As of 15 July 2020, Zimbabwe had 1 089 confirmed cases, including 395 recoveries and twenty (20) deaths.

In its daily COVID-19 (coronavirus) update, the Ministry of Health and Child Care said:

Twenty-five (25) cases tested positive for COVID-19 today. These include returnees from South Africa (3) and 22 local cases who are isolated.

One (1) of the local cases is a contact of a known confirmed case.

Investigations are underway to establish the source of infection for the remaining 21.

Today 2009 RDT screening tests and 603 PCR diagnostic tests were done. The cumulative number of tests done to date is 95 860 57 236 RDT and 38 624 PCR).

Since the onset of the COVID-19 outbreak on 20 March 2020, the total number of confirmed cases is 1 089; recovered 395, active cases 674 and 20 deaths.

State Media

Tanzanian Ambassador to Zimbabwe Professor Emmanuel Mbennah says President Emmerson Mnangagwa will deliver Zimbabwe to the promised land because of his clear economic vision, his tough anti-corruption stance and his sound re-engagement drive.

In an interview with State Media, Prof Mbennah, whose country recently became an upper middle class economy, said President Mnangagwa has laid a solid foundation that will make Zimbabwe the Jewel of Africa.

“I really commend President Mnangagwa for the works he is doing. He is focused on the progress of the country, obviously, the challenges are not few, but he is working very hard.

“Some things that I can identify with Tanzania is the ardent fight against corruption. It does not matter who it is. If anyone is found on the wrong side of the law, action is taken, people are arrested and taken to court and that is very much what Tanzania has done especially during the tenure of President Magufuli.”

Corruption, Prof Mbennah said, was a problem in many countries and President Mnangagwa was doing all he could to show his resolve in dealing with the scourge.

Prof Mbennah said it is incumbent upon the country’s populace, including those in the opposition to be united.

“My call to the people of Zimbabwe is to rally behind the President and support him because he means well for the country. He gives his best and success will come and we are already seeing the signs, but people of Zimbabwe including those in the opposition will have to support the President,” he said.

“In Tanzania we have opposition parties, but it is very clear that people in the opposition consider Tanzania first. We may have different ideas and different ideologies, but we are here to give everything to the development of the country.

“My appeal to the people of Zimbabwe is build Zimbabwe, don’t pull it down, you don’t have another Zimbabwe. Building means building, you cannot be destroying one side and say you are building. There are a lot of things I see on social media that are destructive (and) will not take Zimbabwe forward.”

On patriotism, Prof Mbennah said it was obligatory for every Zimbabwean not to speak ill or his or her country. He said Zimbabwe was endowed with a highly-educated populace, hardworking and very intelligent.

“If the people put their heads together Zimbabwe will be a shining star not only in the region, but also internationally. My appeal to Zimbabwe is to keep working hard and for everyone to stand behind the President. The opposition should also contribute towards building Zimbabwe.

“We need to be wise in dealing with those who purport to be our friends. They are only friends because they want to benefit. There are so many good friends that Zimbabwe can count on and not those who are working against the Government,” said Prof Mbennah.

“The efforts of the Second Republic are very clear. Efforts of re-engagement are bearing fruits and most world nations are coming closer to Zimbabwe including the UK. The recent lifting of sanctions against some banks is also a good sign for Zimbabwe”.

Own Correspondent

MDC Alliance leader, Nelson Chamisa’s appointment of firebrand lawyer and party politician Fadzayi Mahere as spokesperson of the main opposition has been overwhelmingly endorsed by members of the public.

Mahere, replaced Daniel Molokele at the end of May as part of the opposition chief’s attempts to sharpen the MDC Alliance’s National Standing Committee which is responsible for the day-to-day running of the party.

Although some people considered her a late comer into the MDC fold, having contested the 2018 parliamentary elections as an independent candidate, an overwhelming majority of respondents in a ZimEye.com poll endorsed her appointment.

Below is the result of the poll which puts to rest the debate on whether Chamisa blundered in appointing Mahere.

https://twitter.com/ZimEye/status/1282624096682086401?s=19

State Media

A MEMBER of the human trafficking syndicate which trafficked six women into virtual slavery in Kuwait between 2015 and 2016 by promising them good jobs as maids, was on Monday jailed for 10 years by a Harare magistrate.

James Marodza was jailed by Harare regional magistrate Mrs Bianca Makwande, who convicted him of six counts of human trafficking after trial.

Mrs Makwande said Marodza’s acts infringed on the rights and freedoms of the six women.

Evidence during the trial showed that the six had their passports confiscated by their employers on arrival in Kuwait, that they were forced to work up to 22 hours a day.

They were called “khadama”, which means slave and were prevented from communicating with anyone else, including their families.

Mrs Makwande said the “horrific testimonies” that were given by the six women during Marodza’s trial entailed that some of them will never live a normal life in future.

They were rescued by the Government which had to investigate, help them escape, process temporary travel documents and then arrange for them to fly home.

“The Government had to intervene and send people to investigate on the conditions that the women were living in while in a foreign land,” said Mrs Makwande. “The Government had to make sure that the women returned home by processing temporary travel documents through the embassy.

“This means that he (Marodza) prejudiced the Government and also left the country in the spotlight over the offences.”

Mrs Makwande noted that there was serious violations of the women’s liberties, freedom of association and movement during the time they were enslaved in Kuwait.

“That alone shows the seriousness of the offence that he is facing and it calls for imprisonment,” said Mrs Makwande, before jailing Marodza for 10 years.

The State, led by Mrs Netsai Mushayabasa, proved that between December 2015 and March 2016, Marodza unlawfully and intentionally recruited unsuspecting victims to Kuwait using Facebook and WhatsApp platforms. He misrepresented to the women that housemaids in Kuwait were paid handsomely, before sending them pictures of some girls he said were well paid in the Middle East country.

The victims sent their medical examination certificates and police clearances to Marodza and communication was through a WhatsApp number.

CONSUMERS are expecting the 2020 mid-term fiscal policy review to increase the income-tax-free thresholds and stabilise prices for basic goods and services.

The Covid-19 pandemic has impacted on the terms of spending patterns, with government reallocating resources in order to provide safety nets for vulnerable communities.

With the 2020 mid-term budget review being set for presentation by the minister of finance and economic development, Professor Mthuli Ncube on Thursday, consumers are anticipating treasury will introduce measures to restore buying confidence, price stability and improve disposable incomes.

“Ndozvatamirira kuti tione kuti zvinofamba sei kuitira kuti economy ienderere mberi, mari ngaitenge zvakasiyana siyana,” (we are waiting to see if any measures will be put in place to ensure money retains its buying power) said a consumer.

Some consumers are also expecting reforms to create business-friendly systems that can result in certainty on pricing models.

Clarity regarding currency transactions and exemptions of tax structures is also under the spotlight ahead of the mid-term budget review.

The mid-term fiscal policy review will be presented at a time when the COVID-19 pandemic has had its effects in terms of the government’s set economic targets. There are also possibilities that the government will review expenditure estimates, revenue inflows, and economic outlook, among others.

Furthermore, it is being presented when the government is focusing on restoring food security as well as ensuring that most firms get relief packages.

With inflation having eroded most of the macro-economic fundamentals, analysts await to sees how the government will focus on restoring productivity.

However, the key highlight is the current foreign exchange auction system in which the treasury is also being anticipated to provide an impetus as to how it can stabilise overall economic systems.

Generally, consumers being the most heavily hit by the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, fiscal authorities are left with nothing apart from relief packages.

State Media

Zanu PF Mashonaland West Province is considering recommending liberation hero status for its former vice chairman, legislator, businessman and indigenisation and economic empowerment activist, Keith Guzah who died at his home in the early hours of yesterday.

He was 57.

Central Committee member and Zvimba South legislator Dr Phillip Chiyangwa said liberation war status will be a befitting honour for the economic empowerment advocate.

“Keith did so much in fighting for black economic empowerment and we are recommending liberation hero status,” he said.

“He also did a lot as vice chairman of the party, Zanu PF. This will not be a new thing because another black economic empowerment proponent Peter Pamire was accorded the same status after his death in 1997.”

“When he contested in the Hurungwe West constituency by-election, I was his campaign manager and funder. He was our vice chairman in the Zanu PF provincial executive. He did a lot for the empowerment of people.”

Guzah participated and won in a fiercely contested Hurungwe West by-election against the then incumbent, but now expelled former Zanu PF provincial chairman Mr Temba Mliswa in 2016.

His daughter Nicole said the death came as a shock to many people, adding that her father died after complaining of having difficulties in breathing.

His body, she said, was taken to Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals for further tests to determine the cause of death.

She described her father as a calculative person who had a passion and drive to succeed.

“I don’t have anything concrete about his final moments besides that he was having trouble breathing for the past few weeks and had been tested for Covid-19 twice and the results were negative,” said Nicole.

“Dad was a self-made man who demanded respect and got it because he was determined and very intelligent.”

Zanu PF members and legislators who worked with Guzah in the 8th Parliament expressed shock at his sudden death.

Mourners are gathered at Number 6 Fairview Close, Greendale, Harare.

TWENTY FOURTH POST-CABINET PRESS BRIEFING

14TH JULY 2020

1. ZIMBABWE’S RESPONSE TO THE COVID-19 OUTBREAK

The Chairman of the Ad-Hoc Inter-Ministerial Task Force on COVID-19, Honourable Vice President K.C.D. Mohadi, presented the weekly Report on the National Response to the COVID-19 Outbreak, which was adopted by Cabinet. Cabinet was informed that, out of the ninety-one thousand one hundred and three (91 103) tests conducted throughout the country, one thousand and thirty-four (1 034) were confirmed COVID-19 positive, compared to the seven hundred and thirty-four (734) cases reported on 6 July, 2020. The number of those who have recovered has increased from the previously reported one hundred and ninety-seven (197) to three hundred and forty-three (343), while deaths have increased from nine (9) to nineteen (19). This leaves the number of active cases at six hundred and seventy-two (672). Bulawayo and Harare Metropolitan Provinces have recorded the highest number of deaths with seven (7) and eight (8) deaths, respectively.Of the one thousand and thirty-four (1 034) confirmed cases, seven hundred and twenty-five (725) were imported from countries in Africa, Asia, Europe and America with returnees from South Africa and Botswana contributing the most cases. This means the total number of locally transmitted cases now stands at three hundred and nine (309) cases.

Cabinet is disturbed by the spike in COVID-19 locally transmitted cases and the number of deaths recorded. To curb the increase in transmissions as well as deaths from COVID-19, the following measures were adopted: (a) that the current lockdown restrictions will be tightened, while localised lockdowns are introduced in hotspot areas and further opening up of the economy is halted; (b)that testing in communities with high cases of local transmission such as Bulawayo will be increased; (c) that the re-opening of schools shall be deferred pending a review of the situation, while the writing of public examinations continues;(d)that private schools that have already opened without permission will be penalized; (e) that Government shall have the sole responsibility for inter-city travel for those that really require to travel especially to seek medical attention; and (f) that two (2) buses will be availed to transport those that test positive from Beitbridge to their respective provincial isolation centres.

Cabinet also noted and approved the ongoing restructuring of the Ministry of Health and Child Care.

Cabinet further noted with concern that some members of some religious sects have gathered in their numbers in Manicaland Province for their yearly retreat, in contravention of COVID-19 regulations that prohibit gatherings of more than fifty (50) people. This poses high risk to the spread of COVID-19. Accordingly, Cabinet directed that the gathering should disperse forthwith.

Let me also take this opportunity to report that His Excellency the President will announce comprehensive measures on the way forward regarding the country’s response to the COVID-19 outbreak.

2. 2020 MID-TERM BUDGET AND ECONOMIC REVIEW AND UPDATE ON THE STATE OF THE FINANCIAL SECTOR AND MONETARY REFORMS

Cabinet received and approved a presentation from the Minister of Finance and Economic Development on the 2020 Mid-Term Budget and Economic Review and Update on the State of the Financial Sector and Monetary Reforms. Full details of the proposed measures will be made in Parliament on Thursday, 16th July, 2020.

3. EXTENSION OF PERIOD OF PAYING INCENTIVE ON MAIZE DELIVERIES

Cabinet has extended the period over which farmers will receive the 30% incentive for delivering maize to the Grain Marketing Board (GMB) from 31st July 2020 to the 31st August 2020. Farmers are urged to liaise with their nearest GMB depots and Agricultural Extension Officers for assistance in the transportation of their produce.

4. PROPOSED STRATEGIES FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF PHASE II OF THE EASE OF DOING BUSINESS REFORMS

The Ministers of Mines and Mining Development; Energy and Power Development; Local Government and Public Works; and Finance and Economic Development presented to Cabinet on proposed strategies for the implementation of Phase II of the Ease of Doing Business Reforms.

a) Ministry of Mines and Mining Development

The Ministry is finalising amendments to the Mines and Minerals Act to bring the legislation in line with internationally competitive, modern, friendly and supportive law. The amended Act will help enhance investor confidence.

The Ministry is also implementing the Mining Computerised Information Management (cadastre) System (MCIMS) to speed up registration of mining title and minimising disputes through correctly positioning mining titles.

b) Ministry of Energy and Power Development

The Ministry has put in place measures for reducing and standardising connection and application procedures. These include: Standardised reporting from Regions on Reliability indices; Compensation to customers for damaged equipment due to voltage fluctuations; Quality control of customer wiring; and availability of connection material.

c) Ministry of Local Government and Public Works

The Ministry has introduced the following reforms: (a) the Construction Permit is now obtainable within 136 days as opposed to the earlier 208 days; (b) duration of local authorities response to application for construction reduced from 35 to 14 days; (c) One-Stop Shop plan introduced and approval sessions being held twice a week; (d) the number of inspections of stages during construction were reduced from 7 to 4 thereby reducing the overall time and cost of construction. Work to further improve the doing business environment is in progress.

d) Ministry of Finance and Economic Development

The Ministry in consultation with line Ministries and stakeholders has identified the following areas, among others for reform:

Implementation of the Collateral Registry

Lack of immovable collateral security by mainstream lenders remains a major challenge. In order to address this challenge, Government through the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe has taken initiative to establish a collateral registry for moveable assets, with a view to expanding the range of assets that qualify as collateral security. The movable assets to be used as collateral will include, but not limited to: Agricultural and industrial equipment; inventory and raw materials; vehicles; households items; and agricultural products (livestock, poultry, crops), among others.

Paying Taxes

Paying tax reforms are centred on creating a conducive environment for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises by minimising costs and time spent during payment of tax obligations to the Fiscus.

Trading Across Borders

Trade facilitation is a crucial element in enhancing ease of movement of commercial cargo and travellers. The reforms involve automation, which will enhance efficiency of tax administration. Plans are at an advanced stage on the implementation of an Electronic Single Window system whereby payment of fees, charges, levies for services offered by Agencies are done through the electronic platform.

Creating a Conducive Environment for SMEs

SMEs have the potential of becoming an anchor to growth and development of the economy, through their contribution to employment creation, poverty alleviation, economic empowerment and participation of previously disadvantaged groups, such as women and the youth. The key strategy would be the creation of a conducive environment for the sector through a Simplified Tax Regime.

State Media

The Zimbabwe dollar eased by a modest 4.6 percent to $68.88 from $65.80 in the fourth foreign currency auction yesterday with the range between the top bid and the lowest successful bid falling to $20 as bidders continue to make ever more accurate calculations over pricing.

This growing expertise in price discovery saw the top bid falling to $85, from the $100 in the first auction, $92 in the second and $90 last week. The lowest bid in yesterday’s auction was $40, but the lowest allotted bid was $64.20, with all bidders below that price missing out as higher bidders had exhausted the foreign currency on offer.

Successful bidders pay what they offer, so if they manage to bid below the weighted average and still miss the cut off they get a bargain and if they bid above their currency is more expensive, although their bid is guaranteed to be successful.

The small gap between the lowest allotted bid and the weighted average suggests that most bids were in an even tighter range than the top bid suggests, possibly something like $64.20 to $72.

The total number of successful bids amounted to 230, with another 59 rejected, because they were too low or because bidders had some fault in their bid.

The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe disqualifies bids that are for goods and services not on the priority import lists, with category 1 imports sharing 70 percent of the available currency and category 2 imports sharing the other 30 percent.

Bidders also have to have cleared by deadline their CD1 export forms and their bills of entry from previous imports and will not be allowed to bid if they have sufficient cash in their foreign currency accounts to meet their desired import payments.

The value of total of bids recovered from US$15.8 million last week to US$18.719 million, while successful bids increased to US$15.98 million, up from US$13.6 million last week.

Increasing demand on the auction is seen as growing confidence in the system.

Economist and advisor to the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe Eddie Cross, said although the auction managed to meet industry’s foreign currency requirements, banks are still not coming to the party.

“We are disappointed that banks did not come to the market, again. Foreign exchange supply should not be left to the RBZ. We know that banks are trading foreign currency and they should participate in the auction,” he said.

“In terms of today’s (yesterday) auction, we managed to meet all of industry’s requirements, and it’s having an impact. Already you can sense that prices are stabilising.”

The increasing shift of industry players to the auction system has dried out activity on the parallel market, which has also helped to contain inflationary pressures as firms no longer ‘forward price’ their goods and services according to a phantom rate.

Commenting on his Twitter handle, industrialist Busisa Moyo, said the foreign currency auction system should move towards a market-determined rate.

“The auction is still at infancy but needs to gradually move towards a market rate,” he said.

“A framework where demand for Zimbabwe dollars is high — taxes, duties paid in local dollars will create a desire to sell. This framework doesn’t exist at the moment, but it will come.”

In line with indications that at least 70 percent of foreign currency will be allocated to industry, the majority of the hard currency in yesterday’s auction went to raw materials, machinery and equipment. These segments accounted for US$8,63 million.

Retail and distribution accounted (including food and beverages) for US$2,47 million, while consumables (including spares, tyres and electricals) accounted for US$1,41 million, and pharmaceuticals and chemicals accounted for US$1,26 million.

Services (including loans, dividends and disinvestments) accounted for US$900 526, while paper and packaging accounted for US$761 500, and fuel, electricity and gas accounted for US$528 200.

Prices of goods and services are expected stabilise in the short-term before declining in the medium to long-term, industrialists and economic analysts have said.

President Mnangagwa has noticed that price stability was now returning and few items have risen in price in the last three weeks with the first price reductions, albeit modest, now being seen.

“As Government, we envisage a situation where foreign currency resources and raw materials are improved for the productive sector as this will result in increased availability and affordability of goods as well as the creation of jobs,” said the President.

Confederation of Zimbabwe Retailers Association president, Mr Denford Mutashu, told The Herald that the foreign currency auction system had started well with manufacturers, suppliers and the retail sector accessing a huge chuck of forex.

“We are quite happy with the current price stability on the market that has seen some prices of commodities such as bread being reduced,” he said.

Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce (ZNCC) chief executive officer, Mr Christopher Mugaga, said Zimbabweans must be patient but that prices would be tracking the auction rate as stocks were renewed.

“It’s too early to expect the foreign currency auction system to have a full impact within the economy (but) in the medium to long-term, from the fourth quarter of 2020 going forward, we might see the market responding to the auction,” he said.

Economist Mr Persistent Gwanyanya said stability has been restored in the market.

“The set-up has stabilised the current system in the country. It has also stabilised the prices in the market to the extent our currency was now under attack and inflation, which is largely linked to the exchange rate volatility, was also going out of hand,” said Mr Gwanyanya.

Already, the forex auction system has helped in rebuilding market confidence, improving access to foreign currency and helping stabilise the exchange rate while speculative activity on the black market could subside significantly.

State Media

The reopening of schools for examination classes scheduled for July 28 has been deferred in light of the rising number of confirmed Covid-19 infections which reached 1 064 yesterday, with infections within Zimbabwean communities rising fast.

The deferment by Cabinet yesterday was part of measures that include postponement of further opening of economic sectors, localised lockdowns in hotspots and more testing in areas where infections are spiking.

Until very recently, almost all infected people were returning citizens and residents and these infections were discovered in quarantine centres. But the number of internal infections has been overtaking the imported infections in many recent daily reports.

Yesterday the Ministry of Health and Child Care announced another 30 infections, 14 among returning residents and 16 within Zimbabwe. While seven of these 16 were contacts of known cases, efforts are now being made to find the sources of the other nine.

The latest death is a child in Matabeleland South who was admitted to hospital on Saturday with pneumonia. This takes the cumulative total to 20. But a large batch of confirmed recoveries in Bulawayo (49) and Matabeleland North (3) has taken the cumulative number of confirmed recoveries to 343.

South Africa has now seen 4 172 deaths from 287 796 cases, the ninth worst number of confirmed cases in the world and is easily the most severely hit country in Africa.

Announcing the deferment of schools re-opening yesterday after the weekly Cabinet meeting, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Senator Monica Mutsvangwa said Cabinet had adopted the recommendation of the Ad-Hoc Inter-Ministerial Committee on Covid-19 as part of a tightening of current lock-down measures.

The recommendation was in a report presented by Vice President Kembo Mohadi, the committee chairperson.

“The re-opening of schools shall be deferred pending a review of the situation, while the writing of public examinations continues; private schools that have already opened without permission will be penalised,” she said.

Minister Mutsvangwa noted the restrictions in the fight to contain the spread of the pandemic will not be relaxed and President Mnangagwa “will announce comprehensive measures on the way forward regarding the country’s response to the Covid-19 outbreak”.

The Government was concerned with the increase in the numbers of Covid-19 cases and among the measures adopted will be a tightening of the current lockdown restrictions, with localised lockdowns in hotspot areas.

The further opening up of the economy has been halted; testing in communities with high cases of local transmission such as Bulawayo will be increased; and Government shall have the sole responsibility for inter-city travel with priority given to those seeking medical attention.

Two buses will be allocated to transport those returning from South Africa, the regional epicentre, that test positive in Beitbridge to isolation centres near their homes.

Cabinet also noted and approved the ongoing restructuring of the Ministry of Health and Child Care. There have been staff transfers and movement in the ministry following the departure of Dr Obadiah Moyo who was replaced by Professor Amon Murwira in an acting capacity.

Minister Mutsvangwa said Government is worried by those who are not adhering to the prescribed guidelines and cited the ongoing gathering in Manicaland of members of the Marange Apostolic sect in contravention of lockdown regulations.

“This poses high risk to the spread of Covid-19. Accordingly, Cabinet directed that the gathering should disperse forthwith,” said Minister Mutsvangwa.

Meanwhile, Cabinet received and approved a presentation from Finance and Economic Development Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube on the 2020 Mid-Term Budget and Economic Review he will present tomorrow.

The minister is expected to update the nation of developments have occurred in the economy following the presentation of the $8.16 billion 2020 national budget last year.

Villagers in Maphane Village, Ward 7 of Gwanda North have told ZimEye.com that they are living in fear after the mother to a Bulawayo man who died of Coronavirus last week sneaked back into the village.

The man who became Zim Covid-19 deaths case number 9 died in Bulawayo on Sunday last week after being diagnosed with Coronavirus.

According to the villagers, the mother was in Bulawayo with the family when her son passed on. Reports further indicate the widow has also since tested positive for the virus.

Efforts to get a comment from the Bulawayo Provincial Covid-19 task team are still underway.

Farai Dziva|The MDC Alliance structures in Mashonaland West Province are still intact, it has emerged.

“Busy weekend here in Mash West. This is Hurungwe West ward 16 Karambazungu structure program meeting.

We are busy building, strengthening and inspiring our grassroots structures.

This constituency has 6 very big wards with 43 polling stations, it’s business as usual here,” the party said in a brief statement.

Farai Dziva|Advocate Nelson Chamisa has appointed Professor Welshman Ncube as the acting president of the opposition party.

According to MDC Alliance presidential spokesperson, Dr Nkululeko Sibanda, the appointment is with immediate effect.

See statement below:

RE: APPOINTMENT OF MDC-ALLIANCE ACTING PRESIDENT

The President of the MDC Alliance Advocate Nelson Chamisa has, with immediate effect, appointed Vice President Professor Welshman Ncube to act as President.

This appointment is in line with the rotational Acting appointments of the office.

Prof Ncube will act as President till advised otherwise.
I thank you,
Dr Nkululeko Sibanda

13 July 2020

Wezhira Munya

MDC Alliance National youth organiser and Masvingo Urban ward 4 councillor Godfrey Kuraone’s bail application will be heard on Wednesday 15 July 2020.

Councillor Godfrey Kuraone’s lawyer advocate Martin Mureri of Matutu and Mureri legal practitioners said, “Today, 13 July 2020 I have filed an appeal against refusal of bail pending trial at Masvingo High court. The matter will be heard on Wednesday, 15 July 2020 at 9am at Masvingo High court. “

On the 7th of July 2020, Masvingo Magistrate P. Madondo refused to give bail to MDC Alliance youth organiser Godfrey Kuraone.

Godfrey Kuraone is accused of undermining authority of or insulting president as defined in section 33 (2) (a) of the codification and reform act chapter 9:23.

The offence is allegedly to have been committed on 26 June 2020, in Masvingo.

In addition, the human rights lawyer, Advocate Martin Mureri said, “We hope the high court judge will grant Councillor Godfrey Kuraone bail.”

However, MDC National youth organiser Kuraone denies the allegations and argues that he has not committed the said crime.

There was pandemonium today at the Sakunda run Rock Foundation Medical Centre in Harare when medical staff got entangled after five patients, one male & four female, tested positive for #COVID19; all of them through local transmission linked to a hairdresser at a Westgate salon!

— Prof Jonathan Moyo (@ProfJNMoyo) July 13, 2020

By A Correspondent- Former Finance minister and MDC Alliance Vice President Tendai Biti has claimed that Zimbabwe has become a colony of the Russians, Belarusians and Ukrainians and “some little banana republics in Eastern Europe” amid their activity in the country’s struggling economy.

In an interview with MDC Alliance National Spokesperson Fadzayi Mahere on Saturday, Biti accused Russian based companies like Trafigura and Russian linked Sakunda Holdings for capturing the Zimbabwean economy especially in the fuel sector.

“Right now they are active in six key areas of our economy. The first one is the US$. If you want stability in this country, you need to actually close the Reserve Bank because it has been the source of distortions. Number two is fuel. You have got Sakunda and Trafigura.

“Trafigura is owned by Russian mafia. Under president Mugabe there was a danger that Zimbabwe would be a colony of the Chinese. Under Mr Mnangagwa, Zimbabwe has become a colony of the Russians, Belarusians and Ukrainians and some little banana republics in Eastern Europe,” Biti said.

Biti added that, “Trafigura are Russians, they are in bed with Sakunda. They own 50% of the pipeline from Feruka in Mutare to Msasa but they manage this pipeline from Beira to Msasa.

“This is crazy they have the monopoly of every drop of fuel that comes through that pipeline. So it is a supply side monopoly. Trafigura does not own any fuel pipeline. Why should we give a monopoly to a company in a country that is not oil producing.”

Biti slammed the ruling Zanu PF regime for being bribed by another fuel mogul, Billy Rautenbach in 2013 and allegedly allowed him monopoly over importation of ethanol.

“There is another thug called Billy Rautenbach. He bribed some Zanu PF people in 2013 and a statutory instrument was made called SI 17 of 2013. It says anyone who wants to bring ethanol in Zimbabwe can only do so if you are in a joint venture agreement with the Government of Zimbabwe, which is a euphemism for saying if you are Billy Rautenbach or Green Fuel.

“So Billy supplies all the ethanol in Zimbabwe that is sold in all these gas stations which is a supply side distortion. It is unfair. If you look at the breakdown of prices of ethanol, Billy is selling ethanol in US$ at anything between US$ 1 and US$ 1,20 a litre of ethanol when right now you can import FOB ethanol at anything between US$ 0,40 to US$ 0,50 from Brazil and USA and because they were good rains in Brazil, sugarcane did so well so you can actually bring it at US$ 0,40.

“So why can’t ethanol being imported into Zimbabwe the same way we import petrol and diesel. Why are we at the mercy of Billy Rautenbach.

“The irony is that when the price of crude is at its all-time low, when all producing countries under OPAC are literally paying all consuming countries to consume for free, in Zimbabwe it is going up because of Mr Rautenbach, Mr Mnangagwa and Mr Chasi,” Biti added.

-Nehanda

Former vanguard leader Shakespeare Makoyi says Chamisa blundered in appointing Fadzai Mahere as party spokesperson. "makashaya munhu ane institutional history of the party ne struggle plus competence kuti mutore Fadzayi Mahere who dines with known Zanu-PF." What's your take?

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) July 13, 2020

State Media

SOME 1 000 convicted criminals, who appealed separately at the High Court as far back as 2010, but abandoned the appeals after being granted bail, had their challenges thrown out recently when the judiciary embarked on a rigorous audit to cleanse the system of idle files.

To that end, hundreds of warrants of arrest have since been issued out against the convicts who have pending jail sentences to ensure their committal to prison.

Police, armed with the warrants, are now hunting down the criminals.

Scores of the convicts are walking scot-free as the police struggle to serve them with the warrants and take them to court.

The Registrar of the High Court, Mr Donald Ndirowei, in terms of the rules of that court, dismissed the idle criminal appeals between May and July this year in an ongoing files audit.

Most of the criminals in question were convicted of theft, robbery, fraud and traffic offences.

According to official statistics seen by The Herald, at least 371 convicts were from Harare province, while 130 and 74 are from Mashonaland West and Masvingo respectively.

The statistics also show that 147 convicts were from Mashonaland Central, 80 from Mashonaland East and 63 from Manicaland.

Mr Ndirowei directed the magistracy to issue out warrants of arrest in respect of those who have pending prison terms.

Chances are high that some of the convicts have since died, while others could have skipped the borders.

Most of them filed “frivolous” notices of appeal for the purposes of seeking bail, but they abandoned the challenges after tasting freedom.

Some did not pay the relevant fees for the processing of the appeals, while others breached the rules of the High Court on criminal appeals, prompting the court to throw away the challenges.

Others did not bother to inspect the trial records as provided for in the rules.

The appeals were buried among several pending files until the High Court recently embarked on a rigorous audit of all pending appeals and dismissing those deemed abandoned.

Warrants of arrest were issued in respect of the first batch of 489 convicts in May and the documents were dispatched to the respective police stations countrywide.

The first batch consisted 489 appeals filed in 2010.

The second batch of convicts was issued with warrants of arrest a week later and it comprised of 185.

Some 280 appeals filed in 2012 were dismissed last week by the High Court before warrants of arrest were issued in respect of the convicts.

Judicial Service Commission (JSC) acting secretary Mr Walter Chikwana confirmed the development, saying an audit of both criminal and civil files was underway at the High Court to deal with abandoned appeals.

“We are carrying out an audit of all appeal files at the High Court,” he said. “Notices of appeal were filed, but not prosecuted. We have recovered quite a number of records which have been lying idle and were not prosecuted.

“After filing an appeal, one would also file for bail pending appeal. After getting their freedom, they would then abandon those appeals.”

Some appellants failed to prepare records or pay the required fees.

Appellants are required to ensure the record of proceedings is prepared and submitted to the High Court within certain specified periods.

They are also required to pay costs for preparation of the record and some would not pay.

“So, what we are simply doing is to enforce the rules of the High Court,” said Mr Chikwana. “When you don’t arrange for the preparation of the record or pay for the preparation of the record, there are certain consequences that would follow, for example, the appeal may be deemed abandoned. The moment the appeal is deemed abandoned it means there is no longer an appeal before the High Court.”

In terms of the criminal appeal process, the onus to prosecute the appeal lies with the appellant, who can choose to drag or abandon the appeal.

At times, the appellants deliberately change lawyers to confuse the system, resulting in some correspondences from the Registrar of the High Court being sent to wrong addresses.

The Registrar of the High Court in terms of the rules of that court, is now empowered to dismiss appeals for want of prosecution.

Other appeals are dismissed by the judges in court.

State Media

All teachers should report for duty on July 28, the date set for the return of examination classes in the phased reopening of schools, and should make arrangements to be at their stations to either teach the examination classes or be able to give alternative learning to the rest of the schoolchildren

In an interview, the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education director of communications and advocacy, Mr Taungana Ndoro, said all teachers were needed back at work as schools opened, even though only examination classes would physically return to school.

Teachers are expected to attend physical classes at schools, and offer alternative learning to those pupils who will not be physically present by virtue of being non-examination forms.

“Learners who are not physically at school are expected to receive tuition through alternative learning programmes, and so we need all teachers to be engaged in creating learning packages for all their pupils,” said Mr Ndoro.

Only Form Six, Form Four and Grade Seven classes will resume classes on July 28, while Lower Six, Form Three and Grade 6 pupils come in three weeks later.

Other pupils will move back into their classrooms in three more phases.

To allow for a smooth and safe resumption of classes for examination form pupils, the Government has already moved returnees out of school premises being used as quarantine centres to allow full disinfection, and has barred churches from renting school halls and classrooms for services.

Schools are ensuring that they have masks and other necessary protection equipment and can space out desks and have adequate teacher to pupil ratios.

With a phased re-opening, early classes can be split if necessary.

Mr Ndoro said the ministry was ensuring that risks of infection were kept very low.

The Government recruited 2 300 teachers last month and is in the process of recruiting 3 000 more.

The Ministry of Health and Child Care, in light of guidelines from the World Health Organisation (WHO), has set requirements for schools to reopen.

“Some of our schools have taken the initiative to prepare face masks and hand sanitisers on their own,” said Mr Ndoro.

“We are also grateful that the Government has availed funds to the ministry so that schools can acquire, and in some cases produce their own personal protective equipment.”

Dismissing sentiments that rural schools were ill-equipped regarding protection, Mr Ndoro said some of those producing their own protective materials were the rural schools.

“Therefore, come July 28, all schools should be ready to open their doors to their phase one learners,” said Mr Ndoro.

On school fees, and the school calendar, since the traditional second term is already in its twilight, Mr Ndoro clarified that “school fees payments are going to be paid on pro rata (in proportion to the whole) basis, and we expect learners to start paying their fees and levies as soon as learning resumes”.

“We are working on a school calendar which we will share with all our stakeholders in the near future.”

Former officer-in charge of Gweru CID, Detective inspector, Leonard Gwandu, was on Thursday jailed for an effective two years after being convicted of criminal abuse of office after he released a stolen vehicle.

Gwandu released a vehicle stolen in South Africa that was being held by the police as an exhibit in December last year, without following procedures.

He pleaded guilty.
Gweru regional magistrate Mrs Phathekile Msipa initially sentenced him to three years before suspending one year on condition of good behaviour.

For the State, Mrs Namatirai Chipere proved that on December 14 last year, Gwandu released a Toyota Hillux truck, which had been confiscated from local businessman Mr Shepherd Tundiya despite the fact that the car was being kept as an exhibit and should eventually be handed over to the South African police.

Tundiya was arrested in connection with the stolen vehicle that he had bought, and had been acquitted.
But there was no order to release the car in question.
— Herald

Farai Dziva| Zanu PF functionaries including Victor Matemadanda have abandoned the fundamental values of the liberation struggle, MDC Alliance has said.

Clifford Hlatywayo, the
MDC Alliance Deputy National Spokesperson, described Matemadanda as an arrogant political figure.

“Victor Matemadanda and members of his ZANU PF
party are the ones who are very irresponsible, ignorant, misguided and against the values of the liberation struggle.

They are misrepresenting the values of the liberation struggle.

Our parents went to war to achieve one man one vote yet ZANU PF is denying it.

Mbuya Nehanda and many other Zimbabweans fought for freedom for all,”said Hlatywayo.

He addd: “Now Matemadanda and his party zealots are at the centre of fighting against the people, threatening, intimidating, abducting, raping, killing and arresting citizens.

They suppress progressive voices, depress, repress and oppress citizens. Our fathers and mothers went to war to attain equal opportunities.

Where is this now?

The Zanu PF looters are busy plundering the little resources we have.

Their former boss Mugabe said 15 billion Diamond money just disappeared, Covid-19 money is vanishing, fuel scandals, Zinara monies, mines and land is being taken by Zanu PF functionaries.

Is the public benefiting? The answer is NO. Why? Because a few individuals have captured the state. Government institutions are no longer operating independently.

Recently they used the courts to declare themselves winners of 2018 elections.

In August 2018 they killed innocent souls in Harare, on 30 March 2020 they used the court to pass a judgment that was meant to attack the people’s movement.

Four weeks ago they used the army and police to seize the MDC A headquarters.

Matemadanda can’t say President Nelson Chamisa will not rule this country.

In other words he is admitting that they rig their way to state house.

The MDC Alliance respects the liberation struggle and those who fought for it. Our party is there to accomplish the unfinished business of the liberation struggle.

That’s why we are guided by social democratic values of Solidarity, Justice, Freedom and Equality.

Whatever Zanu PF touches disappears.

MDCA is the party that will transform the country’s economy.”

“Can you claim that you respect Mbuya Nehanda and other freedom fighters by erecting a statue yet you don’t respect what they represented?

MDCA is the only party that genuinely represents the interests of the liberation struggle.”

Thokozani Khupe’s MDC-T has distanced itself from the July 31 protests.

Analysts say the political formation is insignificant.

Watch video below :

FOUR people died on the spot when a Toyota Corsa vehicle they were travelling in was involved in a head on-collision with a haulage truck near Kaguvi Training Centre between Gweru and Kwekwe on Friday night, police have confirmed.

National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the accident which occurred at the 249km peg along Harare-Bulawayo highway around 10.30pm.

Asst Comm Nyathi said the Toyota Corsa, which was being driven by Munyaradzi Mutero with three passengers on board was driving towards Gweru, while the haulage truck was driven by Maxwell Goto and going towards Kwekwe when the accident occurred.

Asst Comm Nyathi said on approaching the 249km peg the driver of the Toyota Corsa encroached onto the right lane ahead of the oncoming haulage truck resulting in the head-on collision.
Asst Comm Nyathi said the four died on the spot.

“I can confirm that an accident occurred at the 249km peg along Harare-Bulawayo highway where a Toyota Corsa, which had four people on board, collided head on with a haulage truck.

“The circumstances are that the driver of the Toyota Corsa encroached onto the right lane ahead of an oncoming truck.

The truck ran over the Toyota Corsa and all the occupants died on the spot.

Police attended the scene and are investigating the circumstances leading to the accident,” he said.

Asst Comm Nyathi said the bodies of the victims were taken to Gweru Provincial Hospital (GPH) awaiting a post-mortem.

When the news crew arrived at the accident scene yesterday morning, the wreckage of the Toyota Corsa had been removed while another tow company was still struggling to remove the haulage truck.

“When I arrived at the scene, it was towards midnight and discovered that the haulage had just crushed everyone who was in the small car.

“We tried by all means to help but the wreckage which had been reduced to a small shell was right under the haulage truck,” said a witness Mr Arron Chinyama.

Mr Chinyama said firefighters from Kwekwe City came to the accident scene after an hour but took nearly three hours to retrieve the bodies from under the haulage truck-The Sunday News

By A Correspondent- Raj Modi, the Deputy Minister of Industry and Commerce, has been left frustrated with having to stay away from home since March this year.

Modi had travelled on private business to Australia when the country imposed a lockdown on 20 March, before Zimbabwe closed its borders to foreigners on 30 March. He said:

My biggest frustration is that I am failing to do my job as a Deputy Minister. It’s all hands on the deck and I am not there to help.

Of all the things that are on my mind, it is that I feel helpless but I am optimistic that sooner rather than later I will get a flight home. As soon as flights resume, I will come home. I also miss my constituency.

Modi runs several businesses in Bulawayo and has also been involved with several philanthropic initiatives.

In 2019 Modi coordinated the raising of close to US$10 000 from well-wishers needed for a woman who had been bitten by dogs to travel to India and be operated on.

Cherish Muchegwa was bitten by her landlord’s 5 rabid dogs and sustained serious injuries and had to be airlifted to India’s Kiran Hospital so that doctors could do skin grafting on her body.

Byo 24

Expelled Zanu Pf Chivi South legislator Killer Zivhu has become under fire from Twitter users after he denounced the looming July 31 demonstration against the government.

“We will not allow our people to demonstrate kuti vabvise a legitimate Government,Vanotuma vamwe munouya ndokuratidzai paState house mopinda moga kundoudza mukuru zvamunoda, not kuti povo ikuvarire mahara, push for all parties dialogue peacefully vamwe vacho hamusi munyika,” Zivhu said on Twitter.

A Twitter user Mundau said Zivhu was working hard to be brought back in Zanu PF camp.

“U are working hard to be restored on the eating table young man.ED was appointed by the courts &,not legitimised by the electorate.Even up to now no one knows his supposedly winning margin. Saka musatimhanyire bani Bambomnini.”

“Muchadzingwa second round Cde.ZanuPF haisi zvekutaurirana izvi,it’s a fact because it’s criminal cartel.#31 July 2020 #ZanupfMustGo,” reads Karikoga’s tweet.

Clifford said Zivhu is a fool, “Urifuza mkoma Killer.”

Zivhu responded saying , “kkk no problem my brother but vanhu vanokuvarira mahara.

Meanwhile, the ruling Zanu-PF party yesterday said it would deal harshly with the planned protests against President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government on July 31, evoking memories of killings by the army of civilians in 2018 and January last

Bloomberg

Zimbabwe’s biggest gold mines are being snapped up by Mauritius-based Sotic International Ltd. as the price of bullion soars to the highest in more than eight years.

Sotic International says it is targeting six more mines after its arm, Landela Mining Ventures, completed the takeover of Metallon’s Shamva operation.

Landela‘s targets include four idle state-owned operations, says Sotic Chief Executive Officer David Brown.

“Gold is a commodity with potential positive impacts,” Brown said. “We want to grow the resource base to provide upside for both company and country.”

Brown said Sotic is backed by Cayman Islands-registered Almas Global Opportunity Fund, but he declined to name other investors.

Last year, Sotic acquired control of Bindura Nickel Corporation, Zimbabwe biggest nickel operation.

Landela is ramping up output at Freda Rebecca, an operation formerly owned by Asa Resources, and last month concluded a deal to buy the mothballed Shamva gold mine from indebted Metallon, once Zimbabwe’s biggest gold miner.

While the coronavirus pandemic delayed the acquisition of two more Metallon mines – Mazoe and Redwing – the transaction should be concluded shortly, according to Brown.

Landela is also favored to buy four of state-owned Zimbabwe Mining Development Corporation’s gold mines, that were mothballed due to lack of capital, said Brown, a former CEO of Impala Platinum.

“We want to become a significant player in the gold industry in Zimbabwe,” said Brown, who is also chairman of Great Dyke Investments, a Russian investor-backed company developing one of Zimbabwe’s biggest platinum mines.

“We have significant amount of resources that are available to grow the asset base and become a significant producer. We want to become bigger.”

He declined to say how much Landela is spending to acquire the mines, while capital requirements are still being assessed. Some of the operations have been flooded or stripped of equipment after being idled for years.

Still, the quality of Zimbabwe’s assets and the rally in gold justify investor backing for the mines, said Brown.

“The common wisdom for the gold price going forward looks like it will stay stronger for longer and to that extent the economics of the mines is significantly enhanced,” Brown said.

-Bloomberg

Former MDC Vanguard Leader Shakespeare Mukoyi said MDC Alliance president Nelson Chamisa erred in appointing Fadzayi Mahere as the party’s spokesperson.

Mukoyi, who is now the Thokozani Khupe-led MDC-T interim leader, said Mahere has no history in the opposition party and also habitually hobnobs with ZANU PF functionaries such as Acie Lumumba and Kuda Musasiwa. Mukoyi tweeted:

MDC-A yese, Ireland, America, Uk, Africa, Zimbabwe makashaya munhu ane institutional history ye party ne struggle plus competence kuti mutore @advocatemahere
who dines with known Zanu-PF people like @begottensun na @acielumumba

Pafungei mushe pic.twitter.com/s8p1DyjVFk

— Shakespeare Mukoyi (@ShakespeareMuk1) July 12, 2020

MDC-A yese, Ireland, America, Uk, Africa, Zimbabwe makashaya munhu ane (is it that you couldn’t find someone with an) institutional history ye (of the) party ne (and the) struggle plus competence kuti mutore (for you to appoint) [Fadzayi Mahere] who dines with known Zanu-PF people like [Kuda Musasiwa] na (and) [Acie Lumumba]?

Pafungei mushe. (Consider this soberly).

Mukoyi abandoned the MDC Alliance to join Khupe last month ahead of the party’s Supreme Court-sanctioned extraordinary congress.

Jacob Ngarivhume the man calling for the July 31 demonstration against Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government has said the international community is withholding aid which Zimbabwe desperately needs because president Mnangagwa’s administration was violating human rights to cling on to power.

We present Ngarivhume’s Twitter thread in full below.

“We need to get real about the situation in our country. We are faced with the total collapse of our economy in the midst of a global pandemic. The government has proven to be woefully incapable of doing what needs to done to save Zimbabwe.

“False promises and lip service will not cut it for a country that’s collapsing. We need international assistance to fight COVID 19, reboot the economy and feed millions in need of food.

“Billions of dollars in international aid are being held up because @edmnangagwa continues to brutalize innocent people to maintain power.

“It is a well known fact that @edmnangagwa and his deputies have enough money to step aside today and live comfortably for the rest of their lives but choose to hold on to power when the consequences are devastating for the rest of the country.

“In the moment we are in, Zimbabwe does not need political speeches and rhetoric. We need common sense actions; implemented immediately will avert disaster and ease people’s suffering.

“So I now stand with the silent majority who are calling out- #ZanuPFmustgo not as a political position but a critical step to save lives.

“This is the moment for Zimbabweans to finally achieve true self determination after 40 years of suppression. It is not the time for the army to insert itself but to respect the Zimbabwean people who have suffered for too long.

“The Church and Civil society stand ready to facilitate the process of establishing a National Transitional Authority that is apolitical to guide Zimbabwe in this desperate hour.

 Jacob Ngarivhume

“I challenge @edmnangagwa and his government to recognize the deep pain and suffering the people of Zimbabwe are experiencing and to do the right thing. God bless the people of Zimbabwe.

Poll: MDC-T led by Khupe has become the first opposition to distanced from the July 31 protests being mooted by other opposition parties which she has described as untimely given the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.

Should Zimbabweans take to the streets?

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) July 12, 2020

Correspondent

The Thokozani Khupe led MDC-T received $7.5 million on Friday as part of the political parties government funding.

The money was paid to Khupe despite the Nelson Chamisa led MDC Alliance having obtained a provisional court order barring the Zimbabwean government from disbursing the funds to MDC-T according to the Political Parties Finance Act.

The government believes Khupe is the legitimate leader of the MDC Alliance and is entitled to the $7,4 million despite her having lost the 2018 elections to the same party he now claims to lead.

In the provisional order issued in May, High Court judge Justice Munangati Manongwa instructed the respondents Justice Minister Ziyambi, Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube and Speaker of Parliament Jacob Mudenda – have 10 days to respond to this ruling of which no record of the response is yet available.

In the interim order, Justice Manongwa said, “The 1st and 2nd respondents be and are hereby interdicted, stopped and barred from disbursing the sum of $7,492.500 due to the applicant in terms of the Political Parties (Finance) Act Chapter 2:11 in the sum of $7,492,500.”

Meanwhile, the development has since been confirmed by the minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, Ziyambi Ziyambi who said the money was deposited into the MDC-T account controlled by Khupe and her allies.

He told The Standard

“Why is there an outrage? I paid what was gazetted and those who were not paid are not entitled to anything.”

Those who were supposed to be paid were paid; those who were not supposed to be paid were not paid, full stop.

The PPF Act states that the money is meant to block political parties and candidates from seeking foreign funding or donations.

It also states that it is given to each political party whose candidates received at least five per centum of the total number of votes cast in the most recent general election.

Own Correspondent

Passion Java is now evidently a cornered man running out ideas to get out of his situation.

A ZimEye.com follower has picked out a dozen desperate claims that the so called man of God has said against ZimEye.com in the process of exposing his shenanigans some of which are criminal.

Below are the 12 Things Passion Java Has Rushed to Say After Being Exposed By ZimEye over “Fraud, Adultery, Fake Cars, Fake Money, And Ghana Scandal” :

1. Simba Chikanza is 62 years old.
2. Simba Chikanza is poor, he doesn’t have money,
3. Simba Chikanza is not a journalist
4. Simba Chikanza actually bribed the complainant, my brother [Simba Java]
5. Simba Chikanza gay.
6. If ZimEye was a person.
7. Takumbomira zvemari izvi till my brother issues are over! We will be back soon! #twabam #tswibidi
8. The Joy of The Lord is my Strength, Handidonhe pasi, ndinoita hwembeu… Tswibidi na Maunzwende.!!
9. Don’#t celebrate until it’s done.
10. Handibatike.!! Imi mukupisa inini ndikubvira, welcome ku week rema hits. N’en’en’en’en’e Gore Regonzo.
11. Don’t touch the anointed servants of God, Emmanuel Makandiwa, Uebert Angel, Walter Magaya, or I.
12. Simba Chikanza is just a failed pastor, he’s not a journalist at all.

Watch video downloading below. Please be patient while the video downloads.

Trezeguet scored twice as Aston Villa beat Crystal Palace to keep alive their hopes of avoiding relegation in a game which included two controversial video assistant referee decisions.

Mamadou Sakho thought he had put Palace ahead when the ball appeared to strike the defender’s shoulder on its way into the net – but it was ruled out for handball after a lengthy delay, much to the visitors’ dismay.

Villa then took the lead just before half-time when Egypt winger Trezeguet side-footed the ball into the net at the back post after Palace had failed to clear a free-kick.

Shortly after the break, the hosts were awarded a penalty by referee Martin Atkinson after Patrick van Aanholt’s challenge on Jack Grealish, but the decision was overturned after another long VAR check.

Villa’s first Premier League win since 21 January was sealed when Trezeguet toe-poked home his second goal to leave the West Midlands side four points from safety with three matches, against Everton (away), Arsenal (home) and West Ham (away), to go.

After the final whistle, Palace forward Christian Benteke, who was playing against his former club, was shown a red card as tempers boiled over.

Palace, who have now lost their past five league games, started with Wilfried Zaha, who revealed before the match he had received racist abuse on social media.

Palace manager Roy Hodgson described the abuse of the 27-year-old Ivory Coast forward as “cowardly and despicable”.

BBC

Watch Simba Java tell more about his brother Passion Java.

Watch video downloading below. Please be patient while the video downloads.

By A Correspondent- Raj Modi, the Deputy Minister of Industry and Commerce, has been left frustrated with having to stay away from home since March this year.

Modi had travelled on private business to Australia when the country imposed a lockdown on 20 March, before Zimbabwe closed its borders to foreigners on 30 March. He said:

My biggest frustration is that I am failing to do my job as a Deputy Minister. It’s all hands on the deck and I am not there to help.

Of all the things that are on my mind, it is that I feel helpless but I am optimistic that sooner rather than later I will get a flight home. As soon as flights resume, I will come home. I also miss my constituency.

Modi runs several businesses in Bulawayo and has also been involved with several philanthropic initiatives.

In 2019 Modi coordinated the raising of close to US$10 000 from well-wishers needed for a woman who had been bitten by dogs to travel to India and be operated on.

Cherish Muchegwa was bitten by her landlord’s 5 rabid dogs and sustained serious injuries and had to be airlifted to India’s Kiran Hospital so that doctors could do skin grafting on her body.

-statemedia

Own Correspondent| Zanu PF acting spokesperson Patrick Chinamasa has accused opposition MDC Alliance leader, Advocate Nelson Chamisa, of planning the 31 July protests.

Chinamasa warned that Advocate Chamisa could face the music together with his followers.

Addressing journalists after the Zanu PF politburo meeting, Chinamasa said as a party they would not allow a repeat of the 1 August 2018 and 14 January 2019 situation where protesters targeted government and private property for destruction.

He accused Chamisa of being a coward who should this time ‘come in front and face the music’ instead of being absent from the place of action.

“We have also noted that social media platforms are being used to organize violent demonstrations aimed at overthrowing our constitutionally constituted government.

Those doing so must stand warned and the law will not hesitate to deal with them,” said Chinamasa.

Chinamasa repeats @nelsonchamisa three times linking the MDC President to Tsenengamu's 31July Demo. ZANU PF threatens Chamisa with 1 Aug style military crackdown pic.twitter.com/kYEJEFU5Re

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) July 10, 2020

Farai Dziva| Zanu PF functionaries including Victor Matemadanda have abandoned the fundamental values of the liberation struggle, MDC Alliance has said.

Clifford Hlatywayo, the
MDC Alliance Deputy National Spokesperson, described Matemadanda as an arrogant political figure.

“Victor Matemadanda and members of his ZANU PF
party are the ones who are very irresponsible, ignorant, misguided and against the values of the liberation struggle.

They are misrepresenting the values of the liberation struggle.

Our parents went to war to achieve one man one vote yet ZANU PF is denying it.

Mbuya Nehanda and many other Zimbabweans fought for freedom for all,”said Hlatywayo.

He addd: “Now Matemadanda and his party zealots are at the centre of fighting against the people, threatening, intimidating, abducting, raping, killing and arresting citizens.

They suppress progressive voices, depress, repress and oppress citizens. Our fathers and mothers went to war to attain equal opportunities.

Where is this now?

The Zanu PF looters are busy plundering the little resources we have.

Their former boss Mugabe said 15 billion Diamond money just disappeared, Covid-19 money is vanishing, fuel scandals, Zinara monies, mines and land is being taken by Zanu PF functionaries.

Is the public benefiting? The answer is NO. Why? Because a few individuals have captured the state. Government institutions are no longer operating independently.

Recently they used the courts to declare themselves winners of 2018 elections.

In August 2018 they killed innocent souls in Harare, on 30 March 2020 they used the court to pass a judgment that was meant to attack the people’s movement.

Four weeks ago they used the army and police to seize the MDC A headquarters.

Matemadanda can’t say President Nelson Chamisa will not rule this country.

In other words he is admitting that they rig their way to state house.

The MDC Alliance respects the liberation struggle and those who fought for it. Our party is there to accomplish the unfinished business of the liberation struggle.

That’s why we are guided by social democratic values of Solidarity, Justice, Freedom and Equality.

Whatever Zanu PF touches disappears.

MDCA is the party that will transform the country’s economy.”

“Can you claim that you respect Mbuya Nehanda and other freedom fighters by erecting a statue yet you don’t respect what they represented?

MDCA is the only party that genuinely represents the interests of the liberation struggle.”

State Media

A GWANDA man was arrested after he allegedly fatally stabbed his friend in a dispute over beer.

Khumbulani Sibanda (29) from Zelezele Village in Guyu was not asked to plead when he appeared briefly before Gwanda magistrate, Miss Lerato Nyathi facing a murder charge. He was remanded in custody to July 24.

Prosecuting, Miss Ethel Mahachi said Sibanda and Prince Moyo were drinking beer with friends at Takaliyawa Business Centre when a misunderstanding ensued Over whose turn it was to buy beer.

“Moyo pointed out that it was Sibanda’s turn to buy more beer as he had bought the least among the whole group.

“The group then turned on Sibanda and pressured him to buy more beer for them as he was just drinking without contributing any more. This didn’t go down well with Sibanda who denied that it was his turn to buy more beer. Sibanda turned on Moyo and they started arguing,” she said.

Miss Mahachi said Sibanda produced an okapi knife and stabbed Moyo two times on the chest. She said their friends intervened and stopped Sibanda from attacking Moyo further.

Miss Mahachi said Moyo was rushed to the nearest clinic where he was declared dead upon arrival while Sibanda fled from the scene.

She said the matter was reported to the police who conducted investigations resulting in the arrest of the accused person. She said a blood-stained knife which is suspected to have been used to commit the offence was recovered in the house of the accused person as well as blood stained clothes.

MDC-T acting president Thokozani Khupe has accused the party’s secretary-general Douglas Mwonzora of running a dirty campaign for the party presidency by peddling falsehoods.

Khupe’s spokesperson Khaliphani Phugeni told the Daily News on Sunday that it was not true that there were plans to expel Mwonzora from the party ahead of the extra-ordinary congress.

Said Phugeni:

That has been coming strongly from Mwonzora’s campaign team that the party wants to expel him. It is unfortunate that they are running his campaign on the basis of lies. But they will not succeed.

We had hoped that the party had come of age. But we are shocked that they are doing exactly what we accused Chamisa of doing. They are telling lies and running a dirty campaign.

Reports claim that Khupe, Mwonzora, Morgen Komichi and former MDC-T vice president Elias Mudzuri are all eyeing the MDC-T presidency at the Supreme Court-ordered extraordinary congress.

Mwonzora, Mudzuri and Komichi abandoned the Nelson Chamisa-led MDC Alliance after they were defeated at the party’s congress held in Gweru last year.

Mwonzora lost the battle for the secretary-general post to Chalton Hwende, while both Mudzuri and Komichi failed in their bids to become MDC Alliance vice presidents.

More: Daily News

State Media

THE Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education has started channelling the $350 million it received from Treasury to acquire more than four million face masks among other materials needed to prevent the spread of Covid-19 when schools open on 28 July.

Zimbabwe will open doors to schools to welcome examination classes — Grade Seven, Form Four and Form Six — more than three months after schools closed in March as part of efforts to combat the spread of Covid-19. This is part of a phased approach towards opening of schools that will see other classes opening in phases.

Primary and Secondary Education Deputy Minister Edgar Moyo told Sunday News yesterday that individual schools will not buy the face masks but they will be provided by the Government. Some schools are already making the masks but Cde Moyo said Government will buy the masks from the schools.

“Some circles have claimed that we are imploring schools to produce their own face masks which is far from the truth. All we are saying is that these schools produce the face masks then we purchase from them, so the schools can get money to fund their individual projects. As you might know the ministry got $350 million from Treasury a couple of weeks ago, which is the money that is being used to make all these procurements ahead of this phased reopening of schools. Yes, we are not as 100 percent ready as we would want but it’s an ongoing process,” said the Deputy Minister.

It is estimated that about 4,6 million children in Zimbabwe are at school. Cde Moyo said the ministry was also in the process of training teachers on Covid-19 awareness as guided by the World Health Organisation (WHO).

“We are currently holding workshops around the country where we are training teachers on a number of Covid-19 related issues, these inclusive of screening procedures, the creation of a safe environment for everybody and issues on how best to handle people who are seen to be exhibiting Covid-19 symptoms. On the ground our officials are also busy with the procurement of sanitisers, disinfectants and face masks where we are also working in collaboration with the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology which is producing some of these key preventive items,” said Deputy Minister Moyo.

Teachers’ unions have said despite the Government’s position on preparations being put in place for the reopening of schools they were maintaining a wait and see approach noting that they were insisting that more measures be implemented in light of the surge in infections being experienced in the country.

Zimbabwe Teachers Association (Zimta) chief executive officer Dr Sifiso Ndlovu said while they were supporting the phased reopening approach their worry was the provision of a safe operational environment for both teachers and pupils.

“At the moment we feel there has been the skipping of key checkpoints, which is rather dangerous because we will be just opening schools just for the sake of opening. What we now need the ministry to do is assure the nation by suggesting and telling us the measures that are now in place which are better off than what is occurring with the June Zimsec examinations,” said Dr Ndlovu.

He said their members were apprehensive on the conditions being put in place revealing that while they had not engaged the ministry on their position since the start of the June examinations, they would soon be approaching Government so as to map a way forward.

“What I must emphasise is that we are not saying let’s not go back to school, we are saying let’s go back to school with the satisfactory conditions that mitigate the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic as guided by international best practice. Further, I think we have to improve in the relationship between unions and the ministry officials so that the suspicion that we are putting spanners in the education system is dispelled and it must be realised that both of us want the same thing, that is the growth of the education sector,” said Dr Ndlovu.

According to the guidelines set up by the Government for schools to open, authorities must ensure the availability of face masks, sanitisers, infrared thermometers, liquid soaps, disinfectants, gloves, hand washing stations within the school premises, hand washing buckets for every class, gowns for school health co-ordinators, holding bays for unwell persons and information education communication materials.

They should also appoint trained school health co-ordinators before re-opening, conduct Covid-19 awareness programmes for everyone in the school about prevention, schedule regular cleaning of the school environment daily, including toilets, with water and soap.

Toilets for both staff and learners should be cleaned and disinfected three times a day and every classroom should have a bin for waste disposal and such waste should be disposed of by burning or burying daily while classes should not accommodate more than 35 pupils.

Thokozani Khupe’s MDC-T has distanced itself from the July 31 protests.

Analysts say the political formation is insignificant.

Watch video below :

Byo24

A new pressure group called Zimbabwe National Anthem has petitioned the state institutions which include the army, the police and the judiciary to protect citizens from the power-hungry political leaders during the July 31 protests.

In a petition directed to the Army General Phillip Valerio Sibanda, the Police Commissioner General Godwin Matanga and Chief Justice Malaba ZiNA said it is their sincere hope that they will find the contents valuable and above all patriotic.

“It is because of the faith that we as ZiNA [Zimbabwe National Anthem group] have in your highly esteemed institutions that we felt confident to direct this message to yourselves. Zimbabweans took pride in your professional guidance when in November 2017 your institutions supported the citizens of The Republic of Zimbabwe in exercising their democratic and constitutional rights in revolting against the rule of autocracy, demagoguery and dictatorship by the late CDE RG MUGABE,” ZiNA said.

“This time again the citizens are appealing to you for the same as they have lost faith in the current regime. Most of our concerns, just like the previous government, is that we want to target criminals in government who have captured state institutions and have destroyed the economy to the dustbins of history.”

The organisation said the Finance Minister himself is on record to say that he is not a magician.

“That proves that the economy is certified DEAD. The Reserve Bank Governor has also blamed demons for the economic woes in our country showing that he is also clueless of his responsibilities as a financial expert. CDE SK MOYO also accuses unknown enemies of the state for sabotaging the economy. On the other hand our Vice President CDE Kembo Mohadi blames the Smith government for not teaching the new black government how to run the economy,” ZiNA said.

“With this kind of leadership, yours and the country’s future is doomed. Out of all these years of service, would you want to retire a pauper without a pension? What would be the future of your children and grandchildren? What legacy would you leave for your hard work from the liberation struggle until today?”

“Your country needs you now than ever before. This is nothing to do with partisan politics nor is it a reverse of gains of independence. This is a restoration of our dignity as a nation.”

ZiNA said this is a restoration of our pride as an educated and intelligent people.

“This is a restoration of our hope in the future of our country. We can challenge the global village and restore Zimbabwe as the best place for investment, tourism and growth! We therefore request that your institutions once again support the masses of Zimbabwe to exercise their democratic and constitutional right as they march in unison and rejecting the state of affairs in our country,” it said.

“Let us all sing the National Anthem in jubilation of a new Zimbabwe.On the 31st of July 2020 our masses will be taking to the streets. The mandate lies in the people. Down with corruption and despotism.”

The total amount stolen from @mdczimbabwe & given to @DrThoko_Khupe is about US$80000. Please go to our website and donate any amount retweet and encourage a friend to donate. Let’s fund our Democratic Struggle #ZanupfMustGo @nelsonchamisa @DavidColtart @BitiTendai @ZimEye pic.twitter.com/R0Dv6aEbus

— Chalton Hwende MP Chairperson Public Accounts (@hwendec) July 12, 2020

Own Correspondent

The Thokozani Khupe led MDC-T has confirmed that it was paid $7.5 million by goverment under the political parties finances act money which ordinarily should have been paid to the MDC Alliance led by Nelson Chamisa.

Speaking in a press conference at Harvest House on Sunday afternoon, party spokesperson Khaliphani Phugeni confirmed that the minority MDC grouping was paid the money a week ago.

Phugeni further clarified that the money was paid to the party in Zimbabwean dollars not US Dollars as been claimed by some social media outlets.

“I can confirm that we received the money on Friday a week ago,” said Phugeni.

“If you speak of $7.5m out sounds like a lot of money until you come to Zimbabwe, we got $7.5m Zimbabwean Bond Dollars not US Dollars,” said Phugeni.

The government paid MDC-T led by Thokozani Khupe $7 492 500 million which she says she is entitled to under the Political Parties Finance Act.

The development was confirmed by the minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, Ziyambi Ziyambi who said the money was deposited into the MDC-T account controlled by Khupe and her allies.

“Why is there an outrage? I paid what was gazetted and those who were not paid are not entitled to anything,” he said.

“Those who were supposed to be paid were paid; those who were not supposed to be paid were not paid, full stop.”

The PPF Act states that the money is meant to block political parties and candidates from seeking foreign funding or donations.

It also states that it is given to each political party whose candidates received at least five per centum of the total number of votes cast in the most recent general election.

VIDEO LOADING BELOW…

Addressing thousands of mourners at the funeral wake of his mother last week, opposition leader Nelson Chamisa said his mother engaged in vending to raise money for him to go to school.

He told mourners:

“Handina kungonyuka kusvika ndisvike pandiri nhasi (my mother toiled for me to become what I am today). It was because of the hard work and tireless efforts of my mother, Mai Neri. She used to sell chickens and vegetables for me to go to school,” a teary Chamisa said.

“She was hardworking and industrious. It is unfortunate that she died before we attained a new Zimbabwe. I want to thank all parents who are toiling to send their children to school.”

An unidentified friend of her mother, who she used to do the vending errands with, corroborated the claims, saying they would walk long distances to sell their wares in nearby farms.

“I partnered his mother back in the day where we used to go to nearby farms selling our stuff. She had an entrepreneurial spirit. This man you see (Chamisa), that you call your president, is a product of humble beginnings,” she testified before the crowd.

MDC Alliance vice-president Lynette Karenyi-Kore said Chamisa’s mother would continue to advise him even when he had entered the country’s political fray.

“I used to come here and interact with his mother,” Karenyi-Kore said.

“She was very generous and you would not leave this homestead without a parcel, be it pumpkins, free range chickens or sweet potatoes. She would advise our president.

“Whenever he was arrested, persecuted, beaten or tortured, she would refuse to eat, feeling for her son. I am sure she was so pained by the recent political developments and was stressed.”

Chamisa was born in Gutu and attended the nearby Vumba Primary School, before enrolling at the Reformed Church in Zimbabwe (RCZ)-run boarding school, Alheit Chingombe 2 High School.

He then did his “A” Levels at Victoria High School in Masvingo, before going to the Harare Polytechnic College, where he started student activism, and later studied law at the University of Zimbabwe when he was Information and Communication Technology minister in the then coalition government between Zanu-PF, MDC-T and MDC-M from 2009 to 2013.

After the disbandment of the shaky coalition government, his star continued to shine after the late MDC-T leader Morgan Tsvangirai appointed him co vice-president of the party with Elias Mudzuri.

When Tsvangirai died, he assumed the presidency of the biggest opposition party and managed to give Zanu-PF’s President Emmerson Mnangagwa a good run for his money in the 2018 elections after polling more than two million votes in an election too close to call.

He claims the elections were rigged by Mnangagwa, a sticking point in the country’s democratic landscape up to now

The government on Friday gave MDC-T leader Thokozani Khupe $7,4 million, insisting that she is the legitimate leader of the main opposition in Parliament despite ongoing court disputes about her status, it has emerged.

Watch ZimEye.com live discussion on the money Khupe has been enriched with.

Watch video downloading below. Please be patient while the video downloads.

Popular media personality Ezra Tshisa Sibanda recently revealed that Zimbabweans based in South Africa are involved in illicit smuggling of bodies of their loved ones back to Zimbabwe for burial back home.

According to Sibanda, soldiers guarding the Limpopo River boundary with South Africa were being bribed to let the bodies and hosts of other smuggled goods through the busy illegal crossing points.

Several ZimEye.com readers however thought that the act was impossible as the formal border process was clearing bodies without hurdles.

However, it has since emerged that the process to bring in bodies through the border is not as easy as perceived leaving some to smuggle the bodies through illegal crossing points.

Under the new orders, all bodies being brought repatriated to Zimbabwe for burial are being treated as contagious except in cases where the cause of death is a road accident, murder or other body injuries.

In addition, all remains now require the clearance of the Ministry of Health and Child Care prior to their transportation to Zimbabwe under the usual procedures.

Relatives accompanying the remains are now being subjected to mandatory quarantine at any port of entry upon arrival in the country before proceeding to the various destinations.

Following reports of the smuggling, Beitbridge police have arrested 35 people carrying an assortment of goods worth thousands of dollars, which they had smuggled into the country through an illegal crossing point located less than a kilometre from the main port of entry.

No reports of bodies being brought through were however made by the police.

The suspects who have since been charged with smuggling, were carrying electrical gadgets including fridges, 275 litres of petrol, groceries and drums.
The value of the goods is yet to be ascertained.

The police officer commanding Beitbridge, Chief Superintendent Tichaona Nyongo confirmed the arrests to State Media.

“I can confirm that we arrested 35 people on Monday evening at the spill way near the Old Limpopo River.

“These were carrying an assortment of goods they had smuggled from South Africa. The goods have been taken to the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority for value and import duty calculations,” he said.

The official said deployments had been made to ensure that criminal activities were dealt with accordingly along the river.

Zimbabwean and South African security has since the start of the lockdown in April been intensifying patrols to minimise the illegal movement of both people and goods.

This is also done to reduce the rate of the spread of Covid-19 in the two neighbouring countries.

The South Africans are intercepting mainly cigarettes, while Zimbabwean authorities are arresting people with an assortment groceries and electrical gadgets.

Presently the border is closed to non-essential human traffic and the development has led to an upsurge in smuggling and border jumping.

Last week, security officials in Beitbridge intercepted six people who had smuggled goods worth R1, 3 million and attracting an estimated import duty of $4 million.

The suspects had declared that they were shipping maize meal and diapers but it turned out they were transporting groceries from South Africa to Harare.

The Zimbabwe Revenue Authority’s (ZIMRA) regional manager for Beitbridge, Mr Innocent Chikuni recently told the Minister of Finance and Economic Development, Professor Mthuli Ncube that they had intercepted 21 commercial trucks smuggling into the country an assortment goods worth millions of dollars.

“Working with other stakeholders we have been able to seize goods from 56 offenders and impounded 22 motor vehicles between April and May at undesignated entry points along the Limpopo River,” said Mr Chikuni.

“In addition, smuggling activities through the border post are surging because of the increased traffic. Between March and May we recorded 81 seizures including 21 commercial trucks & trailers.

“We are now looking at increased automation of most processes and concentration of staff to control of high-risk cargo to minimise smuggling through the main port of entry. On the river front, we believe that if we deploy more human and material resources to man or patrol the undesignated entry points, we can make head way. However, accommodation shortages are our greatest undoing as we wish to have more hands on the ground.”

By A Correspondent- The government on Friday gave MDC-T leader Thokozani Khupe $7 492 500 million which she says she is entitled to under the Political Parties Finance Act.

The development was confirmed by the minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, Ziyambi Ziyambi who said the money was deposited into the MDC-T account controlled by Khupe and her allies. He told the Standard:

Why is there an outrage? I paid what was gazetted and those who were not paid are not entitled to anything.

Those who were supposed to be paid were paid; those who were not supposed to be paid were not paid, full stop.

The PPF Act states that the money is meant to block political parties and candidates from seeking foreign funding or donations.

It also states that it is given to each political party whose candidates received at least five per centum of the total number of votes cast in the most recent general election.

MDC Alliance Secretary-General, Chalton Hwende says the move was illegal since Khupe contested under the MDC-T ticket in 2018 but Khupe says her reinstatement, “as the legitimate leader of the MDC Alliance legislators,” meant that she is the one supposed to receive the money.

-Standard

By A Correspondent- The government on Friday gave MDC-T leader Thokozani Khupe $7 492 500 million which she says she is entitled to under the Political Parties Finance Act.

The development was confirmed by the minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, Ziyambi Ziyambi who said the money was deposited into the MDC-T account controlled by Khupe and her allies. He told the Standard:

Why is there an outrage? I paid what was gazetted and those who were not paid are not entitled to anything.

Those who were supposed to be paid were paid; those who were not supposed to be paid were not paid, full stop.

The PPF Act states that the money is meant to block political parties and candidates from seeking foreign funding or donations.

It also states that it is given to each political party whose candidates received at least five per centum of the total number of votes cast in the most recent general election.

MDC Alliance Secretary-General, Chalton Hwende says the move was illegal since Khupe contested under the MDC-T ticket in 2018 but Khupe says her reinstatement, “as the legitimate leader of the MDC Alliance legislators,” meant that she is the one supposed to receive the money.

-Standard

By A Correspondent- The Zimbabwe Republic Police is investigating a robbery case in which a 29-year-old gold dealer from Bulawayo lost US$80 000.

The victim told the police that the incident took place on Friday evening outside a hotel in the Central Business District where he had parked his Toyota Allex.

National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the incident adding that investigations were underway to establish what really transpired. He said:

We are investigating a case in which a 29-year-old man from Bulawayo alleges that he was robbed while he was parked on a street somewhere in town.

According to the man, he was parked when a group of men forced themselves into his car and attacked him. They then bundled him into the back of the car as they made off with some US$80 000 that was in his car.

The victim alleges that the suspects did not steal anything else, including the car, but they made off with the money.

Nyathi reiterated his call for members of the public to be vigilant and avoid keeping large amounts of money either at home or in their vehicles, as it increased their risk of being raided by criminals.

-Statemedia

By A Correspondent- The Health Services Board (HSB) has reportedly fired all Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) in government hospitals in a ‘restructuring exercise’.

HSB Board Chair Paulinos Sikhosana told Health Times that the restructuring was meant to bring sanity in all public health institutions. Said Sikhosana:

There is a restructuring going to improve efficiency effectiveness and integrity, so that’s the only statement that I can tell you.

Zimbabwe’s public health system is in a bind, the health minister Obadiah Moyo was fired recently for allegedly awarding tenders for medicines and consumables worth US$60 million to a company which had failed due diligence.

Nurses have been on an indefinite strike demanding better remuneration while the number of people testing positive for SARS-CoV-2 is increasing daily with cases nearing 1 000.

-HealthTimes

The Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development, Professor Amon Murwira has said polytechnics and vocational training centres were reopening for final year students on Monday (tomorrow).

Murwira added that preparations for the return of students and resumption of on-campus studies were satisfactory.

He said:

We are satisfied with the preparations made by various institutions so far. We met with them and on Monday (tomorrow) colleges will open.

Studies were suspended in March nationwide as a precautionary measure to curb the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.

Some stakeholders, particularly teachers’ unions have been against the idea of reopening learning institutions saying they had not put in place the mechanisms needed to protect both learners and teachers from the virus.

Some of the learning institutions were being used as quarantine centres and the government says they have been fumigated ahead of school resumption.

The government has also prohibited churches from conducting services in schools in anticipation of reopening schools on the 28th of this month “only for June 2020 examinations and other levels would resume school when the health situation permits.”

-statemedia

MDC-T leader Thokozani Khupe has distanced her party from the July 31 anti-corruption protests being mooted by other opposition parties which she has described as untimely given the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.

In an interview with the Daily News on Sunday, Khupe said the protests being planned by opposition and pro-democracy organisations would be “stupid to risk people’s lives just to make a political statement”.

“The fight against coronavirus (Covid-19) is a collective responsibility and we cannot reverse the gains we have made so far as a nation in combating its spread for political expediency.

“What is there to demonstrate for? Against who? We are not going to be part to that because for us as a party, people’s lives are more important than scoring cheap political goals. It will be stupid for any political party to do that,” said Khupe through her spokesperson Khaliphani Phugeni.

Khupe’s disapproval of the planned demonstration comes after MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa endorsed the proposed July 31 protest which is being spearheaded by Transform Zimbabwe (T.Z) leader, Jacob Ngarivhume.

“We are seeing other people starting their own initiatives. We want to tell you that we will support any democratic initiative that can result in freedom for the people. We will join those initiatives. Even those who are in government and want to work towards freedom, we will support them even the civil servants,” said the MDC Alliance leader during a recent e-rally.

Extracted from The Daily News

State Media

The ruling party will not stand idle as opposition activists promote anarchy but will respond appropriately to any threats to the country’s peace, ZANU PF acting spokesman Patrick Chinamasa has said.

On Friday, President Mnangagwa, who is the ruling party’s First Secretary, also warned Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) that are dabbling in politics that they risk being de-registered.

Political activists and those aligned to the opposition have been fanning anti-Government sentiment, particularly on social media platforms, calling for protests.

Briefing journalists after the 341st Ordinary Session of the Zanu PF Politburo in Harare on Friday, Chinamasa said the ruling party will not allow a repeat of the August 1, 2018 and January 2019 violence that was designed to destabilise the country.

The revolutionary party, he said, would not brook threats against a constitutionally-elected Government.

“We have noted statements from some social media platforms to plan and organise violent protests and overthrow a constitutionally-elected Government.

“Let me say to (MDC Alliance leader Nelson) Chamisa and those who are calling for demonstrations on July 31 that what happened protesting on August 1, 2018 and January 2019 will not happen again. We want to send this warning loud and clear to Chamisa that whatever you are threatening on July 31, we say, come to the front and face the risk.”

He added: “Those who are plotting anarchy should know that ZANU PF is not sleeping. This time we are ready and we will not allow a repeat of what happened before.”

He said the Politburo had received a report on plans by the opposition to organise violent demonstrations.

“Those doing so must stand warned and the law will not hesitate to deal with those. Our democracy and rule of law is very clear on how a Government is constituted. The meeting advised those planning to sneak themselves into Government violently through the back-door to desist from such devious agendas because they will have themselves to blame.”

Foreign missions

In his address, President Mnangagwa warned foreign embassies overstepping their mandate through clandestinely lending support to the opposition.

“Civil society organisations must stick to the functions and roles for which they were registered. Those who deviate from their mandates will attract de-registration,” the President said.

“Some of our guests of the State, our foreign embassies, are reminded that Zimbabwe is an independent and sovereign nation. They are once again dissuaded from interfering in our internal affairs and should stop forthwith funding of the destabilisation activities.”

Government, President Mnangagwa said, was alert to labour movements that were hiding behind workers’ grievances to drive political agendas.

“I urge those who purport to represent workers to do just that. It is a one-way traffic lane. Political ambitions and views belong to another lane. Choose the lane you walk on. Those in politics must seek the mandate of the people every five years, through the ballot box. That is the constitutional way, that is the rule of law way, that is the democratic way,” he said.

Economy

Cde Chinamasa, who is also ZANU PF’s secretary for finance, said Government, through the Ministry of Industry and Commerce led by Dr Sekai Nzenza, would leverage on the recently unveiled $18 billion stimulus package to support enterprises grappling with the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

“She (Dr Nzenza) reported that her ministry is doing an impact assessment to determine how many companies and industries have been affected, with 17 percent of enterprises having closed temporarily. The ministry is taking advantage of the stimulus package provided by the President.”

The ruling party is confident that the recently introduced Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe foreign currency auction system will stabilise the economy.

“We believe that overtime, we will get to a point where there will be an equilibrium in terms of the stability of the exchange rate. Eventually we believe that this will lead to a stability in prices.”

Party members are presently being rallied to play an active role in contributing to productive programmes such as the Pfumvudza initiative in agriculture.

“Politburo also commended programmes such as Pfumvudza for productivity by people with minimal resources, such as communal farmers.

“We are very happy that this programme is working well. We have stimulated our structures to participate fully in this programme. Awareness is being raised by our structures such as the Women’s League and the Youth League.”

The party also noted the rampant cases of corruption happening in the local councils, especially those controlled by the opposition.

State Media

ZIMBABWE is in danger of witnessing a spike in Covid-19 cases after 14 returnees from South Africa who tested positive to the virus escaped from Beitbridge quarantine and isolation centre on Friday.

Police have immediately launched a manhunt for the escapees after they sneaked out of National Social Security Authority (Nssa) Hotel in Beitbridge soon after polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests confirmed that they were Covid-19 positive.

Four of the escapees have since been arrested and put back into quarantine, officials said yesterday. Chairperson of the Beitbridge Covid-19 Task Force, Mrs Sikhangaziwe Mafu-Moyo said police were pursuing the other escapees, who are a danger to society as they can infect people they interact with.

“The police are busy on the ground pursuing them through their given addresses and contacts. We believe they will catch up with them soon and we advise people to notify either the police or health workers should they locate these people who have tested positive for Covid-19,” she said.

According to Mrs Mafu-Moyo, those who escaped from the quarantine centre are Mercy Ndou (32) of Chaswingo, Beitbridge, Tumelo Nyathi (24), from Chief Staudze area in Beitbridge, Patience Mudau (26) of Chaswingo, Beitbridge, Innocent Sibanda (20) of Chipise, Beitbridge, Venson Siwela (33) of Magwegwe in Bulawayo, Brenda Magayisa (31) of Dulivhadzimu, Beitbridge and David Mubvumbi (23) of Gokwe.

The other escapees were identified as Tapiwa Moyo (29) of Mberengwa, Godfrey Moyo (26) of Beitbridge Town, Wiseman Ngwenya (31) of Beitbridge Town, Morgen Moyo (23) of Madaulo, Beitbridge, Alex Mbedzi (35) of Chipise, Beitbridge, Thatho Mazibeli (20) of Masera, Beitbridge and Calvin Bete (25) of Chivhu.

Some of the escapees are part of those who were deported for violating immigration laws in the neighbouring country and were intercepted in different towns in Gauteng and Limpopo provinces.

So far 1 089 people have been deported from South Africa and 3 456 have returned on their own since the start of the lockdown.

National police spokesman Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said so far 225 people have escaped from quarantine centres across the country and 29 have been arrested. Police officer commanding Beitbridge, Chief Superintendent Tichaona Nyongo told Parliamentarians from the joint committees on Local Government, Peace and Security recently that there was a need to install barbed wire at the Nssa Hotel to minimise cases of people escaping.

“We have deployed manpower within and outside the quarantine but you will note that when that facility was built it was meant to be a hotel and now its use has changed and hence we should upgrade the security.

“The other challenge we are having with those that escape from quarantine is that they give false names and addresses upon arrival. We have tried to pursue several people but more often we hit brick walls,” said Chief Supt Nyongo. On Friday President Mnangagwa hinted that Government was considering reviewing the lockdown regulations due to the massive increase in Covid-19 positive cases. By Friday, the country had recorded 942 Covid-19 positive cases, 320 recoveries, 609 active cases and 13 deaths since the onset of the outbreak on 20 March. There were 16 new cases reported on Friday.

Addressing the Zanu-PF Ordinary Session of the Politburo meeting, the President said while the strategies that had been implemented by the country to date to curb the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic were bearing fruit, there was a need to review the lockdown restrictions owing to the recent spike in infections.

Posting on his Twitter account last Wednesday, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Mr Nick Mangwana said with the number of new cases in Bulawayo and Harare, there was need to consider tighening lockdown regulations in the two cities. Bulawayo had on Friday recorded 162 cases with Harare having recorded 288 cases.

“Harare has the vast majority of positive Covid-19 cases. Yesterday (Tuesday), Bulawayo recorded 30 of the 53 positive cases. If there is any scaling up of containment measures, a more surgical approach is better. It means full-scale lockdown should only apply to Harare and Bulawayo,” wrote Mr Mangwana.

Mpilo Central Hospital acting chief executive officer Dr Solwayo Ngwenya who has been vocal on the need for people to change their attitude relating to the pandemic, said what the Government and the general public should realise was that the country was yet to experience its worst wave of the pandemic. He said between August and September health experts were predicting that the country would experience a surge in infections and deaths due to Covid-19 hence the need for a change in approach by the Government.

“As health experts we are extremely worried with what is happening especially the behaviour of the public, people have totally disregarded social distancing measures, they are behaving as if there is no coronavirus. They wear masks incorrectly covering the mouth and leaving nose out, which is the major outlet which the virus goes through.

“We are further seeing the worrying trend of people actually dying from this pandemic, people are dying at home and diagnosed from the mortuary which means this thing is unknown and is already within our community. What is approaching with this winter is what is already happening in South Africa, there is going to be a massive surge in cases if nothing is done,” said Dr Ngwenya.

He said police must up their monitoring exercise on lockdown.

“We appreciate the Presidential thinking on reviewing the lockdown measures but while this lockdown has to be tightened the President has to consult widely on how he can keep the economy also functional. The truth is that everyone now knows of this virus but for most they have not yet had a first-hand account hence their resistance, so in the time being while the President consults on this pending review the police should now come in with a heavy hand in monitoring the public’s adherence to lockdown regulations.

But at the end of the day as health experts we would prefer a full blown lockdown for everyone except key workers, which I am confident is coming,” said Dr Ngwenya.

A 29-year-old gold dealer from Bulawayo was left counting his losses on Friday after robbers allegedly waylaid him and made off with US$80 000 that was stashed in his car’s glove compartment.

The incident happened in the evening outside a hotel in the Central Business District where the man had parked his car, a Toyota Allex. National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the incident, although he said the circumstances around the robbery were still under investigation.

“We are investigating a case in which a 29-year-old man from Bulawayo alleges that he was robbed while he was parked on a street somewhere in town. According to the man, he was parked when a group of men forced themselves into his car and attacked him. They then bundled him into the back of the car as they made off with some US$80 000 that was in his car. The victim alleges that the suspects did not steal anything else, including the car, but they made off with the money,” he said.

Asst Comm Nyathi urged members of the public to be vigilant and avoid keeping large amounts of money either at home or in their vehicles, as it increased their risk of being raided by criminals. Nonetheless, sources privy to the incident said after the man parked his car along Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo Street, a man armed with a gun approached the car and broke a window on the driver’s side.

“With a gun still pointed at the victim’s face, two more men appeared from behind, forcefully throwing him into the back seat of the car. One of the aggressors then went straight for the glove compartment of the car where the victim had stashed the US$80 000.”

The source said one of the robbers was all along holding the victim by the throat in the back seat. The robbers then allegedly drove off to Matsheumhlope, where they dumped the victim and his car. Friday’s robbery comes in the wake of the car-jacking of a 44-year-old woman from Newton West suburb by armed robbers on Friday morning. The incident, which occurred at about 9.30am along Cecil Drive towards Matopos Road, saw the woman lose a Nissan Sylphy Bluebird, US$400 and a cellphone.

State Media

HUNDREDS of Prophetic Healing and Deliverance (PHD) Ministries followers recently besieged their leader Prophet Walter Magaya’s offices in Cape Town, South Africa, demanding refunds following a botched stands deal.

The followers said they wanted their money back since nothing had materialised three years after paying deposits.

Prophet Magaya has offered to refund local “partners” using an exchange rate of 1:1, despite having taken deposits in US dollars since 2016. The preacher has offered the same amount in Zimbabwe dollars.

Through Planet Africa, the investment arm of Prophet Magaya’s church, the followers were asked to pay varying deposits into a housing scheme.

In a grey agreement of sale, the investors (who are named as partners in the agreement) were informed that the stands’ sizes and prices were to vary and would be determined after the sub-division of the land.

The deposits ranged between US$1 000 and US$4 000, with the “partners” obliged to pay monthly subscriptions towards the scheme.

With a three-year tenure, the scheme was meant to provide the first batch of stands early this year but nothing has been delivered.

Speaking through his spokesman Admire Mango, Prophet Magaya said they were aware of the situation and would deliver as per promise once coronavirus pandemic eases.

“The lockdowns, not only in Zimbabwe but across the world, have affected all spheres of life. Once business returns to normal, we will continue with the housing project,” said Mango.

The housing project, with stands to be availed in Harare and Bulawayo, saw Zimbabweans investing in the scheme. Besides Cape Town, other Zimbabweans who invested in the project are in Australia, where a sizeable number are resident.

The housing scandal comes exactly a year after Prophet Magaya was accused of sexual misconduct. The PHD leader has failed to clear his name of the allegations levelled against him by his female congregants.

On July 7 last year, Sarah Maruta and Charity Dlodlo, in different no-holds barred confessions, alleged sexual impropriety on the part of the prophet. Their confessions were to open a can of worms as several other women made similar confessions.

This prompted the Gender Commission of Zimbabwe, a constitutional body, to issue a Government Gazette on August 23, 2019, inviting Prophet Magaya’s victims to come forward as part of its investigations to unravel how widespread the allegations were.

“The Government Gazette was also in line with our mandate to safeguard gender equality as enshrined in the Constitution,” explained Mr Tinashe Mazani, the legal officer for the Gender Commission in an interview on Friday.

However, a month after the gazette, Prophet Magaya was to approach the High Court (HC7347/19) seeking an interdict as he felt the Gender Commission did not have the jurisdiction and competence to carry out the investigations.

He contended that if there were any allegations of rape, it was the role of the Zimbabwe Republic Police to investigate, not the Commission. And if the allegations were of an adultery nature, it was not in the place of the Commission, either, to investigate.

Since the Commission had invited victims to approach it, “who were coming in, in their numbers”, Prophet Magaya then filed an urgent chamber application (HC7473/19) on September 6, which was heard on September 16 and judgement delivered on October 22.

The High Court decision was in favour of the Gender Commission continuing with its investigations. Prophet Magaya was to file a Supreme Court appeal (SC592/19) on October 30, which was heard on March 10 this year. The court reserved judgment on the hearing.

“So as the Gender Commission, we are waiting on the Supreme Court judgement as well as the initial High Court application, both which we believe will be landmark rulings as they will define the mandate, operations and scope of independent commissions, not just the Gender Commission,” said Mr Mazani.

Mr Mazani confirmed to this paper that they had compiled a number of cases by victims but could not be drawn into revealing the number as well as identities “as this will jeopardise our investigations, should they resume if the courts allow us to”.

“We also want to add that investigations into sexual misconduct, if any, are not only directed at Prophet Magaya as we also have on our files complaints against other men-of-cloth. This is not a one-man crusade but from the information that we have, it is a trend within most churches.

“Our argument is basically simple, that sexual allegations bring disharmony in households, that such allegations are different from, say fraud allegations. No man would be comfortable with his wife attending a church where such allegations are rife, which then becomes a nexus for gender inequality,” explained Mr Mazani.