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.

State Media

State Media

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.

Nelson Chamisa was on Wednesday forced to calm his supporters who were blocking Thokozani Khupe from attending the funeral of Gogo Alice Chamisa.

What's your take on Khupe's decision to go for the funeral?

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) July 9, 2020

State Media

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.

Own Correspondent

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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“However, the bias of my education to the up-and-coming artistes will be centred on our music, traditional music. There is no point in our youths attempting to compete with Charlie Black, Vybz Kartel or Beenie Man because they will never win Jamaicans’ hearts. Like Salif Keita who promotes Malian music and Fela Kuti doing the same for Nigeria, I will focus on the music of my motherland.

“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.

ZBC

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.

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 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.

Field Marshal Dread Reckless.

The government has hiked toll gate fees with immediate effect.

Motorists have described the adjustments as unaffordable.

Watch video below :

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

Own Correspondent

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.

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.

— Chronicle

State Media

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.

Pindula

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).

Watch the video below for more. [Caution: Strong language]https://t792ae.c2.acecdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/REMOVE-ED-ON-31ST.mp4

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.

You cannot expect a military junta to be a constitutional government, says @ProfJNMoyo – @SAPESTrust10 @ibbosnr pic.twitter.com/mLU4WGoHpg

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) July 9, 2020

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.

State Media

Environment, Climate, Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister Mangaliso Ndlovu, has warned Chinese owned mines and firms operating in Chegutu rural to desist from violating the country’s environmental laws.

Minister Ndlovu issued the warning after witnessing environmental degradation caused by four Chinese companies that are involved chrome mining, quarry extracting, tile making and brick moulding during a tour of their operation in Chegutu district yesterday.

He was accompanied by Mashonaland West State Minister, Mary Mliswa-Chikoka, Norton and Mhondoro-Ngezi legislatures, Temba Mliswa and Tawengwa Mukhuhlani respectively, and some officials from Environmental Management Agency (EMA).

Minister Ndlovu said the Government was not going to fold hands and watch companies violating the environment.

He said the companies were supposed to conform with laws particularly Section 73 of the constitution, which provides for the Government to safeguard the environment.

“My visit to these sites has been necessitated by the need to see the impacts the companies have done after having been invited by the Member of Parliament,” he said.

“I visited an area where Afro-Shin is mining sand and the company has very low compliance. As Government we are fully behind the investments but we are also cognisant of the constitutional expectation of providing a cleaner and safer environment and empower EMA to discharge its duties. Our President (Emmerson Mnangagwa) is clear on the need for law abiding citizens and corporates.”

He said companies that violate environmental laws were supposed to be fined and made to address their issues.

Speaking during the tour of sites, Minister Mliswa-Chikoka said although the province was happy with the investments as they were bringing employment to members of the community and improving the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the province and the nation it was not going to be at the expense of the environment and the nation.

She challenged the companies to toe the line and adhere to the country’s laws and statutes. Sunn Yi Feng, which produces ceramic tiles and kitchenware, is said to be polluting air through burning of waste on site and extracting sand from illegal sites.

The company has also been failing to manage the disposal of its effluent and solid waste forcing representatives of Norton Ward 2 residents to petition to Minister Ndlovu during his visit to the company.

Acting chief executive for Chegutu Rural District Council, Mr Godfrey Machingura said they had issued the company several warnings without any success.

The company’s representative, Willian Gong denied violating the environment saying they were employing best skills and practices that they use in China.

EMA’s provincial head, Rwambayi Mapako advised Afro-Shin mining manager, Laston Mlauzi to ensure that his company erects a perimeter fence around its open cast mining activities.

Own Correspondent

Jealousy Mawarire, spokesperson for the National Patriotic Front who also at one time emerged as ousted former President Robert Mugabe’s spokesperson claims that the citizens demonstration being planned for July 31 will not be a success claiming that such demonstrations should never be planned but be spontaneous.

He claimed that Zimbabweans are only just being used by the political elite, again the demonstration was probably a creation of the ruling ZANU PF to buy time.

The demonstration has however been endorsed by other opposition parties and leaders including Nelson Chamisa the leader of opposition MDC Alliance, Temba Mliswa (independent legislator for Norton) and ousted former ZANU PF youth political commissar, Godfrey Tsenengamu.

Mawarire tweeted:

The food riots in 1998 were not planned centrally & the regime wasn’t notified, people just took to the streets in their localities, in Mabvuku, Kuwadzana, Highfield, Makokoba, Sizinda, Nkulumane etc & those in the CBD did likewise. Right now the greatest fear within the regime

Are spontaneous demonstrations which would result in them failing to control activities like what happened when Beitbridge went up in smoke. To counter that they’re using some elites to organise a central demo on a faraway date, buying time. #Murikuitiswa.

Let those calling for July 31 instruct people not to wait for July 31 & erupt in their localities and see the reaction of the junta. The junta wants a July 31 facade it can control. Honestly if u r hungry, do u wait for 31 days to do something about your hunger?

Own Correspondent

President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s spokesperson George Charamba has told workers unions to stop worrying about how much soldiers are paid as they do not fall under any union.

His sentiments come after unions complained at the three times more percentage than other goverment workers.

Charamba further claimed that the demonstration against the economic collapse set for July 31 will not take place at all.

We present his full twitter thread below.

STATING FACTS, EXPOSING DECORATED LIES:

Government decided to give Civil Servants a Covid-19-related hardship allowance which is in two parts: a flat allowance of USD75 across all grades; 50% rise for every civil servant based on his/her salary level. An false impression is being created by union leaders, helped by certain unthinking sections of the media that Government awarded all civil servants a flat increase of $1200!! How does the alleged $1200 flat review mathematically become 50% of my current salary??One has to be very gullible to swallow such bald lies.

Secondly. This two-tier award by Govt was an act of compassion, not an outcome of collective bargaining which is ongoing and can only mean higher, better, income benefits for Civil Servants. Why are so-called union leaders stampeding to a benefit for whose attainment they never shed a bead of sweat through their collective bargaining prowess. As Civil Servants, we wait to see what it is they will successfully bring for us, after their efforts, we presume to be sterling!!

Thirdly, when the compassionate offer was announced, these farsighted union leaders’ reflex was to reject it. Today they not only welcome it, but also seek to instruct Government on how Government should spread its compassion across services, including those services whose members are not their wards as unions. What crass thinking.

Fourth and last, all members of the uniformed and security services are not unionised. In fact only the South African law in the whole of our region allow uniformed services to be unionised. Concerns of Security Services come to Govt through their command chain.

Members of the Security Services are not part of collective bargaining process, or any unions which today bicker. This owes to their unique services and exemptions at law. How do our indefatigable union leaders concern themselves with developments around non-members, as if there is any clause collective bargaining process which says unions are only allowed a percentage lower or higher than what is available to Security Services? What has the North got to do with the South?

Then you have this insane attempt to link awards to the Security Services to the dead-in-the-water attempted uprising by some opposition interests. Simple law of causality will show the compassionate offer was made well before the ill-fated and divided opposition jerked their knee for the ill-thought, ill-advised demonstrations which will not take place.

Needless to none sensible can read cause-and-effect there, however outlandish one’s reasoning may be. Or to de-link Covid-19 which reached our shores several months ago, and the cushioning act by Government. Conversely, to futilely link Covid-19, Compassion and the never-never opposition demonstrations which will not take place, which cannot take place!!

This is one case where the reasoning behind such spurious linkages only reveals how beholden to opposition politics these few and effete union leaders are. And once that link is shown – and they seem to do… damndest to do so – Government will have no business engaging an opposition on collective bargaining for wages, without the incongruity of it all showing!!

Opposition seeks power; unions seek better working conditions for their members. The two vectors do not meet, let alone travel in some general direction. Such unions will have de-legitimized themselves, as indeed they seem so furiously intent on doing. Tati tiyambirane nekudzidzisana pachiri pedo!!!!

https://twitter.com/ZimEye/status/1281232038327181316?s=19

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.”

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

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) July 8, 2020

The economic sustainability of cross-border feeder towns to neighbouring countries such as Zimbabwe has taken a massive beating during the Covid-19 coronavirus lockdown.

In Musina, which is located about 15km from the Beitbridge border gate that separates Zimbabwe and South Africa, shop owners say the lockdown has practically destroyed their businesses.

“We are struggling because business is bad right now because of the coronavirus. Most of our customers from Zimbabwe are not able to come and buy anymore, so we lose half of the customers,” said Rana Masut, who owns a shop in the small town of Musina.

He said that, in the past three months, his income had dropped from roughly R6 000 per day to about R1 000 on a good day, due to the closure of international borders as a result of Covid-19.

Musina has agriculture, tourism and game farming as its major economic strengths.

Some Zimbabwean migrant workers in these industries are the sole breadwinners for their families but, since the start of the lockdown, transporting food back home has been a challenge.

“We don’t know when they are going to open the borders but the situation right now is very challenging because we cannot send any food back home. Our relatives in Zimbabwe are suffering,” said a Zimbabwean truck driver City Press spoke to by the border gate.

With no prospects of jobs, young people such as 22-year-old Webster Mdlongwa, who works as a shop assistant in one of the small retail shops in Musina, said that, before the lockdown business was booming because Zimbabweans bought most of their goods in South Africa.

Food, groceries, winter blankets and clothing were the most sought after items, he said.

“They buy everything here in Musina, so you can imagine what the lockdown has done. I might be unemployed again if the lockdown continues, after struggling to find a job since I matriculated three years ago,” said Mdlongwa, who lives in Phase 3 in Musina.

He said that he had also tried to look for a job in Polokwane, which is about two hours away from his home, but he had no luck.

Another shop owner, Shohel Rana, said that, without their Zimbabwean customers, their businesses were as good as dead.

“Most of our customers come from Zimbabwe and Zambia so we cannot survive without them, otherwise we close the shop and move on,” said Rana.

“You can see for yourself that we have stock, but we do not have customers, so I don’t know how I am going to pay rent this month.

“This lockdown has been the worst for my business, and I might have to think about closing down if things do not change,” Rana explained.

Another businessman, Hermanus Schoeman, who owns the oldest security business in the town and is also the owner and founder of Limpopo Safaris, said the economic effects of the lockdown had crippled the local economy.

“You must understand that 50% of the local buying market is from Zimbabwe and the other half is generated from agricultural produce and tourism, particularly from the game hunting industry.

“As I speak to you right now, I have lost bookings worth R20 million from international tourists who want to come and hunt game here,” said Schoeman.

-City Press

Nelson Chamisa was on Wednesday forced to calm his supporters who were blocking Thokozani Khupe from attending the funeral of Gogo Alice Chamisa.

What's your take on Khupe's decision to go for the funeral?

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) July 9, 2020

HARARE – Planned anti-government protests on July 31 have spread panic in President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government which is contemplating re-introducing a tough lockdown in Harare and Bulawayo to stop all gatherings, according to Zimlive.

A minister also bizarrely claimed on Wednesday that Mnangagwa’s rivals had devised a “mechanism of spreading coronavirus” during the protests, which involves using tear smoke cannisters similar to those used by police.

Deputy defence minister Victor Matemadanda, speaking at a news conference, accused the opposition of receiving funds from western embassies to foment chaos.

“We know they (opposition) have been given more than US$300,000 to sustain the demonstration but obviously they are being encouraged to break the law against Covid-19,” Matemadanda said.

“They think that there’s going to be firing of teargas and we are reliably informed that they also have some cannisters containing Covid-19 active material. They hope to spread Covid to Zimbabweans. We are reliably informed that they have a mechanism of spreading coronavirus which has been brought in by those who are funding this.”

He did not explain why the opposition would deliberately and indiscriminately spread the virus, with the risk of harming its own supporters.

Mnangagwa’s regime is also planning to reintroduce a hard lockdown, which would prevent opposition supporters from gathering. Government spokesman Ndavaningi Mangwana claimed, however, the lockdown would be in response to rising coronavirus infections in the two major cities.

“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,” Mangwana wrote on Twitter.

Zimbabwe first introduced a national lockdown on March 30 to contain the spread of the virus, but this has been eased and most businesses have been allowed to re-open. Cases have spiked, however. On Wednesday, the ministry of health reported 98 new coronavirus cases – the highest daily increase to date. Of that number, 47 were local transmissions. Zimbabwe now has 885 cases.

Zimbabweans have been mobilising online for the planned protests under the hashtags #ZanuPFMustGo and #July31. Transform Zimbabwe leader Jacob Ngarivhume first called for the demonstrations to mark the second anniversary of a disputed election which Mnangagwa’s rivals say he stole.

Main opposition leader Nelson Chamisa said his MDC Alliance party would support the demonstrations, but fears about that Mnangagwa will use the army and police to crush the protests as he has twice done in August 2018 and January 2019 with over two dozen people losing their lives.

Zimlive

MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa on Wednesday had a torrid time trying to calm hundreds of MDC Alliance members from attacking MDC-T leader Thokozani Khupe, Lovemore Madhuku and other political rivals who had travelled for his mother’s funeral in Gutu.

Chamisa was initially hurriedly called in to protect Khupe who was being blocked by angry MDC Alliance supporters from attending entering the village altogether.

Khupe was eventually allowed to join the tense proceedings.

Madhuku, who Chamisa had invited to greet the crowd had to cut his speech very short as MDC Alliance supporters demanded him to address Chamisa as President.

“Madhuku has a legal and political history, he is here with us to mourn Gogo Chamisa, some of us hold no grudges,” Chamisa said of a politician and lawyer who helped party rival Khupe win a court challenge against the opposition leader’s legitimacy.

Chamisa urged tolerance.

“Madhuku has his own history. Yes, we disagree politically, but we agree with him on many issues about this country.

“What he has done to come and coming as far as Harare to mourn with us should be respected.

“To appreciate that, I say Prof Madhuku, thank you for coming to mourn my mother, we want citizens that live in peace and love.

“We must build this country after forgiveness.

“You are here to mourn my mother who has departed, I have never seen thousands of villagers gathering here for someone who is not in politics, a vegetable vendor like my late mother.”

Chamisa added, “We came here out of love and we must leave after the burial in love, no one has been forced to come.

“No one should be denied a chance to mourn the dear departed, even if there are issues that hurt you, issues that are happening that you don’t agree with.

“Even if it was my brother, the one I contest in elections, you know him (Mnangagwa), you have to be patient because this is a funeral.

“We are not here to be divided along political lines. This is not an MDC or Zanu PF rally, this is Gogo Chamisa’s funeral.

“This is a funeral and death is a unifier, those who have high blood pressure, let it go lower in the name of Jesus.”

Chamisa appealed with followers to “remember this is a funeral which knows no boundary”.

“Death knows no MDC or Zanu PF member,” he said.

The number of coronavirus cases in Zimbabwe today rocketed to 885 after a record 98 people tested positive.

Fifty-one were returning residents with 28 from Botswana, 22 from South Africa and one from Eswatini (Swaziland) while 47 were local transmissions.

Five people from Matebeleland North recovered raising the figure to 206.

Zimbabwe now has 670 active cases after testing 82 077 people.

Deputy Health Minister John Mangwiro said the spike in the number of cases in recent weeks was a sign that people were mixing instead of staying at home.

“It’s a sign that people who are coming from outside especially from South Africa, people are mixing rather than keeping each other safe, we really need to take more care, need to really emphasise on our safety,” Dr Mangwiro said.

Nine people have died of the virus so far.

Zesa has fired eight top managers, demoted two and suspended three while the other is serving three months’ notice pending dismissal over malpractices picked up in the forensic audit published last year.

A number of other managers are set to be transferred to posts in other provinces.

Those that have been fired are Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC) operations director Engineer John Chirikutsi, ZPC finance director Mr Hubert Chiwara, ZETDC managing director Engineer Julian Chinembiri, ZETDC finance director Thokozani Dhliwayo, Zesa Enterprises (Zent) managing director Mr Tererai Mutasa, plus two Zent managers identified as Tichivangana and Dafana.

ZPC general manager Mr Washington Mareya has been given three months notice.

Suspended are Zesa head corporate services Mr Rufaro Pasipanodya, Zesa public relations manager Mr Fullard Gwasira and Mr Obson Matunja from the audit department, all suspended pending investigations into possible personal use of Zesa vehicles or a potential fuel coupon scam involving $18 000.

Others suspended last week include section engineer metering Engineer Leonard Chitsina, and Mr Freeman Chikonzo, senior manager Information and Technology pending investigations on a potential fraud involving a local electrical company.

More bosses could be fired once other disciplinary hearings have been concluded while several survivors are said to have been “strongly warned”.

The massive layoffs exercise across the company’s top management layer, executed last Thursday is part of efforts by Zesa Holdings executive chairman Sydney Gata to clean up Zesa’s governance structures compromised in the last few years.

Most executives were fired or suspended or demoted over accusations of alarming financial misdeeds with all fingered in either shoddy deals or ineptitude or following some recommendations of a forensic audit into the operations Zesa and its subsidiaries, conducted by PriceWaterhouseCoopers (PwC) which called for disciplinary action against managers suspected to have milked the power utility millions of dollars
and misuse of resources such as fuel.

The shakeup comes at a time when the power utility has been under severe scrutiny from the government, the sole shareholder in the company.

The company has been reeling under heavy losses for years.

The PwC audit unearthed startling accounts of corruption, multi-million dollar tender irregularities, the collapse of governance systems among other transgressions.

It was a bombshell development.

It is understood that prior to officially announcing the changes on Friday at Zesa Training Centre, Gata dispatched the dismissal, suspension and demotion letters to those affected on Thursday.

He then called for a staff meeting at the company’s training centre where he officially announced the dismissals, suspensions and demotions.

Insiders said there is anxiety at the power utility as workers feel Gatais not done yet.

Gata’s focus since his appointment has been to re-organise the top leadership structure of the power utility to remove redundancies, transform Zesa into a vibrant entity by amalgamating Zesa’s four units—ZETDC, Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC), Powertel and ZENT—into one integrated company in a bid to cut costs, weed out corruption and bad management and boost power generation and reduce inefficiencies at the State-owned entity.

Zimbabwe’s auditor-general, Mildred Chiri, is set to be removed from the Special Procurement Oversight Committee (SPOC) due to her conflict of interest.

The autonomy of auditors in the performance of their professional duties has always been considered a cornerstone of the profession.

Auditors should submit independent opinions.

In this respect, Chiri’s presence in SPOC, gives rise to a conflict of interest since she would come back and audit the books of procuring State entities which use public funds, a situation which calls for transparency to ensure that the government gets the best terms and value for money.

It also reduces corruption.

Procurement Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (PRAZ) CEO Nyasha
Chizu said the authority was working on amending the Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets Act to close some gaps especially in the Special Procurement Oversight Committee, in which the auditor-general is part of.

“There is a proposal to remove her because of conflict of interest,” Chizu said.

Under part X111 of the Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets Act, contracts could be scrutinised by SPOC which shall report to the minister and PRAZ.

The chair of the SPOC is the Attorney general’s office, deputised by the Accountant General.

The Auditor General and the principal director at Public Works are part of the committee.

The Committee will ensure monitoring, evaluation, and professionalism of the decentralised procurement which is now taking place in the procurement Management Unit within the independent enterprises.

Procurement is a strategic tool in public services delivery hence the need to
professionalise and modernise the process.

“Regulations for professionalisation of practitioners are not yet out.
Once out, we will regulate,” Chizu said, adding that the authority is proposing the transitional period by one year meant to ensure that systems
are put in place.

The magnitude of government expenditure is between 20% and 25% of
the 2020 National Budget, which is currently at about ZWL$60bn.

The new Act abolished the State Procurement Board which was the supervisor, responsible for making procurement decisions.

And it created PRAZ, which is no longer involved in the adjudication and awarding of tenders like before.

The award of tenders is now being done by accounting officers in various state departments and companies, with the authority, only playing a supervisory and monitoring role to ensure government entities comply
with the new Act and other set standards.

Public sectors are supposed to establish procurement management units which are supposed to be manned by licensed professional procurement officers in the terms of the Public Procurement and Public Disposal Act [chapter 22:23].

However, the progress on the implementation of the legislation had been lagging with some public services turning a blind eye on the employment of the Act.

Reluctance in the adoption of the act can be caused by the inability to accept responsibilities.

Business Times

An attempt to arrest MDC President Nelson Chamisa which began around the 4th May 2020, has been unmasked.

VIDEO LOADING BELOW….

https://youtu.be/zmEuIWwuaB0

FOUR police officers yesterday appeared in court for allegedly stealing firearms from the National Armaments at Morris Depot.

Liberty Musindo (36), Innocent Dube (44), Davison Makaza (25) and Tawabarira Marowa (34) were charged with theft when they appeared before Harare magistrate Mrs Barbra Mateko.

They were freed on $3 000 bail each and ordered to report every Friday at their nearest police stations and to continue residing at their given addresses.

The court heard that on an unknown date to the State during the period extending from April to June 19, 2020, Musindo who is stationed at the national armaments connived with Dube and Marowa who are also police officers and also in the company of three others namely, Charles Mabhiza, Nhawu Jongwe and Wellington Nata who have since appeared in court for stealing firearms from the National Armaments.

It is the State’s case that the syndicate on different occasions stole firearms from their workplace.

The court heard that Makaza would receive the stolen firearms secretly, take them into the workshop at his workplace where he would alter the original serial numbers of the stolen firearms and replace them with fictitious serial numbers in order to disguise the origin of the firearms before returning them to Dube and Marowa.

It is alleged that Dube and Marowa would then collect the stolen firearms with erased serial numbers from Makaza and source for potential buyers and share the proceeds.

It is the State’s case that on June 19 the officer-in-charge national armaments, Chief Inspector Madenyika, discovered that some pistols were missing from the armoury and carried out a stocktake during which he discovered that four CZ pistols including, a Tokarev pistol inscribed ZRP 096, were missing.

The court heard that investigations were carried out leading to the arrest of Mabhiza and subsequent recovery of two CZ pistols.

It is alleged that further investigations led to the arrest of the other three accused persons.
The total value of the guns stolen was US$5 000- The Herald

By A Correspondent- A Bulawayo woman dumped her abusive “husband” who was constantly harassing her and at the same time refusing to pay lobola for her claiming she was worthless and useless during their 10-year cohabitation which was also blessed with two children aged five and nine.

After being incensed by his abusive behaviour and reluctance to take their relationship to the next level Patience Mangena (31) filed a protection order against Rodger Mthethwa (55), a teacher based in Swaziland.

In her application in which she labelled Mthethwa a drunkard, womaniser, violent and oppressive man Mangena who is also a teacher in Bulawayo said she was no longer interested in him adding that she was now focused on raising their two children.

She claimed she was living on borrowed time after Mthethwa threatened to kill her if ever she dumped him.

“I am a woman aged 31 and have been in a relationship for 12 years with Rodger Mthethwa aged 55 years. We have two children together aged nine and five. We don’t stay together and he refused to pay lobola saying I am valueless and useless. He is staying with his wife and I am staying with my two children.

“I am doing everything by myself and he has been forcing me to commit to the relationship by threatening me saying that he will kill me and escape to Swaziland if ever I try to end the relationship. Life with him has been difficult because he is a drunkard, womaniser, oppressive and abusive. He has been verbally, emotionally and physically abusing me. I reported him to the police several times but nothing happened to him,” complained Mangena.

She said Mthethwa was forcibly taking her money to pursue other businesses with his wife.

“He never allowed me to engage in business and surprisingly he is demanding all the money that I am raising from selling cakes and Tupperware using it to build his homestead in Nyamandlovu. He also took my money and bought bricks to develop a residential stand that is in his wife’s name,” said Mangena.

She added: “I told him that I am no longer interested in him but he is still coming to my place and even at night trying to break down the doors. I am really scared because he will end up killing me and as a result, I want a protection order to be granted against him so that he stops stalking and abusing me”.

Responding to whether or not he had a problem with the granting of the protection order, Mthethwa told the court that Mangena was still his wife because he paid for her education.

“I am not opposed to her application but it should be clear that she is my wife. I don’t mind even if the order is granted in her favour but I was about to go and pay lobola for her,” said Mthethwa.

He also labelled his estranged “wife” a liar.

“My wife is a liar. She claims that we never stayed together but this is due to work commitments than anything else. I never missed coming home on any school holiday. By calling me her boyfriend I wonder if she is acknowledging that she now has a boyfriend when our marriage is still subsisting.

“My wife also describes me as oppressive, suppressive and a dictator when I actually sponsored her education from Ordinary Level to college and she is now a teacher. Education is enlightenment, not oppression and how could she have attended these educational institutions when she is not allowed to step outside the gate,” argued Mthethwa.

Presiding magistrate Tinashe Tashaya, however, ordered Mthethwa to observe Mangena’s peace by not verbally, emotionally and physically abusing her and visiting her place as well as communicating with her in any way.

The MDC Alliance has castigated the persecution and harassment of youth assembly national organising secretary and ward 4, Masvingo Urban councillor, Godfrey Kurauone.

Watch video below :

*People of Zimbabwe*, We have been subjected to abject poverty due to numerous challenges that we have faced as a nation.

These have ranged from rampant corruption to maladministration, causing much suffering to the average Zimbabwean. 

Be that as it may, even the Civil Service has been left in a dilemma and there has been a lot of outcry from different sectors. It is in this moment that the people have come together in solidarity and decided to stage a demonstration which has been scheduled for the 31st of July 2020. 

My leaders, let me take you back to what happened in August 2018. People got shot, people were battered, people were imprisoned and some were treated in an inhumane way.

To which end did the demo assist us with? Let me take you to the recent alleged abduction of the MDC-A trio, after alleging that they had been  abducted, they were arrested and had to spend nights in remand prison all because of a  “demo.” 

My fellow leaders we all know that a lot of these “so called demonstrations” have happened and they achieved nothing, all we got was property vandalism and ill treatment from the security forces.

Those who called for the Demonstrations were not there. Those who got shot have permanent scars and no one compensated them. Is this what we want to continue with? 

What if we stood up as citizens and pressured our own leaders to negotiate better deals for us when they are in government, in Parliament or in whichever office they hold so that we can have better livelihoods.

What if we stopped politics of hate speech and violence? I believe we are being used in a fight that doesn’t represent us. 

Let us be productive, let us lead our people in a way that won’t put blemish on our collars. Last but not least let me say, We believe that each individual has a right and free will to do as they please within the stipulations of the law, we believe citizens of Zimbabwe will do what is right on the 31st of July 2020.

#TogetherWeCan make Zimbabwe great again 

I Thank you

Henry Ngara*LEAD SG*

Gogo Chamisa – An entrepreneur, a workhorse!

By President Adv Nelson Chamisa

Our mothers are our heroines, greatest supporters and guiding lights.

They stand by us through thick and thin – never giving up, always believing, leading the way and lighting our path. When we lose our way, they gently guide us back, lifting us in prayer and believing that our best is yet to come. Gogo Chamisa was one such heroine.

Born on the 25th of June 1954,

Gogo Chamisa
a humble princess of the Masarire Chieftainship in Bikita of Masvingo, was one of nine children.

She was a hardworking, entrepreneurial and multi-talented woman.

She was a strong believer in education as a catalyst for social mobility, dedicating herself to educating her 6 children, two girls and four boys, together with her husband. She was a staunch champion of equality, toiling hard to empower the girl child even when it was not fashionable to do so.

Gogo Chamisa was a philanthropist and a champion of community engagement, always extending a helping hand to the vulnerable around her.

A florist with a passion for ornamental gardening and a strict enforcer of cleanliness, Gogo Chamisa leaves behind a community transformed by her presence. The Chamisa homestead, popularly known as KwaMai Neri, is known for its exceptional market garden and the highly sought after chickens Gogo Chamisa sold.

Most importantly Gogo Chamisa was a prayer warrior, pillar of faith and a leader in the church. She was lovingly known as Mai Mfundisi and served as a faithful leader in the Women’s Fellowship.

Sadly, she was called to be with the Lord barely a fortnight after her 66th birthday, taking with her to eternity, the guidance and covering only a mother can provide.

Her children will always remember the values she emphasised including respect, discipline, integrity, industry and the dignity of hard work. Her teachings will remain among the living, forever guiding us along the right path until we too return to dust.

Gogo Chamisa, collapsed and died as she tended to her beloved garden. It was in this seemingly ordinary moment that the Lord decided to call this brave and courageous woman home.

Although she will no longer be with us here on earth, may the seeds of her earthly labour continue to bear fruit in all who had the privilege to know her.

Rest in power Mai Mfundisi, Mai Neri!!!