State Media

Firewood sellers should brace for tough times following yesterday’s launch of a nationwide blitz that will see offenders being fined up to $14 500 or face a two-year jail term.

The two weeks’ national blitz code-named “Operation Huni Dzabvepi”, which was launched yesterday in Mbare, Harare by the Forestry Commission, the Environmental Management Agency (EMA) and the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP), saw eight people being arrested and fined $14 500 each.

People cutting down trees for commercial purposes or selling firewood need authority from the Forestry Commission. Residents can still cut trees on their premises and may burn the timber for domestic use, but cannot sell the wood without permission.

In an interview yesterday, Forestry Commission operations manager Mr Lewis Radzire said the operation is targeting hotspots.

“The deforestation has reached alarming levels so as the lead agency as far as the conservation of forests and natural resources is concerned, we have put our hands together with our partners to try to reduce this rampant deforestation that is taking place,” he said.

“With the rising cost of energy, especially electricity, people in major cities are resorting to the environment which they perceive to be defenceless.”

Mr Radzire said there was a booming poultry industry which is specifically looking for charcoal, which is being used for breeding chicks. There is rampant charcoal production mainly in Muzarabani and partly from Mhondoro-Ngezi.

For one to produce a tonne of charcoal, they would need 10 tonnes of firewood. Highways have also seen a strong presence of firewood sellers, leaving massive deforestation.

Mr Radzire warned people purporting to be clearing land for arable purposes, saying there was a procedure to be followed for one to extract firewood from the forest as provided for by the Forest Act.

The Forestry Commission is conducting awareness campaigns to ensure people minimise the wanton cutting down of trees. EMA Harare Metropolitan environmental manager, Mr Robson Mavondo, said resettlement and communal areas around urban areas were largely responsible for cutting trees as source of livelihoods.

By A Correspondent- A nurse at Mater Dei Hospital, a private hospital in Bulawayo has resigned after the hospital victimised him for taking a picture of a memo saying COVID-19 patients will pay US$3 000 for ward admissions and US$5 000 for the ICU.

Xolani Sibanda had reportedly been vocal asking why staff were being paid in RTGS dollars whilst the hospital charged for its services in foreign currency.

Sibanda’s resignation came after the hospital’s management instructed him to write and submit a report this Wednesday giving reasons why he should not be arraigned before a disciplinary committee.

The letter that written to Sibanda by the hospital’s human resources manager M. Tembo which prompted his resignation reads:

It has been brought to the attention of Management that while you were rendering your services on the 15th July 2020 in the high dependency unit at 22.00 hours, you were captured on the Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) camera taking a photograph of an internal memorandum, that was put up on the staff notice board which is located at the Nurses Station using your personal cellphone.

A review of the entire hospital footage was done and it shows that you were the only individual who photographed the confidential document on that day.

May you explain in writing why you took a photograph of a document that is strictly meant internal purposes?

The picture of the document is currently circulating on social media platforms and you are therefore required to submit your written explanation and show cause why disciplinary action should not be taken against you.

Your written report should be submitted to the human resources department tomorrow morning at 08.00 hours.

-online

The City Of Harare has issued a public notice indicating that the section along Samora Machel Avenue between Leopold Takawira Street and First Street and Julius Nyerere Way between Sam Nujoma Street and Kwame Nkurumah Avenue will be temporarily closed between the 25th of June 2020 to the 28th of August 2020.

Council said the closure of the road will allow for the construction of a monument at the busy prime spot in the city.

City of Harare further said alternative routes will be recommended by use of informative signs. Council said:

“It is most important to note that during this period Leopold Takawira Street will be two – way up to Nelson Mandela Avenue from Samora Machel Avenue and a section of Kwame Nkrumah Avenue between First Street and Julius Nyerere Way will be one – way for traffic due west.”

The site of the construction is where ZANU PF elements have for a long-time been calling for the setting up of a statue of late former President Robert Mugabe.

Conscious that at 93, Robert Mugabe was to serve a full term if he won the 2018 presidential election ZANU PF officials ordered two statues that were to be erected in his honour when he dies.

The statues remained stuck in North Korea and are rumoured to have since arrived in the country.

The two giant bronze effigies were meant to be erected in Mr Mugabe’s home district of Zvimba and in the Harare at the spot that the City Of Harare is working on.

They were commissioned from a North Korean statue maker, Mansudae Art Studio, whose socialist-realist monuments are spread across the pariah state but have also become a common sight in Africa, where they offered imposing commemorations of the continent’s strongmen for a knockdown price.

2/5 We need to strengthen our surveillance systems by increasing the number of people being tested in the community, as well as conduct a robust contact tracing process.

— ZADHR_DrsHumanRights (@ZadhrDoctors) July 3, 2020

4/5 The long queues for basic commodities like mealie-meal and sugar, where people cannot practise social distancing, is a huge problem.

— ZADHR_DrsHumanRights (@ZadhrDoctors) July 3, 2020

5/5 Health workers also need to be equipped with PPE and be well remunerated so that they are able to do their job well, and properly screen and diagnose Covid-19 suspected cases.

— ZADHR_DrsHumanRights (@ZadhrDoctors) July 3, 2020

Farai Dziva|MDC Alliance leader Advocate Nelson Chamisa will address a landmark e-rally on Sunday.

The youthful leader is expected to address the nation on the deepening economic crisis, social unrest and the rampant violation of human rights by Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration.

The e-rally will be held under the theme, “Fight for Better Livelihoods.”

“On Sunday 5 July, we will host an e-rally under the theme “Fight for Better Livelihoods.”

The rally will start at 1400hrs. The keynote address will be at 1500hrs by President
@nelsonchamisa . Tune in on all our online channels,” the party announced.

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 induced national lockdown, Chamisa has not had an opportunity to address his party supporters on the current challenges facing the movement including the Supreme Court ruling and subsequent events that have seen a rival faction headed by Thokozani Khupe grabbing party assets while also recalling legislators.

According to MDC Alliance National Deputy Spokesperson Clifford Hlatywayo, thousands of Zimbabweans and party supporters are ready for the e-rally.

Farai Dziva|MDC Alliance deputy president, Tendai Biti, has described Emmerson Mnangagwa as a cunning and callous political figure whose record of brutality is well-known.

Biti said Mnangagwa personally hounded Dr Joshua Nkomo out of Zimbabwe.

Biti also described the recalling of MPs as an attempt by Zanu PF to destroy the popular opposition party.

“The continued expulsion of our MPs is simply illegal and unacceptable.

It is an insult to the electorate that voted MDC Alliance .

It is a violation of the right to freedom of association. It is a major assault on democracy . Emmerson you are absolutely shameless,” argued Biti.

The desperate psychotic zeal to destroy our movement will never work. In the loser of an election ends up as the leader of the party that defeated her.

Emmerson and Thokozanu’s efforts are futile It is time to end the madness and protect our struggle.It’s time to finish it off…

As we remember Joshua Nkomo let us not forgot that it was Emmerson who personally hounded him out of Zim. His autobiography has no kind words for Emmerson who planted arms on ZAPU farms and executed Gukurahundi. 30 years later Emmerson is still up to the same nonsense,” Biti added.

Farai Dziva|Transform Zimbabwe leader, Jacob Ngarivhume says he is ready to lead peaceful protests against Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration.

According to Ngarivhume, Mnangagwa has dismally failed to revive the economy.

In a statement Transform Zimbabwe said:

Jacob Ngarivhume is a man on a mission. His vision is to liberate Zimbabwe from its former liberators who have now become its captors.

He has stepped in to fill the leadership vacuum.

Zimbabwe has been on a knife edge for some time. The economy which has been on auto pilot has finally hit rock bottom. ED’s clueless government is scratching everywhere but can not find answers. Corruption has reached unprecedented levels, with the recent Covigate which implicated and embarrassed the First family, a case in point.

Zimbabweans are fed up and are ready to confront this bloodsucking animal called ZANU PF government.

The restless and impoverished civil servants are demanding US denominated salaries.

Nurses have already downed tools. Vendors are locked down at home under this covid induced lockdown, while the cost of living continues to skyrocket.

Mthulism has surely failed the nation.

The democratic space has continued to shrink with alleged abductions every month. Rumours of an imminent coup are everywhere while the nation is being railroaded into another Constitutional amendment meant to give the incumbent almighty power.

And these are desperate times indeed.

Writing on his twitter handle, Ngarivhume issued a call encouraging citizens to unite

He also promised to lead from the front on the 31st of July 2020:

“It’s not about politicians, it’s about the nation, our children, our future.
ZANUPFmustgo”

The United Kingdom embassy in Zimbabwe has taken to social media to dismiss as fake a letter from Secretary of State acknowledging communication from the late opposition MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai who apprised him on the situation in Zimbabwe.

According to the fake letter, the UK government recommended funding for civic groups to pile pressure on the Zanu PF administration.

In a Twitter, post, UK in Zimbabwe said the letter was fake and should be dismissed.

“It has been brought to our attention that a photo is being shared online pretending to show a UK government document from 2001. This document is a fake and should be dismissed as such.”

Reports coming in suggest that ZANU PF Midlands province has resolved to readmit seven (7) of the party’s expelled members thereby creating a regional hegemony.

Among the readmitted are former ministers of Sports, Arts and Culture and Labour and Social Services deputy minister, in that order, Makhosini Hlongwane and Tapiwa Matangaidze who had written to the Midlands province seeking to be reinstated in the party structures.

Most of the members were expelled on allegations that they belonged to party factions, Gamatox – led by expelled ex-vice president Joyce Mujuru, and or G40 allegedly ed by the former first lady, Grace Mugabe.

Below is the full list of the readmitted officials.

1. Rugare Gumbo
2. Francis Nhema
3. Jaison Machaya
4. Flora Bhuka
5. Makhosini Hlongwane
6. Tapiwa Matangaidze
7. Annastacia Ndlovhu

This is happening when Zanu PF Harare province has also lifted the suspension of Godfrey Gomwe, the Harare District Coordinating Committee chairperson.

It also comes when President Emmerson Mnangagwa has given the recently expelled Chivi South MP Killer Zivhu the nod to continue with his “empowerment” programmes since he “graciously” accepted his expulsion.

Meanwhile, some have said the opposition MDC which is currently submerged under a prolonged leadership crisis, should emulate the ruling party that readmits its members.

MDC-T leader Thokozani Khupe has recently been recalling and expelling MDC Alliance Members of Parliament and Councillors for giving allegiance to her nemesis Nelson Chamisa.

Pindula

A nurse at Mater Dei has resigned after the hospital victimised him for taking a picture of a memo saying Covid patients will pay US$3000 for ward admissions & US$5000 for the ICU.
Xolani Sibanda had been vocal asking why staff were paid in Bond Notes whilst Mater Dei charged USD.

THE officer commanding police in Harare yesterday appealed to Zimbabwe Republic Police commanders to provide transport and accommodation to junior officers who are facing eviction from their rented accommodation and missing work because their salaries can no longer meet their needs.

In a leaked radio addressed to commanders, seen by NewsDay, titled “Welfare of Members,” the police boss noted that junior officers were earning poor salaries which could no longer meet their needs and that many of them were facing eviction for failure to pay rentals.

Police officers earn an average of $3 000 per month and will this month be getting a COVID-19 allowance of US$75 in their nostro accounts plus an extra $1 500 at a time the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions says the breadbasket is now hovering around $20 000 and subject to change every week following the introduction of the foreign currency auction system.

Officers, who spoke to NewsDay on condition they were not named, said they were facing challenges reporting for duty, while some of their peers were actually collapsing at work due to hunger.

“Presentations have been made to bosses that the situation is now dire, members are struggling with paying rentals, which are being indexed to US dollars. 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 yesterday.

Police were also angry that while they were at the forefront of suppressing opposing voices and protecting the ruling elite, they remained poor and neglected.

“They promised us garrison shops, they even said they would get us cheaper mealie-meal and sugar, but none of that is happening, yet it’s us with batons and tear smoke protecting the ruling elite,” another officer said.

In February, government promised to set up subsidized shops in cantonment areas to cushion restive members of the uniformed forces from the rising cost of living, but is yet to fulfill that pledge.

In the communication to commanders, the police boss wrote: “Addressees are being encouraged to continue addressing welfare issues of members under their command, especially during the prevailing phase of unstable economic environment exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Commanders, therefore, should have keen interest and the zeal to assist members where possible.”

Commanders were being urged to ensure that they provide accommodation and transport to officers under their command as many struggled to get to work and face eviction for failure to pay rentals.

“The provision of transport and accommodation on transfers and those staying away from stations, among other pertinent issues, as provided for in the standing orders and regulations, should be prioritised. Impartiality and empathy must be exercised when addressing issues to do with the welfare of subordinates,” the communication read.

On June 21, 1 111 police officers successfully challenged transfers by Police Commissioner-General Godwin Matanga saying they were incapacitated and could not fund relocation.

Justice Benjamin Chikowero granted them relief pending determination of the transfer matter.

Police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said while he could not comment on the issues without getting first-hand information, he was aware that Matanga had appeared before a parliamentary portfolio committee and presented the challenges faced by his officers.

“I am not aware of the issues that you raise, but I know that the Commissioner-General appeared before the relevant parliamentary portfolio committee and told them what is needed in the police service. I will need to access the radio and verify it before I comment on other issues,” he said.

Nyathi also requested the leaked radio so that he could verify its authenticity to which he later responded: “The police signal availed to the media is, in fact, a confidential document in terms of the Official Secrets Act. It was internally intended for police commanders as a reminder to do their work as articulated in Police Regulations and Standing Orders. Remember, the CommissionerGeneral of Police recently appeared before the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Defence and Security, where he articulated the challenges faced by the Zimbabwe Republic Police in policing. The government has made it clear that it is currently addressing issues to do with members’ conditions of service.”

Last week, Defence minister Oppah Muchinguri also revealed before Parliament that morale was low in military barracks, with hungry soldiers, particularly those manning border posts in the wake of COVID-19, now tempted to engage in corrupt activities to sustain themselves.

-Newsday

Opposition MDC Alliance President Nelson Chamisa will this Sunday address an e-rally, the party has announced.

The e-rally will be held under the theme, “Fight for Better Livelihoods”

“On Sunday 5 July, we will host an e-rally under the theme “Fight for Better Livelihoods.” The rally will start at 1400hrs. The keynote address will be at 1500hrs by President @nelsonchamisa. Tune in on all our online channels,” the party announced.

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 induced national lockdown, Chamisa has not had an opportunity to address his party supporters on the current challenges facing the movement including the Supreme Court ruling and subsequent events that have seen a rival faction headed by Thokozani Khupe grabbing party assets while also recalling legislators.

By Own Correspondent| Outspoken Norton legislator Temba Mliswa has hit back at the Speaker of Parliament Jacob Mudenda following his six sittings suspension saying he is being put under pressure by Zanu PF to act in a dictatorial manner.

Below is Mliswa’s Twitter thread…

1/ Whilst we’re aware I was ejected from Parly & banned for the next 6 sittings, I believe it’s important when one is in office to comply with the very same rules that you have to preside over. When you don’t, it creates anarchy & dictatorial tendencies emerge

2/ I have a great respect for The Speaker but he is often unnecessarily put under pressure by @ZANUPF_Official. As one who has always advised me to have a comprehensive understanding of the Standing Rules and Orders, I have taken this advice to heart & am as such well versed

3/As a legislator, it’s important to understand the rules that govern the institution you belong to as well as the Zim Constitution. I’ve also taken time to consult with one of the most brilliant constitutional minds I know, @BitiTendai. I’m subsequently going to make a decision

4/My decision will be targeted towards ensuring that the independence of the institution remains intact. It will also assist in dispelling the prevailing fear that institutions become personalised. Parly becomes weak if members are compromised. I’m thinking & looking deep into it

5/ So far from what I’ve gleaned, the decision to ban me for 6 sittings should actually have been 4. These are decisions that may seem small in isolation but have the propensity to add up & tarnish an otherwise impeccable character, due to party pressure.

6/ As a former Chairperson, they worked against me to remove me to protect their own. Just because one has the majority, it shouldn’t mean you abuse the advantage; introspection is needed.

THE High Court in Masvingo will on Monday next week preside over the hearing and determination of an application seeking the release on bail from prison of Ephraim Muthombeni, the Director of Masvingo Centre for Research Advocacy and Community Development (MACRAD), who was committed to prison after he was arrested last week and charged with undermining authority of or insulting President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

The 28 year-old Muthombeni was denied bail on Monday 29 June by Masvingo Magistrate Mbonisi Ndlovu, who ruled that the MACRAD leader is a flight risk and could escape from standing trial.

Muthombeni, who is represented by Martin Mureri of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) had applied for his release on bail after he was arrested by Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) members on Sunday 28 June and charged with undermining authority of or insulting President Mnangagwa as defined in section 33(2)(a)(i) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act.

Prosecutors alleged that Muthombeni faulted President Mnangagwa during an address to some commuters, who were queuing and waiting to board a state-owned Zimbabwe United Passenger Company bus, for presiding over Zimbabwe’s agonising economic crisis and demanding that the ZANU PF party leader resigns.

Muthombeni is alleged to have uttered the words; “Murikuona kumira kwamakaita pa queue imhosva ya President E.D. Mnangagwa arikukwidza maprices e fuel achiba mari nevana vake. E.D. must go,” which if loosely translated means; “You are suffering as a result of President Mnangagwa’s poor leadership and corruption committed by himself and his children and his failure to stem fuel price hikes and he should resign.”

Business Times

The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) should beef up foreign c u r r e n c y
inflows in order to stabilise the exchange rate instead of suspending the mobile money platforms, analysts have said.

The reactions to new government measures come barely a week after the
government suspended all mobile payment platforms and the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange to pave way for investigations for illicit financial transactions.

Parallel forex market hovers between 1:80 and 1:100 with official bank rate standing at 1:63.7.

Since the closure of mobile money platforms the parallel forex rate has not moved instead it has slightly retreated by ZWL$5.

Economists argued that the government was not sincere in dealing with perpetrators of illicit foreign currency dealers as it has left other avenues for underhand financial dealings.

Economist Persistence Gwanyanya told Business Times that more needs to be done to stabilise the forex rate as the illicit forex dealers are known for improvising thereby evading new restrictions.

“The monetary authorities should reinforce foreign currency inflows in order to stabilise the forex rate and one way to do so is to instill confidence in the market to unlock US$1bn exporters’ money locked in the FCA account,” he said.

“The closing of mobile payment platforms is only one piece of the puzzle
which will not solve the forex challenges as a wholesome approach is needed to deal with this complex situation.

Confidence issues are the ones affecting the rates day and night.”

In a snap survey carried out by the Business Times, most forex exchange dealers were not operating payment platforms like Ecocash and One Wallet.
Those dealing with Ecocash were trading at 1:80 and One Wallet at 1:90 but are using personal lines to transact.

The illegal forex traders are using more than five personal lines to trade on the parallel market.

Another economist John Robertson said the mobile money payment platforms have somehow contained illegal forex dealers as very some amounts limited to social transactions are transacted to buy groceries and utilities payment.

“We expect more forex to come through the forex auction trade system in the next three to four weeks as the dollar will be trading higher.

The prices of commodities will continue to rise as long as the rate hasn’t stabilised,” Robertson said.

“We hope that the commodities prices will stabilise soon after the importers have recovered the money they have used to buy forex from the auction system from as high as 1: 100.”

He said the parallel market will lose steam once the auction system gains
momentum.

RBZ has implored all holders of foreign currency to sell their money through the apex bank’s auction market at their preferred prices, to
enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of the new platform.

This week, RBZ governor John Mangudya said holders of hard currency among them exporters, non-governmental organisations, bureaux de
change and receivers of remittances can participate on the auction market directly by selling at preferred prices their funds to the RBZ.

The dollar is trading at 1:63.7 after the second auction held on Tuesday
from 1:57.3 at the inaugural auction held last week

Own Correspondent

There appears to be confusion in the lower house of parliament after the Senate President announced a new Chief Whip for the opposition party on Wednesday.

The Senate announced Masvingo Senator Tichinani Mavetera as the opposition Chief Whip against Chamisa’s appointment of Eric Murai as the Acting Chief Whip also on Wednesday.

MDC Alliance secretary general Chalton Hwende announced the party’s appointments in a letter addressed to the speaker of Parliament Jacob Mudenda.

“Please be advised that our party MDC Alliance has appointed the following members as the party’s leadership in parliament,” reads part of the letter.

“Honourable Lynnet Karenyi- Acting leader of opposition in parliament, Eric Murai (Acting chief whip, lower house) and Jasmine Toffa (acting deputy chief whip lower house).”

The Senate President however made a different announcement without disclosing the source of her appointment.

“I have to inform the Senate that Hon. Sen. Dr. Mavetera has been appointed as the new MDC Chief Whip in the Senate,” she said.

Both MDC sides the MDC-T and the MDC Alliance have not commented on the issue.

Own Correspondent

Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals has given three months’ notice to striking nurses who are resident at the hospital to vacate its flats.

Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals Chief Executive Officer E. T Manyawu wrote the letters top to the nurses.

The letter reads as below:

This letter serves to notify you of the termination of your lease with effect from the end of day 30 September 2020. You are hereby given notice which will commence 1st July 2020.

You are aware that your stay in hospital accommodation was on the understanding that you avail yourself in times of emergencies that may be occasioned by disasters, stay-aways, industrial action and any other such disturbances.

The hospital has experienced numerous emergencies and industrial action in the last 12 months. Despite the calls for emergency cover in those situations you have not been forthcoming in spite of the fact that you are resident in hospital accommodation.

On its part, the hospital has ensured that you pay rentals of less than ZWL 100.00 per month which translate to US$1.75 (at 1:57 rate) on accommodation with no transport fares, free water and uninterrupted electricity both for your convenience and to enable you to attend to duty at short notice during emergencies.

The hospital will be entering into new lease agreements with those nurses who, due to the convenience and proximity of hospital accommodation are agreeable to assisting patients during times of emergencies.

You are therefore expected to prepare to vacate the aforementioned flat/room on or before the 30th September 2020, failure of which you will be evicted without any further notice.

Daily News

The government has not yet decided on the school calendar even though schools are scheduled to reopen this month.

Primary and Secondary Education minister Cain Mathema told the Daily News on Wednesday that while everyone would want to know the school calendar, due to the coronavirus crisis, it was difficult to plan for the future. He said:

We are going to plan according to the trend of COVID-19. Nobody knows what will happen so how do you expect us to tell what will happen in the future?

Yes, people want to know, but you and I are some of the people who want to know. Nobody invited COVID-19, it is all over the world and schools were closed all over.

Schools were forced to close early in late March as the government put in place lockdown measures to combat the spread of SARS-CoV-2, the novel coronavirus which causes COVID-19.

Under normal circumstances, the school calendar has three, four-month terms in which the fourth month is a holiday.

The government has announced a phased reopening of schools starting on July 28 and the Zimbabwe Schools Examination Council (ZIMSEC) examinations for June commenced this week.

However, parliamentarians and various teachers’ unions have urged the government to provide basics like running water, personal protective equipment, and basic screening equipment before schools reopen for the safety of teachers and learners.

More: Daily News

Former Chief of Staff in the late former Prime Minister Tsvangirai’s office, Alex Magaisa has suggested that the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe governor, John Mangudya might have breached corporate governance principles.

Below is Magaisa’s Twitter thread.

ZAMCO-Mangundya-AfreximBank 1. Last week I did a thread on the RBZ-ZAMCO-CBZ axis of corruption & showed how the bank formerly headed by RBZ Governor Mangundya was the principal beneficiary of the ZAMCO scheme that he set up upon taking office. Today, it’s about @afreximbank

2. One of the banks that sold non-performing loans is AfreximBank, the only non-Zimbabwean financial institution in the list. @afreximbank is based in Cairo. It has a regional office in Harare. I was surprised to see it on the list of banks from whom NPLs were bought by ZAMCO.

3. AfreximBank doesn’t just give loans to the likes of Tom, Dick & Harry. Whoever got these loans & failed to repay is no small person. @afreximbank made reckless lending decisions. Didn’t it ask for collateral? Why should the Zim taxpayer pick the cost of their recklessness?4. This is why it’s important to know who is on the list of borrowers who got loans from @afreximbank but failed, refused or neglected to pay them back. It is because of that failure that they became NPLs & now the Zimbabwean taxpayer is carrying the cost #ZAMCOlist

5. RBZ Governor John Mangundya is a board member of @afreximbank and has been for a long time. This places Mangundya at the centre of 2 relationships with ZAMCO, 1st as CBZ CEO, which sold US$698 million NPLs & 2nd as AfreximBank Director which sold US$42,7 million NPLs.

6. This presents a prima facie case of conflict of interest & demands full transparency. This is to ensure that Governor Mangundya did not abuse his position to benefit himself or those with whom he was/is associated. If there’s nothing to hide the #ZAMCOlist should be disclosed.

More: Alex Magaisa/Pindula

Reports coming in suggest that ZANU PF Midlands province has resolved to readmit seven (7) of the party’s expelled members thereby creating a regional hegemony.

Among the readmitted are former ministers of Sports, Arts and Culture and Labour and Social Services deputy minister, in that order, Makhosini Hlongwane and Tapiwa Matangaidze who had written to the Midlands province seeking to be reinstated in the party structures.

Most of the members were expelled on allegations that they belonged to party factions, Gamatox – led by expelled ex-vice president Joyce Mujuru, and or G40 allegedly ed by the former first lady, Grace Mugabe.

Below is the full list of the readmitted officials.

1. Rugare Gumbo
2. Francis Nhema
3. Jaison Machaya
4. Flora Bhuka
5. Makhosini Hlongwane
6. Tapiwa Matangaidze
7. Annastacia Ndlovhu

This is happening when Zanu PF Harare province has also lifted the suspension of Godfrey Gomwe, the Harare District Coordinating Committee chairperson.

It also comes when President Emmerson Mnangagwa has given the recently expelled Chivi South MP Killer Zivhu the nod to continue with his “empowerment” programmes since he “graciously” accepted his expulsion.

Meanwhile, some have said the opposition MDC which is currently submerged under a prolonged leadership crisis, should emulate the ruling party that readmits its members.

MDC-T leader Thokozani Khupe has recently been recalling and expelling MDC Alliance Members of Parliament and Councillors for giving allegiance to her nemesis Nelson Chamisa.

Pindula

A Bulawayo woman was arrested at Mncumbata Secondary on 30/07/20 after conniving to write ZIMSEC examinations for a friend. An alert invigilator verified the candidate number and the name leading to the arrest of the suspect. #notocrime

— Zimbabwe Republic Police (@PoliceZimbabwe) July 2, 2020

The ruling ZANU PF has said that current squabbles in the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) was weakening the party adding that it was also a blow to democracy in the country.

This comes when the MDC is divided into two warring factions – one led by Nelson Chamisa and the other led by Thokozani Khupe, since the demise of the party’s founding leader, Morgan Tsvangirai in 2018.

Posting on Twitter, ZANU PF said:

Democracy thrives on strong opposition‼️

We pray MDC will soon fix their problems.

MDC’s current factional fights are also affecting service delivery in urban areas, ZANU PF supporters like every other urbanites are equally affected by the chaos holding in opposition. pic.twitter.com/Im9dBHQR3u

— ?? ZANU PF PATRIOTS ?? (@zanupf_patriots) July 2, 2020

Zimbabwe’s coronavirus cases rose to 617 after 12 people tested positive on the 2nd of July. The development was announced by the Ministry of Health and Child Care in a statement that also indicated that 10 new cases were returnees from South Africa while 2 were local.

The statement also indicated that authorities had initiated investigations to establish the sources of oca infections.

Seven (7) people recovered from the virus bringing the total number of recoveries to 173.

The nurses at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals have staged a demonstration in response to a notice to evict them from government accommodation.

The government gave the nurses three months notice (July 1 to September 30) to vacate their flats because they are on strike against poor working conditions and low wages.

Watch the video below:

Daily News

MORE than three million cross-border traders will breathe a sigh of relief after the Cross-border Traders Association managed to lure various South African businesses to sell their products at Beitbridge Border Post in order to mitigate the impact of coronavirus (Covid-19) on the country’s economy.

The Cross-border Traders’ Association chairperson Killer Zivhu told the media in Harare yesterday that there was no need to travel to South Africa to buy goods for their businesses.

“We are opening a people’s shop at Beitbridge starting next week. We have engaged various South African businesspeople who have agreed to come with their goods at Beitbridge. This will enable all cross-border traders to buy commodities at the border.

“They will get these goods at the same price they were getting them in South Africa and due to the Covid-19 pandemic, there is no need for all cross-border traders to travel to South Africa. We have more than three million cross-borders in Zimbabwe who are going to benefit from this development. There is no need to travel to Messina or Johannesburg anymore,” Zivhu said.

He said currently many people have nothing to do due to the obtaining lockdown.

“Most people want to pay school fees and half of the parents who pay school fees are cross-borders. This move will enable people to re-start their businesses.

“People are suffering … so we want to help our government during this difficult time of Covid-19. We are negotiating with the government so that they can provide Zupco buses to transport traders from different places.”

He added that the government must assist cross-borders with funds to re-open their businesses.

“Most people are being raped and killed while they are trying to cross borders through illegal entry points during this lockdown and most of them will not be tested. So, this is another way of dealing with the spread of the disease.

“We are saying people are going to be tested by private companies regularly. Cross-borders must first register like what the government said and after that they must come to us.

“However, we can also facilitate their registration. We urge the government to provide funds for cross-borders through the SME facility which they announced recently. We are also calling upon all people with free funds to come forward,” Zivhu said.

This comes as the government has promised to avail funding to cushion informal and small-scale enterprises that have not been spared by the global pandemic.

THE ongoing expulsion of MDC-Alliance officials who are refusing to toe the MDC-T line has extended to municipalities, with the axe yesterday falling on four Harare councillors.

This follows the Wednesday recall of eight senators aligned to troubled opposition leader Nelson Chamisa by Dr Thokozani Khupe, who was confirmed MDC-T leader by the Supreme Court in March this year on the grounds that the former assumed power illegally.

Dr Khupe, who is due to convene an extraordinary congress to elect the substantive leader of the MDC-T following the death of Morgan Tsvangirai in 2018, has wasted no time in recalling officials who are refusing to play ball.

So far she has recalled 21 parliamentarians, with her axe swinging above the heads of legislators who are refusing to accept the Supreme Court ruling that made her the interim president of the MDC-T which deployed the highest number of candidates in the 2018 elections on the MDC-Alliance ticket.

In a letter to Harare town clerk Engineer Hosiah Chisango, Local Government and Public Works Minister July Moyo said the recall of the four councillors namely; Denford Ngadziore (Ward 16) Girisoti Mandere (Ward 44), Jaison Kautsa (Ward 37) and Tonderai Chakeredza (Ward 31), by the MDC-T means they can no longer perform council duties.

“I wish to inform you that I am in receipt of a letter from the Movement for Democratic Change stating that councillors have been expelled from that party. In terms of Section 278 (1) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe, as read with Section (1) (k), Ward 16, Ward 44, Ward 37 and Ward 31 of Harare City Council are now vacant.”

Minister Moyo said in terms of Section 121 of the Electoral Act, Harare City Council must inform the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission of the vacancies.

Meanwhile, councillor Ngadziore has responded to the recall.

Dear Ward 16 Residents

This afternoon I received a letter of recall from Minister of Local Government July Moyo after he has received a letter from one Douglas Mwonzora of MDC-T the Party you rejected. You voted for me as your Councillor under MDC Alliance.
This did not come as a surprise to me and I am not regretting as you are the one who gave me the mandate through MDC Alliance. I will continue providing the necessary leadership at Community level till such a time we meet again.

I want to thank you for your support in our community work to develop ward 16.

I remain

The People’s Councillor
Denford Ngadziore ward 16

Police in the Midlands have launched a manhunt for a Mberengwa man who fatally assaulted a woman for turning down his love proposal.

The man, Jabulani Mutengwa, of Rashika Village under Chief Mataruse allegedly beat up 60-year-old Shanangurai Chomwise resulting in her death.

Police provincial spokesperson Inspector Joel Goko confirmed the development to B-Metro saying they had since launched a manhunt for the suspect.

“We are investigating a case of murder of a 60-year-old woman who was beaten to death by the suspect for turning down his love proposal,” he said.

Inspector Goko said the deceased had gone to visit her relative when the incident happened.

“Chomwise was at Mwembe Business Centre under Chief Mataruse where she had gone to visit her relative Reason Gumbo who worked at Madambu shop,” he said.

Inspector Goko said Mutengwa, whose age could not be ascertained, followed Chomwise and proposed to her.
“Upon leaving, accused approached the now deceased and proposed love and she turned him down.

“This did not go down well with the accused who grabbed Chomwise’s hand and twisted it and she fell,” said Inspector Goko.
Mutengwa armed himself with a stick and assaulted the woman.

“The accused picked up a stick and assaulted Chomwise on the right side of the ribs until she became unconscious.”

She was ferried to Mnene Hospital where she died on 28 June. Inspector Goko appealed to the public who might have knowledge on
Mutengwa’s whereabouts to report to their nearest police station.

“The suspect is still at large so we are appealing to anyone who might have knowledge on his whereabouts to quickly contact the nearest police station.
He also appealed to the public to desist from violence.

“As police, we continue to appeal to citizens to stop violent behaviour as it usually results in unnecessary loss of lives.”-B-Metro

Farai Dziva|MDC Alliance National National Vice Chairperson Job Sikhala says he is unmoved by Zanu PF’ s threats to arrest him.

Sikhala also warned of an impending wave of revolution that will be unstoppable.

See full statement :
By Hon Job Wiwa Sikhala:
MDC Alliance National Vice Chairman.

Dear Zimbabweans,

If we all remember some days ago the ZANU PF regime through Kazembe Kazembe, issued lies packaged as security and intelligence alert to the nation about the spread of a coup rumour.

In those lies, he specifically mentioned myself, Apostle Talent Chiwenga, Gambakwe Media, ZimEye, Nehanda Radio, Saviour Kasukuwere, civic society organizations and some Prophet in the United States of America whose name I don’t remember as culprits. A few days ago Oppah Muchinguri, told Parliament of Zimbabwe that the government is going to arrest all those persons who were mentioned in the lies. Let me set the record straight from the onset, to Oppah Muchinguri, please bring it on. I am not afraid of the threats because this country cannot be governed on the basis of lies and manufacturing of falsehoods against those who are standing against the evils of your government because this country does not belong to anyone’s mother.

I am briefed that the threat by Oppah Muchinguri is targeting at arresting me and Apostle Talent Chiwenga as soon as possible.

The brief I received which is quite detailed, says, sooner rather than later after our arrest, journalist Hopewell Chin’ono will also be immediately nabbed. Among the institutions and individuals they targeted during their Press Conference, it is only myself and Apostle Talent Chiwenga who are in Zimbabwe.

As a clampdown operation all those whom they target for persecution will be nabbed and thrown into jail, thus including silencing Hopewell Chin’ono. I gather that they are all aware that Saviour Kasukuwere is exiled somewhere, the operator of Gambakwe media is in SA, ZimEye operates from UK so is Nehanda Radio, hence the only ones in Zimbabwe are Job Sikhala and Apostle Talent Chiwenga.

So all that noise and threats is all about the appetite by the regime to come and have their hands on me and Apostle Chiwenga.

Let me be unequivocal. I will not tolerate any persecution on my person anymore. Don’t dare again. Like their threat to come and invade my home on the 29th of February 2020 which turned into a nightmare, I have mobilised the entire population to trigger a revolution in the event of carrying out their threat. I am a practical man. I will never be persecuted because of my resolute stance against this evil regime.

My Masvingo Treason trial will be a pick nick. This time the wave will be unstoppable. I don’t make empty threats. I am not that character. I also urge Apostle Chiwenga to activate his constituency. It’s a do or die situation. We deserve our peace and happiness. These idiots can not just create a lie to justify their evil intentions against certain persons. This is my country. I have every right like any other citizen to express myself on the deficit on how our public affairs are conducted. Inga you have deployed 24 hours surveillance on me and you have noticed I have never been intimidated to the dot.

Idiots governing our country should take responsibility for their failures. Trying to use other people as scapegoats is dangerous to its very survival. I have obtained detailed information about all your intentions Oppah Muchinguri. Bring it on.

The wheels of the revolution continue to travel.

Aluta Continua.

Own Correspondent |
Zimbabwe Prison and Correctional Services details at Masvingo Remand Prison are denying Macrad Trust Director Epraim Mutombeni access to food.

It has come to the attention of ZimEye.com that prison officers are citing Covid-19 restrictions as the main reason why Mutombeni has been denied food for the past 2 days.

ZPSC officers also forcibly dismissed Mutombeni’s lawyer Martin Mureri who had come to see his client falsely accusing him of using the opportunity to see his client as a way of bringing food for Mutombeni.

However, it appears they were under instruction from their superiors .

Mutombeni (28) was charged with undermining the authority of the President as defined in section 33(2)(a) (i) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform )Act and was remanded in custody to the 13th of July 2020 with his bail application denied .

The arrest of Mutombeni comes in the background of a visit by a high powered delegation of the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission to Masvingo Province to conduct an inquiry into the evictions of the Shangaan people in Chiredzi District’s Chilonga and Masivamele areas. He was supposed to present crucial evidence to the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission, on the eve of his arrest as such this has raised the ire of civil society leaders across Zimbabwe as it is clear to them that the state is using trumped up charges to ensure that Mutombeni and other civil society actors in Masvingo Province are deterred from campaigning against the land rights of the Shangaan people in Chiredzi District.

His arrest was preceeded by days of key MACRAD staff members being trailed by unknown individuals in vehicles without number plates.

Mutombeni a Shangaan clansman himself has for the past 2 months been the most vocal critic against these eviction and his organization Masvingo Centre for Research Advocacy and Development released a damming report that implicated and exposed the government of Zimbabwe for not following the correct procedures and trying to forcibly relocate the Shangaan people from their ancestral land .

Investigations by ZimEye.com have revealed that a company named Dendiary Pvt Ltd which is believed to be Chinese fronted as the major beneficiary of these relocations and apparently in a recent visit to the area by VP Chiwenga local people embarrassed the Vice-President as they demonstrated in front of him with state security agents aso identifying Mutombeni as the individual who might have led these demonstrations .

Mutombeni is being represented by the Zimbabwe lawyers for Human Rights and his application for removal from remand at the High Court of Masvingo is set to be heard on Friday 4 July 2020.

Farai Dziva|Zanu PF has barred MDC Alliance councillor for ward 34, Gutu Central, Wickliff Matindike from carrying out his official duties.

Masvingo Minister Of State, Ezra Chadzamira has imposed a Zanu PF losing candidate, Susan Samatanga as the councillor for ward.

Samatanga is now carrying out all the official duties as the councillor for the ward.

Speaking to ZimEye.com in an interview on Wednesday, Matindike said he was struggling to carry out his official duties because of Zanu PF stalwarts were determined to frustrate him.

“I am facing some challenges in my ward, it’s true.

A Zanu PF losing candidate in the ward is now in charge of everything. She is literally performing all the duties of an elected official.

They are blocking me from accessing food aid from the Social Welfare on behalf of the residents in my ward.

Everything has been politicized.Samatanga is also attending key meetings on behalf of the residents,” said Matindike.

“She meets all Government officials who come to the ward and has access to the District Development Co-ordinator’s office at anytime- which the MDC Alliance councillor doesn’t have,” a concerned resident said.

ZANU PF Secretary for Commissariat Victor Matemadanda has disowned a Twitter account in his name, which he claims was engineered by his enemies bent on tarnishing his image.

This follows a message circulating on social media purportedly posted by Matemadanda where he is threatening to deal with those who try to create two centres of power within the ruling party.

According to the twitter handle, he said a leader is elected by the congress not those who are power hungry trying to dethrone the President unconstitutionally.

Matemadanda said he did not have a Twitter account.

“I do not have a twitter account.

Let it be known that Matemadanda does not have a twitter account.

The twitter account is a creation of my enemies who are trying to destabilise the party and soil my name,” he said.

He said those behind the fake Twitter handle were shameless impostors bent on soiling his image for cheap political gain.

He added that no amount of smearing will break Zanu PF party-The Herald

https://twitter.com/ZimEye/status/1278754310113898497?s=20

The High Court in Masvingo will on Monday 6 July 2020 preside over the
hearing and determination of an application seeking the release on
bail from prison of Ephraim Muthombeni, the Director of Masvingo
Centre for Research Advocacy and Community Development (MACRAD), who was committed to prison after he was arrested last week and charged
with undermining authority of or insulting President Emmerson
Mnangagwa.

The 28 year-old Muthombeni was denied bail on Monday 29 June 2020 by
Masvingo Magistrate Mbonisi Ndlovu, who ruled that the MACRAD leader
is a flight risk and could escape from standing trial.

Muthombeni, who is represented by Martin Mureri of Zimbabwe Lawyers
for Human Rights (ZLHR) had applied for his release on bail after he
was arrested by Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) members on Sunday 28
June 2020 and charged with undermining authority of or insulting
President Mnangagwa as defined in section 33(2)(a)(i) of the Criminal
Law (Codification and Reform) Act.

Prosecutors alleged that Muthombeni faulted President Mnangagwa during
an address to some commuters, who were queuing and waiting to board a
state-owned Zimbabwe United Passenger Company bus, for presiding over
Zimbabwe’s agonising economic crisis and demanding that the ZANU PF
party leader resigns.

Muthombeni is alleged to have uttered the words; “Murikuona kumira
kwamakaita pa queue imhosva ya President E.D Mnangagwa arikukwidza maprices e fuel achiba mari nevana vake. E.D must go,” which if loosely
translated means; “You are suffering as a result of President
Mnangagwa’s poor leadership and corruption committed by himself and
his children and his failure to stem fuel price hikes and he should
resign.”

-ZLHR

A soldier and a police officer are undergoing trial after they were
arrested and charged for assaulting a Bulawayo resident Weston
Chandomba during the national lockdown period.

Obvious Nkomo aged 35 years, who is a soldier based at Induna Barracks
and is employed as a corporal in the Zimbabwe National Army and
Sergeant Dennis Maturi aged 45 years, who is employed by Zimbabwe
Republic Police appeared before Magistrate Jaconiah Ncube at Western
Commonage Court in Bulawayo on Friday 26 June 2020 to answer to
charges of assault as defined in section 89(1)(a) of the Criminal Law
(Codification and Reform) Act.

Prosecutors told Magistrate Ncube that Nkomo and Maturi assaulted the
33 year-old Chandomba 33, who is employed as a mechanic on 1 May 2020
in Bulawayo’s Njube high-density suburb by slapping him with open
hands and a butt of a riffle intending to cause bodily harm.

Prosecutors said Nkomo and Maturi were on duty escorting a truck
selling maize meal and conducting routine checks when they quarreled
with Chandomba and accused him of causing or behaving in a disorderly
manner before assaulting him.

After assaulting Chandomba, prosecutors said Nkomo and Maturi
handcuffed him together with other persons and ordered them to sit
down on the tarmac before taking them to Njube Police Station, where
he was detained for several hours until he was released without any
charges preferred against him.

Prosecutors told Magistrate Ncube that Chandomba sustained a damaged
right ear from the assault by Nkomo and Maturi.

Nkomo and Maturi are the first publicly known security services
personnel to be arraigned before the courts charged with violating
citizens’ rights during the national lockdown period.

Several people across the country have endured harassment, assault and
torture at the hands of soldiers and police officers during the
national lockdown period which was declared by President Emmerson
Mnangagwa in March in a bid to combat the spread of coronavirus, which
has affected more than 500 people in Zimbabwe.

In April, Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR), had to approach
the High Court to secure court orders to stop soldiers and police
officers from harassing, assaulting and violating citizens’ rights
while enforcing regulations during the national lockdown period.

Already, several people across the country represented by ZLHR are
suing soldiers and police officers for violating their fundamental
rights during the ongoing national lockdown period.

-ZLHR

Cash amounting to US$ 30 000 was stolen from a parked motor vehicle in Byo CBD on 30/06/20 at about 0800. The Complainant had parked his vehicle and entered a supermarket to buy some foodstuffs. Police are investigating the case.

— Zimbabwe Republic Police (@PoliceZimbabwe) July 2, 2020

THE Bulawayo City Council has identified a site it intends constructing a new state of the art Stadium that conforms to Fifa and Caf standards.

It has also emerged that installation of new bucket seats at Barbourfields Stadium will see its carrying capacity reducing to 12 000.

An assistant director in the department of housing and community services confirmed the development in a report in the latest council minutes.

He said considerations for a new stadium were already underway and a new site for the facility had been identified, although the exact location of the site was not mentioned.

He was responding to an inquiry by councillor Felix Mhaka on refurbishment works being done at Barbourfields Stadium so that it meets Fifa and Caf standards.

Mhaka had suggested that council either demolishes Luveve or White City Stadium to build a new stadium.

A senior official with the Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (ZERA), Engineer Nobert Matarutse has clarified the cost of blending unleaded petrol and ethanol saying the blending was justified as it reduces the foreign currency obligation by 20 percent for E20, and by 10 percent for E10. His clarification comes at a time the motoring public has condemned the use of ethanol arguing that it made our petrol more expensive and it if damaging people’s vehicles.

Motorists say that a litre of petrol no longer meets the expected distance travelled on consumption, meaning more fuel is consumed per kilometre travelled beyond their comprehension.

Engineer Matarutse, ZERA’s Consumer Services Manager gave the clarification during an intense engagement meeting held on the Harare Residents’ Trust (HRT) Residents’ Dialogue whatsapp interactive platform comprising of academics, residents’ leaders, local and national policymakers and bureaucrats, media personnel and civil society leaders. Forum participant Albert Chandaengerwa facilitated the discussion and probed on the ethanol issues.

Engineer Matarutse said: “In terms of blending we are currently at 20 percent hence our petrol is referred to as E20. Whilst the litre of Ethanol costs RTGS$54.5763 only 200ml of that one litre is what is added to unleaded fuel (800ml) to make a litre. The 200ml of ethanol costs RTGS$10.91526.

This explained sounded more technical for the understanding of ordinary residents, so Engineer Matarutse had to further simplify the message.

“Let me take this opportunity to advise colleagues that Ethanol, which is a by-product of the production of sugar, is a fuel,” he said. “In Zimbabwe, just like in many other countries, a decision was made to mix unleaded petrol with Ethanol in order to save on foreign currency (which no doubt is in short supply) and also to reduce pollution. So when the unleaded petrol, 95% which comes by pipeline from Beira to Msasa, is received at Msasa, it is Blended (mixed with Ethanol) by NOIC (National Oil Infrastructure Company) at Msasa, 800ml (unleaded petrol) + 200ml (Ethanol) = 1 litre Petrol (E20).”

From the given explanation, this means that one litre of ethanol can blend five litres of petrol.

Foreign currency is therefore required for the 800 millilitres of imported petrol and local currency is needed for the 200ml in order to procure 1000ml, which makes up the one litre E20 petrol that is eventually sold in Zimbabwe, according to the ZERA official.

Jonathan Muringani, another participant said: “Engineer Matarutse, the science of ethanol has not changed. What has changed are the criminals who have a monopoly thorough political patronage.

While you are just an employee, the political trickster and their professional appendages are living on borrowed time as they extract excessive rents on the population like stationary bandits (Mancur Olson).”

To this Engineer Matarutse said Muringani’s comments were outside his mandate at ZERA.

Other contributions came from participants who wanted to understand why then service stations selling petrol in USD did not factor in the ZWL component in their costing, because they all demanded payment in USD. Several service stations in Harare are selling their fuel in foreign currency, and very rarely is the precious commodity sold in the local currency.

Before the latest price increases by ZERA, petrol was largely trading at around one USD to US$1.05 at most service stations, but ZERA pegged the fuel at US$128, way beyond what was prevailing in the market.

Zimbabwe’s motorists continue to experience fuel shortages, and spent valuable productive time in petrol and diesel queues with no solution in sight. Concerns however remain that ethanol has contributed to the high cost of fuel in Zimbabwe with critics of the government’s move demanding the end to ethanol blending in the country.

THE 66km Gwanda-Maphisa Road remains dilapidated, forcing Government officials and other travellers to drive for 464km via Bulawayo to access the two districts of Matabeleland South Province.

Estimates indicate that should this stretch of the road be surfaced, motorists would likely take about 30 minutes drive to the two districts.

Those that end up using the road have to endure two to three hours of rough riding.

Plans to surface the road, which some regard as the worst major road in the country have remained a pipe dream. So far, the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure Development has managed to clear only 3km of the bush and constructed 1,8km of fill layer.

Provincial Development Coordinator, Ms Sthandiwe Ncube, made a passionate plea to the Minister of Finance and Economic Development (Professor Mthuli Ncube) to avail funds to fix the road.

“We are worried with the bad state of roads in the province and our appeal is for the Government through your office to avail more funds for road projects here,” she said.

“Our biggest worry is the Gwanda to Maphisa road, which is in a very bad state and the current scenario where people have to travel for more than 400km rather than travelling for 66 km is not sustainable.

“This is a major road linking Matobo, Mangwe and Bulilima districts and Plumtree Town with the Matabeleland South provincial capital in Gwanda.”

Ms Ncube said the bad state of the road had made travelling for many people very expensive.

She said it was critical for the Government to attend to the road network to steer infrastructure development initiatives.

Matabeleland South has a total of 11 595km of roads and 10 542 of these are gravel earth roads, which are already in bad state.

In addition, only 1050 km are surfaced while 53 km are regarded as very good. The other 988 is reported to be in a good state.

The Grain Millers Association of Zimbabwe National Chairman Tafadwa Musarara has announced that the price of a standard loaf of bread will be reduced from ZWL79 to ZWL66.

Musarara said the positive development was a product of discussions between GMAZ and Reserve bank of Zimbabwe Governor Dr John Panonetsa Mangudya who assured them that foreign currency allocations will be made to millers.

Besides the reason given by the Millers, facts on the ground indicate that consumers were no longer affording the staple food which was going for as high as $80 a loaf. The bread was getting stale on shelves which may have contributed to fall in the price.

The Foreign Affairs Parliamentary Committee has issued defiant Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube with a final warning after failing to turn up and give oral evidence on issues to do with his portfolio.

Mthuli was summoned by the committee to explain why his ministry had stalled in disbursing US$5 million to the Zimbabwean embassy in the United States for renovations.

Pfungwa Kunaka the finance ministry principal director, who was seconded to attend the meeting by Mthuli Ncube got the ire of the parliamentarians who told him to inform Ncube that he had been issued with a final warning and would in future be charged with contempt if he did not take parliamentary business seriously.

Portfolio committee chairperson, Kindness Paradza dismissed the senior official demanding Mthuli Ncube to come in person.

“Go and tell your minister that he must take Parliament business seriously. Next time we will charge him,” Paradza told the senior finance ministry official.

Paradza, the Zanu PF MP for Makonde, also told Kunaka to inform Ncube to furnish the foreign affairs portfolio committee with detailed answers on why the finance ministry was failing to disburse US$5 million to the Zimbabwe Embassy in New York, US for repairs after it was extensively damaged in a fire.

“Go and inform your minister that he promised to disburse US$5 million to New York. To date, that money is still outstanding. We need that in writing,” Paradza said.

In-flows into Lake Kariba have reached their seasonal peak of 481,22 metres, which is about 41,2 percent above the minimum operating level for power generation, as levels start declining.

Levels at the dam, which produces a combined 1 625MW of power on both the south and north banks, serving Zimbabwe and neighbours Zambia respectively, were earlier projected to be less, but gained significantly after unexpected floods upstream of the Zambezi River catchment.

At this stage last year, levels were around 28,32 percent, having started the decline at the beginning of June. In terms of power generation, Kariba was designed to operate at between 475,50m and 488,50m (with 0,70m freeboard).

In its latest update, Zambezi River Authority (ZRA) noted the four-day stagnation before the current decline.

“The Lake level has continued rising steadily, stagnating, and recording a first drop at the close of the period under review at 481,23m (41,04 percent usable storage) on 25th June 2020. Last year on the same date, the Lake level was at 479,52m (28,32 percent usable storage),” said ZRA in an update.

Usable storage is the water in the top 13m of a full lake that is the water above the inlets to the two power stations. There is a lot more water below the minimum usable level suitable for recreational activities and contains fish, but it cannot be used to generate electricity.

Most of the water in the lake comes from run-off in south-east Angola and rainfall in north-east Zambia. ZRA has marginally increased water allocation for power generation after initially putting a cap at 22 billion cubic metres for the year which will see the two stations producing a total of 500MW.

Own Correspondent

Mater Dei Hospital in Bulawayo has announced that it will be charging US$60 for casualty and US$3000 for a general ward and then US$5000 for ICU for all aptients with Coronavirus.

A notice on social media from the hospital reads as below and the hospital has not disputed the notice.

The Catholic run hospital is currently the only hospital in Bulawayo ready to attend to Covid-19 Patients as the other two Ekusile Hospital and Thorngroove are still being renovated.

Commenting on the matter on Tweeter, Times Live journalist Lenin Ndebele said, “Covid 19 has moved from I know someone who has it to, there’s a death at home I lost a childhood friend a guy actually a year younger than me.

“This thing doesn’t discriminate. South Africa is hard hit and I fear for Zimbabwe because hospitals demand US$ 60 for casualty and US$3000 for a general ward and then US$5000 for ICU. Basically with nurses on strike and hospitals poorly equipped if you can’t raise USD in Zimbabwe you are in trouble. The leadership has failed us in our darkest hour. Maybe they say, they are opposition supporters let them die”.

The Dr Thokozani Khupe led MDC-T has defended its move to recall legislators who pledged their allegiance to the Nelson Chamisa faction saying it is a strategic objective that should not be viewed as vindictive.

Addressing journalists at the party headquarters Morgan Richard Tsvangirai House yesterday, MDC-T spokesperson Khaliphani Phugeni said they were not cruel.

“We are not vindictive in this whole process. We appreciate that there are some who for some reasons or the other are being threatened. We did not start this movement so that we can fire each other from Parliament

“Our use of this tool of recalling MPs was a strategic objective. I will not go into detail on the strategic objective. We are not using this in a malicious way and you will agree the recalls have been strategic for us as a party,” said Phugeni

Phugeni said they will recall more legislators and councillors should they continue to defy the party.

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

ZBC Journalist Ruvheneko Parirenyatwa has been fired from the state broadcaster.

The development was revealed in a tweet by her yesterday.

Reasons for the explosion were not clear at the time of writing. She however hinted that her bosses were motivated by feelings of being threatened by the youth. She lyrically revealed her thoughts saying,

One day we won't get suspended or fired for doing our jobs. One day we will get hired for our abilities & promoted for our brilliance. One day we won't offend older men & women who feel threatened by excellence. Mediocrity & fear are the enemies of growth. One day, is one day.

— Ruvheneko (@RuvhenekoP) July 1, 2020

“One day we won’t get suspended or fired for doing our jobs,” she tweeted. “One day we will get hired for our abilities and promoted for our brilliance. One day we won’t offend older men and women who feel threatened by excellence. Mediocrity and fear are the enemies of growth. One day, is one day.”

The development comes as the station she once worked for, CapiTalk – has suspended its head of content Nyaradzo Makombe.

Parirenyatwa was once fired from ZiFM Stereo for interviewing ThisFlag activist Evan Mawarire, and in August 2018, she was removed from CapiTalk over interviews she did of 1 August victims of violence.

Own Correspondent

MDC-T leader Thokozani Khupe’s top aide for years, Witness Dube has thrown his support behind MDC-T Secretary General Douglas Mwonzora to be elected as President of the MDC-T at the upcoming Extra – Ordinary Congress.

In an unprecedented post on Twitter Dube dumped his former boss who also dumped her after the 2018 elections.

Dube tweeted, “History beckons on 31 July as we will be aligning with our party and country law! One man has been the soul of reasoned disputations both within and without our party,

History beckons on 31 July as we will be aligning with our party & country law!

One man has been the soul of reasoned disputations both within & without our party, @DMwonzora.

It is my greatest pleasure to nominate Douglas Togarasei Mwonzora for President of the MDC.@bbmhlanga

— Witness DUBE (@witness_dube) July 2, 2020

Farai Dziva|MDC Alliance National National Vice Chairperson Job Sikhala says he is unmoved by Zanu PF’ s threats to arrest him.

Sikhala also warned of an impending wave of revolution that will be unstoppable.

See full statement :
By Hon Job Wiwa Sikhala:
MDC Alliance National Vice Chairman.

Dear Zimbabweans,

If we all remember some days ago the ZANU PF regime through Kazembe Kazembe, issued lies packaged as security and intelligence alert to the nation about the spread of a coup rumour.

In those lies, he specifically mentioned myself, Apostle Talent Chiwenga, Gambakwe Media, ZimEye, Nehanda Radio, Saviour Kasukuwere, civic society organizations and some Prophet in the United States of America whose name I don’t remember as culprits. A few days ago Oppah Muchinguri, told Parliament of Zimbabwe that the government is going to arrest all those persons who were mentioned in the lies. Let me set the record straight from the onset, to Oppah Muchinguri, please bring it on. I am not afraid of the threats because this country cannot be governed on the basis of lies and manufacturing of falsehoods against those who are standing against the evils of your government because this country does not belong to anyone’s mother.

I am briefed that the threat by Oppah Muchinguri is targeting at arresting me and Apostle Talent Chiwenga as soon as possible.

The brief I received which is quite detailed, says, sooner rather than later after our arrest, journalist Hopewell Chin’ono will also be immediately nabbed. Among the institutions and individuals they targeted during their Press Conference, it is only myself and Apostle Talent Chiwenga who are in Zimbabwe.

As a clampdown operation all those whom they target for persecution will be nabbed and thrown into jail, thus including silencing Hopewell Chin’ono. I gather that they are all aware that Saviour Kasukuwere is exiled somewhere, the operator of Gambakwe media is in SA, ZimEye operates from UK so is Nehanda Radio, hence the only ones in Zimbabwe are Job Sikhala and Apostle Talent Chiwenga.

So all that noise and threats is all about the appetite by the regime to come and have their hands on me and Apostle Chiwenga.

Let me be unequivocal. I will not tolerate any persecution on my person anymore. Don’t dare again. Like their threat to come and invade my home on the 29th of February 2020 which turned into a nightmare, I have mobilised the entire population to trigger a revolution in the event of carrying out their threat. I am a practical man. I will never be persecuted because of my resolute stance against this evil regime.

My Masvingo Treason trial will be a pick nick. This time the wave will be unstoppable. I don’t make empty threats. I am not that character. I also urge Apostle Chiwenga to activate his constituency. It’s a do or die situation. We deserve our peace and happiness. These idiots can not just create a lie to justify their evil intentions against certain persons. This is my country. I have every right like any other citizen to express myself on the deficit on how our public affairs are conducted. Inga you have deployed 24 hours surveillance on me and you have noticed I have never been intimidated to the dot.

Idiots governing our country should take responsibility for their failures. Trying to use other people as scapegoats is dangerous to its very survival. I have obtained detailed information about all your intentions Oppah Muchinguri. Bring it on.

The wheels of the revolution continue to travel.

Aluta Continua.

COVID 19 patients to pay for services, hospitalization pic.twitter.com/2OyGL4ksqL

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) July 2, 2020

The incoming Tanzanian Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Professor Emmanuel Mbennah, poses for a picture with President Mnangagwa after presentation of his credentials at State House Thursday morning.

FULL TEXT- "We are not targeting white farmers": Government pic.twitter.com/whvd22fvkd

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) July 2, 2020

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Own Correspondent |
Zimbabwe Prison and Correctional Services details at Masvingo Remand Prison are denying Macrad Trust Director Ephraim Mutombeni access to food.

It has come to the attention of ZimEye.com that prison officers are citing Covid-19 restrictions as the main reason why Mutombeni has been denied food for the past 2 days.

ZPSC officers also forcibly dismissed Mutombeni’s lawyer Martin Mureri who had come to see his client falsely accusing him of using the opportunity to see his client as a way of bringing food for Mutombeni.

However, it appears they were under instruction from their superiors .

Mutombeni (28) was charged with undermining the authority of the President as defined in section 33(2)(a) (i) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform )Act and was remanded in custody to the 13th of July 2020 with his bail application denied .

The arrest of Mutombeni comes in the background of a visit by a high powered delegation of the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission to Masvingo Province to conduct an inquiry into the evictions of the Shangaan people in Chiredzi District’s Chilonga and Masivamele areas. He was supposed to present crucial evidence to the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission, on the eve of his arrest as such this has raised the ire of civil society leaders across Zimbabwe as it is clear to them that the state is using trumped up charges to ensure that Mutombeni and other civil society actors in Masvingo Province are deterred from campaigning against the land rights of the Shangaan people in Chiredzi District.

His arrest was preceeded by days of key MACRAD staff members being trailed by unknown individuals in vehicles without number plates.

Mutombeni a Shangaan clansman himself has for the past 2 months been the most vocal critic against these eviction and his organization Masvingo Centre for Research Advocacy and Development released a damming report that implicated and exposed the government of Zimbabwe for not following the correct procedures and trying to forcibly relocate the Shangaan people from their ancestral land .

Investigations by ZimEye.com have revealed that a company named Dendiary Pvt Ltd which is believed to be Chinese fronted as the major beneficiary of these relocations and apparently in a recent visit to the area by VP Chiwenga local people embarrassed the Vice-President as they demonstrated in front of him with state security agents aso identifying Mutombeni as the individual who might have led these demonstrations .

Mutombeni is being represented by the Zimbabwe lawyers for Human Rights and his application for removal from remand at the High Court of Masvingo is set to be heard on Friday 4 July 2020.

By Own Correspondent| Firebrand Zengeza West legislator and MDC Alliance vice chairperson Job Sikhala has dared defence minister Oppah Muchinguri over threats to arrest him and controversial street preacher Talent Chiwenga.

In a statement yesterday, Sikhala said he has been made aware of a plot to arrest him together with Chiwenga and journalist Hopewell Chin’ono as they are deemed a threat to national security.

“Let me set the record straight from the onset, to Oppah Muchinguri, please bring it on,” said Sikhala.

“I am not afraid of the threats because this country cannot be governed on the basis of lies and manufacturing of falsehoods against those who are standing against the evils of your government because this country does not belong to anyone’s mother.

“I am briefed that the threat by Oppah Muchinguri is targeting at arresting me and (Apostle Talent) Chiwenga as soon as possible. The brief I received which is quite detailed, says, sooner rather than later after our arrest, journalist (Hopewell) Chin’ono will also be immediately nabbed.

“I will not tolerate any persecution on my person anymore. Don’t dare again. Like their threat to come and invade my home on the 29^th of February 2020 that turned into a nightmare, I have mobilised the entire population to trigger a revolution in the event of carrying out their threat. I am a practical man.”

Sikhala said if arrested, his trial for treason early this year at the Masvingo High Court will seem like a “picnic”.

“My Masvingo treason trial will be a picnic. This time the wave will be unstoppable. I don’t make empty threats. I am not that character. I also urge Apostle Chiwenga to activate his constituency. It’s a do or die situation.

“Idiots governing our country should take responsibility for their failures. Trying to use other people as scapegoats is dangerous to its very survival. I have obtained detailed information about all your intentions Oppah Muchinguri. Bring it on,” said Sikhala.

Early this week, the Zanu PF youth league warned Chin’ono and other Zimbabweans against attacking President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

This followed another threat against Chin’ono by Zanu PF Acting Spokesperson Patrick Chinamasa soon after one of the party’s politburo meeting.

BREAKING: LIVE scenes in Mbare, Harare- The MDC Alliance Youth Assembly has stormed communities in a fight against Corruption. Addressing now is Gift Ostallos Soziba, the SG pic.twitter.com/OxVo58PvaJ

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) July 2, 2020