containment and Treatment) (National Lockdown Amendment) Order 2020.

ZLHR director Ms Roselyn Hanzi had argued in her affidavit that in practice, once a bail application or challenge to placement on remand had commenced, it was supposed to be heard to finality before the court adjourned for the day.

She said bail matters had previously been granted or refused well after hours and times well into the evening.

State Media

THE Zimbabwe Electoral Commission is proceeding to fill the proportional representation vacant seats which arose after the opposition MDC-T party recalled some of its parliamentarians because it is bound to do so under the law once it has been notified by the Speaker of the National Assembly or President of the Senate that a vacancy exist.

ZEC has made it clear that it has no discretion in the matter. Once informed of a vacancy, it must follow the Electoral Act in filling that vacancy, unless a court orders it do otherwise, which has not happened. ZEC does not decide whether a seat is vacant or not. The Act sets out how ZEC fills a proportional representation seat. For constituency seats, the President is also involved to set the nomination day and the date of the by-election.

In a statement, ZEC chief elections officer Mr Utoile Silaigwana said the move to fill the proportional representation seats was in terms of the law.

“The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) would like to inform the public that it is proceeding with filling in the proportional representation vacant seats which arose from recalls made by the MDC-T party in line with provisions of section 39 of the Electoral Act.

“Following concerns raised by some stakeholders and in the spirit of transparency, the Commission wishes to clarify the legal position on filling of proportional representation vacant seats,” said Mr Silaigwana.

“Section 39(4) of the Electoral Act states that upon being notified of a vacancy, the commission must without delay, notify the public of the vacancy by a notice in the Government Gazette.

The commission then invites the political party that had nominated the original member in writing to submit the name of a qualified person to fill the vacancy. That party must lodge with the commission a nomination paper in the prescribed form, countersigned by any two of the designated national office bearers of the party or by such other two office-bearers of the political party which the Commission is satisfied are duly authorised to make the required counter signatures.”

Mr Silaigwana said the import of the provision was to create a peremptory process by which such vacancies were filled.

“The commission has no discretion as to whether the process should or should not commence. Once notice is given and received by ZEC as prescribed in Section 39(3) of the Electoral Act, the processes stipulated in Sections 39(4) to 39(8) must be initiated and carried out, lest ZEC be in breach of law.

“In simple terms, ZEC is bound to follow the provisions of the Electoral Act unless a court order expressly enjoins it to refrain from doing so. The commission has received no such order from the court and must thus pursue its mandate as per the dictates of the law,” he said.

It was important to note that the commission was not an arbiter of who may or may not recall a member of Parliament.

“It merely facilitates the filling of the resultant vacancy in the confidence that Parliament has conformed to its governing procedures and to the law in notifying it of the vacancies. If there is an objection to the creation of the vacancy itself, the remedy for that lies not in an attack on the performance of peremptory statutory functions by the commission, but elsewhere.”

Mr Silaigwana went on to say ZEC’s stance on filling proportional representation seats had been taken, noting that the process of filling these seats did not pose a threat to public health nor would it violate regulations put in place by Government to curb the spread of Covid-19.

“All other electoral activities which involve gathering of people with the potential to fuel the spread of Covid-19, however, remain suspended.

“This position will remain in place until the operationalisation of the ZEC Covid-19 policy on elections which sets out measures on conducting elections without causing a danger to public health.”

The High Court on Friday dismissed an urgent bid by 14 legislators to stop MDC-T from replacing them in Parliament following their recall.

MDC Alliance Vice President Professor Welshman Ncube has expressed shock at the way government responded to the Catholic Bishops Conference call for a better life for Zimbabweans.

In Tweet on Sunday,  Professor Ncube said no goverment in this day and age can ever be expected to speak the way Information Minister Monica Mutsvangwa spoke in an official government statement on Saturday.

Below is professor Ncube’s tweet.

I have read & reread the government of Zimbabwe's response to the Catholic Bishops' pastoral letter & remain beyond shock that there is a government on earth in the 21st century that can release this kind of hurtful drivel as an official government statement. God help us!

— Prof. Welshman Ncube (@Welshman_Ncube) August 16, 2020

The ruling ZANU PF party continues with its unprecedented attack on the Zimbabwe Catholic Bishops Conference calling them all possible names, this after the bishops penned an honest letter to goverment demanding for the betterment of the lives of Zimbabweans.

Information Minister Monica Mutsvangwa beat them all when she wrote a goverment statement on Saturday calling the men of the cloth evil and deserving to be killed in a genocide.

Another ZANU PF stalwart, Masvingo based businessman who lost the party primary elections for the Chivi North constituency in the last elections, Collen Mharadzano has also come into the fray saying the bishops are drunkards and sex perverts not deserving to speak to issues affecting the country.

Speaking from Mutsvangwa’s dictionary, Mharadzo is quoted in a state media publication picking on Archbishop Ndlovu the leader of the conference saying that “history will record him and his acolytes as accomplishes to the country’s detractors.”

“This is an unfortunate tag on people who are entrusted with nourishing souls of the believers.

“Instead of Archbishop Ndlovu being at the forefront of sowing seeds of peace and eternal coalescing of diverse tribes,race and creed which constitute our beautiful nations.”

Mharadzano said his sentiments betray the fundamentals which the Christian faith is built upon.

“It is a religion predicated upon the love and forgiveness which the Lord Jesus Christ embodies.

“Therefore Archbishop Ndlovu and his accomplices are betraying, abusing the faith and trust which the multitudes of congregants have entrusted upon through spearheading hate, pandemonium and division amongst their flock and indeed the nation of Zimbabwe,” he said.

In addition, Mharadzano said, the Catholic bishops must also be reminded that they are not sacred.

“No, some of them are known drunkards and some are even alleged to be sexually perverts, hence they should limit themselves to the role of nourishing souls, a role which they have to date failed dismally.”

Their association with the American establishment, he said, depicts them as latter day Judas Iscariots was America’s foreign Policy on Zimbabwe is at crossroads with the national aspirations defined by the indigenous’ ownership of their land.

Source: State Media

Former MDC Stalwart Obert Gutu has joined ZANU PF in heavily blasting the Zimbabwe Catholic Bishops Conference over an open letter demanding for government to better the lives of ordinary Zimbabweans.

In a state media publication on Monday, Gutu said although there is a fine line between evangelism and political activism, the pastoral letter bellies the fact that the country’s detractors have roped in men and women in cloth to perpetuate their evil machinations.

“There is always a serious conflict when men and women of the cloth decide to push a partisan political agenda whilst they still claim to be apolitical. Of course, one can argue that you can’t completely separate religion from politics but then, sometimes there’s always a very fine distinction between evangelism and political activism. The pastoral letter from the Catholic Bishops is undoubtedly controversial.

“It proves, beyond a shadow of doubt, that at least some of the Catholic Bishops have openly taken sides with certain oppositional forces in Zimbabwe’s political terrain. Therein lies the major challenge. These bishops should remove their pastoral gowns and openly enter the political fray if they have decided to be active politicians. They can’t have their own cake and eat it. They can’t blow hot and cold.

“They can’t approbate and reprobate,” he said.

Mr Gutu traced the current onslaught on Zimbabwe to the Land Reform Programme, a Zanu PF programme that empowered the black person who had been deprived of his land by white settlers.

“One doesn’t have to be a rocket scientist to appreciate that there are extremely powerful global forces that have never, ever forgiven the Zanu PF government for daring to embark upon the revolutionary land reform programme at the turn of the new millennium. That marked the genesis of most of our current political and socio-economic challenges.

“The Catholic Church is the richest religious organisation in the world and there is absolutely no prize for guessing why the movers and shakers of the regime change agenda would deliberately target some elements within the Catholic Church to be agents of their nefarious agenda. This is a classic example of the use of soft power to try to force regime change in Zimbabwe. That said, there’s need for the Government authorities in Zimbabwe to reach out not only to the Catholic church but indeed to all relevant stakeholders and seek to soberly and rationally put across their side of the story.

“As it is said, when two elephants fight, it is the grass that suffers. The ordinary people’s interests should always be protected,” Mr Gutu said.

Ministry Of Finance permanent secretary George Guvamatanga has celebrated his and his family’s victory over coronavirus infection in style by hiring a private aircraft to fly the entire family to Victoria Falls.

Guvamatanga was infected by the virus which also spread to his wife, young children and household staff.

Doctors have now given Guvamatanga and his family the all clear – and the treasury secretary gave his family cheer by flying them to Victoria Falls.

Guvamatanga, however, did not travel with the family although he momentarily went into the aircraft to ensure his family was comfortable.

Guvamatanga – the government’s paymaster – has been in the eye of a storm after approving dubious payments running into millions of dollars to Drax International, a company linked to President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s twin sons Collins and Shaun. The company was awarded tenders worth over US$60 million to supply drugs and medical devices to the health ministry without going to tender.

Obadiah Moyo was arrested and sacked as health minister over the scandal exposed by ZimLive. Four executives of the state-owned drugs firm NatPharm were also arrested, but no action was taken against Guvamatanga who maintains that the task of doing due diligence on suppliers fell on the health ministry.

Source: Zimlive

ZPP is deeply concerned with the response by the govt of ZW through the Information minister, Monica Mutsvangwa, to the Pastoral Letter by the Zimbabwe Catholic Bishop’s Conference (ZCBC) entitled ‘The March has not ended”.

The letter, among other issues, denounced the human rights breaches by government. Several human rights actors have faced harassment, arbitrary arrests, abduction and torture, particularly since the onset of the COVID-19 induced national lockdown.

The letter also noted how past, unresolved hurts such as Gukurahundi and the current unprecedented corruption levels are contributing to the frustrations of the citizenry.
It is unfortunate that, instead of self introspecting and at least engaging the clergy to deliberate on the issues raised, the government chose to target and launch a tribal attack on the Archbishop, Robert Christopher Ndlovu, accusing him of being evil-minded and misguided.
Such attacks are concerning, particularly in an environment where dissenting voices have n abducted or arrested. All the ZCBC has done is, like every other institution that seeks to see values of democracy being implemented, reach out to the govt with the hope for a better ZW

The hate language and vilification by the government only serve to further increase tensions and are a clear disrespect of Sections 60 and 61 of the Zimbabwe Constitution that provide for Freedom of Conscience and Freedom of Expression respectively.
In the last few weeks, many institutions, among them, the @_AfricanUnion, @UN SG, the chairperson of the African Comm for Human & People’s Rights have voiced concern about the events unfolding in the country. @CyrilRamaphosa has also dispatched envoys to Harare on same issues.
ZPP, whose vision is a Zimbabwe where there is Peace, Justice, Dignity and Development stands in firm solidarity with the ZCBC and all signatories to the Pastoral Letter, who called for the much-needed inclusivity, when they noted that “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 & promises and no action”

“…the only time we see real action is when our leaders are jostling for power, to secure it or to ascend to offices of power…”
It is regrettable that the church, where citizens have always found refuge during turmoil is attacked for calling out govt on widespread corruption, the health delivery that has become a death trap and an economy that has seen the majority of people sink deeper into poverty.

It is important for the govt to be cognisant of their obligation to respect the rights of its citizens & protect them as per Constitution & other instruments that include the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
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ZIMBABWE Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) executive director Roselyn Hanzi
FULL TEXT: Human Rights Lawyers’ Statement On The Savage Attack Of Catholic Bishops By Govt
We, like ZCBC, simply ask government to do the right thing, return to constitutionalism and uphold the rule of law. ZPP calls for: The govt to acknowledge that the country is facing a crisis which, if left unattended, threatens to spiral out of control impacting the generality of citizens. Continued denial of a crisis that is there for all to see is not going to make it disappear.

ZPP further calls for: The government to realise that human rights are neither given at the benevolence of the government nor are they a privilege. Govt to retract their hate statement & properly engage with the ZCBC, the church at large and all Zimbabweans in dialogue
Lastly, ZPP asks government to stop fanning divisions among citizens through use of hate language

State Media

THE Air Zimbabwe flight that left Guangzhou, China on Saturday night on another repatriation mission is expected to touch down at the Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport this morning with 132 passengers.

The Air Zimbabwe Boeing 767-200ER is set to arrive at 9.30am carrying 131 adults and an infant.

Most of the passengers are Zimbabwean students who were stranded in China.

Air Zimbabwe spokesperson Ms Firstme Vitori last night confirmed that the flight was on its way back to Harare, but could not reveal the exact time of arrival.

“I can confirm that the flight is on its way, but I will only know the arrival time when it lands in Johannesburg,” she said.

Ms Vitori said the flight was carrying both Zimbabwean and South African citizens.

The students had been holed up in China following the Covid-19 lockdown and the subsequent cancellation worldwide, of most commercial flights.

Parents had been asked to pay at least US$1 000 each to bring back the students on the chartered flight.

Air Zimbabwe had hoped that the outbound leg of the flight would be taken by locally-based Chinese who are being repatriated back home.

However, the Chinese Embassy is understood to have made alternative arrangements.

For a while, the students appeared destined for a continued life of desperation and hunger as Air Zimbabwe said they could not afford flying an empty plane to China.

However, Government stepped in and a happy ending starts today when the students return home and are quarantined.

Experts say Air Zimbabwe has done incredibly well, operating the B767-200ER on repatriation charters even though the last flight lasted more than a month after the aircraft developed engine trouble in Bangkok, Thailand.

The Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum (the Forum) stands in solidarity with the Zimbabwe Catholic Bishops’ Conference (ZCBC) on their call for peacebuilding, nation-building, eradication of corruption and the need for stability and good governance.

Through a pastoral letter dated 14 August, ZCBC called on the government to address challenges bedevilling the country. Major issues raised by the ZCBC, which the Forum agrees with, include the need to deal with corruption, impunity, cycles of violence, economic challenges and the need for peacebuilding given rampant episodes of mass human rights violations including Gukurahundi.

The Forum is however shocked with the attacks against the ZCBC by the government through the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Information and Publicity Mr Nick Mangwana’s statement published in the Herald of 15 August and the statement released by the Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Senator Monica Mutsvangwa on 15 August 2020. It is surprising that high-level government employees take time to vent against the church for addressing issues that are already in the public domain and known by all citizens. In his statement, Mr Mangwana professed ignorance to the obvious human rights and socio-economic crisis fueled by the unresolved past injustices clearly indicated by the ZCBC in their statement. Similarly, Senator Mutsvangwa went out guns blazing labelling the good-willed ZCBC as purveyors of violence. Rather, the statement by the ZCBC clearly called for peace, constitutionalism and respect for human rights.

The Forum would like to draw the attention of Mr Mangwana and Senator Mutsvangwa to our Bill of Rights particularly sections 60 on freedom of conscience and section 61 on freedom of expression. The statements issued by Mr Mangwana and Senator Mutsvangwa directly infringe the enjoyment of these constitutionally given rights. The Forum also directs the attention of the government on the importance of the church in advocating for social justice. The Zimbabwe Catholic Bishops’ Conference, the Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace (CCJP) and other catholic related organs were at the forefront of denouncing human rights violations before independence. Silencing the church to speak up against injustices is deplorable, unwarranted and a betrayal of the people’s revolution against autocracy and mass human rights violations which started during the liberation struggle.

The Forum reiterates its unwavering solidarity with the ZCBC.

The Forum, therefore, calls upon the government to;

Respect freedom of expression, association and human rights’
Show tolerance of divergent views and accept constructive criticism;
Accept that we are in a crisis and work towards genuine concerns raised by the ZCBC rather than distorting history calculated specifically to discredit the ZCBC.
Like the ZCBC, the Forum reminds the government and citizens that The March is not Ended.

State Media

The death toll from Covid-19 in Zimbabwe reached 132 yesterday with two more deaths, one in Bulawayo and one in Manicaland.

With another 85 confirmed infections, the total of confirmed cases has reached 5 261, although of these 2 092 have recovered with a large extra block of Harare recoveries expected to be in the statistics from tomorrow, according to the Ministry of Health and Child Care.

Harare remains the source for the largest number of infections with 2 035 cases and 71 deaths.

Bulawayo comes in with 1 204 infections and 27 deaths, with Manicaland at 308 cases and 14 deaths and Midlands with 483 cases and six deaths.

South Africa now has 11 677 deaths from 683 653 cases, but with 466 941 confirmed recoveries with infection and death rates now falling and just over 100 000 active cases.

Globally, the death toll has reached 771 518 from 21 480 111 cases, although experts agree that the number of cases is significantly higher while accepting the general accuracy of the death toll.

Memorandum

To : Chief Staff Officer Operations
: Chief Staff Officer Crime
From : Officer Commanding Police Mash Central Province
Dated : 15 August 2020

Subject : ARREST OF MEMBERS AT BATANAI ROADBLOCK SITE, BINDURA

1. On 15 August 2020 at about 1530 hours and at Batanai Roadblock along Bindura- Harare Road, Number 056010E Sgt Majatandare and Number 070135H Detective Constable Chigumira were arrested for Contravening Paragraph 35 of the schedule to the Police Act as read with section 29 and 34 of the said Act Chapter 11:10 by a team comprising of Superintendent Mumanyi [Bindura District Superintended Crime and operations], Number 045946Q Chief Inspector Chimano [Acting Provincial Police Intelligence Officer ] and Number 046003C Inspector Gwati [Z.R.P Bindura Police District Intelligence Officer].

2. On the above mentioned date and time, Bindura District received a complaint of corruption by Police Officers manning Batanai Road, Bindura. Acting upon the complaint, a team led by Superintendent Mumanyi was dispatched to check on the activities of Police officers manning the roadblock. Upon arrival the team noticed that the roadblock was manned by number 056010E Sgt Majatandare, Number 070135H Detective Constable Chigumira, Number 988253M Cst Muchekeche , Number 989334 M Cst Muchengeti and Corporal Chigwara of Zimbabwe National Army[ZNA]. Searches were carried out on all members who were manning the roadblock and were found only with the money they had declared upon commencing of their duty and recorded in the Roadblock Occurrence Book.

3. While at the roadblock, the team observed a black jacket which was placed on a chair behind a tree within vicinity of the roadblock site. C/Insp Chimano asked Member in Charge roadblock Sgt Majatandare the owner of the jacket in the presence of Superintendent Mumanyi and other roadblock team members. Sgt Majatandare told C/Insp Chimano that the jacket belonged to Detective Constable Chigumira who was part of the roadblock team and in turn D/C Chigumira acknowledged the ownership of the jacket. D/C Chigumira was asked on how much money was in the jacket and he said that he was not aware.

4. C/Insp Chimano searched the jacket and observed that, the right hand pocket of the jacket contained US$18 with the denominations and serial number on annexure 1 attached.

5. The jacket also contained ZWL $247-00 with the denominations and serial number on annexure 2 attached.

6. The roadblock registers were checked and observed that the money in the jacket was not declared. The money was mixed up in the pocket and had no proper sequential arrangement an indication that there was no proper counting when the money was placed in the jacket pocket.
7. The accused persons are in police custody awaiting court appearance. The money and jacket held as exhibits were handed over to Officer in Charge Bindura Central as Exhibit. Bindura Central Exhibit book Number 63/20.

VOA

Several organizations, including the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR), have expressed support for Catholic bishops, who are accusing President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government of serious human rights violations.

In a statement, the ZLHR said, “There can be no justification of this vilification of the clergymen and this anti-Catholic scorn because for the Bishops, speaking out against transgressions is their moral obligation.

“As ZLHR, we are greatly concerned that the intolerance of President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government on dissent and criticism is becoming more despicable every passing day and we should realise that it is the manifestation of President Mnangagwa’s and his followers’ fear on the people’s legitimate dissatisfaction from a leader who claimed and promised to be a ‘listening’ president which is equally growing. We have noted that in 2020 while the vilifiers and the vilified are different, the script is the same.”

The ZLHR further said, “The incendiary statements by government are aimed at inflicting shame on clergymen and to vilify their struggles that spring from righteous causes.”

“As clergymen, said the ZLHR, the Catholic Bishops must not abdicate “their sacred mandate as shepherds to whom the Lord has entrusted his flock and no amount of vilification, intimidation or threats should make them give up their critical role, especially that of giving voice to the voiceless.

Being Bishops or clergymen does not divest them of their civil and political rights to free speech, because they are still citizens of Zimbabwe and have the inalienable right to speak about the government’s shortcomings.

“ZLHR urges the Catholic Bishops to have faith and take heart as they have long championed people’s rights and freedoms for several decades. To the Catholic Bishops, always bear in mind the biblical verse in 1 Peter 5:8, which reads; ‘Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour’.”

The ZLHR urged the government to “its intemperate and inflammatory statement and urges it to embrace constructive criticism and the principles of good governance.”

In a pastoral letter, Catholic bishops said, “Zimbabwe is in a “a multi-layered crisis of the convergence of economic collapse, deepening poverty, food insecurity, corruption and human rights abuses.

“… Fear runs down the spines of many of our people today. The crackdown on dissent is unprecedented … Our government automatically labels anyone thinking differently as an enemy of the country: that is an abuse.”

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).

Reacting to these sentiments, Information Minister Monica Mutsvangwa dismissed their remarks, saying they are ill-informed and designed to cause anarchy in Zimbabwe.

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.”

State Media

ZANU PF Central Committee member Justice Zvandasara is under investigation for allegedly purchasing land earmarked for the construction of party offices in Harare and leasing it to a local bank without permission from the ruling party.

Zvandasara is suspected to have connived with four others to fraudulently buy and lease out 8 000 square meters that had been set aside for party offices in Pomona.

The property, known as Lot 55 Pomona Estate or 8 Campbell Road, Pomona was purchased by a private company, Pebney (Pvt) Ltd, from the City of Harare.

It is alleged that Zvandasara and his accomplices Lameck Taruhwa, George Mashavave and two others purchased the property that was being used as district party offices by Zanu PF Borrowdale District since 1990.

It is understood the party had a right of first refusal over the property.

Zvandasara allegedly went on to lease the land in question to CBZ Bank for US$26 000 which was paid into one Fungai Chiboora’s account.

The case was reported under CR 503/07/2020 — CCD DR55/07 with Zvandasara and his accomplices now facing fraud charges.

National Police Spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the case, but could not give details.

“I can confirm that the matter was reported to police. We we will avail more information once investigations are complete. We are still on the ground doing the necessary enquiries,” he said.

Zanu PF Harare Provincial chairperson Oliver Chidau said the matter was still to be formally brought to his attention.

“The matter is still being handled at district level. As a province, we are still to receive a report pertaining to the matter. I will give a response once I have been formally informed of the matter and we will also handle it from there,” he said.

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.

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 clear 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.

Venceremos

Dr Takavafira M. Zhou (Ptuz President)

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

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

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 clear 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.

Venceremos

Dr Takavafira M. Zhou (Ptuz President)

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.”

The Thokozani Khupe-led MDC-T has recommended the expulsion of five Bulawayo MDC Alliance (MDC-A) councillors for insubordination.

The five 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).

MDC-T Bulawayo provincial secretary Nomvula Mguni wrote letters to Khupe and party’s acting secretary-general, Douglas Mwonzora requesting the recalling of the five.

She wrote:

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.

In March, the Supreme Court ruled that when MDC Alliance leader Nelson became MDC-T president in 2018, he did so in violation of the party’s constitution, therefore, Khupe must assume the presidency albeit in an acting capacity pending an extraordinary congress.

Even though Chamisa and Khupe contested the 2018 elections as leaders of separate political formations, MDC-A and MDC-T respectively, Khupe has taken over Chamisa’s MPs and Councillors even though she lost heavily in the election.

–StateMedia

State Media

THE Government has dismissed as patently false claims by exiled former Cabinet Minister, Professor Jonathan Moyo, that the National Oil and Infrastructure Company (NOIC) received a US1,2 billion loan from a foreign company, Sotic International.

Ministry of Finance and Economic Development Permanent Secretary Mr George Guvamatanga yesterday said no such deal was ever signed. Prof Moyo alleged that NOIC was forced to mortgage the national oil pipeline to secure the said loan. He claimed this was behind the decision to drop Fortune Chasi from his position as Minister of Energy and Power Development last week.

However, no such loan agreement was ever signed.

“The information is false. The value of the pipeline is US$300 million. Sotic could only lend money that it would have raised from its bankers, unless it had free cash flows.

“Which bank would lend you US$1,2 billion against security of an asset worth US$300 million? One of the critical tenets of lending is the purpose of the loan and the source of repayment.

“An international lender would not conduct adequate due diligence and lend a country $1,2 billion which will then be fraudulently diverted,” said Mr Guvamatanga.

Loans to Government are guided by the Public Debt Management Act, and any Government borrowing goes through a Debt Management Committee chaired by the Secretary for Finance with the Reserve Bank Governor and the Attorney-General being the other members of the committee.

“No loan would be captured in Government books if not approved by this committee. The approval then allows the loan to be captured into Government books for the purpose of repayment.

“It is not possible to record the loan if the loan proceeds have not been received and just like in the banks, there is also a process of front office, middle office and back office in the Public Debt Management Office,” said Mr Guvamatanga.

The system is foolproof and one could not just end up with a loan where the proceeds were never received and captured in the system. Mr Chasi himself dismissed Moyo’s claims and clarified that he never commissioned an investigation into any Sotic deal. No investigation was ever done on NOIC, he added.

“I have seen a set of tweets (by) 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.

“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 habour any bitterness regarding my current position. I accept the decision to relieve me of my position as that is the President’s prerogative,” Mr Chasi tweeted.

Moyo’s latest claim is just one of several contradictory conspiracies that he has fed his followers over the last few days. On Friday, posting a screenshot of a WhatsApp message, Moyo claimed that Chasi had been fired after he “reportedly struck a deal with Glencore Industries, owners of Total”.

However, Glencore, a UK commodities company based in Switzerland, in fact does not own Total, a French oil firm. There is no relationship between the two firms.

Challenged on that lie, Prof Moyo admitted that his claims “don’t quite add up”. It was then that Moyo changed his story to Sotic. His frantic tweets came after it emerged that Moyo and other former G40 allies had written to the ANC, begging South Africa’s ruling party to help G40 remnants to be readmitted into ZANU PF. Only the revolutionary movement had the capacity to resolve any problems in Zimbabwe, the 5 July letter to the ANC said.

“We don’t believe that there is an alternative political formation in Zimbabwe which can address this crisis,” Moyo and Patrick Zhuwao said in the letter

The Standard

Four MDC Alliance activists in Bulawayo have told harrowing tales of torture at the hands of suspected state security agents following their alleged abductions on suspicion that they were involved in the organisation of the July 31 protests against corruption.

Security forces ruthlessly put down the protests that were organised by Transform Zimbabwe leader Jacob Ngarivhume, who is now languishing at Chikurubi Maximum Security Prison. He was arrested on the eve of the protests on charges of plotting to overthrow President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government.

A number of people were allegedly abducted throughout the country prior to July 31, while others were seized from their homes or went underground days after the set day of the protests, raising alarm across the globe.

Mnangagwa’s under fire government has been denying accusations by senior officials from South Africa’s ruling ANC and the African Union that there are gross human rights violations in Zimbabwe.

But the MDC Alliance says it has gathered testimonies from its members, who were allegedly tortured by suspected state security agents that accused them of being behind the July 31 protests.

Swithren Chirowodza, the party’s spokesperson in Bulawayo, said Takunda Madzana (MDC Alliance youth secretary for cadreship development), Otillia Sibanda (a former party official), Nyasha Masundire (a youth chairman) and Michael Mubasa (a senior MDC Alliance official) had blood cuddling stories to tell about their experiences after they were allegedly abducted.

“On July 26, 2020, between 11pm and 12 midnight, Madzana was abducted from his Magwegwe home by suspected state security agents and later dumped after horrendous torture, which among other diabolic acts included being immersed in and out of a pool of water. They also applied electric shocks on his feet,” Chirowodza claimed.

“The suspected state security agents also took US$50 from Madzana’s house.

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“Sibanda was abducted from her house in Bulawayo’s Sizinda Township between 7 and 8am on July 29, 2020.

“Assailants drove a Toyota Platz and a Honda Fit. She was tortured and later dumped along Plumtree Road near Mbokodo butchery.”

Chirowodza alleged that Masundire was abducted from his home in Sizinda at around 10pm, by three armed suspected state security agents on July 29.

“One of them wore military fatigues with a belt of bullets strapped over his shoulder, while two wore police uniforms,” he said.

“Masundire suspects that he was taken to a stream or river in Matabeleland North where they tortured him heavily while he was naked.

“Like Madzana, the torture included being immersed in and out of water.

“He was later dumped at the traffic lights in Nkulumane 12,” he said.

“The three armed suspected state security agents were accompanied by other assailants, who remained inside two vehicles that were parked outside Masundire’s house.

“Masundire is still receiving medical attention,” he said.

Chirowodza said Falanga — beating the soles of the feet with a blunt object — which was a common torture method during the Gukurahundi atrocities was used on some victims of the abductions.

He said this Falanga method was used on Remember Moyo, Sazini Ndlovu and other MDC cadres, who were falsely accused of killing war veteran Cain Nkala.

Chirowodza said Mubasa’s house in Bulawayo’s Sizinda suburb was attacked by about eight suspected state security agents armed with AK-47s at approximately 2am on August 2.

He said the assailants attempted to burn the house down and repeatedly called out Mubasa’s name when they failed to gain entry.

“Mubasa survived by threatening suicide by arson, if the assailants dared to enter his house.

“Mubasa has reported the case to the police despite their poor record in solving similar issues,” Chirowodza said.

He condemned the alleged abductions, intimidation, torture and arrests of MDC Alliance members, human rights activists, students and recent harassment of relatives of a journalist in Bulawayo by suspected state security agents.

Chirowodza also claimed to have escaped an abduction attempt when suspected state security agents pounced at his home and broke in at midnight on July 30.

To gain entry, the suspected state security agents, who brandished AK-47s, smashed the window to his 13-year-old daughter’s bedroom.

“They then broke the door to another bedroom, grabbed beverages, a black Samsung cellphone, a DSTV decoder, MDC party regalia, clothing and other valuable household items,” he said.

Chirowodza claimed the assailants told his daughter that they wanted to kill him.

He said the agents, wielding AK-47s, broke into the home of MDC Alliance Bulawayo youth assembly executive member, Josphat “Mzaca” Ngulube in the early hours of July 29.

“They threatened his family after failing to find Mzaca.

“Mzaca says they “took away documents, all the money in the house and my uncle’s bottle store stock.”

Ngulube said they took away R11 000 and US$800 from his home.

The former civil servant told Sabc last week that he had fled to South Africa as he feared for his life.

A fornight ago, his niece Noxolo Maphosa was allegedly abducted by unknown assailants, who tortured her in a bid to force her to reveal Ngulube’s whereabouts.

Chirowodza also said MDC Alliance’s Bulawayo women assembly provincial chairperson Tendai Masotsha was arrested on July 30 at about 12:23pm and was briefly detained at Bulawayo’s Central Police Station.

He said after her release from police custody at or about 7pm, Masotsha was allegedly abducted by suspected state security agents outside Bulawayo Central Police Station, tortured severely and later dumped at Four Winds Shopping Centre at or about 4am on July 31.

MDC Alliance’s Bulawayo Central MP Nicola Watson’s home was allegedly raided by suspected state agents on July 30.

“They demanded to have material to do with the July 31 peaceful protests and proceeded to search Watson’s home in her absence.

“Armed with a fake search warrant, they even broke into one of the servants’ cottages,” Chirowodza said.

“Suspected state security agents stoned MDC Alliance national youth secretary for informal sector and livelihoods and Bulawayo Ward 22 councillor, Rodney Jele’s house on Saturday August 1, at 12:45 am.

“They smashed all the windows and drove off after attempting to forcefully gain entry.

“Rodney Jele has since lodged a report with the police.”

Chirowodza also said MDC Alliance Bulawayo youth provincial secretary Pashor Sibanda reported that suspected state security agents attacked his Cowdray Park family home, broke the gate keys and used the butt of an AK-47 rifle to smash windows at or about 1am on August 2.

“Pashor says the assailants, threatened his family at gunpoint so that they would reveal my whereabouts,” he said.

“The shocked and confused occupants of the house screamed to draw the neighbours’ attention.

After Pashor’s mother shouted “thieves” the assailants jumped over the precast wall and ran away.

The stories echoed that of 22-year-old Tawanda Muchehiwa, who was abducted by suspected state security agents driving an unmarked vehicle in Bulawayo on July 30 in the afternoon.

“Several methods of torture were used on Tawanda,” Chirowodza said.

“Unable to walk, with bruises all over his back and on the buttocks, he was dumped three days later near his house in the early hours of August 2.”

Muchehiwa is a cousin of Zimlive editor Mduduzi Mathuthu, who was forced into hiding after police raided his Bulawayo home on the day of the abduction.

Police used a search warrant that claimed that Mathuthu, who was instrumental in exposing a scandal where the government entered into a US$60 million procurement contract with a shaddy company for the supply of materials to fight Covid-19, was involved in the production of subversive material.

According to reports, the scandal involving the company known as Drax International implicated one of President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s children.

Chirowodza called on the government to protect the rights of citizens as enshrined in the constitution of Zimbabwe.

Zimlive|Zimbabwe’s inflation was 837.53 percent year-on-year in July compared to 737.26 percent the previous month, state statistics body Zimstat said on Saturday.

On a monthly basis, prices increased by 35.53 percent compared to 31.66 percent in June.

Zimstat did not give a reason for the increase but the local currency, which was reintroduced in June last year without sufficient reserves to back it, has been relentlessly depreciating against the United States dollar.

Many Zimbabweans have seen their savings evaporate and still struggle to afford basic commodities such as sugar and the staple cornmeal, with corruption and poverty rife.

The figures were published shortly after a government statement was issued saying that President Emmerson Mnangagwa had implemented policies “that resulted in a robust economy” and had kept the country “commendably stable”, denying any crisis.

The government statement — published by the state-owned Herald newspaper — was a response to a letter by Zimbabwe’s Catholic Bishops on Friday that deplored a recent crackdown on dissent by Mnangagwa’s regime and a deepening crisis in the country.

Last month, the authorities banned protests planned by an opposition politician and deployed the army and riot police in huge numbers to quell them.

Opposition figure Jacob Ngarivhume, who had called for the July 31 protests against alleged state corruption and worsening economic troubles, was arrested 12 days ahead of the strike.

Journalist and documentary filmmaker Hopewell Chin’ono was also detained. They both remain in custody after being denied bail.

More than a dozen protesters, including award-winning author Tsitsi Dangarembga, were arrested on July 31 and later freed on bail. All have been charged with inciting public violence.

The bishops described the clampdown as “unprecedented” and weighed in on the ongoing crisis, which the government has repeatedly denied.

They said the “struggle in Zimbabwe” resulted “in a multi-layered crisis of the convergence of economic collapse, deepening poverty, food insecurity, corruption and human rights abuses”.

Government spokesman Nick Mangwana accused the bishops of joining the “bandwagon of individuals and entities” seeking to invent crises for political gains.

“Government reiterates that Zimbabwe, like most countries in the world is currently grappling with challenges attendant to illegal sanctions, drought and the coronavirus pandemic,” Mangwana said, quoted by The Herald. “There is no crisis, political or otherwise.”

The United States slapped sanctions on Zimbabwean businessman and political operator Kudakwashe Tagwirei days after the July 31 crackdown, calling him “notoriously corrupt”.

The sanctions were issued to commemorate the two-year anniversary of a violent army-led suppression of protests over alleged election fraud, in which at least six people were killed.

I. Introduction

John Robert Lewis, an American politician and civil-rights leader, who saved in the United States House of Representatives, died recently. At his funeral, he was praised for recognising that the march for freedom is not ended even in the present time in which we live. This too is our challenge in Zimbabwe today between those who behest in a past and completed liberation and those who realize that the march is not ended. Peace-building and nation-building are never completed tasks. Every generation has to establish national cohesion and peace.

2 Current Events

The struggle in Zimbabwe. between those who think they haw arrived and those on the march has resulted in a multi-layered crisis of the convergence of economic collapse. deepening poverty. bead insecurity. corruption and human rights abuses among other crises in urgent need of resolution. The call for demonstrations is the expression of grossing frustration and aggravation caused by the conditions that the majority of Zimbabweans find themselves in. Suppression of people’s anger can only serve to deepen the crisis and take the nation into deeper crisis. This comes on the backdrop of unresolved past hurts like Gukurahundi, which continue to spawn even more angry new generations.

The voices of various governments, the European Union, the African Union and the UN on the desperate situation in Zimbabwe lose not only confirmed the seriousness of human rights breaches by government agents but they need to rally behind #Zimbabweanlisesmatter. Following the government crackdown on dissent after the 31′ of July demonstrations, we have also witnessed attempts by President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa to intervene by sending a special envoy. 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.

3. Corruption

“… the ruler demands gills, the judge accepts bribes, the powerful dictates what they desire” Micah

7:3

The corruption in the country has reached alarming levels. Government and civic society are agreed that corruption is chocking the economy and compromising our justice system. While there is this acknowledgement there hasn’t been equally a serious demonstration government to rid the country of this scourge. The ‘catch and release’ approach makes the ordinary man in the street question the sincerity of the government to deal &tensely with corruption. Is there no connection between ‘Oat some journalists are unearthing about the government officials’ endemic corruption and their arrest?

In Micah 7:1-6 the prophet is miserable over the state of his nation. Nobody can be trusted, and people wait in ambush to do violence to each other. This sad and sorry state, Micah says, is because leaders could not be trusted. they used their power for personal gain. Micah was from the countryside, a prophet who proclaimed God’s reproofs to the rich and ungodly leaders of Judah. Micah, like many of the prophets, champions the poor and the oppressed. With brutal honesty, he communicated a message of justice and mercy. He cared for God’s people with profound compassion. Micah graphically condemns Israel’s corrupt leaders and exposes their hypocrisy. God, the prophet says, is not fooled when leaders mouth the right words but have corrupt hearts. Political corruption, greed, arrogance was common amongst the men of his time. They didn’t care about the corporate or common good.

Micah says that when leaders lose their way, it is because they no longer see themselves as servant leaders. They endanger everyone in the organisation or nation. Servant leaders place the interests and needs of their followers ahead of their self-interests and needs. Generally, they value the well-being and development of their followers, building their communities, acting authentically and sharing power. The premise of servant leadership is that the most effective and influential leaders are those who strive to serve others rather than take control or be in charge. The servant-leader will continually think about what involves the least damage or pain for the people over whose lives they have power. Servant leaders will value the worth of every person. The organisation or nation they build will honour the importance of every individual. The prophet Micah proclaims a message that is especially relevant to the conditions we face in our society and country.

4. Heroes and Defence Forces Days.

We have just celebrated the Heroes Holiday and the Defence Forces day in which we mean and express gratitude for the immense sacrifices made by our war heroes. Most of our people contributed to the success of war effort in various ways. We remember Thomas Mapfumo and others who through their music conscientized the people about the struggle and the reasons for it. We know of businessmen and women, teachers, the mujibhas and chimbwidos, whose support was the difference between winning the war and losing it. As a nation, we must appreciate and be grateful to those who despite not holding a gun made an immense contribution of supporting the cause. As your Shepherds, we are sensing that our national leaders want to take us back to the mentality and practices of the war times where it was “us against them.” 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 man of our fighters from peril. Some of our vocal political leaders are busy re-creating the war situation of us and them.

5. National ‘transformation

“What man is wise enough to understand this? Who has been instructed by the Lord and can explain it” Jeremiah 9:12

We feel that the government is focused on things other than national democratic priorities: This amounts to dereliction of duty. Good leaders are wise enough to see when change and innovation are necessary. They see the gap -of how things are and how they should be – and they seek to close that gap. Deep-seated values guide them. They are willing to make systemic changes to uplift the lives of all.

Jeremiah was a passionate prophet. His straight talk to the leadership of his time brought him great personal suffering. But he was devoted to his people and would not keep quiet when leaders deliberately mislead their followers. Jeremiah, despite widespread opposition, endures and is faithful to his God-given mission. The prophet’s commitment and integrity stand in stark contrast to the leaders of his time. Jeremiah shows that, sometimes, some of the most important change and innovation comes about when leaders are willing to listen. An effective leader is one who sees the gaps and wisely works on the things that need to change. Good leaders are called to confront the gaps into which many fall and feel abandoned. Poverty is one such gap.

Confrontation is one of the toughest tasks of leadership. It is also one of the most courageous and important things a leader can do. Jeremiah is not interested in leaders who speak politically correct words. He is more concerned about their ability to act and bring about the structural change needed so that all are treated with dignity. Leaders who are committed to building a better organisation or nation are those who have a compelling sense of what is right. Deep-seated values guide them. Their principles are at the core of their decision-making process. They are willing to name what is not working, have difficult conversations and then make tough decisions. They do not shy away from the problems. They are faithful to the people they lead — not their own aspirations or political egos. Refusal to listen to the people has led us to where we are today. Loud cries on social media and attempts to demonstrate in a very repressive environment like this is a clear sign that Zimbabweans feel that the government has turned their ruck on them abdicating from the responsibility to build a united nation. Have we not all been divided by this divisive political environment to the detriment of the national common good?

As we recognize the sacrifices made by all our people towards our liberation, we continue to worry about what has become of “gutsa ruzhinji” the mantra of the war times and the 80s. This is only possible when we build a robust economy capable of benefitting the poor and the marginalized who perhaps because of the war lost the opportunity to study and educate themselves or their children. While we understand the need to re-engage with the global economic: community we ought as well, not to lose sight of the impoverished and marginalized Zimbabweans. For example, the newly signed agreement between the Zimbabwean Government and the former commercial farmers does not feature or include the interests of the farmworkers and their families who lost livelihoods. While we appreciate the effort of resolving the land question, we think that it should also show concern for the most vulnerable. It seems to us that Zimbabwe is driving itself fast in the direction of capitalism thinking that this will bring untold benefits for our people. We need to be cautious as Pope Francis reminds us. Some people continue to defend trickle-down theories which assume that economic growth, encouraged by free market, will inevitably succeed in bringing about greater justice and inclusiveness in the world. This opinion, which has never been confirmed by the facts, expresses a crude and naive trust in the goodness of those wielding economic power and in the sacralised workings of the prevailing economic system. Meanwhile, the excluded are still waiting. To sustain a lifestyle which excludes others or to sustain enthusiasm for that selfish ideal, a globalization of indifference has developed. Almost without being aware of it, we end up being incapable of feeling compassion at the outcry of the poor….” Evangelii Gaudium 2013).

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 the improved health system go unheeded. Their plea for a transport system that meets their transport blues is met with promises and more promises and no action. The only time we see real action is when our leaders are jostling for power, to secure it or to ascend to offices of power. It is not clear to us as your Bishops that the national leadership we have has the knowledge, social skills emotional stability and social orientation to handle the issues that we face as a nation. All we hear from them is blame of our woes on foreigners, colonialism, white settlers and the so-called internal detractors. When are we going to take responsibility for our own affairs? When are we going to submit to the requirements of national accountability? While our neighbours in the region are strengthening their democratic institutions, we seem to be weakening ours. Our Chapter 12 institutions, the judiciary and Prosecuting Authority seem to be losing their independence and effectiveness. Our health care institutions have collapsed. Our well-trained doctors and nurses remain incapacitated. For a long time, they have felt neglected. As Bishops, we have tried to open an honest dialogue on our health care personnel and the health care institutions and the door was shut in our faces. In the face of growing numbers of COVID-l9 infections, where does the nation turn to? With the necessary tools in short supply in our hospitals, we notice with wounded hearts that government officials seem to have more PPE than our nurses and doctors

6. The Comprehensive National Settlement Framework Proposal

The National Convergence Platform (NCP), a platform made up of different Apex Church bodies, Civil society organisations, Business bodies and Professional bodies, recently launched its proposed comprehensive national settlement framework to resolve Zimbabwe’s complex challenges on 5 August 2020. The Comprehensive National Settlement Framework (CNSF), seeks to establish consensus amongst the citizens as to what should constitute a comprehensive agenda toward a lasting solution to Zimbabwe’s challenges. This is a deliberate effort to build a convergence agenda amongst citizens towards the Zimbabwe We Want.

The comprehensive national settlement framework makes a clarion call on the core issues that the nation must resolve in order to extricate itself out of the current malaise. The issues are as follows:

A victim-led process which adheres to globally accepted norms and international law.

A broadly agreed reform process towards constitutionalism and the rule of law:
A new social contract on the basis of an inclusive national economic vision;

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.

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:

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.”

@mdczimbabwe National youth organiser @godfreykurauone 's Hat and Jersey from MDC Alliance UK and Ireland Provincial Spokesperson @chinyokaP and another jersey from @mdcwelfare leader @MaureenKade thanks a million leadership for the support. @nelsonchamisa @KarenyiKore @ZimEye pic.twitter.com/v5D7XlqzYU

— Masvingo Province (@Citizens4Chamis) August 16, 2020

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 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.

Law Society of Zimbabwe

This guy will be killed soon. He holds all the papertrail V11s

— #SaveZim ?? ✌? (@Save_Our_Zim) August 16, 2020

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.

I thank you.

24 July 2020

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.

We await your prompt response.

Yours sincerely,

Alice Kuveya
Director

For and on behalf of CHITREST.

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.”

I am reliably informed that Monica Mutsvangwa will issue an apology. I hope this is true.

— Thabisa Sibanda (@SibandaSibbs) August 16, 2020

I am reliably informed that Monica Mutsvangwa will issue an apology. I hope this is true.

— Thabisa Sibanda (@SibandaSibbs) August 16, 2020

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 !

— Dr Walter Mzembi (@waltermzembi) August 16, 2020

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.”

-standard

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

— Trevor Ncube (@TrevorNcube) August 16, 2020

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 

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!

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…

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) November 21, 2019

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.

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.

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 ?

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) August 15, 2020

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.

Paul Nyathi

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.

Paul Nyathi

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!

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.

Additional reporting by Price check

Correspondent

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.

https://twitter.com/nickmangwana/status/1294689317583978496?s=19

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.

-The Standard

Independent

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.

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.

— Fortune Chasi (@fortunechasi) August 16, 2020