A 26-YEAR-OLD miner has been arrested for allegedly raping a 62-year-old woman after she turned down his love proposal.
Proud Ndebele who works at a mine in Sun Yet Sen was not asked to plead when he appeared before Gwanda magistrate, Miss Lerato Nyathi facing a rape charge. He was remanded in custody to August 27 for trial.
Prosecuting, Mr Silent Shoko said Ndebele met the elderly woman while she was on her way home on May 30 and proposed love to her.
“On 30 May at around 6PM the complainant was on her way home from Sun Yet Sen Business Centre in Kezi when she met Ndebele. He proposed love to the complainant and she turned him down. The complainant left the accused person standing along the footpath and she proceeded home,” he said.
“On the same night at around 7PM Ndebele arrived at the complainant’s place of residence and found her cooking in her kitchen hut. He approached the complainant and requested to have sexual intercourse with her but she refused and ordered Ndebele to leave her homestead. This didn’t go down well with Ndebele who then slapped the complainant several times on her face and threatened to kill her if she didn’t give in to his demands.”
Mr Shoko said Ndebele then ordered the complainant to lie down on the kitchen floor and he raped her.
“During the process the complainant tried to fight off the accused person by scratching him on the face but he did not stop and instead burnt the complainant with a piece of firewood,” he said.
After committing the crime, Ndebele fled and the complainant went to inform her neighbour.
The matter was reported to the police leading to the arrest of the accused person. –Chronicle
Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF) spokesperson Colonel Overson Mugwisi has died due to COVID-19 complications.
A family member of the Mugwisi family, who preferred anonymity, revealed that the Colonel died in the early hours of Friday.
Mugwisi reportedly died at an army hospital at the Josiah Magama Tongogara Barracks, formerly KGV1 Barracks in Harare.
He had been rushed to the facility last night after the family failed to have him admitted at both private and public hospitals. The family member said:
He has not been well for some time now but his condition deteriorated severely last night.
His close family went from one hospital after another trying to get him admitted without success.
They finally took him to a military hospital at KGV1. Unfortunately, he passed on in the morning.
Colonel Mugwisi’s death comes two days after former Air Force of Zimbabwe commander Perrance Shiri died of COVID-19, the respiratory disease caused by the novel coronavirus.
WELL know Bulawayo tennis coach, Mlaleli Mlalazi has died.
A message posted by Bulawayo Tennis Board chairman Tarwirwa Chikunichawa on a coaches group said Mlalazi, popularly known as coach Mla died in the early hours of Friday from complications related to high blood pressure and diabetes.
“It’s with great another heavy broken heart that I let you know that our fellow tennis comrade Mlalazi (coach Mpi) has passed (on). This happened in the early hours of today (Friday). He succumbed to high blood pressure/diabetes,’’ said Chikunichawa.
The BMTB chairman said the tennis family in the city has lost a reliable man who gave his time to the community of Emakhandeni. Chikunichawa appealed to well-wishers to contribute financially towards Mlalazi’s funeral costs.
Our tennis fraternity has been robbed of hard-working man who gave his time selfless to the community of Emakhadeni. I would make a special appeal from this kind community for any assistance financially, those keen to assist feel free to inbox me and we take up further. May his soul rest on eternal peace,’’ Chikunichawa said.
At the time of his death, Mlalazi was coaching at SOS Primary School and Emakhandeni Tennis Club.
In hiding, MDC Alliance Deputy National Chairperson and Zengeza West legislator Job Sikhala has surprisingly claimed victory for today’s failed anti-corruption demonstration saying the no-show protest was part of the grand plan to bring the country into total shutdown.
In a three minute thirty four seconds audio recording circulating on social media, Sikhala said government played according to their scheming by enforcing a total shutdown on movement across the country which was part of the organisers’ plan.
“They thought we were going to express ourselves according to their prescription. Today we have shown, we great Zimbabweans, that we are people who can’t be taken for granted. We are more sophisticated than the oppressor,”
“We have two clear plans when we have been calling for this action on the 31st of July. The first one was that if citizens are able to express themselves on the streets so be it. Second one was an expectation that the state will unleash its massive military arsenal against the citizens then the citizens will successfully retreat into their homes,” an excited Sikhala said.
Government banned the demonstration citing the action was against efforts to curb Covid-19 pandemic.
Across major cities and towns today, state security details mainly soldiers and the police flooded the streets, enforcing a total lockdown, a move widely seen as meant to crush protests.
This also came at a time there have been heavy military presence on the streets enforcing Covid-19 restrictions which only saw numbers beefed up days leading to today s planned protests.
Despite Sikhala’s victory sentiments pretty much confusing, the firebrand politician vowed not to “retreat” until they achieve intended results.
“We are going to give a review of the situation this weekend. We are going to give you a way forward by Monday. We can not retreat and it must remain protracted until we have achieved and obtained our results,” he added.
Opposition forces led by the incacerated Jacob Ngarivhume organised today’s protest against worsening corruption levels in the country but the state reacted heavily by publicising a police wanted list with Sikhala, Obey Sithole, Godfrey Tsenengamu, and many others most of whom are in hiding.
Analysts have however been skeptical of today’s demonstration during the build up, citing lack of clear intentions which was likely to frustrate public by-in.
In January last year, the labor body, ZCTU organised a national shutdown that was resulted in massive looting and destruction of property worth millions of dollars.
Franklin Sibindi @citezw journalist has been arrested & is at Tshabalala Police station . Police claim his 2019 press card is invalid . @nickmangwana@misazimbabwe
Joana Mamombe, Netsai Marova and their lawyer Obey Shava have been released without charge. However, Cecilia Chimbiri is still in police custody. @263Chat
— Citizens Coalition for Change Social Welfare (@cccwelfare) July 31, 2020
She's no threat to anyone! Her name is Panashe Sivindani and is missing. Those who saw said she was arrested. She may be alone with no legal help. Please retweet until @ZLHRLawyers see this??? #HandsOffPanashepic.twitter.com/Qu6v2aB4wu
A businessman has denied reports that he is linked to works of offering financial, medical and legal assistance to organisers and participants of today’s July 31st anti-corruption demonstrations.
ZimEye published an article, which was also published by several other media houses revealing that the Roy Bennett Foundation executive secretary Kurt Louis Heyns had indicated that the foundation would offer support to all political activists who will be arrested for calling for, and participating in the planned demonstrations.
It has however come to our attention that there is no such program which was being spearheaded by the so called Roy Bennet Foundation, a development confirmed by Heynes, whom this publication has earlier on quoted.
Said Heyns:
“It’s all fake news and I really appreciate the retraction. There is no such thing as the Roy Bennett Foundation and there is no such support being offered to anyone. It’s being peddled by criminals. There is no such foundation and there is no such money that has been issued or given to anyone.”
Heyns also dispelled a statement doing the rounds that one of his employees had been arrested over the disbursement of support towards the July 31 protests.
“Yes, he is an employee and works with me.. But he has not distributed any money to anyone neither has he been arrested.”
“It’s a criminal case. It’s been going on for a month where there are some criminals that have been trying to swindle some money from me. But for now, i am not ready to share it with you and i will share with you the details when i am ready.”
The late Roy Bennett joined politics in 2000 and won a parliamentary seat for the newly formed Movement for Democratic Change (MDC).
A coffee farmer who was fluent in Shona, Bennett became the MDC treasurer and earned the nickname Pachedu (“between us”), which is a colloquial reference to childhood secrets.
After leaving Zimbabwe a few years ago, Bennett migrated to the United States of America.
He died with his wife, Heather, in a helicopter crash which killed three other people, in a mountainous area in the US state of New Mexico.
All eyes will be on the Stade de France in Paris when Olympique Lyon clash with Paris Saint-Germain in the 2019–20 Coupe de la Ligue final.
Unlike in previous years, when the Coup de Ligue final was only of interest to local soccer betting enthusiasts, the decider will be followed with extensive eyes by Zimbabweans for another reason, which has a name; Tinotenda Kadewere.
The Highfield-bred striker joined Lyon from Le Havre, but was loaned back to the French Ligue 2 side for the remainder of the Covid-19-affected 2019/20 season.
He returned to Lyon in June and has played in two of their friendly matches since he started training with his new teammates and scored a quadruple in one of them, against Swiss side Port Valais.
The 24-year-old was named in coach Rudi Garcia’s match day squad for the blockbuster showdown slated for 20:45 and will be looking to make his first competitive appearance for Les Gones.
It is highly unlikely that he will start, as Garcia will probably go with French striker Mousa Dembele but should he introduced at any point during the game, Kadewere would have made his debut for Lyon and can also win his first silverware in France, should his side beat a star-studded PSG, who are without Kylian Mbappe through injury-Soccer 24
Farai Dziva|Former Warriors skipper Benjani Mwaruwari has described Marshall Munetsi as a great player.
In an interview with B-Metro, Mwaruwari, a former Portsmouth and Manchester City striker, said:
“Each and every time, I talk to these boys I must say, I like Munetsi’s work ethic. Just like Musona and Billiat, Munetsi is a hard worker.
“Actually, these boys are great listeners and the fact that they have so much respect for me has been driving me to grant them ideal guidance on the demands and challenges of playing football at the highest level.”
Munetsi plays for Stade de Reims in the French Ligue 1 while Billiat and Musona are attached at Kaizer Chiefs in South Africa and KAS Eupen in Belgium respectively.
Farai Dziva|Eight MDC Alliance members were abducted by suspected state security agents on Friday morning.
Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration has intensified efforts to cow Zimbabwe’s restive citizens into submission.
See statement below:
MDC Alliance Bulilima East CCC Secretary Ephraim Ndlovu and 7 others were abducted at 4am by suspected state agents.
This is barely 4 days after the death of Mazwi Ndlovu from Bulilima who was killed by Zanu PF youths for challenging the politicization of Covid-19 food aid-MDC Alliance
Mamelodi Sundown have offered Sibusiso Vilakazi a long term contract that will see the player stay at the club until 2024.
The midfielder arrived at the Pretoria-based side in the 2016/17 season. His latest deal will see him remain there for another four seasons.
Speaking after signing, he told the club’s media: “I am honoured, I am humbled and I am excited to be given another opportunity to play for this great team.
“I would like to thank the President (Dr. Patrice Motsepe), the board for trusting and having faith in me and also my coach (Pitso Mosimane), the technical team, my teammates for playing a part as well in me given this opportunity”
The Bafana international has already won four trophies since he arrived at Chloorkop, two League titles(17/18, 18/19) Telkom Cup (19/20) and the CAF Super Cup in 2017 and that was his first continental medal-Soccer 24
By Kennedy Kaitano- Now that the Supreme Court has confirmed what I and others have been saying all along, the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) must move in to arrest Ziyambi Ziyambi, Jacob Mudenda and Mabel Chinomona for corruptly interfering in the MDC feud by giving away money that belongs to the MDC Alliance to the MDC-T.
They should also be arrested for accepting the recall of MDC Alliance legislators by the MDC-T. I, among many other neutral citizens of Zimbabwe, despite that members of the international community had repeatedly told the trio that they were on the wrong side of the law. The calls fell on deaf ears.
I have even called for the arrest of Ziyambi Ziyambi for fraudulently giving away MDC Alliance money to Dr. Khupe, according to media reports quoting Ziyambi Ziyambi.
Now that what I and others were saying all along has been confirmed by the Supreme Court, ZACC must move in and do its job and arrest Ziyambi Ziyambi, Jacob Mudenda and Mabel Chinomona.
The Supreme Court was very clear in its ruling that it was encouraging the MDC-T and the MDC Alliance to get back together if they still had a common agenda and replace the late MDC founding President, Dr. Morgan Tsvangirai.
Some of the greedy, power hungry ones of little minds chose to understand that ruling and did what is not expected of normal human beings. The held an unconstitutional Whatsapp meeting which they labelled as an MDC-T 2014 structures which they then used to illegally and unconstitutionally recall legislators to create space for themselves in Parliament and in Senate.
They worked with the Police and the Army to evict the MDC Alliance from Harvest House; unconstitutionally appointed their friends to an MDC-T 2014 structures Standing Committee, something that is not allowed by the MDC Constitution; and unconstitutionally fire members of the 2014 Standing Committee.
Interestingly, when the power hungry lot were doing all these shenanigans, they forgot to do an audit of the 2014 structures that were eligible to participate in the Supreme Court recommended Extra Ordinary Congress.
It was only after Douglas Mwonzora got unconstitutionally nominated to contest as President, that they realised they should all along have done an audit of the genuine 2014 delegates. This then prompted Morgan Komichi to then issue a circular admitting that it was only on Wednesday 15 July 2020 that the power hungry leadership pretenders tasked their Organising Department, not the 2014 Organising Department, with “Compiling the list of genuine 2014 delegates as they stand today”.
Interestingly, “as they stand today” is something of their own creation and is found nowhere in the Supreme Court Judgement. My guess is that they were then trying to justify the appointment of their bogus Standing Committee, which as I have said before, has no business planning the Extra Ordinary Congress recommended by the Supreme Court.
As I write today, 31 July 2020, the last day the Supreme Court recommended Extra Ordinary Congress could have been held, it has not been held.
Covid-19 is no excuse for not holding the Congress because the Judgement was issued during Covid-19, and it was known by then that Covid-19 could last long.
If they could hold a Whatsapp Council meeting, bogus though it was, they could also have held their bogus Extra Ordinary Congress as an E-Congress within the stipulated time frame, bogus Extra Ordinary Congress as they have not planned the event in accordance with the Constitution of the MDC, and willfully violated the Supreme Court ruling.
Now that the timeframe allocated by the Supreme Court during the Covid-19 pandemic expires today, Jacob Mudenda and Mabel Chinomona must now reinstate the legislators they recalled from Parliament and Senate respectively.
But they should also be arrested for illegally, unconstitutionally and corruptly carrying out transactions for cases which they, as legal minds except for Chinomona, knew very well were pending before the courts.
These people are a national and international disgrace, and if they were principled, should resign in shame even before ZACC gets to them.
And for those who claim to respect the rule of law, now that the Supreme Court has said they should not have received the money, will they return it, if indeed that had received it as confirmed by themselves and Ziyambi Ziyambi?
We have located Our Dep Prov Organising Secy Dzeka. He was adbucted at gun point & dumped at Chegutu Police. Maliciously charged with inciting public violence yet he was demonstrating peacefully as per the provisions of the constitution @uk_mdca @mdc_norton @hwendec#Zimbabwepic.twitter.com/6MIBlW2y7g
Disability Amalgamation Community Trust (DACT) member Henry Chivhanga was arrested for marching from his home in Majange to Masvingo town in a one-man demo to push for the improvement of the welfare of people with disabilities.
At a police roadblock at “Craft Centre” just before Mucheke Bridge, Chivhanga was prevented from proceeding into town and was taken to the local police station for questioning.
Dear Illegitimate Government of Zimbabwe and Zanu PF,
By Kennedy Kaitano- I have read statements by various arms of this illegitimate regime led by Emmerson Mnangagwa promising to attack peaceful demonstrators. True to their word, I have seen the video of a man dressed in army attire assaulting someone sitting down in a group of other onlooking people who were also sitting.
Why would soldiers be used to attack non-violent demonstrators?
This is could be Zimbabwe’s turning point if the regime proceeds to attack non-violent demonstrators who will sit on the ground while the solders, and police force attack them. Fortunately, the United Nations has long observed that the regime has some ulterior motives behind the planned atrocities against peaceful demonstrators as expressed by Liz Throssell of the United Nations Human Rights Office.
None of the people who are planning the demonstration has been heard plotting violence, so the violent regime should not think for the people. This is a test case for the falsely proclaimed democratic principles of the illegitimate regime, and the false anti-corruption claims by the same regime.
Allow the people to come out and demonstrate and voice their concerns about corruption, which you falsely claim to fight against. The police must be there to protect the demonstrators from Zanu PF youth who are being encouraged by Chinamasa to attack demonstrators.
All people who attack innocent demonstrators must be captured on camera and presented for trial for crimes against humanity.
The illegitimate regime must not pretend that they care about the possibility of demonstrators contracting Covid-19, but they should worry about the Zanu PF youths they intend to unleash onto the streets to attack innocent demonstrators who may be infected by the corona-virus.
Let the people be heard if they chose to express themselves the way they want. The world is watching you Zanu PF and the illegitimate regime of Emmerson Mnangagwa
Stay aware of the latest information on the COVID-19 outbreak, available on the WHO website and through your national and local public health authority. Many countries around the world have seen cases of COVID-19 and several have seen outbreaks.
The situation is unpredictable so check regularly for the latest news.
You can reduce your chances of being infected or spreading COVID-19 by taking some simple precautions:
Regularly and thoroughly clean your hands with an alcohol-based hand rub or wash them with soap and water.
Why?Washing your hands with soap and water or using alcohol-based hand rub kills viruses that may be on your hands.
Maintain at least 1 metre (3 feet) distance between yourself and anyone who is coughing or sneezing.
Why? When someone coughs or sneezes they spray small liquid droplets from their nose or mouth which may contain virus. If you are too close, you can breathe in the droplets, including the COVID-19 virus if the person coughing has the disease.
Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth
Why? Hands touch many surfaces and can pick up viruses. Once contaminated, hands can transfer the virus to your eyes, nose or mouth. From there, the virus can enter your body and can make you sick.
Make sure you, and the people around you, follow good respiratory hygiene. This means covering your mouth and nose with your bent elbow or tissue when you cough or sneeze. Then dispose of the used tissue immediately.
Why? Droplets spread virus. By following good respiratory hygiene you protect the people around you from viruses such as cold, flu and COVID-19.
Stay home if you feel unwell. If you have a fever, cough and difficulty breathing, seek medical attention and call in advance. Follow the directions of your local health authority.
Why? National and local authorities will have the most up to date information on the situation in your area. Calling in advance will allow your health care provider to quickly direct you to the right health facility. This will also protect you and help prevent spread of viruses and other infections.
Keep up to date on the latest COVID-19 hotspots (cities or local areas where COVID-19 is spreading widely). If possible, avoid traveling to places – especially if you are an older person or have diabetes, heart or lung disease.
Why? You have a higher chance of catching COVID-19 in one of these areas.
Credit:WHO
Inserted by Zimbabwe Online Health Centre
For more information follow /like our Facebook page :Zimbabwe Online Health Centre
The ruling ZANU PF party has accused some senior officials of “burning mid-night candle” in an attempt to cause disharmony between President Emmerson Mnangagwa and his Vice Presidents, Constantino Chiwenga and Kembo Mohadi.
Reading a statement after a politburo meeting held at the party’s headquarters in Harare on Wednesday, acting national spokesperson Patrick Chinamasa singled out Claveria Chizema for allegedly keeping fliers in her home carrying a message purporting that there was an impending coup in the party.
Said Chinamasa: The posters had a message that there was a coup coming and had the names of the people who were behind the coup, but these posters had false information.
She failed in her duties as a senior member of the party when she did not report this to the party security or national security and, therefore, she has been suspended to pave way for investigations.
Chizema was suspended from the politburo yesterday because of the fliers.
In the statement, Chinamasa warned party officials reportedly colluding with outsiders to divide the party that they will be dealt with in line with the standing rules of the party’s supreme constitution- NewsDay
when we said build hospitals pay doctors and nurses you ignored and continue buying landcrusers you let obadia Moyo and Collin mnangagwa stole 60million money for ventilators now look one by one
Farai Dziva|Three MDC Alliance Youth Assembly leaders Joana Mamombe, Netsai Marova and Cecilia Chimbiri have been arrested.
According to the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, the three were arrested near Zanu PF HQ.
ZLHR wrote on Twitter :
“@ZLHRLawyers strongly condemns the arbitrary detention of @obeyshava with his clients @JoanaMamombe @MarovaNetsai & @ceechimbiri2
They were arrested near ZANU PF headquarters on their way to Central police where they are scheduled to report as part of their bail conditions.”
“Detention of our lawyer @obeyshava1 is strongly condemned, he must be released forthwith together with his clients on their way to fulfill their bail conditions.
We also strongly condemn wanton assault of @ceechimbiri2 by a soldier.”
Farai Dziva|MDC Alliance members Fadzayi Mahere (National Spokesperson), three Youth Assembly officials Joana Mamombe, Netsai Marova and Cecilia Chimbiri have been arrested as Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration intensifies efforts to silence dissenting voices.
Prominent writer and filmmaker Tsitsi Dangarembga was also arrested.
MDC deputy president Tendai Biti condemned the persecution of citizens by the paranoid regime :
“The #amoeba has totally lost it . Indeed Fadzai , Tsitsi and others have been arrested .
So too the #MDCAllianceTrio & their lawyer Obey Shava who were all coming from a hastily arranged trial at the Harare Magistrate Court .Civil rights have now securely been quarantined in Zim.
It appears that the desperate regime is now arresting citizens wily nilyThey appear to have picked up Tsitsi Dangarembgwa,our spokesperson
@advocatemahere andothers .
The right to peacefully demonstrate is is codified in our constitution,” Biti wrote on Twitter.
Cecilia Chimbiri's father, tells ZimEye he is still waiting outside the Harare Central police station ever since the MDC trio walked in to report. A few min ago, another cop came to assure him the 3 are being attended to. But he says he's worried that it's now taking too long. pic.twitter.com/48r5U7MHwI
It is a day commemorated to enhance awareness of viral hepatitis. It is an opportunity to step up national and interactive efforts on hepatitis.
It’s to encourage actions and engagement by individuals, partners and the public.
Theme: “Hepatitis free future” with a strong focus on preventing Hepatitis B among mothers and newborns.
Hepatitis is inflammation of the liver that causes a range of problems that may progress to chronic liver disease or liver cancer. Hepatitis can be parasitic, bacteria, viral, autoimmune (body attacking itself) or genetic.
However of all the causes viral causes are the most common and most fatal.
Of the viral causes hepatitis A, B, C, D, E are the commonest.
Hepatitis A is a vaccine preventable hepatitis transmitted via feacal-oral. It is a contagious disease. People infected presents with abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, jaundice, fatigue, malaise.
It is usually self limiting and treatment is symptom management. It does not usually cause chronic complications.
Hepatitis B is transmitted by body fluids or blood products, sharing needles and syringes and by sexual intercourse.
Infected people presents with fatigue, poor appetite, yellow eyes, abdominal pain. This type of hepatitis can be prevented as there is a vaccine available. Anyone at any age can get the vaccine. In Zimbabwe children are vaccinated at the age of 6, 10 and 14weeks.
Treatment can be with antivirals but it usually progress to cause chronic liver disease and liver cancer.
Hepatitis C virus is also transmitted by body fluids, blood products, sharing needles and syringes and sexual intercourse.
Symptoms and signs are usually the same as those of Hepatitis B.
There is no vaccine for hepatitis C but can be treated with antivirals. It also progress causing chronic liver disease and liver cancer. Hepatitis D occurs as a coinfection with hepatitis B.
Transmission, signs and symptoms are the same as hepatitis B. If vaccinated against Hep B it also protects against Hepatitis D.
Hepatitis E istransmitted via feaco-oral route usually in shell fish, raw pig. There is no vaccine available.
Also self limiting and chronic complications are not common.
Zimbabwe Online Health Centre
For more information follow /like our Facebook page :Zimbabwe Online Health Centre
ZANU PF yesterday suspended the party’s secretary for Health Cleveria Chizema for further investigation after the security department presented a report on how internal forces are fomenting discord in the party working with some senior officials.
Speaking after the 342nd session of the Politburo in Harare on Wednesday, Zanu PF acting Secretary for Information and Publicity Patrick Chinamasa confirmed Chizema’s suspension after fliers printed by a former youth league official and spreading falsehoods, were found at her home.
“As of now we had only concrete evidence of fliers left at Mai Chizema’s house in March and not removed.
They were not reported to anyone else, or to the security authorities and were found at her house just a few days ago.
“The Politburo was not satisfied with her explanation, so she pleaded innocent and we feel that we cannot investigate this matter scientifically if she remains in office. She was suspended pending full investigations.
The full investigations hopefully will nail the other individuals who have been working with outside forces,” said Chinamasa-The Herald
Our Provincial Deputy Organising Secy Edward Edzeka has been abducted at gunpoint in Chegutu West. The group was ambushed in Chegutu town & they zeroed in on him.They were peacefully demostrating against corruption #zimbabwe@DavidColtart@Sophie_Mokoena @uk_mdca pic.twitter.com/PJwWMOniKH
Farai Dziva|Heavily armed police details raided MDC Alliance Organising Secretary Amos Chibaya’s house on Friday afternoon.
The police officers did not produce a warrant of arrest.
“As the siege against MDC Alliance leaders and pro-democracy activists continues, armed riot police have stormed the home of MDC Alliance National Organizing Secretary, Amos Chibaya in Mkoba 13.
They did not produce a warrant of arrest,” MDC Alliance said in a statement.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa at the burial of Perence Shiri
President Emmerson Mnangagwa is going ahead with the burial of late Agriculture Minister Perence Shiri after flooding the country with soldiers and police to suppress them telling him that they are suffering under his leadership.
Shiri succumbed to Covid-19 on Wednesday while on his way to hospital. He was declared a National Hero besides leaving behind a history of brutality and murders he executed as the commander of the Gukurahundi soldiers who killed over twenty thousand people in Matabeleland and the Midlands in the mid eighties.
Farai Dziva|MDC Alliance members Fadzayi Mahere (National Spokesperson), three Youth Assembly officials Joana Mamombe, Netsai Marova and Cecilia Chimbiri have been arrested as Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration intensifies efforts to silence dissenting voices.
Prominent writer and filmmaker Tsitsi Dangarembga was also arrested.
MDC deputy president Tendai Biti condemned the persecution of citizens by the paranoid regime :
“The #amoeba has totally lost it . Indeed Fadzai , Tsitsi and others have been arrested .
So too the #MDCAllianceTrio & their lawyer Obey Shava who were all coming from a hastily arranged trial at the Harare Magistrate Court .Civil rights have now securely been quarantined in Zim.
It appears that the desperate regime is now arresting citizens wily nilyThey appear to have picked up Tsitsi Dangarembgwa,our spokesperson
@advocatemahere andothers .
The right to peacefully demonstrate is is codified in our constitution,” Biti wrote on Twitter.
Nineteen Coronavirus patients risks dying at a Harare medical institution after soldiers blocked an oxygen delivery company to deliver the consignment.
The soldiers are currently doing an operation to block suspected #31July protestors.
The incident was reported by former journalist and National Patriotic Front Spokesperson Jealousy Mawarire who said, “Receiving reports there is a medical facility in Arundel needing urgent oxygen supplies. They have 19 Covid patients, they need bulk medical oxygen,but driver from a supplier (a big reputable company) has been turned back home by soldiers. If these patients pass on, isn’t ED culpable?”
Receiving reports there is a medical facility in Arundel needing urgent oxygen supplies.They have 19 Covid patients, they need bulk medical oxygen,but driver from a supplier(a big reputable company)has bn turned back home by soldiers.If these patients pass on, isn't ED culpable? pic.twitter.com/Ur1L216yvQ
— mawarire mbizvo jealousy (@mawarirej) July 31, 2020
Zimbabwe currently has 3092 confirmed cases, including 924 recoveries and fifty three (53) deaths.
Farai Dziva|Three MDC Alliance Youth Assembly leaders Joana Mamombe, Netsai Marova and Cecilia Chimbiri have been arrested.
According to the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, the three were arrested near Zanu PF HQ.
ZLHR wrote on Twitter :
“@ZLHRLawyers strongly condemns the arbitrary detention of @obeyshava with his clients @JoanaMamombe @MarovaNetsai & @ceechimbiri2
They were arrested near ZANU PF headquarters on their way to Central police where they are scheduled to report as part of their bail conditions.”
“Detention of our lawyer @obeyshava1 is strongly condemned, he must be released forthwith together with his clients on their way to fulfill their bail conditions.
We also strongly condemn wanton assault of @ceechimbiri2 by a soldier.”
.@ZLHRLawyers strongly condemns the arbitrary detention of @obeyshava with his clients @JoanaMamombe@MarovaNetsai & @ceechimbiri2. They were arrested near ZANU PF headquarters on their way to Central police where they are scheduled to report as part of bail conditions.
By Jane Mlambo| Firebrand South African opposition Economic Freedom Fighters leader Julias Malema has slammed the government of Zimbabwe over its move to compensate former white farmers who were displaced during the 2000 land reform exercise saying President Emmerson Mnangagwa had exposed his clueless-ness by dancing to the whims of the whites.
In a strongly worded statement, EFF said the government was misinformed about the causes of the economic crisis in Zimbabwe which he said had to do with deeply embedded cronyism and ineptitude on the part of the state.
“We are of the view that Mnangagwa is either deeply misinformed about the real causes of the crisis in Zimbabwe or is simply catapulting to the pressure from the white supremacist world. Either way, the treasonous act of paying to white settlers money that Zimbabwe does not have will not resolve the crisis in Zimbabwe which is essentially a political crisis resulting from mismanagement, at the centre of which Mnangagwa features prominently,” said EFF.
The vibrant movement further laid into Mnangagwa for betraying former freedom fighters and damaging the legacy of President Robert Mugabe by seeking to please white people by paying them for the Zimbabwean land they were illegally occupying.
“It must be noted that the push for the repossession of the land in Zimbabwe was not initiated by the state. At the time Zimbabwe gained independence, the framework for land reform was premised on a market-led land reform programme whereby the state with the assistance of Britain, was required to purchase land from white landowners for land redistribution purposes,” added Malema.
“Mnangagwa will be remembered as a clueless, ideological amoeba who was prepared to trade off important gains of the struggle in order to be liked by the whites. We deeply condemn this act of betrayal by Mnangagwa, and call on ordinary Zimbabweans to reject this wasteful use of money that should be directed towards building hospitals in Zimbabwe,” added EFF.
By A Correspondent- The vice president of the opposition MDC Alliance, Tendai Biti has claimed that Zimbabwe has been totally shut down as the citizenry has withdrawn in protest against bad governance in the country.
He speaks when reports from the country’s major cities suggest that there is a heavy presence of state security officers in roads leading to central business districts to block the citizenry. Biti posted on Twitter this Friday:
There is a complete shut down of Zim as the citizen withdraws in protest against #corruption, misgovernance & abuse of the rule of law. The illegitimate regime has been stretched with thousands of security agents deployed all over. The people are speaking #peacefully& autocracy panics.
Meanwhile, the permanent secretary in the ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Nick Mangwana claims that there is an insignificant change in some towns. He said:
GWANDA UPDATE: Major shopping centres are open but very few people are doing business. Zupco buses are ferrying people into town but they are not full. Residents appear to have chosen safety from Covid19 and peace from potential thuggery.
Some say the citizenry did not throng to the streets as planned in fear of the security forces deployed onto the streets.
Watch the live video loading below and see how the MDC Alliance spokesperson Fadzayi Mahere was arrested today while staging a protest in Harare, Friday morning……
Watch the live video loading below and see how the MDC Alliance spokesperson Fadzayi Mahere was arrested today while staging a protest in Harare, Friday morning……
Embarked on a socially distanced peaceful protest in our community this morning. It’s important to speak out and take a stand in accordance with the Constitution, Covid19 regulations & morality.
We all wore masks during the protest. We all observed social distancing. It was completely peaceful. Section 59 of the Constitution guarantees the right to demonstrate and present petitions peacefully. We said we would support this citizen-driven action & we kept our word.
Members of the Zimbabwe Republic Police attempted to nab Thandekile Moyo the creator of the #ZANUPRmustGo campaign using relatives of ZimLive Editor Mduduzi Mathuthu.
Mathuthu’s close associate Professor Jonathan Moyo said the police asked one of Mathuthu’s relative to lure Thandekile to them.
“Before raiding @Mathuthu’s house, @PoliceZimbabwe in Byo arrested three of Mduduzi’s nephews: Amandlenkosi Mathuthu, Advent Mathuthu & Tawanda Muchehiwa. They forced Tawanda to call and try and lure @Mamoxn to the Police by saying: the flyers are ready, come and see them. Shocking!” Moyo said.
Around 5pm I received a call from Tawanda who sounded desperate & not ok/himself, Asking me to meet him, I asked him where he was & he was incoherent, A lawyer went to Byo central & ZRP denied having the 3, The lawyer was unrelenting, ZRP then produced the other 2.#ZanupfMustGo
The police have been launching raids on homes belonging to Josphat Ngulube and Mthulisi Hanana who have been ndistibuting flyers with the hashtag.
Mathuthu is currently in hiding. The police are accusing him of possessing subversive equipment used to incite Zimbabweans to engage in an illegal demonstration on Friday.
Friday preliminary reports indicate that the country is generally calm with calls for protests having been suppressed by a heavy police and army presence all round.
Watch video downloading below on situation in Harare this morning.
Zimbabweans had called for nationwide marches on Friday, ostensibly against top-level corruption, in defiance of a government ban.
This had raised the spectre of possible clashes and violence between protestors and security forces.
Police national spokesman assistant commissioner Paul Nyathi told national radio that there were no reports of protests anywhere as of early morning on Friday, and the country was calm and peaceful.
Police and other security forces have been heavily deployed in key areas to enforce the protest ban.
“So far the country is very calm and peaceful, no reports of demonstrations or violence,” Nyathi said.
He added: “We are monitoring the situation cĺosely.”
In banning the protests, the government had expressed fears the marches could endanger the lives of the public by exposing them to the raging Covid-19.
The government had also cited possible violence during the protests as another reason for banning the marches.
Keep us informed on developments in your area by clicking the link below:
Quick Update: What is happening in your area right now regards the July 31 protests?
By A Correspondent- Fired Deputy Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services and Goromonzi West MP, Energy Mutodi, has withdrawn a case which was before a Harare magistrate.
Mutodi filed an affidavit before magistrate Mr Sheunesu Matowa indicating that he had decided to withdraw thefts charges against four men who allegedly stole his designer suits.
The suspected thieves – two brothers Denver and Cosmos Zvomuya, Fidelis Martin Mandaza and Pardon Magombo – were arrested after they allegedly broke into Mutodi’s Borrowdale residence in Harare and stole valuables, including 30 pairs of designer suits.
In withdrawing the case which was before magistrate Matowa, Mutodi said he had decided to withdraw the matter due to personal circumstances.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa fired Mutodi in May after he had used Twitter to mock then hospitalised three female MDC Alliance activists, calling them pr_stitutes who were bashed by their lovers after they demanded to be paid in foreign currency for their services.
Harare West MP Joanah Mamombe, Cecilia Chimbiri and Netsai Marova were abducted, tortured and s_xually assaulted after taking part in an anti-government demonstration in Warren Park, Harare.
Justice Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi reacted swiftly to save some children on Anti-Retroviral Therapy after their caretakers were arrested by police on Wednesday in Mount Hampden.
In a move that has proved that some junior officers are ‘overzealous and unrealistic’ of the economic situation affecting food security, Ziyambi said although the caretakers including one Gogo Nhiwatiwa and Portia Rusere were not registered but were feeding scores of vulnerable children including three who are on ART out of their pockets, there was need for a ‘reprieve’.
There are at least 54 of these children who have taken solace at the homestead in Mount Hampden getting free food daily.
The matter was raised at WhatsApp group where Ziyambi is a member.
He was touched by the plea by members that he had to call the police and social welfare officials to get to the bottom of the matter.
Ziyambi castigated junior social welfare officers whom he said overreacted on the matter.
‘The affected children are now in Kadoma where they will be assisted to get their medication. It was overzealous on the part of social welfare officers as police are not to blame. These caring mothers were doing this out of love, using their own resources to feed the children,’ he posted.
He however, called for a truce so that the organization gets registered to continue assisting the vulnerable members of the communities.
Gogo Nhiwatiwa was among the caretakers who were arrested.
The Mount Hampden ‘orphanage’ co-founder Portia Rusere confirmed that they were at Marlborough police station where they had been picked up for questioning.
‘Yes our organization was not registered but we were feeding children as there is need to help them out. Some were coming from their homes and we did this as a move aimed at assisting children who are innocent souls,’ she said.
However, Chegutu Senator Violet Mokwetsi called on the Government to relax registration of such community based organizations.
‘We are facing a crisis and when women do this caring, it is out of genuine love. Few have hidden agendas to raise money, so Government officials must help out to those with a noble cause not to witch-hunt and bring dis-harmony among communities,’ she added.
The minister’s reaction was applauded as ‘caring and realistic on community based situations’ following the appeal on a social media grouping.
EXPLOSIVE details show that the state-owned National Oil and Infrastructure Company (Noic) was advanced by Sakunda Holdings US$17,5 million of a US$22,75 million loan agreement to buy out Lonmin’s 50% stake in the ownership of the strategic Feruka fuel pipeline, leaving the parastatal saddled with a debt, which is now causing all manner of headaches.
The transaction lifts the lid on the murky control, use and management of the money-spinning pipeline, as accusations of state capture mount. Sakunda Holdings is owned by the politically connected tycoon Kuda Tagwirei.
In 2018, Noic assumed total control of the Beira-Harare pipeline after it snapped up Lonmin’s 50% stake in the asset.
The transaction, consummated at a time Zimbabwe was facing a crippling fuel crisis, has now become a major headache for Noic. There are many unanswered questions as to why Noic decided to take the US$22,75 million loan specifically from Sakunda Holdings instead of other players and whether the Tagwirei-run outfit got preferential treatment to use the pipeline.
It also remains to be established whether Sakunda Holdings was paying tariffs for usage of the pipeline from 2018 to date and the nature of gain it accrued from the deal.
As reported by this newspaper on February 20, Sakunda Holdings’ dominant usage of the pipeline, which runs from Beira in Mozambique to Harare, has resulted in 40% under-utilisation of the infrastructure, prejudicing Zimbabwe a staggering US$400 million annually.
The pipeline, which until 2018 was partly owned by Noic and mineral resources group Lonmin, is now wholly controlled by the government through PetroZim Line Limited after it paid US$17,5 million to the conglomerate of the US$22,5 million Sakunda Holdings loan. PetroZim Line Limited, a subsidiary of Noic, now exclusively owns the pipeline, although its usage has largely been dominated by Tagwirei’s Sakunda Holdings.
Tagwirei, who is President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s adviser and Zanu PF benefactor, has vast business interests that straddle the whole economic spectrum ranging from petroleum procurement, banking and mining. In recent times, he has faced accusations of failing to account for US$3 billion his company was allegedly paid by the government to finance the Command Agriculture programme.
Documents seen by the Independent this week show that Noic, which generates billions of dollars annually through levying fuel-procurement companies that use the pipeline, is now indebted to the tune of US$17,5 million, from the loan it received from Sakunda Holdings in a transaction meant to give the parastatal total control of the infrastructure. Noic levies about US$0,06 for every litre of fuel pumped through the pipeline.
The documents also reveal that Noic has since paid ZW$30 million to Sakunda Holdings as cash cover, an amount which the state enterprise will be reimbursed once it settles its debt to Tagwirei’s firm. At the time it paid the cash cover amount, the Zimbabwean dollar was trading at par with the US dollar.
The Independent can report that the US$17,5 million paid by Noic to Lonmin to snap up its 50% shareholding in the ownership of the pipeline was paid directly by Sakunda Holdings via an undisclosed offshore account.
According to correspondence from Noic corporate services director Vivian Mandizvidza dated April 23 addressed to the entity’s board members, the state enterprise sought “authority” to settle US$17,261 million to Sakunda Holdings under the loan arrangement deal that was entered to buy out Lonmin for PetroZim Line Limited.
The letter reads: “On 26 June 2018, Noic and Sakunda Holdings entered into a loan agreement for an amount of US$22,75 million on the back of a sale purchase transaction between Noic and Lonmin Plc in terms of which Noic purchased the 50% shareholding held by Lonmin Plc in PetroZim Line Limited. The conditions of the loans were as follows: Sakunda would pay US$22 750 000 to Lonmin on behalf of Noic.
“The loan agreement provided that Sakunda would disburse the entire amount to an identified offshore account on the loan date subject to fulfilment of conditions precedent. Noic fulfilled the conditions precedent. Sakunda disbursed a total of US$17 261 577, 00 in batches.”
Contacted for comment, Tagwirei did not respond. The Independent sought his clarification on the amount of fuel his company moved through the pipeline from 2018 to date and the amount of money it paid for using the same facility. We also sought his comment on the benefits Sakunda Holdings reaped from Noic after providing it with the loan.
In a transaction preceding Mandizvidza’s letter to Noic board members, Trafigura — one of the world’s largest oil and metal brokers — bought out Sakunda Holdings’ 51% stake in Trafigura Zimbabwe in February, as it moved to stave off mounting Western and local criticism against Tagwirei. As criticism swirled against Tagwirei’s controversial handling of the US$3 billion Command Agriculture funds, the US State Department and Treasury faced pressure from the US Senate to slap sanctions on individuals involved in alleged “public corruption”.
Trafigura held a 49% stake in Trafigura Zimbabwe, with Sakunda Holdings, which operated Puma Energy, holding the controlling stake.
Subsequent events, as shown by documents seen by this newspaper, reveal that Tagwirei’s Sakunda Holdings decided to terminate its agreement with Noic, and demanded to be repaid the principal amount it had loaned to the state enterprise, plus interest of US$1,384,864.The total amount due amounted to US$25,246,592 as at April 30.
“Subsequent engagements with Sakunda resulted in Sakunda invoking the provision of the Loan Agreement relating to termination. Sakunda raised incapacity to proceed with the Agreement due to the changes in the law prohibiting the payment to a local company offshore. Sakunda further gave notice to terminate the Agreement and requested Noic to pay back the loan amount and interest due,” Mandizvidza’s letter to board members reads.
“The effect of this communication was to terminate the loan and make repayment due. At the board meeting held on 26 March 2020, the board authorised management to engage Sakunda with a view to reaching an agreement on the settlement of the amount owed by the company in local currency, at the official exchange rate.”
Noic chief executive Wilfred Matukeni did not respond to questions from the Independent on why the state enterprise received the loan from Sakunda Holdings and the nature of benefit it obtained from the deal. At the time of going to print, he had not responded also on the amount of money Sakunda Holdings paid from 2018 to date for using the pipeline, by way of tariffs.
Energy minister Fortune Chasi also did not respond to questions sent to him, saying he was not in charge of the portfolio at the time. Jorum Gumbo, now minister in charge of Implementation of Government Programmes, presided over the energy portfolio in 2018.
During the subsistence of the agreement, Sakunda Holdings was awarded a US$6,6 million “discount on pumpings” through the pipeline.
As part of plans to settle the multi-million-dollar debt to Sakunda Holdings, Noic proposed to channel US$14,858 million of its funds held by the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) from a loan the apex bank borrowed from one of the state enterprise’s “clients”.
“The Company (Noic) currently has US$14,858 million invested with the RBZ. This amount is a loan accessed by the RBZ…to one of the company’s clients in December 2018,” the documents read.
According to Mandizvidza’s letter to the Noic board members, the entity’s management proposed to pay Sakunda Holdings US$14 million in local currency from funds held by RBZ and settle the balance of US$11,246,592 over a period of eight months. The balance attracts 5% interest per annum if it is paid after December 31.
“In the event that the request is approved, we request for authorisation…,”Mandizvidza wrote to Noic board members.
A petroleum industry source close to the Noic-Sakunda Holdings loan deal, has described the transaction as an “incestuous relationship”, arguing that the arrangement prejudiced other players while it gave Tagwirei’s outfit “vast acres of space to monopolise usage of the pipeline”.
“The US$22,75 million loan that Noic got from Sakunda Holdings stinks to high heavens. It just gets to show you how Tagwirei’s company has managed to maintain a tight grip on the usage of the asset. Sadly, the loan has come back to haunt Noic,” a source told the Independent this week
Amid disclosures of the Sakunda Holdings loan to Noic, the government’s plans to construct a second pipeline that runs from Mozambique into Zimbabwe and feeding the whole region with Mogs at a cost of US$400 million has suffered a stillbirth as a result of fierce resistance from powerful cartels with strong political connections. The second pipeline, which was touted to transform Zimbabwe into a regional petroleum hub, was to be built at a cost of US$400 million.
However, government is trying to revive plans to build a second pipeline with an as yet unnamed Mozambican outfit at the same cost.
Trafigura, which until March was Tagwirei’s partner in Trafigura Zimbabwe, moved 717 million litres of fuel through the pipeline in 2016, with volumes soaring to 639 million litres in 2017 and 768 million litres in 2018. In 2019, it pumped 889 million litres into Zimbabwe.
Documents seen by this newspaper in November 2018 showed that Puma, which is partly owned by Trafigura, Sakunda’s partner then, required 4,4 million litres of diesel and 3,6 million litres of petrol to adequately supply the country’s weekly fuel needs. At the height of fuel shortages in 2018, government negotiated for 100 million litres of fuel from Sakunda Holdings, with payment set to be settled over the next 12 months. At that time, Tagwirei’s outfit also committed to supply 1,6 billion litres of fuel over 18 months.
Noic would not disclose to the Independent the amounts of money Sakunda Holdings paid through tariffs levied from using the pipeline.
Zimbabwe, in the throes of a debilitating economic crisis, is reeling under a chronic fuel shortage compounded by underutilisation of the Beira-Harare pipeline.
The Southern African country requires 4,1 million litres of diesel and 3,1 million litres of petrol to satisfy its daily requirements
THREE people yesterday appeared in court facing allegations of staging an illegal demonstration at Boka Auction Floors in Harare demanding the release of fellow Hopewell Chin’ono and Jacob Ngarivhume who were remanded in custody.
Chin’ono and Ngarivhume were arrested a fortnight ago and have since appeared in court facing allegations of tweeting messages allegedly aimed at inciting people to join illegal demonstrations.
Emmanuel Mukwemu, Trynos Hove and Petronella Sabuwu appeared before magistrate Mrs Victoria Mashamba charged with participating in a public gathering with intent to cause public violence.
Mukwemu, Hove and Sabuwu, through their lawyer Marufu Mandevere, complained that they were denied access to legal representation upon arrest and that Hove was denied a mask upon arrest, exposing him to coronavirus in the process
The three were not asked to plead to the charges and were remanded in custody to August 13 for their routine remand.
Mr Sebastian Mutizirwa, prosecuting, alleges that on Tuesday this week the three teamed up with 17 others who are still at large and decided to stage a demonstration.
The court heard that they went to Boka Auction Floors carrying placards inscribed “31 July independence day, Corruption must go, free our leader Jacob. #31 July, 31 July no turning on back, and Free Zimbabwe, Free Hopewell, Free Corruption”.
After they allegedly staged the illegal demonstration, they then dispersed in different directions.
On Wednesday, police acted on a tip-off after receiving information to the effect that the three were at Mutema Bar in Hopely Zone 5 Shopping Centre, went there and identified Mukwemu from clothes he was wearing on the day of the demonstrations. Hove and Sabuwu were arrested yesterday.
One of the leading global providers of VPN services, TunnelBear has report a 12x spike in connections from Zimbabwe. The spike comes as Zimbabweans rush to install VPN apps ahead of the 31 July protests against government corruption and lack of political reforms in the country.
Said TunnelBear in a tweet this evening:
Zimbabwe must #KeepItOn. TunnelBear has seen nearly a 12x spike in connections in Zimbabwe since protests began. In light of this, we’re giving away 10GB of data for one month to our users in Zimbabwe to support them in this critical time.
A VPN, short for Virtual Private Network, allows internet users to bypass internet restrictions imposed by local authorities. Restrictions such as blocking access to social media and chat apps like WhatsApp, Facebook and Twitter.
No such restrictions have been effected in Zimbabwe yet. However, Zimbabweans are preparing for the possibility. Other popular VPN providers include Opera browser, NordVN, CyberGhost, Hotspot Shield, 1.1.1.1(by Cloudflare) and ExpressVPN.
There has been talk in the country that a whole internet shutdown might however be imposed. In such a scenario, VPNs will be useless.
A LUSTFUL 46-year-old Banket woman is languishing in remand prison after she was denied bail for allegedly forcing two minor boys to be intimate with her, in two separate incidents.
The accused, Dadirai Fortune Mandisekwe of Aryshire Mine in Banket is now scheduled to stand trial at Chinhoyi Magistrates’ Court where she is facing two counts of aggravated indecent assault.
In the first charge, allegations against the accused, whose marital status remains unknown, are that on an unknown date in April this year, she summoned the 13-year-old complainant into her bedroom.
It was heard the boy entered Mandisekwe’s bedroom and found her lying in bed before she was asked him to join her between the blankets.
When the boy got into bed, he was allegedly asked to undress and he complied.
The woman then started fondling the boy’s manhood, before instructing him to insert it into her genitals which he did, court was told.
In the second count, the prosecution averred that on an unknown date in July this year, a Grade Five boy was feeding chickens at an adjacent homestead when he was called by Mandisekwe.
Using the same modus operandi, the woman lured the boy into her blankets and indecently abused him without his consent.
The sexual molestations were exposed after the boy’s mother suspected her son had been abused.
The boy was taken for medical examination at a local clinic, where he confided in nurses and narrated the ‘sexcapade’, leading to the arrest of Mandisekwe.
Provincial magistrate Lisa Mutendereki remanded the matter to August 6 for trial.
Soldiers move in to disperse crowds of opposition Movement for Democratic Change supporters outside the party's headquarters in Harare, Zimbabwe, August 1, 2018.
EXACTLY two years after soldiers and police gunned down civilians in the immediate aftermath of the 2018 general election, the government has continued brutalising citizens while ironically claiming it is fulfilling recommendations of a commission of inquiry into the horrific killings.
The commission, chaired by former South African president Kgalema Motlanthe, among other recommendations, urged the government to desist from deploying the military in quelling dissent.
It also underscored the need to compensate victims of the shootings and the need to bring perpetrators of the killings to book, but nothing has been done yet in that respect.
Tomorrow, Zimbabwe commemorates the second anniversary of the unprecedented state brutality in which soldiers opened fire against fleeing, unarmed protesters on the streets of central Harare, killing six and injuring 35.
This followed a hotly disputed July 30 2018 presidential election narrowly won by Mnangagwa. Dozens of civilians were also injured while property worth millions of dollars was destroyed.
Following the shootings, Mnangagwa instituted the Motlanthe Commission, which was tasked with probing the circumstances surrounding the killing of civilians, as well as offer recommendations on how the country, recently emerging from the iron-fisted rule of former leader Robert Mugabe, could foster tolerance in the face of growing dissent.
However, Mnangagwa’s edgy government, rattled by recent calls by Transform Zimbabwe leader Jacob Ngarivhume to stage nationwide protests today against corruption, has swiftly moved in to arrest opposition activists and other critics.
Ngarivhume was arrested, together award-winning journalist Hopewell Chin’ono, last week. They are both behind bars on charges of inciting public violence.
More in Home
Security forces clear city centre ahead of planned protests Global financiers shut out Zim
Criminalising dissent confirms rogue state status
Redress dire health care system
Ex-Sables star’s kids would really ‘love’ to be Warriors Several opposition activists, who have endorsed today’s planned protests have gone into hiding with several others missing after the police announced that they were wanted persons.
Sections of the international community as well as civil society organisations have condemned the arrests.
However, in an interview with the Zimbabwe Independent this week, Justice minister Ziyambi Ziyambi sensationally claimed Mnangagwa’s administration has taken bold strides towards implementing a raft of recommendations passed by the Motlanthe commission.
Among the strides, he cited, the establishment of the discredited Political Actors Dialogue (Polad) which is a grouping of fringe politicians who lost in the last general election that regularly meet with Mnangagwa in a bid to resolve Zimbabwe’s longstanding political and economic crisis and the annulment of a couple of repressive laws.
Polad, which has been criticised for overtly endorsing Mnangagwa’s contested presidency, excludes opposition leader Nelson Chamisa who narrowly lost the disputed 2018 election on an MDC-Alliance ticket. Chamisa has not endorsed Mnangagwa’s victory, and has called for a broad-based national dialogue that is convened by a neutral broker to help end Zimbabwe’s two-decade crisis.
“We set up Polad, we repealed the Access to Information and Privacy Act (Aippa), we engaged families of victims.”
However, Maxwell Tauro, the father of Ignatius Tauro who was shot dead on August 1 2018, told the Independent this week that he had not received any compensation from the government, despite Ziyambi’s claims.
He said: “No one has reached out to us. We have not received any money from government. I once followed up on the docket and they said they will tell us when they need me”.
Alison Charles, whose brother Gavin Dean Charles was also slain by state security agents two years ago, said the government has neither apologised nor compensated the family.
“I am the executer of his estate and his daughter is a beneficiary and we have not received anything,” she said this week.
Ziyambi denied that the victims were shot by state security agents, although the Motlanthe commission clearly found that soldiers committed the heinous crime and should be brought to justice.
He said: “But the commission was also not very conclusive about who actually perpetrated the shootings. The police were still working on that. It is work in progress.
But by and large most of the issues they highlighted were resolved. And those that have not been resolved will be addressed.
“There was a recommendation that we must do an investigation on who perpetrated the shootings. We have not moved because we do not have conclusive evidence because there were conflicting theories.
Some people suggested that they were some people who were shooting from the top of buildings and other people were claiming it was the soldiers. But the soldiers do not have anyone who issued a directive to do that. So we are still investigating.”
Ziyambi warned police would use “proportionate force” if they feel under siege from protesters today.
“If you go about attacking police officers with the intention to kill them, proportionate force will be used proportional to the force needed to defend that police officer’s life,” Ziyambi said.
The Burial of our National Hero is the only major event in the country today. Coming a distant second is the trial of those accused of faking their abductions, as it is expected to expose all the jiggery-pokery around many abduction claims. A Waterloo moment for fakery.
As the siege against MDC Alliance leaders and pro-democracy activists continues, armed riot police have stormed the home of MDC Alliance National Organizing Secretary, Amos Chibaya in Mkoba 13. They do not have a warrant of arrest. pic.twitter.com/kabWjr60tQ
— Citizens' Coalition for Change (@CCCZimbabwe) July 31, 2020
In yet another foreign currency theft in Bulawayo, a city man lost US$50 000 cash (equivalent of $3,8 million) after thieves broke into his car while he was parked in the city centre on Sunday, conducting other business.
The theft occurred along Samuel Parirenyatwa Street between 14th and 15th avenues and no arrests have been made as yet, with police yesterday saying they were still investigating.
National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said the man parked his Toyota Prado along Samuel Parirenyatwa Road on Sunday, leaving US$50 000 inside the vehicle. When he returned he found the money missing,” he said.
Thefts and robberies of foreign currency have become more frequent in Bulawayo.
Last week, burglars broke into an irrigation company in Bulawayo and made off with US$23 500, R43 200 and $2 500 which was in a safe in one of the offices after disabling alarm systems and the closed-circuit television during the night.
Part of the stolen cash was in a safe, while the other was in a drawer and when police attended the scene, they discovered that the burglars broke one of the windowpanes and cut the burglar bars to gain entry.
Four armed robbers recently snatched US$80 000 in Bulawayo from a man believed to be a gold dealer, while he was in his car outside a city hotel.
The 29-year-old man was in his Toyota Allex near the intersection of Joshua Nkomo Street and 12 Avenue, opposite a hotel when one of the robbers, armed with a pistol, jumped into his vehicle.
The robber was then joined by his three accomplices and the four manhandled the victim demanding the cash. They later drove off in the Toyota with the victim, before dumping him in the city centre.
A driver from a Bulawayo-based hardware company also allegedly lost US$30 000 to thieves while on the way to bank the cash after he stopped at a supermarket in the city centre to buy food, leaving the cash in an envelope on the dashboard.
The driver had been sent by one of the directors of the hardware firm in Belmont. However, police were not convinced that the robber took place and suspected the driver faked it.
THE Health Services Board (HSB) has slated the month-long industrial action by nurses as illegal saying they rushed to withdraw labour without sufficient notice.
HSB, through the Attorney-General’s Civil Division, said the strike was a threat to people’s constitutional right to health and is likely to cause loss of life and so has approached the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare seeking an order declaring the strike illegal.
Nurses withdrew their labour on June 18 and have not returned to work despite the spike in confirmed Covid-19 cases.
The board, which employs the nurses, is demanding an explanation from the Zimbabwe Nurses Association why their strike should not be declared illegal.
In the papers filed at the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare recently, HSB said the strike was illegal and the nurses were acting in violation of the country’s supreme law.
“The strike is illegal on account of the fact that the workers have embarked on the strike without an attempt to present their grievances or conciliate the dispute. A certificate of no-settlement was not issued as required under Section 93 of the Labour Act.”
The nurses did not give 14 days’ notice as required by the law and just withdrew labour without notice, said the HSB in its submission and the strike puts the nation at serious health risk and it must be called off.
“It is common cause that the health workers are essential service providers and their withdrawal of labour causes unnecessary loss of life,” argues HSB.
However, ZINA secretary-general Mr Enock Dongo said the strike was lawful and it was staged due to incapacitation and fear of exposing nurses to the risk of infection by Covid-19.
“We feel our strike is within the law and it is legal. It was due to genuine incapacitation.”
Besides the pay issue, the nurses want better protective equipment.
“We went on to inform the Government that we are at risk of contracting Covid-19 because there is no personal protective equipment. A number of nurses so far have contracted Covid-19 and that confirms we are at risk and where we feel unsafe, we have to withdraw services until we get protective equipment,” he said.
A Gweru prophetess, arrested for allegedly sexually molesting a female member of her church, has been granted bail.
Juliet Masakanire (29), the founder and pastor of Pray Deliverance and Testimony Ministries International is alleged to have sexually molested a 32-year-old member of her church.
Masakanire appeared before Gweru magistrate Mr Progress Murandu facing aggravated indecent assault charges.
She was not asked to plead and was granted $1 000 bail to August 28.
Prosecutor, Ms Connie Madzudzu told the court that the complainant whose name has been withheld to protect her identity is a Pray Deliverance and Testimony Ministries International church member.
It is the State’s case that sometime in January, the accused person was looking for accommodation and the complainant offered to accommodate her temporarily.
The duo allegedly used to share the same bed.
The court heard that during the same month, Masakanire in a prophecy said the complainant was going to get married to a husband by the name of Stanley Chinyonga.
Each night since the day of the prophecy, the accused person allegedly started to speak to the complainant in a male voice saying she was Stanley Chinyonga and wanted to marry her.
The court heard that on an unknown date during the month of February, Masakanire allegedly woke up during the night and introduced herself as Stanley Chinyonga and started kissing and caressing the complainant.
The complainant tried to resist but she was overpowered. The accused person allegedly inserted her fingers into her private parts. She did that on four different occasions and threatened her not to tell anyone saying if she did that she would not meet her future husband.
On June 28 the complainant allegedly informed a church mate before the matter was reported to the police leading to the arrest of the accused person.
Zimbabwe Thursday recorded 12 new Covid-19 deaths, bringing to 53, the total number of fatalities, the Health Ministry announced in its daily coronavirus update.
“Today (Thursday) we report the results of 12 deaths which occurred from 13 – 20 July 2020 in the community and on admission to casualty departments at Parirenyatwa and Sally Mugabe hospitals after investigations and postmortems were done,” the ministry said.
“These include nine males and two females all from Harare and had respiratory symptoms. The deaths from Midlands province is a male aged 58.
“Two hundred and thirteen tested positive for Covid-19 today. These include 205 local cases and eight returnees from South Africa who are isolated. As at 30 July, Zimbabwe had 3 092 confirmed cases, including 924 recoveries and 53 deaths,” the ministry stated in its update.
AS Covid-19 cases rise in Zimbabwe, there are major risks to the country’s prisons and detention centres.
These facilities are often unsanitary, overcrowded, and have no running water in cells for detainees to comply with hygiene practices recommended to stem the spread of the disease.
According to the Ministry of Health, as of July 28, Zimbabwe had 2 817 confirmed cases of Covid-19 and 40 deaths. And the situation in the country’s prisons and jails could get worse.
Many detainees, like anti-corruption activists Hopewell Chin’ono and Jacob Ngarivhume, are stuck in congested pretrial detention facilities. Others are arbitrarily detained for simply speaking out or otherwise exercising their rights.
In March, the government acknowledged that Zimbabwe’s prisons, with a capacity for 17 000, had a population of 22 000. Between March and June 2020, the government released 4 208 prisoners under President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s amnesty, but too many remain behind bars to allow for social distancing.
Three lawyers who visited prisons in Harare last week told me that although masks are issued at prisons, many inmates and some wardens do not use them partly due to lack of information on protecting against Covid-19.
They confirmed that at least three staff at Prison Headquarters and the Chikurubi officers’ camp had tested positive for Covid-19.
The United Nations Standard Minimum Rule for the Treatment of Prisoners (Mandela Rules) states that prisoners should enjoy the same standards of health care available in the community.
Zimbabwean authorities should take immediate steps to provide detainees with adequate medical care and facilities to protect them from Covid-19. Zimbabwe should consider an increased reduction of the prison population through supervised or early release of low-risk detainees including those for release soon, those in pretrial detention for nonviolent and lesser offences, or whose continued detention is similarly unnecessary or unjustified.
The government should publicly disclose plans to reduce the risk of coronavirus infection in its facilities and steps it will take to contain the infection and protect prisoners, staff, and visitors.
The Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission, established under the Constitution to, among other things, carry out monitoring and inspection visits to prisons and other places of detention, should intervene to inspect and monitor compliance with Covid-19 measures to protect the health of detainees.
Details coming in indicate that the former Premier Soccer League chief executive, Chris Sambo succumbed to the deadly Coronavirus on Wednesday.
Sambo died at Parirenyatwa Hospital where he had been admitted after complaining of breathing problems.
“He was admitted at Parirenyatwa hospital after showing symptoms of Covid-19. He tested positive but he seemed to have been recovering well but they don’t know what happened all of a sudden and he passed away on Wednesday evening,” a relative revealed.
Sambo becomes local football’s first known Covid-19 fatality.
Neither MDC Alliance nor MDC-T can receive any of the $7.5 million political funding under the Political Parties Finance Act until a resolution on the ongoing legal battle over which formation is entitled to the money is settled, the Supreme Court has ruled.
The Nelson Chamisa-led MDC Alliance and the Dr Thokozani Khupe-led MDC-T are embroiled in a vicious legal battle over the control of the opposition MPs and Senators elected in 2018, and thus the $7.5 million to be paid under the Political Parties Finance Act.
MDC Alliance successfully applied for an interim order before Justice Priscilla Munanfati-Manongwe at the High Court in May, to block to the Thokozani Khupe-led MDC-T from receiving the disbursement.
The alliance had sued the Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs and Minister of Finance and Economic Development — who then appealed against the judgment of Justice Munangati-Manongwa at the Supreme Court.
There, a panel comprising Justice Chinembiri Bhunu, Justice Tendai Uchena and Justice Alfas Chitakunye partially allowed the appeal, but with the consent of both parties’ legal counsel blocked both formations from receiving the money until the underlying legal dispute is settled.
Under the Political Parties Finance Act, all parties that poll more than 5 percent of the vote in a general election share the sum budgeted for political parties each year in proportion to their votes. By-election results can alter those proportions.
The critical legal issue is whether the MDC-A was simply an electoral alliance, or a full party in its own right.
If it was just an alliance with the MDC-T as its main partner, then the decision of the Supreme Court earlier this year would have major significance. The Supreme Court then declared Mr Chamisa’s leadership of the MDC-T when the Alliance was formed to be illegitimate and ordered that the 2014 leadership, headed by Dr Khupe, was the legitimate interim leadership by MDC-T rules, but it had to hold an election within three months to choose the leader of the party. That congress, which was scheduled to take place today, was deferred due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
After the Supreme Court ruling, Dr Khupe moved to take control of the opposition, recalling a number of MDC Alliance legislators from Parliament and several councillors sympathising with Mr Chamisa on the basis that these had been the MDC-T’s nominees in the MDC-A line-up.
There are now two contradictory High Court rulings. In her ruling, Justice Munangati-Manongwa acknowledged the MDC Alliance as a political party with capacity to sue and be sued, which is contrary to the findings of another judge of the same court, Justice Tawanda Chitapi, who ruled that MDC Alliance does not legally exist as it is just an electoral pact.
The Supreme Court will now probably have to be asked to make a definitive ruling on the status of the MDC-A and whether those elected under the MDC-A name in 2018 belong to the MDC-A or belong to the underlying formations, including the MDC-T, that came together in the MDC-A.
There could be another legal battle over MDC-T assets that were taken over by the MDC-A on the say so of the then MDC-T executive led by Mr Chamisa, an executive now found to have been improperly formed by the MDC-T’s own rules.
Depending on how the legal battle progresses, several alternatives present themselves. It could be found that the MDC-A is a political party that came second in the 2018 elections, but was not entitled to take over MDC-T assets. Or it could be found that the MDC-A is simply an electoral alliance of several parties that presented a single presidential candidate and a single candidate in each constituency election, but has no control over the successful candidates. There are other options that may come to the attention of judges trying to disentangle the legal minefield.
Melanie Robinson, the British ambassador, has called for restraint from both the state security and citizens in the citizens demonstrations set to take place in major cities today.
Robinson said on Twitter she was concerned by “toughening language on and off social media in Zimbabwe.”
The Zimbabwean goverment and the ruling ZANU PF party have in the last two weeks been using very strong language threatening citizens intending to take part in the demonstrations.
A day ahead of the demonstrations, on Thursday, after midday, downtown Harare was largely empty.
In Gweru and Masvingo, vehicles were being turned away from entering the CBD.
A police statement said no demonstrations would be allowed.
“All security arms of government are on full alert and will deal decisively with any individuals or groups fomenting violence and sending threats or provocative messages through the social media or any other means,” it said.
Robinson tweeted as follows:
Concerned by toughening language on and off social media in Zimbabwe this week following calls for protests on Friday. Call for calm and restraint on all sides.
Police officers on Thursday raided and ransacked the home of ZimLive editor Mduduzi Mathuthu in Zimbabwe’s second city of Bulawayo reportedly looking for information on subversive materials linked to the 31 July protests.
According to a warrant of search and seizure, the police said they were looking for mobile phones, cameras, computers and any subversive materials that were likely to be used in today’s planned demonstrations, which the law enforcement agents have said are illegal.
The police said they believed Mathuthu was organising and advocating for the demonstrations adding that he was using his mobile phone to encourage people to demonstrate.
Mathuthu was not at his home when the police arrived. The police have since picked up his young sister Nomagugu and detained her at the Bulawayo Central Police station.
MISA Zimbabwe has since deployed lawyer Nqobani Sithole to assist both Mduduzi and his sister.
The raid on Mathuthu’s home follows a similar one at the Harare home of journalist Hopewell Chin’ono, who was arrested on 20 June. Chin’ono is in custody after he was denied bail on charges of inciting public violence in terms of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act.
A 26-YEAR-OLD miner has been arrested for allegedly raping a 62-year-old woman after she turned down his love proposal.
Proud Ndebele who works at a mine in Sun Yet Sen was not asked to plead when he appeared before Gwanda magistrate, Miss Lerato Nyathi facing a rape charge. He was remanded in custody to August 27 for trial.
Prosecuting, Mr Silent Shoko said Ndebele met the elderly woman while she was on her way home on May 30 and proposed love to her.
“On 30 May at around 6PM the complainant was on her way home from Sun Yet Sen Business Centre in Kezi when she met Ndebele. He proposed love to the complainant and she turned him down. The complainant left the accused person standing along the footpath and she proceeded home,” he said.
“On the same night at around 7PM Ndebele arrived at the complainant’s place of residence and found her cooking in her kitchen hut. He approached the complainant and requested to have sexual intercourse with her but she refused and ordered Ndebele to leave her homestead. This didn’t go down well with Ndebele who then slapped the complainant several times on her face and threatened to kill her if she didn’t give in to his demands.”
Mr Shoko said Ndebele then ordered the complainant to lie down on the kitchen floor and he raped her.
“During the process the complainant tried to fight off the accused person by scratching him on the face but he did not stop and instead burnt the complainant with a piece of firewood,” he said.
After committing the crime, Ndebele fled and the complainant went to inform her neighbour.
The matter was reported to the police leading to the arrest of the accused person. –Chronicle
The ruling ZANU PF party has accused some senior officials of “burning mid-night candle” in an attempt to cause disharmony between President Emmerson Mnangagwa and his Vice Presidents, Constantino Chiwenga and Kembo Mohadi.
Reading a statement after a politburo meeting held at the party’s headquarters in Harare on Wednesday, acting national spokesperson Patrick Chinamasa singled out Claveria Chizema for allegedly keeping fliers in her home carrying a message purporting that there was an impending coup in the party.
Said Chinamasa: The posters had a message that there was a coup coming and had the names of the people who were behind the coup, but these posters had false information.
She failed in her duties as a senior member of the party when she did not report this to the party security or national security and, therefore, she has been suspended to pave way for investigations.
Chizema was suspended from the politburo yesterday because of the fliers.
In the statement, Chinamasa warned party officials reportedly colluding with outsiders to divide the party that they will be dealt with in line with the standing rules of the party’s supreme constitution- NewsDay
SECURITY FORCES ISSUES STERN WARNING ON ILLEGAL DEMONSTRATIONS
The Zimbabwe Republic Police urges members of the public to conduct their day to day and normal activities in a peaceful atmosphere and cooperate with police and other security service members who are maintaining law and order in the country.
All security arms of Government are on full alert and will deal decisively with any individuals or groups fomenting violence and sending threats or provocative messages through the social media or any other means.
We reiterate that no demonstrations will take place in Zimbabwe on 31st July 2020.
Those who decide or disregard the law, particularly National COVID- 19 regulations will have themselves to blame.
Police are aware of various attempts to incite the public through the social media with one group calling itself “31 July Peaceful Demonstrations [3]” threatening to burn a service station in Mvuma on 31st July 2020, and barricade the Harare -Masvingo highway and all roads leading to police stations.
The group is led by a group administrator with the cell number +27653302446 and has 249 group members with some claiming to be in possession of firearms. These will be regarded as terrorists.
The security services are also aware of these groups that they are spreading fake news that the security services are in support of the 31st July 2020, illegal demonstrations.
These are blatant lies, meant to confuse the public, cause alarm and despondency in the security services.
The security services remain resolute in defence of the country’s security and the safety of all Zimbabweans.
The public is also urged to report any incidence of intimidation, incitements or threats to their nearest police station or members of the security forces who are conducting patrols in their local areas.
[NYATHI. P] Assistant Commissioner Senior Staff Officer (Press, Public and International Relations) To the Commissioner-General of Police Police General Headquarters
The ruling ZANU PF party has accused some senior officials of “burning mid-night candle” in an attempt to cause disharmony between President Emmerson Mnangagwa and his Vice Presidents, Constantino Chiwenga and Kembo Mohadi.
Reading a statement after a politburo meeting held at the party’s headquarters in Harare on Wednesday, acting national spokesperson Patrick Chinamasa singled out Claveria Chizema for allegedly keeping fliers in her home carrying a message purporting that there was an impending coup in the party.
Said Chinamasa: The posters had a message that there was a coup coming and had the names of the people who were behind the coup, but these posters had false information.
She failed in her duties as a senior member of the party when she did not report this to the party security or national security and, therefore, she has been suspended to pave way for investigations.
Chizema was suspended from the politburo yesterday because of the fliers.
In the statement, Chinamasa warned party officials reportedly colluding with outsiders to divide the party that they will be dealt with in line with the standing rules of the party’s supreme constitution- NewsDay
ZANU PF yesterday suspended the party’s secretary for Health Cleveria Chizema for further investigation after the security department presented a report on how internal forces are fomenting discord in the party working with some senior officials.
Speaking after the 342nd session of the Politburo in Harare on Wednesday, Zanu PF acting Secretary for Information and Publicity Patrick Chinamasa confirmed Chizema’s suspension after fliers printed by a former youth league official and spreading falsehoods, were found at her home.
“As of now we had only concrete evidence of fliers left at Mai Chizema’s house in March and not removed.
They were not reported to anyone else, or to the security authorities and were found at her house just a few days ago.
“The Politburo was not satisfied with her explanation, so she pleaded innocent and we feel that we cannot investigate this matter scientifically if she remains in office. She was suspended pending full investigations.
The full investigations hopefully will nail the other individuals who have been working with outside forces,” said Chinamasa-The Herald
A Birmingham publication which covers Aston Villa might have given a clue in regards to the future of Zimbabwean midfielder Marvelous Nakamba.
The 26-year-old, started well for the Dean Smith-coached side after making a historic move from Club Brugge last year but lost his place in the team towards the end of the season, paving way for suggestions that the might be shown the exit door.
To make matters worse, the man who oversaw his £11 million transfer, Spanish talent-spotter Jesus Garcia Pitarch, was sacked for “bad transfer decisions”, a move which many felt provided a clear picture on the future of the Hwange-bred midfielder.
However, yesterday’s edition of the Birmingham Live suggested otherwise.
”Only Guilbert has won more tackles than Nakamba, who completed 90 minutes just 10 times in the Premier League.
The Zimbabwean is very much a confidence player while, during Villa’s lowest points at Southampton, Leicester and the like, he was Smith’s most-committed player with Smith making a point of his desire to the downbeat dressing room.
‘Naka’ lost his place during the restart and featured mainly from off the bench late on to help see Villa over the line.
He’s still 26 and, at £11 million, suggests there’s room to grow so we’ll see if he’s up to it this coming campaign,” read part the article which rated the Aston Villa players for the just ended 2019/20 campaign- Soccer 24
By A Correspondent| ZANU PF leader Emmerson Mnangagwa was left hanging on a thin-thread after the state broadcaster, ZBC on Thursday deleted its video of him battling to explain that the late Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Water and Rural Resettlement, Air Chief Marshal Perrance Shiri tested positive for #Covid-19.
The video shows Mnangagwa addressing mourners at the late Minister’s Borrowdale in Harare, this Thursday, according to ZBC. The development comes at a time when multiple sources inside government revealed they had no clue what killed Shiri. Yesterday, ZANU PF spokesman Patrick Chinamasa said he does not know what befell Shiri, announcing that only a postmortem would tell the truth. There are no postmortems being conducted for COVID victims. The ZBC YouTube account showed the below results: “Video unavailable” which means the broadcaster has deleted it.
The webpage was later updated after about 15 minutes and a new video was uploaded showing Mnangagwa saying: zvino sekutaura kwandaita, hatina kuziva, nekuti paakashaya, panga pasati pabuda pa results ekuti, ane maresults ekuti ane chirwere chacho chamazuva ano kana kuti ahana.
“Saka ma results ndoazouya aya aya. Zvobvira kuti handizivi kuti ndekupi asi akabatiwa ne COVID.
Ndozvinotaura bepa iri.
Saka ma procedure a World Health Organisation ndiwo ototevedza somurairo.
The ZBC news article as featured on its website when the video was suddenly deleted
According to a source close to the developments, Shiri did not die of corona virus but food poisoning which he reportedly consumed together with his driver at a rally in Rushinga.
“We are suspecting food poisoning but they are going to pin it on Covid.
“When they came back from Rushinga last week, the driver was complaining of heart burn. On Friday he went to work but Minister Shiri did not go to work. He had already started feeling funny, complaining that he felt like he had heart burn just like the driver”, said a close source who asked for anonymity.
I am very saddened by the death of Rtd Air Marshal Perrence Shiri.
I ask myself why such a wonderful and unique man would die so soon.
I have learnt a lesson. Procrastination is the thief of time. God gave me enough time to punish Perrence Shiri myself but l procrastinated.
I can’t forgive myself that he has died without me having a hand in his death.
I pray to God for a second chance, resurrect him and expose him to my desire to punish him.
It’s a pity that l can’t be allowed to have his body near me, otherwise l would kill him again.
Those who do not know this man-he was at the front line during the Matebeleland massacre crusade that saw 30 000 people plus heading to mass graves Perrence, famed for his hobby of slicing open pregnant women to “stop the birth of more dissidents” thought he was larger than life.
During his lifetime, he enjoyed the protection of both his paymasters, Robert Mugabe and his successor Emerson Mnangangwa.
Unfortunately they failed to protect him from the long arm of death that could grab him as they watched.
My brother Pee, please, come back and give me a chance to kill you myself the way you used to slaughter people in Matebeleland.
Sixty-two (62) cases tested positive for COVID-19.
These include 50 local cases and 12 returnees from South Africa who are isolated.
New recoveries were reported in Bulawayo in Bulawayo Province (275) and Manicaland Province (8).
Today we regret to report one (one) facility death from Manicaland Province.
The death is of a female aged 32. Today 723 RDT screening tests and 1 971 PCR diagnostic tests were done.
The cumulative number of tests done to date is 126 708 (68 916 RDT and 57 792 PCR).
Since the onset of the COVID019 outbreak on 20 March 2020, the total number of confirmed cases is 2 819, recovered 887, active cases 1 951 and 41 deaths- Ministry of Health and Child Care
Together with my driver, we have been tested for Covid and when the results come I will reveal them. This is what I believe should happen with Covid so as to remove the stigmatisation being encouraged through unnecessary secrecy.
— Sabhuku Temba P. Mliswa (@TembaMliswa) July 30, 2020
Meanwhile the @PoliceZimbabwe in Bulawayo have gone berserk, looking for journalists & civic leaders they accuse of being behind or linked to #31July2020. One of the wanted leaders, @zenzele, is seen here in hiding using survival tactics adopted back in the dark gukurahundi days! pic.twitter.com/wMZptVKn1c
Mr President @CyrilRamaphosa this is not the time for quiet diplomacy. You are the chairperson of the @_AfricanUnion. You cannot sit quietly and act like you do not see what is happening next door. Call @edmnangagwa and tell him to respect the rights of the media and opposition. https://t.co/H2ypo046Gq
Sixty-two (62) cases tested positive for COVID-19.
These include 50 local cases and 12 returnees from South Africa who are isolated.
New recoveries were reported in Bulawayo in Bulawayo Province (275) and Manicaland Province (8).
Today we regret to report one (one) facility death from Manicaland Province.
The death is of a female aged 32. Today 723 RDT screening tests and 1 971 PCR diagnostic tests were done.
The cumulative number of tests done to date is 126 708 (68 916 RDT and 57 792 PCR).
Since the onset of the COVID019 outbreak on 20 March 2020, the total number of confirmed cases is 2 819, recovered 887, active cases 1 951 and 41 deaths- Ministry of Health and Child Care
Mnangagwa's abduction Ferret Security Teams in urban areas are on the prowl tonight; targetting individuals they accuse of inciting tomorrow's demonstrations. Media & Civic Society practitioners who have been working on #31July2020 should not be at their usual places tonight!
The webpage was later updated after about 15 minutes and a new video was uploaded showing Mnangagwa saying: zvino sekutaura kwandaita, hatina kuziva, nekuti paakashaya, panga pasati pabuda pa results ekuti, ane maresults ekuti ane chirwere chacho chamazuva ano kana kuti ahana.
“Saka ma results ndoazouya aya aya. Zvobvira kuti handizivi kuti ndekupi asi akabatiwa ne COVID.
“Ndozvinotaura bepa iri.
By A Correspondent| The state broadcaster, ZBC on Thursday deleted its video of ZANU PF leader Emmerson Mnangagwa “revealing” that the late Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Water and Rural Resettlement, Air Chief Marshal Perrance Shiri tested positive for #Covid-19.
The video shows Mnangagwa addressing mourners at the late Minister’s Borrowdale in Harare, this Thursday, according to ZBC. The development comes at a time when multiple sources inside government revealed they had no clue what killed Shiri. Yesterday, ZANU PF spokesman Patrick Chinamasa said he does not know what befell Shiri, announcing that only the postmortem would tell the truth. There are no postmortems being conducted for COVID victims. The ZBC YouTube account showed the below results: “Video unavailable” which means the broadcaster has deleted it.
The webpage was later updated after about 15 minutes and a new video was uploaded showing Mnangagwa saying: zvino sekutaura kwandaita, hatina kuziva, nekuti paakashaya, panga pasati pabuda ma results ekuti, ane maresults ekuti ane chirwere chacho chamazuva ano kana kuti ahana.
“Saka ma results ndoazouya aya aya. Zvobvira kuti handizivi kuti ndekupi asi akabatiwa ne COVID.
“Ndozvinotaura bepa iri.
“Saka ma procedure a World Health Organisation ndiwo ototevedza somurairo.
According to a source close to the developments, Shiri did not die of corona virus but food poisoning which he reportedly consumed together with his driver at a rally in Rushinga.
“We are suspecting food poisoning but they are going to pin it on Covid.
“When they came back from Rushinga last week, the driver was complaining of heart burn. On Friday he went to work but Minister Shiri did not go to work. He had already started feeling funny, complaining that he felt like he had heart burn just like the driver”, said a close source who asked for anonymity.
