TWO men allegedly strangled a 17-year-old girl and dragged her into a bushy area in Bulawayo’s Pumula suburb where they tore her underwear with a knife before sexually attacking and robbing her.
A source close to investigations said the teenager left home with two buckets to fetch water from a borehole.
“She left home at 6pm and headed to a nearby borehole to fetch water. She filled two buckets and left the other a few metres away from the borehole. She took the other one home,” said the source.
When she returned to fetch it, two unknown men pounced on her. “They grabbed her before strangling her.
They quickly blindfolded her with a scarf while dragging her to a nearby bush,” said the source.
The source went on to say one of the men shoved a cloth into her mouth.
“They took an item similar to a universal charger and placed it on her back leaving her feeling weak.
“One of the suspects tore her underwear with a knife. After that they took turns to rape her,” said the source.
After sexually attacking the minor, the source said, they took her two cellphones and ran away.
“They took her two cellphones — a Vodafone and a Nokia Asher — all her gadgets cost US$90,”said the source.
“We are investigating a case where two unknown men who are on the run raped and robbed a 17-year-old girl at a borehole last week on Thursday at around 6pm in Pumula South suburb. We would like to urge members of the public to go in groups when going to fetch water.”
Asst Insp Msebele appealed to anyone with information on the whereabouts of the two suspects who are on the run to contact their nearest police station-B-Metro
Farai Dziva| Former Zanu PF MP for Chivi Central Constituency, Killer Zivhu, has described Thokozani Khupe as an insignificant political figure who cannot contribute to the revival of the economy.
Argued Zivhu on Twitter: People are suffering more than before- we need a meaningful dialogue.
Zvavana madam Khuphe zvotipedzesa ne COVID-19. Our health system yaparara, our dollar is useless all political parties garayi pasi mutaurirane vanhu vatambura.
People are suffering more than before we need a meaningful dialogue.
Thokozani Khupe dramas (Political Actors Dialogue (POLAD) will get us killed by coronavirus.
Our Health System has collapsed, our (Zimbabwe) dollar is useless, all political parties must have dialogue, the nation is suffering.”
Farai Dziva| Former Zanu PF MP for Chivi Central Constituency, Killer Zivhu, has described Thokozani Khupe as an insignificant political figure who cannot contribute to the revival of the economy.
Argued Zivhu on Twitter: People are suffering more than before- we need a meaningful dialogue.
Zvavana madam Khuphe zvotipedzesa ne COVID-19. Our health system yaparara, our dollar is useless all political parties garayi pasi mutaurirane vanhu vatambura.
People are suffering more than before we need a meaningful dialogue.
Thokozani Khupe dramas (Political Actors Dialogue (POLAD) will get us killed by coronavirus.
Our Health System has collapsed, our (Zimbabwe) dollar is useless, all political parties must have dialogue, the nation is suffering.”
THE late director of newly-promoted ZIFA Northern Region Division One Soccer League side, CUMA Academy, Hurbert Manyowa, was laid to rest at Kadoma Jewish cemetery yesterday.
Manyowa, (48), committed suicide on Tuesday after a domestic dispute.
ZIFA Northern Region Division One league chairman, Martin Kweza, said they had lost someone who wanted to make a difference in the league.
“The passing on of CUMA co-director, Manyowa, is a great loss to the Northern Region Soccer League family and the football fraternity at large,’’ said Kweza.
“Football has lost a rising young cadre who many believed would change the face of the game in Kadoma.
“Through our brief interactions, I was impressed by the vision and plans they had for the team, together with his colleague Cuthbert Malajila.
“He was humble and had football at heart. It’s so sad that he died before he could fulfil his dream of bringing Premier League football back to Kadoma.
“It’s even more painful that we never got to work with him and benefit from his wide knowledge of football matters. We urge his colleagues to help see the dream through.
“At this moment, our thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends and the players and the community who also looked up to him. May they find comfort in the Lord.’’
Former Harare City striker, Osborne Mukuradare, who grew up in Kadoma, said they had lost a father figure.
“It is painful that we lost someone we all looked up to here in Kadoma as he would help anyone,’’ said Mukuradare-The Herald
THE late director of newly-promoted ZIFA Northern Region Division One Soccer League side, CUMA Academy, Hurbert Manyowa, was laid to rest at Kadoma Jewish cemetery yesterday.
Manyowa, (48), committed suicide on Tuesday after a domestic dispute.
ZIFA Northern Region Division One league chairman, Martin Kweza, said they had lost someone who wanted to make a difference in the league.
“The passing on of CUMA co-director, Manyowa, is a great loss to the Northern Region Soccer League family and the football fraternity at large,’’ said Kweza.
“Football has lost a rising young cadre who many believed would change the face of the game in Kadoma.
“Through our brief interactions, I was impressed by the vision and plans they had for the team, together with his colleague Cuthbert Malajila.
“He was humble and had football at heart. It’s so sad that he died before he could fulfil his dream of bringing Premier League football back to Kadoma.
“It’s even more painful that we never got to work with him and benefit from his wide knowledge of football matters. We urge his colleagues to help see the dream through.
“At this moment, our thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends and the players and the community who also looked up to him. May they find comfort in the Lord.’’
Former Harare City striker, Osborne Mukuradare, who grew up in Kadoma, said they had lost a father figure.
“It is painful that we lost someone we all looked up to here in Kadoma as he would help anyone,’’ said Mukuradare-The Herald
Cathy Buckle has opined the following opinion piece in which she said immense crisis looms in Zimbabwe as the beleaguered Southern African nation battles a myriad of socio-economic problems.
On these late winter mornings, you don’t have to listen hard to hear Zimbabwe’s clock ticking towards an immense crisis. Civil servants at ground level: teachers, nurses, security personnel, clerical and office workers are barely surviving, earning a basic salary now worth the equivalent of less than one US dollar a day. As I write the official exchange rate is ZWL$65.8 to US$1; the black market rate is ZWL$110 to US$1. Johns Hopkins Economist Steve Hanke estimates our annual inflation to now be over one thousand percent, 1,191% to be precise.
This week Social Welfare minister Paul Mavima said government has only paid 202,000 vulnerable people out of the one million targeted for assistance: people who’ve been unable to earn a living for months during Covid lockdown. The 202,000 are getting a ‘cushioning allowance’ of Z$180 a month (US$2.76), enough for two loaves of bread a month. Imagine surviving on less than 10 US cents a day.
Nurses are on strike because they can’t survive on their salaries which are equivalent of less than one US dollar a day. They’ve been appealing for their wages to be paid in US dollars, as they were eighteen months ago, but the government aren’t listening. The ZNA (Zimbabwe Nurses Association) said: “We have lost our earnings already through slave wages and so we have nothing more to lose.” Over a dozen have been arrested for striking and the images of nurses handcuffed together and singing are burned into our minds this week. These are the frontline fighters responsible for helping people infected with Covid 19. Striking nurses living in hospital accommodation at Harare hospital have now been sent eviction letters meanwhile our Minister of Health is out on Z$50,000 bail after being arrested over a US$560 million Covid 19 procurement scam. The Minister of Health didn’t even spend a single night in jail; he has now been removed from his position for “conduct inappropriate for a government minister.” In the middle of Zimbabwe’s growing Covid 19 pandemic, we now have no Minister of Health and there are ten other senior positions currently vacant in the country’s health service. It’s hard to fathom the inequity between a 560 million US dollar scam by the Minister of Health and a nurse on the ward surviving on less than one US dollar a day.
A report in NewsDay newspaper this week said Police were earning a basic salary equivalent to US$27 a month and some were collapsing at work due to hunger. “Most police officers face eviction and are failing to buy food and meet basic expenses while we watch our bosses drive top-of-the-range vehicles, stay in plush houses and get benefits that include fuel, airtime and accommodation,” the police officer said. (NewsDay) Police are due to get a COVID-19 allowance of US$75 this month and an extra Z$1,500 but it’s a far, far cry from the breadbasket which is around $20,000. Imagine surviving on 87 US cents a day?
And then there’s the “mess” underway with the Grade 7 school examinations. Called to write their Grade 7 exams before mainstream schools have re-opened, the PTUZ (Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe) said teachers had boycotted returning to work to invigilate the exams over their poor working conditions and salaries. The PTUZ President, Takavafira Zhou said schools in rural areas were hiring villagers and parents to supervise and invigilate the exams in a number of areas. Zhou was quoted in the press as saying: “It was a mess, and it is terrible.” Zhou said some headmasters had: “told pupils to pay US$1 every day they are writing so that the schools can have money to pay the hired invigilators.”
Coming to the end of such a sad letter about a country in crisis for so long, I look for something beautiful to share with you and there it is, just outside the window. The Shikra is sitting in the bird bath. I’ve just learned that Shikra is the other name for the beautiful little banded Goshawk. Its soft grey feathers, yellow legs and startling red eyes are both beautiful and intimidating. This is the raptor of immense patience, sitting unmoving for half an hour or more in one place: perched on a tap, in the bird bath, on a branch, waiting, watching. The Shikra whose name is apparently derived from the Hindi word shikara which means hunter, always makes me think of us Zimbabweans; ever patient, watching and waiting, but it also makes me think of our leaders: always ready to pounce.
President Nelson Chamisa welcoming the three MDC activists on their release on bail
Harare Magistrate’s Court has on Friday refused to relax bail conditions imposed on MDC Alliance MP Joanna Mamombe and two party activists who are on a $10 000 bail each.
Mamombe, Cecilia Chimbiri and Netsai Marova are being accused of publishing falsehood prejudicial to the state through allegedly faking their “abduction” by suspected state security agents.
The three made world news after claiming to have been seized from the hands of police by state security agents who went on to subject them to acts of torture and sexual abuse as punishment for staging an anti-government protest their abductors equated to an attempt to overthrow government.
Among their bail conditions, the three were ordered to report thrice a week at Harare Central police station, hand over passports to court authorities and not to interfere with witnesses.
They were also ordered to continue residing at their addresses as given to law enforcement agents upon their arrest and were also barred from communicating with media or use social media on anything to do with the alleged offence.
By Wilbert Mukori- The Zimbabwe authorities have not been testing for covid-19 as aggressively as the World Health Organisation (WHO) has recommended repeatedly, especially among the local community. And now it is emerging the regime that instead of testing suspected cases even our biggest health care institutions have been routinely sending the cases away.
“We have a screening process that is done at the entrance of the hospital,” Dr Narcissus Dzvanga, acting United Bulawayo Hospitals (UBH) chief executive officer.
“So, if you got any features or temperatures are within Covid-19 classification, you don’t even go beyond the screening point.”
Of the most foolish and irresponsible policies that takes the biscuit!
You send the suspected covid-19 patient away! Where do you want them to go? The least the hospital or clinic should do is advise the individual they might have covid-19 and what would be the best course of action for them to take.
Stopping the suspected covid-19 patient going beyond the screening point is all very well in protecting every in the health care institution but turning such a person lose on the rest of society, knowing just how contagious and deadly this corona virus is, is plain foolish.
What if the patient should pass the virus to someone else who then goes through the hospital’s screening process because they showed no covid-19 symptoms? Indeed, this is what probably happened at UBH resulting in a patient infecting 18 health care workers with covid-19.
“The index case is a young man who got injured while trying to carry a 50kg bag of maize and got paralysed,” explained Dr Dzvanga. “There was no direct finding of Covid-19 at presentation. But when we started to test the patient routinely that is when it was picked. The staff that you are talking about are from the same ward where he was admitted.”
The standing instructions to all everyone and not just health care workers must be:
“If you come across anyone you suspect has covid-19 infection, you must act swiftly to make sure you or anyone else do not get the virus by washing your hands thoroughly, wearing the mask and all other personal protective equipment. Advise the covid-19 suspect of you suspension, of their need to self-isolate and to be tested for the virus a.s.a.p.
“Get as much personal details of the covid-19 suspect, where they have been, who they have been in conduct with and from who they may have got the virus. Pass all these details to the nearest health care institution or relevant authority whose responsibility is carry out the covid-19 tests, tracking and tracing.
“If we all act responsible, we will contain covid-19. If we do not, then many, many more will die. The life you save by acting responsibly may well be your family’s or your own!”
There is no doubt that corona virus is spreading in Zimbabwe and is going to take a heavy toll.
“Corona virus: according to my own estimates, Zimbabwe could bury 50 000 to 100 000 people in weeks, months to come. Unfortunately, the people and the economy do not like lockdowns. So, a biblical catastrophe is on the way. Frightening new figures mean deaths are coming, soon.” twittered Dr Solwayo Ngwenya, Mpilo (one of UBH) Clinical Director, a colleague of Dr Dzvanga.
“If you have covid-19, you don’t even go beyond the screening point!” UBH is a public health institution, not private, and one of the biggest referral hospital in the land! If UBH does not admit the sick, where else do you want them to go!
“Kutakurirana nyoka mhenyu, icharuma mumwe chete!” (If you flick a live snake at each other, it will bite one of you!) as one would say in Shona. UBH followed the idiotic policy sending away covid-19 cases, ill-treating them like a deadly snake to flick out, in the end 18 of its own staff got the virus. Did Dr Dzvanga flick them and their relatives out too?
The blundering incompetence in the handling of the corona virus in Zimbabwe has turned this covid-19 pandemic from a disaster into biblical catastrophe.
All those responsible for this must be held to account; we owe it to the covid-19 dead, to ourselves and to posterity – how else can we be sure this madness will never be repeated ever again!
Suspended Registrar-General Clemence Masango today lost his bid to have his bail conditions varied after the court noted that there were no changed circumstances from the day he was granted bail.
Harare regional magistrate Mr Trinos Utahwashe noted that Masango’s application had no merits. Masango wanted to be allowed to travel to his farm to monitor operations saying agriculture was his only source of income after being suspended without pay and allowances.
Masango was recently suspended by the Public Service Commission (PSC) pending trial on two counts of criminal abuse of office as a public officer.
The charges arose after he allegedly instructed the Central Mechanical and Equipment Department (CMED) to buy a double cab and six single cab trucks without Cabinet approval, before using the vehicles at his farm.
He return to court on August 7 for routine remand.
The body of a 43-year-old vendor, Lovemore Katyora from Manhango Village under Chief Kasekete in Muzarabani, was found dumped by the roadside in Gunduza Village.
Katyora had been moving from village to village selling his wares.
Assistant Inspector Fidelis Dhewu confirmed Katyora’s death and indicated that they were treating it as murder.
He said Katyora, of number 145 Muzarabani location, left his home on July 1, to attend a church service at Chiwenga village.
“He took his bicycle and trading bag containing cell phone accessories, said Asst Insp Dhewu.
“He passed through several villages and was seen by Monica Manhango (17) at around 5pm heading towards Gunduza village. On July 3 at around 5.30pm, his body was found in an advanced stage of decomposition on the side of a footpath in Gunduza village by Member Musiyambiri (66).”
Asst Insp Dhewu said the village head, Never Gudo, was advised and a report was made at Muzarabani police station.
“Police attended the scene and observed that Katyora was struck by a sharp object. We are investigating the matter and appealing to anyone with information that can help us crack the case to come forward.”
Asst Insp Dhewu advised traders to conduct their business during the day.
In another incident, Isaiah Matore (33) of Mushumbi was arrested after he struck his friend Richmond Mudzunga (33) with an axe for stealing a pair of scissors.
The incident happened on July 5 at around 5.30pm at Jurujena village under Chief Chisunga.
On the fateful day, Mudzunga was accompanied by another friend Sobert Kaundura (33) to Matore’s homestead.
“He wanted to borrow a mirror to use while shaving his beard and after doing so, he left,” said Asst Insp Dhewu.
“Matore followed the pair and accused Mudzunga of stealing his pair of scissors. He started assaulting him and afterwards he picked up an axe and struck Mudzunga on the forehead.”
Asst Insp Dhewu said Mudzunga sustained a deep cut and was rushed to Mushumbi Hospital.
Chinamasa complains about the weaponization of social media to villify the First Family…being photographed with someone who them goes onto commit murder does not mean the President is part of you, he says pic.twitter.com/0ojIwMu4D6
President Emmerson Mnangagwa has castigated the MDC Alliance for seeking space in an area that is controlled by the ruling Zanu PF.
Speaking during the Zanu PF 341 Politburo meeting at the party headquarters President Mnangagwa said political parties should express their governing capacities on correct platforms.
“In between these years, I urge political parties to express their capacity to govern on correct platforms. Sadly, we are seeing opposition parties clamoring for spaces that we control, as Zanu PF, yet the local authorities under their purview are havens of corruption, malpractices and poor service delivery.
“As a party we have no interest in the politics of the opposition, our agenda and focus is to improve the quality of life of all Zimbabweans, leaving no one behind.” He said
He said Zanu PF will not be moved or surrender to any motives that threaten the country’s peace and unity and called on workers unions to represent their constituency not politics.
“On the political front, we continue to see acts that seek to out rightly destabilise the peace, unity and harmony we are enjoying, in particular through the use of platforms in the health, education and security sectors. We shall never quiver or capitulate in the face of these machinations.
“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.” said the President
He also warned Civic Society Organisations and foreign Embassies to stick to their roles and those who deviate will be de-registered.
Watch video downloading below. Please be patient while the video downloads
Zanu PF Acting National Spokesperson Patrick Chinamasa has warned that all state security apparatus including ZANU PF members will be out in full force against citizens who will participate in the July 31 demonstration.
Watch video downloading below. Please be patient while the video downloads
A GRIEVING Nelson Chamisa, leader of the opposition MDC Alliance party, has, for the first time, opened up on his humble beginnings, saying his late mother was very instrumental in his meteoric rise to the political scene.
Chamisa’s mother, Alice collapsed and died at the family’s rural homestead in Chiwara communal lands in Gutu South on Monday, leaving behind her husband and four children.
Addressing thousands of mourners at the funeral wake on Wednesday, Chamisa said his mother engaged in vending to raise money for him to go to school.
“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.
ZBC has introduced a host of cost cutting measures according to a leaked memo from the broadcaster’s HR department to the entire ZBC staff.
The state broadcaster announced that there will be no transport allowances for people who are being ferried from home by ZUPCO and lunch will be provided to critical stuff only and photocopying will be centralised.
Below is the memo.
SUBJECT: COST CUTTING MEASURES
The above subject matter refers.
Please be advised that the following cost cutting measures are being instituted with immediate effect:
1. TRANSPORT ALLOWANCE
Considering that the organisation contract. ZUPCO to ferry employees from home to work during this Covid-19 era. Employees reporting for duty using ZUPCO will no longer be entitled to transport allowance. Only critical staff is required to report for duty, the rest must .ay at home unless advised otherwise.
2.CANTEEN
The corporation shall be serving one starch and one type of meat per given day. Standard portions shall be served going forward. Only critical staff shall be served meals against the submitted list from the Departmental Head.
3. PHOTOCOPYNG
All photocopying shall be done through our registry department unless advised otherwise.
Stay safe and healthy by observing all precautions to avoid the spread of COVID- 19.
Regards
S. Chichaya Director-Human Resources and Administration
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
The RBZ has released the following statement that details the foreign currency exchange auction rules.
Read the full statement below:
FOREIGN EXCHANGE AUCTION RULES
The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (the Bank) wishes to advise the public that since the introduction of the Foreign Exchange Auction Trading System on 23 June 2020, three (3) Foreign Exchange Auctions have been conducted successfully. In order to enhance transparency and efficiency in achieving the primary objective of price discovery, the Bank advises that the following operating rules shall apply:
(a) Only bids for a minimum amount of US$50,000 and a maximum of US$500,000 from each bidder per auction shall be accepted;
(b) All bids shall be in United States Dollars (US$);
(c) Bidders shall submit only one bid per Foreign Exchange Auction and submission of more than one bid shall result in rejection of all bids submitted by the concerned bidder;
(d) Bids submitted by bidders that have overdue export receipts or bidders that have not acquitted foreign payments as required by law shall be rejected;
(e) Bids submitted by bidders with positive balances in their Nostro accounts that are equal to or more than the bid amount shall be rejected;
(f) Bidders must submit their bids through Authorised Dealers by 1500 hours on every Monday, or if the Monday falls on a public holiday, on the next business day, preceding the date of the next Foreign Exchange Auction;
(g) Bidders must provide in their bids sufficient details of the purpose of funds and description of goods or services to be paid for;
(h) Foreign currency shall only be allotted for the purpose for which a bid has been made and utilising allotted foreign currency for any other purpose shall not be permitted; and
(i) Foreign currency shall be allotted to winning bids according to the Import Priority List (7096 Priority Level ) and 30,6 Priority Level 2).
Protests continue to rise in Ethiopia following the murder of a popular musician who was gunned down in Adis Ababa by unknown gunmen.
Ethiopians have been protesting since his death and this has led to the death of 156 people including 11 state security agents. The Prime Minister has warned the citizens that no one is above the law as protests rage on.
Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has warned the citizens that no one is greater than the country.
He says he will strive to ensure that there is respect for rule of law. Tension continues in the country for the second week following violent protests that erupted last week after a prominent artiste from the Oromo ethnic group was killed. The country, which is under a state of emergency, is currently under heavy security and internet shutdown.
Prime minister Abiy Ahmed took over power in 2018 and one of his biggest challenges has been opposition from a section of his own ethnic group, the Oromo.
Businessman Genius Kadungure and his gas company Piko Trading have been found not guilty of smuggling gas into the country and failing to declare returns to the Commission of Taxes.
Piko Trading was charged with two counts of failing to declare tax returns and another count of smuggling gas into the country. Kadungure was being charged in his own capacity for failing to declare returns on gas sales to the Commissioner of Taxes.
Kadungure and his firm were cleared of the two offences by Harare regional magistrate Mr Crispen Mberewere. Piko Trading had pleaded guilty to two other counts of failing to declare returns to the Commissioner of taxes.
Magistrate Mberewere is expected to sentence Piko Trading on the two counts.
Farai Dziva|The MDC Alliance has accused Victor Matemadanda of using Mbuya Nehanda’s image to score political marks.
In a statement the MDC Youth Assembly described Matemadanda as a desperate and hopeless war deserter.
See full statement: 10-07-2020
A war deserter and coward like Victor Matemadanda who is known for hibernating in Zambia where he was a tax driver when the liberation struggle was at its peak back home can never school us about the liberation struggle and its iconic luminaries.
We all know that Mbuya Nehanda was courageous and led from the front during the First Chimurenga and that speaks volumes of her legacy.
Surely cowards like Matemadanda lack moral probity to speak on Mbuya Nehanda legacy or to let alone brand a leader with people at heart like Advocate Nelson Chamisa as anti revolution.
Mbuya Nehanda was for the people and that’s why she is popular up to this day and so is our President Nelson Chamisa because he fronts people’s interests.
The likes of Matemadanda and his boss Emmerson Mnangagwa only want to abuse Mbuya Nehanda’s name to prolong their corrupt and illegitimate regime.
The only notable thing that Matemadanda did is to defy Mbuya Nehanda’s famous “mapfupa achamuka” call for an uprising against colonialism.
Tax driving in a foreign country certainly is never part of our liberation struggle!
The best Matemadanda and Mnangagwa can do is to let the dead rest and spare themselves wrath of the ancestors!
31 July is going to be a rude awakening for Matemadanda and his ilk because even the spirit of Mbuya Nehanda cannot be happy about the abuse of her name by those who are causing the toiling of masses.
Hands off our liberation war icons!
Stephen Sarkozy Chuma MDCAllianceYouthAssemblyNationalSpokesperson
Mnangagwa addressing ordinary session of the Zanu PF Politburo
President Emmerson Mnangagwa on Friday hinted at re-tightening the nationwide Covid-19 induced lockdown following a recent spike in new infections.
On March 30 this year President Mnangagwa declared a total Covid-19 lockdown in Zimbabwe for an initial 21 days to better prepare the country to combat the pandemic which had started wrecking havoc throughout the world.
The measures were later relaxed as the government sought to balance health and economic interests and currently the country is under level 2 of the lockdown for an indefinite period.
As at Friday, Zimbabwe had 961 confirmed cases of Covid-19 including 12 deaths since the onset of the outbreak on 20 March 2020.
Addressing an ordinary session of the ruling Zanu PF politburo, President Mnangagwa said the rapid rise in Covid-19 infections required another review of the lockdown regulations.
“The recent rapid spike of infections require that we make another review of the Covid-19 lockdown measures soon,” he said adding, “the strategies we adopted to curb the spread of Covid-19 pandemic have to date yielded positive results.”
He said the country would continue to strengthen preventive measures, testing and contact tracing.
President Mnangagwa warned groups pushing for government workers to go on strike.
“We continue to see acts that seek to out rightly destabilise the peace, unity and harmony we are enjoying, in particular through the use of platforms in the health, education and security sectors. We shall never quiver or capitulate in the face of these machinations,” he said.
“I challenge 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,” he said.
He warned civil society organisations to stick to their mandate, or risk being de-registered.
“Those who deviate from their mandate will attract de-registration,” he said.
President Mnangagwa also warned foreign embassies against interfering in the internal affairs of the country.
“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 the funding of destabilisation activities,” he said.
Some fringe political parties including the Jacob Ngarivume-led Transform Zimbabwe have indicated that they would hold street protests on July 31 this year.
Veteran Ghanaian midfielder Sulley Muntari has revealed his ambitions to grace the ABSA Premiership and play for Kaizer Chiefs.
The 35-year-old, a UEFA Champions League winner with Inter Milan in the 2009/10 season, unraveled his admiration for the South African top flight and Amakhosi in particular, while speaking on Robert Marawa’s Marawa Sports Show last night.
“I would love to come play in South Africa, Sundowns and Pirates are there but I love Chiefs and I would like to play for them,” said Muntari.
Muntari also hailed the quality of the league.
“I have been watching South African Football League and it is very good, it’s even better than some European leagues,” he said.-Soccer 24
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
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) is waiting to hear from Cameroon about hosting the final stages of this year’s Champions League, putting the completion of the tournament in doubt.
The football body picked the west African country to host the remaining games of the competition which were suspended in the semi-final round because of the coronavirus crisis.
In a letter sent to member associations, CAF’s acting general secretary Abdelmounaim Bah said the exact dates for the games would be confirmed at a later date after Cameroon had confirmed to host.
The proposed dates would have seen the last 4 round played on 31 July-9 August or from 4-13 September with the final scheduled ten days later in each case.
Al Ahly are due to meet last year’s runners-up Wydad Casablanca while Zamalek take on Raja Casablanca in the two semi-finals – both matches being contested between Egyptian and Moroccan clubs.
Meanwhile, reports from last week suggested that the final could be moved to the United Arab Emirates if Cameroon is not available-Soccer 24
Farai Dziva|The MDC Alliance has accused Victor Matemadanda of using Mbuya Nehanda’s image to score political marks.
In a statement the MDC Youth Assembly described Matemadanda as a desperate and hopeless war deserter.
See full statement: 10-07-2020
A war deserter and coward like Victor Matemadanda who is known for hibernating in Zambia where he was a tax driver when the liberation struggle was at its peak back home can never school us about the liberation struggle and its iconic luminaries.
We all know that Mbuya Nehanda was courageous and led from the front during the First Chimurenga and that speaks volumes of her legacy.
Surely cowards like Matemadanda lack moral probity to speak on Mbuya Nehanda legacy or to let alone brand a leader with people at heart like Advocate Nelson Chamisa as anti revolution.
Mbuya Nehanda was for the people and that’s why she is popular up to this day and so is our President Nelson Chamisa because he fronts people’s interests.
The likes of Matemadanda and his boss Emmerson Mnangagwa only want to abuse Mbuya Nehanda’s name to prolong their corrupt and illegitimate regime.
The only notable thing that Matemadanda did is to defy Mbuya Nehanda’s famous “mapfupa achamuka” call for an uprising against colonialism.
Tax driving in a foreign country certainly is never part of our liberation struggle!
The best Matemadanda and Mnangagwa can do is to let the dead rest and spare themselves wrath of the ancestors!
31 July is going to be a rude awakening for Matemadanda and his ilk because even the spirit of Mbuya Nehanda cannot be happy about the abuse of her name by those who are causing the toiling of masses.
Hands off our liberation war icons!
Stephen Sarkozy Chuma MDCAllianceYouthAssemblyNationalSpokesperson
WHO is a global organization, but we are also proud and active members of the cities and communities we live in.
Since the 20 th of March, Geneva’s famous Jet d’Eau fountain has been switched off while the city was in lockdown.
Yesterday I had the enormous honour of re-starting the Jet d’Eau, as a symbol of the city reopening now that the number of cases has declined.
I’m deeply grateful to the city and canton of Geneva for their hospitality and support for WHO, and for illuminating the Jet d’Eau in blue in honour of WHO and the United Nations.
But although new cases here in Geneva are now in the single digits, we are continuing to see an escalating pandemic globally.
As the pandemic accelerates in low- and middle-income countries, WHO is especially concerned about its impact on people who already struggle to access health services – often women, children and adolescents.
The indirect effects of COVID-19 on these groups may be greater than the number of deaths due to the virus itself.
Because the pandemic has overwhelmed health systems in many places, women may have a heightened risk of dying from complications of pregnancy and childbirth.
WHO has developed guidance for health facilities and community activities on maintaining essential services, including for women, newborns, children and adolescents.
This includes ensuring women and children can use services with appropriate infection prevention and control measures, and respectful maternal and newborn care.
WHO has also carefully investigated the risks of women transmitting COVID-19 to their babies during breastfeeding.
We know that children are at relatively low-risk of COVID-19, but are at high risk of numerous other diseases and conditions that breastfeeding prevents.
Based on the available evidence, WHO’s advice is that the benefits of breastfeeding outweigh any potential risks of transmission of COVID-19.
Mothers with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 should be encouraged to initiate and continue breastfeeding and not be separated from their infants, unless the mother is too unwell.
WHO has detailed information in our clinical guidance about how to breastfeed safely.
WHO is also concerned about the impact of the pandemic on adolescents and young people.
Early evidence suggests people in their teens and 20s are at greater risk of depression and anxiety, online harassment, physical and sexual violence and unintended pregnancies, while their ability to seek the services they need is reduced.
School and university closures can also have a dramatic impact on the ability of adolescents to access preventive services.
Credit:WHO
Inserted by Zimbabwe Online Health Centre
For more information like/ follow our Facebook page:
July 31 is certainly going to mark the end of Emmerson Mnangagwa’s short but brutal dictatorship.
In his short spell as the President albeit through stealing elections, Mnangagwa has presided over untold suffering, repression and oppression that has never been witnessed before in this land.
It was under Mnangagwa when we first witnessed senseless butchering with live ammunition of defenseless citizens by rogue soldiers.
It is by no coincidence that the people are going to take to the streets a day before the anniversary of 1 August military killings.
The blood of those martyrs is crying for justice and the biggest form of justice those innocent civilians can ever have is removal of the man who deployed the military on the day in question.
That man is none other than Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa!
The people are going to stop at nothing to make sure he is gone.
Nothing, nothing and I repeat nothing at all is going to save this man whose corrupt and murderous regime is responsible for the worst economic crisis since the lapse of GNU.
It is only under Mnangagwa’s watch that we have witnessed a sharp increase abductions of civil society leaders, trade unionists and political activists.
From Tatenda Mombeyarara to Cecilia Chimbiri, Netsai Marova and Joanna Mamombe, the growing list of abductees is inexhaustible!
In his fake New Dispensation, Mnangagwa did set a new for every wrong reason.
Citizens recall with anger and aghast the shock events of January 2019 where a sizeable number was raped and killed.
For the first time post independence, we witnessed a total blackout of internet connectivity in January 2019.
It is under Mnangagwa that a new phenomenon called ‘catch and release’ mushroomed to habour corrupt cabinet criminals like his clansman Obadiah Moyo.
The season of people power is ripe and time to take stalk is now!
Not even the abuse of Covid19 lockdown is going to save Mnangagwa from protests.
We, the citizens have run out of patience and we just can not afford another day with Emmerson Mnangagwa as the President.
31 July must be the last straw for Mnangagwa!
Let us do it for ourselves and our future.
Stephen Sarkozy Chuma MDCAllianceYouthAssemblyNationalSpokesperson
Own Correspondent| Masvingo based preacher Isaac Makomichi has claimed that a lady without the love potion herb” is incomplete.”
On Wednesday Makomichi claimed he would deliver the anointed love potion herb to outspoken social media figure Mai Titi to helpi her solve love life problems.
See Makomichi’s statement :
I’m troubled with Mai Titi’s condition, of course she is doing fine but sooner or later that fame might totally destroy her love life and the only way to avoid that is to use my anointed love potion.
I will deliver a VVIP love potion to her.
I wanted to do it in private but my personal assistant said Mai Titi is not responding to her massages on Facebook.
People always read about so many testimonies from different newspapers but now the Holy Spirit is telling me to help Mai Titi.
I know that her love life will be sweet .If you are in love with someone then you must not forget that there are so many ladies out there who are attreactive.
A lady without a love potion is not complete,because sooner or later someone will take away your partner.
If Mai Titi wants my help she must App me on 0777469342.
By A Correspondent- A woman from Bulawayo’s Enthumbane suburb, Privilege Hove who is also an illegal money changer popularly known as usiphatheleni, recently cheated death by a whisker when she was stabbed on the arm with a kitchen knife by her lover’s wife after she allegedly found them having sex in her rented room.
Hove and her unidentified lover’s mother Thobekile Kwenda stay at the same house and Hove’s lover and his wife reportedly stay in Kadoma.
When they were busted in the midst of fornication Hove’s alleged lover and his wife had reportedly visited Kwenda. It emerged that there was an action-packed drama when the enraged wife busted her husband pants down with Hove.
Having suspected that it was Kwenda who exposed the illicit relationship, Hove is now threatening to decisively deal with her.
A fearful Kwenda last week approached the Bulawayo Civil Court seeking a protection order against Hove.
“I am being threatened by Privilege Hove. She is threatening to hire people to deal with me. She was in love with my son and they were caught red-handed in the act by my daughter-in-law. They then fought with my daughter-in-law and she was stabbed on the arm with a knife.
She reported the matter at Entumbane Police Station but she later withdrew it at the instigation of my son who is also paying for her medical expenses,” said Kwenda.
She said Hove was now telling people in the suburb that once her wound heals, she would deal with her as punishment for ending her relationship with her son.
“I am now seeking a protection order because my life is in danger. She is telling people that once her hand heals, she wants to deal with me. I pray that since we are staying at the same house, she must not talk to me or use my things,” pleaded Kwenda.
Hove who apparently feared the humiliation of a trial didn’t come to court to defend herself leading the presiding magistrate Nomasiko Ndlovu to grant the order in favour of Kwenda.
The magistrate ordered Hove not to disturb Kwenda’s peace by verbally harassing or threatening her in any way.
Farai Dziva|The MDC Alliance has accused Victor Matemadanda of using Mbuya Nehanda’s image to score political marks.
In a statement the MDC Youth Assembly described Matemadanda as a desperate and hopeless war deserter.
See full statement: 10-07-2020
A war deserter and coward like Victor Matemadanda who is known for hibernating in Zambia where he was a tax driver when the liberation struggle was at its peak back home can never school us about the liberation struggle and its iconic luminaries.
We all know that Mbuya Nehanda was courageous and led from the front during the First Chimurenga and that speaks volumes of her legacy.
Surely cowards like Matemadanda lack moral probity to speak on Mbuya Nehanda legacy or to let alone brand a leader with people at heart like Advocate Nelson Chamisa as anti revolution.
Mbuya Nehanda was for the people and that’s why she is popular up to this day and so is our President Nelson Chamisa because he fronts people’s interests.
The likes of Matemadanda and his boss Emmerson Mnangagwa only want to abuse Mbuya Nehanda’s name to prolong their corrupt and illegitimate regime.
The only notable thing that Matemadanda did is to defy Mbuya Nehanda’s famous “mapfupa achamuka” call for an uprising against colonialism.
Tax driving in a foreign country certainly is never part of our liberation struggle!
The best Matemadanda and Mnangagwa can do is to let the dead rest and spare themselves wrath of the ancestors!
31 July is going to be a rude awakening for Matemadanda and his ilk because even the spirit of Mbuya Nehanda cannot be happy about the abuse of her name by those who are causing the toiling of masses.
Hands off our liberation war icons!
Stephen Sarkozy Chuma MDCAllianceYouthAssemblyNationalSpokesperson
By A Correspondent- Two men allegedly strangled a 17-year-old girl and dragged her into a bushy area in Bulawayo’s Pumula suburb where they tore her underwear with a knife before sexually attacking and robbing her.
A source close to investigations said the teenager left home with two buckets to fetch water from a borehole.
“She left home at 6pm and headed to a nearby borehole to fetch water. She filled two buckets and left the other a few metres away from the borehole. She took the other one home,” said the source.
When she returned to fetch it, two unknown men pounced on her.
“They grabbed her before strangling her. They quickly blindfolded her with a scarf while dragging her to a nearby bush,” said the source.
The source went on to say one of the men shoved a cloth into her mouth.
“They took an item similar to a universal charger and placed it on her back leaving her feeling weak.
“One of the suspects tore her underwear with a knife. After that they took turns to rape her,” said the source.
After sexually attacking the minor, the source said, they took her two cellphones and ran away.
“They took her two cellphones — a Vodafone and a Nokia Asher — all her gadgets cost US$90,”said the source.
Deputy Bulawayo police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Nomalanga Msebele said: “We are investigating a case where two unknown men who are on the run raped and robbed a 17-year-old girl at a borehole last week on Thursday at around 6pm in Pumula South suburb. We would like to urge members of the public to go in groups when going to fetch water.”
Asst Insp Msebele appealed to anyone with information on the whereabouts of the two suspects who are on the run to contact their nearest police station.
WHO is a global organization, but we are also proud and active members of the cities and communities we live in.
Since the 20 th of March, Geneva’s famous Jet d’Eau fountain has been switched off while the city was in lockdown.
Yesterday I had the enormous honour of re-starting the Jet d’Eau, as a symbol of the city reopening now that the number of cases has declined.
I’m deeply grateful to the city and canton of Geneva for their hospitality and support for WHO, and for illuminating the Jet d’Eau in blue in honour of WHO and the United Nations.
But although new cases here in Geneva are now in the single digits, we are continuing to see an escalating pandemic globally.
As the pandemic accelerates in low- and middle-income countries, WHO is especially concerned about its impact on people who already struggle to access health services – often women, children and adolescents.
The indirect effects of COVID-19 on these groups may be greater than the number of deaths due to the virus itself.
Because the pandemic has overwhelmed health systems in many places, women may have a heightened risk of dying from complications of pregnancy and childbirth.
WHO has developed guidance for health facilities and community activities on maintaining essential services, including for women, newborns, children and adolescents.
This includes ensuring women and children can use services with appropriate infection prevention and control measures, and respectful maternal and newborn care.
WHO has also carefully investigated the risks of women transmitting COVID-19 to their babies during breastfeeding.
We know that children are at relatively low-risk of COVID-19, but are at high risk of numerous other diseases and conditions that breastfeeding prevents.
Based on the available evidence, WHO’s advice is that the benefits of breastfeeding outweigh any potential risks of transmission of COVID-19.
Mothers with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 should be encouraged to initiate and continue breastfeeding and not be separated from their infants, unless the mother is too unwell.
WHO has detailed information in our clinical guidance about how to breastfeed safely.
WHO is also concerned about the impact of the pandemic on adolescents and young people.
Early evidence suggests people in their teens and 20s are at greater risk of depression and anxiety, online harassment, physical and sexual violence and unintended pregnancies, while their ability to seek the services they need is reduced.
School and university closures can also have a dramatic impact on the ability of adolescents to access preventive services.
Credit:WHO
Inserted by Zimbabwe Online Health Centre
For more information like/ follow our Facebook page:
Farai Dziva|Controversial ZANU PF National Commissar Victor Matemadanda has claimed that MDC Alliance leader Advocate Nelson Chamisa will never rule Zimbabwe following his comments on Mbuya Nehanda.
Said Matemadanda : “Zimbabweans might not know that Chamisa’s father was in the RAF battalion, meaning one Rhodesian African Riffle.”
“He (Chamisa) is a person who grew up in an army cantonment area, but an army which was on the side of the Rhodesian regime, and his value system because of that, is naturally against the revolution, the liberation of this country.”
“But if he thinks I am lying, he has every right to challenge me.
I know he is a son of a Rhodesian African riffler who fought against the liberation process of this country and his value system now favours the former coloniser.
And for him to disregard the physical and spiritual effort of Ambuya Nehanda is wrong.
A recognition that every one of us is doing, despite the fact that I am in the opposition or what, our people in Zimbabwe respect the spiritual world especially with regards to the liberation process if this country. And for him to denigrate her, he will never rule this country because of that.
He is very irresponsible, very ignorant, very misguided anti-our culture, anti-Zimbabwe and anti-our culture.”
Addressing an e-rally on Sunday, Advocate Chamisa said that government was not putting its priorities right by planning to erect a giant Nehanda statue in central Harare while the nation is starving.
Responding to Matemadanda’s remarks the MDC Alliance said:
Surely cowards like Matemadanda lack moral probity to speak on Mbuya Nehanda legacy or to let alone brand a leader with people at heart like Advocate Nelson Chamisa as anti revolution.
Mbuya Nehanda was for the people and that’s why she remains popular up to this day and so is our President Nelson Chamisa because he fronts people’s interests.
The likes of Matemadanda and his boss Emmerson Mnangagwa only want to abuse Mbuya Nehanda’s name to prolong their corrupt and illegitimate regime.
The only notable thing that Matemadanda did is to defy Mbuya Nehanda’s famous “mapfupa achamuka” call for an uprising against colonialism.
Tax driving in a foreign country certainly is never part of our liberation struggle!
The best Matemadanda and Mnangagwa can do is to let the dead rest and spare themselves wrath of the ancestors.
By A Correspondent- A woman from Bulawayo’s Mpopoma suburb who shared her nude pictures with a friend has been sentenced together with three other accomplices for sharing raunchy pictures in a residents’ WhatsApp group.
A court heard that Linah Ncube (33) shared her nude pictures with Mpumelelo Nyoni (30) from the same suburb.
It is alleged Nyoni further shared the nudes with Viola Chamboko (29) and Sharon who leaked the pictures. Prosecutor Patson Muchingami told the court that the crime was committed between April last year and June this year when the quartet was arrested.
The court heard Ncube discovered that her nude pictures were being circulated after bumping into them on a Mpopoma WhatsApp group.
She then reported the matter to the police who deployed the cyber crack team comprising police Victim Friendly Unit to investigate the matter.
The court heard investigations led to the arrest of Ncube and that of the three accomplices as it was established that she intentionally sent the pictures to Nyoni.
The prosecutor said while the other three had violated Ncube’s privacy, she was also liable for circulating the nude pictures.
“The three accused persons worked in cahoots and circulated pictures bearing nude photos of the complainant on WhatsApp platforms. They did this in full realisation that there was a real risk or possibility that their conduct would seriously impair the dignity of the complainant.
The trio was also found in possession of five nude pictures belonging to the complainant on their phones which is indecent or obscene or prohibited,” he said.
He said police investigations also led to Ncube’s arrest.
Linah was fined $500 and paid it and the trio of Mpumelelo, Sheron and Viola were fined $1 000 which they are supposed to have paid by 27 July or spend 60 days in prison.
Zimbabwe’s coronavirus cases have gone up by 41, bringing the total to 926 .
The Ministry of Health and Child Care announced in a statement that the new cases include returnees from South Africa (2), Namibia (1), Japan (1) and 36 local cases.
51 of the cases reported on Thursday were from Bulawayo province of which 21 are health caregivers who have been in contact with known confirmed cases admitted at the hospital and have been isolated.
Zimbabwe’s recent coronavirus pattern is worrisome as cases recorded increasing at an unparalleled rate.
See the trend below: New cases:- July 9 = 41 July 8 = 98 July 7 = 53 July 6 = 18 July 5 = 18 July 4 = 73 July 3 = 8 July 2 = 12 July 1 = 14 Total cases as of July 9 = 926.
Meanwhile, 100 people recovered from the virus bringing the total number of recoveries in the country to 306-
By A Correspondent- MDC youth leader Obey Sithole has dismissed funding claims of the July 31 Zimbabwe Anti-Sanction Allied Movement protest.
Sithole said anyone who is thinking that he and other leaders received funding are foolish.
“I have come across an article alleging that myself &other leaders in the party got money for #July 31 protest.Let me say it here & now, it’s FOOLISH 4 anyone to think that #Zimbabweans need to be funded to demonstrate. Corruption is the chief motivator for action. # ZanupfMustGo,” Sithole said via Twitter.
Meanwhile, president Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government has announced plans to tighten lockdown regulations for Harare and Bulawayo after infections spiked to 885 as of Wednesday, with local infections also rising.
But critics said the surge in COVID-19 cases was now being used as an excuse to frustrate planned public demonstrations by civic groups and opposition activists on July 31.
TWO men allegedly strangled a 17-year-old girl and dragged her into a bushy area in Bulawayo’s Pumula suburb where they tore her underwear with a knife before sexually attacking and robbing her.
A source close to investigations said the teenager left home with two buckets to fetch water from a borehole.
“She left home at 6pm and headed to a nearby borehole to fetch water. She filled two buckets and left the other a few metres away from the borehole. She took the other one home,” said the source.
When she returned to fetch it, two unknown men pounced on her. “They grabbed her before strangling her.
They quickly blindfolded her with a scarf while dragging her to a nearby bush,” said the source.
The source went on to say one of the men shoved a cloth into her mouth.
“They took an item similar to a universal charger and placed it on her back leaving her feeling weak.
“One of the suspects tore her underwear with a knife. After that they took turns to rape her,” said the source.
After sexually attacking the minor, the source said, they took her two cellphones and ran away.
“They took her two cellphones — a Vodafone and a Nokia Asher — all her gadgets cost US$90,”said the source.
“We are investigating a case where two unknown men who are on the run raped and robbed a 17-year-old girl at a borehole last week on Thursday at around 6pm in Pumula South suburb. We would like to urge members of the public to go in groups when going to fetch water.”
Asst Insp Msebele appealed to anyone with information on the whereabouts of the two suspects who are on the run to contact their nearest police station-B-Metro
By A Correspondent- ZRP has denied that it sanctioned a demo on 31 July to be held at the US Embassy.
ZRP said the letter circulating to that effect is fake and the signature on that document does not belong to the officer commanding Harare.
In a series of tweets, ZRP said:
The ZRP dismisses a letter which has been posted on the social media platform indicating that Chief Superintendent Matongo, the Officer Commanding Harare Suburban District has sanctioned a purported demonstration by Zimbabwe Anti-Sanction Allied Movement set for 31 July 2020 in Harare CBD and Westgate. This is a forged letter with a fake signature which does not belong to the senior officer.
Chief Superintendent does not command Harare Central District and as such cannot sanction demonstrations or activities in Harare CBD. The date stamp on the letter does not belong to Chief Superintended Matongo’s office.
In this regard the ZRP dismisses the fake letter with the contempt which it deserves. In fact no notification has been made to the relevant regulatory authority by Zimbabwe Anti -Sanctions Allied Movement.
Farai Dziva| Former Zanu PF MP for Chivi Central Constituency, Killer Zivhu, has described Thokozani Khupe as an insignificant political figure who cannot contribute to the revival of the economy.
Argued Zivhu on Twitter: People are suffering more than before- we need a meaningful dialogue.
Zvavana madam Khuphe zvotipedzesa ne COVID-19. Our health system yaparara, our dollar is useless all political parties garayi pasi mutaurirane vanhu vatambura.
People are suffering more than before we need a meaningful dialogue.
Thokozani Khupe dramas (Political Actors Dialogue (POLAD) will get us killed by coronavirus.
Our Health System has collapsed, our (Zimbabwe) dollar is useless, all political parties must have dialogue, the nation is suffering.”
LEAD President Linda Masarira has spoken against going into the streets to protest ‘without clarity of thought’, saying there is no need to risk lives when people do not know what they want to achieve after raising their voice.
In a Twitter post, Masarira said the fight against corruption should start at a local level before going national encouraging people to fight the vice and demand accountability from traditional leaders, council and central government.
This followed a meeting Masarira had with the organiser of the 31 July action, Jacob Ngarivhume.
“It’s time Zimbabweans took the fight against corruption to their own homes, villages, communities, wards, districts and provinces. It’s time we root out corrupt office bearers and demand accountability from traditional leaders, council & government.
“It’s not about going into the streets for the sake of demonstrating, risking your life for a cause you are not willing to examine with clarity of thought. Know what it is you want to achieve after you have raised your voice in protest,” said Masarira.
Stakes are rising ahead of the planned 31 July protest with various groups including political parties, civic groups and influential people having endorsed the action.
Government has in return warned citizens against breaching lockdown rules saying the results could be catastrophic.
Home Affairs minister has also threatened to arrest those who take the law into their own hands.
Cyclone Idai victims who are still living in tents more than a year after the cyclone destroyed their homes will get new ones before the end of the year, a Cabinet Minister has said.
The cyclone hit eastern Zimbabwe in March last year, with Chimanimani and Chipinge being the worst hit.
More than a year down the line, some of the victims whose houses were swept away are still living in tents at Ngangu in Chimanimani.
Speaking during a national housing delivery programme meeting in Mutare yesterday (Thursday), National Housing and Social Amenities Minister Daniel Garwe said the situation in Chimanimani is disturbing.
“Allowing people to live in tents for such a long period of time is eating into the value of their culture, which will have a negative impact on the values of our children,” he said.
“What culture is cultivated in these tents? The neighbour hears everything that happens in this tent.
“We must ensure that we provide houses to the people of Chimanimani by Christmas this year.
“When I was appointed minister, my first focus should have been Chimanimani to ensure that we provide houses for the Cyclone Idai victims.
“However, I am glad that I was part of the delegation when the Chinese Ambassador handed over a donation of US$2 million to the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works to expeditiously start working on the housing programme in Chimanimani. We will be calling for a meeting as soon as possible. All stakeholders need to ensure that we build the houses and get our people out of the tents before the end of this year. “Let it be our number one priority. We would have failed His Excellency, President Mnangagwa, if we continue pretending as if people are not living in tents,” said the minister.
Minister Garwe was responding to pleas made by the Minister of State for Manicaland Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Dr Ellen Gwaradzimba, for a speedy response to the housing problems being facing by Cyclone Idai victims.
“The Chimanimani community was affected by Cyclone Idai in March 2019. To this very day, people are still living in tents. Their situation is sad and it requires urgent attention. It is an embarrassment that more than a year down the line, those families are still living under such squalid conditions,” said Dr Gwaradzimba passionately.
“The conditions under which they are living make me feel very embarrassed as the Minister of State for Provincial Affairs in Manicaland. Seeing those families in tents make me feel as if we have forgotten or neglected them.
“However, while it is work in progress, a lot has been done by Government to source resources to build decent accommodation for the Idai victims. We just need to ensure that at the onset of the rainy season, those families will be accommodated in their new houses. Please help us accelerate the construction,” she appealed to the National Housing Minister.
Last Friday, China, through the United Nation Development Programme, pledged an additional US$2 million which will be channelled towards Cyclone Idai ravaged areas in Zimbabwe. The grant, which is being implemented under the recently launched Post Disaster Restoration Assistance through UNDP and its partners will provide roofing materials for community housing, health and education facilities that were damaged in Chimanimani and Chipinge districts.
Meanwhile, a development partner – Business Friends of Manicaland (BFM) – recently handed over donations to women who were affected by the cyclone. The goods, including peanut butter making machines, pots, sanitary pads and plates, were handed to the women by Manicaland provincial development coordinator, Mr Edgars Seenza. Dr Nancy Saungweme, Ms Florence Sachikonye, Ms Sheila Matamisa, Ms Sue Peters, Ms Yvonne Mapungwana, Ms Christine Chima and several other women living outside the country are the brains behind BFM.
Speaking during the hand-over ceremony, BFM coordinator and Ambassador designate, Dr Saungweme said another consignment of clothes, shoes and kitchen utensils, is expected from the United Kingdom soon.
“We are not tiring in donating to Cyclone Idai victims, especially women as they were the most affected. This is an ongoing initiative that is aimed at assisting affected people.
“The container with the second consignment was delayed due to the Covid-19 pandemic,” said Dr Saungweme.
Government will soon review Covid-19 lockdown measures in the wake of the recent spike of infections, President Mnangagwa has said.
Speaking at the Ordinary Session of Politburo meeting at the party headquarters in Harare today, President Mnangagwa, who is the party’s first secretary, said the recent rapid spike of infections requires another review of the Covid19 lockdown measures.
President Mnangagwa arrives at the Zanu-Pf headquarters for the Ordinary Session of Politburo meeting at the party headquarters in Harare on Friday.
“Although there is a visible spike in the number of positive cases, largely due to returnees, we shall continue to strengthen our preventive measures as well as our testing and contact tracing capacity.
“I urge the party (Zanu PF) to continue to be in the forefront of raising the awareness levels in our communities of the dangers of this pandemic. The recent rapid spike of infections requires that we make another review of the lockdown of the Covid19 lockdown measures ” said President Mnangagwa.
He said the strategies adopted to curb the spread of the pandemic have to date yielded positive results.
THE Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) has been forced to close its Bulawayo and Chiredzi offices after it emerged the 54-year-old Bulawayo man who died of COVID-19 on Sunday had visited the offices.
Thabani Sibanda, who became the country’s ninth COVID-19-related death, worked at the Zimra offices in Bulawayo and visited the company’s Chiredzi offices a week before his death, NewsDay has established.
He was admitted at the PSMI Hospital in Hillside, Bulawayo on Sunday July 5, 2020, soon after arriving from Chiredzi and died a few hours later.
Zimra’s Chiredzi offices were yesterday closed, while an internal memorandum dated July 7 by Zimra Commissioner-General Faith Mazani confirmed the temporary closure of the Bulawayo offices.
“This serves to advise the authority is temporarily closing the Bulawayo offices from July 7 and the office will be opened on Monday July 13,” part of Mazani’s memorandum read.
“This temporary closure has been effected in order to allow the disinfection of the offices. However, essential services shall continue to be offered through our COVID-19 structures.”
According to the circular, the Health ministry has started testing Zimra staff based at the Bulawayo Mhlahlandela office for COVID-19 where all those tested will be placed on 14-day self-quarantine.
The Chiredzi offices were reportedly closed for the same reason.
Sources revealed Sibanda came to Chiredzi from Bulawayo in the company of nine other Zimra employees. Four of them were booked at Palm Place with the other five booked at Stallion Lodge.
Sibanda was staying in room 3 at Palm Place for four days where he had contact with employees at the lodge. Hippo Valley Estates employees working at the distillery also allegedly had contact with him.
He also had daily contact with his son who is based in Chiredzi and is currently an intern at a local company. The son stays in Tshovani suburb and shares a house with eight other occupants.
Resident director for Palm Place, Lovemore Chiwanza, confirmed that the man was booked at his lodge.
“Yes, I can confirm that he was staying in room 3, but he never showed any sign of illness and his temperature was normal,” Chiwanza said.
“As a lodge, we are so thorough when it comes to following government guidelines. We are already disinfecting the place. The Ministry of Health recommended that we use hydro peroxide for fumigation.”
Health ministry officials have been to Zimra, Palm Place and Stallion Lodge collecting samples from staff and those suspected to have had contact with the deceased.
Stallion Lodge officials denied ever hosting Zimra officials at their place, but the district development co-ordinator for Chiredzi, who is the vice-chairperson of district COVID-19 taskforce, Livermore Chisema, said the lodge was one of the sites visited by Health officials.
By A Correspondent- A record number of Zimbabwean lawyers will appear at Harare Magistrates Court on Friday 10 July 2020 answering to charges of defeating or obstructing the course of justice as defined in section 184(1)(d) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act following their arrest in June.
The lawyers namely Advocate Thabani Mpofu, Tapiwa Makanza and Joshua Chirambwe were arrested in early June in a period in which Zimbabwe Republic Police members swooped on legal practitioners for conducting their professional duties.
First to be arrested on Monday 1 June 2020, was Advocate Mpofu, who is represented by Beatrice Mtetwa and Raymond Moyo of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR), who was charged with committing various offences including defeating or obstructing the course of justice as defined in section 184(1)(d) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act alternatively, fraud as defined in section 136 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act and alternatively perjury as defined in section 183(1)(a) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act.
Advocate Mpofu, who is out of custody on RTGS$20 000 bail, was also charged with corruptly concealing a transaction from a principal as defined in section 172(1)(b) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act.
On Count 1, which is a charge of corruptly concealing a transaction from a principal as defined in section 172(1)(b) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act, prosecutor Michael Reza of the National Prosecuting Authority alleged that the 38 year-old Advocate Mpofu connived with Everson Samukange, who was a Professional Assistant at Venturas & Samukange Legal Practitioners in 2017, to divert a contract entered into between Senziwani Sikhosana, the Managing Director of Access Finance and Venturas & Samukange Legal Practitioners, wherein Everson Samukange would represent Sikhosana in an undisclosed civil matter.
Reza alleged that Everson Samukange received US$6 000, which was deposited into his Standard Chartered Bank account from Sikhosana through Access Finance which he later conveyed to Advocate Mpofu.
On Count 2, which is a charge of defeating or obstructing the course of justice as defined in section 184(1)(d) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act, Reza alleged that in January 2019, Advocate Mpofu attempted to defeat the course of justice by conniving with Tapiwa Makanza and Advocate Choice Damiso to draft an affidavit in the name of Simbarashe Zuze, who is non-existent, to purport as if Zuze had sworn an affidavit before Advocate Damiso with the aid of Makanza, who professed to be his lawyer.
Advocate Mpofu, Reza said, went on to lodge the said affidavit at the Constitutional Court before Justice Paddington Garwe bearing only the name of Simbarashe Zuze without any other identification details under case number CCZ03/2019 to purport as if Zuze was challenging the appointment of Kumbirai Hodzi as Prosecutor-General.
By so doing, Reza charged, Advocate Mpofu, Makanza and Advocate Damiso intended to cause the Constitutional Court to nullify Hodzi’s appointment as Prosecutor-General on the basis of a fictitious person who did not have the necessary locus standi.
The application seeking to nullify Hodzi’s appointment as Prosecutor-General, Reza said, was struck off the Constitutional Court roll on suspicion that it could be fictitious and did not meet some set standards.
On Count 3, which is a charge of defeating or obstructing the course of justice as defined in section 184(1)(d) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act or alternatively perjury as defined in section 183(1)(a) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act, Reza alleged that Advocate Mpofu, Chirambwe and Lawman Chimuriwo connived on 7 February 2019 to obstruct any investigations into the existence of Zuze after noting that Zuze’s application had been dismissed.
The trio, Reza said, plagiarised the contents of the affidavit purported to have been made by Zuze and created, with those contents, another affidavit in the name of Chirambwe before filing another application at the Constitutional Court under CCZ04/19.
Reza said by filing an application on behalf of Chirambwe with the full knowledge that Zuze’s statement in his application had been challenged by Judicial Service Commission Secretary Walter Chikwana on the basis that Zuze did not exist, Advocate Mpofu intended to defeat and obstruct the course of justice.
Another lawyer, Makanza, who was arrested by ZRP members on Sunday 7 June 2020, will also appear at Harare Magistrates Court after he was charged with defeating or obstructing the course of justice as defined in section 184(1)(a) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act.
Makanza, who is represented by Paidamoyo Saurombe of ZLHR, is accused by prosecutors of creating a fictitious person Simbarashe Zuze, who is the person who in January 2019 filed an application in the Constitutional Court challenging President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s appointment of Kumbirai Hodzi as Prosecutor-General as he did not score high marks during interviews conducted by Judicial Service Commission.
The 38 year-old Makanza is out of custody on RTGS$20 000 bail.
Another lawyer, Chirambwe, who is out of custody on RTGS$20 000 bail, will also appear at Harare Magistrates Court after he was arrested and charged with defeating or obstructing the course of justice as defined in section 184(1)(a) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act.
The 28 year-old Chirambwe, who is represented by Obey Shava of ZLHR, is accused of conniving with Advocate Mpofu to obstruct any investigations into the existence of Zuze upon realising that the initial application tendered by Advocate Mpofu in the Constitutional Court was struck off the court’s roll on 6 February 2020.
Also appearing at Harare Magistrates Court are Harare West legislator Hon. Joanah Mamombe and MDC-Alliance party Youth Assembly leaders Cecelia Chimbiri and Netsai Marova, who are victims of abduction and torture and who were arrested by ZRP members on 11 June 2020 and charged with publishing or communicating false statements prejudicial to the state as defined in section 31(a)(ii) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act and publishing or communicating false statements prejudicial to the state as defined in section 31(a)(iii) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act. The trio was also charged with defeating or obstructing the course of justice as defined in section 184(1)(f) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act.
Hon. Mamombe, Chimbiri and Marova, who are represented by Alec Muchadehama, Jeremiah Bamu, Tinomuda Shoko and Roselyn Hanzi of ZLHR, went missing on 13 May 2020, when they were abducted in Harare by some unidentified people and were later found on 15 May 2020 after being dumped in Bindura in Mashonaland Central province.
They have already been charged with committing public violence after they were arrested on 26 May 2020 for allegedly participating in an anti-government protest against hunger during the national lockdown period as defined in section 37 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act and for contravening section 5(3) (a) as read with section 5(1) of Statutory Instrument 99 of 2020 of Public Health (COVID-19 Prevention, Containment and Treatment) (National Lockdown) Order, 2020 and will stand trial in August.
By Jane Mlambo| According to a local radio station Star FM, President Emmerson Mnangagwa has told the Zanu PF politburo that his government will review national lockdown restrictions.
The Zanu PF politburo is currently sitting amid increasing pressure from citizens over the deteriorating economic conditions in the country.
There are fears that government wants to use lockdown to clampdown on opposition and civic groups who are organising protests on the 31st of July.
A grieving Nelson Chamisa, leader of the opposition MDC Alliance party, has, for the first time, opened up on his humble beginnings, saying his late mother was very instrumental in his meteoric rise to the political scene.
Chamisa’s mother, Alice collapsed and died at the family’s rural homestead in Chiwara communal lands in Gutu South on Monday, leaving behind her husband and four children.
Addressing thousands of mourners at the funeral wake on Wednesday, Chamisa said his mother engaged in vending to raise money for him to go to school.
“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.
By Kennedy Kaitano- t was with profound shock and sadness that I learnt of the death of our Mother, Amai Alice Chamisa who, from what has been reported, collapsed while doing one of things she loved doing most – working in her garden.
I felt devastated on such a sudden loss of life. Her pictures shown after her passing on depicted a loving mother, who was full of energy, full of life. It reminded me of the song “Munhu akanaka”, done many years by musical legend Zex Manatsa.
In the song Manatsa shared the message that the good people do not last long, but the murders and witches will live longer (Munhu akanaka haararame. Kunosara mhondi nevaroi – kunosara varoi……..).
It was a god thing that Dr. Thokozani Khupe, Professor Madhuku and others who have not been seeing eye to eye with Advocate Chamisa, son of the Amai Chamisa, took time to mourn and pay their last respects to Amai Chamisa.
As Advocate Chamisa told the crowd, there are times when we have to put our political differences aside, especially in instances where human lives are lost.
That is the Ubuntu spirit which we must all embrace. Barring others from paying their respects to the deceased is a primitive practice which should be abhorred. A big thank you to Dr. Khupe and Professor Madhuku and all others opposed to Advocate Chamisa who participated in the send-off event for our beloved Amai, and of cause all those who are not opposed to Advocate Chamisa.
A big thatnk you also to Advocate Chamisa for standing your ground against the security which initially barred Dr. Khupe from participating. It helped to prove the fact that you do not incite violence and hatred as some of those opposed to you have said.
I am glad that Shakespeare Mukoyi absolved you for the damaging allegations by your detractors that you instructed the youths to attack Dr. Khupe at the funeral of the late MDC founding President, an allegation those who wanted to ruin your political prospects.
I have reported before of a discussion I had with a member of the Dr. Khupe faction in which I proved to him that the culture of attacking opponents within the party is something that has existed since many years ago, narrating to my discussant my interaction with youths who assaulted Honourable Priscilla Misihairambwi-Mushonga.
Those that I spoke to made it clear they acted on their own instinct, and want to protect the party from those they think are selling out. I recounted to my discussant the late Trudy Stevenson assault, and the Elton Mangoma assault, and the assault on Dr. Khupe in Bulawayo, until they accepted that the original MDC leadership failed to curb violent behaviour.
At least I managed to convince my discussant that Advocate Chamisa had nothing to do with violent behaviour in the MDC. However, the real problem of the anger that is simmering across the country is not the original MDC leadership.
The real problem is Zanu PF which has caused the simmering anger that is sweeping across the entire country. I said before that these young people have suffered under Zanu PF, some of them have been brutally assaulted and tortured by Zanu PF and Government agents.
Their hope to defeat Zanu PF has been the MDC since its formation, and as divisions arise within the MDC, they see as if there are some people who are derailing the struggle for freedom from Zanu PF, and they will not hesitate to attack once they suspect someone for working with Zanu PF or willingly being manipulated by Zanu PF to derail the struggle.
People may want to argue otherwise, but I have done research over the years, and have concluded that that is the position. Other researchers may want to do alternative research on the subject to prove me wrong if they wish to, but I am confident the findings will not be very different.
Of course there may be some political actors who may take advantage of the restive youth and sponsor them to attack their opponents, which is unfortunate, but I can echo Shakespeare Mukoyi to vouch for Advocate Chamisa’s innocence.
It is very unfortunate that Mr. Khaliphami Phugeni selected to call reality MDC-A hooligans. They are not MDC-A hooligans Mr. Phugeni, they are angry Zimbabweans who are yearning for change, but think that they are some who are being willingly abused by Zanu PF to derail the fight for freedom for personal benefit.
For anyone who has been labelled, rightly or wrongly, as a Zanu PF project, the only way to absolve yourself is to join the July 31 2020 demonstration which is believed by many has the potential to bring down the illegitimate Zanu PF regime.
Think carefully about this piece of free advice if you are genuinely against Zanu PF. Go out into the streets as is being planned. Let it happen everywhere, both in urban and rural areas. The regime will not have the capacity to control it if it happens all over the country.
Opposition politicians who spend time trying to portray Advocate Chamisa as causer of violence know that they are engaging in cheap politicking as part of a futile blame game to tarnish the image of the MDC Alliance leader. Advice ignored is trouble invited.
The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) is expecting the foreign currency exchange rate to reach equilibrium in the next few weeks following trading of the foreign currency auction system on Tuesday.
The development comes at a time when the parallel market exchange rate has retreated to 1:93 from 1:103 by the end of June due to the introduction of the forex auction system.
RBZ governor John Mangudya told Business Times that the third successful forex auction will push illegal forex traders out of business and stabilise the exchange rate to pave way for economic growth.
“We are using the Dutch Auction System and under the system, each successful bidder is charged the rate he or she bid and it is always the case that the highest bidder today will lower the bid and the lowest bid will increase the bid to reach an equilibrium convergence.
“The auction is designed to enhance transparency in the management of foreign exchange and achieve a realistic market driven exchange rate for the local currency,” Mangudya said.
RBZ foreign currency auction system Tuesday set the exchange rate at 1:65 against the US dollar, registering a 3 % decline when compared to last week.
The apex bank update on the latest trades shows that US$13.m was available on the system with the highest bid rate ZW$90 lowest bid rate ZWL$30 lowest accepted rate ZW$55.
However, the average weighted rate settled at ZW$65.87 registering 3% decline from the figures declared last week.
From the foreign currency available, the manufacturing sector was allotted US$5.6m, retail and distribution US$1.9m, services US$1.8m, agriculture US$1m construction, engineering and electricals US$1m and energy US$575,421.
The figures show that trade volume by allocation is down by 16%. Economists said the RBZ’s latest measures to halt the collapse of the local currency as bidders are likely to have gained confidence in the system but need a lot of monitoring to achieve desired results.
The first US dollar weekly auction was held last week Tuesday where slightly less than 100 bidders participated with total bids of US$11.4m. The auction brought the ZW/ US$ exchange rate to 57:1 from the hitherto official rate of 25:1.
Economist Persistence Gwanyanya said the auction system has the potential to stabilise the forex exchange rate and was hopeful that the stabilisation of the forex rate will arrest the rampant cost of living and prices.
“So far the system has proved to be successful but we don’t know how it will go in the next few weeks,” Gwanyanya said.
Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries president Henry Ruzvidzo said a number of companies have started to get forex since the introduction of the auction system.
“The system offered an opportunity to stabilise the local currency and the elimination of the major of the exchange rate, consequently we expect the prices of the basic commodities to stabilise,” Ruzvidzo said.
By Jane Mlambo| Brother to controversial socialite Passion, Apostle Batsirai Java has released a video setting the record straight on the issue surrounding his homeless young brother Simbarashe who appeared in circulating video accusing his brother, Panganai of neglecting him.
Simbarashe appeared in a video claiming that his young brother Passion brought him to East London, South Africa from Zimbabwe where he was working at a construction company.
He claims that since the beginning of the lockdown, he has been unemployed resulting in him being homeless while begging Passion to assist him go back to Zimbabwe.
“If you want to come tomorrow morning, I will help you come but you stay with your mum because I can’t take you in my house, I want a quite life,” said Batsirai.
Batsirai has lived a largely quite and reserved lifestyle as compared to his sibling, Passion who is always flaunting his riches on social media and picking battles with people including Emmanuel Makandiwa, Talent Chiwenga and many others.
Government has reinstated embattled NetOne chief executive Lazarus Muchenje with immediate effect.
The development was confirmed by a well-placed source, who asked for anonymity for fear of reprisals.
“Yes, he was reinstated, effective immediately with all charges levelled against him dropped,” the source said.
In May, Muchenje and seven other NetOne executives were arrested on corruption and abuse of office charges by the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission, but were later freed on $3 000 bail each.
The arrest followed an initial suspension in March on allegations of being incompetent and refusing to provide documentation for an audit.
Muchenje did not respond to repeated calls made to his mobile phone.
By A Correspondent- The Chief Executive of the Procurement Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (PRAZ), Mr Nyasha Chizu, was on Tuesday sent on leave amid serious procurement violations in the country.
The leave came a day after he appeared before the Parliament’s Committee on the Budget, Finance and Economic Development where he indicated:
some entities had not complied with procurement guidelines issued by the authority in March when the Covid-19 pandemic was declared a national disaster.
PRAZ did not oversee all procurement of goods and services by Government departments to combat Covid-19
some State entities had not submitted monthly procurement reports since the beginning of the lockdown.
some had centralised their procurement processes instead of decentralising them.
Chizu said some cases had been referred to the Zimbabwe Anti Corruption Commission (Zacc) for further investigation.
Chizu also told Parliament that the authority is no longer responsible for awarding tenders, but issues general procurement guidelines, review processes and evaluates decisions made by procuring entities.
The Ministry of Finance and Economic Development is the authority now responsible for the final money for value assessment before it will approve payments.
Observers use recent procurement scandals to cement the argument that the authority, like its predecessor, is an appendage for political elites.
By A Correspondent- Zimbabwe’s coronavirus cases have gone up by 41 bringing the total to 926 including 12 deaths reported at Sally Mugabe Central Hospital (2) and Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals (1).
The Ministry of Health and Child Care announced in a statement that the new cases include returnees from South Africa (2), Namibia (1), Japan (1) and 36 local cases.
51 of the cases reported on Thursday were from Bulawayo province of which 21 are health caregivers who have been in contact with known confirmed cases admitted at the hospital and have been isolated.
Zimbabwe’s recent coronavirus pattern is worrisome as cases recorded increasing at an unparalleled rate. See the trend below:
New cases:
July 9 = 41
July 8 = 98
July 7 = 53
July 6 = 18
July 5 = 18
July 4 = 73
July 3 = 8
July 2 = 12
July 1 = 14
Total cases as of July 9 = 926.
Meanwhile, 100 people recovered from the virus bringing the total number of recoveries in the country to 306.
By Own Correspondent| A record number of Zimbabwean lawyers will appear at Harare Magistrates Court on Friday 10 July 2020 answering to charges of defeating or obstructing the course of justice as defined in section 184(1)(d) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act following their arrest in June.
The lawyers namely Advocate Thabani Mpofu, Tapiwa Makanza and Joshua Chirambwe were arrested in early June in a period in which Zimbabwe Republic Police members swooped on legal practitioners for conducting their professional duties.
First to be arrested on Monday 1 June 2020, was Advocate Mpofu, who is represented by Beatrice Mtetwa and Raymond Moyo of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR), who was charged with committing various offences including defeating or obstructing the course of justice as defined in section 184(1)(d) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act alternatively, fraud as defined in section 136 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act and alternatively perjury as defined in section 183(1)(a) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act.
Advocate Mpofu, who is out of custody on RTGS$20 000 bail, was also charged with corruptly concealing a transaction from a principal as defined in section 172(1)(b) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act.
On Count 1, which is a charge of corruptly concealing a transaction from a principal as defined in section 172(1)(b) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act, prosecutor Michael Reza of the National Prosecuting Authority alleged that the 38 year-old Advocate Mpofu connived with Everson Samukange, who was a Professional Assistant at Venturas&Samukange Legal Practitioners in 2017, to divert a contract entered into between Senziwani Sikhosana, the Managing Director of Access Finance and Venturas&Samukange Legal Practitioners, wherein Everson Samukange would represent Sikhosana in an undisclosed civil matter.
Reza alleged that Everson Samukange received US$6 000, which was deposited into his Standard Chartered Bank account from Sikhosana through Access Finance which he later conveyed to Advocate Mpofu.
On Count 2, which is a charge of defeating or obstructing the course of justice as defined in section 184(1)(d) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act, Reza alleged that in January 2019, Advocate Mpofu attempted to defeat the course of justice by conniving with Tapiwa Makanza and Advocate Choice Damiso to draft an affidavit in the name of Simbarashe Zuze, who is non-existent, to purport as if Zuze had sworn an affidavit before Advocate Damiso with the aid of Makanza, who professed to be his lawyer.
Advocate Mpofu, Reza said, went on to lodge the said affidavit at the Constitutional Court before Justice Paddington Garwe bearing only the name of Simbarashe Zuze without any other identification details under case number CCZ03/2019 to purport as if Zuze was challenging the appointment of Kumbirai Hodzi as Prosecutor-General.
By so doing, Reza charged, Advocate Mpofu, Makanza and Advocate Damiso intended to cause the Constitutional Court to nullify Hodzi’s appointment as Prosecutor-General on the basis of a fictitious person who did not have the necessary locus standi.
The application seeking to nullify Hodzi’s appointment as Prosecutor-General, Reza said, was struck off the Constitutional Court roll on suspicion that it could be fictitious and did not meet some set standards.
On Count 3, which is a charge of defeating or obstructing the course of justice as defined in section 184(1)(d) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act or alternatively perjury as defined in section 183(1)(a) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act, Reza alleged that Advocate Mpofu, Chirambwe and Lawman Chimuriwo connived on 7 February 2019 to obstruct any investigations into the existence of Zuze after noting that Zuze’s application had been dismissed.
The trio, Reza said, plagiarised the contents of the affidavit purported to have been made by Zuze and created, with those contents, another affidavit in the name of Chirambwe before filing another application at the Constitutional Court under CCZ04/19.
Reza said by filing an application on behalf of Chirambwe with the full knowledge that Zuze’s statement in his application had been challenged by Judicial Service Commission Secretary Walter Chikwana on the basis that Zuze did not exist, Advocate Mpofu intended to defeat and obstruct the course of justice.
Another lawyer, Makanza, who was arrested by ZRP members on Sunday 7 June 2020, will also appear at Harare Magistrates Court after he was charged with defeating or obstructing the course of justice as defined in section 184(1)(a) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act.
Makanza, who is represented by Paidamoyo Saurombe of ZLHR, is accused by prosecutors of creating a fictitious person Simbarashe Zuze, who is the person who in January 2019 filed an application in the Constitutional Court challenging President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s appointment of Kumbirai Hodzi as Prosecutor-General as he did not score high marks during interviews conducted by Judicial Service Commission. The 38 year-old Makanza is out of custody on RTGS$20 000 bail.
Another lawyer, Chirambwe, who is out of custody on RTGS$20 000 bail, will also appear at Harare Magistrates Court after he was arrested and charged with defeating or obstructing the course of justice as defined in section 184(1)(a) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act.
The 28 year-old Chirambwe, who is represented by Obey Shava of ZLHR, is accused of conniving with Advocate Mpofu to obstruct any investigations into the existence of Zuze upon realising that the initial application tendered by Advocate Mpofu in the Constitutional Court was struck off the court’s roll on 6 February 2020.
Also appearing at Harare Magistrates Court are Harare West constituency legislator Hon. Joanah Mamombe and MDC-Alliance party Youth Assembly leaders Cecelia Chimbiri and Netsai Marova, who are victims of abduction and torture and who were arrested by ZRP members on 11 June 2020 and charged with publishing or communicating false statements prejudicial to the state as defined in section 31(a)(ii) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act and publishing or communicating false statements prejudicial to the state as defined in section 31(a)(iii) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act. The trio was also charged with defeating or obstructing the course of justice as defined in section 184(1)(f) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act.
Hon. Mamombe, Chimbiri and Marova, who are represented by Alec Muchadehama, Jeremiah Bamu, Tinomuda Shoko and Roselyn Hanzi of ZLHR, went missing on 13 May 2020, when they were abducted in Harare by some unidentified people and were later found on 15 May 2020 after being dumped in Bindura in Mashonaland Central province.
They have already been charged with committing public violence after they were arrested on 26 May 2020 for allegedly participating in an anti-government protest against hunger during the national lockdown period as defined in section 37 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act and for contravening section 5(3) (a) as read with section 5(1) of Statutory Instrument 99 of 2020 of Public Health (COVID-19 Prevention, Containment and Treatment) (National Lockdown) Order, 2020 and will stand trial in August.
All political parties, public figures and even fringe groups must be responsible and avoid events with potential to spread Covid-19 during the lockdown, particularly as locally transmitted Covid-19 cases are on the rise, the Government said yesterday.
This follows social media messages calling for mass action.
Complacency is now seen as the major risk to public health. Zimbabwe on Wednesday recorded the single largest infections in a single day with 98 new cases. But 47 were local transmissions rather than being recorded among returning citizens and residents in quarantine centres.
This sharp rise in community infection opens serious risks since even a modest gathering could now include an infected person.
This is one reason why the public health authorities are being so insistent on strict enforcement of masking, hygiene, temperature testing and social distancing in all exempted areas under relaxations of the lockdown.
Addressing the media in Harare yesterday, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Senator Monica Mutsvangwa warned against complacency at all levels, saying the consequences may be unpalatable.
“It is in view of this heightened increment in infection cases that I urge the public to continue to adhere to the lockdown regulations and practise preventative and protective behaviour. Government is urging each one of us against complacency,” Minister Mutsvangwa said.
She said although Zimbabwe embraces democratic principles, calls for demonstrations may be ill-timed because of the ongoing pandemic.
“We are in the midst of an existential threat. Any political posturing is not helpful. We therefore call upon public figures and political players to act responsibly with the safety of Zimbabweans in mind.
Any call for mass action at this time is an unnecessary stoking of infection risk to the nation,” said Minister Mutsvangwa.
She added; “This country cannot afford adventurism in the midst of this threat to our very existence.”
There have been odd calls by leaders of fringe political parties like Jacob Ngarivhume and Noah Manyika for mass action end of this month.
Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Minister Kazembe Kazembe said Government will prioritise the lives of Zimbabweans over everything else.
“We are observing Covid-19 regulations and if anyone breaks the law they will be arrested because we are still under lockdown. Life is more important than everything else, life is more critical than anything that one can think of,” said Minister Kazembe.
Countries that have let their guard down in fighting Covid-19 have faced dire health consequences.
In Brazil, President air Bolsonaro was in denial and refused to institute any measures.
Bolsonaro has since tested positive and his country has recorded 1,72 million cases — more than the total population of Harare — with 68 055 deaths.
However, The Zimbabwe Republic Police has dismissed a fake letter which has been posted on the social media platforms indicating that Chief superintendent Smart Matongo, the Officer Commanding Harare Suburban District, had sanctioned a purported demonstration by Zimbabwe Anti-Sanction Allied Movement set for July 31, 2020, in Harare CBD and Westgate.
ZRP national spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi in a statement said it is a forged letter with a fake signature which does not belong to the senior officer.
“Chief Superintendent Matongo does not command Harare Central District and as such cannot sanction demonstrations or activities in Harare CBD.
“The date stamp on the letter does not belong to chief Superintendent Matongo’s office,” he said.
In this regard, he said the ZRP dismisses the fake letter with the contempt which it deserves.
“In fact, no notification has been made to the relevant regulatory authority by Zimbabwe Anti-Sanction Allied Movement.
“The ZRP takes this opportunity to warn individuals and groups circulating fake or doctored messages on the social media platforms that they will be arrested. Investigations have been instituted on the source of the fake letter,” Nyathi said.
The MDC 3: Cecilia Chimbiri, Netsai Marova, and Joana Mamombe are appearing in Court at 0900hrs at Rotten Row. They are also supposed to report at Harare Central police Station as per the Bail out condition (Double Show). The court sitting is in room 14. pic.twitter.com/P8vECJkw1z
The Procurement Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe’s (PRAZ) chief executive, Mr Nyasha Chizu, was on Tuesday sent on leave, the day after he told Parliament’s committee on the Budget, Finance and Economic Development that some entities had not complied with procurement guidelines issued by the authority in March when the Covid-19 pandemic was declared a national disaster.
PRAZ admitted that it did not oversee all procurement of goods and services by Government departments to combat Covid-19 and that not all State entities had submitted monthly procurement reports since the beginning of the lockdown.
The non-compliant entities were yet to submit their monthly procurement reports as required by law while some had centralised their procurement processes instead of decentralising them.
Mr Chizu said some cases had been referred to the Zimbabwe Anti Corruption Commission (Zacc) for further investigation.
PRAZ board chairperson Mrs Vimbai Nyemba confirmed Mr Chizu was on leave and denied rumours he had been suspended.
When Mr Chizu appeared with other PRAZ managers before the budget committee on Monday, he said the authority was reviewing procurement done by various Government departments since the lockdown was enforced in March.
PRAZ was established as a successor body to the State Procurement Board, through the Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets Act in 2018, and Mr Chizu was appointed CEO since then.
The organisation is no longer responsible for awarding tenders, but issues general procurement guidelines, review processes and evaluates decisions made by procuring entities.
The Treasury has the responsibility for the final money for value assessment, before it will approve payments, and recently ordered the cancellation of a large deal for medical supplies entered into by the Ministry of Health and Child Care, a deal that has already seen the former Health Minister, Dr Obadiah Moyo, arrested and later dismissed from office.
The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) is expecting the foreign currency exchange rate to reach equilibrium in the next few weeks following trading of the foreign currency auction system on Tuesday.
The development comes at a time when the parallel market exchange rate has retreated to 1:93 from 1:103 by the end of June due to the introduction of the forex auction system.
RBZ governor John Mangudya told Business Times that the third successful forex auction will push illegal forex traders out of business and stabilise the exchange rate to pave way for economic growth.
“We are using the Dutch Auction System and under the system, each successful bidder is charged the rate he or she bid and it is always the case that the highest bidder today will lower the bid and the lowest bid will increase the bid to reach an equilibrium convergence.
“The auction is designed to enhance transparency in the management of foreign exchange and achieve a realistic market driven exchange rate for the local currency,” Mangudya said.
RBZ foreign currency auction system Tuesday set the exchange rate at 1:65 against the US dollar, registering a 3 % decline when compared to last week.
The apex bank update on the latest trades shows that US$13.m was available on the system with the highest bid rate ZW$90 lowest bid rate ZWL$30 lowest accepted rate ZW$55.
However, the average weighted rate settled at ZW$65.87 registering 3% decline from the figures declared last week.
From the foreign currency available, the manufacturing sector was allotted US$5.6m, retail and distribution US$1.9m, services US$1.8m, agriculture US$1m construction, engineering and electricals US$1m and energy US$575,421.
The figures show that trade volume by allocation is down by 16%. Economists said the RBZ’s latest measures to halt the collapse of the local currency as bidders are likely to have gained confidence in the system but need a lot of monitoring to achieve desired results.
The first US dollar weekly auction was held last week Tuesday where slightly less than 100 bidders participated with total bids of US$11.4m. The auction brought the ZW/ US$ exchange rate to 57:1 from the hitherto official rate of 25:1.
Economist Persistence Gwanyanya said the auction system has the potential to stabilise the forex exchange rate and was hopeful that the stabilisation of the forex rate will arrest the rampant cost of living and prices.
“So far the system has proved to be successful but we don’t know how it will go in the next few weeks,” Gwanyanya said.
Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries president Henry Ruzvidzo said a number of companies have started to get forex since the introduction of the auction system.
“The system offered an opportunity to stabilise the local currency and the elimination of the major of the exchange rate, consequently we expect the prices of the basic commodities to stabilise,” Ruzvidzo said.
ZANU PF national commissar Victor Matemadanda has declared that MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa will never rule Zimbabwe after his comments on Mbuya Nehanda.
Addressing an e-rally beamed on Sunday, Chamisa said that government was not putting its priorities right by planning to erect a giant Nehanda statue in central Harare while the nation starves.
Matemadamda said Chamisa was inspired by the experience of growing up in a Rhodesian cantonment area. Chamisa was born at the end of the Chimurenga war, in 1978.
Matemadanda says: @nelsonchamisa grew up in a Rhodesian cantonment area… "and his value system as a result of that, is naturally against the liberation of this country…" pic.twitter.com/umFILuUQh7
“Zimbabweans might not know that Chamisa’s father was in the RAF battalion, meaning one Rhodesian African Riffle,” Matemadanda said Wednesday.
“He (Chamisa) is a person who grew up in an army cantonment area, but an army which was on the side of the Rhodesian regime, and his value system because of that, is naturally against the revolution, the liberation of this country.
“But if he thinks I am lying, he has every right to challenge me.
“I know he is a son of a Rhodesian African riffler who fought against the liberation process of this country and his value system now favours the former coloniser.
“And for him to disregard the physical and spiritual effort of Ambuya Nehanda is wrong.
“A recognition that every one of us is doing, despite the fact that I am in the opposition or what, our people in Zimbabwe respect the spiritual world especially with regards to the liberation process if this country.”
Matemadanda added, “And for him to denigrate her, he will never rule this country because of that. He is very irresponsible, very ignorant, very misguided anti-our culture, anti-Zimbabwe and anti-our culture.
“I don’t know he gets this desperation, a loose person, I don’t know how people support him and he will never rule this country.”
Addressing the rally, Chamisa said the ruling ZANU PF was putting its priorities wrongly.
“I heard this government wants to build a statue of the late heroine of the First Chirimurenga Ambuya Nehanda,” he said.
“It shows that people are wired wrongly, it is inappropriate to build the statue.
“You are telling us that you want to commit state resources to building the statue instead of putting money and effort into building buildings and infrastructure.
“But you are thinking of building a statue, that’s wrong priorities.”
Zimbabwe’s coronavirus cases have gone up by 41 bringing the total to 926 including 3 deaths reported at Sally Mugabe Central Hospital (2) and Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals (1).
The Ministry of Health and Child Care announced in a statement that the new cases include returnees from South Africa (2), Namibia (1), Japan (1) and 36 local cases.
51 of the cases reported on Thursday were from Bulawayo province of which 21 are health caregivers who have been in contact with known confirmed cases admitted at the hospital and have been isolated.
Zimbabwe’s recent coronavirus pattern is worrisome as cases recorded increasing at an unparalleled rate. See the trend below:
New cases:-
July 9 = 41 July 8 = 98 July 7 = 53 July 6 = 18 July 5 = 18 July 4 = 73 July 3 = 8 July 2 = 12 July 1 = 14
Total cases as of July 9 = 926.
Meanwhile, 100 people recovered from the virus bringing the total number of recoveries in the country to 306
Lupane State University has announced new meal prices which will be effective from the 10th of this month with a cup of plain soup being the most affordable for many students who depend on guardians for funding.
The University started receiving returning students two weeks ago and more are still coming in batches.
Former ZANU PF legislator for Chivi South Killer Zivhu has claimed that Zimbabweans are now worse off they have ever been before.
He posted on twitter:
People are suffering more than before we need a meaningful dialogue .zvavana madam Khuphe zvotipedzesa ne covid-19 . our health system yaparara , our dollar is useless all political parties garayi pasi mutaurirane vanhu vatambura
“People are suffering more than before we need a meaningful dialogue. zvavana madam Khuphe zvotipedzesa ne COVID-19. our health system yaparara, our dollar is useless all political parties garayi pasi mutaurirane vanhu vatambura. [People are suffering more than before we need a meaningful dialogue. Thokozani Khupe dramas (Political Actors Dialogue (POLAD)) will get us killed by coronavirus. Our Health System is collapsed, our (Zimbabwe) dollar is useless, all political parties must have dialogue, the nation is suffering.]”
Zivhu was recently recalled from Parliament by the ruling ZANU PF after he suggested on social media that, to resolve the country’s socio-economic and political crises, president Emmerson Mnangagwa and MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa have to engage in meaningful dialogue.
He also claimed POLAD was a circus meant to legitimise Mnangagwa and hoodwink the public into believing that something was being done to address the crises in the country.
The Constitutional Amendment Bill, which seeks to amend the Constitution by empowering the President to appoint his Vice Presidents instead of the running mate concept, and extend women’s quota by another two Parliamentary terms, was tabled in the National Assembly yesterday for the first time.
The tabling of the Bill, which also seeks to create a youth quota of ten seats in the National Assembly, followed the lapse of a 90-day period by which such a Bill can be brought before Parliament.
Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi tabled the Bill and indicated he would be making additional amendments, some of which he said were “consequential” to initial amendments.
Minister Ziyambi said he will be making an additional amendment aimed at removing Clause 101, which stipulate that a sitting President will be replaced by the First Vice President until the expiry of the former President’s term in the event of death, incapacitation or removal from office.
The same Clause stipulates that the Second Vice President will become the First Vice President and the President would then be required to appoint the Second Vice President.
“The new section seeks to repeal this provision and replace it with one that provides that in the event of death, resignation or incapacity of President or Vice President, the VP who was last nominated to act assumes office of the President until the vacancy is filled by a nominee of the political party which the President represented when he or she stood for election,” said Minister Ziyambi.
“In the event of death, resignation or removal from office a President who was an independent candidate, the Vice President who was last nominated to act assumes office.”
He said the Bill will also provide for exemption of judges from going through interviews, but left it to the President and Judicial Service Commission to extend their tenure in a manner that allowed competent and experienced judges on the law and jurisprudence to benefit the justice delivery system.
Minister Ziyambi said there will be a new amendment providing for 10 seats reserved for youths in Parliament.
There will also be another new insertion of the office of the Public Protector and his or her deputy to be appointed by the President after consultation with the JSC and the Committee on Standing Rules and Orders.
A further amendment will be on provincial council where legislators would no longer sit on it and will not be chaired by the mayor of Harare and Bulawayo, but by persons elected from a party list.
Presenting a portfolio committee report on Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, chairperson and Makoni South MP, Misheck Mataranyika (Zanu PF), said during public hearings some people were of the view that the issue of running mates was noble since it created certainty on succession.
He added that some people also felt that Proportional Representation for women disadvantaged them in that they had no constituencies, with some suggesting that there be 105 geographical constituencies earmarked for women to contest among themselves, while the remaining half would be for men.
The view received standing ovation from female legislators.
Manicaland Proportional Representative, Ms Lynette Karenyi (MDC-Alliance), said there was need for a two-term limit cap for female legislators under the women’s quota as some were returning to Parliament under that provision in successive terms, taking advantage of their seniority in their political parties.
She said earmarking constituencies for women was more progressive because from what she observed the women’s quota concept had shown that female MPs were prone to sexual abuse from powerful and senior members of political parties.
Zimswitch, a company set up and owned by Zimbabwean banks, has been designated as the national payment switch and providers of mobile money transmission and mobile banking now must be connected to Zimswitch by 15 August.
This extension of Zimswitch’s range by the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe in terms of SI80 of 2020 means that EcoCash, OneMoney and Telecash will now be in the Zimswitch universe and that all electronic financial transactions, regardless of where they originate or end, can be made through Zimswitch.
This designation of Zimswitch as the national payment switch, announced by Reserve Bank Governor Dr John Mangudya yesterday, is part of the moves to bring mobile money services under control of monetary authorities, as set out in the regulations issued at the end of March.
The banking sector and its Zimswitch service have always been under RBZ regulation and the transfer systems were developed to ensure compliance with RBZ rules and regulations. Now the mobile money providers will automatically fall under RBZ regulations by joining Zimswitch.
The March regulations not only sought to enforce bank-type controls on mobile money transfers, but also to create a seamless system of electronic money transfer, regardless of whether this was done by phone, online, by card or in the banks.
Zimswitch already connects all banks and point of sale machines, which is why everyone can swipe on any machine in any shop and the money will flow from their bank, regardless of which one, to the shopkeeper’s bank account.
At one time all ATMs were interconnected, meaning anyone could withdraw cash from any ATM. When cash shortages hit, banks were permitted to dedicate their ATMs to their own customers.
Under SI80, whose implementation was delayed by the lockdown, the mobile money providers have to complete the necessary commissioning of infrastructure, and do what is necessary to connect to Zimswitch.
To avoid further delay Dr Mangudya set August 15 as the deadline.
Zimswitch will also be the single point of contact of the entire banking sector, including mobile money providers, with the outside world.
THE officer-in-charge of CID Gweru, Detective Inspector Leonard Gwandu has been sentenced to three years in prison for criminal abuse of office.
Gwandu will, however serve an effective two years in jail after one year was suspended on condition of good behaviour.
The State managed to prove that he released a vehicle stolen from South Africa that was being held by the police as an exhibit.
The court heard how Gwandu took advantage of the absence of his boss, Chief Superintendent Wellington Ngena and Superintendent Magdalene Chakanyuka, who keeps exhibits, who were both on leave and released the vehicle, a Toyota Hilux double cab valued at US$27 000 to Kwekwe businessman Mr Shepherd Tundiya.
The State proved that it had been communicated to Gwandu that there were 10 such stolen South African registered vehicles in the country and Toyota South Africa and its clients were making follow-ups.
Of the 10 vehicles, two were in Gweru including the one which was released to Mr Tundiya by Gwandu.
Gwandu who pleaded not guilty, was however convicted due to overwhelming evidence by Gweru regional magistrate Mrs Phathekile Msipa.
In an hour-long judgement, Mrs Msipa said it was common- cause that Gwandu released the vehicle when it was the duty of the court to make such an order thereby showing favour to Mr Tundiya.
She said only the court can make an order to release ‘a cat’ held as an exhibit after commencement of criminal proceedings.
Mrs Msipa said only a judge or magistrate handling the case had such powers.
“The State noted that the vehicle was subject to investigations from Toyota South Africa and Gwandu had such a database of vehicles under investigation in his office,” said Mrs Msipa.
She said for reasons best known to Gwandu, he released the vehicle taking advantage of the fact that his superiors had gone on leave.
“How does the accused release the vehicle back to a man knowing that it was suspected to be stolen? It baffles one’s mind that this was committed by a senior police officer and it amounted to criminal abuse of duty. The accused knew that it was unlawful for him to give Mr Tundiya the vehicle even after his acquittal. By his actions, he showed favour to Mr Tundiya by releasing the vehicle to him. There is a thin line between incompetence and corruption and he is found guilty as charged,” she said.
Mrs Msipa said Gwandu deserved a prison term as opposed to paying a fine or doing community service saying community service would trivialise the offence.
“A fine is not suitable under the circumstances and so is community service because society will frown at this sentence and doubt our justice system. We need to protect persons and their property. You took advantage of the fact that your officer in charge and the officer in charge of exhibits were on leave. This was a well-planned act and there is a need for the court to pass a deterrent sentence so that society has confidence in our courts. You are sentenced to three years of which one is suspended on condition of good behaviour,” she said.
Gwandu who has been a police officer for 24 years, denied showing any favours to Mr Tundiya saying according to his assessment, he was the true owner of the vehicle.
He argued that after the acquittal of Mr Tundiya, he saw no reason to keep the vehicle.
Gwandu argued that the matter was an administrative issue adding that he didn’t show favour to anyone.
State witness, Detective Sergeant Mlabeni Sibanda said the vehicle was supposed to be released to Toyota South Africa.
“We had made an appointment with Toyota South Africa together with its customers whose vehicles were stolen from them so that they come and identify the vehicles for possible repatriation to South Africa. This vehicle in question was supposed to be released to Toyota South Africa instead of Tundiya,” he said.
It was the State case that on December 14 last year, Gwandu released a Toyota Hilux valued at US$27 000, which was confiscated from Mr Tundiya after it was discovered that it had been stolen in South Africa.
Mr Tundiya, who had been arrested on October 16 last year in connection with the motor vehicle, was acquitted at the Gweru Magistrates Court on December 13.
He told the court that he bought the vehicle from a car dealer, Mr Patrick Mutodi in Harare.
Mr Tundiya said he was also a victim in the event that the car was stolen.
The day after he was acquitted, Gwandu released the stolen vehicle to the businessman without following due procedure.
The State said the car was stolen in South Africa from one Thomas Blom of CMH Toyota and was being investigated by Alberton Police Station in South Africa.
The State said the vehicle was supposed to be handed to South African police but Gwandu handed it to Mr Tundiya.
Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Senator Monica Mutsvangwa and Home Affairs Minister Kazembe Kazembe have fired early warning shots against the July 31 demonstration claiming that the consequences of the demonstrations may be unpalatable.
“It is in view of this heightened increment in infection cases that I urge the public to continue to adhere to the lockdown regulations and practise preventative and protective behaviour. Government is urging each one of us against complacency,” Minister Mutsvangwa said.
She said although Zimbabwe embraces democratic principles, calls for demonstrations may be ill-timed because of the ongoing pandemic.
“We are in the midst of an existential threat. Any political posturing is not helpful. We therefore call upon public figures and political players to act responsibly with the safety of Zimbabweans in mind.
Any call for mass action at this time is an unnecessary stoking of infection risk to the nation,” said Minister Mutsvangwa.
She added; “This country cannot afford adventurism in the midst of this threat to our very existence.”
Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Minister Kazembe Kazembe said Government will prioritise the lives of Zimbabweans over everything else.
“We are observing Covid-19 regulations and if anyone breaks the law they will be arrested because we are still under lockdown. Life is more important than everything else, life is more critical than anything that one can think of,” said Minister Kazembe.
Chimurenga music maestro Thomas “Mukanya” Mapfumo will be retiring from music soon to take a deserved rest and devote his time to impartation of musical knowledge to up-and-coming musicians, particularly the young.
He made the revelation in a wide-ranging and exclusive interview with Standard Style on Thursday, the day he celebrated his 75th birthday.
The US-based Mapfumo also spoke about a biography project which he said is on the cards and will detail his life and works from a more personal perspective.
“I have kept it a secret. However, due to the importance of this day in my life, perhaps it is time for my fellow country-folk to know that Mukanya will not be appearing on stage ever. I need to rest and pass on the baton to others and this is going to happen in the very near future,” Mukanya said.
“But I will be there in the background dishing out musical knowledge to those that seek it, especially the young men and women who have the passion to uphold our Zimbabwean culture through the art of music.
“Already, I am working with and moulding my son, Kurai Makore [that’s my other surname by the way], so that he, too, will carry the family torch. Also recently I had a joint gig with a very talented young lady by the name of Rati Dangarembwa. Mono Mukundu has also given me works by his son who I believe has a very bright future and is a guitar player par excellence.
“This is what I have decided to devote my time doing during the course of my retirement, being advisor and mentor to the young ones.
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“So, yes, I have plans to come home for retirement. Kuno kwatiri unoti kukuda here iwe? Aiwa, tiri musango, mumarimuka saka kana muvhimi achinge apedza basa, adzimba, anodzokera kumusha. Home is where the heart and soul are and I aspire to ultimately settle where my umbilical cord is.”
Mapfumo, who has been based in Oregon since his self-imposed exile more than two decades ago (returning home just twice for some shows), on Thursday turned 75, a feat he said can only be achieved when one has the protection of both the deity and the ancestoral spirits.
“I thank God and midzimu yangu [my ancestoral spirits] for having taken me this far, it’s not of my own making,” he said.
“All humankind acknowledges the hand of God, it’s only that we have different ways of worship, but the destination of prayers is the same.
“As a Zimbabwean, however, I also have my medium spirits that give me protection. Prophets like Chaminuka [just like those you read about in the Bible] were sent to us so that they could guide us. I am not ashamed to be associated with those of the same skin colour with me.
“If you go to India, they will tell you they worship Buddha, and some time back when I visited Hawaii, they told me they communicate with a god they call Kameyameya. The Red Indians here in America believe in a deity they call Wakatanga. So who is our guiding spirit as Africans and as Zimbabweans?
“My main worry is that when the colonisers came hand-clutching the Bible, they also wielded the gun, stole our God and sold us a God they wanted us to believe in. They told us that our way of worship was demonic, but no, that is not true. That is the very reason why it has proved difficult to unite the people because ancestoral spirits are angry.”
On whether they had been any planned activities around celebrating his birthday, the Lion of Zimbabwe said there were offers from as far afield as the United Kingdom for celebrations, and he had given the green light to the organisers to go ahead.
He said a full ensemble was likely, with mbira, guitars and brass making up the musical show which they plan to have streamed online.
Previously, an album, Live at El Rey, was recorded as a birthday project when he turned 50 years.
Mapfumo is a passionate football follower who once had his own team Sporting Lions playing in the local Premier Soccer League. But he spoke about his love for Dynamos back at home. He also is on cloud nine following the lifting of the English Premier League championship by Liverpool, his favourite there.
The lack of professionalism in the domestic game has not escaped his scrutiny though.
“I have always supported Dynamos since my youthful years, but it is the lack of a professional approach that worries me much. For such a big club as Dynamos, we should be talking about a club house as well as their own stadium, but as it stands, we don’t appear anywhere near achieving that,” he said with pessimism.
Mapfumo went to school with Dynamos legend George Shaya and one of his first guitarists was Bernard Mariot, one of the pioneering Dynamos players.
United Bulawayo Hospitals (UBH) has placed 97 nursing staff on quarantine after 18 health workers tested positive for COVID-19.
Officials at United Bulawayo Hospitals (UBH) have been forced into action after confirmation of eighteen COVID-19 positive cases among the nursing staff.
The health institution has since placed 55 registered nurses and 42 student nurses under quarantine.
Receiving two ventilators sourced by the Red Cross from its partners in China, UBH acting Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Marcisius Dzvanga said the impact of the deadly virus has affected the institution.
“We have hit an 18 mark where our staff members are part of COVID-19 statistics. Operations of Ellis ward almost collapsed because the staff has to undergo quarantine. The situation has become so complicated such that we have to poach staff from other departments as we manage the pandemic,” said Dr. Dzvanga.
Handing over two ventilators to the hospital, Red Cross National President, Mr. Edson Mlambo said the organisation will continue complementing government efforts in mobilising resources for health institutions.
“This is part of the five ventilators we received from our Red Cross friends in China. We are pleased with the cooperation we have with our health institutions and shall continue partnering government in resourcing them…”, said Mlambo.
The senior anaesthetist Dr. Katwamba Lenge said the donation will assist the institution to deal with the COVID-19 challenge.
“The hospital is grateful for the kind gesture which will assist us to take head-on the fight against the deadly pandemic…..”
The hospital authorities say they are now on high alert, conducting a thorough screening of staff members and patients.
ZANU PF is set to hold an ordinary session of the Politburo today at the party headquarters in Harare at a time the country is battling a spike in Covid-19 cases.
In a statement, acting Secretary for Information and Publicity and party spokesperson, Cde Patrick Chinamasa said:
“The Secretary for Administration, Cde OM Mpofu wishes to advise all members that there shall be a Politburo meeting to be held on Friday 10 July 2020 at the party headquarters commencing 1000hrs.” All members are expected to be seated by 9.45am.
Issues expected to come under discussion include recommendations by provinces for some former senior party members that have applied for readmission, the measures introduced by the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe to deal with mobile money fuelling price increases, the sharp rise in Covid-19 cases at a time some returnees are escaping in quarantine centres.
The Politburo is expected to suggest a way forward in dealing with the rise in Covid-19 positive cases-The Herald
FOUR more returnees escaped from Esikhovini Covid-19 quarantine centre in Esigodini, bringing the total to 209 of those who have escaped so far from compulsory quarantine for returning residents, with police now stepping up efforts to prevent escaping and arrest those who have fled.
So far, police have only managed to arrest 28 people who had escaped from the designated quarantine centres countrywide. On Monday, 10 returnees, two of them Covid-19 positive, escaped from quarantine centres countrywide.
The two Covid-19 positive returnees escaped from Pangani Training Centre in Matabeleland South, with seven escaping from Bulawayo Polytechnic and the 10th escaped from Mushagashe Training Centre in Masvingo.
National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi yesterday said police were concerned about the increase in the numbers of escapees.
“Investigations are still ongoing to ascertain the manner in which these people are escaping from these centres,” he said.
“We still believe that they are taking advantage of the porous security fences and walls at some of these institutions and other surroundings that don’t have lights.”
Asst-Comm Nyathi said some of the centres were upgrading security systems and some of the suspects were taking advantage to escape.
Meanwhile, 94 708 people have been arrested countrywide since March 30 for violating lockdown regulations, with almost all paying admission of guilt fines, although more serious offenders go to court- The Herald
TWO men allegedly strangled a 17-year-old girl and dragged her into a bushy area in Bulawayo’s Pumula suburb where they tore her underwear with a knife before sexually attacking and robbing her.
A source close to investigations said the teenager left home with two buckets to fetch water from a borehole.
“She left home at 6pm and headed to a nearby borehole to fetch water. She filled two buckets and left the other a few metres away from the borehole. She took the other one home,” said the source.
When she returned to fetch it, two unknown men pounced on her. “They grabbed her before strangling her.
They quickly blindfolded her with a scarf while dragging her to a nearby bush,” said the source.
The source went on to say one of the men shoved a cloth into her mouth.
“They took an item similar to a universal charger and placed it on her back leaving her feeling weak.
“One of the suspects tore her underwear with a knife. After that they took turns to rape her,” said the source.
After sexually attacking the minor, the source said, they took her two cellphones and ran away.
“They took her two cellphones — a Vodafone and a Nokia Asher — all her gadgets cost US$90,”said the source.
“We are investigating a case where two unknown men who are on the run raped and robbed a 17-year-old girl at a borehole last week on Thursday at around 6pm in Pumula South suburb. We would like to urge members of the public to go in groups when going to fetch water.”
Asst Insp Msebele appealed to anyone with information on the whereabouts of the two suspects who are on the run to contact their nearest police station-B-Metro
Disco queen, Patricia Majalisa died yesterday at the age of 53.
Majalisa who was taken ill some days ago, reportedly died after taking a concoction to clear her system.
The late artiste’s spokesperson Oscar Tee yesterday said Majalisa died of liver failure at Helen Joseph’s Hospital in Johannesburg, South Africa at 10.53AM.
The South African Akulalwa Ziyawa hit-maker was a darling of many people in Zimbabwe and Botswana where she toured regularly for shows.
Oscar Tee said Majalisa who had no children, spoke to him earlier this week, advising him that she was not feeling well.
He said she was subsequently taken to hospital on Wednesday night and was supposed to be admitted, but unfortunately, she died before that.
“She told me she drank something to clean her system and she thought she had overdosed as she had a running stomach. I told her to take something to make her feel better and not to worry.
“She thanked me and this morning (Thursday) I got a call (about her death),” said Oscar Tee.
Majalisa’s death comes after her ex-husband and ex-stablemate, Dan Tshanda died of heart failure on January 5 last year.
Oscar Tee said funeral arrangements will be made when her family meets-Chronicle
THE late director of newly-promoted ZIFA Northern Region Division One Soccer League side, CUMA Academy, Hurbert Manyowa, was laid to rest at Kadoma Jewish cemetery yesterday.
Manyowa, (48), committed suicide on Tuesday after a domestic dispute.
ZIFA Northern Region Division One league chairman, Martin Kweza, said they had lost someone who wanted to make a difference in the league.
“The passing on of CUMA co-director, Manyowa, is a great loss to the Northern Region Soccer League family and the football fraternity at large,’’ said Kweza.
“Football has lost a rising young cadre who many believed would change the face of the game in Kadoma.
“Through our brief interactions, I was impressed by the vision and plans they had for the team, together with his colleague Cuthbert Malajila.
“He was humble and had football at heart. It’s so sad that he died before he could fulfil his dream of bringing Premier League football back to Kadoma.
“It’s even more painful that we never got to work with him and benefit from his wide knowledge of football matters. We urge his colleagues to help see the dream through.
“At this moment, our thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends and the players and the community who also looked up to him. May they find comfort in the Lord.’’
Former Harare City striker, Osborne Mukuradare, who grew up in Kadoma, said they had lost a father figure.
“It is painful that we lost someone we all looked up to here in Kadoma as he would help anyone,’’ said Mukuradare-The Herald
Farai Dziva|The Panicky Zanu PF administration is planning to use the Covid-19 scourge to thwart the July 31 protests, it has emerged.
A senior government official has subtly confirmed that the cornered regime wants to use the current lockdown to close democratic space.
Advocate Nelson Chamisa and Temba Mliswa have endorsed the demonstrations.
Posting on twitter Nick Mangwana said:
Harare has the vast majority of 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.”
I would like to categorically distance myself from the fake letter purportedly written to MDC structures and addressing issues of money. The bogus letter claims that we as MDC Alliance Youth we have received USD 300K from USA and EU which is meant for the July 31st Demonstration .
Let it be known that as MDC we are not in any way sponsored for any activity by the US and EU embassies. The letter is a piece of hogwash that is meant to expose my person to Junta attacks and it was poorly done by an amateur who failed to 1) Spell my name 2) put correct Party designation 3) to put my correct mobile number. 4) to recognise that all financial issues are not handled in the information department 5) No sane organisation communicates such treasonous matters.
It must be known that the regime is in panic mode as 31st of July approaches and wants to taint the MDC Alliance through associating the Party with the United States of America and the European Union with an agenda to bring out that the demonstration organised by Ngarivhume are Western sponsored and in the process threaten all citizens through pre-emptory communications of their agenda to clampdown on Zimbabweans on the 31st .
It must be known that the people of Zimbabwe are fed up and can self organise to demonstrate and petition and no amount of malice will deter their efforts . Let me hasten say this : Myself ,Makomborero Haruzivishe and Gift Ostallos Siziba are not involved in any of the mentioned allegations.
PLEASE DISREGARD THE LETTER TOGETHER WITH ITS HOGWASH !!!
Farai Dziva|The Panicky Zanu PF administration is planning to use the Covid-19 scourge to thwart the July 31 protests, it has emerged.
A senior government official has subtly confirmed that the cornered regime wants to use the current lockdown to close democratic space.
Advocate Nelson Chamisa and Temba Mliswa have endorsed the demonstrations.
Posting on twitter Nick Mangwana said:
Harare has the vast majority of 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.”
Farai Dziva|Norton MP Temba Mliswa has endorsed the July 31 protests.
Mliswa tweeted: I’m also in support and endorse the anti-corruption march slated for July 31.
Much of what I have done in Parliament is to represent people but they have largely remained passive, scared& reluctant to stand up I fear the same deficit in character will affect this anti-corruption march as people will not come out.
The reasons are that their welfare is poor, they are hungry and busy with eking a living. You end up working alone as has been happening with me when I fight for the people.
I have been victimised and fought over issues that have nothing to do with me personally but the people I represent against the hazardous Chinese factory, Galloway stands saga etc, the victims themselves, largely remain on the fringes reluctant to stand up for themselves.”
I am profoundly shocked by the death of our first grandparent Ambuya Chamisa.
I did not have the opportunity to meet her personally but as they say the fruit does not fall away from the tree, l believe she was just a copy of her son Advocate President Nelson Chamisa in being a good example of a wonderful human being.
Last but not least, l urge all our supporters to respect our mother and allow her the peaceful burial that she deserves. Africans, especially MDC-A followers have a track record that dates back from time immemorial of shunning violence when they bid their loved ones farewell.
There is nothing Khupe, Mwonzora or Komichi can steal from the funeral. Mourn with them, lead them to high tables and escort them to their cars when their time to leave comes.
Our fight with the aforementioned erstwhile comrades is not at the cemetery but a national bid to take the mandate we legitimately got through the people who spoke in the 2018 elections.
I am profoundly shocked by the death of our first grandparent Ambuya Chamisa.
I did not have the opportunity to meet her personally but as they say the fruit does not fall away from the tree, l believe she was just a copy of her son Advocate President Nelson Chamisa in being a good example of a wonderful human being.
Last but not least, l urge all our supporters to respect our mother and allow her the peaceful burial that she deserves. Africans, especially MDC-A followers have a track record that dates back from time immemorial of shunning violence when they bid their loved ones farewell.
There is nothing Khupe, Mwonzora or Komichi can steal from the funeral. Mourn with them, lead them to high tables and escort them to their cars when their time to leave comes.
Our fight with the aforementioned erstwhile comrades is not at the cemetery but a national bid to take the mandate we legitimately got through the people who spoke in the 2018 elections.
The ruling ZANU PF this Tuesday recalled Chivi South legislator Killer Zivhu from Parliament.
Zivhu was expelled from the party early June after proposing a dialogue between president Emmerson Mnangagwa and MDC Alliance leader, Nelson Chamisa.
The recall was announced by the Speaker of the National Assembly Jacob Mudenda who said he was notified on 1 July that Killer Zivhu was no longer a Zanu PF member.
Mudenda said: Section 129(1)(k) of the Constitution provides that the seat of MP becomes vacant if a member has ceased to belong to a political party of which he or she was elected into Parliament, and the political party concerned by written notice to the Speaker has declared that the Member has ceased to belong to it.
Pursuant to the above, I hereby inform the House that a vacancy has arisen in the National Assembly by operation of the law and the necessary administrative measures will be taken to inform the President and the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission of the existence of a vacancy in line with section 39(1) of the Electoral Act Chapter 213 as amended.
The development brings to 22 the total number of parliamentarians recalled since this May with the majority of the recalled being members of the MDC Alliance-NewsDay
The ruling ZANU PF this Tuesday recalled Chivi South legislator Killer Zivhu from Parliament.
Zivhu was expelled from the party early June after proposing a dialogue between president Emmerson Mnangagwa and MDC Alliance leader, Nelson Chamisa.
The recall was announced by the Speaker of the National Assembly Jacob Mudenda who said he was notified on 1 July that Killer Zivhu was no longer a Zanu PF member.
Mudenda said: Section 129(1)(k) of the Constitution provides that the seat of MP becomes vacant if a member has ceased to belong to a political party of which he or she was elected into Parliament, and the political party concerned by written notice to the Speaker has declared that the Member has ceased to belong to it.
Pursuant to the above, I hereby inform the House that a vacancy has arisen in the National Assembly by operation of the law and the necessary administrative measures will be taken to inform the President and the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission of the existence of a vacancy in line with section 39(1) of the Electoral Act Chapter 213 as amended.
The development brings to 22 the total number of parliamentarians recalled since this May with the majority of the recalled being members of the MDC Alliance-NewsDay
Join us at 9.30pm (UK time) as evidence is offloaded showing the controversial boasting preacher, Panganai (Passion) Java who says he owns a fleet of cars including a Lamborghini, does not have any cars to his name and the only vehicle he could boast about is a Toyota Camry 2011 model owned by his wife, Lily Tsegaye, worth USD8,000 having been bought by a Mr Samuel Tsegaye.
WATCH VIDEO LOADING BELOW….
The pack, including police papers, also shows Java has four criminal charges for driving without a driver’s license, and has been arrested in the last 14 months running.
This is the result of several weeks of investigations in timestamped US security databases, as well as physical inspections around Java’s neighbourhood in Maryland.
Zimbabwe on Wednesday recorded its biggest jump in Covid-19 infections in a single day since the first case was recorded late March after recording 98 new cases, taking the overall tally of confirmed cases to 885, the Ministry of Health and Child Care has said.
The new record overtakes the previous one for the most new cases in 24 hours when the country recorded 73 cases last Saturday.
The Health Ministry said the country also recorded the highest ever number of new local transmission cases in a single day, as they accounted for 47 of the 98 new cases.
“Forty-three of the local cases are contacts of known confirmed cases, investigations are underway to establish the source of infection for the other four local cases,” it said.
Returnees from Botswana, South Africa and Swaziland accounted for the other 51 cases recorded on Wednesday.
In terms of the overall breakdown of cases, the capital Harare is leading with 250, followed by Bulawayo at 154, Matabeleland 151, Mashonaland East 82 and Midlands at 80.
Mashonaland West has 54 cases, Masvingo 53, Manicaland 29, Matabeleland North has 22 while Mashonaland Central has 10.
The total number of tests conducted to date now stands at 82 077.
Join us at 9.30pm (UK time) as evidence is offloaded showing the controversial boasting preacher, Panganai (Passion) Java who says he owns a fleet of cars including a Lamborghini, does not have any cars to his name and the only vehicle he could boast about is a Toyota Camry 2011 model owned by his wife, Lily Tsegaye, worth USD8,000 having been bought by a Mr Samuel Tsegaye.
The pack, including police papers, also shows Java has four criminal charges for driving without a driver’s license, and has been arrested in the last 14 months running.
This is the result of several weeks of investigations in timestamped US security databases, as well as physical inspections around Java’s neighbourhood in Maryland.
MDC-Alliance supporters allegedly manhandled and temporarily blocked MDC-T leader Dr Thokozani Khupe from attending the burial of Gogo Alice Chamisa, the mother to MDC-Alliance faction leader Mr Nelson Chamisa, who was buried in Gutu on Wednesday.
Dr Thokozani Khupe’s spokesperson Khaliphani Phugeni, who accompanied her to the funeral confirmed the incident.
“We went to Chiwara in Gutu to pay our last respects to the late Gogo Chamisa, but some MDC-A hooligans embarrassed us at the funeral, but fortunately Chamisa rescued us.
“We managed to attend the burial proceedings, but the environment was tense, though it was not that serious as compared to what happened during the late MDC-T founding leader Morgan Tsvangirai’s funeral in Hamanikwa, Buhera.
“Zimbabweans should accept politics of tolerance. With the events which are currently happening, the MDC-A hooligans did take the issue lightly,” said Phugeni.
He added that politicians should accept tolerance despite one’s political affiliation.
“No one was injured during the melee. It’s a regrettable occurrence. Politicians should stop politicking at funerals,” he said.
Dr Khupe and Mr Chamisa are locked in a bitter contest for control of the opposition with the later so far the worse off from the protracted legal and political warfare.
TWO people, one of them a popular Shurugwi gold miner who made headlines in March after he hired thugs to torture his employee, died in a road accident along the Gweru-Mvuma Road.
Willard Mugadza popularly known as Dread Welly and Foster Machaya died on Tuesday after a Toyota Hilux double cab they were travelling in veered off the road and rolled several times just after the Gweru-Mvuma tollgate.
Mugadza made headlines in March when he hired thugs who tied his 24-year-old employee, Mr Fabian Mabhungu to a tree and severely tortured him for allegedly stealing 70g of gold worth US$3 400 at his Bred Farm mine.
Mr Mabhungu later died while admitted to Gweru General Hospital.
The vehicle had three people and Machaya was the driver.
The other passenger suffered injuries and is admitted to a hospital in Gweru.
Midlands provincial police spokesperson Inspector Joel Goko said the accident occurred at the 43km peg along Gweru-Mvuma road around 11PM on Tuesday.
“I can confirm the death of two people including the driver who died on the 43 km peg along Gweru-Mvuma road.
“Machaya allegedly lost control of the vehicle which veered off the road and overturned before landing on its roof. Mugadza and Machaya died on the spot. The second passenger escaped with some injuries and was admitted to a hospital in Gweru,” said Inspector Goko.
Meanwhile, our Gwanda correspondent reports that a haulage truck driver died after the vehicle’s horse collapsed on him while attempting to attend to a mechanical fault.
Matabeleland South provincial police spokesperson Chief Inspector Philisani Ndebele confirmed the incident which occurred on Monday in Bubi along the Masvingo-Beitbridge Road.
He said Mr Leroy Nyakabawo (34) from Warren Park in Harare was driving a haulage truck when it developed a mechanical fault and he tilted the truck’s horse to check the problem and it collapsed, crushing him.
“I can confirm that we recorded a sudden death case which occurred at the 212 kilometre peg along the Masvingo-Beitbridge Road in Bubi area. Leroy Nyakabawo was driving a haulage truck belonging to a South African based company when the vehicle developed a fault,” he said.
Chief Insp Ndebele said Mr Nyakabawo pulled off the road and tilted the truck horse to attend to the fault. He said the horse then collapsed and crushed Mr Nyakabawo and he died on the spot.
The matter was reported to the police who attended the scene. Mr Nyakabawo’s body was ferried to Beitbridge District Hospital mortuary.
THE Government has hinted on enforcing a full-scale lockdown in Harare and Bulawayo as the number of people confirmed with the Covid-19 pandemic in the two cities continue to escalate.
In the past couple of days, the two cities have recorded 86 cases with Bulawayo having the bulk of the new cases at 81. To date Harare remains the epicenter of the pandemic in the country, with 250 cases while Bulawayo is second with 154 confirmed cases.
Posting on his Twitter account on Wednesday, permanent secretary in the Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Mr Nick Mangwana said with the number of new cases in the two cities, if government considers more drastic measures to contain the pandemic a full-scale lockdown will only apply in the two cities.
“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.
A couple of months ago, President Mnangagwa downscaled the national lockdown top level two thereby allowing the opening of industry and commerce. The President further declared that the lockdown will be extended indefinitely with fortnightly reviews being given to assess the achievements or lack of in government’s fight against the spread of the pandemic.
Meanwhile, according to the latest figures released by the Ministry of Health and Child Care, as of Wednesday the country recorded 98 new confirmed cases bringing the national total to 885.
“Ninety-eight cases tested positive for Covid-19 today (Wednesday). These include returnees from Botswana (28), South Africa (22), Swaziland (one) and 47 local cases who are all isolated.
“43 of the local cases are contacts of known confirmed cases, investigations are underway to establish the source of infection of the other four local cases. To date the total number of confirmed cases is 885, recovered 206, active 670 and nine deaths since the onset of the outbreak on 20 March 2020,” reads the update.
Bulawayo tops the number of positive cases that were recorded on Wednesday at 51.
Zimbabweans have been urged to remove President Emmerson Mnangagwa on the 31st of July without fail as failure to do so would result in dire consequences.
An American pastor in the video below likens Mnangagwa to a serpent adding that he engages in underhand dealings which have contributed to the socio-economic crisis in the country.
He speaks ahead of a massive protest scheduled for the end of the month that was called by the opposition leader, Jacob Ngarivhume to mark the second anniversary of 2018 disputed election which President Mnangagwa’s opponents say was stolen by the ruling ZANU PF in connivance with the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC).
File photo: Students walk near the Widener Library in Harvard Yard at Harvard University in Cambridge, Mass.
International students will be forced to leave the U.S. or transfer to another college if their schools offer classes entirely online this fall, under new guidelines issued Monday by federal immigration authorities.
The guidelines, issued by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, provide additional pressure for universities to reopen even amid growing concerns about the recent spread of COVID-19 among young adults. Colleges received the guidance the same day that some institutions, including Harvard University, announced that all instruction will be offered remotely.
President Donald Trump has insisted that schools and colleges return to in-person instruction as soon as possible. Soon after the guidance was released, Trump repeated on Twitter that schools must reopen this fall, adding that Democrats want to keep schools closed “for political reasons, not for health reasons.”
“They think it will help them in November. Wrong, the people get it!” Trump wrote.
Under the updated rules, international students must take at least some of their classes in person. New visas will not be issued to students at schools or programs that are entirely online. And even at colleges offering a mix of in-person and online courses this fall, international students will be barred from taking all their classes online.
It creates an urgent dilemma for thousands of international students who became stranded in the U.S. last spring after the coronavirus forced their schools to move online. Those attending schools that are staying online must “depart the country or take other measures, such as transferring to a school with in-person instruction,” according to the guidance.
Many of the more than 1000 Zimbabwean students at American universities may have to return home following the new provision.
According to a fact sheet compiled by Open Doors a US Government-funded platform that tracks foreign students that country, Zimbabwe has around 1 343 students studying in the US.
The move has drawn criticism for the Trump administration with critics arguing that deportations on the laid basis are not justified.
Writing on her Twitter handle, Elizabeth Warren, a United States senator belonging to the Democratic Party described the move as being cruel.
“Kicking international students out of the US during a global pandemic because their colleges are moving classes online for physical distancing hurts students. It is senseless, cruel and xenophobic,” Warren said.
Two leading US universities, Havard and Massachusetts Institute of Technology, have already filed a lawsuit challenging the legality of the move.
Minister of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Kazembe Kazembe yesterday warned that Government would not allow a situation where political parties put people’s lives at risk.
“We are observing Covid-19 regulations and if anyone breaks the law they will be arrested because we are still under lockdown. Life is more important than everything else, life is more critical than anything that one can think of.
The lockdown is to ensure that we minimise the spread of the virus, we need a collective effort from everyone, including those in the opposition because Covid-19 does not discriminate. We are aware of where the funding for the demonstrations is coming from and we will make sure that they will be exposed,” said Minister Kazembe.
In an interview with state media last night, Zanu PF Secretary for Commissariat Victor Matemadanda called upon the country’s security to be on the guard against elements who are determined to effect illegal regime change.
“There is a competition here between the purported human rights and the observance of the rule of law. This stage now, the so called human rights groups are encouraging the citizenry to break the law and I think also Zimbabweans should know that the supporters of those that are funding these demonstrations are worried by why Covid-19 has not killed people in Zimbabwe,” said Matemadanda.
Last month security forces foiled an attempt to roll out demonstrations in the city of Bulawayo claiming to be enforcing lockdown measures.
ZANU PF is set to hold a session of the Politburo tomorrow at the party headquarters in Harare.
In a statement today, Acting Secretary for Information and Publicity and party spokesperson, Patrick Chinamasa said: “The Secretary for Administration, Cde Dr OM Mpofu wishes to advise all members that there shall be a Politburo meeting to be held on Friday 10 July 2020 at the party headquarters commencing 1000hrs.”
All members are expected to be seated by 0945hours.
The agenda of the meeting could not be immediately established though the party sits on the background of economic collapse and widespread discontent amongst party heavyweights on Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube and Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe governor John Mangudya.
