President Emmerson Mnangagwa today met with the South African President Cyril Ramaphosa envoy team composed of Sydney Mufamadi and Baleka Mbete.

Below are the pictures taken by Information Secretary Nick Mangwana at State House this afternoon;

By A Correspondent- Eleven per cent of Zimbabwe’s coronavirus cases are healthcare workers, the Ministry of Health and Child Care COVID-19 Zimbabwe Situation Report reveals.

The affected health workers include nurses, student nurses, doctors, matrons, laboratory scientists, nurse aides, general hands and pharmacists.

At Mpilo Central and United Bulawayo Hospitals, the two largest centres in Bulawayo, over 100 nurses have contracted the virus. The report by the Health Ministry read:

A significant number of health workers have been infected with Covid-19 and as of July 29, 2020, 11 per cent of the cases were among health care workers with the majority being from the nursing profession.

Nurses and student nurses account for 35,8 per cent and 15,7 per cent of the total cases respectively while doctors account for 5,2 per cent.

Meanwhile, the Zimbabwe Nurses Association (ZINA) said nurses are now facing discrimination by family and friends and when using public transport and also when they are shopping in supermarkets.

ZINA president Enock Dongo on Friday said nurses are facing stigmatisation even from landlords and some have been evicted from their lodgings.

There is fear that since nurses deal with patients, they could be carriers of the novel coronavirus.

Farai Dziva| Veteran MDC Alliance member Crispa Zvouno Musoni has been laid to rest in Gutu District.

“Mr Musoni joined the MDC in 1999.

He helped in the setting up of MDC structures in Gutu and Zaka Districts. He was a fearless cadre. His businesses were destroyed by ZANU PF members,” said MDC Alliance official Jeffryson Chitando.

Hundreds of MDC Alliance members attended Musoni’s burial in Mutunduru area, Gutu on Monday.

In Masvingo urban ward 6, MDC Alliance Member Mrs Musariri died on Sunday, the opposition party said in a statement.

Farai Dziva|The permanent secretary in the Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Ndavaningi Mangwana has claimed it is natural that there are excesses by security forces when enforcing lockdown measures across the country.

Mangwana argued that even United States of America forces have been accused of using excessive force.

“We have laws that are supposed to be implemented.

President Mnangagwa recently said there is a complainants mechanism to be publicised for people to report abuse by law enforcers,” Mangwana told Chronicle.

“That’s natural.
American soldiers in Baghdad, Iraq, Afghanistan, were reported to have used excessive force and this happens in any situation where people are involved.”

Farai Dziva|The permanent secretary in the Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Ndavaningi Mangwana has claimed it is natural that there are excesses by security forces when enforcing lockdown measures across the country.

Mangwana argued that even United States of America forces have been accused of using excessive force.

“We have laws that are supposed to be implemented.

President Mnangagwa recently said there is a complainants mechanism to be publicised for people to report abuse by law enforcers,” Mangwana told Chronicle.

“That’s natural.
American soldiers in Baghdad, Iraq, Afghanistan, were reported to have used excessive force and this happens in any situation where people are involved.”

By A Correspondent- The Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services (ZPCS) has refuted suggestions that freelance journalist Hopewell Chin’ono and leader of Transform Zimbabwe (TZ) Jacob Ngarivhume are being treated unfairly at Chikurubi Maximum Security Prison.

The duo was denied bail by High Court judge Justice Chitapi last week and promptly sent to Chikurubi, where hardcore criminals are detained.

ZPCS spokesperson Supt Meya Khanyezi said that they have ceased in-person visiting of prisoners for the safety of staff, prisoners and the public in light of the coronavirus crisis. Said Kanyezi:

This was not a decision we arrived at lightly, as we understand and recognise the importance of family contact with the prison population.

Our primary concern has to be public safety and reducing the number of people who enter our facilities is a key factor in limiting the potential spread of this illness into our prisoner population.

The department will continue to monitor the situation to determine when visits will be restored.

Lawyers representing Chin’ono and Ngarivhume, Beatrice Mtetwa and the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR), revealed that the two were strip-searched and shackled in leg irons and eventually moved at night to Chikurubi Maximum Prison without formal communication to their legal practitioners beforehand.

Among other things, Chin’ono and Ngarivhume were left with no access to food as they do not eat sadza for medical reasons but they were advised that ZPCS only serves sadza in prison.

-statemedia

National Patriotic Front (NPF) Spokesperson, Jealousy Mawarire, has urged South African President Cyril Ramaphosa’s envoy to Zimbabwe to meet with the military as part of their fact finding mission to Zimbabwe saying the security services are heavily embedded in the politics of the country including the ruling Zanu PF’s faction wars.

Posting on Twitter, Mawarire said engaging only the ruling party, the government and Political Actors Dialogue (POLAD) will be skirting around the real cause of the challenges facing Zimbabwe.

“Hopefully, President Cyril Ramaphosa and the ANC will understand that we need to dialogue with the army which took over Zanu-PF, the State and Govt. If we don’t, a worse situation will explode, especially now, that there are two militarized factions in Zanu-PF dabbling in politics.

“If we turn a blind eye to the fact that the military involvement in our national politics is the elephant in the room, we are likely going to go back to 1983-87, albeit, on a national scale.

“It is clear the military factions in Zanu-PF are fighting to control the country and this fight will surely turn bloody if not addressed now.

“There is no hiding from the fact that Zimbabwe is under overt military rule and a security state after the 2017 Nov coup. President Ramaphosa and the South African government know it well, especially after, Isaac Moyo, who was Zim ambassador to SA, was brought back into security service as CIO Director Gen and Gen  Elson Chimonyo, who, prior to the coup, was purportedly retired, and was Zim Ambassador to Tanzania, but was brought back into security service as Zimbabwe National Army Commander,” said Mawarire.

By Jane Mlambo| Former Herald Editor Tichaona Zindonga has dashed to the defense of underfire radio personality Misred saying the abuse she suffered on social is shameful and a danger to journalism which requires poweful and independent women.

Posting on Twitter, Zindonga said the attack on Misred and another powerful media personality Ruvheneko Parirenyatwa was ‘misogynistic’.

“The way @iMisred and @RuvhenekoP, arguably Zimbabwe’s preeminent young female media personalities, are treated on social media is shameful, as the attacks are not only misogynistic but also a danger to journalism which requires powerful, expressive and independent women,” said Zindoga.

Misred was a subject of social media condemnation after she appeared on a Ghanaian radio station commenting on the Zimbabwean situation.

In that interview, Misred said there was a disconnect between what is on social media and the situation on the ground.

“There’s a very big disconnect between what’s going on the ground and what’s going on social media.”

She later issued an apology saying she could have articulated the challenges facing Zimbabweans better than she did on the interview, though it did little to cool down tempers as people kept attacking her as a “regime enabler.”

“Dear fellow Zimbabweans, I really do want to say, I am sorry I let us down. I am sorry that my words have caused pain and have resulted in so many of you feeling that I have let our cause down.

“I have listened to all the feedback and concerns raised and although my temptation has been to explain away the pain, I do agree I could have articulated our plight much more clearly. In hindsight, I should have declined the interview given the gravity of the cause.

“I want you to know I share the pain and daily struggles we all experience and do not in any way trivialize this. #ZimbabweanLivesMatter and this is not negotiable. Again, my profound apologies.”

 

ZANU PF leader Emmerson Mnangagwa has revealed that his government is constructing the Mbuya Nehanda statue at the spot where she used to rest and drink water.

Government is constructing a statue of the first chimurenga fighter Mbuya Nehanda at the corner of Julias Nyerere and Samora Machel in Harare.

Presenting his heroes day speech at State House today, Mnangagwa said the mounting of Mbuya Nehanda statue will immortalise the supreme sacrifice paid by forebears, adding that the location of the statue was chosen to add a historical meaning.

“In this regard, the mounting of the Statue of Mbuya Nehanda in Harare, our Capital
City, will immortalise the supreme sacrifice that was paid by our forbears. The location
of this Statue carries added historical meaning because the intersection of Samora
Machel Avenue and Julius Nyerere Way is the spot where Mbuya Nehanda used to
rest and drink water from a river that flowed at the site.”

Many people have questioned the rationality of prioritizing a statue at a time the country is plagued by problems ranging from dilapidating healthcare system, civil service restlessness due to inflation among other challenges.

By A Correspondent| Opposition MDC Alliance says about 30 of its members have fled their homes for fear of being abducted.

Posting on Twitter, the party said some of its members were contemplating “moving their children to safer places”.

Many fear being tortured or detained, it said.

Opposition supporters and activists called for anti-government protests towards the end of last month to decry economic mismanagement and corruption.

The government suppressed the protests by warning people to stay indoors and cracked down on solo protesters.

Those arrested have been charged with various offences that activists say have been fabricated to fall within the constitution.

Fellow Zimbabweans,
It is my singular honour and privilege to address the nation on this historic 40th
Commemoration of our National Heroes Day. This occasion occupies a special place in
our history and development as a nation as we remember and pay tribute to our
dear countrymen and women who paid the supreme sacrifice for the liberation of our
country.

Today we are holding our commemorations against the background of renewed glaring,
and unjustified attacks by our perennial detractors, both inside and outside our borders. Let us however, not lose heart or be discouraged but look back to our rich history and draw lessons from our departed, who since the 1890s, united and showed resilience in their gallant fight against oppressive forces.

As the heroes of yesteryear, today we have no alternative; we must as Zimbabweans
close ranks by uniting, in peace, harmony and with resolute patriotism and self love to
chart a brighter future for ourselves and for the sake of our motherland.

Our position is clear; a firm foundation has been laid and continues to be strengthened
for a thriving constitutional democracy, and a just, open, accountable and prosperous
society. With unfaltering determination, and emboldened by the experiences of the
unrelenting attacks on our country in the past two decades, we know that the future is
bright. Our success is inevitable.

The divisive falsehoods and concoctions by renegades and supremacists who want to
pounce on our natural resources will never win the day. Truth shall triumph over lies,
and good over evil.

Viva Zimbabwe! Viva Zimbabwe! Forward ever, backward never!\

Comrades and Friends;
Today’s 40th National Heroes Day Anniversary celebrations are regrettably being held
in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. Hence, our event today will not have the usual
fanfare as we have to be in compliance with the World Health Organisation’s Guidelines. Be that as it may, our commemorations are uniquely significant in that we are combining the recognition of heroes and heroines of both the First and Second Chimurenga/ Umvukhela.

In this regard, the mounting of the Statue of Mbuya Nehanda in Harare, our Capital
City, will immortalise the supreme sacrifice that was paid by our forbears. The location
of this Statue carries added historical meaning because the intersection of Samora
Machel Avenue and Julius Nyerere Way is the spot where Mbuya Nehanda used to
rest and drink water from a river that flowed at the site.

Other heroes and heroines from the early wars of resistance will also be honoured in a
similar manner. Among them, General Mtshane Khumalo, who commanded the Imbizo
Regiment, under King Lobengula, that defeated the Allan Wilson Patrol at the Battle of
Pupu on 10 December, 1893.

Other distinguished heroes and heroines of the First Chimurenga/ Umvukhela such as
Sekuru Kaguvi, Chaminuka, Mkwati, Queen Lozikeyi Khumalo, Chinengundu,
Mashayamombe, Mgandani Dlodlo, Chiwashira, Muchecheterwa, Chingaira Makoni, and
Mapondera, among others, will be accorded appropriate recognition.

From the Second Chimurenga/ Umvukhela, the late General Josiah Magama
Tongogara and General Alfred Nikita Mangena, Cde Robert Gabriel Mugabe, Cde
Joshua Mqhabuko Nkomo and Cde Simon Vengesai Muzenda, among others, will also
be honoured.

We must as a people appropriate our liberation war heritage and shape the narratives
by telling our own journey to freedom and independence. As such, my Administration
shall expedite the documentation of the story of our liberation struggle and the
associated historical heritage. The programme of renaming roads, buildings and
prominent public infrastructure with names reflective of the country’s history is ongoing
and a key feature of our Liberation War Heritage.

The list of our national monuments is being reviewed to include liberation war shrines
such as the 1893 Pupu Shrine, the 1966 Chinhoyi battle site and the Kamugoma
massacre site of 1978, in Masvingo. Other sites such as the National and Provincial
Heroes’ Acres, Assembly Points as well as former detention and restriction centres
have also been made national monuments. Meanwhile, liberation war shrines in
neighbouring Mozambique and Zambia will continue to be rehabilitated.

The Sunday Mail, The Sunday News and New Ziana are commended for producing
Chimurenga Files. As part of this year’s commemorations, the Second Edition of the
Honours and Awards Booklet will be published under the theme “Celebrating 40
Years of Independence and Democracy under the Second Republic”. Leveraging
on Information Communication Technologies, more people must have access to the
grand story of our liberation including those in the Diaspora.

These initiatives must help us to rekindle our national identity, pride, dignity, and
culture. Such is the heritage we must bequeath to the future generations.

At the continental level, Zimbabwe is honoured to be the host of the Museum of the
African Liberation History, which catalogues African history and resistance to colonial
oppression from the 1890s until the attainment of political independence.

Fellow Zimbabweans,

The 40th Heroes Day Anniversary comes at a time when the 2nd Republic is
accelerating our national development. This is in spite of the continued illegal sanctions
imposed by some Western countries, coupled with the negative impact of climate
change which has grossly affected our economic growth projections.

Land was one of the major reasons the country’s gallant sons and daughters took up
arms to fight for the liberation of our beloved country.

The 2nd Republic under my administration continues to consolidate the gains of the
revolution. We shall never betray the principles of the revolution. The blood of those
who fought for our land shall forever be honoured through maximum use of our land.

In this quest, my administration embarked on the First Phase of the Land Audit which
has now been completed. Under-utilized land identified through the audit will be allocated in line with Government Policy. To further stimulate productivity, a multi-pronged Agriculture Recovery Plan is being rolled out. This will result in increased productivity of maize, wheat, soya beans and traditional grains. Similarly, the implementation of the Pfumvudza Concept is progressing well and will see a transformation to food security at household level.

Farmers are encouraged to honour the departed heroes by taking full advantage of the
recapitalisation of the Command Agriculture programme, dam construction, irrigation
development and mechanisation programmes which my administration is undertaking
in partnership with the private sector.The setting of pre-planting producer prices as an
incentive together with the Growth Plan must give impetus to our farmers to boost
production and productivity.

The land that our heroes fought for includes all that which is under that land. The
Strategic Roadmap for the attainment of a US$12 billion Mining Sector by 2023 is on
course. In line with this policy, the use it or lose it principle is being strictly enforced
in order to unlock resources for enhanced production. The Mines and Minerals Act
[Chapter 21:05] is being amended into a competitive, modern, investor friendly and
supportive law which will benefit the majority of our people.

Through robust modern and innovative synergies between the ministries of Energy and
Mines, Zimbabwe is on track to emerge as a net exporter of energy by 2023. These
are the emerging new realities that we are celebrating at this 40th Heroes Day
Commemorations.

Fellow Zimbabweans,
The 2nd Republic’s vision of a private sector-led industrial development is gaining
momentum. In this regard, the Zimbabwe National Industrialisation Policy Framework with
its focus on the resuscitation of industry, establishment of new industries, export
development, innovation and rural industry systems is beginning to bear fruit.

The translation of knowledge into goods and services being spearheaded by the
Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology
Development through Education 5.0 will further accelerate sustainable socio-economic
modernisation and transformation.

Considerable road construction and rehabilitation is underway throughout our country.
Two days ago, I was pleased to officially open a portion of the Harare-Masvingo-Beitbridge highway. This attests to our abilities as a people to use our own local skills and resources to improve our infrastructure and overall quality of life.

In line with our Devolution Policy, the Tourism Recovery and Growth Strategy I
launched last week will result in a broader geographical spread of tourism development
with benefits accruing to the whole nation. In addition, the devolution policy has begun
to enhance the democratic participation of our communities in decision making.

This is in turn promoting good governance, equalisation and development that leaves
no one behind, in our bid to maintain a prosperous unitary Zimbabwe. This is the
multi-faceted heritage bequeathed to us by the heroes and heroines we are
remembering today.

The recently introduced macro-economic stabilisation measures have had the effect of
stabilising our currency and reducing volatility in the prices of goods and services as
well as creating a conducive business environment.

Comrades and Friends;
My Government continues to prioritise the security and welfare of vulnerable citizens
through the Food Deficit Mitigation Programme. Other social protection measures have
been scaled-up for persons living with disabilities and those left vulnerable as a result
of the COVID-19 pandemic. The provision of decent housing, quality healthcare, water
and sanitation remain important promises we must deliver in honour of our fallen
heroes.

Our war of liberation was fought with the support and solidarity of many international friends and partners. Zimbabwe’s foreign policy continues to be focused on engagement and re-engagement with other countries for mutual benefit.

Fellow Zimbabweans;

The Second Republic has, since its inception, accelerated the entrenchment and consolidation of democracy, constitutionalism and the rule of law in pursuit of social justice and equal opportunities for the economic empowerment of the previously marginalised majority.

Informed by a cardinal ethos during the liberation struggle, the 2nd Republic’s thrust in the fight against corruption is unwavering. My administration therefore makes no apologies for fixing our systems across the socio, economic and political spectrum.

Accountability and transparency will keep on being enforced in every facet of our society.

The door to the old manner of doing things is closed. The corrupt way is shut and those who choose that route will face dire consequences.

Peace, unity, harmony and love are prerequisites for the achievement of our country’s
prosperity and sustainable socio-economic development.

We are forever grateful to our security service sector, which continue to protect our independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity.

In view of the upsurge of COVID-19 infections and deaths,we all need to be more vigilant in fighting this scourge.We must all adhere to the World Health Organisation,WHO, guidelinbes which include wearing masks, social distancing and practicing good hygene. Government will ccontinue to scale up testing, contact tracing and isolating those who have tested positive.

Fellow Compatriots,
Thank you for joining us at this commemorative event. I once again exhort you to remain
united as we face the years ahead, inspired by those who paid the supreme price to
liberate our beloved country. May the souls of our departed heroes and heroines rest in
eternal peace. May we who remain continue to work tirelessly for the prosperity of our
motherland, Zimbabwe.

In unity and love nothing is impossible. Forward ever, backward never.
Long live our heroes and heroines!
Long live our unity, peace and freedom!
Long live Zimbabwe!
God bless you all.
God bless Zimbabwe!

By Jane Mlambo| MDC-T Secretary General Douglas Mwonzora has welcomed the appointment of the special envoy to Zimbabwe saying their approach to the impending discussion is to find a last solution to problems bedeviling the country.

Posting on Twitter this morning, Mwonzora said in the forthcoming discussions involving the special envoy, they will be guided by “what is in the best interests of Zimbabwe’s long suffering masses.”

“We welcome the appointment of the special envoy to Zimbabwe. Our approach in the impending discussion is to find a lasting solution to Zimbabwe’s problems. In this regard we will be guided by what is in the best interests of Zimbabwe’s long suffering masses,” said Mwonzora.

South African President, Cyril Ramaphosa appointed a special envoy composed of former ANC Chairperson Baleka Mbete and Sydney Mufamadi to visit Zimbabwe on a fact finding mission.

Farai Dziva|Independence celebrations are futile due to the persecution of innocent citizens by Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa, MDC Alliance leader, Advocate Nelson Chamisa has said.

In his Independence Day message, President Chamisa said there is no freedom to celebrate in Zimbabwe because of the rampant abuse of human rights by Mr Mnangagwa’s administration.

See President Chamisa’s statement :

Fellow citizens, Our cdes Hopewell,Jacob and all others under persecution count on all of us for support and solidarity.

There is no real or true freedom for us when fellow citizens are unjustly deprived of their freedoms.

Fighting corruption is a collective and just fight.

Rights and freedoms of all Zimbabweans is our key duty!An injury to one is an injury to all.We must all stand together in peace to bring freedom, peace and justice to our land.

We must have happiness, prosperity and opportunities in our lifetime!!This all demands you & us all to make a difference.Zimbabwe needs you.

Zimbabwe needs us all!#ZimbabweanLivesMatter

Watch President Emmerson Mnangagwa presenting his Heroes Day address.

VIEW VIDEO LOADING BELOW…

1. Heroes’ Day in Zimbabwe is supposed to be a special day to celebrate the country’s heroes for the sacrifices they made to liberate this country with the hope of ensuring that the majority enjoy human rights and are treated with dignity.

2. Today, Heroes’ Day comes when the country is experiencing one of its worst human rights crises in decades. Not that Zimbabwe’s problems started today. The country has had phases of human rights violations, mostly perpetrated by the State, & all these have not been resolved.

3.The country has a long-standing need for a comprehensive, integrated and inclusive process for well-meaning healing. So, as envoys appointed by South African president Cyril Ramaphosa come into the country, ZPP welcomes the initiative & wishes to state the following:

4. To #SAZimEnvoy It’s true that indeed, in recent weeks human rights actors, political activists and the general citizens have been subjected to arbitrary arrests, abductions and torture for merely expressing discontent with how government is running the affairs of the State.

5. To #SAZimEnvoy The State has flagrantly violated the rights of some of the detained, like journalist Hopewell Chin’ono and political leader Jacob Ngarivhume, as well as human rights activist Godfrey Kurauone.

6. To #SAZimEnvoy: After being transferred to a maximum security prison, Chino’ono and Ngarivhume were denied confidential access to their lawyers. The two were also denied access to the food they need based on their dietary requirements.

6. To #SAZimEnvoy: The ruling party, Zanu PF has incited violence through its acting spokesperson, Patrick Chinamasa. Being the ruling party and having control of the State security apparatus, Chinamasa virtually declared war against citizens and non-supporters of Zanu PF

7. To #SAZimEnvoy During the past four months, ZPP, through its wide, national network of human rights monitors, has recorded a worrying trend, where the State security agents, mainly the police and the soldiers, have been the major perpetrators of human rights violations.

8. To #SAZimEnvoy: During the month of July alone, ZPP recorded 48 cases of unlawful detention, 68 cases of assault and 168 cases of harassment and intimidation, 15 cases of abduction and torture, with the majority of these being attributable to state security agents.

9. To #SAZimEnvoy The State security agents contributed to a combined 80.66 percent of all human rights violations this month . The state security agents have used the Covid-19 lockdown period to stifle basic human rights.

10. To #SaZimEnvoy: The health delivery infrastructure is so dilapidated that “unborn children and mothers are dying daily.” In one case in July, seven out of eight babies suffered stillbirths in one night at Harare Hospital.

11. To #SAZimEnvoy @WFP has projected that the number of Zimbabweans facing food insecurity could reach 8.6 million by the end of the year. Zimbabwe is now considered one of the four most food-insecure countries in the world, alongside Yemen, Somalia and South Sudan.

12. In light of all this, it is clear that Zimbabwe is a nation in dire need of being brought together for an inclusive approach to solving all these problems. ZPP therefore recommends that as the SA envoys do their work, they must consider the following:

13. The #SAZimEnvoy is urged to approach the Zimbabwean problem as not an internal Zanu PF issue. The entire country is suffering, and requires a break from human rights violations and the economic meltdown, which in itself has become a human rights issue

14. Inclusivity is key. It would be important for the #SaZimEnvoy to take an inclusive approach. Politics is not the only problem in Zim. It is therefore crucial that the envoys consult the civil society, church, other political players, the media, business and industry.

15. We ask that the #SAZimEnvoy implore govt to end to arbitrary & politically motivated arrests, abductions & stifling of freedoms. Perpetrators should be brought to book. Only when the State stops preying on its people will the country can begin to find a permanent solution

16. To the Zim govt, this is an opportunity for the beginning of an end to the crisis in Zimbabwe and that this should not be reduced to a political mudslinging that can only take the country into further abyss.

17. As ZPP, we will continue to insist that Zimbabwe’s solution lies in the end to this terror, and the realisation by government that they are there to serve the interests of Zimbabweans

By Luke Tamborinyoka| Today, Zimbabweans celebrate Heroes Day; that day when national valour is honoured and cherished on our land.

It is that day when we remember, salute and commemorate the huge sacrifice that went into liberating this country from the yoke of repression, oppression, indignity and colonialism.

This year we celebrate this day like no other. For the day comes when the unarmed heroic citizens of this land have done it again. They have pushed the kleptocratic elite in government into a corner. And now the whole world is sonorously reminding those on the seat of power, whose hands are dripping in the blood of innocent citizens, that#Zimbabweanlivesmatter.

By the mere threat of exercising their democratic right, Zimbabweans have invited a morbid response from the citadel of power. The inept regime has inadvertently paraded its murderous traits on the streets and in the villages. Unarmed—and by dint of a mere threat to streetify their anger through peaceful action—the heroic citizens of this land have baited out this callous regime.

And indeed, in brutal fashion, this government has now successfully debunked the myth that they are a Second Republic. They have proved to all and sundry that this is in no way a new era but a new error. Nay, a new terror for in our case the real terrorists are in government. They they have shown they are not a Second Republic but a more brutal and lethal version of the First!!

Through the people’s heroic act of inaction, the Mnangagwa regime has repressively shown it is fearful of the very people from whom he and his inner circle steal every day. Baited by mere threats from the heroic sons and daughters of this land, Mnangagwa streetified the roguenes of his illegitimate government which came into office through a coup in 2017 and pilfered its way again into office in 2018.

Even in the middle of a lockdown actuated by a global pandemic, the regime has unlocked its full wrath on the citizens. As masked citizens go about their innocent business to feed their families, by their mere threat of action, they have successfully unmasked and de-masked this murderous beast masquerading as a President.

We are a nation of heroes.

The milieu of armed soldiers and police officers harrassing and arresting citizens on the streets and the spectre of unbridled avarice and unmitigated corruption in the ruling elite have all conspired to betray and expose the murderous and clueless lot steering the ship of the State.

Unbeknown to this regime, the essence of power has evolved over the years. Power has shifted from its traditional condign and brutal expression through guns and armies to the benign parlance of charm, diplomacy, non-violence and persuasion. Indeed, the world has largely moved from hard power to embrace the utility of soft and smart power. The world in the brave 21st century has largely moved from coercion to persuasion, from harm to charm. The notion of hard power as expressed through guns, gunfire, batons, tear smoke and military tanks is no longer in vogue. Analogue Mnangagwa does not know that in this brave digital age, any regime that rains live bullets on defenceless citizens legitimately shouting to be heard and that sexually abuses women, including an Honourable member of Parliament, will invoke a torrent of international outrage and condemnation.

It was Armitage and Nye (2007) who posited that while militaries were well-suited to fighting States, they are often poor instruments in fighting ideas. One can’t use the military to fight ideas. And in Zimbabwe the desire for change is a big idea so embedded in the national psyche that it can’t be fought by traditional weapons such as guns, batons and tear smoke. Martin van Creveld (1991), in his seminal work called The Transformation of War, makes a poignant argument about the futility of traditional weapons in the evolving arena of Strategic Studies. And someone must tell this analogue regime that you don’t kill poor people to fight poverty; that military power and brute force are now grossly unsuitable to fight ideas and opinions. The fast-changing world has proved to be quite a challenge to rogue governments such as the Mnangagwa regime whose fixation and dalliance with violence for political survival is Machiavellian, if not Fanonian.

Like the dinosaur, rogue regimes such as ours are inextricably caught up in a time warp. They run the very serious risk of extinction due to their failure to adapt to a dynamic and rapidly changing world.

The world has now embraced the utility of soft power. And those still stuck up in the age-old penchant for military prowess will find it difficult to cope in this brave century of twitter and Instagram. How do you fight unarmed civilians with brute force and guns? Just how do you cope with complex nuances that don’t call for violence but that have a huge potential of changing the world and redefining human circumstances?

This explains why simple, non-violent expressions have left indelible footprints in the people’s daily struggles for dignity and respect. You don’t shoot your way or brutally curtail rights and get away with it anymore. Nowadays simple gestures of soft power carry the day and can change the terrain and manner in which a country is governed

She did not carry a gun but on Thursday, 1 December 1955, Rosa Parks, a black simple taylor’s assistant sparked the famous Montgomery bus boycott when she refused to stand for white passengers as was the norm in the USA then. The black woman refused to stand for her white compatriots in a solemn historical gesture that engendered a tectonic historical impact and redefined governance in America. Rosa remained glued to her seat and refused to stand up for whites. She remained seated so that the dignity of the black people could stand again. The simple gesture by Rosa Parks phenomenally challenged the racist status quo and the United States would never be the same again Sometimes it is the simple non-violent gestures that do it, such as the mere threat for action that baited the beast in the regime in Harare and attracted international condemnation in a manner that could redraw a people’s despondent circumstances. SADC leaders have voiced their concern and the United Nations has expressed its outrage. By the seismic repressive consequence of a people’s heroic threat for action, the AU chair is now deploying his emmisaries to Harare through a mission whose sincerity we are still to evaluate.

The fact remains that we celebrate this year’s Heroes Day when the valiant people of this land have successfully and tactfully brought world attention to the brutality and to the human rights crisis in Zimbabwe—-a crisis engendered and authored by those who claim to have fought for the country’s independence.

So today we commemorate this Heroes Day with the world’s eyes firmly trained on Zimbabwe.

On another note, I have often said the biggest national folly over the years has been to regard heroism as only limited and confined to the gargantuan sacrifice associated with our liberation struggle. As a nation we ought to seriously reflect on this monumental handicap.

Heroes Day should be a day to celebrate national heroism in all areas of endeavour including sport, the arts and other non-political vocations. Even the new heroes that have emerged in our current political struggle to complete the unfinished business of our sacred war of liberation deserve recognition.

True, our national war of liberation will remain an epic chapter in our national story considering that our national independence did not come cheap. Zimbabweans—both villagers and the liberation war fighters—combined as fish and water to swim the nation to political independence in April 1980. It will always remain a unique tale of national heroism that this country waged a brutal war of liberation to subdue racist and colonial repression.

Many paid the supreme price. Thousands of the patriotic sons and daughters of this land lost their limbs so the collective national whim could walk again. Today, we remember their heroism that delivered a whole nation and its sovereignty.

The tragedy is that we have narrowed this great day only to the celebration of our political achievement. Heroism is not just political. As a nation, we have exhibited and displayed valour in many other spheres that ought to be included in the moments that we cherish national heroism. This fixation with gallantry as depicting only the story of our liberation struggle has led to the tragic folly in which an organ of a political party determines and declares heroes in our country.

True heroism, even if a nation decides to go for declaring it, should have such declaration and conferment done by a multi-stakeholder national committee that looks at excellence beyond our war of liberation.

Zimbabweans know that the current democratic struggles are an attempt to complete the unfinished business of the liberation—the reason being that in 1980, we achieved political independence without the necessary freedoms. Indeed, independence came alone, unaccompanied by the requisite freedoms that should have ensured that citizens were protected by and from their own government.

And even if politics were to be the yard-stick of heroism—which it should not–heroes are not necessarily found in Zanu PF. All those patriotic Zimbabweans including Ndabaningi Sithole, Edgar Zivanai Tekere and Morgan Tsvangirai are national heroes too. I do not wish to include Nelson Chamisa lest I am accused of being subjective. But he too has left his own indelible footprints on the sands of this country’s history.

But that is a story for another day.

We may sit in our motley political group called the Politburo and claim to be “declaring” national heroes but the truth is that true heroism is never declared or conferred by anyone. True heroism is attained in one’s lifetime; it is the cherished memories human beings leave behind in the course of the tenuous journeys of their lives.

Nelson Mandela died a few years ago and was buried in his home village of Qunu, not in any special acre or hectare reserved for heroes. Yet world leaders, including the then US President Barrack Obama and our own Robert Mugabe and Morgan Tsvangirai descended on that village as the world saluted the global icon.

No politburo sat anywhere to confer Madiba with any hero status but his funeral in that village grabbed world attention and left no one under any shadow of doubt that true heroism is never conferred. It imposes itself.

As Zimbabwe celebrates Heroes’ Day today, we must reflect on whether we are doing justice in the way we cherish national excellence. One would have thought this is the moment to celebrate our country’s sons and daughters in all spheres whose works and capabilities have shone through the mediocrity of our time.

Heroes go beyond politics. We all have our frailties as mortal human beings but I will hazard a personal view and say today we ought to be celebrating our national heroes such as Peter Ndlovu, Moses Chunga, Thomas Mapfumo, Alick Macheso, Byron, Wayne and Cara Black.

On Oliver Mtukudzi, we did well by granting him the highest national honour.

Heroes Day should be broadened for the nation to spare a thought for Proud “Kilimanajaro” Chinembiri, Afonso Zvenyika, Jairos Jiri, Margaret Dongo and the many sons and daughters of this great land whose achievements we must all cherish across the racial, political, religious and ethnic divide.

We should remember Joshua Nkomo alongside Rekai Tangwena, Hebert Wiltshire Chitepo and even our Mighty Warriors who in 2016 were one of only two teams representing the African continent at the Rio Olympics in Brazil. They were in Rio de Janeiro representing not even national but continental excellence. We must always cherish their achievement.

Heroes’ day should be about celebrating the broad successes and achievements of this nation’s sons and daughters in their various zones of distinction.

Given our painful national moment, I wish to conclude by saying today should be about celebrating every Zimbabwean within and outside the country.

Indeed, we are a nation of heroes and heroines.

When you have millions of people slugging out a living every day with whole families surviving on less than US35 cents a day, they are heroes.

The rest of us are vendors and small-time traders, honestly earning a living through the rigours of honest, hard work. Our daily grind may have been curtailed by a fearful regime hiding behind the Covid-19 pandemic but vendors and all informal traders are national heroes.

Those millions who survive by selling wares on the pavements of our cities need to be celebrated today. They chose a life of honesty and hard work.

Indeed, they are national heroes.

Millions have left the country to do menial jobs but collectively, every year, they remit millions of dollars that are aiding national sustenance.

They are national heroes.

Those old men and women in the villages queuing for food handouts without raising a whimper of the indignity of it all are true national heroes.

Those remaining workers in our few companies, civic and political outfits who have gone some for months on end without a salary—are national heroes. They are honestly working and praying for a new dawn for the country that they love.

The rest of the civil service who toil every day and wait patiently for inadequate tokenism at the end of the month while government prioritizes those with bombs and guns are national heroes.

They deserve to be celebrated today.

Not everyone is in the cockpit of power and can afford fleecing taxpayers and struggling parastatals as is the case with the few connected, particularly Mnangagwa’s inner circle and the kleptocratic lot in the Office of the President and Cabinet. The rest of us are hard-working, valiant citizens who continue to work and live honestly in the hope that tomorrow will be a better day.

We are all part of this nation of heroes.

Yes, every Zimbabwean is a national hero and today I particularly take note of the unarmed Zimbabweans who have invited world attention to this murderous lot in government merely by threatening to exercise their Constitutional rights. The cornered regime is flailing and squeaking as the whole world shouts out for peace in Zimbabwe, thanks to a simple heroic threat by the unarmed citizens of this land.

We are national heroes.

Spon. And very soon the heroic people of this land will free themselves from the clutches of repression.

Hope springs eternally in us. We, the people, are the very people we have been waiting for.

Indeed, we are a nation of heroes.

Luke Tamborinyoka is the Deputy Secretary for Presidential Affairs in the MDC Alliance led by Advocate Nelson Chamisa. He is a multiple award-winning journalist who once served as the elected secretary-general of the Zimbabwe Union of Journalists and was also spokesperson to the country’s democracy icon, Morgan Tsvangirai. Tamborinyoka is an ardent political scientist who won the Book Prize for Best Student when he graduated with a Bachelor of Science Honours degree in Political Science at the University of Zimbabwe. You can interact with him on Facebook or on the twitter handle @luke_tambo.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa is expected to make his heroes day address today amid rising tension in the country owing to heightened pressure from citizens for the ruling government to end human rights abuses.

Trending under the hashtag #ZimbabweanLivesMatter, citizens have once again found a voice to speak out against alleged abduction and detention of government critics.

The social media noise has yielded massive results with regional bodies including African Union committing to look into the issue while South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has since appointed a special envoy team to visit Zimbabwe for a fact finding mission.

While the world has been awakened to rights abuses in Zimbabwe, Mnangagwa and his administration appear unshaken as they continue to dismiss the reports.

In his address a week ago, Mnangagwa threatened to flash out what he termed dark forces, in reference to opposition activists.

As he makes his second address in under a week, will Mnangagwa continue with his vindictive path of threatening to deal with those opposed to his administration.

While he makes his heroes day address, citizens are expecting him to chat a new path for the country and act as a statesman and a leader who should be seeking to build bridges.

“As a leader of the country, we don’t expect Mnangagwa to continue ignoring citizens however minority they are, there is currently noise about rights abuses and instead of government committing to investigate, they are being defensive and it doesn’t work, he should at least show commitment to look into it, all this labeling of citizens as enemies of the state should never come from the head of state,” said one Harare resident Tobias Magwaza.

The permanent secretary in the Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Ndavaningi Mangwana, said it is natural that there are excesses by security forces when enforcing lockdown measures across the country.

This follows numerous reports of people, including journalists, who have been brutality assaulted by soldiers and police under the guise of enforcing lockdown regulations.

Speaking during an interview after touring radio stations in Gweru – ZBC’s 95.4 FM and AB Communications’ 98.4FM – Mangwana argued that even United States of America forces have been accused of using excessive force during the Iraq and Afghan wars. He said:

We have laws that are supposed to be implemented. President Mnangagwa recently said there is a complainants mechanism to be publicised for people to report abuse by law enforcers.

He also said lockdown measures should be implemented in a humane way so that’s the way we want it to be. But in all situations, there are always excesses. That’s natural.

American soldiers in Baghdad, Iraq, Afghanistan, were reported to have used excessive force and this happens in any situation where people are involved.

A Beitbridge man had his calf nearly ripped off by a police dog while the officers were chasing after illegal money changers in the town last week.

In another incident, a Mabvuku man, David Mutendera, was left with facial injuries after he was reportedly assaulted by soldiers on 5 August after arriving home around 7 pm in violation of the dusk-to-dawn COVID-19 curfew.

 

 

Speaking at the Women’s Day rally which was held at the Fourways Memorial park next to Winnie Mandela’s grave in South Africa, Malema said Zimbabweans should stop fighting through hashtags but should take the fight to President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s doorstep.

Watch full video downloading below.

 

 

 

President Emmerson Mnangagwa has received praises from the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Organ Troika Summit plus Force Intervention Brigade Troop Contributing Countries (FIB – TCCs) on how he has led the Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Co-operation displaying outstanding leadership.

The praises were made after the recently held summit which included SADC Troika members, United Nations and the DRC.

Read the full communique below:

The Organ Troika Summit plus FIB – TCCs and the DRC commended H.E President Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa, the Chairperson of SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Co-operation for his outstanding leadership and for a fruitful Summit.

The Southern African Development Community (SADC) Organ Troika Summit plus Force Intervention Brigade Troop Contributing Countries (FIB – TCCs) and the DRC (The OTS Plus meeting) was held, virtually, on 05 August 2020.

2. The Organ Troika Summit plus FIB – TCCs and the DRC was officially opened by H.E President Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa, the Chairperson of the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Co-operation.

3. The Organ Troika Summit plus FIB – TCCs and the DRC was attended by the following Heads of State and Government:

Zimbabwe: H.E. President Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa, The President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, and the Chairperson of the Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Co-operation.

Botswana: H.E. President Dr. Mokgweetsi Eric Keabetswe Masisi, President of the Republic of Botswana, and the In-coming Chairperson of the Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation.

Zambia: H.E. President Edgar Chagwa Lungu, The President of the Republic of Zambia, and the Outgoing Chairperson of the Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation.

DRC: H.E. President Félix Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo, The President of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Malawi: H.E. President Dr. Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera, The President of the Republic of Malawi.

South Africa: H.E. President Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa, The President of Republic of South Africa.

Tanzania: Prof. Palamagamba John Aidan Mwaluko Kabudi, Minister of Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation, Representing H.E. President Dr. John Pombe Magufuli the President of United Republic of Tanzania.

4. The Organ Troika Summit plus FIB – TCCs and the DRC was also attended by the Executive Secretary of SADC, H.E Dr. Stergomena Lawrence Tax.

5. The Organ Troika Summit plus FIB – TCCs and the DRC noted the strategic review of the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) that was conducted in October 2019, and the subsequent adoption of Resolution 2502 of December 2019 that renewed the MONUSCO mandate for the period of one year.

6 The Organ Troika Summit plus FIB – TCCs and the DRC commended the Force Intervention Brigade Troop Contributing Countries for their tremendous commitment, and continued deployment of their troops in fighting the negative forces in DRC.

7. The Organ Troika Summit plus FIB – TCCs and the DRC, expressed gratitude to the United Nations for the continued support to the SADC Region and the DRC, while noting with concern the unilateral decision by the United Nations to reconfigure the Force Intervention Brigade contrary to SADC position.

8. The Organ Troika Summit plus FIB – TCCs and the DRC reiterated SADC position as was submitted to the UN Secretary-General which, among others, appealed that the Force Intervention Brigade should not be tampered with.

9. The Organ Troika Summit plus FIB– TCCs and the DRC welcomed the position of the Government of the DRC that it fully supports the SADC position regarding the reconfiguration of the FIB.

10 The Organ Troika Summit plus FIB – TCCs and the DRC called upon the United Nations Secretary-General to convene a consultative meeting with SADC to engage on the SADC position on the reconfiguration of the FIB.

11. The Organ Troika Summit plus FIB – TCCs and the DRC commended H.E President Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa, the Chairperson of SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Co-operation for his outstanding leadership and for a fruitful Summit.

Strive Masiyiwa has urged communities to avoid attending funerals and traditional gatherings as much as possible. He posted on his Facebook page:

A dear friend called me the other day quite distressed because his brother’s wife had just died, and he and his immediate family were trying to decide whether to attend the funeral or not.

My advice was simple and honest: “Funerals are what are known as ‘COVID Superspreaders’. If you want to go to more funerals, then keep attending Funeral Wakes (traditional gatherings that take place when someone dies).

“I know it is our tradition to attend funeral wakes, but that is one tradition we just have to suspend for now. Next year we can have beautiful funeral services for anyone who dies now.”

My friend was so distraught. Then I reminded him what Jesus Christ had said about upholding traditions that stifle progress.

Then he called his brother and they had a terrible row, initially. But he stuck to his guns until his brother relented. They then called their relatives and told them there would be no Funeral Wake (no gatherings at the house).

A small hand-picked group of relatives, made up of fit young people, would handle the burial and they would then self-isolate together for two weeks.

Now is that disrespecting the dead? No! What greater disrespect can there be than to have others die in order to bury them?

There is nothing that says a tradition cannot be set aside or suspended if it is a threat to public health or progress in society.

Chiefs, Pastors, local politicians, community leaders can help arrest the spread of this disease by providing leadership on something like this.

They can reassure people that during times of war (and this is a war) we often have to suspend some traditions.

The spread of Ebola in West Africa was only truly stopped in 2014 when we realized that funerals were acting as “Superspreading events” and we reached out to local leaders who acted quickly.

If you are a local councillor, Member of Parliament, Pastor, Imam, chief – it’s time to lead.

And this is where we start.

STATEMENT ON SITUATION OF HOPEWELL CHIN’ONO AND JACOB NGARIVHUME

1. During the late hours of 7 August 2020, the legal team representing Hopewell Chin’ono received information that Hopewell, together with Jacob Ngarivhume were being moved to Chikurubi Maximum prison. This transfer had not been communicated formally to the legal

representatives beforehand.

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2. Lead counsel, Beatrice Mtetwa telephoned the Officer in Charge Harare Remand Prison, who confirmed that he had received instructions from above to that effect.

3. After the lawyers discussed the situation of Hopewell and Jacob, it was agreed that there should be at least two visits a day, with at least one relative/friend present. This would enable the two to have at least two meals a day and lawyers would also keep an eye on their general well-being.

4. At 11:09 hours Roselyn Hanzi was the first lawyer to arrive at the main entrance of Chikurubi Maximum Prison and proceeded to the second gate without much delay. Upon arrival at the second gate at 11:14 hours after introducing herself and stating the nature of her business, the prison officer at the gate advised her that all visits (lawyers or relatives) were not being allowed since the lockdown and that only emergency visits would be allowed. In response, Roselyn advised the prison officer that she had previously visited other clients at this prison after the lockdown. She was told to wait as authority had to be sought. After 11 minutes, she was eventually allowed access and proceeded to drive to the car park.

5. At the last gate of the Maximum-Security Prison, after introducing herself and stating the nature of her business, she was advised to wait as authority had to be sought from senior officers inside the prison. She waited for 30 minutes and was told that she would only be allowed access to discuss legal issues with her client, as social visits were not allowed. She was also told that food and any other items would not be allowed into the maximum-Security Prison. At about 12:00 hours she was escorted to the reception area within the prison.

6. Hopewell was escorted to the reception area, and he was wearing khaki shorts, a short-sleeved prison shirt, short socks and a pair of slippers. His legs were also shackled in leg irons, making it rather difficult for him to move.

7. After the recording of the lawyer’s details, Roselyn requested to use a private section of the reception to consult with her client. The prison officer categorically advised her that the only consultation that would be allowed would be in front of the prison officers. Roselyn Hanzi again requested for privacy within a section of the reception where the prison officers could have sight, but not be within earshot of the discussions. Roselyn explained that she had visited other clients before, such as Jestina Mukoko and she was allowed that privacy, Roselyn also explained that in terms of the law, communication between a lawyer and client is privileged and confidential. The two male prison officers at the reception advised that they had direct orders not to allow lawyers to consult with clients if they could not hear the discussions. Upon requesting to speak to a more senior prison officer, at 12:25 hours, Roselyn was told that she would be escorted outside the Maximum Prison Complex while the prisoner officers sought instructions on this request.

8. After about 15 minutes, Roselyn was invited back into the maximum-security prison. Upon entering, she was advised by the prison officer that the request to consult Hopewell in private within eyesight was not allowed. After insisting that the consultation would not be possible she was advised that the Commissioner General’s Standing Order, Part VII Visits and Communication, section 140(6) did not allow this. She was allowed to read the relevant section after she advised that she wanted to engage the relevant prison officials on this illegal section.

The offending section reads: “Unless specifically authorized by the Commissioner-General, all visits by a legal practitioner shall be in the presence and hearing of an officer who understands the language used and it shall be a condition of the visit that the legal practitioner may only discuss matters arising from his employment as the legal representative of the detainee.’

The Commissioner General’s Standing Orders are in direct violation of section 50(5)(b) of the Constitution.

9. After advising the prison officers at the gate that she would want to take this issue up with the Officer Commanding Prisons, the prison officers informed her that there would be no need to see Hopewell. She was only allowed after insisting that he has a right to know why the consultation was not going to proceed as she wanted to explain to him the limitations placed on the requirement that any discussion had to be within hearing of prison officers as this was

illegal.

10. After having been allowed access, Roselyn was able to explain to Hopewell the limitations imposed and the inability to proceed to discuss anything relating to the case. She enquired on his welfare.

11. Hopewell advised that he was initially strip-searched and eventually moved at night to Chikurubi Maximum Complex. After inquiring about whether Hopewell could be provided with the jersey, the prison officers advised that they did not have any more jerseys in stock.

12. Roselyn then loudly advised Hopewell that she would be reporting to the lead lawyer, Beatrice Mtwetwa, that she could not take any further instructions as she was not allowed access in private.

13. The prison officers expressed their concerns on having several lawyers coming to visit Hopewell indicating that the lawyers must organize themselves and come in as a team at one time.

14. Hopewell explained that since he is not able to consult with Roselyn, she will have to report back to the senior lawyer as this was going to affect the preparation for his bail hearing which is due on Wednesday.

15. Jacob Ngarivhume’s lawyer, Moses Nkomo arrived at the main gate at 13:30 hours. Jacob’s wife accompanied him and after introducing himself, he was allowed in without much delay.

16. On arrival at the second gate, he was quizzed on who else he had come with to the prison. Moses was advised to wait while the prison officers consulted with their superiors. Moses waited for about 30 minutes before he was told that the instruction from the superiors was that only lawyers were allowed to enter.

17. Moses proceeded to the Maximum Security Complex. At the last gate, he was made to wait while the authority of the superiors was sought. He waited for another 20 minutes before being escorted to the reception.

18. While Jacob was being brought from the cells, Moses requested the female prison officer in charge of the reception if he could bring in some food which he had brought for Jacob and initially the officer had permitted him to bring limited quantities but she later said her superiors had instructed her not to allow any food from outside under whatever circumstances.

19. Jacob was escorted into the reception and the female prison officer advised that the lawyer could only consult his client in the presence of the prison officers and that they wanted to hear the conversation.

20. Moses inquired about bringing warm clothing for his client and was advised that this was not permitted.

21. Beatrice Mtetwa arrived at the first gate at 14:00 hours in the company of Hopewell’s sister. They were advised to wait for 10 minutes whilst authority was sought.

22. They then proceeded to the second gate and were made to wait for 25 minutes for authority to be given. Beatrice then drove to the car park and proceeded to the last gate at the Maximum Complex where it took another 10 minutes for authority to enter the prison to be granted.

23. Once inside, Beatrice found Moses (Jacob Ngaruvhume’s lawyer) inside the reception area. The Prison Officer in charge had to get authority for Beatrice to see Hopewell, give him food and warm clothes. Her superior, officer Maramba needed to get authority from his own boss. After a lot of pleading and reference to the law, Beatrice was allowed as a once-off to give them (Hopewell and Jacob) food on condition they ate in front of everyone.

24. Beatrice and Moses then requested to consult their clients in private. Again private consultation was not allowed for the lawyers.

25. Beatrice and Moses had to leave the Complex and collect food which was in the cars. On returning a more senior prison officer, had arrived and overturned the earlier authority to allow them food.

26. Another haggling session commenced, and by then the prison kitchen had closed. The two lawyers requested that on humanitarian grounds, they should be allowed to eat as they had last had food to eat at lunchtime the previous day (on 7 August). Gumisiro, the senior prison officer who had overturned the earlier authority then gave them 5 minutes to eat. Although Jacob was able to eat like a soldier at war, Hopewell managed a few spoons and gave up.

27. Lawyers sought permission to bring in warm clothes as prison has no jerseys, this request was denied. Lawyers were told that only the red and white prison jersey is allowed and the lawyers have to source the jerseys for the clients.

28. Both Hopewell and Jacob are on medication. They need to eat before taking they take their medication. The two Jacob and Hopewell do not eat sadza for medical reasons, but they were advised that prisons only serves sadza, thereby leaving them without access to food.

29. It was emphasized that home food was not allowed because of COVID19. When lawyers pointed out that Harare Remand has a far higher turnover rate, and is, therefore, more susceptible to COVID19, yet home food is allowed, this fell on deaf ears.

30. Lawyers also pointed out that the World Health Organization recommends hot food, the prison officer said Hopewell and Jacob could eat hot prison food.

31. The prison officers further indicated that relatives and other social visits were not allowed.

32. The prison officers further indicated that lawyers would only be allowed to visit and consult with their lawyers between 09:00 hours and 14:00 hours.

So basically, all their fundamental rights, including the right to food, the right to give instructions to lawyers in private have been taken away. The presumption of innocence simply does not exist in this case.

Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR)

There was a lot of confusion and concern last week when a ZIMRA memo started doing rounds on social media. The memo seemed to imply that anyone who wanted to visit ZIMRA offices had to produce a Covid-19 testing certificate before they could be attended as part of the tax collector’s bid to curb the spread of Covid-19.

ZIMRA has since issued a statement to clarify the contents of this mem.

The Zimbabwe Revenue Authority wishes to correct misleading information that was contained in an internally generated notice that was issued to clearing agents on the 6th of August, 2020.

The statement under the heading Notice to all clearing agents, transporters-measures to contain the rise in cases of Covid-19 infections at border posts, gives the incorrect impression that all persons, clients and stakeholders visiting Zimra premises are required to produce proof of having been recently tested for Covid-19.

This is not the correct position, Zimra does not require a certificate or proof of recent negative Covid-19 tests from its stakeholders visiting any of its offices or premises.

ZISCOSTEEL Finance Executive Munashe Mabheza has succumbed to the Coronavirus.

Mabheza passed on Saturday night at his home in Redcliff.

Redcliff Mayor Clayton Masiyatsva revealed the death.

“This is the first Covid-19 death in Redcliff. We have gathered that the now deceased is Mr Mabheza, the Financial Executive at Ziscosteel. He died at his home,” Masiyatsva said.

“He didn’t know that he had contracted the deadly virus. It was only after the rapid response team had gone to his place that they discovered he had Covid-19 after testing was conducted by Mars.

“His family initially bared the tasksforce insisting that no-one was sick at the place. It was only after his health deteriorated that they called Mars. Unfortunately, he couldn’t be saved so he died at home,” Masiyatsva said.

Midlands has since become one of the epicentres of the deadly virus after Harare and Bulawayo.

Midlands has 390 Covid-19 cases and 5 deaths.

Nationally 105 people have succumbed to Covid-19 out of 4 575 cases.

BBC

Could a social media hashtag – tapping into the energy and anger of the global #BlackLivesMatter phenomenon – help achieve in Zimbabwe what years of street protests, strikes and political campaigns have so clearly failed to do?

Over the last few days, in response to a particularly brutal, public, widespread, and on-going clampdown by security forces, the hashtag #ZimbabweanLivesMatter has gone viral, globally.

Celebrities like rappers Ice Cube , AKA and Lecrae and actresses Thandie Newton and Pearl Thusi have expressed support for – or at least interest in – what appears to be an exploding grassroots campaign against the government of President Emmerson Mnangagwa, the man who took over from former leader Robert Mugabe.

“It captured the imagination of the population. Citizens coming together. I think this is what the whole world felt,” said the novelist Tsitsi Dangarembga of the hashtag and the non-political movement behind it.

She was arrested by troops last Friday, and later charged and released, after taking part in a planned street protest which the government described as an attempted “insurrection” by “terrorists”.

"I am just grateful the world has taken the message seriously. Things seem to be coming to such a head now that it is impossible to look away"", Source: Tsitsi Dangarembga, Source description: Writer and Booker Prize nominee, Image: Tsitsi Dangarembga

“I was in the holding cells with two men who had been tortured. One has severe kidney damage,” said Ms Dangarembga, who was recently longlisted for the prestigious Booker Prize.

“I am just grateful the world has taken the [#ZimbabweanLivesMatter] message seriously. Things seem to be coming to such a head now that it is impossible to look away.”

In hiding: ‘I’m in my bunker’
Zimbabwe has gone through years of profound economic hardship, hyperinflation, a coup, disputed elections, mysterious abductions, growing hunger, the recent arrival of Covid-19, and repeated, violent security crackdowns.

Much of the growing global social media focus has, it seems certain, been fuelled – as elsewhere – by the spread of mobile phone technology which has enabled activists and citizens to film and broadcast footage of assaults, injuries and other abuses almost in real time.

“The ferocity and broad appeal of the #ZimbabweanLivesMatter campaign has unnerved the regime,” said the prominent journalist Mduduzi Mathuthu, during a phone interview from his hiding place in Zimbabwe. “I’m in my bunker,” he commented dryly.

Mathuthu’s investigative reports have exposed alleged corruption by senior government officials.

Last Thursday he fled from his home, fearing for his life, after being alerted about an imminent police raid.

Mathuthu’s nephew was later abducted – allegedly by security agents – and then dumped, badly injured, on the roadside three days later.

A doctor’s report, seen by the BBC, confirmed the 22-year-old “had extensive bruising, huge subcutaneous tissue damage… acute kidney injuries, and post-traumatic stress disorder”.

"Hashtags come and go, but Zanu-PF endures beyond the 'trending'"", Source: Obert Mpofu, Source description: Former cabinet minister, Image: Obert Mpofu
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“Instead of listening to the legitimate concerns raised by so many Zimbabweans, President Mnangagwa has… discarded the last veneer of a reformist,” Mathuthu said.

“His shock troops have their marching orders and we should brace for a brutal campaign against those demanding change,” he warned.

Indeed, in a televised address on Tuesday, President Mnangagwa made it clear that his security forces would continue to crush dissent .

Portraying the anti-corruption movement as the work of “a few rogue Zimbabweans acting in league with foreign detractors”, he vowed to “defend the motherland from any form of attack”, and warned of “dark forces” and “machinations by destructive terrorist opposition groupings”.

A senior figure in the ruling Zanu-PF party also took to Twitter to push back against the #ZimbabweanLivesMatter hashtag.

“Hashtags come and go, but Zanu-PF endures beyond the ‘trending’,” wrote the former cabinet minister Obert Mpofu .

He has a point.

“It’s hard to know what will come of this,” conceded Doug Coltart, a human rights lawyer who is representing two men allegedly tortured by police over the weekend.

“The fact that it is doctors, lawyers, students, journalists who are being persecuted and attacked by this regime in some ways makes it an easier cause to get behind, perhaps, than when it’s political activists.

“But we need to see grassroots organising on a more sophisticated level for a real mass movement to emerge,” Mr Coltart said, citing the relatively short-lived 2016 #ThisFlag campaign .

Significantly, perhaps, the new hashtag has attracted vigorous support from opposition parties in neighbouring South Africa, with Economic Freedom Fighters’ Julius Malema and Msumi Maimane , formerly of the Democratic Alliance, tweeting their backing:

This is in sharp contrast with the governing African National Congress (ANC) which – like many former liberation movements on the continent – has remained reluctant to criticise Zanu-PF.

So where now for Zimbabwe?

“We’re on a precipice, a tipping point. We are [in] the place we were a couple of days before Mugabe left. The people are angry. Leadership is needed,” warned Trevor Ncube, a prominent publisher who sits on the President’s Advisory Council set up last year.

‘Hashtags do come and go’
The military, who led the coup that ousted Mugabe in November 2017, seem likely to play an ever more prominent role in government – as indicated by Tuesday’s appointment of a former army chief to the post of health minister.

“Mnangagwa cannot be safe. It would be insane for him to think he’s safe. There’s no doubt he has lost the confidence and support of the military,” said Jonathan Moyo, an exiled former minister in Mugabe’s government.

“This is now a clueless, corrupt, incompetent government. The economic meltdown is deepening. There’s no coherent approach. People are on their own,” he said.

“Mugabe had his own problems, but people never felt there was no government. With Mugabe gone, we now see in action the real forces behind his [Mr Mnangagwa’s] reign – the machinery of violence, the military,” said Mr Moyo, arguing Mugabe was a “restraining” force, and that the current government had quickly squandered all international goodwill.

In the midst of all this, the #ZimbabweanLivesMatter could yet prove to be a powerful rallying point, a force for change, harnessing popular frustrations.

Or it could be a minor distraction – a spasm of popular anger that is quickly supressed by a brutally authoritarian government seemingly preoccupied by looting public resources during the pandemic, and by its own vicious internal feuds.

“Hashtags do come and go. The clampdown still exists. But now it’s up to us to find ways forward… to sustain this momentum,” said Dangarembga.

“This is a launching pad, a platform from which to begin.”

State Media

THE Muslim community in Zimbabwe has closed all mosques countrywide as it implements Covid-19 prevention measures.

The decision to close all mosques is informed by religious beliefs contained in the Koran.

Covid-19 cases are on the rise in the country as more than 4 000 have been infected while 102 had by Saturday succumbed to the virus.

Government limited religious gatherings to 50 and congregants have to meet between 8AM and 3PM.

Some religious organisations have been defying Government regulations to prevent the spread of the virus.

However, the Muslim community which lost one of its members to Covid-19 at the end of last month has suspended all religious gatherings.

Sheikh Isaac Ali, said their religion compels them to implement measures to contain a disease outbreak.

“On the 27th of July we lost one of our elders to Covid-19. He was a Sheikh here in Bulawayo and he was a first Covid-19 death in the Muslim community. Even though Government says it’s allowed to have religious gatherings with that, all Muslims have said this thing is among us and to stop the spread all the mosques have now been closed across the country to prevent the spread of Covid-19,” said Sheikh Ali.

“There is an injunction in the Koran and here in Barham Green (where he leads the mosque) before Government came up with restrictions on religious gatherings, we had made a ruling, minimise gatherings.”

He said worldwide, several mosques have been closed including the two biggest in the Muslim community, the equivalent to the Vatican in the Catholic Church that are located in Saudi Arabia.

“When there is an outbreak of a disease, Islam says do not go to that town where there is that disease and when you are in that town, do not leave that town because if you do, you will be spreading the disease. So, when we realised that Covid-19 was now here in Zimbabwe we decide to close the mosques,” said Sheikh Ali.

State Media

Two university students allegedly duped Isomaster (Pvt) Limited, which operates as Lopdale Energy of Mutare, of nearly US$40 000 after taking the money a gold mining company in Mutoko had paid for a delivery of 40 000 litres of fuel.

The students, Batanai Joseph Matiza (22) and Tanaka Dave Mhaka (21) have since been arrested and appeared in court charged with theft of trust property.

Matiza is studying towards a degree in architecture at London Metropolitan University, while Mhaka is pursuing an engineering degree at Stellenbosch University in South Africa.

Matiza and Mhaka were not asked to plead to the charge when they appeared before magistrate, Mrs Barbra Mateko, who remanded them to November 30 for routine remand on $5 000 bail each.

Prosecutor Lancelot Mutsokoti told the court that in January this year, Lopdale director Mr Carlton Seke was introduced to Matiza by his business partner Brendon Thom, after Matiza said he had a contract to supply fuel to Kunyu Mine in Mutoko.

It is said that Seke arranged with Mhaka to supply 35 000 litres of diesel to Kunyu Mine and after Mhaka was paid he paid Lopdale after deducting his commission.

On February 11 this year, Seke clinched a second deal to supply 40 000 litres of diesel to Kunyu Mine and engaged Matiza.

Prosecutor Mutsokoti alleges that Matiza then sent Mhaka to collect the money from the mine, where he was given US$39 590 by the mining firm’s manager, Mr Yu Yan, who is based in Harare.

It is alleged that Matiza and Mhaka connived with a friend, Mathew Pasipamire, who according to the State is still at large, to convert the money into their own use.

Mr Seke failed to track down the three, prompting him to lodge a complaint with the police leading to the arrest of Mhaka and Matiza.

State Media

Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) governor Dr John Mangudya, insists there is no going back on the process of de-dollarising the economy despite the growing use of the US dollar in most transactions, more so in the informal sector.

Despite allowing some transactions to be in foreign currency, Government insists de-dollarisation is on course, although the market has seen increased use of the United States dollar.

A fortnight ago Government said everyone providing goods or services in Zimbabwe must now quote prices in both Zimbabwe dollars and US dollars, but using the standard exchange rate set each week as the weighted average in the Tuesday weekly foreign currency auctions.

The legal instrument giving effect to this was gazetted on July 24, 2020 by President Mnangagwa, as an addition to the Exchange Control (Exclusive Use of Zimbabwe Dollar for Domestic Transactions) Regulations.

Government’s stance comes after the Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries (CZI) said in a research note on June 2020 inflation that the market remained skeptical about the sustainability of the forex auction market given the lingering uncertainty over the currency direction.

The manufacturing industry lobby group is worried that redollarisation was taking root again in light of the fact the Government itself was also now paying its workers US dollar allowances while collecting some levies, taxes and fees in foreign currency.

CZI also noted widespread use of the US dollar for transactions in the informal sector, fuel sector, payment of wages and salaries by private sector, pricing by large supermarkets and provision of most private medical and educational services.

But Dr Mangudya said Zimbabwe was not relapsing into redollarisation given the bulk of transactions remained in local currency while an economy, technically, is considered dollarised if the volume of US dollar transactions exceeded 30 percent.

“The RBZ has no intention of changing current arrangements regarding free forex funds in the economy.

“Exceptions on the use of free funds in the economy, duty payments as well as some commodity purchases should not be construed as re-dollarisation,” he said.

Several businesses are reportedly offering to pay for goods and services in foreign currency, which might be a result of either tight monetary targeting by the central bank or wide spread charging of products in foreign currency.

As such, CZI suggested that the central and local Government should levy taxes and fees in local currency in order to create demand for the Zimbabwe dollar. It said tax revenue constituted 97 percent of total revenue to Treasury.

CZI said levying value added tax (VAT), pay as you earn (PAYE) and income taxes in local currency should go a long way in creating demand for the local currency as taxes contribute significantly to State revenue.

There is also belief from industry players that payment of Government services in local currency will force holders of the greenback to offload it on the foreign currency auction trading system.

The auction system, which has been in use for at least 7 times, has traded more than US$100 million, but the bulk of forex is coming from the central bank.

Exporters, whose forex holdings are estimated to be above US$1,1 billion continue to shun the market, opting instead to trade outside the system.

Some like mine houses are, however, calling on Government to allow them to pay for local expenses in the Zimbabwe dollar.

In a recent note to Government, the Chamber of Mines Zimbabwe appealed to be granted “an option for mining houses to pay local expenses such as electricity and taxes in local.”

 

South African opposition leader Julius Malema on Sunday blasted President Emmerson Mnangagwa for violating rights of women in Zimbabwe describing him as a pig that is eating its own children.

Malema also challenged Zimbabwean youths to take decisive steps to end President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s increasingly autocratic rule, warning that social media activism alone will never bring change in the country.

He was speaking at a Women’s Day event close to the grave of anti-apartheid icon Winnie Mandela.

“We are here at Mama’s grave to talk about the rights of women, yet just next door in Zimbabwe the rights of the people are being violated, worse the rights of women,” Malema said.

“They abduct children from the streets, particularly girl children, rape them in the bush. Police and soldiers have become a law onto themselves. Mnangagwa has become a pig and is eating his own children in Zimbabwe.”

“Zimbabweans are not cowards. Zimbabweans have fought before. Why is the youth of Zimbabwe fighting through (social media) hashtags? Why is the youth of Zimbabwe fighting from South Africa and London? Why are they not occupying the borders of Zimbabwe there in Musina and we will support them and say no car goes into Zimbabwe and no car comes out of Zimbabwe until the rights of our people are restored? Why is the youth of Zimbabwe not rising in Zimbabwe and face death because they are already dead?”

“To live with a mother who can be raped at any time by the state with no consequences; to live with a sister who can be raped at any time with no consequences? Our own comrades should stop the hashtag revolution and engage in the real revolution,” Malema said.

“The most practical thing for South Africa to do, if Ramaphosa respects human rights as he claims to have drafted this constitution that they say is the best constitution in the world, he must withdraw the South African embassy from Zimbabwe and chase away the Zimbabwean embassy from South Africa until human rights are restored,” Malema said.

Ramaphosa last week announced he was sending two envoys to Zimbabwe after the military and police were used to crush planned anti-government protests on July 31. Rights groups say dozens of people including opposition politicians and journalists were arrested, abducted or tortured while others were forced to flee their homes.

Watch video downloading below:

 

The ruling ZANU PF party has literally captured the commemorations of the nation’s heroes into yet another ZANU PF day.

In a statement yesterday, the ruling Zanu PF party said it joins President Mnangagwa and Zimbabweans in celebrating Heroes Day, a day during which the nation reflects on the historic, gallant and heroic sacrifices of determined sons and daughters who braved and fought with valour to bring independence to their motherland.

“On this day, we reflect on the arduous, tiresome and excruciatingly painful journey which our founding fathers and mothers travelled in bringing about the fall of the racist colonial empire,” said Zanu PF ignoring the fact that there are several other heroes who did not take part in the liberation struggle.

The ruling party called on the people to unite and commit themselves to sacrifice, hard work and determination towards achieving an upper middle income economy and double their efforts in engaging in productive activities in line with President Mnangagwa’s clarion call for productivity.

It also called upon nations that have imposed sanctions on Zimbabwe to unconditionally lift them in the spirit of engagement and re-engagement, and allow citizens to chart their owndestiny.

Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veteran’s Association (ZNLWVA) secretary general Victor Matemadanda said today, citizens should remember the sons and daughters who sacrificed to liberate the country and restore human dignity that had been taken away by colonisers.

Matemadanda said various people such as war collaborators and ordinary citizens, played different roles to free Zimbabwe from the shackles of colonialism, hence the importance of today’s celebrations.

After independence, the country needed some who would protect it, and that is the role that is being played by the Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF).

“We are proud of our Zimbabwe Defence Forces as they are doing us proud and it is an excellent force that needs the support of the people. Because of the sacrifices and commitment that the ZDF is doing, a day was also set up to commemorate.

“They have done us proud even in foreign missions they have been called upon to undertake,” he said.

Newly appointed Health and Child Care Minister Constantino Chiwenga is faced with a critical challenge as over 480 healthcare workers have contracted Covid-19 in Zimbabwe.

The figure constitutes about 11 percent of the total number of cases that have been recorded so far.

As of Saturday, 102 deaths had been recorded from a total of 4 575 positive cases.

The affected health workers include nurses, student nurses, doctors, matrons, laboratory scientists, nurse aides, general hands and pharmacists.

Healthcare workers have been greatly exposed to Covid-19 due to the shortage of personal protective equipment in the country.

Nurses, the greatly affected group which account for 37 percent of the total Covid-19 confirmed cases among heathcare workers globally are on strike which enters day 52 today.

More than 100 nurses at Mpilo Central and United Bulawayo Hospitals have contracted the virus, forcing them into quarantine, thereby reducing the number of workers who are manning the public institutions.

According to the Ministry of Health and Child Care Covid-19 Zimbabwe Situation Report, Harare and Bulawayo have reported the highest number of local cases.

“A significant number of health workers have been infected with Covid-19 and as of the July 29, 2020, 11 percent of the cases were among health care workers with the majority being from the nursing profession,” read the report.

“Nurses and student nurses account for 35,8 percent and 15,7 percent of the total cases respectively while doctors account for 5,2 percent.”

The ministry said Matabeleland South province had reported a significant number of imported cases compared to other provinces.

To date there are 1 104 imported cases and Matabeleland South has recorded 323 cases.

The ministry also said the Covid-19 psychosocial support response team has developed mental health resources which will be launched in the coming weeks.

“These resources are in the form of sensitisation videos and material made for by Zimbabweans, some in local languages. These self-help materials are available online and will be circulated through various social media platforms. A WhatsApp chatbot and mobile app are under development to make services more accessible by affected members of the public,” it said.

The Zimbabwe Nurses Association has raised concern over stigmatisation and discrimination across the country, a development that has seen some of them being evicted from their lodgings as landlords and fellow tenants fear that they are carriers of the virus.

In some instances, according to Zina nurses are shunned by family and friends and face discrimination when using public transport and when they are shopping in supermarkets.

Zina president Mr Enock Dongo on Friday said some healthcare workers were being shunned by community members owing to stigma or fear.

“It happens everywhere but mostly in Bulawayo and Harare. It’s unfortunate that the nurses don’t want us to divulge their names but they have informed us that they are being evicted simply because they are health workers and the landlords suspect that they are carriers of Covid-19,” he said.

Professor Jonathan Moyo on Sunday evening posted a Tweet warning MDC-T Vice Chairman Job that state security agents were on their way to pick him out of the Dema village;but was this even necessary in the first place?

We analyse professor Moyo’s utterances in the video below. Please be patient while the video downloads.

Anyone with access to Hon Job Sikhala, please tell him to leave the Dema area now & carefully, if he's anywhere around there. Mnangwagwa's Ferret Force is descending into the area, looking for him with a vengeance in a door to door operation, after picking up his fone signal!

— Prof Jonathan Moyo (@ProfJNMoyo) August 9, 2020

https://youtu.be/j9ooJtTwB9M

State Media

President Mnangagwa is today expected to lead the nation in commemorating Heroes Day by making a virtual address as opposed to the traditional physical gathering of multitudes at the National Heroes Acre.

Heroes Day is a day set aside to commemorate the country’s heroes of all spheres.

Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister, Monica Mutsvangwa, urged the nation to follow the President’s live national address.

“As directed by Cabinet, we are not going to have any public events for the Heroes and Defence Forces holidays. The celebrations will instead be held virtually, with the main event being the addresses on both days by His Excellency, the President, to the nation,” she said.

“We urge all citizens of and indeed all Zimbabweans living outside the country to watch or listen to the President’s messages that will touch on a number of issues, including the significance of these days to our nation.”

Minister Mutsvangwa said the Government had made a conscious decision to set aside public events in light of the rocketing Covid-19 cases.

“We decided that we need to take maximum precaution to contain the spread of the virus. The rate of local transmission is a cause for concern and as Government we cannot take any chances. We are mindful that these holidays cannot be postponed that is why in addition to the President’s address, there will be a lot of activities on the national broadcaster, ZBC, to honour our heroes and defence forces,” said Minister Mutsvangwa.

THE Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services (ZPCS) has taken advantage of the Covid-19 scourge to block visits to arrested journalist Hopewell Chinono and opposition leader Jacob Ngarivhume.

The duo’s lawyers over the weekend claimed that their clients were being discriminated as they await trial on charges of inciting public violence.

Ms Beatrice Mtetwa and the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) claimed that their clients are being discriminated on to an extent that they could be poisoned while in prison.

ZPCS spokesperson Supt Meya Khanyezi said the Commissioner General of Prisons, is allowed under the country’s laws to transfer or make standing orders without consulting legal representatives of inmates.

“The Commissioner General is empowered to make standing orders and it is in terms of these standing orders that certain categories of prisoners can only have visitors within sight and hearing of prison officers. Transfer of inmates from one prison to another is entirely an administrative issue. ZPCS is not obligated to inform an inmate’s lawyers,” he said.

According to the Commissioner General Standing Order, Part VII Visits and Communication Section 140 (6), “Unless specifically authorised by the Commissioner General, all visits by a legal practitioner shall be in the presence and hearing of an officer who understands the language used and it shall be a condition of the visit that the legal practitioner may only discuss matters arising from his employment as legal representative of the detainee.

In view of the spiking cases of the Covid-19 pandemic and the portent threat it poses in prisons where maintaining social distance is difficult, the ZPCS has also taken measures to minimise contact between inmates and the outside world.

“The decision to suspend the visits was taken with the interest of offenders at heart. It is not a punitive measure but a temporary preventive action meant to ensure that the incarcerated are protected from the Covid-19 pandemic that has affected and killed a number of people worldwide. Although we have recorded cases in Beitbridge, Plumtree, Masvingo, Whawha and Bulawayo we have since put measures to curb the continuous spread of the disease in our prisons.

“This was not a decision we arrived at lightly, as we understand and recognise the importance of family contact with the prison population. Our primary concern has to be public safety and reducing the number of people who enter our facilities is a key factor in limiting the potential spread of this illness into our prisoner population. The department will continue to monitor the situation to determine when visits will be restored,” said Supt Khanyezi.

He said since convicted prisoners and persons on remand are held in a high-risk environment as facilities are not adapted to face large-scale epidemics, it is important to minimize visits.

“As ZPCS we also ensure that during the Covid-19 pandemic the human rights of all those who remain in detention are upheld while taking the specific needs of the most vulnerable detainees, persons with disabilities, pregnant women and juvenile detainees into account. Any restrictions imposed on detainees should be non-discriminatory, necessary, proportionate, time-limited and transparent”.

Both Ngarivhume and Chin’ono are being treated just as any other intimates, the prisons spokesperson said.

ZimEye gives a full update on the Zengeza MP Job Sikhala, his passion,  mission, vision, and thedthe of a conspiracy flung at the weekend. Joining in is analyst Wilbert Mukori. VIDEO LOADING BELOW…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j9ooJtTwB9M

Manicaland recorded two new Covid-19 deaths over the weekend, taking the death toll to 104 as the country had 198 new infections confirmed over two days.

This brings the cumulative total 4 649 total confirmed cases with 3 528 being people infected within Zimbabwe and 1 121 being infections reported from quarantine centres among returning residents.

Of the new cases 119 on Saturday and 57 yesterday were within the community with 66 of the weekend local total of 176 being in Harare, 10 in Bulawayo, 36 in Manicaland and 47 in Midlands, reports the Ministry of Health and Child Care in its latest daily reports.

It is possible that greater adherence by people of the Covid-19 advice, and greater enforcement of the lockdown regulations, may have helped reduce infection rates over the last week, or this could just be a statistical blip.

The two deaths reported yesterday, after a zero death report on Saturday, were a 59-year-old man and a 50-year-old woman, both in Manicaland.

Of the 104 deaths, 55 have been in Harare, 23 in Bulawayo, nine in Manicaland, five each in Midlands and Mashonaland West, three in Matabeleland North, two in Matabeleland South, one each in Mashonaland Central and Mashonaland East, and zero in Masvingo.

South Africa now has reported 10 210 deaths from 553 188 cases, but has been seeing a slow-down in infection rates in the two hot spots of Gauteng and Western Cape.

Worldwide, the death toll has now reached 728 176 from 19 711 213 confirmed cases, although it is assumed significantly more people have been infected than have been tested as positive.

PRESIDENT Mnangagwa is today expected to address the nation as Zimbabweans commemorate Heroes’ Day at home due to the threat of Covid-19.

Over the years, commemorations were punctuated by spectacular military parades, parachute jumps, gun drills and combat fitness marches among other activities which will not be done this year.

President Mnangagwa will deliver a speech which will be televised live on national television.

Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Minister Kazembe Kazembe said although there won’t be any gatherings due to Covid-19, Zimbabweans must observe the day as it is a special day dedicated to the country’s heroes and heroines, both living and departed.

“There will be no gatherings at the national, provincial and district heroes’ acres to mark Heroes Day due to the Covid-19 lockdown regulations.

However, it is important to note that this is an important day as we remember our heroes and heroines and the President will deliver a speech on national television and radio,” he said.

“I urge all Zimbabweans wherever we are to listen and watch the President as he addresses the nation on this special day.

There will be documentaries and other programmes on national television depicting the lives of our heroes.”

Minister Kazembe said the new development is in line with Ministry of Health and Child Care guidelines.

“We are all aware of the Covid-19 pandemic hence we can’t gather as we usually do.

It is important to save lives, but that should not dampen our spirits of celebrating our heroes and heroines at our homes,” he said-The Herald

A 28-YEAR-OLD Filabusi man has been jailed for 18 years for raping a 72-year-old woman after breaking into her home.

Lyton Mlilo of Phikelela Village in Theleka area pleaded not guilty to rape when he appeared before Gwanda regional magistrate, Mrs Sibonginkosi Mkandla but was convicted due to overwhelming evidence against him.
He was sentenced to 18 years imprisonment.

Three years were suspended on condition that he does not commit a similar offence within the next five years.

Prosecuting, Mr Khumbulani Nyoni said Mlilo raped the old woman on February 25 at around 2AM.

“On 25 February at around 2AM the complainant was sleeping alone in her bedroom hut when she was awakened by the noise of someone opening her door. She quickly switched on her torch and saw that it was the accused person.

Mlilo approached the complainant and ordered her to switch off the torch and demanded to have sexual intercourse with her. The complainant ordered Mlilo to leave but he refused and went on to rape her,” he said.

“The complainant tried to scream for help but Milo strangled her in order to stop her from making noise. After he had raped her the complainant managed to push the accused person aside and she escaped and called out for help. Mlilo fled from the scene.”

Mr Nyoni said two neighbours arrived at the complainant’s homestead and they tried to track the accused person but did not find him. The matter was reported to the police resulting in Mlilo’s arrest.

In his defence, Mlilo said he never went to the complainant’s homestead.

He said he was forcefully arrested by the police who further assaulted him and forced him to admit to have committed the offence.
Mlilo said he did not rape the complainant as alleged.

“I was surprised when the police confronted me and accused me of raping the complainant.

When I told them that I didn’t know what they were talking about they assaulted me and forced me to admit,” he said-Chronicle

The MDC Alliance welcomes the efforts by the region to intervene in the deepening governance and human rights crisis in Zimbabwe, particularly by His Excellency, Cyril Ramaphosa, who is the current Chairperson of the African Union.

The crisis in Zimbabwe has been characterized by a de facto state of emergency, a crackdown on citizens, abductions, arbitrary arrests of government critics and the political persecution of journalists.

The region must take note of the collapse of the public health system characterised by an ongoing doctors’ and nurses’ strike amidst the Covidl9 pandemic, the economic crisis which has seen hyperinflation exceed 786% and a hunger crisis that has left 7,7 million Zimbabweans food insecure.

The Government in Harare is incapable of resolving these challenges because it lacks legitimacy.

We are of the firm view that any solution to the ongoing socio-economic lies in resolving the political crisis and answering the outstanding legitimacy question. The deteriorating plight of the Zimbabwean people means that a political settlement is more urgent than before.

We acknowledge the special envoy that has been deployed by President Cyril Ramaphosa and we will continuously assess the sincerity of all the actors in the process.

MDC -Alliance

By Dorrothy Moyo | The ZPCS spokesperson Supt Meya Khanyezi has denied ill-treating journalist Hopewell Chin’ono and activist Jacob Ngarivhume. The two were arrested over allegations connected to the July 31 demo.

Yesterday lawyer Beatrice Mtetwa complained over how they have been suddenly transferred to the COVID fested Chikurubi maximum and afterwards denied food from outside, as also their re;stoves and friends are blocked from seeing them. There are fears that the two will be poisoned.

Khanyezi said the Commissioner General of Prisons is allowed under the country’s laws to transfer or make standing orders without consulting legal representatives of inmates.

“The Commissioner General is empowered to make standing orders and it is in terms of these standing orders that certain categories of prisoners can only have visitors within sight and hearing of prison officers. Transfer of inmates from one prison to another is entirely an administrative issue. ZPCS is not obligated to inform an inmate’s lawyers,” he said.

The state owned Herald quoted the so called Commissioner General Standing Order, Part VII Visits and Communication Section 140 (6), which says “Unless specifically authorised by the Commissioner General, all visits by a legal practitioner shall be in the presence and hearing of an officer who understands the language used and it shall be a condition of the visit that the legal practitioner may only discuss matters arising from his employment as legal representative of the detainee.

The ZPCS has been blocking relatives and friends from accessing Chinono and Ngarivhume.

“The decision to suspend the visits was taken with the interest of offenders at heart. It is not a punitive measure but a temporary preventive action meant to ensure that the incarcerated are protected from the Covid-19 pandemic that has affected and killed a number of people worldwide. Although we have recorded cases in Beitbridge, Plumtree, Masvingo, Whawha and Bulawayo we have since put measures to curb the continuous spread of the disease in our prisons.

“This was not a decision we arrived at lightly, as we understand and recognise the importance of family contact with the prison population. Our primary concern has to be public safety and reducing the number of people who enter our facilities is a key factor in limiting the potential spread of this illness into our prisoner population. The department will continue to monitor the situation to determine when visits will be restored,” said Supt Khanyezi.

He said since convicted prisoners and persons on remand are held in a high-risk environment as facilities are not adapted to face large-scale epidemics, it is important to minimize visits.

“As ZPCS we also ensure that during the Covid-19 pandemic the human rights of all those who remain in detention are upheld while taking the specific needs of the most vulnerable detainees, persons with disabilities, pregnant women and juvenile detainees into account. Any restrictions imposed on detainees should be non-discriminatory, necessary, proportionate, time-limited and transparent”.

Nelson Chamisa who leads the opposition MDC Alliance has criticised the government for the imprisonment of anti-corruption crusaders.

Speaking for the first time after the death of his mother Gogo Alice Chamisa last month and after visiting some of the victims of abductions by alleged state security agents last week, Chamisa said:

It is not proper to have people in a supposedly free Zimbabwe who are not sleeping in their homes peacefully and are wanted not for anything criminal, but for demanding accountability and end to corruption.

We have brutality of innocent citizens by State agents and it is sad. But we will smile soon.

I sense victory, our sorrows will turn into joy, celebrations are not far away, and change is coming.

He speaks when tensions are rising in the country over latest reports of human rights violations and the deepening economic and humanitarian crisis in the country.

The opposition is accusing the governing ZANU PF of presiding over a failed economy and diminishing the citizenry’s living standards- NewsDay

Nelson Chamisa who leads the opposition MDC Alliance has criticised the government for the imprisonment of anti-corruption crusaders.

Speaking for the first time after the death of his mother Gogo Alice Chamisa last month and after visiting some of the victims of abductions by alleged state security agents last week, Chamisa said:

It is not proper to have people in a supposedly free Zimbabwe who are not sleeping in their homes peacefully and are wanted not for anything criminal, but for demanding accountability and end to corruption.

We have brutality of innocent citizens by State agents and it is sad. But we will smile soon.

I sense victory, our sorrows will turn into joy, celebrations are not far away, and change is coming.

He speaks when tensions are rising in the country over latest reports of human rights violations and the deepening economic and humanitarian crisis in the country.

The opposition is accusing the governing ZANU PF of presiding over a failed economy and diminishing the citizenry’s living standards- NewsDay

ZLHR CONCERNED ABOUT TREATMENT OF CHIN’ONO AND NGARIVHUME IN PRISON
ZIMBABWE

Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) is concerned about the treatment of freelance journalist Hopewell Chin’ono and Jacob Ngarivhume, the leader of Transform Zimbabwe political party, who are currently detained at Chikurubi Maximum Prison.

On Saturday 8 August 2020, ZLHR lawyers Roselyn Hanzi, Beatrice Mtetwa and Moses Nkomo visited their clients, Chin’ono and Ngarivhume at Chikurubi Maximum Prison, where they were moved to from Harare Remand Prison on Friday 7 August 2020 by Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services (ZPCS) officials.

Chin’ono and Ngarivhume’s lawyers only came to know of the transfer of their clients late on Friday 7 August 2020 after they learnt from independent sources that the duo had been strip-searched, shackled in leg irons and eventually moved at night to Chikurubi Maximum Prison.

This transfer had not been communicated formally to Chin’ono and Ngarivhume’s legal practitioners beforehand.
The Officer in Charge of Harare Remand Prison confirmed to the legal practitioners that he had received instructions from “above” pertaining to the transfer.

When Chin’ono and Ngarivhume’s lawyers visited their clients on Saturday 8 August 2020, they were denied access to consult the two prisoners in private with ZPCS insisting that they be present during any consultations or be within earshot of the discussions involving the two detainees.

The ZPCS officials could not entertain arguments by lawyers that they had previously visited other clients and had been allowed that privacy because, in terms of the law, communication between a lawyer and client is privileged and confidential.

But the prison officers advised Chin’ono and Ngarivhume’s lawyers that they had direct orders not to allow lawyers to consult with clients if they could not hear the discussions and that section 140(6) of the Commissioner-General’s Standing Order Part VII Visits and Communication did not allow this.

The Commissioner-General’s Standing Orders are in direct violation of section 50(5)(b) of the Constitution, which provides that “any person who is detained, including a sentenced prisoner, has the right at their own expense, to consult in private with a legal practitioner of their choice, and to be informed of this right promptly.”

ZLHR also learnt that Chin’ono and Ngarivhume were not provided with jerseys while in detention as prison officers advised that they did not have any more jerseys in stock. Although the two prisoners’ lawyers sought permission to bring in warm clothes as ZPCS has no jerseys, this request was turned down with prison officers insisting that only the red and white prison jersey is allowed and that lawyers have to source the jerseys for the clients.

It took a lot of haggling between the lawyers and prison officers for them to allow Chin’ono and Ngarivhume to have access to food which had been brought by their lawyers as their ZPCS kitchen had closed with the ZPCS officials insisting that home-prepared food was not permitted because of the outbreak of coronavirus.

Of concern to ZLHR is the welfare of Chin’ono and Ngarivhume who have been left with no access to food as the two do not eat sadza for medical reasons but they were advised that ZPCS only serves sadza in prison.

Because both Chin’ono and Ngarivhume are on medication, they would need access to a balanced diet while in prison.

The blatant and malicious stripping away of the two prisoners’ basic rights including the right to give instructions to lawyers of their choice in private is unconstitutional.

The harsh treatment of Chin’ono and Ngarivhume undermines the presumption of innocence.

Of great concern to ZLHR too, is the undermining and obstruction of legal practitioners who are merely attempting to protect their clients’ fundamental rights and perform their professional duties.

ZLHR urges ZPCS authorities to uphold constitutional provisions which guarantee fundamental rights of arrested and detained persons including Zimbabwe’s regional and international obligations on rights of detainees, which include the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the International Convention on Civil and Political Rights.

Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights

ZLHR CONCERNED ABOUT TREATMENT OF CHIN’ONO AND NGARIVHUME IN PRISON
ZIMBABWE

Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) is concerned about the treatment of freelance journalist Hopewell Chin’ono and Jacob Ngarivhume, the leader of Transform Zimbabwe political party, who are currently detained at Chikurubi Maximum Prison.

On Saturday 8 August 2020, ZLHR lawyers Roselyn Hanzi, Beatrice Mtetwa and Moses Nkomo visited their clients, Chin’ono and Ngarivhume at Chikurubi Maximum Prison, where they were moved to from Harare Remand Prison on Friday 7 August 2020 by Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services (ZPCS) officials.

Chin’ono and Ngarivhume’s lawyers only came to know of the transfer of their clients late on Friday 7 August 2020 after they learnt from independent sources that the duo had been strip-searched, shackled in leg irons and eventually moved at night to Chikurubi Maximum Prison.

This transfer had not been communicated formally to Chin’ono and Ngarivhume’s legal practitioners beforehand.
The Officer in Charge of Harare Remand Prison confirmed to the legal practitioners that he had received instructions from “above” pertaining to the transfer.

When Chin’ono and Ngarivhume’s lawyers visited their clients on Saturday 8 August 2020, they were denied access to consult the two prisoners in private with ZPCS insisting that they be present during any consultations or be within earshot of the discussions involving the two detainees.

The ZPCS officials could not entertain arguments by lawyers that they had previously visited other clients and had been allowed that privacy because, in terms of the law, communication between a lawyer and client is privileged and confidential.

But the prison officers advised Chin’ono and Ngarivhume’s lawyers that they had direct orders not to allow lawyers to consult with clients if they could not hear the discussions and that section 140(6) of the Commissioner-General’s Standing Order Part VII Visits and Communication did not allow this.

The Commissioner-General’s Standing Orders are in direct violation of section 50(5)(b) of the Constitution, which provides that “any person who is detained, including a sentenced prisoner, has the right at their own expense, to consult in private with a legal practitioner of their choice, and to be informed of this right promptly.”

ZLHR also learnt that Chin’ono and Ngarivhume were not provided with jerseys while in detention as prison officers advised that they did not have any more jerseys in stock. Although the two prisoners’ lawyers sought permission to bring in warm clothes as ZPCS has no jerseys, this request was turned down with prison officers insisting that only the red and white prison jersey is allowed and that lawyers have to source the jerseys for the clients.

It took a lot of haggling between the lawyers and prison officers for them to allow Chin’ono and Ngarivhume to have access to food which had been brought by their lawyers as their ZPCS kitchen had closed with the ZPCS officials insisting that home-prepared food was not permitted because of the outbreak of coronavirus.

Of concern to ZLHR is the welfare of Chin’ono and Ngarivhume who have been left with no access to food as the two do not eat sadza for medical reasons but they were advised that ZPCS only serves sadza in prison.

Because both Chin’ono and Ngarivhume are on medication, they would need access to a balanced diet while in prison.

The blatant and malicious stripping away of the two prisoners’ basic rights including the right to give instructions to lawyers of their choice in private is unconstitutional.

The harsh treatment of Chin’ono and Ngarivhume undermines the presumption of innocence.

Of great concern to ZLHR too, is the undermining and obstruction of legal practitioners who are merely attempting to protect their clients’ fundamental rights and perform their professional duties.

ZLHR urges ZPCS authorities to uphold constitutional provisions which guarantee fundamental rights of arrested and detained persons including Zimbabwe’s regional and international obligations on rights of detainees, which include the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the International Convention on Civil and Political Rights.

Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights

Jailed investigative journalist Hopewell Chin’ono’s lawyer, Beatrice Mtetwa said that they are concerned he could be poisoned after authorities at Chikurubi Maximum Security Remand Prison restricted his access to food from outside.

Chin’ono was taken to the facility in leg irons on Thursday after High Court judge Justice Tawanda Chitapi had denied him bail.

Speaking after visiting Chin’ono at Chikurubi on Saturday, Mtetwa said her client is now being treated as a maximum security prisoner.

Said Mtetwa:
I struggled to see Chin’ono and when I managed to see him, he was in leg irons and is being treated like a maximum security prisoner like the most dangerous prisoners.

He is not allowed food from outside even if they have special dietary requirements.

They say the only food that can be allowed is dry food bought online and delivered at the prison.

Of course, you know that will be delivered to the prison officer, but you want to see that the food is delivered to the person directly, meaning that the tasting requirement falls away thereby exposing the prisoner to poisoning.

Mtetwa revealed that Chin’ono was not being allowed to have visitors except lawyers.

She said what was more intriguing was that prison officers told them they were carrying out orders from above to deny him food from outside and keep him in leg irons.

Chin’ono was arrested in July alongside Transform Zimbabwe (TZ) leader Jacob Ngarivhume on charges of inciting violence ahead of the planned July 31 demonstrations that never happened- The Standard

By A Correspondent- Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe Governor John Panonetsa Mangudya recently told bakers and millers that they will not be allowed to raise the price of bread.

Mangudya said this during an online meeting hosted by the Grain Millers Association of Zimbabwe (GMAZ), last week.

The meeting was also attended by the National Bakers Association of Zimbabwe, including Bakers Inn, Lobels Bread and Proton, as well as millers such as National Foods, Blue Ribbon Foods and Edurate Milling. Mangudya said:

We want to assure bakers and millers that going forward they will now be prioritised for foreign currency allocation during the weekly forex auction.

Bakers have no reason to justify any bread price increase because when the price of bread was $79, it was based on a speculative black market rate of between $100 and $120 per US$1.

We expect bread prices to go down given the fact that bakers are now accessing forex at the auction at a much lower rate of $80 against US$1.

Millers and bakers wanted to increase the price of a standard loaf of bread to $80 from an average $60, citing rising productions costs.

Mangudya pledged to avail at least US$2 million weekly to millers and bakers, though they need a total of US$12 million per month.

-statemedia

Jailed investigative journalist Hopewell Chin’ono’s lawyer, Beatrice Mtetwa said that they are concerned he could be poisoned after authorities at Chikurubi Maximum Security Remand Prison restricted his access to food from outside.

Chin’ono was taken to the facility in leg irons on Thursday after High Court judge Justice Tawanda Chitapi had denied him bail.

Speaking after visiting Chin’ono at Chikurubi on Saturday, Mtetwa said her client is now being treated as a maximum security prisoner.

Said Mtetwa:
I struggled to see Chin’ono and when I managed to see him, he was in leg irons and is being treated like a maximum security prisoner like the most dangerous prisoners.

He is not allowed food from outside even if they have special dietary requirements.

They say the only food that can be allowed is dry food bought online and delivered at the prison.

Of course, you know that will be delivered to the prison officer, but you want to see that the food is delivered to the person directly, meaning that the tasting requirement falls away thereby exposing the prisoner to poisoning.

Mtetwa revealed that Chin’ono was not being allowed to have visitors except lawyers.

She said what was more intriguing was that prison officers told them they were carrying out orders from above to deny him food from outside and keep him in leg irons.

Chin’ono was arrested in July alongside Transform Zimbabwe (TZ) leader Jacob Ngarivhume on charges of inciting violence ahead of the planned July 31 demonstrations that never happened- The Standard

By A Correspondent- The Public Service Commission (PSC) has directed ministries to reduce the number of workers reporting for duty to just 15% of the total workforce to curb the spread of coronavirus at workplaces.

This entails that only 15 per cent of staff, except for units providing essential services who will have higher percentages of staff on duty, will be at work while the rest will remain at home.

Those who will remain at home have been ordered to be on standby, remain in the towns and cities they are employed and be ready to be called in to provide help if the 15 per cent of staff on duty is overwhelmed.

PSC Secretary Ambassador Jonathan Wutawunashe said:

We want 15 per cent of the public service to be at their respective workplaces. We want to decongest the workplaces.

Others will be on call and might be told to report for duty if those at work are overwhelmed or need to rest.

It is not every ministry where it is possible, where there are essential services that you cannot manage with 15 per cent but those are exceptions.

The PSC employs approximately 300 000 people, so about 45 000 civil servants have been recommended to report for work.

We have been inundated with complaints by passengers, who have experienced abuse on the hands of soldiers and police. In Mabvuku, for instance people who were coming from work were beaten, whilst coming from work.

Due to the fact that there is massive transport challenges and ZUPCO lacks the capacity, they had arrived after the curfew time and they were collectively affected together with vendors.

On the 30th and 31st of July there was daylight victimization and physical beating of people at bus ranks in Harare CBD and other places within the city and other cities.

At the same time, there are many private vehicles owners’ who seek to assist stranded commuters end up being made to suffer and adjudged to be on the wrong side of the law, mostly by malfeasent law officers seeking after corrupt gains.

Passengers are struggling to get home on time. ZUPCO must consistently provide buses and they must regularly fumigate their buses, check temperatures and sanitise.

PASSENGERS ASSOCIATION OF ZIMBABWE PRESIDENT
HOTLINE:+263 712 334 330

Who is making these Face Masks? I want to buy 500 masks for my friends in Mbare, Sakubva, Rimuka, Amaveni, and Makokoba. pic.twitter.com/pxEElOxmGL

— Thabisa Sibanda (@SibandaSibbs) August 9, 2020

By A Correspondent- Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe Governor John Panonetsa Mangudya recently told bakers and millers that they will not be allowed to raise the price of bread.

Mangudya said this during an online meeting hosted by the Grain Millers Association of Zimbabwe (GMAZ), last week.

The meeting was also attended by the National Bakers Association of Zimbabwe, including Bakers Inn, Lobels Bread and Proton, as well as millers such as National Foods, Blue Ribbon Foods and Edurate Milling. Mangudya said:

We want to assure bakers and millers that going forward they will now be prioritised for foreign currency allocation during the weekly forex auction.

Bakers have no reason to justify any bread price increase because when the price of bread was $79, it was based on a speculative black market rate of between $100 and $120 per US$1.

We expect bread prices to go down given the fact that bakers are now accessing forex at the auction at a much lower rate of $80 against US$1.

Millers and bakers wanted to increase the price of a standard loaf of bread to $80 from an average $60, citing rising productions costs.

Mangudya pledged to avail at least US$2 million weekly to millers and bakers, though they need a total of US$12 million per month.

-statemedia

By A Correspondent- Thirty members of the opposition MDC Alliance led by Nelson Chamisa have reportedly fled from their homes in fear of harassment by state security forces.

The claims were made by the party’s Bulawayo provincial spokesperson Swithern Chirowodza while speaking to the Daily News on Saturday. Chirowodza said: We have so far drawn a list of about 30 cadres who are no longer living at their homes for fear of being abducted, tortured or detained. Some are contemplating moving their children to safer places, while others are bogged down with repairs to damaged premises. As suchthe provincila administration committee will meet soon to set the agenda of the next Bulawayo provincila executive meeting. Tis is going to be one item on the agenda meeting so i cannot disclose or pre-empt anything.

He speaks at the backdrop of widespread reports of kidnapping and torture of government critics including journalists, human rights defenders and members of the opposition.

The reports have attracted condemnation from the international community while the African Union chair, Cyril Ramaphosa the president of South Africa has sent envoys to investigate the matter.

-DailyNews

By A Correspondent- ZimLive editor, Mduduzi Mathuthu has said CID Law and Order detectives went to his house this Sunday saying they wanted to pick his two nephews for investigations about the alleged abduction of his other nephew Tawanda Muchehiwa.

Muchehiwa was reportedly abducted by suspected state security agents who wanted to know Mathuthu’s whereabouts. He was missing for three days, was later found dumped and was arrested.

Nick Mangwana, secretary for Information told SABC News that family members of wanted people who do not disclose the whereabouts of their relatives are arrested for obstructing justice.

https://twitter.com/Mathuthu/status/1292484835022376960?s=20

Mathuthu is reportedly in hiding as he is also being sought by authorities. He went into hiding after other anti-corruption crusaders – Hopewell Chin’ono and Jacob Ngarivhume were imprisoned recently for encouraging the citizenry to participate in the anti-corruption protests of 31 July.

BREAKING: Dema Area Residents beware of door to door searches & beatings tonight , Security swooping of area as they search for @JobSikhala1 after hotspot tips, please be alert, we don't want any further bloodshed of Zimbabweans ! #ZimbabaweanLivesMatter https://t.co/8L3eK8waRk

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) August 9, 2020

By A Correspondent- A Mabvuku man, David Mutendera, was reportedly assaulted by soldiers on 5 August after arriving home around 7 pm in violation of the dusk-to-dawn COVID-19 curfew the government imposed on the country.

Former Zimpapers editor, Edmund Kudzayi posted on Twitter suggesting that the man arrived home late after failing to find transport in time.

He said:

On August 5, a father failed get transport out of town. He only managed to get back to Mabvuku at 7pm after 6PM curfew and was brutally assaulted by soldiers. His name is David Mutendera. He could be your father or mine. Is this a free Zimbabwe governed by the rule of law? pic.twitter.com/mDrHOvvO0n

— Edmund Kudzayi (@EdmundKudzayi) August 9, 2020

 

It's one thing to deny Hopewell and Jacob their freedom, it's another to deny them food from home, access to their lawyers & to cuff their hands & feet as though they are hard criminals. This is now torture. #FreeHopewell #FreeJacob #ZimbabaweanLivesMatter pic.twitter.com/WhhFH40bJb

— Fadzayi Mahere?? (@advocatemahere) August 9, 2020

By A Correspondent- Dewa Mavhinga, the Human Rights Watch Director for Southern Africa has opined that the persecution of journalists in Zimbabwe is a strategy to get to their sources who helped in the exposure of grand corruption by some government officials and departments.

Mavhinga who investigates human rights abuses in Zimbabwe, South Africa, eSwatini & Malawi speaks when journalists Hopewell Chin’ono and Mduduzi Mathuthu have been targeted by the state after they exposed corruption in the country.

Posting on social media on Saturday, Mavhinga said:

Persecution/ harrassment of prominent journalist Hopewell Chin’ono and Mathuthu and their families is for the Zimbabwean authorities to get to their sources who helped expose high level PPE corruption.

Chin’ono was arrested on 20 July and charged with inciting public violence after rallying the citizenry to participate in anti-corruption protests that had been scheduled for 31 July.

Meanwhile, Mathuthu has gone into hiding but his family is being harassed by state security personnel. His nephew Tawanda Muchehiwa was recently abducted, tortured and detained by police who wanted him to reveal Mathuthu’s whereabouts.

Speaking to SABC News last night, the Secretary for Information, Nick Mangwana said relatives of wanted individuals who do not reveal the whereabouts of their relatives are being arrested for “obstructing justice.”

PRESS STATEMENT: RAMPART ABUSE OF PASSENGERS BY STATE SECURITY OFFICERS MUST DESIST

We have been inundated with complaints by passengers, who have experienced abuse on the hands of soldiers and police. In Mabvuku, for instance people who were coming from work were beaten, whilst coming from work. Due to the fact that there is massive transport challenges and ZUPCO lacks the capacity, they had arrived after the curfew time and they were collectively affected together with vendors.

On the 30th and 31st of July there was daylight victimization and physical beating of people at bus ranks in Harare CBD and other places within the city and other cities.

At the same time, there are many private vehicles owners’ who seek to assist stranded commuters end up being made to suffer and adjudged to be on the wrong side of the law, mostly by malfeasent law officers seeking after corrupt gains.

Passengers are struggling to get home on time. ZUPCO must consistently provide buses and they must regularly fumigate their buses, check temperatures and sanitise.

PASSENGERS ASSOCIATION OF ZIMBABWE PRESIDENT
WHATSAPP:+263 773 239 688 ,HOTLINE:+263 712 334 330

ZimLive editor, Mduduzi Mathuthu has said CID Law and Order detectives went to his house this Sunday saying they wanted to pick his two nephews for investigations about the alleged abduction of his other nephew Tawanda Muchehiwa.

Muchehiwa was reportedly abducted by suspected state security agents who wanted to know Mathuthu’s whereabouts. He was missing for three days, was later found dumped and was arrested.

Nick Mangwana, secretary for Information told SABC News that family members of wanted people who do not disclose the whereabouts of their relatives are arrested for obstructing justice.

Posting on Twitter, Mathuthu said:

CID Law and Order detectives today drove up to our house. They said they are there to pick up my 2 nephews to give a statement on Tawanda Muchehiwa’s abduction. Either there’s a serious investigation going on into the incident, or they just want to check how much nephews remember.

Mathuthu has been part of the anti-corruption crusade that exposed grand corruption within President Mnangagwa’s circle.

He is reportedly in hiding as he is also being sought by authorities. Mathuthu went into hiding after other anti-corruption crusaders – Hopewell Chin’ono and Jacob Ngarivhume were imprisoned recently for encouraging the citizenry to participate in the anti-corruption protests of 31 July.

#EFFWomensDayRally Malema: Mnangagwa has become a pig and he is eating his own children in Zimbabwe. He is no different to Ramaphosa. When they came in we had hope for change, but things have become worse.

— Economic Freedom Fighters (@EFFSouthAfrica) August 9, 2020

 

ZLHR CONCERNED ABOUT TREATMENT OF CHIN’ONO AND NGARIVHUME IN PRISON

ZIMBABWE Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) is concerned about the treatment of freelance journalist Hopewell Chin’ono and Jacob Ngarivhume, the leader of Transform Zimbabwe political party, who are currently detained at Chikurubi Maximum Prison.

On Saturday 8 August 2020, ZLHR lawyers Roselyn Hanzi, Beatrice Mtetwa and Moses Nkomo visited their clients, Chin’ono and Ngarivhume at Chikurubi Maximum Prison, where they were moved to from Harare Remand Prison on Friday 7 August 2020 by Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services (ZPCS) officials.

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Chin’ono and Ngarivhume’s lawyers only came to know of the transfer of their clients late on Friday 7 August 2020 after they learnt from independent sources that the duo had been strip-searched, shackled in leg irons and eventually moved at night to Chikurubi Maximum Prison. This transfer had not been communicated formally to Chin’ono and Ngarivhume’s legal practitioners beforehand.

The Officer in Charge of Harare Remand Prison confirmed to the legal practitioners that he had received instructions from “above” pertaining to the transfer.

When Chin’ono and Ngarivhume’s lawyers visited their clients on Saturday 8 August 2020, they were denied access to consult the two prisoners in private with ZPCS insisting that they be present during any consultations or be within earshot of the discussions involving the two detainees.

The ZPCS officials could not entertain arguments by lawyers that they had previously visited other clients and had been allowed that privacy because, in terms of the law, communication between a lawyer and client is privileged and confidential.

But the prison officers advised Chin’ono and Ngarivhume’s lawyers that they had direct orders not to allow lawyers to consult with clients if they could not hear the discussions and that section 140(6) of the Commissioner-General’s Standing Order Part VII Visits and Communication did not allow this.

The Commissioner-General’s Standing Orders are in direct violation of section 50(5)(b) of the Constitution, which provides that “any person who is detained, including a sentenced prisoner, has the right at their own expense, to consult in private with a legal practitioner of their choice, and to be informed of this right promptly.”

ZLHR also learnt that Chin’ono and Ngarivhume were not provided with jerseys while in detention as prison officers advised that they did not have any more jerseys in stock. Although the two prisoners’ lawyers sought permission to bring in warm clothes as ZPCS has no jerseys, this request was turned down with prison officers insisting that only the red and white prison jersey is allowed and that lawyers have to source the jerseys for the clients.

It took a lot of haggling between the lawyers and prison officers for them to allow Chin’ono and Ngarivhume to have access to food which had been brought by their lawyers as their ZPCS kitchen had closed with the ZPCS officials insisting that home-prepared food was not permitted because of the outbreak of coronavirus.

Of concern to ZLHR is the welfare of Chin’ono and Ngarivhume who have been left with no access to food as the two do not eat sadza for medical reasons but they were advised that ZPCS only serves sadza in prison. Because both Chin’ono and Ngarivhume are on medication, they would need access to a balanced diet while in prison.

The blatant and malicious stripping away of the two prisoners’ basic rights including the right to give instructions to lawyers of their choice in private is unconstitutional. The harsh treatment of Chin’ono and Ngarivhume undermines the presumption of innocence.

Of great concern to ZLHR too, is the undermining and obstruction of legal practitioners who are merely attempting to protect their clients’ fundamental rights and perform their professional duties.

ZLHR urges ZPCS authorities to uphold constitutional provisions which guarantee fundamental rights of arrested and detained persons including Zimbabwe’s regional and international obligations on rights of detainees, which include the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the International Convention on Civil and Political Rights.

Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights

Former Botswana President Seretse Ian Khama has called upon Zimbabweans to make personal sacrifices to free themselves from the repressive ZANU PF-led government.

Speaking in a recent interview on Botswana’s Duma FM, Khama noted that Zimbabweans can act in such a way that they will force neighbouring countries to pay attention to their sufferings.

He said:
Time has come for Zimbabweans to do something much more. Even if it means a personal sacrifice, withdrawal of labour crossing the borders to make neighbouring states pay attention to what is happening in Zimbabwe.

Khama revealed that he now regrets his decision to attend President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s inauguration when he was still Botswana president.

He said he had hoped that Mnangagwa’s ascension to power was an opportunity for Zimbabwe to move forward but alas, the opportunity was missed.

He said:
I was really happy to share the words he (Mnangagwa) expressed at that inauguration about how he planned to take the nation of Zimbabwe forward.

Coming away from that event, I thought to myself that this is great news and I wished him all the best.

I saw this as an opportunity for Zimbabwe to break from the past ways of doing things as there were indications that the country will be on the path to prosperity again.

Sadly, that part of the letter which hoped that there would be a new dispensation, unfortunately, has not happened and Zimbabweans are saying their situation is now worse than it was under Mugabe.

Khama did not see eye-to-eye with the late former president Robert Mugabe, who was also accused of gross human rights violations- Duma FM

PRESS STATEMENT: RAMPART ABUSE OF PASSENGERS BY STATE SECURITY OFFICERS MUST DESIST

We have been inundated with complaints by passengers, who have experienced abuse on the hands of soldiers and police. In Mabvuku, for instance people who were coming from work were beaten, whilst coming from work. Due to the fact that there is massive transport challenges and ZUPCO lacks the capacity, they had arrived after the curfew time and they were collectively affected together with vendors.

On the 30th and 31st of July there was daylight victimization and physical beating of people at bus ranks in Harare CBD and other places within the city and other cities.

At the same time, there are many private vehicles owners’ who seek to assist stranded commuters end up being made to suffer and adjudged to be on the wrong side of the law, mostly by malfeasent law officers seeking after corrupt gains.

Passengers are struggling to get home on time. ZUPCO must consistently provide buses and they must regularly fumigate their buses, check temperatures and sanitise.

PASSENGERS ASSOCIATION OF ZIMBABWE PRESIDENT
WHATSAPP:+263 773 239 688 ,HOTLINE:+263 712 334 330

 

Thirty members of the opposition MDC Alliance led by Nelson Chamisa have reportedly fled from their homes in fear of harassment by state security forces.

The claims were made by the party’s Bulawayo provincial spokesperson Swithern Chirowodza while speaking to the Daily News on Saturday. Chirowodza said:

We have so far drawn a list of about 30 cadres who are no longer living at their homes for fear of being abducted, tortured or detained. Some are contemplating moving their children to safer places, while others are bogged down with repairs to damaged premises.

As such the provincial administration committee will meet soon to set the agenda of the next Bulawayo provincial executive meeting. This is going to be one item on the agenda meeting so I cannot disclose or pre-empt anything.

He speaks at the backdrop of widespread reports of kidnapping and torture of government critics including journalists, human rights defenders and members of the opposition.

The reports have attracted condemnation from the international community while the African Union chair, Cyril Ramaphosa the president of South Africa has sent envoys to investigate the matter.

Daily News

08-08-2020

The response by South Africa government to send a special envoy to assess the Zimbabwean crisis is a step in the right direction but credibility of any envoy matters.

While we appreciate that President Cyril Ramaphosa has been captured by the current Zimbabwean crisis, it important that he must not treat the current crisis as an inter party dispute.

What we need is a credible special envoy comprising of people with unquestionable mediatory credentials and moral probity.

Of course when your house is on fire you do not necessarily choose who comes to douse the flames but it is equally important to be very cautious of some knavish characters who would add petrol to the blazing house.

It is in that regard that we want to bring to the attention of Mr Ramaphosa the following:

1. Mr Sydney Mafumadi is a compromised character who is benefiting from the current corrupt system where he is a beneficiary of mining syndicates at the expense of suffering Zimbabwean citizens.

2. Miss Baleka Mbete is the very same character who hero worshipped Emmerson Mnangagwa by sanitizing the coup hence her impartiality and integrity is a cause for concern.

3. ANC envoy alone belittles the Zimbabwean crisis as an inter party dispute.

4. We suggest we better have a credible SADC and/or AU member delegation that is not compromised.

*#ZimbabweanLivesMatter!*

*Stephen Sarkozy Chuma*
_MDC_ _Alliance_ _Youth_ _Assembly_ _National_ _Spokesperson_

ZLHR CONCERNED ABOUT TREATMENT OF CHIN’ONO AND NGARIVHUME IN PRISON
ZIMBABWE

Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) is concerned about the treatment of freelance journalist Hopewell Chin’ono and Jacob Ngarivhume, the leader of Transform Zimbabwe political party, who are currently detained at Chikurubi Maximum Prison.

On Saturday 8 August 2020, ZLHR lawyers Roselyn Hanzi, Beatrice Mtetwa and Moses Nkomo visited their clients, Chin’ono and Ngarivhume at Chikurubi Maximum Prison, where they were moved to from Harare Remand Prison on Friday 7 August 2020 by Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services (ZPCS) officials.

Chin’ono and Ngarivhume’s lawyers only came to know of the transfer of their clients late on Friday 7 August 2020 after they learnt from independent sources that the duo had been strip-searched, shackled in leg irons and eventually moved at night to Chikurubi Maximum Prison.

This transfer had not been communicated formally to Chin’ono and Ngarivhume’s legal practitioners beforehand.
The Officer in Charge of Harare Remand Prison confirmed to the legal practitioners that he had received instructions from “above” pertaining to the transfer.

When Chin’ono and Ngarivhume’s lawyers visited their clients on Saturday 8 August 2020, they were denied access to consult the two prisoners in private with ZPCS insisting that they be present during any consultations or be within earshot of the discussions involving the two detainees.

The ZPCS officials could not entertain arguments by lawyers that they had previously visited other clients and had been allowed that privacy because, in terms of the law, communication between a lawyer and client is privileged and confidential.

But the prison officers advised Chin’ono and Ngarivhume’s lawyers that they had direct orders not to allow lawyers to consult with clients if they could not hear the discussions and that section 140(6) of the Commissioner-General’s Standing Order Part VII Visits and Communication did not allow this.

The Commissioner-General’s Standing Orders are in direct violation of section 50(5)(b) of the Constitution, which provides that “any person who is detained, including a sentenced prisoner, has the right at their own expense, to consult in private with a legal practitioner of their choice, and to be informed of this right promptly.”

ZLHR also learnt that Chin’ono and Ngarivhume were not provided with jerseys while in detention as prison officers advised that they did not have any more jerseys in stock. Although the two prisoners’ lawyers sought permission to bring in warm clothes as ZPCS has no jerseys, this request was turned down with prison officers insisting that only the red and white prison jersey is allowed and that lawyers have to source the jerseys for the clients.

It took a lot of haggling between the lawyers and prison officers for them to allow Chin’ono and Ngarivhume to have access to food which had been brought by their lawyers as their ZPCS kitchen had closed with the ZPCS officials insisting that home-prepared food was not permitted because of the outbreak of coronavirus.

Of concern to ZLHR is the welfare of Chin’ono and Ngarivhume who have been left with no access to food as the two do not eat sadza for medical reasons but they were advised that ZPCS only serves sadza in prison.

Because both Chin’ono and Ngarivhume are on medication, they would need access to a balanced diet while in prison.

The blatant and malicious stripping away of the two prisoners’ basic rights including the right to give instructions to lawyers of their choice in private is unconstitutional.

The harsh treatment of Chin’ono and Ngarivhume undermines the presumption of innocence.

Of great concern to ZLHR too, is the undermining and obstruction of legal practitioners who are merely attempting to protect their clients’ fundamental rights and perform their professional duties.

ZLHR urges ZPCS authorities to uphold constitutional provisions which guarantee fundamental rights of arrested and detained persons including Zimbabwe’s regional and international obligations on rights of detainees, which include the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the International Convention on Civil and Political Rights.

Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights

Jailed investigative journalist Hopewell Chin’ono’s lawyer, Beatrice Mtetwa said that they are concerned he could be poisoned after authorities at Chikurubi Maximum Security Remand Prison restricted his access to food from outside.

Chin’ono was taken to the facility in leg irons on Thursday after High Court judge Justice Tawanda Chitapi had denied him bail.

Speaking after visiting Chin’ono at Chikurubi on Saturday, Mtetwa said her client is now being treated as a maximum security prisoner.

Said Mtetwa:
I struggled to see Chin’ono and when I managed to see him, he was in leg irons and is being treated like a maximum security prisoner like the most dangerous prisoners.

He is not allowed food from outside even if they have special dietary requirements.

They say the only food that can be allowed is dry food bought online and delivered at the prison.

Of course, you know that will be delivered to the prison officer, but you want to see that the food is delivered to the person directly, meaning that the tasting requirement falls away thereby exposing the prisoner to poisoning.

Mtetwa revealed that Chin’ono was not being allowed to have visitors except lawyers.

She said what was more intriguing was that prison officers told them they were carrying out orders from above to deny him food from outside and keep him in leg irons.

Chin’ono was arrested in July alongside Transform Zimbabwe (TZ) leader Jacob Ngarivhume on charges of inciting violence ahead of the planned July 31 demonstrations that never happened- The Standard

-EdmundKudzai

VIDEO LOADING BELOW… 

https://youtu.be/huvVqZnCzZQ

Shiri Assassination Claim Whistleblower Announces Anything Can Happen Anytime From Now | ARE THEY TELLING THE TRUTH?

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) August 9, 2020

https://youtu.be/huvVqZnCzZQ

Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF) spokesperson Colonel Overson Mugwisi died last week allegedly due to COVID-19 complications.

A member of the Mugwisi family, captured on an audio,  has however disputed that the long serving soldier died of Covid-19 but claims he was murdered together with his former boss, Perence Shiri.

Mugwisi reportedly died at an army hospital at the Josiah Magama Tongogara Barracks, formerly KGV1 Barracks in Harare.

The family member speaks in the video downloading below, while also claiming that something major is about to happen in this country. Please be patient while the video downloads.

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https://youtu.be/huvVqZnCzZQ

By Hon Job Wiwa Sikhala| We will never accept elite political pacts for the benefit of few politicians. Any attempt to seek another GNU will be resisted by the citizens. Citizens want their grievances to be attended to, short of it, the season of people’s action is upon us. No one will buy into a pact *yokudya* . Politicians have a tendency of looking at their immediate stomach interests.

Zimbabwe needs institutional and democratic reforms. The 2009 to 2013 GNU taught us a big lesson. It’s only the elite who will be hobnobbing among themselves when we all suffer. Everyone needs happiness, opportunities and a society of equality among all. STOP salivating greedy politicians. It is the season of citizens. Theirs is not a selfish agenda. They want a Zimbabwe of today and tomorrow that will guarantee an irreversible future for generations to come.

The 2009 to 2013, did not solve the problems of the citizens. We could have all been happy today but we are still in the struggle to fight for the good of our nation. Even the constitution which is being talked about is being shred into pieces. Zimbabwe needs a permanent solution. A permanent solution is to keep the eye on the ball. Hope it’s understood.

FREE Hopewell Chin’ono
FREE Jacob Ngarivhume
NO to Corruption
NO to Looting
NO to Abductions
NO to Torture
NO to all Forms of Gross Human Rights Abuses
#ZimbabweanLivesMatter.

 

Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julias Malema has urged Zimbabwean youths to occupy Musina border and fight the President Emmerson Mnangagwa administration, while discouraging what he termed fighting through hashtags.

Addressing an event in South Africa today, Malema said Zimbabweans were not cowards as they have a history of fighting.

“Zimbabweans are not cowards, Zimbabweans have fought before. Why is the Youth of Zimbabwe fighting through hashtags? Why is the youth of Zimbabwe fighting from South Africa and London? Why are they not occupying borders in Musina? We will support them,” said Malema.

Malema was referring to the trending #Zimbabweanlivesmatter which has seen influential global leaders speaking out against human rights abuses in the country including abductions and detention of government critics.

9 August 2020.

NCA Statement on the appointment of new Minister of Health and Child Care.

●NCA party learnt with shock the recent awkward appointment of Vice President Chiwenga to be in charge of the most important Ministry of Health and Child Care.

●The strange appointment comes at a critical moment when the country is under threat from COVID 19 virus.

●As NCA Party we are saddened that the appointment is without merit and it’s foundation is baseless and a display of reckless abandon.

●Despite obvious lack of expertise in the field of Health,the Vice President is already busy with his other duties that he has not necessarily managed as expected.

●In 2015 the NCA Party went to the Constitutional Court challenging the then appointments of vice President Mr Mnangagwa who was appointed to be in charge of Ministry of Justice and Mr Mphoko who led the Reconciliation Ministry.The Constitutional Court made a determination that these appointments were in accordance with the Constitution.

●It is therefore clear that as NCA party we have always been against the appointment of Vice Presidents to lead Ministry besides that we still believe that Zimbabwe is a small country that does not need the luxury of having two vice Presidents.

●NCA party is aware that this appointment is Constitutional but at the same time it is unreasonable and undemocratic.

●The current Constitution is undemocratic as it is the one that allows the appointments of Vice Presidents to be in charge with Ministries.

●As a matter of principle ,the NCA party is unreservedly condemning the reckless appointment of Vice President Chiwenga as the new Minister in charge of Ministry of Health and Child Care.

●The appointment of Vice President Chiwenga to be in charge of the Ministry of Health is an insult to the intergrity of the Ministry in respect of the overwhelming mandate of the Ministry to provide essential health care.

Issued By
Madock chivasa
(NCA National Spokesperson)
+263 772 904 492/ +263 775 614 471
Email – [email protected].