By Jane Mlambo| Former Zanu PF politburo member Jonathan Moyo has rebuked Kudakwashe Bhasikiti for claiming that paid back a ‘USD loan’.
Responding to Bhasikiti on Twitter, Jonathan Moyo said paying back a USD loan in local Zimbabwean dollars was corruption on its own.
Bhasikiti tweeted;
“Those who are saying Farm Mechanisation was for Free,are telling blatant lies.I paid 10bn for mine,which was worked out as the usd equivalent then.Everyone has to pay.CORRUPTION has to be exposed.THANK YOU ALEX MAGAISA,BSR,” said Bhasikiti.
In response, Jonathan Moyo responded saying;
“You know @KbhasikitiGmai1 this claim you keep making that you paid back is precisely what is bogus & corrupt. You say you paid back “a USD loan” in 10 BILLION useless Zim dollars. Don’t you see that this Zim dollar payment of yours, using a false USD exchange rate, was corrupt?”
By Wilbert Mukori- MDC Alliance in yet another political U-turn! A few weeks ago the party resolved that its MPs and Senators would boycott parliamentary activities to protest the recall of some of their members by Dr Thokozani Khupe faction.
Fearful of being recalled too, the seating members ignore the party’s instruction and the resolution was quickly reversed. Now the party is making yet another U-turn and, as usual, offering a feeble excuse for it.
The MDC A party spokesperson, Fadzayi Mahere has just announce the party’s MPs and Senators, who until now have disrupted parliamentary proceeding attended by Mnangagwa, will not disrupt this Thursday’s Minister of Finance supplementary budget presentation even if Mnangagwa attended.
“The MDC Alliance notes that Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa may be present at this event. We maintain that Mr Mnangagwa is illegitimate and the total collapse of the economy under his imposed tenure is evidence of this. However, given the grave humanitarian stalemate Zimbabwe finds itself in, it would be imprudent for us to let his presence quash the voice of the people at this critical time. The centre is failing to hold,” said Mahere.
Yes, Mnangagwa and his Zanu PF regime are illegitimate and the thin veneer of legitimacy the regime is hiding under is derived from none other than Nelson Chamisa and his MDC A colleagues. By participating in the flawed and illegal July 2018 elections MDC A gave the process some modicum of credibility and, by extension, modicum of legitimacy. What is so annoying here is that MDC leaders knew this was a Zanu PF trap, as David Coltart admitted in his book.
In his Book, The Struggle Continues 50 years of Tyranny in Zimbabwe, David Coltart, former MDC – Ncube Senator and Minister of Education in the 2008 GNU, gave details of how Zanu PF was flouting the electoral rules in the upcoming 2013 elections. It was clear the elections would not be free, fair and credible.
“The worst aspect for me about the failure to agree a coalition was that both MDCs couldn’t now do the obvious – withdraw from the elections,” wrote Senator Coltart.
“The electoral process was so flawed, so illegal, that the only logical step was to withdraw, which would compel SADC to hold Zanu PF to account. But such was the distrust between the MDC-T and MDC-N that neither could withdraw for fear that the other would remain in the elections, winning seats and giving the process credibility.”
A number of MDC factions and other opposition parties did unite to form the MDC Alliance before the 2018 elections but boycotting those elections was never ever raised even though it was evident Zanu PF was going to rig the elections. They were all as determined to take part in the elections as in 2013 for the exact same reason – greed.
Indeed, MDC leaders were so determined to contest the July 2018 regardless of the glaring irregularities and illegalities, they even claimed to have ways to stop the rigging. “MDC has stringent measures to stop Zanu PF rigging the elections!” claimed Chamisa.
Having agreed to take part in the July 2018 elections knowing that ZEC had failed to produce something a basic as a verified voters’ roll, Chamisa could not challenge Mnangagwa’s victory of the same election flaws and illegalities. The Constitutional Court would have asked him why he had ignored these things and participated?
Chamisa’s Constitutional Court challenge of the July 2018 presidential result was subtle but foolish. He challenged ZEC to produce the V11 forms, the summary of the vote count at each Polling Station, to prove were they had obtained the Mnangagwa votes. ZEC had 10 987 V11 forms and 10% or so were missing hence the reason ZEC had three different figures of Mnangagwa’s votes. Chamisa’s challenge was foolish in that he asked the Court to declare him the winner although he too did not have all the V11 forms to prove where his 2.6 million votes came from.
Chamisa and Mnangagwa are two peas out of the same pod; they do not care that the election process in not free, fair and credible as long as they are declared the winner! This is why both Zanu PF and MDC are now not only irrelevant in the nation’s quest to implement the reforms and end the curse of rigged elections and bad governance; they want to retain the status quo and thus a serious hindrance to progress.
Yes, the Zanu PF regime’s, and not just Mnangagwa’s, illegitimacy is the root cause of Zimbabwe’s total economic collapse. Zimbabwe is a pariah state ruled by corrupt, incompetent, vote rigging and murderous tyrants. 40 years of gross mismanagement, rampant corruption and rank lawlessness have left Zimbabwe in economic ruins and it is near impossible to conduct any lawful business activity in such a country.
What Zimbabwe needs is to bite the bullet implement the democratic reforms, the pre-requisites for free, fair and credible elections, and thus end the curse of rigged elections and pariah state. MDC leaders are the ones who have allowed Zanu PF to rig elections and maintain the pariah state by failing to implement the reforms and by giving the regime legitimacy by participating in flawed elections.
“It would be imprudent for us to let Mnangagwa’s presence quash the voice of the people at this critical time!” By blatantly rigging the elections Zanu PF quashed the people’s voices and it is nonsense to suggest the mouse’s voice of the few opposition sell-outs can ever be the people’s voice.
During his recent e-rally, Nelson Chamisa promised “to stop the 2023 elections until reforms are implemented”. No doubt, MDC will participate in those elections and give “the prudent need to give people a voice” as the excuse for that U-turn! MDC leaders have perpetuated the Zanu PF dictatorship out of greed and only use concern for the people’s suffering as a thin veneer to hide their greed.
Zimbabwe has been stuck with a corrupt and tyrannical system of government for 40 years and counting all because of greed. Mnangagwa and his Zanu PF cronies’ greed is well documented and Chamisa and his MDC leaders’ greed is equally well documented but few people appreciate that it is just as poignant and damaging.
By A Correspondent| Chipinge based claric Fredrick Thondhlana has roped in Talented sungura musician Tatenda Pinjisi affectionately known as ‘Sungura Messiah’ in a gospel track.
Thondhlana with the United Church of Christ of Zimbabwe (UCCZ) features Pinjisi on the track titled ‘Ndirangarirewo’, a single track released in June this year.
Thondhlana who released a Ndau laden debut album last year titled ‘Kunaka Kwamwari’ said the single was released at a time Zimbabwe is going through a rough patch economically hence his plea to God.
“I collaborated with Pinjisi because I have been his fan since he ventured into the music scene.
“The song Ndirangarireiwo was released at a time ordinary Zimbabweans are feeling the pinch of economic crisis bedevilling the country and it is well timed since such times require only God to show himself,” said Thondhlana.
The husky voice musician said Pinjisi’s last albums were laden with great gospel tracks, hence falling in love with his music.
Pinjisi’s first album is titled Rumbidzo Kumusiki while his second offering is Chibhakera Chenyasha.
“This inspired me to collaborate with him as I felt we had something in common-spreading the Word of God,” said Thondhlana.
Pinjisi also known as Spanner Boy is riding high on his soft sungura with most of his lyrics appealing to both believers and non-believers.
Thondhlana began his musical career as part of a youth group called Acapella Vibes and later joined another group fronted by Paida Dube called The Anointed Voice where they recorded two albums.
The 38 years old cleric reckons that it has always been his dream to go solo and add another portfolio to his pastoral calling which is through music.
Thondhlana released his debut album last year titled Kunaka Kwamwari which carries a collaboration song with another gospel diva Agatha Murudzwa.
“My aim is to popularize the Ndau language since it has become one of the official languages in Zimbabwe, and my debut album received an overwhelming response from the Ndau speaking people,” added Thondhlana.
The single track was recorded and produced by Gibson Makumbe of Voice of Thunder Studios (VOT)
By A Correspondent- A woman in Bulawayo was arrested for refusing to accept $2 notes while she was selling airtime in the city of KIngs.
21-year-old Prudence Mhene appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Mr Tinashe Tashaya facing charges of contravening a section of Statutory Instrument 175/2008, the Bank Use Promotion and Suppression of Money Laundering Act.
It is the state’s case that:
On July 17 at 10am at Mandalane Building located at 5th Avenue and Fife Street Bulawayo, the accused was selling airtime in the shop. The complainant, Mr Mthokozisi Ngwenya handed over $18 bond notes intending to buy Telecel airtime. The accused told Mr Ngwenya that she had a limit for the amount of $2 bond notes and handed him back 2 x $2 notes and asked for a $5 note.
The accused person implied that the customer should produce $5 bond notes only as she had limits of accepting denominations less than $2 bond notes. The complainant later revealed his identity as a police officer and the accused person was arrested.
Mhene was remanded out of custody and will be back in court tomorrow. ZRP has reportedly launched “Operation accept Zimbabwe currency as legal tender” which has seen over 100 people being arrested for various crimes including refusing to accept the Zimbabwe Dollar for their goods and services.
A 48 year old South African primary school teacher, who died after setting herself on fire as a result of Covid-19 depression and the stigma attached to it, was yesterday wedded by her husband in an extraordinary symbolic wedding ahead of her official burial tomorrow.
The private traditional ceremony took place yesterday at the couple’s Crystal Park home in Benoni on the East Rand., South Africa.
The woman succumbed to severe burn injuries last Thursday after being in the intensive care unit of a local hospital for a month.
Before she died, the harrowing details of the teacher’s attempted suicide were exclusively reported in Sowetan last month when the woman’s husband told of how he planned to embark on a community education campaign aimed at de-stigmatising people infected by the virus.
The husband, a high school principal, has subsequently tested positive too.
Speaking to Sowetan yesterday, he said he was on day eight of self-isolation. He revealed that he tested positive after going back to work on July 8 following the incident of his wife’s attempt to take her own life.
He further told Sowetan that a total of seven people have tested positive at his school and he was one of them “even though I had tested negative when my wife was tested positive”.
He said as an “advocating campaigner”, he has been able to calm his fellow colleagues who tested positive and their families as well.
The 51-year-old, whose name is being withheld to protect their children, had previously told this newspaper how he battled to save his wife from the flames engulfing her isolation room in their home.
He was wearing full personal protective gear (equipment) during the private wedding which was attended by family and friends at the family home late yesterday.
He again recalled that fateful day on June 6 after his wife had been in quarantine at home for 11 days. He had not noticed that his wife “was losing it after all the support we had offered to her”.
He recalled how his wife woke up that morning at around 4am when everybody was still asleep.
He and their 17-year-old son also woke up and checked if she was fine before they went back to bed.
“After a while we realised there was something burning. I ran to her isolation room. It was locked.
“I broke the door open and found her in flames. I immediately took a blanket and tried to put out the fire until my brave eight-year-old child ran to fetch a bucket of water which she emptied on her mom in an attempt to rescue her,” the man told Sowetan at the time.
The man again recalled how he was not aware that his wife was “depressed from receiving messages on social media from friends and colleagues”.
He said she had complained about being sent messages that made her feel like she was dying. She also complained about gossip that came from colleagues and friends.
He yesterday told of how his wife was always looking forward to her big traditional wedding that was put on hold when the national lockdown was announced in March. They had been planning their wedding since last year.
“She was excited to be going to wear her isiSwati wedding gown. We are still going to honour that wish because she will now be buried wearing it.”
The father of two met his wife in 1991 while he was travelling in a taxi in Daveyton.
“I jumped out at the wrong stop just to go and talk to her because she caught my attention. She was with her two friends.”
He said his wife was a mother to many children besides her own. She taught him how to love all children unconditionally. Many of those children who are now working “come to our home from time to time to thank her for the role she played in their education.”
Death impacts heavily on culture
A family elder said in their culture as Swati people when wedding preparations had been done, there’s no going back even if one partner dies.
“In this regard the family will find a sister of the deceased bride to represent her in the ceremony because her body will be in the mortuary. Then the groom will take his stand and marry the bride and both families will exchange gifts,” he said.
The elder said the bride’s corpse will then be washed with herbs and put in the coffin and a ritual, joining the two, will be performed a day before her body is brought home from the morgue.
He said when the body arrives home, the groom will then enter with her in the house with elders announcing to ancestors that she is now part of the other family and can be laid to rest as a part of her husband’s family.
The man will then go into a mourning period after the burial and will be cleansed after several months.
An emotional Gauteng education MEC Panyaza Lesufi said “this sad passing of our educator, colleague and sister who happened to be a wife to our fellow colleague and a principal in one of our schools really touched and devastated me dearly”.
He said: “Covid-19 hit us where it matters most and robbed us, our most valuable resource in the education sector.
“It is difficult to even try to understand the horrible incident which led to the death of our colleague.
“We would like to convey our sincere condolences to the family and the school community. We are hopeful that, the psycho-social support that was dispatched by the department will play a significant role in assisting the family to heal from this traumatic death.”
The deceased’s funeral service will take place tomorrow.
By A Correspondent- Former Reserve bank Governor Gideon Gono who is at the centre of a Farm Mechanisation Scheme scandal that was unearthed by constitutional lawyer Alex Magaisa yesterday has taken the time to respond to Dr Magaisa’s allegations which he called inaccurate and defamatory.
Speaking to the state media, the former RZB Chief said:
My statement comes in the wake of Dr Magaisa’s allegations, which makes a lot of unfounded allegations and inaccurate, and unfair conclusions that border on defamation.
I come as the man who was in charge of the RBZ during the most trying period in our history and as a man who was at the centre of trying to keep the economy going.
I can state categorically that Dr Magaisa is offside and that no beneficiary of the farm mechanisation programme ever refused to pay for the equipment that they got and neither were they asked to pay.
Gono further said the scheme was made under provisions of the RBZ Act, which compelled the RBZ to carry out quasi-fiscal activities at the request of Government:
The RBZ undertook this quasi-fiscal activity at the behest of Government and in the national interest. This was done in accordance with the then Section 8 of the RBZ Act Chapter (22:15) which authorised State to direct the Central Bank to carry out transactions in such a manner as the State may require and if so requested by the State, the Bank was to make the necessary arrangements to this end.
Section 8 (11) of the old RBZ Act (Chapter 22:15) read with the Banking Act (Chapter 24:20), the Official Secrets Act (Chapter11:09), the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act (Chapter 20:27) and the Exchange Control Act of 1996 are all legislative and legal administrative instruments at the hands of a Government to use to achieve certain desired objectives. Any Governor worth his salt works within the confines of those and other Acts to advance Government objectives
Gono also said on independence the RBZ assumed Rhodesian’s debts and none of the debts belonged to the Zimbabwean people as he tried to explain why the burden of the scheme was now being passed on to today’s taxpayers:
At independence, the RBZ and Government in general assumed loans and obligations that had been incurred by the previous regime, some of which had been used to acquire military equipment that maimed and killed our people as well as agricultural loans that had been taken with State guarantees from banks during those difficult years.
None of these belonged to blacks. Today, under a legitimate Government Mechanisation Programme that covered both A1 and A2 farmers during a very difficult period in the history of our nation becomes a scandal?
Both rural and non-rural farmers benefited from the takeover of the loans by the State but I shall elaborate. There was no scandal here, no corruption and no beneficiary refused to pay. The State did not demand payment and that was above board
Magaisa’s article unearthed many beneficiaries of the scheme who are mostly people in government and those who are connected to the government including clergymen Ezekiel Guti and Nehemiah Mutendi.
By A Correspondent- Popular Rapper Stunner (real name Desmond Chideme) who was hospitalised suffering from an undisclosed ailment has been discharged from hospital and is said to be recovering at home in Glen Norah in Harare.
This was revealed by the rapper’s former manager and family spokesperson Godfrey “Vokal” Bakasa who said:
Stunner is doing well on his home recovery path and I can tell you that he is doing better than the last time he was in hospital.
He is due for medical checkups and I will update on that. We wish him a speedy recovery and hope to have him back in the music circles. Stunner’s hospitalisation drew media attention as his family denied ever contracting anyone to collect money on behalf of the rapper. Stunner released a 9 track album titled Dzangaradzimu 3 months ago.
Chikurubi Maximum Complex has recorded 9 positive cases of covid 19 but no isolation yet in place. These patients are still coming to work and physically interacting with others.
The COVID patients include, a Moyo, who is a female officer at HQ, Dzingai a male driver for Assistant Commissioner Dumbura, and another nurse who first treated Moyo without knowing she was positive. – More to follow…
The education coalition of Zimbabwe has released the following statement following the government’s decision to defer reopening schools after COVID-19 cases surged over the last few days.
The coalition praised the government on its decision to delay reopening schools and said it would help keep the leaders and educators safe until the situation is contained.
Read the statement:
The Education Coalition Of Zimbabwe, Every Child In School – ECIS and the Zimbabwe National Coalition for the Welfare of Children supports and commends the cabinet decision to defer the reopening of schools for examination classes scheduled for July 28 in light of the rising number of confirmed Covid-19 infections.
The deferment by Cabinet announced on 15 July 2020, was part of measures that include postponement of further opening of economic sectors, localized lockdowns in hotspots and more testing in areas where infections are spiking.
The deferment is a welcome development, given the rise in COVID-19 confirmed local transmissions and the fact that latest death is a child in Matabeleland South who was admitted to hospital on Saturday with pneumonia. This brings the cumulative number of deaths to 20.
The children’s right civil society members applaud the Cabinet for enshrining the health of the child in their decision making. We commend the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education for its initiatives of rolling out alternative ways of learning like the radio and online lessons and its continuous engagement with partners and stakeholders through the Zimbabwe Education in Emergencies cluster on the way forward in providing continuous education during the pandemic.
We encourage the government through parliament, to pay attention and action the petition that was submitted to parliament by ECIS on the 22nd of June 2020, which encouraged drastic measures to ensure inclusion of children who do not have access to radios, TVs, gadgets and others who are in areas where there is no transmission.
We are also concerned on the competence of students who are writing exams since majority were not learning due to Covid- 19.
ECOZI, ECIS, ZNCWC remain committed to supporting the Ministry in providing quality and equitable education for all Zimbabweans. Through our various efforts through our Partners, programs, provincial, chapters, thematic committees and National membership coordination meetings continues to seek ideas and contributions in the provision of continuous quality education during COVID-19 and the reopening of schools.
We remain convinced that reopening of schools in Zimbabwe at the moment is unsafe. We maintain our positions that there is need to make sure all schools are ready, and have managed to meet all the guidelines set to reopen.
As it is, there is still a huge gap and from ECOZI rapid assessment of schools in Mashonaland Central about 60% of a sample of 30 schools assessed revealed that they were not yet prepared to reopen, they lacked enough protective clothing, sanitization, water, Infrastructure and furniture to ensure social distance, health stations, infrared thermometers, training and expertise to ensure that they adhere to health and safety protocols to stop the spread of COVID-19 as advised by WHO.
ZNCWC through their quarterly meeting established from the members of civil society that schools must not open as not only are they not ready, but the children themselves are not equipped enough to take on public transport which is also very scarce.
As such there is need to continue supporting and assessing the schools’ preparedness to reopen in the face of COVID-19
Statement issued by
Education Coalition of Zimbabwe, Every a Child In School – TaLI, ZNCWC
Farai Dziva|The MDC Alliance led by President Nelson Chamisa has challenged Victor Matemadanda’s liberation war credentials.
This comes after Matemadanda’s remarks about the dispute between MDC Alliance and MDC -T.Matemadanda surprisingly “endorsed” Douglas Mwonzora as the man who should lead the opposition while discrediting President Chamisa in the process.
In response to Matemadanda’s utterances, the MDC Alliance said:
Dear Victor Matemadanda As the country’s Deputy Defense minister you are a public figure.
We the public demand you tell us where you served during the liberation war.
We the public demand to know who you served under during the liberation war.
By A Correspondent- Two clearing agents at Forbes border post in Mutare yesterday appeared in court facing fraud charges for failing to pay US$62k in duty to the Zimbabwe revenue Authority (Zimra).
Malvern Mugodoki (38), and Wellington Kasalaweka (34) appeared before Mutare magistrate Tendai Mahwe who granted them $10 000 bail each.
The pair, who are denying the allegations, will return to court on August 17.
Armed with the forged import invoices, the accused persons subcontracted Southern Business Services clearing agents to process the clearance on their behalf.
The pair tendered the documents to Zimra offices at Forbes border post for processing where the forgery was detected.
South Africa has recorded 13 285 new Covid-19 infections, bringing the number to 350 879, according to Health Minister Zweli Mkhize.
The death toll now stands at 4 948 after 144 new deaths were reported.
The recovery rate sits at 52%, with a total of 192 230 recoveries.
In the last 24 hours, 49 688 tests were conducted, taking the total to 2 422 741.
Amid concerns people are “letting down their guard”, Mkhize once again appealed to all South Africans to follow non-pharmaceutical interventions in the form of hand washing, physical distancing and mask-wearing.
This, he said, would directly impact rising numbers.
“As the government, we have mobilised every resource, every faculty and wherewithal at our disposal to effect the necessary interventions. But the government cannot manage this unilaterally. Every single South African now needs to focus on adhering to recommendations pertaining to non-pharmaceutical interventions.”
He added there were concerns around some people who were not following these measures at a time when the country could least afford it.
“We are extremely concerned that fatigue seems to have set in and South Africans are letting down their guard at a time when the spread of infection is surging.
“We see poor or no social distancing in communities. Masks are being abandoned or not worn properly and there is a laxity setting in around frequent hand-washing.
“This will directly influence the rise in numbers in the next two weeks. We must all appreciate that there is a direct causal link between the surge of cases and our ability, or inability, to adhere to these very basic principles,” Mkhize said.
He warned fighting Covid-19 was dependent on South Africa’s willingness to practice these measures.
“We do not have a vaccine. We do not have a cure. Our ability to break the cycle of infection depends on our willingness to remain focused and disciplined and take non-pharmaceutical interventions seriously.
“We can beat this pandemic together. We have already proven this during the lockdown. It remains in each and every citizen’s hands to admonish family members, colleagues, friends who refuse to adhere to measures that protect lives by limiting the spread of this virus,” Mkhize said.
By A Correspondent- Triangle Football Club are in mourning following the death of their former vice-chairman, Goodwill Pfumojena who succumbed to Covid-19 at a private facility in Bulawayo in the early hours of Friday.
Information provided by his son Takura via the club indicated that Pfumojena had tested positive for Covid-19 and was also diabetic.
The former Triangle second in charge, who was aged 70 at the time of his death was laid to rest at Mutapa Cemetery in Gweru yesterday in line with Covid-19 regulations. He is survived by wife, Yvonne and five children.
“The Triangle football fraternity has been plunged into deep grief and sorrow following the untimely departure of former Triangle United Football Club (TUFC) vice-chairman Goodwill Pfumojena,” posted Triangle on their Twitter handle on Friday.
According to the club, Pfumojena was part of the nine-member taskforce appointed by the Triangle public affairs directorate in 2003 to work with the community development department sports section in a landmark desire to transform the Triangle into a professional football club.
“He served as TUFC committee member in 2003 in charge of engagement of partners to augment the support received directly from the club sponsors. He managed to bring a wide range of training equipment for the club from a number of co-operating partners,” read the statement from the club.
Pfumojena served as the Triangle vice-chairman between 2004 and 2005. Triangle said Pfumojena will be remembered for his humbleness, industriousness and desire for decent results.
“In the 2004 season, he was appointed vice-chairman, a post he held until the end of the 2005 season. The soft-spoken Murewa will always be remembered for his humility, hard work and thirst for good results in league and cup matches. May his humble departed soul rest in eternal peace.”
A SENIOR police officer based in Harare allegedly attempted to cover up a road traffic accident involving prominent businessman Moses Chingwena, who ran over and killed a pedestrian, Shephard Mukatira, in Harare’s leafy suburb of Gletwin on Saturday night, NewsDay Weekender has learnt.
Mukatira died when Chingwena’s vehicle veered off the road and hit him, dragging him for some metres before crashing into a precast wall of a nearby house.
After the accident, Chingwena allegedly took Mukatira to Trauma Centre for medical treatment without a police report. Mukatira later passed on that night and was buried in Mudzi district on Tuesday with Chingwena footing the funeral bill.
But fresh details have emerged that a senior police officer in the national command directorate (name supplied) called officers at Highlands Police Station and allegedly ordered them to make sure that Chingwena was not arrested and his car not impounded as is the norm after such an accident.
Chingwena’s friend, identified as Fabian Busa who was driving behind him, cleared the businessman’s car before the police arrived.
Busa also allegedly organised the removal of Chingwena’s damaged red Jaguar XJL from Poland Road from the scene of accident. The car ordinarily should have been impounded by the police and sent to Vehicle Inspectorate Department (VID) because it was involved in an accident that claimed a life.
When NewsDay visited Highlands Police Station on Tuesday, some police officers claimed there was no docket for the accident because the Chingwena and the Mukatira families had reached an agreement.
Officers at Highlands Police Station attended the accident scene, but since Tuesday were evasive over the matter, refusing to provide NewsDay with a copy of the docket.
Police initially claimed that the matter had been resolved amicably between Chingwena and Mukatira’s relatives, but national police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi on Thursday disclosed that the accident was recorded under case number 1236/20.
He also said they were investigating circumstances surrounding the handling of the accident.
At 17 Alois Bunjira attracted the attention of the dream team coach Reinhard Fabisch and never looked back the Zim Soccer legend speaks to Silvester Tapfumaneyi
GOVERNMENT has used COVID-19 to “lock down” democracy, a human rights lobby group, Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum has said.
Speaking during a virtual meeting marking the launch of a COVID-19 report titled Rights in Crisis, by ZimRights, Human Rights NGO Forum programmes coordinator Musa Kika said President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government had used the COVID-19 restrictive measures to silence dissenting voices.
“Both senior government and ruling party officials have made threats against civil society organisations (CSOs) that are working to advance human rights and democracy. Even those who have exposed corruption have not been spared,” Kika said.
He said government had further taken the opportunity to hold public hearings on constitutional amendments despite protestations and the unceremonious recall of opposition MPs.
“Constitution amendment public hearings are an important component of our shared existence as society, and you cannot rush it through in the middle of a pandemic just to go through the motions,” Kika said.
“People still have the right to peacefully demonstrate and say out their minds. We have seen individuals who have sought to demonstrate being arrested, and even abducted and tortured.”
Government has been accused of failing to effectively mitigate the effects of COVID-19, which has resulted in the country recording a spike in the number of coronavirus cases in recent weeks.
Kika added: “There has been evidence that government officials and those enforcing the lockdown have been interpreting and applying the lockdown regulations in an inconsistent fashion.
“One day, you hear the security forces have mounted a serious lockdown in Kwekwe, or Masvingo, or Gweru. Certainly, one of the key tenets under the principle of legality, the law and how it is applied must be certain and clear.”
He said COVID-19 had exposed deep-seated institutional and systemic challenges in the country’s disaster preparedness.
“The need for institutional reform, which CSOs have been agitating for, is now amplified. A significant cause of the poor government response being witnessed now is due to poor systems in place, and weak institutions. We were not disaster ready and we still are not,” Kika said.
MDC Alliance spokesperson Fadzai Mahere reviews the political events in the week just ended. Highlight being the midterm budget review by Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube.
TRIANGLE Football Club are in mourning following the death of their former vice-chairman, Goodwill Pfumojena who succumbed to Covid-19 at a private facility in Bulawayo in the early hours of Friday.
Information provided by his son Takura via the club indicated that Pfumojena had tested positive for Covid-19 and was also diabetic.
The former Triangle second in charge, who was aged 70 at the time of his death was laid to rest at Mutapa Cemetery in Gweru yesterday in line with Covid-19 regulations. He is survived by wife, Yvonne and five children.
“The Triangle football fraternity has been plunged into deep grief and sorrow following the untimely departure of former Triangle United Football Club (TUFC) vice-chairman Goodwill Pfumojena,’’ posted Triangle on their Twitter handle on Friday.
According to the club, Pfumojena was part of the nine-member taskforce appointed by the Triangle public affairs directorate in 2003 to work with the community development department sports section in a landmark desire to transform the Triangle into a professional football club.
“He served as TUFC committee member in 2003 in charge of engagement of partners to augment the support received directly from the club sponsors. He managed to bring a wide range of training equipment for the club from a number of co-operating partners,’’ read the statement from the club.
Pfumojena served as the Triangle vice-chairman between 2004 and 2005. Triangle said Pfumojena will be remembered for his humbleness, industriousness and desire for decent results.
“In the 2004 season, he was appointed vice-chairman, a post he held until the end of the 2005 season. The soft-spoken Murewa will always be remembered for his humility, hard work and thirst for good results in league and cup matches. May his humble departed soul rest in eternal peace.”
Farai Dziva|The MDC Alliance led by President Nelson Chamisa has challenged Victor Matemadanda’s liberation war credentials.
This comes after Matemadanda’s remarks about the dispute between MDC Alliance and MDC -T.Matemadanda surprisingly “endorsed” Douglas Mwonzora as the man who should lead the opposition while discrediting President Chamisa in the process.
In response to Matemadanda’s utterances, the MDC Alliance said:
Dear Victor Matemadanda As the country’s Deputy Defense minister you are a public figure.
We the public demand you tell us where you served during the liberation war.
We the public demand to know who you served under during the liberation war.
Zimbabwean government has declared as falsehood a report published by CNBC, an American business news portal, alleging that security chiefs ordered the closure of the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange (ZSE) and agent lines for mobile money transfers.
But, did the media house really tell any untruth? We publish below the full article.
RBZ Governor John Mangudya
With security forces having seized control of economic and financial policy at a time of shrinking GDP and skyrocketing inflation, Zimbabwe is facing its worst crisis in more than a decade.
Basic goods are scarce and the value of the Zimbabwean dollar has continued to tumble, pushing official annual inflation to 785.6% in May and causing real incomes for Zimbabweans to evaporate. The International Monetary Fund estimates that the economy will contract as much as 10.4% this year following a 12.8% contraction in 2019.
The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) reintroduced the Zimbabwe dollar (ZWD) quasi-currency in June 2019 having unpegged from the U.S. dollar four months prior, but the currency depreciated rapidly. RBZ Governor John Mangudya unilaterally reimposed a dollar peg of 25 ZWD to the dollar in March, only for the government to scrap it three months later in favor of a return to the auction system
Mangudya has issued a ban on some electronic money transfer services, with black market traders and electronic transactions a key source of currency devaluation. The last time the RBZ called for money transfer providers and local capital markets to suspend operations indefinitely was in 2008, when Zimbabwe’s hyperinflation reached a world record 89.7 sextillion percent year-on-year. A year later, the Zimbabwe dollar was scrapped.
Robert Besseling, executive director of political risk consultancy EXX Africa, suggested that in the next step to try to limit the damage, private bank accounts are “likely to be raided to fund a bailout that is mostly benefiting politically-connected business allies of the governing elite.”
Mangudya has claimed local banks have over $1 billion in their accounts, which he hopes will help stabilize the local currency’s value.
“The blame for the collapse of the economy may be squarely placed on the mismanaged reintroduction of a local currency after 10 years of dollarization, which has fostered fraud and embezzlement on a massive scale,” Besseling said in a report last week.
“Opposition activists have long accused (President Emmerson) Mnangagwa and his business allies of weakening the economy through covert foreign exchange dealings and over-priced procurement deals.”
On June 26, a Joint Operations Command (JOC) collective of security chiefs ordered the government to close the privately-owned Zimbabwe Stock Exchange and halt mobile money transfers, which host nearly all of the country’s commerce.
The move, taken after black market trading plunged the reinstated Zimbabwe dollar past 100 to the greenback versus the official rate of 57, blindsided the finance ministry and the RBZ. This effectively hijacked economic policy, EXX Africa highlighted, a clear show of frustration with Mnangagwa’s government’s handling of the ailing economy.
The government has taken aim at the private sector for the crisis, particularly mobile money platforms and the stock exchange, both which it has alleged are linked to illegal foreign exchange trading and money creation.
The ruling ZANU-PF party is now embroiled in a tussle with insurance firm Old Mutual, which the government said it had “ejected” from the country’s financial system amid allegations of undermining the local currency. The Old Mutual Implied Rate, used by some companies to transact business, uses the difference between the prices of Old Mutual’s shares on the Zimbabwe and London stock exchanges to predict the future rate of the Zimbabwean dollar.
Old Mutual has issued a statement assuring customers that all services and operations continue to “run as normal” and said it is “working with all relevant stakeholders to seek clarity on the matter,” as the government doubles down on assertions that it should be delisted from the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange.
Hyperinflation, starvation and instability The RBZ in May began printing money in a bid to raise $720 million to prop up the country’s industrial sector, which sent the local currency plunging and inflation surging. In late June, the Zimbabwe dollar devalued past 100 in some areas of the parallel foreign currency market, or black market, as demand for the U.S. dollar intensified.
The country also faces food, fuel and medical equipment shortages due to a lack of hard currency to purchase imports. All of this comes at a time when Covid-19 infections are escalating in Zimbabwe.
“Even in a likely best-case scenario, Zimbabwe faces another round of hyperinflation that will collapse its economy, widespread starvation and social instability that threaten neighboring countries, and the looming prospect of another military intervention in political power,” EXX Africa concluded in its report.
Zimbabwe is now among the four most food insecure countries in the world alongside Yemen, Somalia and South Sudan, and EXX Africa analysts foresee this worsening along with high inflation and an economic recession, creating fertile ground for political instability and civil unrest. Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga is now reportedly being prepared to assume authority, as his allies hope that mismanagement of the coronavirus, food insecurity and other socio-economic issues will force the ruling ZANU-PF to remove Mnangagwa and install him as president.
“In preparation for an eventual power dispute, ZANU-PF leaders are arming militias in the countryside, in a scene reminiscent of the years-long succession contest under Robert Mugabe in which Mnangagwa ultimately prevailed,” the EXX Africa report explained.
“The president now faces a similar challenge from armed militias running rampant in the ruling party’s heartlands, while his business allies are being undermined.”
While Besseling suggested that Mnangagwa will be able to see off any unconstitutional challenge so long as he can continue to pay military salaries, they suggested that the deterioration of the economy and public health may gradually weaken this prospect.
GOVERNMENT has rubbished a report published by CNBC, an American business news portal, alleging that security chiefs ordered the closure of the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange (ZSE) and agent lines for mobile money transfers.
The report appeared in the publication on Friday.
In the report, CNBC alleged that security forces had “seized control of economic and financial policy” in the country.
Quoting one Robert Besseling, who is executive director of political risk consultancy, EXX Africa, the report also alleged private bank accounts are “likely to be raided to fund a bailout that is mostly benefiting politically-connected business allies of the Governing elite”.
Secretary for Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Mr Nick Mangwana, said there was no semblance of truth to the allegations.
“There is absolutely no truth in these unfounded allegations that the military was involved in the actions taken by Government against malpractices taking place on the ZSE as well as mobile money operations.
“The Ministry of Information (Publicity and Broadcasting Services) issued the statement explaining to the nation what was going on because we speak for Government. The ZDF has a Public Relations department. If they were behind this, they were going to issue their own statement,” he said.
Mr Mangwana said the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) and the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development have over the past few months been working diligently to address malpractices in the financial sector without any interference.
“In fact, both the RBZ Governor and the Minister of Finance were key in making that decision as they advised Government on what was going on,” he said.
Mr Mangwana also questioned Mr Besseling’s capacity to speak on Zimbabwe, saying his comments were biased and unqualified.
“Robert Besseling is not based in Zimbabwe and has not read into both our fiscal and monetary situations. He surely cannot speak authoritatively using idle gossip as intelligence.
“The notion that the RBZ will raid accounts is nonsensical. What accounts will be raided when everyone knows that forex accounts are liquidated every 30 days. So what will be raided?” he said.
The RBZ Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) has in the past few months sharpened its teeth to deal with illicit financial activities plaguing the market.
In a recent statement, the FIU explained that its actions against the country’s dominant mobile money operator, EcoCash, were a result of extensive investigations.
“This was not an absolute ban, but simply required EcoCash to re-register, update and strengthen Know Your Customer (KYC) requirements for agents that transact high volumes, in line with Anti Money Laundering and Combating Financing of Terrorism laws.
“The move is meant to weed out illicit foreign currency dealers who are now the main drivers of high value/high volume transactions on the EcoCash platform, in the process destabilising and distorting the foreign currency market.
“FIU analysis shows that the majority of agent accounts are no longer being used for the purpose for which they were originally intended, such as cash-in, cash-out, sending money, airtime vending and facilitating payment of utility bills by clients,” read the statement.
Last week, the Commander of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces, General Philip Valerio Sibanda, warned the private media against dragging the military into their political scheming.
His statement came at a time some online media publications alleged that the military was part of a deceitful plan by the opposition to effect regime change on July 31.
“These claims and assertions are the work of very fertile imagination of the authors of these articles, which members of the public should dismiss with the contempt they deserve. “They are aimed at unfairly using the security establishment to drum up support for their planned illegal anti-Government protests. It should be noted that, as a professional, loyal and patriotic Defence Force, the ZDF does not involve itself in anti-people activities that are designed to achieve anti-Government political and economic objectives by some malcontents within our citizenry,” General Sibanda said.
A BULAWAYO woman has been arrested and appeared in court yesterday for refusing to accept $2 bond notes which are part of the country’s legal tender.
Prudence Mhene (21) who resides at 236 Sotshangane Flats in Nguboyenja appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Mr Tinashe Tashaya facing charges of contravening Section 3(2) as read with Section 4 of the Statutory Instrument 175/2008 in terms of section 48 of Bank Use Promotion and Suppression of Money Laundering Act.
Prosecuting, Mr Privilege Mudozvori said the accused person refused to accept denominations of $2 bond notes from a customer who wanted to purchase airtime. The accused person was plying her trade as an airtime vendor in the city centre.
“On July 17 at 10am at Mandalane Building located at 5th Avenue and Fife Street Bulawayo, the accused was selling airtime in the shop. The complainant, Mr Mthokozisi Ngwenya handed over $18 bond notes intending to buy Telecel airtime. The accused told Mr Ngwenya that she had a limit for the amount of $2 bond notes and handed him back 2 x $2 notes and asked for a $5 note,” said Mr Mudozvori.
Mr Mudozvori said the accused person implied that the customer should produce $5 bond notes only as she had limits of accepting denominations less than $2 bond notes. The complainant later revealed his identity as a police officer and the accused person was arrested. Mhene was remanded out of custody to tomorrow.
The police have arrested over 100 suspects countrywide for refusing to accept local currency as a legal tender. The arrests are made under
“Operation accept Zimbabwe currency as legal tender”, which was launched in late June. The blitz comes after some people started rejecting notes written “bond note” based on fake news circulating on social media platforms.
GOVERNMENT has granted Sakunda Holdings, a company with diverse interests in energy and minerals, a coalbed methane (CBM) concession in Mbungu, Matabeleland North province, where the firm intends to set up a power plant.
The special grant (5 755) — measuring about 333 000 hectares — was previously owned by State-owned Zimbabwe Mining Development Corporation (ZMDC), which now becomes a minority partner in the new venture.
While providing an update on the partial restructuring of State-owned entities on Thursday, Finance and Economic Development Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube indicated that Sakunda had been granted a special grant for coalbed methane.
Sakunda chief operating officer Mr Charles Chitambo confirmed to The Sunday Mail Business that the company was now working with ZMDC on a special grant for coalbed methane in Matabeleland North.
“I can confirm that we are indeed working with ZMDC on a coalbed methane special grant in Lupane area,” he said.
“We are assembling technical teams so that we can feed necessary expertise in the boxes. As what we intend to do, it all depends on the amount of the resources. At that stage we will be clear on what to do.”
Zimbabwe has huge deposits of untapped CBM gas in the Hwange, Lupane and Gwayi areas.
Over the years, drilling and desorption tests have been conducted and resources that run into trillions of cubic feet have been discovered, according to Government’s geological department.
Chinese firm Sinosteel has already completed preliminary exploration works on some of its CBM claims in Lupane.
Sinosteel is the majority shareholder in Zimasco — Zimbabwe’s largest ferrochrome producer, which, in turn, owns 90 percent of Shangani Energy Exploration (SEE).
SEE plans to exploit methane gas and build a power plant.
According to Sinosteel, an investment of about US$780 million is needed for the project to be implemented in three phases, from exploration to full-scale power generation of 400 megawatts over a 10-year period.
The investment is part of the US$1 billion deal signed by President’s Mnangagwa’s administration and Sinosteel in May 2018, which will also see the building of additional chrome smelters at Zimasco’s Kwekwe smelting complex and in Mberengwa.
The project is among those expected to make the country energy self-sufficient.
SEE has carried out preliminary exploration work on two of its three special grants, where six core holes were drilled and three production wells sunk.
Overally, the assessment demonstrated that gas and water could be produced.
Although there is evidence proving the existence of a considerable methane gas resource, investors are in the process of establishing whether it can be exploited commercially.
The Chinese company completed a consulting contract with a petroleum geologist with extensive experience to produce a work programme with accompanying expenditures.
The programme will build on the preliminary works already done and will include more in-depth exploration work to confirm the commercial quantities of methane gas hosted by the three special grants.
The next phase of work would be the intense exploration work, which will start with the installation of bigger pumps on the three wells to drain water so that the gas can be released as part of work to establish commercial viability.
In addition to power generation, an integrated petrochemical industry, which has the potential to create new jobs and new revenue streams for the nation, will be established.
The whole CBM industry has the potential to spur local economic growth.
Matabeleland North is endowed with natural resources that can change the economic complexion of the province if exploited under a win-win arrangement.
President Mnangagwa, who was on a tour of coal mining companies in Hwange last week, called on mining companies operating in the country to partake in infrastructure development for the benefit of communities they operate in.
He made the call while officially opening South Mining (Pvt) Limited’s coking coal plant in Hwange.
He visited Western Coal and Energy Company’s Western Areas coal project, South Mining’s coking plant, Jin An’s Tutu coking plant, as well as Hwange Colliery Company’s Chaba Mine.
Local communities expect to benefit from infrastructure and employment created by firms exploiting natural resources in their areas.
A FORENSIC audit into the purchase of Covid-19 materials and medical supplies has commenced, with Cabinet ministers being warned against interfering with procurement in parastatals under their purview.
Auditors from the Office of the Auditor-General have started the audit, which is expected to open a can of worms.
Auditor-General Mrs Mildred Chiri told The Sunday Mail on Friday that although the audit was still in its preliminary stages, her team was busy examining documents related to procurement of medical supplies.
Documents under scrutiny were obtained from various Government departments.
This comes after President Mnangagwa announced that a special forensic investigation would be done to weed out malcontents and impediments to achieving Vision 2030.
The President told the third principals’ executive plenary meeting of the Political Actors Dialogue (Polad) in the capital recently that Government would investigate and take swift action against corrupt officials.
Said Mrs Chiri: “The forensic audit has started and we are using our own internal auditors. We are looking at the available documentation to see what was done right or wrong.”
The Auditor-General could not put timelines to the process.
“For now, it’s difficult to tell how long this process will take because new issues may arise from the documents as the investigation goes on. We might have to look at a lot of issues than expected, so we have to work on it first.”
Mrs Chiri has been hailed for the first-rate work, particularly the thorough annual Auditor-General’s report which has exposed rot, inefficiencies and incompetence in public institutions.
The procurement of medical supplies has claimed the scalps of many high-profile officials. It has seen the arrest and subsequent sacking of former Health and Child Care Minister Dr Obadiah Moyo over his role in a murky US$60 million deal with a questionable medical supplier, Drax International.
Dr Moyo is on $50 000 bail, while a local representative of Drax International, Mr Delish Nguwaya, was charged on corruption allegations.
A number of managers from the National Pharmaceutical Company (NatPharm) have either been arrested, fired or suspended as well.
NatPharm employees — Flora Sifeku, Rolland Mlalazi and Charles Mwaramba — were arrested early this month on allegations of flouting procurement regulations.
The Second Republic has declared war against corruption, which was deeply embedded and institutionalised for many years.
Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) chairperson Justice Loyce Matanda-Moyo has warned Cabinet ministers against involvement in procurement in parastatals under their purview.
She said the Public Entities Corporate Governance Act prohibits ministers from participating in tendering processes.
“Ministers must distance themselves from procurement because once they are involved junior officers will be forced to overlook the right procedures. Everyone must stick to their job,” said the anti-graft boss.
Justice Matanda-Moyo indicated that plans were underway to host seminars to educate senior Government officials, ministers included, on the legal provisions related to procurement.
The ZACC chair said the recently launched National Anti-Corruption Strategy would ensure there are no catch and release games, as law enforcement agents put all hands on deck to fight corruption.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), which works closely with ZACC, also contributed to the anti-corruption document, thus more prosecutors are expected to be assigned to deal with corruption cases.
“We are working together to plug all the loopholes to make sure that once a suspected corruption official is arrested, he cannot walk scot-free. We have enhanced co-operation among various anti-corruption bodies,” said Justice Matanda-Moyo.
As part of efforts to tighten the anti-graft fight, ZACC has established six committees responsible for implementation of anti-corruption initiatives.
Prevention
ZACC, Justice Matanda-Moyo said, was also focusing on prevention of corruption through empowerment of organisations to detect vice through integrity committees.
A ZACC contact person will be availed to monitor the systems to plug any leeway for corruption.
“Citizens must refuse and resist corruption, they must understand the dangers,” said the ZACC chair.
Problematic areas to be dealt with include bribery and tax evasion which cost the economy US$2 billion annually.
“Tax evasion and smuggling are prejudicing the economy of a lot of money. Some unscrupulous citizens under-declare goods or opt to pay reduced tax after offering bribes to revenue officials,” said Justice Matanda-Moyo.
She recommended that the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) should digitise to improve transparency and efficiency.
“People don’t want to spend a lot of time in queues hence they opt to pay bribes. This calls for improved service delivery at our ports of entry,” Justice Matanda-Moyo said.
Presenting his mid-term budget review statement last week, Finance and Economic Development Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube said Zimra should introduce patrol drones to fight smuggling, which is rampant at porous borders.
Zimra has been increasing surveillance and anti-smuggling activities resulting in the arrest of scores of people while over 30 trucks were impounded in recent months.
Zimbabwe is a viable transit route for countries north of the Zambezi River, including Zambia, Malawi, DRC, Tanzania and Angola.
TWENTY-TWO Cimas staffers tested positive for Covid-19 and have been placed under quarantine while the Cimas High Glen Clinic has been closed after an employee at the centre was exposed to the virus.
Cimas chief executive officer Mr Vulindlela Ndlovu said a receptionist tested positive for Covid-19 on Thursday during random testing. More tests were conducted after contact tracing, resulting in 21 workers testing positive for the virus before a Government Covid-19 Rapid Response Team was roped in.
Said Mr Ndlovu: “While the source of the infections is unknown, common factors among those who tested positive is that they all shared transport and/or shared workstations, computers, or telephone handsets. As a precautionary measure, all Cimas premises in Harare have been deep cleaned and disinfected. The Cimas High Glen Clinic, in a separate incident, has been closed temporarily following the exposure of a staff member to a confirmed case.”
Mr Ndlovu urged the public to embrace digital platforms and virtual means of communication.
“Where services are required and physical presence in our facilities is necessary, we continue to take precautionary measures to protect you and our staff. We also urge you to take great care, wear a mask correctly, practice social distancing and good hand hygiene,” he said.
“Covid-19 is real, and we need to support each other. It is not helpful to stigmatise victims of this pandemic. This is a highly infectious disease and anyone can catch it, and if they do, they need our support. We have also been hit hard by the inability to mourn with those that have lost their loved ones. Yesterday Zimbabwe recorded another death of a 36-year-old female from Bulawayo province.
FINAL public examinations for Grade Seven, Ordinary and Advanced Level students, which are normally taken in October and November each year, might be deferred to next year as the Zimbabwe School Examinations Council (Zimsec) seeks to ensure learners complete the school syllabi before writing.
This follows a directive by Cabinet last week to defer the planned reopening of primary and secondary schools on July 28 as a measure to curb the spread of Covid-19, which has seen local transmissions spike in recent weeks. Zimsec chairperson Professor Eddie Mwenje said examinations will only be written when students have completed the syllabus and when it is safe to do so, even if it means pushing the examinations to December this year or January next year. He, however, highlighted that the examination management body would this week start preparing for the examinations, with dates for sitting for the tests set to be announced after consultations with various stakeholders.
“We are finalising the writing of June examinations, which are going on very well and will be completed next week. As soon as the June exams are done, we will start printing the November examination question papers. However, once the President announces new opening dates, we will sit down with the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education so that we come up with dates for the examinations. November 2020 examinations will be written, but they will only be written when pupils have completed the syllabus and when it is safe to do so, even if it means the examinations will be written in December or January next year.”
He said Zimsec understands that there was little time for students to prepare for examinations given that schools closed in March this year.
Prof Mwenje, however, said Zimsec would not compromise the quality and substance of Zimbabwe’s education by lowering the pass mark for students to score better grades. Instead, they would ensure that the syllabus is completed before students sit for exams.
“Remember, some of these students will be going to tertiary institutions, they have to be properly examined and given the right grade. That is why we are saying there is a possibility that the examinations may be written in December or January next year. However, all this will be finalised when we meet with the ministry when reopening dates are announced.”
Primary and Secondary Education Deputy Minister Edgar Moyo also said setting examination dates would largely depend on schools reopening dates.
“It is a bit difficult to know the exact dates of opening schools at the moment given the current trends of Covid-19 local transmissions. These trends will largely guide when schools will open. Unlike the June examinations, November examinations need a lot of preparation, so examination classes will be given sufficient time to prepare. We will have to work the dates around their schedule.”
Schools were closed on March 24 this year and were set to be opened next week. However, last week Cabinet deferred the opening of schools citing soaring Covid-19 cases. Teachers’ unions have been calling on Government to cancel this year’s school calendar. Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ) president Dr Takavafira Zhou said teachers’ unions recently submitted a proposal to the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education to have the examinations written in February next year.
“We made a two-part proposal to Government for schools to be opened in September or October this year, then schools close in December, then we open early next year with national examinations written in mid-February to March. Then instead of having three terms we have two terms.
“The other proposal is to have schools open in September or October and then we have a crush programme this year. However, opening of schools hinges on Government’s ability to provide adequate personal protective equipment to teachers and learners, as well as providing structural requirements more teachers and additional classrooms so that there is social distancing.”
Educationist Dr Cephas Nziramasanga said it was important for students to have at least three months of learning time before writing exams, adding that it was high time for Government to seriously consider continuous assessment as part of the learning system.
“Students have already lost over five months of learning, so they need about three months with the teachers before sitting for the exams. Learning is done when student and teacher meet physically, that is why I think online learning is fictitious and besides, the majority of students do not have access to online learning. So there is a need for students to have time with teachers before sitting for exams. However, going forward Government should adopt continuous assessment, which was recommended in the Nziramasanga Commission. It is a system that enables students to be tested while learning and this exerts less pressure on final examinations and would come in handy in such situations.”
He said a lot of intelligent students had been lost through “final examinations”. Continuous assessments are part of the recommendations of the 1999 Presidential Commission of Inquiry on Education and Training. Opening schools during the ongoing pandemic has been a contentious subject worldwide. South Africa recently reopened schools, but teachers’ unions have been calling for the closure of schools due to an exponential increase in Covid-19 cases, which has also affected learners and teachers. The Kenyan government recently announced that schools would remain closed until January 2021, with final year exams, usually taken in October and November, also being cancelled.
THE country’s biggest mobile money provider, Econet Wireless was allegedly involved in black market activities between January and June which saw the company crediting huge sums of money to “runners” who bought foreign currency which the company externalised.
The revelations are contained in an affidavit signed by investigations officer, Detective Inspector and Officer-in-Charge of the Criminal Investigations’ Asset Unit, Mkhululi Nyoni, that is accompanying a court warrant obtained by police to search and take some financial records and subscription database of the company as part of investigating accusations of money laundering.
According to the affidavit signed on Friday, Econet allegedly violated sections of the Money Laundering and Proceeds of Crime Act (Chapter 9:24).
“On 9 July 2020, information was received to the effect that during the period extending from 01 January 2020 to 30 June 2020, Econet Wireless (Pvt) Ltd and its subsidiaries have been fraudulently creating and issuing non-attributable and non-auditable subscribers merchants billers and agents which they credited with huge sums of money and distributed to their runners through their trust accounts. The runners would in turn buy foreign currency in the black market before being externalised,” the affidavit reads.
In the affidavit, police applied to see the list of subscribers/customers both registered and unregistered on the Econet Wireless database with full subscriber details for the period from January to June. In addition, police also want to check the summary of transient e-money/airtime credit service posited on the platform through airtime loans for the same period and all financial statements showing the entire inflow and outflow monetary transactions.
According to the warrant of search and seizure obtained by police, it is suspected that the company is in possession of documents, information or records which are required to afford evidence in a criminal docket for the purpose of investigating the crime.
Since the beginning of the year, Zimbabwe saw massive black market activities that were mainly carried out through mobile money transactions that continued to erode the value of the local dollar. Last month, the Government through the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe responded by banning all money agents from mobile financial transactions although the general public was allowed to continue to transact using the platforms.
The Central Bank also directed that all merchant transactions have been suspended except for receiving payments for goods and services as well as payment of utilities (water, power and airtime) but limited to $5 000 per day. During the time the Government described EcoCash as “the central pivot of the galloping black market exchange rate”.
The Government argued that the practice has contributed to incessant price hikes of goods and services that are bedevilling the economy and causing hardship to the people of Zimbabwe. It added that it has evidence that millions of dollars were being transferred by merchants using mobile money platforms to street runners in the black market for foreign exchange, giving them the funds to buy foreign currency. Money changers using the EcoCash platform had flooded the country’s towns and cities mopping up foreign currency from the streets, but their activities have since gone down after the intervention by Government to tighten operations of mobile money transactions.
ZANU PF STATEMENT ON THE REMOVAL OF DR. OBADIAH MOY0 FROM THE OFFICE OF MINISTER OF HEALTH AND CHILD CARE
ZANU PF stands solidly behind the decision by His Excellency, President E. D Mnangagwa to remove Dr Obadiah Moyo from the post of Minister of Health and Child Care. ZANU PF applauds the President for his boldness in walking the talk in the fight against corruption. The decision by His Excellency, the President should serve as stern warning to all those cadres whom the Party has deployed to Central Government, Local Authorities and Parastatals that in the discharge of their functions they should, like Caesar’s wife, be beyond suspicion. They should at all times know that any whiff of corruption will cost them dearly because the President declared that there will be no sacred cows when it comes to fighting corruption.
ZANU PF takes this opportunity to bring to the attention of those Law Enforcement Agencies involved in the Administration of Criminal Justice its concerns and those of the population. Expectations are that Law Enforcement Agencies should carry out thorough investigations to establish a prima facie case before arrests are effected as to At otherwise leads to the practice commonly referred to as “Catch and Release” a situation which will put the administration of criminal justice into disrepute.
Equally of concern to the population is the prolonged and protracted nature of trials. This also leads to reputational damage to the administration of criminal justice. ZANU PF is, therefore, calling upon Law Enforcement Agencies involved in the administration of justice namely, the Police, the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC), the Prosecutor General’s Office and the Judiciary to expedite the prosecution and finalisation of criminal charges, in particular, cases pertaining to corruption in line with the pronouncements made by the President on the Africa Anti-Corruption Day.
Furthermore, the Party reiterates its position, that unnecessary political activities such as demonstrations will not be tolerated in line with the current LockDown regulations as directed by the President and Commander in Chief of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces, Cde ED Mnangagwa to contain #Covid19Zim.
Those who are organising such demonstrations will have themselves to blame if they continue to defy authorities. What happened on 01 August 2018 and 14-16 January 2019 will never be allowed to repeat again. The merchants of violence who are known to be working with our detractors must heed our call for them to respect the law if they want the law to respect them as well.
Self-styled best rapper in Zimbabwe Stunner, real name Desmond Chideme (pictured right), who was admitted at a Harare private hospital, has been discharged and is now recovering from his Glen Norah home.
Family spokesperson, Godfrey “Vokal” Bakasa said Stunner, who had been admitted in the private facility for a week, was discharged on Wednesday.
“Stunner is doing well on his home recovery path and I can tell you that he is doing better than the last time he was in hospital,” Vokal said.
“He is due for medical checkups and I will update on that. We wish him a speedy recovery and hope to have him back in the music circles.”
Stunner’s career is rich with musical success and a fair share of controversy. He boasts of many hits and chart-topping records like Team Hombe, Godo and many more. He has released a number of albums, including If I Die Tonight, Hameno, Kalife, Team Hombe, Number One and Can’t Stop Me, among others.
The rapper once made headlines after he was involved in an accident while driving without a licence.
He also made news for his marriage to socialite Olinda Chapel before fellow musician and friend Tytan Skhokho “snatched” her and wedded her before moving with her to the United Kingdom.
Stunner’s biggest controversial stunt was a leaked sex tape with socialite and businesswoman Pokello Nare.
In April the rapper released a nine-track album titled Dzangaradzimu, which features Ching, Natasha Muz, Ishan and Uncle Epaton, among others.
A 36-year-old woman from Bulawayo died of the coronavirus today making it five in the past three days. So far 25 people have died of the virus in the country.
Zimbabwe recorded 58 new cases today, 21 of which were local. The country now has 1 478 cases.
Only one person recovered, bringing the total to 439.
So far 100 376 people have been tested. There are 1 014 active cases.
Local transmissions now at 675 are closing in on imported cases which are 803.
Police and other members of the security forces are tightening on the lockdown measures as the number of cases continues to spiral.
A woman in Bulawayo was arrested for refusing to accept $2 notes while she was selling airtime in the city of Kings.
21-year-old Prudence Mhene appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Mr Tinashe Tashaya facing charges of contravening a section of Statutory Instrument 175/2008, the Bank Use Promotion and Suppression of Money Laundering Act.
It is the state’s case that: On July 17 at 10am at Mandalane Building located at 5th Avenue and Fife Street Bulawayo, the accused was selling airtime in the shop.
The complainant, Mr Mthokozisi Ngwenya handed over $18 bond notes intending to buy Telecel airtime. The accused told Mr Ngwenya that she had a limit for the amount of $2 bond notes and handed him back 2 x $2 notes and asked for a $5 note.
The accused person implied that the customer should produce $5 bond notes only as she had limits of accepting denominations less than $2 bond notes. The complainant later revealed his identity as a police officer and the accused person was arrested.
Mhene was remanded out of custody and will be back in court tomorrow.
ZRP has reportedly launched “Operation accept Zimbabwe currency as legal tender” which has seen over 100 people being arrested for various crimes including refusing to accept the Zimbabwe Dollar for their goods and services-source: The Sunday News
GOVERNMENT’S Farm Mechanisation Programme undertaken between 2007 and 2008 was not a loan scheme and beneficiaries were not required to pay for the equipment they received, former Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) Governor Dr Gideon Gono has said.
Responding to claims made by opposition activist Dr Alex Magaisa yesterday, which alleged that millions of dollars in public funds were looted by beneficiaries of the programme who refused to pay for the equipment they received through the central bank, Dr Gono said the programme was undertaken in accordance with the law.
The RBZ introduced the programme to capacitate newly-resettled farmers through mechanisation.
In a statement last night, Dr Gono refuted allegations raised by Dr Magaisa, saying there was no impropriety on the part of the RBZ and the beneficiaries.
“My statement comes in the wake of Dr Magaisa’s allegations, which makes a lot of unfounded allegations and inaccurate, and unfair conclusions that border on defamation,” said Dr Gono.
“I come as the man who was in charge of the RBZ during the most trying period in our history and as a man who was at the centre of trying to keep the economy going.
“I can state categorically that Dr Magaisa is offside and that no beneficiary of the farm mechanisation programme ever refused to pay for the equipment that they got and neither were they asked to pay.”
Dr Gono said this position was arrived at after consultations with Government which took the decision and wrote to him that equipment given to farmers during that most trying period should not be regarded as a loan to anyone and, therefore, no payment was to be made by the beneficiaries of the programme, who included A2 and A1 farmers.
He said the programme was undertaken in terms of the standing provisions of the RBZ Act at the time, which compelled the Apex Bank to carry out quasi-fiscal activities at the request of Government.
“The RBZ undertook this quasi-fiscal activity at the behest of Government and in the national interest,” said Dr Gono.
“This was done in accordance with the then Section 8 of the RBZ Act Chapter (22:15) which authorised State to direct the Central Bank to carry out transactions in such a manner as the State may require and if so requested by the State, the Bank was to make the necessary arrangements to this end.”
The Sunday Mail understands that Dr Gono reached out to Dr Magaisa via WhatsApp yesterday, raising his displeasure with the “defamatory” article.
In a string of text messages seen by this publication, the former central bank chief questioned Dr Magaisa’s motive behind cherry-picking the names of beneficiaries that he published.
Dr Magaisa had not responded to the text by the time of going to print last night.
“My brother, your article of today is so unlike you to make such damning conclusions without checking and clarifying with the one man (alive) who was in charge of the RBZ-driven Farm Mechanisation Programme 2007/8,” charged Dr Gono.
“I thought that since I’m alive and surely capable of enlightening anyone with interest in matters that happened under my watch … a simple phone call or WhatsApp to verify the authenticity and background to the issues of your interest would have served everyone from all the wrong interpretations and erroneous, defamatory conclusions contained in your BSR.
“You are usually very careful with your facts and I wonder what happened here? Anyway, I hope that you will have the courage to tell your readers the facts of the matter as I shall put them down and apologise for tarnishing their images before getting all the facts that allow anyone to form their own opinions.
“Out of civility and good courtesy, I will share with you the true facts then you will see how wrong your assertions of fraud, corruption and looting are. On this one, you definitely got your facts wrong. I unsuccessfully tried to reach you earlier when I saw the article.”
Dr Gono said as the RBZ chief then, he was compelled to abide by the provisions of all relevant legal provisions governing the operations of the Central Bank.
“Section 8 (11) of the old RBZ Act (Chapter 22:15) read with the Banking Act (Chapter 24:20), the Official Secrets Act (Chapter11:09), the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act (Chapter 20:27) and the Exchange Control Act of 1996 are all legislative and legal administrative instruments at the hands of a Government to use to achieve certain desired objectives. Any Governor worth his salt works within the confines of those and other Acts to advance Government objectives.”
He said at independence, the new Zimbabwean Government also assumed loans that had been incurred by the settler regime, and likely for nefarious undertakings against indigenous people.
“At independence, the RBZ and Government in general assumed loans and obligations that had been incurred by the previous regime, some of which had been used to acquire military equipment that maimed and killed our people as well as agricultural loans that had been taken with State guarantees from banks during those difficult years.
“None of these belonged to blacks. Today, under a legitimate Government Mechanisation Programme that covered both A1 and A2 farmers during a very difficult period in the history of our nation becomes a scandal?
“Both rural and non-rural farmers benefited from the takeover of the loans by the State but I shall elaborate. There was no scandal here, no corruption and no beneficiary refused to pay. The State did not demand payment and that was above board.”
Farai Dziva|The MDC Alliance led by President Nelson Chamisa has challenged Victor Matemadanda’s liberation war credentials.
This comes after Matemadanda’s remarks about the dispute between MDC Alliance and MDC -T.Matemadanda surprisingly “endorsed” Douglas Mwonzora as the man who should lead the opposition while discrediting President Chamisa in the process.
In response to Matemadanda’s utterances, the MDC Alliance said:
Dear Victor Matemadanda As the country’s Deputy Defense minister you are a public figure.
We the public demand you tell us where you served during the liberation war.
We the public demand to know who you served under during the liberation war.
Former Masvingo minister of state and now MDC Alliance member Kudakwashe Bhasikiti has claimed that he repaid his farm mechanisation scheme loan extended by the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe, boasting of being the only person to leave Zanu PF corrupt-free.
Responding to Alex Magaisa who dropped a bombshell in his weekly BSR, after releasing names of beneficiaries of the farm mechanisation scheme, Bhasikiti said he repaid for his tractor unlike many others who still owe the country huge sums of money.
“Wamagaisa,today you have caught them unaware.Some skeptics will know what I have repeatedly https://t.co/dqEwMw0Tf0’s not easy to come out of ZPF corrupt free.ONLY BHASIKITI ,made it.I paid for my tractor fully.Nothing can be raised against me,reason I can criticise corruption.”
ZANU-PF has said it is fully behind President Mnangagwa’s decision to fire former Health and Child Care Minister Dr Obadiah Moyo from his post over corruption allegations, saying the party does not tolerate such ill practices.
Dr Moyo was relieved from his duties early this month for alleged criminal abuse of office charges for his role in a murky US$60 million deal with Drax International, a medical supplier. In a statement, acting Zanu-PF Secretary for Information and Publicity Cde Patrick Chinamasa said this was a stern warning to would-be offenders.
“The decision by His Excellency, the President should serve as a stern warning to all those cadres whom the party has deployed to Central Government, Local Authorities and Parastatals, that in their discharge of their functions, they should, like Caesar’s wife be beyond suspicion,” he said.
He said cadres must at all times know that any whiff of corruption will cost them dearly because the President declared that there will be no sacred cows when it comes to fighting corruption. Cde Chinamasa further said the catch and release syndrome was bringing the justice system into disrepute.
“Zanu-PF takes this opportunity to bring to the attention of those Law Enforcement agencies involved in the administration of Criminal Justice its concerns and those of the population. Expectations are that Law Enforcement Agencies should carry out thorough investigations to establish a prima facie case before arrests are effected as to do otherwise leads to the practice commonly referred to as ‘catch and release’, a situation which will put the administration of criminal justice into disrepute,” he warned.
The revolutionary party said the population was concerned over the protracted and prolonged nature of trials. He said this leads to reputational damage to the administration of criminal justice and called upon Law Enforcement Agencies involved in the administration of criminal justice namely the police, the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission, the Prosecutor General’s office and the Judiciary to expedite the prosecution and finalisation of criminal charges in particular cases pertaining to corruption.
Cde Chinamasa warned the public that unnecessary political activities such as demonstrations will not be tolerated in line with the current lockdown regulations directed by the President to contain Covid-19.
“Those who are organising such demonstrations will have themselves to blame if they continue to defy authorities. What happened on 1 August 2018 will never be allowed to be repeated again. The merchants of violence who are known to be working with our detractors must heed our call for them to respect the law if they want the law to respect them as well,” he added.
A BULAWAYO woman has been arrested and appeared in court yesterday for refusing to accept $2 bond notes which are part of the country’s legal tender.
Prudence Mhene (21) who resides at 236 Sotshangane Flats in Nguboyenja appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Mr Tinashe Tashaya facing charges of contravening Section 3(2) as read with Section 4 of the Statutory Instrument 175/2008 in terms of section 48 of Bank Use Promotion and Suppression of Money Laundering Act.
Prosecuting, Mr Privilege Mudozvori said the accused person refused to accept denominations of $2 bond notes from a customer who wanted to purchase airtime. The accused person was plying her trade as an airtime vendor in the city centre.
“On July 17 at 10am at Mandalane Building located at 5th Avenue and Fife Street Bulawayo, the accused was selling airtime in the shop. The complainant, Mr Mthokozisi Ngwenya handed over $18 bond notes intending to buy Telecel airtime. The accused told Mr Ngwenya that she had a limit for the amount of $2 bond notes and handed him back 2 x $2 notes and asked for a $5 note,” said Mr Mudozvori.
Mr Mudozvori said the accused person implied that the customer should produce $5 bond notes only as she had limits of accepting denominations less than $2 bond notes. The complainant later revealed his identity as a police officer and the accused person was arrested. Mhene was remanded out of custody to tomorrow.
The police have arrested over 100 suspects countrywide for refusing to accept local currency as a legal tender. The arrests are made under
“Operation accept Zimbabwe currency as legal tender”, which was launched in late June. The blitz comes after some people started rejecting notes written “bond note” based on fake news circulating on social media platforms.
Final public examinations for Grade Seven, Ordinary and Advanced Level students, which are normally taken in October and November each year, might be deferred to next year as the Zimbabwe School Examinations Council (ZIMSEC) seeks to ensure learners complete the school syllabuses before writing.
This follows a directive by Cabinet last week to defer the planned reopening of schools on July 28 to curb the spread of Covid-19, which has seen local transmissions spike in recent weeks.
ZIMSEC chairperson Professor Eddie Mwenje said examinations will only be written when students have completed the syllabus and when it is safe to do so, even if it means pushing the examinations to December this year or January next year.
He, however, highlighted that the examination management body would this week start preparing for the examinations, with dates for sitting for the tests set to be announced after consultations with various stakeholders.
“We are finalising the writing of June examinations, which are going on well and will be completed next week,” said Prof Mwenje.
“As soon as the June exams are done, we will start printing the November examination question papers. However, once the President announces new opening dates, we will sit down with the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education so that we come up with dates for the examinations.
“November 2020 examinations will be written, but they will only be written when students have completed the syllabus and when it is safe to do so, even if it means the examinations will be written in December or January next year.”
He said ZIMSEC understands that there was little time for students to prepare for examinations given that schools closed in March this year.
Prof Mwenje, however, said ZIMSEC would not compromise the quality and substance of Zimbabwe’s education by lowering the pass mark for students to score better grades.
Instead, they would ensure that the syllabus is completed before students sit for exams.
“Remember, some of these students will be going to tertiary institutions, they have to be properly examined and given the right grade,” he said.
“That is why we are saying there is a possibility that the examinations may be written in December or January next year. However, all this will be finalised when we meet with the ministry when reopening dates are announced.”
Primary and Secondary Education Deputy Minister Edgar Moyo also said setting examination dates would largely depend on schools reopening dates.
“It is a bit difficult to know the exact dates of opening schools at the moment given the current trends of Covid-19 local transmissions. These trends will largely guide when schools will open,” he said.
“Unlike the June examinations, November examinations need a lot of preparation, so examination classes will be given sufficient time to prepare. We will have to work the dates around their schedule.”
Schools were closed on March 24 this year and were set to be opened next week.
However, last week Cabinet deferred the opening of schools citing soaring Covid-19 cases.
Teachers’ unions have been calling on Government to cancel this year’s school calendar.
Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ) president Dr Takavafira Zhou said teachers’ unions recently submitted a proposal to the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education to have the examinations written in February next year.
“We made a two-part proposal to Government for schools to be opened in September or October this year, then schools close in December, then we open early next year with national examinations written in mid-February to March. Then instead of having three terms we have two terms,” he said.
“The other proposal is to have schools open in September or October and then we have a crush programme this year. However, opening of schools hinges on Government’s ability to provide adequate personal protective equipment to teachers and learners, as well as well as providing structural requirements more teachers and additional classrooms so that there is social distancing.”
Educationist Dr Cephas Nziramasanga said it was important for students to have at least three months of learning time before writing exams, adding that it was high time for Government to seriously consider continuous assessment as part of the learning system.
“Students have already lost over five months of learning, so they need about three months with the teachers before sitting for the exams,” he said.
“Learning is done when student and teacher meet physically, that is why I think online learning is fictitious and besides, the majority of students do not have access to online learning. So there is need for students to have time with teachers before sitting for exams.
“However, going forward Government should adopt continuous assessment, which was recommended in the Nziramasanga Commission. It is a system that enables students to be tested while learning and this exerts less pressure on final examinations and would come in handy in such situations.”
He said a lot of intelligent students had been lost through “final examinations”.
Continuous assessments are part of the recommendations of the 1999 Presidential Commission of Inquiry on Education and Training.
Opening schools during the ongoing pandemic has been a contentious subject worldwide.
South Africa recently reopened schools, but teachers’ unions have been calling for the closure of schools due to an exponential increase in Covid-19 cases, which has also affected learners and teachers.
The Kenyan government recently announced that schools would remain closed until January 2021, with final year exams, usually taken in October and November, also being cancelled. – Sunday Mail
FINAL public examinations for Grade Seven, Ordinary and Advanced Level students, which are normally taken in October and November each year, might be deferred to next year as the Zimbabwe School Examinations Council (ZIMSEC) seeks to ensure learners complete the school syllabuses before writing.
This follows a directive by Cabinet last week to defer the planned reopening of schools on July 28 to curb the spread of Covid-19, which has seen local transmissions spike in recent weeks.
ZIMSEC chairperson Professor Eddie Mwenje said examinations will only be written when students have completed the syllabus and when it is safe to do so, even if it means pushing the examinations to December this year or January next year.
He, however, highlighted that the examination management body would this week start preparing for the examinations, with dates for sitting for the tests set to be announced after consultations with various stakeholders.
“We are finalising the writing of June examinations, which are going on well and will be completed next week,” said Prof Mwenje.
“As soon as the June exams are done, we will start printing the November examination question papers.
However, once the President announces new opening dates, we will sit down with the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education so that we come up with dates for the examinations.
“November 2020 examinations will be written, but they will only be written when students have completed the syllabus and when it is safe to do so, even if it means the examinations will be written in December or January next year.”
He said ZIMSEC understands that there was little time for students to prepare for examinations given that schools closed in March this year-The Sunday Mail
I was given this number and they said I may get assistance with an issue I have with a certain prominent so-called Man-of-God.
My story is about a:
1: Refund from a Mining project and Housing projects by PhD Ministries #Walter Magaya.
https://youtu.be/Ij_8K_ul7cU
2: My family lost a house after selling it and buying stands in Zimbabwe Bulawayo in Douglasdale which was just but a scam
3: We have proof of purchase and have been to the Newspapers but it was in vain.
https://youtu.be/iBgCwP2frr8
4: A house and my Dad died of a sudden stroke bcz he couldn’t handle the loss of our house and unbelief that a Prophet could do such.
5:If need be yes I will record a video/
MORE TO FOLLOW…
The above is part of a detailed series of investigations carried out over the last 2 years in which scores have lost millions of Rands to Walter Magaya and the full account will be streamed on ZimEye.
FINAL public examinations for Grade Seven, Ordinary and Advanced Level students, which are normally taken in October and November each year, might be deferred to next year as the Zimbabwe School Examinations Council (Zimsec) seeks to ensure learners complete the school syllabi before writing.
This follows a directive by Cabinet last week to defer the planned reopening of primary and secondary schools on July 28 as a measure to curb the spread of Covid-19, which has seen local transmissions spike in recent weeks. Zimsec chairperson Professor Eddie Mwenje said examinations will only be written when students have completed the syllabus and when it is safe to do so, even if it means pushing the examinations to December this year or January next year. He, however, highlighted that the examination management body would this week start preparing for the examinations, with dates for sitting for the tests set to be announced after consultations with various stakeholders.
“We are finalising the writing of June examinations, which are going on very well and will be completed next week. As soon as the June exams are done, we will start printing the November examination question papers. However, once the President announces new opening dates, we will sit down with the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education so that we come up with dates for the examinations. November 2020 examinations will be written, but they will only be written when pupils have completed the syllabus and when it is safe to do so, even if it means the examinations will be written in December or January next year.”
He said Zimsec understands that there was little time for students to prepare for examinations given that schools closed in March this year.
Prof Mwenje, however, said Zimsec would not compromise the quality and substance of Zimbabwe’s education by lowering the pass mark for students to score better grades. Instead, they would ensure that the syllabus is completed before students sit for exams.
“Remember, some of these students will be going to tertiary institutions, they have to be properly examined and given the right grade. That is why we are saying there is a possibility that the examinations may be written in December or January next year. However, all this will be finalised when we meet with the ministry when reopening dates are announced.”
Primary and Secondary Education Deputy Minister Edgar Moyo also said setting examination dates would largely depend on schools reopening dates.
“It is a bit difficult to know the exact dates of opening schools at the moment given the current trends of Covid-19 local transmissions. These trends will largely guide when schools will open. Unlike the June examinations, November examinations need a lot of preparation, so examination classes will be given sufficient time to prepare. We will have to work the dates around their schedule.”
Schools were closed on March 24 this year and were set to be opened next week. However, last week Cabinet deferred the opening of schools citing soaring Covid-19 cases. Teachers’ unions have been calling on Government to cancel this year’s school calendar. Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ) president Dr Takavafira Zhou said teachers’ unions recently submitted a proposal to the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education to have the examinations written in February next year.
“We made a two-part proposal to Government for schools to be opened in September or October this year, then schools close in December, then we open early next year with national examinations written in mid-February to March. Then instead of having three terms we have two terms.
“The other proposal is to have schools open in September or October and then we have a crush programme this year. However, opening of schools hinges on Government’s ability to provide adequate personal protective equipment to teachers and learners, as well as providing structural requirements more teachers and additional classrooms so that there is social distancing.”
Educationist Dr Cephas Nziramasanga said it was important for students to have at least three months of learning time before writing exams, adding that it was high time for Government to seriously consider continuous assessment as part of the learning system.
“Students have already lost over five months of learning, so they need about three months with the teachers before sitting for the exams. Learning is done when student and teacher meet physically, that is why I think online learning is fictitious and besides, the majority of students do not have access to online learning. So there is a need for students to have time with teachers before sitting for exams. However, going forward Government should adopt continuous assessment, which was recommended in the Nziramasanga Commission. It is a system that enables students to be tested while learning and this exerts less pressure on final examinations and would come in handy in such situations.”
He said a lot of intelligent students had been lost through “final examinations”. Continuous assessments are part of the recommendations of the 1999 Presidential Commission of Inquiry on Education and Training. Opening schools during the ongoing pandemic has been a contentious subject worldwide. South Africa recently reopened schools, but teachers’ unions have been calling for the closure of schools due to an exponential increase in Covid-19 cases, which has also affected learners and teachers. The Kenyan government recently announced that schools would remain closed until January 2021, with final year exams, usually taken in October and November, also being cancelled.
ZANU PF STATEMENT ON THE REMOVAL OF DR. OBADIAH MOY0 FROM THE OFFICE OF MINISTER OF HEALTH AND CHILD CARE
ZANU PF stands solidly behind the decision by His Excellency, President E. D Mnangagwa to remove Dr Obadiah Moyo from the post of Minister of Health and Child Care.
ZANU PF applauds the President for his boldness in walking the talk in the fight against corruption.
The decision by His Excellency, the President should serve as stern warning to all those cadres whom the Party has deployed to Central Government, Local Authorities and Parastatals that in the discharge of their functions they should, like Caesar’s wife, be beyond suspicion. They should at all times know that any whiff of corruption will cost them dearly because the President declared that there will be no sacred cows when it comes to fighting corruption.
ZANU PF takes this opportunity to bring to the attention of those Law Enforcement Agencies involved in the Administration of Criminal Justice its concerns and those of the population.
Expectations are that Law Enforcement Agencies should carry out thorough investigations to establish a prima facie case before arrests are effected as to At otherwise leads to the practice commonly referred to as “Catch and Release” a situation which will put the administration of criminal justice into disrepute. Equally of concern to the population is the prolonged and protracted nature of trials. This also leads to reputational damage to the administration of criminal justice.
ZANU PF is, therefore, calling upon Law Enforcement Agencies involved in the administration of justice namely, the Police, the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC), the Prosecutor General’s Office and the Judiciary to expedite the prosecution and finalisation of criminal charges, in particular, cases pertaining to corruption in line with the pronouncements made by the President on the Africa Anti-Corruption Day.
Furthermore, the Party reiterates its position, that unnecessary political activities such as demonstrations will not be tolerated in line with the current LockDown regulations as directed by the President and Commander in Chief of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces, Cde ED Mnangagwa to contain #Covid19Zim.
Those who are organising such demonstrations will have themselves to blame if they continue to defy authorities.
What happened on 01 August 2018 and 14-16 January 2019 will never be allowed to repeat again.
The merchants of violence who are known to be working with our detractors must heed our call for them to respect the law if they want the law to respect them as well.
State Media – Government has tabled a multi-billion dollar offer towards infrastructure compensation to about 3 500 white former commercial farmers whose land was appropriated by the State during the Fast Track Land Reform Programme.
Emmerson Mnangagwa announced last year that the Government had opened negotiations with British authorities seeking assistance in raising over US$3 billion required to compensate the ex-farmers.
Under the 1979 Lancaster House Agreement, the British Government pledged technical and financial assistance for land redistribution, an obligation the Britons later reneged on.
The Sunday Mail reports saying that the farmers have since begun consultations on the new offer with an announcement set to be made “soon”. Nearly 1 000 farmers have since 2018 received partial payments from the Government for improvements they made while still on the farms. Over 900 mostly elderly former landowners, who are struggling financially, have registered for compensation under the Interim Relief Payment Scheme being co-ordinated by the Government and the Commercial Farmers Union (CFU). Government has paid out $55 000 each to around 700 farmers over the last 12 months under the scheme.
CFU director Mr Ben Gilpin said most farmers have been paid up to 15 percent of their total packages by the Government.
“Around 370 farmers received compensation for improvements over the years; some in the hyperinflation period before 2008,” said Mr Gilpin.
Lands, Agriculture, Water, Climate and Rural Resettlement Minister Perrance Shiri could not be drawn into commenting.
Compensation of white ex-farmers is at the centre of Government’s multi-pronged reform and re-engagement thrust and is seen as the final leg of the land reform programme.
In March, Government unveiled regulations providing for the option of repossession or compensation for farms which were protected under Bilateral Investment Protection and Promotion Agreements (BIPPAs) and Bilateral Investment Treaties (BITs) during the land reform programme.
Indigenous farmers who lost farms can now apply to repossess the land under new regulations. In an interview with The Sunday Mail last year, President Mnangagwa said payment of compensation for developments on expropriated land was a constitutional obligation which Government was determined to fulfil.
Said Mnangagwa: “There are two principles here; the first one is that we must be seen to be respectful of our own Constitution.
“And our Constitution bids us to pay compensation on improvements on land; we do not pay compensation for land because no one brought land to Zimbabwe; land was found here by those who came here.
Compensation for improvements made on the land is in line with the Constitution and Zimbabwe’s obligations under the Bilateral Investment Promotion and Protection Agreements (BIPPA).
Section 72 of the Constitution stipulates that where land is acquired for a public purpose, “no compensation is payable in respect of its acquisition, except for improvements effected on it before its acquisition.”
Further, Section 295 states the only two circumstances where land is compensated is for; “any indigenous Zimbabwean whose agricultural land was acquired by the State before the effective date is entitled to compensation from the State for the land and any improvements that were on the land when it was acquired. -Sunday Mail
THE country’s biggest mobile money provider, Econet Wireless was allegedly involved in black market activities between January and June which saw the company crediting huge sums of money to “runners” who bought foreign currency which the company externalised.
The revelations are contained in an affidavit signed by investigations officer, Detective Inspector and Officer-in-Charge of the Criminal Investigations’ Asset Unit, Mkhululi Nyoni, that is accompanying a court warrant obtained by police to search and take some financial records and subscription database of the company as part of investigating accusations of money laundering.
According to the affidavit signed on Friday, Econet allegedly violated sections of the Money Laundering and Proceeds of Crime Act (Chapter 9:24).
“On 9 July 2020, information was received to the effect that during the period extending from 01 January 2020 to 30 June 2020, Econet Wireless (Pvt) Ltd and its subsidiaries have been fraudulently creating and issuing non-attributable and non-auditable subscribers merchants billers and agents which they credited with huge sums of money and distributed to their runners through their trust accounts. The runners would in turn buy foreign currency in the black market before being externalised,” the affidavit reads.
In the affidavit, police applied to see the list of subscribers/customers both registered and unregistered on the Econet Wireless database with full subscriber details for the period from January to June.
In addition, police also want to check the summary of transient e-money/airtime credit service posited on the platform through airtime loans for the same period and all financial statements showing the entire inflow and outflow monetary transactions.
According to the warrant of search and seizure obtained by police, it is suspected that the company is in possession of documents, information or records which are required to afford evidence in a criminal docket for the purpose of investigating the crime.
Since the beginning of the year, Zimbabwe saw massive black market activities that were mainly carried out through mobile money transactions that continued to erode the value of the local dollar.
Last month, the Government through the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe responded by banning all money agents from mobile financial transactions although the general public was allowed to continue to transact using the platforms-The Sunday News
TWENTY-TWO Cimas staffers tested positive for Covid-19 and have been placed under quarantine while the Cimas High Glen Clinic has been closed after an employee at the centre was exposed to the virus.
Cimas chief executive officer Mr Vulindlela Ndlovu said a receptionist tested positive for Covid-19 on Thursday during random testing.
More tests were conducted after contact tracing, resulting in 21 workers testing positive for the virus before a Government Covid-19 Rapid Response Team was roped in.
Said Mr Ndlovu: “While the source of the infections is unknown, common factors among those who tested positive is that they all shared transport and/or shared workstations, computers, or telephone handsets. As a precautionary measure, all Cimas premises in Harare have been deep cleaned and disinfected.
The Cimas High Glen Clinic, in a separate incident, has been closed temporarily following the exposure of a staff member to a confirmed case.”
Mr Ndlovu urged the public to embrace digital platforms and virtual means of communication.
“Where services are required and physical presence in our facilities is necessary, we continue to take precautionary measures to protect you and our staff. We also urge you to take great care, wear a mask correctly, practice social distancing and good hand hygiene,” he said.
“Covid-19 is real, and we need to support each other. It is not helpful to stigmatise victims of this pandemic. This is a highly infectious disease and anyone can catch it, and if they do, they need our support.
We have also been hit hard by the inability to mourn with those that have lost their loved ones. Yesterday Zimbabwe recorded another death of a 36-year-old female from Bulawayo province-The Sunday Mail
Farai Dziva|There was pandemonium at Mkoba Stadium in Gweru last week when an elderly man challenged Auxillia Mnangagwa to ascertain the safety of the blankets she donated to the community.
Auxillia reportedly got the blankets from the Chinese First Lady and the elderly man challenged her to prove that the blankets were not infected with Coronavirus.
“Are the blankets safe for us since they came from China where the Covid-19 outbreak began? We hear that the blankets belong to victims of Covid-19,” asked the elderly man.
In response, Mrs Mnangagwa fumed:
“Munorwara neiko nhai Sekuru, ini ndobva ndanotora machira evanhu vakafa kuti ndikupei, ndingauya kuzokuurayai imi Sekuru(So you think I want to kill you right? So you think I have travelled all the way to kill you? How can I do that? ”
Farai Dziva|There was pandemonium at Mkoba Stadium in Gweru last week when an elderly man challenged Auxillia Mnangagwa to ascertain the safety of the blankets she donated to the community.
Auxillia reportedly got the blankets from the Chinese First Lady and the elderly man challenged her to prove that the blankets were not infected with Coronavirus.
“Are the blankets safe for us since they came from China where the Covid-19 outbreak began? We hear that the blankets belong to victims of Covid-19,” asked the elderly man.
In response, Mrs Mnangagwa fumed:
“Munorwara neiko nhai Sekuru, ini ndobva ndanotora machira evanhu vakafa kuti ndikupei, ndingauya kuzokuurayai imi Sekuru(So you think I want to kill you right? So you think I have travelled all the way to kill you? How can I do that? ”
Farai Dziva|Veteran Movement for Democratic Change activist and musician, Dread Reckless, has warned Douglas Mwonzora and Thokozani Khupe against sabotaging the people’s struggle.
He also described President Nelson Chamisa as a great visionary who has the capacity to lead the nation to prosperity.
Below is Dread Reckless’ statement:
I have no time at all to worry about people who claim to be opposition party leaders when they are being funded in darkness by the party they claim to oppose and pretend otherwise during the day.
With our little, immature, inexprienced but political stable and iconic leader Nelson Chamisa we are fine.
As they move in to take our offices we will fight to retain the great vision, as they take party names, we retain the party- take the support of Matemadanda and we choose the support of the people.
We also want to eat but the only difference is that, most of us are patient enough to wait for what is rightfully ours.
Since when did Matemadanda become the opposition’s political adviser?
Farai Dziva|Veteran Movement for Democratic Change activist and musician, Dread Reckless, has warned Douglas Mwonzora and Thokozani Khupe against sabotaging the people’s struggle.
He also described President Nelson Chamisa as a great visionary who has the capacity to lead the nation to prosperity.
Below is Dread Reckless’ statement:
I have no time at all to worry about people who claim to be opposition party leaders when they are being funded in darkness by the party they claim to oppose and pretend otherwise during the day.
With our little, immature, inexprienced but political stable and iconic leader Nelson Chamisa we are fine.
As they move in to take our offices we will fight to retain the great vision, as they take party names, we retain the party- take the support of Matemadanda and we choose the support of the people.
We also want to eat but the only difference is that, most of us are patient enough to wait for what is rightfully ours.
Since when did Matemadanda become the opposition’s political adviser?
Farai Dziva|Political and social analysts have accused Zanu PF apologist Jimaya Muduvuri of insulting millions of suffering Zimbabweans.
Muduvuri, who is the patron of Zimbabwe Amalgamated Council of Churches (ZACC) described the 31 July protests as “unthoughtful public demonstrations.”
Analysts say Muduvuri has gone out of his way in a desperate bid to please his handlers.
“We therefore condemn unreservedly this wanton propensity towards unbridled and thoughtless public demonstrations in the name of constitutional rights. As the leadership of ZACC, a coalition of churches that come from different backgrounds and theological positions, we are a living demonstration and example of peaceful co-existence and tolerance for differences.
“We know that our responsibility as churches is to preach peace, love and unity as commanded by the Almighty God and we pledge ourselves to continue promoting the values of peace and unity and national development.
We are concerned that there are people who still believe that public protests and demonstrations are a viable method to resolve perceived national problems,”Muduvuri told The Herald.
Another church leader Destiny for Africa’s Reverend Obadiah Msindo said : Everyone in Zimbabwe who has the interests of the nation should never support anything that could degenerate into violence. As was noted in previous demonstrations the opposition organises violent demonstrations.
We witnessed destructive events from the so-called demonstrations. Anything that infringes on the rights of people should not be entertained.
We must maintain peace so that we solve the problems that we face as a country. The church should refuse to be used by people with their own agendas, this has nothing to do with people’s interests. I have seen some pastors, the paid pastors, who are making money out of it, this is a money making project.
All this effort of trying to remove the Government will not work of no use. Lastly why would a responsible opposition call for demonstrations when the country and the world is fighting Covid-19, this is unheard of.
By A Correspondent| Glaudina residents in Harare have revealed that the City of Harare fumigated the house where a COVID 19 victim died Friday morning.
According to the residents, Dr Chonzi and his team not only fumigated the house but made a commitment to facilitate COVID 19 testing for Glaudina residents.
Friday morning, ZimEye exclusively reported that a man who worked at a local sugar refinery company in Harare succumbed to the virus at his home in Glaudina.
The residents who spoke to ZimEye however exposed how the police were ill equipped to assist the community when they reported the COVID 19 death.
Several residents however testified how the City of Harare were swift in attending to the house where the man died and collected his body. However, the City Fathers left without fumigating the house.
Said one of the residents while updating this local publication regarding latest developments:
“Dr Chonzi, Ward 40 Councilor Steve Dhliwayo and Our Honourable MP Mushoriwa came on site where the man died.
Dr Chonzi brought his team and they have fumigated the house. They have also made a commitment to assist the people who are in the community to have a rapid testing for Covid 19.”
Added another resident:
“This time around, Dr Prosper Chonzi showed a high level of professionalism and we appreciate his actions.
We call upon the government to provide the local authority with the necessary support to fight COVID 19.”
Farai Dziva|Political and social analysts have accused Zanu PF apologist Jimaya Muduvuri of insulting millions of suffering Zimbabweans.
Muduvuri, who is the patron of Zimbabwe Amalgamated Council of Churches (ZACC) described the 31 July protests as “unthoughtful public demonstrations.”
Analysts say Muduvuri has gone out of his way in a desperate bid to please his handlers.
“We therefore condemn unreservedly this wanton propensity towards unbridled and thoughtless public demonstrations in the name of constitutional rights. As the leadership of ZACC, a coalition of churches that come from different backgrounds and theological positions, we are a living demonstration and example of peaceful co-existence and tolerance for differences.
“We know that our responsibility as churches is to preach peace, love and unity as commanded by the Almighty God and we pledge ourselves to continue promoting the values of peace and unity and national development.
We are concerned that there are people who still believe that public protests and demonstrations are a viable method to resolve perceived national problems,”Muduvuri told The Herald.
Another church leader Destiny for Africa’s Reverend Obadiah Msindo said : Everyone in Zimbabwe who has the interests of the nation should never support anything that could degenerate into violence. As was noted in previous demonstrations the opposition organises violent demonstrations.
We witnessed destructive events from the so-called demonstrations. Anything that infringes on the rights of people should not be entertained.
We must maintain peace so that we solve the problems that we face as a country. The church should refuse to be used by people with their own agendas, this has nothing to do with people’s interests. I have seen some pastors, the paid pastors, who are making money out of it, this is a money making project.
All this effort of trying to remove the Government will not work of no use. Lastly why would a responsible opposition call for demonstrations when the country and the world is fighting Covid-19, this is unheard of.
Fifty-eight (58) cases tested positive for COVIO-19 today These include returnees from South Africa (10), and 48 local cases who are isolated Thirty two (32) of the local cases are contacts of known confirmed cases.
Investigations are underway to establish the source of infection for the other 16 cases Thirteen (13) recoveries were reported by the following provinces; Mash Central (6), Mat North (3), Mash East (2) and Manicatand (2) Today we regret to report 1 death at a facility level in Bulawayo Province.
The death is a 19-year old male who tested positive for COVID-19 today and had co-morbidities Today 1214 ROT screening test and 979 PCR diagnostics tests were done The cumulatiye number of tests done to date is 99 701(59 606 RDT met 40095 PCR).
Since the onset of the COV10-19 outbreak on 20 March 2020, the total number of confirmed cases is 1420; recoveries 438, active cases 958 and 24 deaths- Ministry of Health and Child Care
By A Correspondent- MDC Alliance councillors on Friday yet again snubbed an MDC-T meeting which had been called by MDC-T interim leader, Thokozani Khupe.
Although there is confusion as to how many councillors were in attendance due to varying accounts, the numbers being said are still very low.
Acting party spokesperson Khalipani Phugeni said 15 councillors attended the meeting, but Epworth Local Board chairperson Batanai Masunda claimed 20 were in attendance, while other sources insisted only 14 councillors turned up out of 71 councillors from Greater Harare.
The meeting was held at Harvest House christened Morgan Richard Tsvangirai House. Phugeni told Newsday:
It was a meeting called by the acting president to deal with several issues as you have read in the media of cases of corruption within local authorities, among other issues. She was reading the riot act and warning those involved in corruption.
Meanwhile, Newsday claims that an attendance register showed that 10 out of 45 Harare councillors attended while Chitungwiza only had two out of 21, while Epworth also had two out of a possible five councillors.
The development comes amid a leadership crisis in the MDC with Nelson Chamisa and Khupe fighting for control of party members and assets.
By A Correspondent- Chief Justice Luke Malaba has made a sudden U-turn on a directive on handing down and distribution of judgments and orders.
The directive had been issued on the 16th of July on the basis that the manner in which orders are being handed was not appropriate.
Amending the directive, Malaba said:
1. Reference is made to my Memorandum dated 16 July 2020 in relation to the above subject.
2. In Paragraph 2 (iv) I have removed the word ‘approved’ and it should read: – “Before a Judgment or an order of the High Court or Labour Court is issued or handed down, it should be seen by the head of court/ station/ division.”
3. May this amendment be brought to the attention of all Judges.
Chief Justice Luke Malaba memorandum
The directive had attracted criticism from various quarters with some saying it was meant to make sure judges do not give an order which is against the interests of their seniors.
Some even suggested that the directive was proof that there was no judicial independence in Zimbabwe.
Real Madrid have been crowned Spanish champions after a 2-1 victory over Villarreal on Thursday night, taking the title with a run of 10 consecutive victories since action restarted last month.
It has been an impressive turnaround for Zinedine Zidane’s team, who finished 19 points behind Barcelona last season with virtually the same squad.
And the title triumph represents a new era for Los Blancos, who have become a very different team – for the better – since Zidane returned for his second tenure at the Bernabeu last March.
Here’s how they did it.
Zizou masterminds defensive transformation
Zidane has always been hailed for his man-management abilities, with his regal aura allowing him to command respect and instil unity.
In the past, though, it was regularly suggested that the Frenchman was tactically weak, broadly limiting his strategy to sending out his best players and trusting them to find their own solutions.
That resulted in an inconsistent team, capable of turning on the style often enough to win three consecutive Champions League crowns but unable to withstand the game-by-game rigours of an arduous league campaign.
After finishing miles behind Barcelona in the past two title races, though, Zidane identified his team’s weaknesses and rectified them.
Essentially, Real have become far more compact, leaving less space for opponents to exploit and working together with a collective determination to protect their goal. In contrast to the cavalier style of recent years, which always left them vulnerable, they are now perfectly balanced and very difficult to score against.
As a result, they boast the best defensive record in La Liga, having conceded just 23 goals in 37 league games – almost halving the number of goals they allowed in the previous two campaigns (46 last season, 44 in 2017-18). That has been achieved partly through excellent individual performances: Ferland Mendy has added greater defensive awareness at left-back; Raphael Varane has enjoyed the best season of his career; Thibaut Courtois is back to his best in goal; Sergio Ramos remains a ferociously competitive leader, and nobody protects a back four better than defensive midfielder Casemiro. Far more important than individual form, though, is the collective mindset and tactical discipline instilled by Zidane throughout the team. This title, without doubt, has been built on defensive foundations.
Goals from everywhere The team ethic is also reflected in the list of goalscorers, with 21 different players getting on the scoresheet over the league campaign – something never previously seen in La Liga.
Back-up defender Eder Militao and rarely used winger Brahim Diaz are the only outfield players who haven’t scored.
In a way, this reflects badly on the team’s forwards, none of whom have mustered more than three league goals except Karim Benzema.
The second-highest scorer is captain Ramos, who has netted six of his 10 goals from the penalty spot, followed by midfielders Toni Kroos and Casemiro with four apiece.
But that has not mattered because, in the same way that everyone has been responsible for the defensive improvement rather than just the back four, Zidane encourages every player to get themselves into scoring positions.
That also points to Zidane’s willingness to trust his full squad. Every available player – even the unwanted Gareth Bale and James Rodriguez – has started at least one game since last month’s restart, and Zidane’s ability to make every player feel needed and important (well, nearly every player) remains unmatched.
Brilliant Benzema One forward who hasn’t disappointed in the scoring stakes is Benzema, who has been consistently outstanding to produce 21 goals and eight assists.
More than those numbers, though, Benzema is so valuable for his elegant and unselfish link-up play. In addition to leading the line, he regularly drops into midfield or drifts to the left wing to combine with his team-mates, who appreciate enormously his ability to find space and maintain possession.
Benzema has undoubtedly benefited from the departure of Cristiano Ronaldo, now being able to serve as the focal point of the team’s attacking play rather than being chiefly expected to service the Portuguese star.
He has more than doubled his goals tally since Ronaldo joined Juventus, netting 42 league goals in the past two seasons, compared with 16 in the previous two.
Benzema makes his team-mates better and his growing understanding with Eden Hazard has been particularly delightful to watch, while young Brazilian wingers Vinicius Jr and Rodrygo are also blossoming under his guidance.
Crucially, he has also stayed fit enough to play more minutes than any other outfield player.
Along with Casemiro, he is the only member of the squad who doesn’t have a natural replacement-BBC
Former Triangle United vice-chairman Goodwill Pfumojena has died.
The club confirmed the news in a statement which reads: “The Triangle Football Fraternity has been plunged into deep grief and sorrow following the untimely departure of former TUFC Vice Chairman Mr Goodwill Pfumojena.”
Details about the cause of his death were not revealed.
Pfumojena was appointed the vice-chairman in 2004 when the club was still in the lower divisions.
He held the post until the end of the 2005 season when he stepped down.-Soccer 24 Zimbabwe
Farai Dziva|There was pandemonium at Mkoba Stadium in Gweru last week when an elderly man challenged Auxillia Mnangagwa to ascertain the safety of the blankets she donated to the community.
Auxillia reportedly got the blankets from the Chinese First Lady and the elderly man challenged her to prove that the blankets were not infected with Coronavirus.
“Are the blankets safe for us since they came from China where the Covid-19 outbreak began? We hear that the blankets belong to victims of Covid-19,” asked the elderly man.
In response, Mrs Mnangagwa fumed:
“Munorwara neiko nhai Sekuru, ini ndobva ndanotora machira evanhu vakafa kuti ndikupei, ndingauya kuzokuurayai imi Sekuru(So you think I want to kill you right? So you think I have travelled all the way to kill you? How can I do that? ”
Farai Dziva|Veteran Movement for Democratic Change activist and musician, Dread Reckless, has warned Douglas Mwonzora and Thokozani Khupe against sabotaging the people’s struggle.
He also described President Nelson Chamisa as a great visionary who has the capacity to lead the nation to prosperity.
Below is Dread Reckless’ statement:
I have no time at all to worry about people who claim to be opposition party leaders when they are being funded in darkness by the party they claim to oppose and pretend otherwise during the day.
With our little, immature, inexprienced but political stable and iconic leader Nelson Chamisa we are fine.
As they move in to take our offices we will fight to retain the great vision, as they take party names, we retain the party- take the support of Matemadanda and we choose the support of the people.
We also want to eat but the only difference is that, most of us are patient enough to wait for what is rightfully ours.
Since when did Matemadanda become the opposition’s political adviser?
The permanent secretary in the ministry of ICT Postal and courier services engineer Sam Kundishora is currently embroiled in the Netone battles with sources alleging he is the master mind of NetOne woes.
In his shocking letter that he wrote to Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission, ministry of Home affairs, police commissioner and President’s Office, Kundishora classically implicates himself in a desperate attempt to exonerate Susan Mutangadura
“The ministry did not advise NetOne on the appointment of Mr Douglas Mamvura and as far as the ministry is concerned Dr Mamvura never attended any meetings of the Netone board and never at any stage participated at Netone as a board member ” wrote the permanent secretary
While the permanent secretary clearly takes the responsibility of informing NetOne Board members, he entangails self in the mess by selectively forgetting to mention why he found it fit for him not to inform the same board. Ironically is the permanent secretary who initiated the same process that appointed Dr Mamvura before asking the line ministry to approve of the same for presedential assent.
Engineer Kundishora does not deny the fact that the letter below was legitimate and formally appointed Dr Mamvura as Netone Board, neither does the permanent shed light into who informed Dr Mamvura of the se appointment.
If the ministry clearly advised Dr Mamvura of the appointment as stated in this indisputable letter, the permanent secretary must be brought to account and explain why he deliberately chose not to inform NetOne Board of his appointment as he clearly admits.
His letter copied to various law and security Arms Raises eyebrows and must be treated with possible criminal and conflation motives, not fit for an Honorable permanent secretary.
Engineer Kundishora unshamably invited himself to the Netone Board squabbles stating that they must not face perjury charges since they were ignorant 9fnthe appointment, a blatant lie he supports with a written document as evidenced by correspondence done by him on behalf of the ministry and Dr Mamvura.
Sources close to the development stated that adr Mamvura was once whisked away from a NetOne Board meeting by ministry official under unclear circumstances.
The conflicting narrative by engineer Kundishora was deliberately made to fool law enforcement and the judiciary to rule in favour of the arrested board member and desperately tries to exonerate Mutangadura who is already on police wanted list under the same charges.
Mutangadura is reportedly on the run as police assistant commissioner Paul Nyathi indicated that they have invited her to police station but has not yet turned up after a week.
While many peopleay have believed that NetOne boardroom squabbles were purely technical, the new narrative by the permanent secretary brings us back to the origins of the Netone troubles which saw 4 board members resign enmasse due to unprofessional conduct.
The board members who resigned are man and woman of high integrity who are already successfully running other ordinal enterprises, while the permanent secretary decided to take side with remaining desperate board members.
Today, VP Biti of the MDC Alliance scored a major victory for the homeless people of Zimbabwe.
In a case he argued on behalf of the Homeless People Confederation Against the Minister of Local Government in the Supreme Court, the court ruled that the right to shelter is indeed a justiciable right based on the provisions of the Constitution of the country .
This victory pleases us as it is a victory in one of our key fights for 2020 as pronounced by President Nelson Chamisa in January this year: The fight for better livelihoods.
Today as The MDC Alliance Departmnet of Local and Rural Development, we congratulate VP Biti for this victory for the people’s Livelihoods.
Government , through the Ministry of local Government has a key responsibility to enable availability of quality shelter for the people , and not destroy people’s shelter and homes, and should henceforth be compelled to gather resources , from prescribed assets and other sources for massive housing development in unplanned settlements and in rural areas of Zimbabwe.
This includes setting aside money for research in universities and colleges so that cheaper construction materials can be developed thus making housing more affordable. We have to see concrete steps to reduce the more than 2 million urban Housing waiting list and improvement of the quality of shelter in the rural areas.
Let us as Zimbabweans celebrate this landmark victory for our rights
Farai Dziva|Political and social analysts have accused Zanu PF apologist Jimaya Muduvuri of insulting millions of suffering Zimbabweans.
Muduvuri, who is the patron of Zimbabwe Amalgamated Council of Churches (ZACC) described the 31 July protests as “unthoughtful public demonstrations.”
Analysts say Muduvuri has gone out of his way in a desperate bid to please his handlers.
“We therefore condemn unreservedly this wanton propensity towards unbridled and thoughtless public demonstrations in the name of constitutional rights. As the leadership of ZACC, a coalition of churches that come from different backgrounds and theological positions, we are a living demonstration and example of peaceful co-existence and tolerance for differences.
“We know that our responsibility as churches is to preach peace, love and unity as commanded by the Almighty God and we pledge ourselves to continue promoting the values of peace and unity and national development.
We are concerned that there are people who still believe that public protests and demonstrations are a viable method to resolve perceived national problems,”Muduvuri told The Herald.
Another church leader Destiny for Africa’s Reverend Obadiah Msindo said : Everyone in Zimbabwe who has the interests of the nation should never support anything that could degenerate into violence. As was noted in previous demonstrations the opposition organises violent demonstrations.
We witnessed destructive events from the so-called demonstrations. Anything that infringes on the rights of people should not be entertained.
We must maintain peace so that we solve the problems that we face as a country. The church should refuse to be used by people with their own agendas, this has nothing to do with people’s interests. I have seen some pastors, the paid pastors, who are making money out of it, this is a money making project.
All this effort of trying to remove the Government will not work of no use. Lastly why would a responsible opposition call for demonstrations when the country and the world is fighting Covid-19, this is unheard of.
1/2 Interrupting my break to confirm that, SI 167 notwithstanding, my book ROTTEN ROW will continue to be called ROTTEN ROW and not “Abdel Gamal Nasser Road” Jokes aside,there is so much ideological backruptcy in this renaming, such patriarchal sterility.
2/2 No real recognition of contributions beyond war. Only a handful of roads named for women because the contributions of women are not valued. So many female firsts! Angeline Kamba, Stella Madzimbamuto, Dorothy Masuku. But oh no, they prefer foreign tyrants over local women.
By A Correspondent| Controversial comedienne Felistas Murata Edwards better known as Mai Titi has showered praises on popular traditional healer Sekuru Banda over his philanthropic work which has seen him assisting ailing comedian Marabha with a seven-roomed house.
Mai Titi narrated how the philanthropic traditional healer helped her close friend recover a lost laptop within seven days, a move she said forced her to change her perceptions about his value in modern day society.
In a Facebook live yesterday, Mai Titi said she never used to take Sekuru Banda seriously due to her Christian faith but had found value in his work as it helps in keeping society away from crime.
“Sekuru Banda vakanyanya, vaya vaya vanobirwa, vachikohwa pavasina kurima, vachikohwa pavasina kushanda, Sekuru Banda vakandiitira mashura mazuwa apfuura
“Inini I didn’t believe it, ndobva pabiwa ma laptop evamwe vasahwira vangu, ndobva shamwari yangu yaenda kuna Sekuru Banda, inini ndini nyakuti unoenda kwa Sekuru Banda ikoko akakuudza kuti zvinhu zvinodzoka ndiyani, ndobva sekuru Banda vati don’t worry ndiri kukupa seven days.
“Ndobva paya shamwari yangu yapihwa seven days na Sekuru Banda, ndobva seven days dzapera, murandakadzi akaona ma laptop ari pamusiwo pagedhi, zvikanzi ndiwe wakamaka Sekuru Banda hona ma laptop akadzoka.”
Mai Titi said Sekuru Banda was doing a job in keeping society in good check as thieves had become a menace in the country.
In another Facebook live video, Mai Titi who was in the company of DJ Shugeta hailed Sekuru Banda for building a house for popular comedian Marabha.
She said through Sekuru Banda’s good gesture, Marabha was on course to become a landlord with Shugeta saying they were assisting the former street theatre actor to marry and settle down.
Mai Titi said Sekuru Banda had redefined philanthropy as he had assisted without going public about it unlike other socialites who are in the habit of blowing trumpets about their donations.
Sekuru Banda is famed for his ability to help theft victims recover their stolen goods (back to sender), bringing back lost lovers and casting out bad spirits.
He has of late added another feather to his influence after venturing into philanthropic work and has to date assisted the elderly cope with COVID-19 induced lockdown and other prominent people including comedian Marabha and sports personality Alphonse Zvenyika.
He is currently building a house for Marabha and has also donated a residential stand to a former Air Zimbabwe engineer-turned destitute.
By A Correspondent- Police working with the Zimbabwe National Army have tightened lockdown enforcement measures as cases of the deadly COVID-19 pandemic continue to rise.
National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said more than 400 people were arrested on Thursday for violating lockdown regulations.
“With immediate effect, police and the other security services have tightened enforcement of lockdown measures and we expect the public to cooperate, especially with the increase in new COVID-19 infections and 273 people testing positive for the virus on July 16, 2020,” he said.
Early this week, President Emmerson Mnangagwa indicated that he would soon announce tighter restrictive measures to save lives.
JEALOUSY MAWARIRE REBUKES TALENT CHIWENGA OVER ACCIDENT CLAIMS
1) We note, with concern, the attempt, by Talent Chiwenga’s church, to assume the duty of the police, VID & even the courts, to preside over a matter, that surely shld be b4 the courts since the accident claimed 3 lives.
2)While we are not experts in analysing accidents,we note,in the church statement,a deliberate omission of a huge contribution to that head-on collision, which is the absence of clear markings at the Norton tollgate of the transitioning from a single carriage into a dual carriage
3)No attempt was made,in the interest of fairness & safety of other road users today,to explain that while the Byo-Hre road dualisation is starting at the Norton tollgate, the tollgate covers only the old section, hence when travelling from Byo,the rd is a single carriage meaning
4)when one is driving from Byo u get into the tollgate on a single carriage but exit the tollgate already in a dual carriage meaning automatically the lane u were using from Byo becomes a wrong lane just at the tollgate exit.There are no carriage marks to indicate this transition
5)There are no barricades to avoid traffic from Bulawayo proceeding through a wrong lane. This is information the Norton traffic police gave to family members of those who were involved in the accident & am sure the church got that info as well.
6) This info wasn’t given, just to explain how the accident happened, but also to warn us when travelling to the scene to avoid a similar collision. When we went to the scene around 10pm, the police insisted we drove to the extreme left to avoid the fate that befell our relatives
7)As a family,thru a relative in the parliamentary portifolio committee on transport, we raised a complaint to the Min of Transport on the lack of clear transitioning markings at the tollgate.While this wld not help our already deceased relatives, it will help the motoring public
8) In the presence of such information, we wonder why the church, a supposedly religious & charitable organisation, deliberately, or otherwise, doesn’t inform the public of that info which even the Norton traffic police is complaining about. As a family we also believe
9)the church shld have contacted us as a bereaved family,if not to convey their condolences,but to inform us of allegations they’re now laying against our deceased relatives. My bro who was driving the white car had his drivers licence on him & a phone police used to contact us
10)I also posted here that the person involved in the accident was my brother & if the church is making allegations against him, it is really fair that they contact us since he is no longer alive to answer to their allegations.
11) It is quite unfair to suggest that an educationist, owner of Prestige Secondary & Primary schools in Bulawayo, his wife & a Harare lawyer, Mr Makopa, who also perished in the accident, were on a suicidal mission to harm Chiwenga & kill themselves in the process.
12)Such allegations r not only callous,but do not even rise to the level of nonsense. As a family we have also registered disquiet, as to why a driver involved in a fatal accident was immediately extracted from the accident scene by non-medical staff b4 police attended the scene.
13) My brother, his wife & Mr Makopa were taken alive to Norton Hospital & Mr Makopa was then transferred to Harare where he unfortunately passed on early Tues while my brother & his wife unfortunately succumbed to injuries while being attended to at Norton hospital.
14)While we r not legal experts, we’re just surprised why the driver of the other car was wisked away from the accident scene “by a well-wisher” & also question the legality of such an act. Ordinarily that wouldn’t have concerned us but it matters when same driver, on the night
15)of the accident,was in a state of mind to begin circulating infor alleging our relatives, who passed on in the accident involving the car he was driving,were state security agents after his life.We r also interested, as he is,to know the identity of the car & driver he alleges
16)was chasing him from Kuwadzana roundabout, caz that detail has effect on the way he was driving & consequently the head-on collision & the failure, by the 2 drivers, to avoid an imminent collision. We are also interested to know why he didn’t drive into either
17) Kuwadzana or Norton police stations to alert Police cars revolving light that he was being trailed? We are of the opinion such a measure would have helped him avoid collision with our relative & may be our relative cld have met other responsible drivers to alert him he was on the wrong lane.
18)While it wldnt have helped us or our deceased relatives we also believe, as part of ubuntu, the driver of the car involved in the accident with our deceased relatives, shld have contacted us since we understand he is alive. We had to know who he was thru his social media rants
19) and a piece of paper we found around the wreckages which I attach here. We thought it was in his interest, as is ours, to know the parties involved in the accident b4 his rantings on social media. A young lawyer’s life was lost in the accident, Presige group of schools lost
20) two directors in the accident & families lost breadwinners, relatives & friends in that unfortunate accident & were expected responsible citizens, let alone supposed church pple, guided by the Spirit of Truth, to act responsibly & not use the demise of our relatives
21)to feed into their paranoia & conspiracy theories. My brother & his wife were travelling for the burial of our sister on Tuesday morning when they met their deaths Monday evening & as a family we ended up with 3 bodies to bury. That alone took a huge toll on us emotionally
22)the least we expected from a party to the Collision symbol was to act responsibly after contacting our family.But since we’re different beings with different aspects, temperaments, psychological & mental states, we have no choice but to live with extremities & absurdities life threw on us.
23) While we don’t want to be conspiracy theorists like Chiwenga & his church, we are naturally bound to ask why Talent Chiwenga is always involved in fatal road traffic accidents where 3 people die. Last year it was his wife, Mai Vhurumuku & a church member, this year it’s my bro
24)his wife & a Harare lawyer. In normal jurisdictions,the mental state, driving competency & psychological disposition of a common denominator in such fatal accidents is investigated,we can’t have a single being competing with Covid-19 in killing people thru road traffic accidents.
By A Correspondent| Norton legislator Temba Mliswa has responded to Kent University based constitutional expert, Dr Alex Magaisa’s expose which carried names of public figures who benefitted from the Farm Mechanisation loan scheme put forward by the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe, saying the key question should not be who was paid what but who has put the scheme to good use.
Posting on Twitter, Mliswa said the land reform beneficiaries only got land without mechanisation after white farmers removed their tools on the farms.
He further claimed that the scheme was of national interest with the important question being on outcome of the programme.
“Land reform saw beneficiaries awarded farms bare of mechanisation removed by the white farmers hence the farm mechanisation scheme to bridge the gap. It was a scheme of national interest. The more important question may be, “Of those who benefitted, was it put to good use?” said Mliswa
Good & fair question. It was some kind of a government scheme to support new farmers. There's paper trail to that effect. The scheme was not a loan. No loan agreements were signed. Only proof of delivery was signed. Beneficiaries were not required or asked to pay or repay!
1/In fact @Wamagaisa as the learned lawyer you are, you are better placed to understand what the RBZ Debt Assumption means. Unless you were not following events, the Bill went through Parly in 2015, unfortunately I wasn’t a MP then. Why would you seek to have individuals targeted
— Sabhuku Temba P. Mliswa (@TembaMliswa) July 18, 2020
3/ This was an Act of 2015, it’s not a secret, why bring it up now? The best advice I can give you is for you not to backbench when Govt offers are being made. Downsizing is coming soon, make an application &become a beneficiary to contribute to the country’s economy, anyone can
— Sabhuku Temba P. Mliswa (@TembaMliswa) July 18, 2020
5/ If Govt assumed the debts, where should they be paid? It’s not an uncommon facility, Govts implement such schemes the world over as a means to increase production. As I asked before, come clean @Wamagaisa what is your motive?
— Sabhuku Temba P. Mliswa (@TembaMliswa) July 18, 2020
5 of the 9 ConCourt judges in the MDC A petition against the 2018 presidential poll challenge owe RBZ Farm Mech Scheme over US$382 690.Gwaunza $62 534, Garwe $92 986, Hlatswayo $49 801, Uchena $89 382 &Makoni $87 987. Was it possible for them to deliver a free & fair judgement?
By A Correspondent An eight year-old boy was killed by an elephant in Muzarabani while his 12-year-old brother, Solomon who sustained multiple body injuries survived the attack and is now receiving medical attention.
Narrating the ordeal from his hospital bed at St Alberts Mission Hospital, Muzarabani, Solomon said they had gone into the woods as usual. He narrated:
We had gone out to look for our cattle with my young brother when we heard the bell of our cows we stopped; little did we know that an elephant was roaming in the same area.
The moment we saw it, my young brother screamed in fear and the elephant started running towards us. The elephant caught up with my brother trampled on him.
While I tried to rescue him, the elephant pierced my stomach and threw me into a nearby tree where I lost consciousness for a moment.
Then I woke up later and rushed to a nearby villager who assisted me to come to the hospital.
Speaking after visiting the hospitalised boy, Muzarabani North legislator, Honourable Zhemu Soda urged relevant authorities to reduce the growing numbers of dangerous animals which were killing people and also disturbing farming activities.
Former Triangle United vice-chairman Goodwill Pfumojena has died.
The club confirmed the news in a statement which reads: “The Triangle Football Fraternity has been plunged into deep grief and sorrow following the untimely departure of former TUFC Vice Chairman Mr Goodwill Pfumojena.”
Details about the cause of his death were not revealed.
Pfumojena was appointed the vice-chairman in 2004 when the club was still in the lower divisions.
He held the post until the end of the 2005 season when he stepped down.-Soccer 24 Zimbabwe
JEALOUSY MAWARIRE REBUKES TALENT CHIWENGA OVER ACCIDENT CLAIMS
1) We note, with concern, the attempt, by Talent Chiwenga’s church, to assume the duty of the police, VID & even the courts, to preside over a matter, that surely shld be b4 the courts since the accident claimed 3 lives.
2)While we are not experts in analysing accidents,we note,in the church statement,a deliberate omission of a huge contribution to that head-on collision, which is the absence of clear markings at the Norton tollgate of the transitioning from a single carriage into a dual carriage
3)No attempt was made,in the interest of fairness & safety of other road users today,to explain that while the Byo-Hre road dualisation is starting at the Norton tollgate, the tollgate covers only the old section, hence when travelling from Byo,the rd is a single carriage meaning
4)when one is driving from Byo u get into the tollgate on a single carriage but exit the tollgate already in a dual carriage meaning automatically the lane u were using from Byo becomes a wrong lane just at the tollgate exit.There are no carriage marks to indicate this transition
5)There are no barricades to avoid traffic from Bulawayo proceeding through a wrong lane. This is information the Norton traffic police gave to family members of those who were involved in the accident & am sure the church got that info as well.
6) This info wasn’t given, just to explain how the accident happened, but also to warn us when travelling to the scene to avoid a similar collision. When we went to the scene around 10pm, the police insisted we drove to the extreme left to avoid the fate that befell our relatives
7)As a family,thru a relative in the parliamentary portifolio committee on transport, we raised a complaint to the Min of Transport on the lack of clear transitioning markings at the tollgate.While this wld not help our already deceased relatives, it will help the motoring public
8) In the presence of such information, we wonder why the church, a supposedly religious & charitable organisation, deliberately, or otherwise, doesn’t inform the public of that info which even the Norton traffic police is complaining about. As a family we also believe
9)the church shld have contacted us as a bereaved family,if not to convey their condolences,but to inform us of allegations they’re now laying against our deceased relatives. My bro who was driving the white car had his drivers licence on him & a phone police used to contact us
10)I also posted here that the person involved in the accident was my brother & if the church is making allegations against him, it is really fair that they contact us since he is no longer alive to answer to their allegations.
11) It is quite unfair to suggest that an educationist, owner of Prestige Secondary & Primary schools in Bulawayo, his wife & a Harare lawyer, Mr Makopa, who also perished in the accident, were on a suicidal mission to harm Chiwenga & kill themselves in the process.
12)Such allegations r not only callous,but do not even rise to the level of nonsense. As a family we have also registered disquiet, as to why a driver involved in a fatal accident was immediately extracted from the accident scene by non-medical staff b4 police attended the scene.
13) My brother, his wife & Mr Makopa were taken alive to Norton Hospital & Mr Makopa was then transferred to Harare where he unfortunately passed on early Tues while my brother & his wife unfortunately succumbed to injuries while being attended to at Norton hospital.
14)While we r not legal experts, we’re just surprised why the driver of the other car was wisked away from the accident scene “by a well-wisher” & also question the legality of such an act. Ordinarily that wouldn’t have concerned us but it matters when same driver, on the night
15)of the accident,was in a state of mind to begin circulating infor alleging our relatives, who passed on in the accident involving the car he was driving,were state security agents after his life.We r also interested, as he is,to know the identity of the car & driver he alleges
16)was chasing him from Kuwadzana roundabout, caz that detail has effect on the way he was driving & consequently the head-on collision & the failure, by the 2 drivers, to avoid an imminent collision. We are also interested to know why he didn’t drive into either
17) Kuwadzana or Norton police stations to alert Police cars revolving light that he was being trailed? We are of the opinion such a measure would have helped him avoid collision with our relative & may be our relative cld have met other responsible drivers to alert him he was on the wrong lane.
18)While it wldnt have helped us or our deceased relatives we also believe, as part of ubuntu, the driver of the car involved in the accident with our deceased relatives, shld have contacted us since we understand he is alive. We had to know who he was thru his social media rants
19) and a piece of paper we found around the wreckages which I attach here. We thought it was in his interest, as is ours, to know the parties involved in the accident b4 his rantings on social media. A young lawyer’s life was lost in the accident, Presige group of schools lost
20) two directors in the accident & families lost breadwinners, relatives & friends in that unfortunate accident & were expected responsible citizens, let alone supposed church pple, guided by the Spirit of Truth, to act responsibly & not use the demise of our relatives
21)to feed into their paranoia & conspiracy theories. My brother & his wife were travelling for the burial of our sister on Tuesday morning when they met their deaths Monday evening & as a family we ended up with 3 bodies to bury. That alone took a huge toll on us emotionally
22)the least we expected from a party to the Collision symbol was to act responsibly after contacting our family.But since we’re different beings with different aspects, temperaments, psychological & mental states, we have no choice but to live with extremities & absurdities life threw on us.
23) While we don’t want to be conspiracy theorists like Chiwenga & his church, we are naturally bound to ask why Talent Chiwenga is always involved in fatal road traffic accidents where 3 people die.Last year it was his wife,Mai Vhurumuku & a church member, this year it’s my bro
24)his wife & a harare lawyer. In normal jurisdictions,the mental state, driving competency & psychological disposition of a common denominator in such fatal accidents is investigated,we can’t have a single being competing with Covid-19 in killing pple thru road traffic accidents
You cant stoop so low to defend the accident whose circumstances you do not understand! Please desist from this tendency of making everyone who speaks against Emmanuel Makandiwa a Target! Let Makandiwa Fight his own Wars. This is pathetic and embarrassing from you! No photo description available.
By Prince Njagu- Foreign Affairs and International Trade Minister Dr Sibusiso Moyo, a ZANU PF top dog mumbled during an interview with a German public international broadcaster, DW Conflict Zone when the host, Sarah Kelly asked the minister if their political party’s priorities were misplaced.
Moyo who was appointed to the position of minister after having been the face of the military during the coup that saw an end to Robert Mugabe’s four-decade rule over Zimbabwe.
Moyo was a short-lived hero, during the military coup and has since turned into a villain as the minister and his other ZANU PF cadres continue to plunder through the resources in the country.
Civil servants earn an average of US$1,80 a day, but through minister Moyo’s approval, top of the range cars ranging between US$40 000 to US$50 000 per vehicle were acquired for diplomats.
The same civil servants are regards as the middle class in the Zimbabwean economy, and them being paid such a paltry figure whilst government officials are on a car shopping spree of posh cars is disheartening.
The Zimbabwe government is failing to pay civil servants a minimum living wage but is prioritizing the acquisition of luxurious vehicles for diplomats.
When asked by Kelly whether his administrations priorities were misplaced, the Minister stammered and blamed the current economic crisis on sanctions and poor management from the previous administration.
These shocking revelations raise a lot of questions from Zimbabweans and the international community, as the same ZANU PF which Moyo is part of is the same administration which has been running the country ever since 1980.
The same policies which the Robert Mugabe led ZANU PF regime used are the same policies which the second dispensation as alluded to by minister Moyo are using.
“The change in 2017 and the advent of this government, which is the second dispensation, was as a result of a lot of issues, but among those was the issue of the economy, and the second republic took over an economy which had been in distress for many years, for different reasons, some of the reasons could be sanctions, and then some of the reasons could be that of management,” the foreign minister said.
“We have got to take painful decisions to rectify the economy,” he went on to say.
When Kelly referred to the subject on the first instance, minister Moyo outright denied having acquired the fleet of the cars worth millions whilst the Zimbabwean populace were living in anguish.
“I’m not so sure Sarah which vehicles you are talking about,” said Moyo.
The minister only admitted to having authorised the acquisition of these vehicle after Kelly pointed out to the fact that the minister had presented this information before the parliamentary committee earlier on.
Such inhuman acts reflect on how out of tune the government is with the needs of the people; and denial of the truth even in the presence of evidence is the nature of ZANU PF. A new dispensation would not prioritise acquiring vehicles for diplomats when millions of Zimbabweans are starving during this lockdown.
When an economy is on a free fall and out of control, the government should be prioritising other critical economic issues.
A new dispensation would not have its priorities misplaced like this, and denial of how the party’s priorities are misplaced with such poor decision making is a clear indication of how ZANU PF is out of touch with reality.
An administration which serves the will of the people would priorities serving the public; reviving the health sector, paying doctors and nurses, who are always on strike over poor wages.
These promises of reforms are just shallow phrases which the ZANU PF administration uses every other election year.
Corruption and human rights issues are still of great concern within Zimbabwe. Oppositional political figures are being abducted and tortured.
When the minister was confronted about the violence within the country and the use of security forces, the minister only managed to state that there were provisions in the constitution for freedom of expression. Then he went on to justify the violent misconducts by the security forces by saying that violent demonstrations were not allowed in the country.
“But there is no freedom in the constitution of violence at demonstrations”, he said.
The minister justified the use of security forces to getting people into conformity to the will of the regime.
The Zimbabwean economy is at its worst level in a decade, the inflation levels are skyrocketing by the day, and people are living in anguish while the corrupt government purchases vehicles.
The minister’s utterances to tackle corruption head-on are just but sentiments. His words do not tally with what the government is doing.
There is no justification for the acquisition of top of the range fleet of cars and then blame the countries problems on sanctions.
DW Conflict Zone host Sarah Kelly challenged the foreign minister that blaming sanctions for Zimbabwe’s woes was ZANU PF’s way of denying their failings and they were using sanctions as a scapegoat.
“The whole gamut of sanctions to this country has caused serious and unintended consequences,” said minister Moyo.
Sarah concluded by saying that the countries problems were as a result of economic mismanagement from the government.
By A Correspondent- Police working with the Zimbabwe National Army have tightened lockdown enforcement measures as cases of the deadly COVID-19 pandemic continue to rise.
National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said more than 400 people were arrested on Thursday for violating lockdown regulations.
“With immediate effect, police and the other security services have tightened enforcement of lockdown measures and we expect the public to cooperate, especially with the increase in new COVID-19 infections and 273 people testing positive for the virus on July 16, 2020,” he said.
Early this week, President Emmerson Mnangagwa indicated that he would soon announce tighter restrictive measures to save lives.
By A Correspondent- The Minister of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing July Moyo has issued a Government Gazette renaming roads all over the country.
One of the notable changes is the renaming of Bulawayo’s 6th Avenue Emmerson Mnangagwa Way.
The renaming was done using SI 167 of 2020. Below is the full schedule (full print)
By A Correspondent- There was drama at Dotito police station when an attempted murder suspect fled from a lawful custody after disguising to go to the toilet.
The matter came to light on Friday at Bindura magistrates courts where Nigel Gonzo (19) appeared before magistrate Gloria Takundwa.
Takundwa sentenced Gonzo to six months behind bars.
Prosecutor Ngoni Kaseke told the court that on November 21 Gonzo who was at Dotito police station charged with attempted murder asked to go to the toilet.
He was accompanied by one constable upon coming from the toilet he took to his heels.
Police officers gave a Chase and eventually caught up with him.
They brought him back to the police station before sending him to court.
By A Correspondent- Zanu Pf youths have threatened to work hand-in-glove with police in “arresting malcontents” planning to stage anti-government protests on July 31.
The protests are being organised by citizens, civil society groups and opposition parties irked by the current economic hardships which they blame on President Emmerson Mnangagwa’smaladministration.
Addressing small-to-medium business operators in Mbare, Harare, on Thursday, Zanu-PF acting deputy youth secretary Tendai Chirau said they would do everything possible to defend President Emmerson Mnangagwa, including working with the police to beat up and arrest protesters.
“They (protestors) want to be violent and want to think they will repeat what they did in August 2018 to burn property and vehicles. Why loot and burn property? We love peace but we have people who want violence to get into power,” Chirau said.
“On July 31, we are there to protect peace and our work. I assure you that the people of Zimbabwe will not stand for that stupidity. If someone does anything on July 31, be warned and don’t ask anyone if you see what will happen.”
He added: “The baton sticks you have as police are not for display. Police are there to maintain law and order and if there is anyone who wants to cause problems, they (the police) have a right to use force.”
He said ruling party youths would not stand and watch while protesters disrupt their business.
“We will not stand and watch. On July 31, go to work if you are in business. As the people of Zimbabwe, together with our police officers, we will not tolerate violence.
“We recognise President Mnangagwa as our President and he is working night and day to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic, but you find others wanting to remove him from power.”
Zanu-PF secretary for youth affairs for district co-ordinating committee six, Emmanuel Mahachi said they would work together with police to arrest the protesters.
“Let me assure you, as leader from this area, people who are planning the illegal demonstration set for July 31, we know them and they are thieves. I want to assure you that working with our police; we will arrest those who will get into the streets to cause violence.”
Mahachi added: “On the day, we will protect our jobs, Mupedzanhamo must open and no one will come to do anything there. We are a peaceful people and on that day, we should unite and stop the looting by these people. We will work with our security forces to stop them.”
“You (Chirau) sit in the politburo with President Mnangagwa, please go and tell him to sleep peacefully for we are protecting him and the country is in very safe hands. We are not afraid of anyone.”
But one of the protest organisers, Transform Zimbabwe leader Jacob Ngarivhume yesterday vowed to continue with the demonstrations despite government threats to clamp down on the leaders. Government has also threatened to tighten lockdown restrictions in the next few days as part of measures to contain the spread of COVID, but critics view the move as meant to curtail the planned protests.
Opposition parties have in the past accused government of giving out police uniforms to Zanu-PF youths to crash demonstrations. This was confirmed in January last year by Jim Kunaka the former leader of a Zanu-PF terror group, Chipangano, when he appeared before a commission of inquiry led by former South African President Kgalema Motlanthe. Kunaka was giving evidence into the August 1 2018 fatal shooting of six unarmed civilians by security forces following a disputed election result.
Kunaka told the commission that Zanu-PF youths used to have police uniforms stashed at the basement of the party’s headquarters and would be occasionally unleashed onto the streets to deal with protesters.
By A Correspondent- MDC Alliance councillors yesterday snubbed MDC-T interim leader Thokozani Khupe, with 14 out of 71 councillors from Greater Harare attending her party meeting at Morgan Richard Tsvangirai House.
Khupe’s team tried to inflate the attendance figures, with two officials, however, giving different figures.
Acting party spokesperson Khalipani Phugeni said 15 councillors attended the meeting, but Epworth Local Board chairperson Batanai Masunda claimed 20 were in attendance, while sources insisted only 14 councillors turned up.
“It was a meeting called by the acting president to deal with several issues as you have read in the media of cases of corruption within local authorities, among other issues. She was reading the riot act and warning those involved in corruption,” Phugeni said.
An attendance register seen by NewsDay Weekender showed that 10 out of 45 Harare councillors attended while Chitungwiza only had two out of 21, while Epworth also had two out of a possible five city fathers.
The opposition was thrown into turmoil after a Supreme Court “moot” ruling of March 30 declared Khupe the interim leader of the MDC-T, saying Nelson Chamisa’s appointment as party vice-president was done unprocedurally.
Since then, Khupe has gone on a warpath recalling MDC Alliance legislators from Parliament and taking over party offices claiming she was the bona fide party leader. This is despite the fact that her MDC-T party and Chamisa’s MDC Alliance contested the 2018 presidential elections as separate entities.
Commenting on the snub, MDC Alliance secretary for presidential affairs Jameson Timba said the move confirmed that the rival camp had no basis to its claim of legitimacy without numbers.
“Khupe and Douglas Mwonzora (MDC-T interim secretary-general) are learning very fast that political power and legitimacy are people rather than court-driven,” Timba said.
“Courts do not bestow political legitimacy. They thought that by commandeering the whole State machinery with threats of recall against the MDC Alliance deployees they would also commandeer people’s hearts.”
MDC Alliance deputy secretary for local government, Jacob Mafume, said party councillors who have defected to Khupe’s camp would be penalised.
Farai Dziva|Political and social analysts have accused Zanu PF apologist Jimaya Muduvuri of insulting millions of suffering Zimbabweans.
Muduvuri, who is the patron of Zimbabwe Amalgamated Council of Churches (ZACC) described the 31 July protests as “unthoughtful public demonstrations.”
Analysts say Muduvuri has gone out of his way in a desperate bid to please his handlers.
“We therefore condemn unreservedly this wanton propensity towards unbridled and thoughtless public demonstrations in the name of constitutional rights. As the leadership of ZACC, a coalition of churches that come from different backgrounds and theological positions, we are a living demonstration and example of peaceful co-existence and tolerance for differences.
“We know that our responsibility as churches is to preach peace, love and unity as commanded by the Almighty God and we pledge ourselves to continue promoting the values of peace and unity and national development.
We are concerned that there are people who still believe that public protests and demonstrations are a viable method to resolve perceived national problems,”Muduvuri told The Herald.
Another church leader Destiny for Africa’s Reverend Obadiah Msindo said : Everyone in Zimbabwe who has the interests of the nation should never support anything that could degenerate into violence. As was noted in previous demonstrations the opposition organises violent demonstrations.
We witnessed destructive events from the so-called demonstrations. Anything that infringes on the rights of people should not be entertained.
We must maintain peace so that we solve the problems that we face as a country. The church should refuse to be used by people with their own agendas, this has nothing to do with people’s interests. I have seen some pastors, the paid pastors, who are making money out of it, this is a money making project.
All this effort of trying to remove the Government will not work of no use. Lastly why would a responsible opposition call for demonstrations when the country and the world is fighting Covid-19, this is unheard of.
Human Rights Activist and Blogger Alex Magaisa has published an exclusive list of beneficiaries of the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe Farm Mechanisation Programme who have not paid back the money they received.
The purpose was to enhance productivity on the farms through mechanisation.
Among the list of the beneficiaries are highly revered members of the Zimbabwean clergy.
The following is the list of published by Magaisa:
Archbishop Ezekiel Guti who is listed as owing US$116,693.00;
Nolbert Kunonga who was very popular with the Mugabe regime at the time of the Farm Mechanisation Scheme was awarded a loan of US$98,661.00.
There is also an Agatha Kunonga who is listed as having received US$58,318.00.
Rutendo Wutawunashe is listed as owing US$18,200.00.
Bishop Nehemiah Mutendi was the biggest beneficiary among members of the clergy, with two loans of US$271,000.00 and US$315,600.00 for a grand total of US$586,600.00.
According to Magaisa none of these men and women of the cloth repaid their loans.
Commenting on the full list, which includes serving and retired government officials, former Minister Kasukuwere said, “Very interesting. These schemes were ill-thought and these quasi-fiscal operations should be stopped. Give farmers title deeds, banks should have Agribusiness divisions and stop these freebies. It’s going to get worse and the rot is massive. Sit back and relax.
“The schemes were designed in very corrupt ways and there was no transparency in the acquisition of the equipment. The RBZ, to be honest, has been at the centre of corruption. I and Patrick Zhuwao opposed this scheme and we protested against it. VP Chiwenga knows it.”
Human Rights Activist and Blogger Alex Magaisa has published an exclusive list of beneficiaries of the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe Farm Mechanisation Programme who have not paid back the money they received.
The purpose was to enhance productivity on the farms through mechanisation.
Among the list of the beneficiaries are highly revered members of the Zimbabwean clergy.
The following is the list of published by Magaisa:
Archbishop Ezekiel Guti who is listed as owing US$116,693.00;
Nolbert Kunonga who was very popular with the Mugabe regime at the time of the Farm Mechanisation Scheme was awarded a loan of US$98,661.00.
There is also an Agatha Kunonga who is listed as having received US$58,318.00.
Rutendo Wutawunashe is listed as owing US$18,200.00.
Bishop Nehemiah Mutendi was the biggest beneficiary among members of the clergy, with two loans of US$271,000.00 and US$315,600.00 for a grand total of US$586,600.00.
According to Magaisa none of these men and women of the cloth repaid their loans.
Commenting on the full list, which includes serving and retired government officials, former Minister Kasukuwere said, “Very interesting. These schemes were ill-thought and these quasi-fiscal operations should be stopped. Give farmers title deeds, banks should have Agribusiness divisions and stop these freebies. It’s going to get worse and the rot is massive. Sit back and relax.
“The schemes were designed in very corrupt ways and there was no transparency in the acquisition of the equipment. The RBZ, to be honest, has been at the centre of corruption. I and Patrick Zhuwao opposed this scheme and we protested against it. VP Chiwenga knows it.”
By A Correspondent- Charles and Olivia Charamba’s daughters Shalom and Eternity Charamba have released their debut singles titled Mbiri Yose and Tonamata respectively.
This was revealed by the girls’ father who was speaking to the publication about his daughters’ singles and the massive responses the songs got from the public.
Pastor Charamba said:
We did not anticipate such a massive response and we would like to thank music followers for supporting our daughters in such a big way. It is not often that musicians get such massive response to debut releases.
They have started on a good note and such a response should inspire them to keep the momentum they have set with their singles. They are working on an album that will be released in the near future and they are optimistic that other songs coming after these debut releases will enhance their great entry into the music industry.
We were waiting for the right time to introduce them to the world, but they have been doing music since they were young. We have seen how their interest continued growing and we decided to support them.
They are different in their approach to music, which makes it better because people will be able to differentiate their styles
The girls’ mother Olivia Charamba also gushed about Shalom and Eternity’s talent and said she was proud of their achievement. The Charambas have a recording studio at home and the girls are said to have used that studio to record their music and they were backed by the Fishers Of Men band.
Yesterday MDC Alliance Vice President Tendai Biti scored a major victory for the homeless people of Zimbabwe after arguing on behalf of the Homeless People Confederation against the Minister of Local Government in the Supreme Court resulting in the court ruling that the right to shelter is a justiciable right based on the provisions of the Constitution of the country .
Confirming the landmark ruling on Twitter, Tendai Biti law chambers said they are humbled by the ruling after the complainants were forcibly evicted from their farm.
“We are humbled to have chartered another landmark judgment in our constitutional jurisprudence. Courts have been slow to enforce socio-economic rights so this judgment is the first definitive pronouncement on second-generation rights. We will keep pushing the law to its limits.
“This comes after the appellants challenged the forced evictions perpetrated by the Respondents on State acquired land known as Haydon Farm which hosts the New Park informal settlement which was home to almost a thousand informal settlers.
“This is a welcome judgment, that advances the status of socio-economic rights in Zimbabwe. Falling in line with other growing jurisprudence in African Law.” said the law firm
MDC Alliance Secretary for Local government, Sesel Zvidzai hailed the ruling saying it conforms to one of their key fights as enunciated by Nelson Chamisa early this year.
“This victory pleases us as it is a victory in one of our key fights for 2020 as pronounced by President Nelson Chamisa in January this year: The fight for better livelihoods.”
Zvidzai added that government , through the Ministry of local Government has a key responsibility to enable availability of quality shelter for the people , and not destroy people’s shelter and homes, and should henceforth be compelled to gather resources , from prescribed assets and other sources for massive housing development in unplanned settlements and in rural areas of Zimbabwe.
“This includes setting aside money for research in universities and colleges so that cheaper construction materials can be developed thus making housing more affordable. We have to see concrete steps to reduce the more than 2 million urban Housing waiting list and improvement of the quality of shelter in the rural areas,” he added.
By A Correspondent- Zimbabwe has since the beginning of the year recorded a sharp rise in cases of pellagra, a serious condition that is caused by low levels of niacin, due to either malnutrition or an absorption problem.
The United Nations for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs attributes the spike to malnutrition which results from drought and a worsening economic and humanitarian crisis in the country.
In its latest situation report, the UN agency predicted that pellagra cases will keep rising as hunger deepens. Reads the report in part:
The number of reported pellagra cases has continued to increase in Zimbabwe, with 831 cases recorded from January to May 2020, doubling from 400 cases over the same period last year.
Pellagra cases are likely to increase as food insecurity in the country deepens and household income for accessing diversified diets continues to be depleted by the economic crisis.
Statistics provided by Bulawayo City Council’s health department on Wednesday indicate that Bulawayo recorded 10 pellagra cases in June up from eight in May.
The government and its stakeholders, including the Word Foo Programme (WFP), concur that about half of the national population is in urgent need of humanitarian assistance.
Farai Dziva|The MDC Alliance led by President Nelson Chamisa has challenged Victor Matemadanda’s liberation war credentials.
This comes after Matemadanda’s remarks about the dispute between MDC Alliance and MDC -T.Matemadanda surprisingly “endorsed” Douglas Mwonzora as the man who should lead the opposition while discrediting President Chamisa in the process.
In response to Matemadanda’s utterances, the MDC Alliance said:
Dear Victor Matemadanda As the country’s Deputy Defense minister you are a public figure.
We the public demand you tell us where you served during the liberation war.
We the public demand to know who you served under during the liberation war.
Another 58 Zimbabweans were confirmed infected with Covid-19 yesterday, 48 of them being infected within Zimbabwe, taking the total to 1 420, with another death, a 19-year-old Bulawayo man with other medical conditions, taking the death toll to 24.
But 32 of the local infections were from a known contact of the sick people, leaving only 16 to have the source traced.
The rapid rise in local infections has seen the total of community infections reach 654, compared to the 766 people infected outside the country, who tested positive in quarantine on their return to Zimbabwe.
Bulawayo is the most seriously hit province, with 411 of the 654 local infections recorded in that city and 11 of the 24 deaths. Of yesterday’s 48 local infections, more than half, 27, were from Bulawayo, according to the latest figures from the Ministry of Health and Child Care.
Harare has 151 of the local infections, Mashonaland East 46, Matabeleland South 19, Midlands nine, Matabeleland North and Manicaland five each, Mashonaland West four, and Mashonaland Central and Masvingo two each.
Recoveries continue to rise with 438 people now confirmed cleared of infection and able to now return to their normal lives.The rising rate of infection means that only 30 percent of cases are now cleared, either by recovery or death, leaving 958 active cases.
The latest available figures from South Africa show 4 669 deaths and 165 591 recoveries from 324 221 confirmed cases. With infection rates starting to slow, more than half all infected South Africans are now recovered. The global totals are 592 573 deaths and 7 779 604 recoveries from 13 885 746 confirmed cases.
The number of cases is seen as a significant underestimate since in several countries not all sick people are tested. The three most severely hit countries are USA, with 3 677 453 cases and 140 888 deaths, Brazil with 2 014 738 cases and 76 822 deaths and India with 1003 832 cases and 25 602 deaths.
By A Correspondent- The former Police Chief Augustine Chihuri’s corruption case has exposed gross levels of rot at the PGHQ as police officers are testifying that documents were destroyed, doctored and or disappeared in what might pass on as a way to conceal corruption at the country’s law enforcement headquarters.
The matter came to light as the National Prosecuting Authority is building a case against Augustine Chihuri who it claims siphoned public funds into his companies and is seeking a court order to forfeit his assets.
A police officer, Constable Ellison Mutivayo in a sworn affidavit has said he was given an order to type an order to destroy 20 selected documents in 2017.
According to ZBC, these documents which were at the PGHQ were destroyed after police bosses ordered that they be destroyed:
Some of the documents which were doctored and burnt include records for Mastaw Investments where Chihuri was a manager and his wife Isobel was managing director. Chihuri’s brother-in-law Aitken Khan was operations manager for the same company.
Documents for Croxile Investments where Isobel was general manager were, according to the investigations, allegedly tampered with.
Other records for Adamah Enterprises and Nodpack Investments where Isobel was general manager were also reportedly destroyed, Adamah had the tender to supply cap drab, blue hats for female officers and clothing material.
Documents for Rewstand Enterprises owned by Mrs Abigail Billie Makono, wife of a top police officer Assistant Commissioner Makono and her sister Beaula Billie, were also allegedly tampered with. Rewstand had the tender to supply tents and clothing material.
According to the publication, an officer Constable John Shoko said he was ordered to pluck out some pages from the goods received register which were then destroyed by fire.
Another police officer, Sergeant Tamirirashe Matutu, who once worked at the buying office, fingered one officer Supritendent Munemo and said he visited their office and asked for files in respect of Rewstand, Adamah, Mastaw, Nodpack and Croxile which he took to his office: He came back and took used up goods received registers from the safe where they were kept. He also took another goods received register from receipt bay section to his office. After an hour, he came back with pages which had entries of receipts in respect of the above mentioned companies, folded and marked while others were detached.
He gave us blank pages of the registers and instructed us to rewrite the entries excluding those for the above mentioned companies which were left blank. Those blank spaces were filled in with false information and later cancelled.
Supt Munemo then took the registers and asked Cst Shoko to accompany him to Police Printers for rebinding. All this happened when the overall officer-in-charge Chief Inspector Gavaza was on occasional leave.
Another police officer, Assistant Inspector Nelson Phiri in yet another affidavit, said he actually saw one of his colleagues rewriting the registers and he said he had been instructed by Superintendent Munemo to rewrite the registers:
… noted that pages which had entries and information of the aforementioned companies had been plucked out and replaced by newly re-written pages. The books had been bound anew to appear as if everything was still intact,
By A Correspondent- A 11 year old teenager got shocked when she woke up to find her 16-year-old stepbrother in her blankets naked making sexual moves on her.
A family member who spoke to B-Metro on condition of anonymity said the girl was asleep alone in her bedroom when her stepbrother tip-toed into her bedroom at around 1am last Friday.
The relative said: “She was awoken by a heavy weight of her naked brother who was caressing her while making sexual moves on her. She screamed for help and her naked brother tried to flee but her twin brother intercepted him.”
The relative went on to say they led him to the living room and tied him with a rope.
“He tried to flee but they caught up with him and pinned him on the ground. They tied him with a rope while the mother of the victim and a cousin rushed to a police station where they made a police report leading to his arrest,” said a relative.
The minor was referred to a hospital where she was treated.
In another related incident Bulawayo police spokesperson Inspector Abednico Ncube said a woman in Nkulumane suburb was attacked with an unspecified weapon before she was raped at around 8pm last week on Thursday while she was heading home.
Inspector Ncube expressed worry at the rising cases of rape in Bulawayo.
“Parents and guardians should take keen interest in the protection of their children during daytime and evening. Parents should teach their children to report any one who touches them or does some strange things on them. It is worrying that rape cases are on the rise in Bulawayo, as such I would like to urge parents and police to join hands and come up with strategies on how to fight the rape scourge,” he said.
A copy of a memorandum purported to be from Chief Justice Luke Malaba to other judges suggests that judges now have to show their judgments to heads of courts before they hand them down.
The memorandum claims the directive was triggered by the manner in which orders are being handed.
RE: DIRECTIVE ON HANDING DOWN AND DISTRIBUTION OF JUDGMENTS AND ORDERS
The above matter refers.
Following concerns raised about the manner in which judgments are handled after being handed down it is hereby directed as follows:
i. No judgment should be handed down when it is not yet ready to be distributed.
ii. Once a judgment is handed down it shall not be withdrawn for any reason. Handing down of a judgment is evidence that the judgment is ready for access by the parties and members of the public.
iii. All judgments handed down must be immediately accessible to the Registrars. litigants and the public.
iv. Before a judgment or an order of the High Court or Labour Court is issued or handed down, it should be seen and approved by the head of court or division.
v. The practice of issuing orders with the undertaking that reasons will follow is to be desisted from forthwith. Only the Constitutional Court and the Supreme Court can issue such orders as they are courts with final jurisdiction. The only exception is when a Judge will be dealing with a point in limine. Such an order will be appropriate as it enables the court to expeditiously finalise the main matter.
vi. For the avoidance of doubt, it is proper for a Judge when dealing with a point in limine to give an order and advise that the reasons will be stated in the main judgment.
vii. Where a Judge decides to issue an order in an ex tempore judgment, he or she must ensure that the reasons given are comprehensive on the understanding that they will be accessible to the parties, the Registrar and members of the public.
All heads of courts are advised to bring this information to the attention of all Judges.
