By A Correspondent- A Gwanda miner has been arrested for allegedly strangling his workmate before dumping the body on a railway line, where it was crushed by a train to conceal the murder.

The matter was initially treated as a suicide case after deceased’s body was later run over by a goods train.

Albert Ncube (31) of Spitzkop Suburb was not asked to plead when he appeared before Gwanda magistrate, Miss Lerato Nyathi facing a murder charge. He was remanded in custody to July 13.

Prosecuting, Mr Silent Shoko said Ncube accused the now deceased Onias Mushipe of “stealing” his girlfriends which resulted in a misunderstanding.

“On 1 June at around 7PM Ncube and nine other artisanal miners including Onias Mushipe boarded a Toyota Granvia vehicle and headed to Prospect Gold Mine at Mgomo Farm in Gwanda. Along the way a misunderstanding arose between Mushipe and Ncube after Ncube accused him of taking away his girlfriends,” said Mr Shoko.

“Their workmates managed to calm them down in order to stop them from fighting further. The gang dropped off at Cobra Mine which is opposite Mgomo Farm. The other mine workers went ahead to do their work and Mushipe, Ncube and their workmate Mr Tinashe Dube remained behind to resolve the dispute they had earlier.”

Mr Shoko said Ncube further accused Mushipe of snatching his girlfriends and tripped him to the ground before strangling him.

He said upon realising what had transpired Mr Dube fled from the scene leaving Ncube behind with Mushipe’s body.

Mr Shoko said in a bid to conceal the offence Ncube then took the body to a nearby railway line and placed it there with the head on the line facing upwards. He said at around 10PM Mushipe’s body was crushed by a good’s train.

The matter was reported to the police who attended the scene.

Mr Shoko said police received a tip off on Saturday resulting in Ncube’s arrest. Ncube has been on the run for the past two years after committing robbery and attempted murder cases in Fort Rixon where he reportedly robbed a victim and further tried to dump the body in a disused mine.

-statemedia

Midlands Minister of State for Provincial Affairs Larry Mavima and Mines and Mining Development Minister Winston Chitando have slammed the Reden Mine shooting incident, equating it to machete gang violence that rocked the small scale mining sub-sector last year.

The two top government officials were speaking at the mine during a ministerial visit to establish circumstances that led to the mine manager shooting two employees in an altercation over salaries.

Zhang Xuelin (41) shot and injured two workers, Kenneth Tachiona (39) and Wendy Chikwaira (31) for demanding their salaries in US dollars.

Tachiona was seriously injured and is recovering at Midlands Private Hospital, while Chikwaira was treated and discharged and is recuperating from home.

Xuelin was arrested and appeared in court last week.

Senator Mavima equated the shooting incident to machete wielding gangs that resolved differences and disputes through bloody fights.

He also expressed concern at the disrespect for authority exhibited by the mine owners who snubbed the ministerial visit on grounds they had other commitments on the day.

“It is regrettable that we have encountered this in our province and more to it the person in charge says he is busy to come and attend to us.
“Such incidents are not different to those of machete wielding gangs and we will not tolerate such here,” Sen. Mavima said.

Minister Chitando said the absence of an interpreter had affected their mission to establish circumstances leading to the shooting.

He called on mining establishments to adhere to the law.

Minister Chitando said the shooting was a sad incident that should never be repeated.

“We could not establish anything due to absence of an interpreter as the guys present here cannot understand a word in English.

“We, however, urge all mining developments in Zimbabwe to be guided legally in resolving issues and outside this incident; mines should be able to work under traceable boundaries of the law which include environmental and labor laws,” Chitando said.

Xuelin was remanded in custody to July 7 this year when he appeared before a Gweru Magistrate.

• New Ziana

THE Warriors will have to wait a little bit longer before getting down to action following CAF’s decision to postpone the 2021 AFCON finals to January 2022.

The tournament was scheduled to be hosted from next January in Cameroon.

But, with uncertainty over how to handle the qualifiers during the Covid-19 pandemic, the CAF executive decided to postpone their flagship tournament.

A decision was also taken to cancel the women’s edition of AFCON outright.

The tournament was scheduled for November in the Republic of Congo.

Zimbabwe have four points in the qualifiers for the AFCON finals after a home draw against Botswana and an away victory in Zambia.

263chat

Social movement group Tajamuka/Sesijikile has expressed concern over the deteriorating economic situation obtaining in the country and called for nationwide protests.

Speaking during a press conference in Harare, Tajamuka/Sesijikile leader Promise Mkwananzi said they are concerned by the despair which has reached desperate levels.

“We are deeply concerned by the gloom and despair born out of the abject poverty hunger and suffering of our people which has reached desperate levels. The most tragic reality of it all is that this untold suffering is not a result of natural causes beyond the reach of the comprehension of many but a deliberately man made suffering made and created by the very people who continue and claim to that we gave them the mandate to ensure the betterment of our situation and our resolution for our decade long political, economic and social crisis,” said Mkwananzi

He said Tajamuka is of the view that it is time for to Zimbabweans to come together and bring the situation to an end.

“It is our strong held view that we must now come together in our collective wisdom and strength as citizens and bring the madness to an end.”

Mkwananzi said problems such as corruption, theft, annihilation and decimation of the opposition MDC are in the public domain therefore President Mnangagwa and his Government must leave.

“…The list of the ills for which this Govt is responsible is endless and exhaustive in short Mnangagwa have failed and must leave. In the coming season Tajamuka urges the people of Zimbabwe to brace themselves for sustained peaceful but relentless protests until the regime yields to the just and legitimate concerns and demands of our people.” he said.

Mkwananzi said the movement is going to engage various other organisations and unprecedented forms of action will be unleashed on the ground in the coming weeks.

Bloomberg

ZIMBABWE’S security force leaders sidelined the nation’s economic chiefs and forced the government to issue an order to close the stock exchange and halt most mobile-money transactions, people familiar with the situation said.

The June 26 order came after pressure from the Joint Operations Command and was made without notifying the central bank, which regulates the mobile-money industry through which almost all of Zimbabwe’s commerce takes place, the people said.

They asked not to be identified because the role of the JOC hasn’t been disclosed publicly.

The measure is further evidence that senior ruling party and military officials are growing impatient with the administration of President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

Inflation has surged to 786%, the currency has crashed and the country is facing shortages of food and fuel.

The JOC includes officials from the military, police and secret service and is the highest body in terms of coordinating state security, though it doesn’t usually pronounce on economic matters.

It stepped in after deeming that Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube and central bank Governor John Mangudya failed to take action to address the crisis, one of the people said.

Defense Minister Oppah Muchinguri, who chairs the JOC, wasn’t immediately available for comment, said a person who answered her mobile phone when Bloomberg sought comment. The government denied the order came from the JOC.

“The order came from government after taking input from all agencies and departments,” said Nick Mangwana, the government spokesman.

“Evidence linking the mobile-money platforms to money laundering as well as illegal foreign-exchange trading and money creation had been uncovered.”

Mobile Money

Central bank officials were unaware of the order when called by mobile money companies on June 26, two of the people said. Mangudya didn’t answer his mobile phone or respond to a message left with his assistant when Bloomberg sought comment on Tuesday.

“It is not correct that the Reserve Bank and the Ministry of Finance were not involved in the decision or were not aware of the developments leading to the suspension,” Secretary for Finance George Guvamatanga said in response to questions sent by mobile phone text message.

“This was a further follow up of work that the Financial Intelligence Unit was already working on which led to a court ruling against one of the mobile operators.”

Zimbabwe’s biggest mobile-money platform, with more than 10 million registered users, is Econet Wireless Zimbabwe Ltd. unit Ecocash.

The Zimbabwe Stock Exchange is privately owned. It was last suspended in 2008 when inflation surged to 500 billion percent and the Zimbabwe dollar was scrapped the following year.

Econet declined to comment on the government allegations.

Soaring Stocks

The ZSE’s benchmark industrial index has risen sevenfold this year as shares are used as a hedge against inflation. Mobile money was used to buy shares and then that money was moved out of the country, the Information Ministry said in the June 26 statement.

The JOC took action as the Zimbabwe dollar, reintroduced last year after a decade-long hiatus, plunged in value on the black market to below 100 to the U.S. dollar. That compares with an official rate of about 57. As recently as last year, Zimbabwe pegged its currency at parity with the greenback.

As pressure grows on the administration of Mnangagwa, who succeeded longtime ruler Robert Mugabe in 2017 after a military coup, the leader has increasingly blamed the private sector for the nation’s woes.

There is “a relentless attack on our currency and the economy in general through exorbitant pricing models by the private sector,” Mnangagwa said June 10 at a meeting of the ruling party’s politburo.

“We are fully cognizant that this is a battle being fueled by our political detractors, elite opportunists and malcontents who are bent on pushing a nefarious agenda which they will never win.”

The International Monetary Fund estimates the economy will contract as much as 10.4% this year.

Zanu PF is set to elect an interim Bulawayo provincial chairperson following the death of Absolom Sikhosana last month, the party’s national political commissar, Victor Matemadanda has confirmed.

The interim provincial chairperson will be supervising the operations of the District Coordinating Committees (DCCs), as the party intensifies the restructuring exercise ahead of this year’s Annual National People’s Conference in December.

The late provincial interim chairperson, Sikhosana, was declared a national hero and buried at the National Heroes Acre.

Matemadanda said the replacement of Sikhosana will be announced in two weeks.

“President Mnangagwa, who is the party’s First Secretary, will appoint the right candidate to fill the gap, he said. The process is being done in consultation with other Politburo members and Bulawayo province to ensure the party appoints the right candidate, who will be monitoring the restructuring exercise in the province.

“We already have the names, but we cannot disclose them right now. Out of the names submitted, the Presidium will choose their preferred candidate, who will work on interim basis.”

The party has already put in place DCCs structures in Harare and Bulawayo, with the restructuring of the two metropolitan provinces already underway.

The elected DCC members in the two metropolitan provinces have been tasked to set up party structures from cell level.

DCCs are being reintroduced in the party after they were disbanded in 2012 when it was felt they had been hijacked by elements that sought to manipulate party structures to foment factionalism and disharmony.

In Bulawayo Area One, Raymond Mtomba won the DCC chairmanship, deputised by Nkosana Mkandla, while in Area 2 Paul Mutara won the chairmanship, with Ntandeyenkosi Mlilo as the deputy.

Former Njube-Lobengula MP Maidei Mpala won the Area 3 DCC chair and will be deputised by Nkonzo Mhlanga, while in Area 4 Obert Msindo was elected chair with Dennis Sibanda his deputy.

Cde Zowa Msika is chairman of Area 5 and is deputised by Cde Khanien Ngwenya.

By A Correspondent- Nurses at St Alberts Mission Hospital, Mt Darwin, were reportedly threatened by Zanu-PF youths and State spy agents after notifying the district medical officer Kelvin Mupunga last week of their intention to down tools starting yesterday.

The nurses had, through the Muzarabani/centenary District Health Workers Union told Mupunga in a letter on Friday that they shared similar grievances with fellow nurses from public hospitals who had joined the nationwide strike.

A health worker who preferred anonymity for fear of victimisation said Zanu-PF youths have been threatening the nurses to abort their planned strike action.

“They were threatened by CIOs and Zanu-PF youths at the weekend. They were intimidated through a landline 0662102423,” the official said.

The district’s nursing officer and Zimbabwe nurses association district chairperson Michael Kangundu refused to comment, referring questions to Mupunga.

Mupunga said he was yet to assess the situation, but claimed all nurses reported to work, dismissing the claims that they had been intimidated.

“The nurses have come to work. I received their letter on Friday and forwarded their grievances to the province the next day for onward transmission because the issues raised are beyond my capacity,” he said.

Constituency legislator Tapera Size denied that his youths were threatening the nurses with unspecified action if they joined the nationwide strike declared by their association.

“Those people are even surprised and asking where the information is coming from,” Size said.

“You are saying they used a landline? Whom have you communicated with? There is no any youth going out, and secondly, in centenary there are no landlines. even at St alberts, so where did the landline come from?”

In their letter to Mupunga, the nurses wrote: “It is with deep regret that we inform you that we will be withdrawing our services at St alberts Mission Hospital starting on Monday (yesterday).

“We share the same grievances with all other health workers countrywide who are currently incapacitated due to eroded income, while our decision may seem harsh, we feel it is the only way our genuine concerns may be taken seriously.”

Farai Dziva| Masvingo Magistrate Ndlovu has remanded MACRAD Trust Director, Ephraim Mtombeni in custody to July 13 2020.

Yesterday, the state opposed bail on the grounds that Mtombeni does not have a family or a house.

Mtombeni is accused of “undermining the authority of the President.”

According to court documents, Mtombeni allegedly addressed commuters gathered at a bus rank in the city of Masvingo on Friday evening and told them that they were suffering because President Mnangagwa and his sons were looting Zimbabwe’s resources.

Mtombeni insists he has never said that.

“Muri muqueue imomo nokutamba nhamo nenyaya yaMnangagwa nevana vake vari kuba (You are standing in that long queue and suffering because of Mnangagwa and his children who are stealing),” reads part of the charge sheet.

Deputy Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet (in charge of communications) Mr George Charamba has attributed the country’s woes to “a political dimension which is a result of a multi-pronged assault from some elements determined to turn the public against President Mnangagwa and the Second Republic.”

In an interview with the state publication The Herald, Charamba said:

“There is a very strange coincidence that we have noticed over quite some months between the implosive politics within the opposition, self-implosive politics, and heightened illicit activity in the economy.

You have that mayhem in the MDC whose sum effect is that of weakening the opposition in the country on the one and then you have increased below the law and out of the law activities in the economy.

We have realised that there is a clear nexus between runaway market activities and runaway opposition politics, that more and more, the security threat to this country, the destabilisation to this country is finding expressing through the market, so there is heightened smuggling of gold, there is heightened transactions, there is release of precious foreign currency into the black market, all to create a generalised instability which have the effect of creating disenchantment on the part of the Government.

“The politics are being shaped from the market, it is as if we are being told, if you won’t have MDC-Alliance for an opposition then we will create an opposition for you through illicit market activities, through illicit NGOs, through disgruntled unions and through embassies mostly so given to making anti-government statements, when you coalesce that you will realise that we are in a phase where destabilisation has assumed a market form. The calculation was a health sector led generalised public strike, we are aware of such plots.”

By A Correspondent- Bulawayo police have shot and injured a firewood poacher after he allegedly refused to adhere to the officers’ orders to stop.

The incident was confirmed by national Police Spokesmen Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi who also said some were using firewood to hide cattle carcass they would have stolen and then drive into Bulawayo CBD at night to sell the meat during the day. 

He said:

This shooting incident involves a suspect who was transporting firewood and refused to stop. He drove away and, in the process, there was a chase and unfortunately police had to fire some shots. He got injured and is admitted at a local hospital.

People should not steal firewood and should not engage in criminal activities and must not flee from police officers. They must not try to evade police checkpoints and must follow the normal procedures. It’s really unfortunate but at the end of the day the police have to do their work. The public should just appreciate that no one should engage in criminal activities.

He added that the law enforcers fired warning shots but the suspect did not stop, “so they have to do their job.”

Nyathi recalled last week’s shootout between Bulawayo city rangers and firewood poachers and possibly stock theft suspects.

-StateMedia 

Presenter: Because Nelson Chamisa called for a revolution against the president, is there this sort of talk in the party that is going to continue – these allegations about a coup, what do you know about that, coup attempt?

Mwonzora: “We know nothing about a coup, but this is not anything new, we were told that there would be a coup in February, February came and went, we think this is basically idle talk and it meant to immobilise Zimbabweans.

“Adv Chamisa talks about a revolution, we are not so sure whether he is very serious about that and whether he has got the capacity to sustain that, or to start that in the first place, he has been talking about this for ages.

“Now we want to have a different approach in our politics. We want to remove the politics of violence, the politics of hunger acrimony, the politics of intolerance, and replace that with the politics of rational disputation, in prosecuting the democratic struggle, we need to employ all tactics that we can employ one of them is of course to try to wage meaningful dialogue with the government, with all the stakeholders but this has to be broadbased, it has to include the churches, the trade unions, the civic society organisations and the political parties, the current framework only deals with political parties.”

It is with pain that I, Tinopona Katsande, write this open presser to clear the air on events surrounding the death my dear friend and confidant, Rebecca Chinyerere (Becky) May the truth I narrate clear my name against all the mudslinging that followed her death.

On the night of Tuesday 23 June 2020 my friend Becky collapsed in my bathroom at my house in Avondale and was pronounced dead on arrival at Kensington 24 hour medical emergency Clinic. She was laid to rest in Guruve on Sunday 28th June. May her dear soul rest in peace.

My friend Becky had serious medical problems and suffered from severe depression at the which very few people knew about. Only a week before her death she had collapsed while staying at their family home (where she was residing with her brother in Belvedere) and was treated at Parerenyatwa hospital. She had been fighting a drug addiction problem exacerbated by traumatic family relationships and depression. To my knowledge she had abstained from drug intake for sometime and was on a recovery path.

Becky contacted me and asked if she could visit for a couple of days with her two kids aged 13 and 3, to get some relief from the family stresses. I went to pick up Becky with the full agreement of her brother. We had so much fun during those two days.

On the 2nd day of her visit Becky was taking a shower in my bathroom upstairs. I sent the kids (my 4 year old and Becky’s 3 year old) to get some vasiline from her. They found Becky collapsed in the shower and raised an alarm. I then went upstairs to see what was happening, and to my horror what the children were shouting about was indeed true.

I can never forget the events that followed and that just seem like a long nightmare:
• I took Becky by taxi to Kensington 24 hour emergency centre where the attending doctor pronounced her dead while she was still in the taxi together with Becky’s two children.
• We were referred to Parerenyatwa hospital where we waited for 45 minutes in the taxi because Covid 19 protective equipment was still being awaited.
• With Becky’s phoned having already died the only way to inform her brother was to drive with the corpse and the children to Belvedere. The brother refused to assist, or even to have his wife accompany us back to Pare.
• Back at Parerenyatwa we finally got the assistance of the doctor and the police post. It was only then that the police spoke to Becky’s brother who finally came over for the statements to be completed. The body was taken to the funeral parlour.

Contrary to what the media is saying there were no drugs involved at my house or during the time of her stay with me. A search in my home by 10 police officers found none. The autopsy report states that Becky had an enlarged heart approximately six times the Normal size.

I find it disturbing that so many are now coming out of the woodworks, claiming to know and love and raise money for Becky in her death yet were nowhere to be seen when in life she most needed financial assistance, love and non-judgemental care. I am so very angry and totally disgusted at how the tabloid media rushed to publish falsehoods without verifying the facts just because the name Tinopona Katsande can help them sell papers. Finally I am appalled at how Becky’s family would try ” kundipomera mhosva ” I am at total peace with my God and with my friend’s spirit. I’m at peace that my friend spent her last day on this earth in an environment she felt loved unconditionally, where we laughed, ate, danced and sang with our kids. I gave my Becky a place she and her two boys could just relax and be happy even if only for that brief moment.

I would like to thank thank the taxi driver who assisted me through out this ordeal on the night. To my family who represented me throughout Beckys funeral and who have been standing with me from across the globe I am so grateful, yet again you have proved what it really means to be family. Thank you guys. And to the family that I have made along the way in my life’s journey, my real friends -” handina kana nemashoko ekukutendai”. You my friends are an imeasurable blessing. Indeed God sent me my fighting angels through you. I love you so . It is well

To Becky’s 3 children, you are not alone ever vana vangu. Nyika inga tarura zvakawanda as it always has , but you know I was your mum then , I am your mum now and I will be your mum forever. You know My heart and home are forever open to you

And to you my dear friend Becky I am devastated that you have left me. But even though I am still distraught I have gathered this little strength to be “that voice ” you always said you most admired about me. You always said that I was a strong woman who stands for those that can’t stand for themselves. The time to tell that truth had to be now or never.

To the media it is not ethical to write things without verification with all sides involved in the story and in so doing destroying people’s lives with content that is not representative of all parties.

By Jane Mlambo| MDC Alliance activist Makomborero Haruzivishe who was yesterday arrested at Mbare Magistrates Court in connection with the Warren Park demonstration held in May has been granted ZWL$1000 bail, according to the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR).

“ZLHR secures release of @MakomboreroH on RTGS$1 000 bail after he was arrested Monday and charged with committing public violence for allegedly participating in anti-govt protest against hunger & abuse of resources held in May during the national lockdown period.”

Haruzivishe becomes the seventh MDC Alliance activist to be arrested in connection with the Warren Park demonstration.

The other four are Joana Mamombe, Cecelia Chimbiri, Netsai Marova, Obey Sithole, Stanley Manyenga and Lovejoy Chitengu

By A Correspondent- 5 ZRP officers have tested positive for COVID-19 on the same day that Zimbabwe recorded the 7th COVID-19 death. The development was confirmed by the information ministry’s permanent secretary Mangwana who tweeted:

Two Zimbabweans in Namibia have tested positive to #Covid19Zim. Back home, five members of @PoliceZimbabwe have tested positive as well. This shows how the police are part of the frontline staff vulnerably exposed to risk as they go about their law and order jobs

The ZRP officers testing positive for COVID-19 coincided with the 7th COVID-19 in the country which was announced by the Ministry which said:

Today (Monday), we regret to report one facility death of a male aged 49 from Bulawayo Province, who tested positive today with a history of travel from South Africa and had no co-morbidities.

By A Correspondent- The Health Ministry is set to recruit 500 health workers which include doctors, nurses and technicians after the Ministry of Finance gave them the go-ahead to do so.

This was revealed by Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Monica Mutsvangwa after a COVID-19 taskforce meeting yesterday when she said the government was mulling setting up quarantine centres for COVID-19 positive cases as some cases have no capacity to self isolate.

The taskforce was informed that Treasury has concurred to the recruitment of an additional 500 health workers including doctors, nurses, and technicians for Intensive Care Unit/High Dependency Unit and isolation centres across the country.

This recruitment will go a long way in boosting our health services’ capacity to respond and treat Covid-19 cases.

On the issue of isolation centres for positive cases Mutsvangwa said:It has also been noted that there are some cases that have the capacity to self-isolate but are not adhering to self-isolation protocols and are putting communities at risk.

We have recommended that all positive cases at private and public quarantine facilities be moved to specific isolation centres in order to prevent the further spread of Covid-19,

As of yesterday, Zimbabwe recorded 574 confirmed cases, 152 recoveries and seven (7) deaths.

More: Chronicle 

By A Correspondent- ZERA is reportedly reviewing an application by ZESA to increase electricity tariffs.

The matter came to light when ZERA chief executive Mr Eddington Mazambani spoke to the publication on the sidelines of  a commissioning ceremony of Chijawi Primary and Secondary schools’ electrification project in Hurungwe district and said:

Tariff increases are not granted easily, we will conduct an extensive interrogation and scrutinisation of the proposed tariffs to ensure that they are justified

The proposed tariffs adjustment is aimed at cushioning ZESA from Inflation which is increasing on an exponential basis. When contacted for comment ZESA spokesperson Fullard Gwasira confirmed ZESA applied for a tariff increase.

Own Correspondent

DEFENCE minister Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri has yet again vehemently denied reports that government has deployed Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) soldiers to Mozambique to help that country quell an Islamist insurgency.

Recent media reports suggested Mozambique President Filipe Nyusi made an appeal to his Zimbabwe counterpart Emmerson Mnangagwa for assistance in combating the insurgence by deploying ZNA personnel in the volatile region.

Giving oral evidence before the Defence and Security Parliamentary Portfolio Committee Monday, Muchinguri dismissed the reports as dangerous rumours and lies.

“Those are social media dangerous rumours and lies. Dismiss them with the contempt they deserve,” she said.

“Regarding Mozambique, there was a (SADC) Troika meeting that took place here in Zimbabwe, but there is no harm when a chairman of an organ is invited by a neighbour to say I have a problem in Mozambique, can you assist me? Equally, any country surely, whether Zimbabwe or any country can raise a flag to say I am in trouble. That is what happened.”

President Emmerson Mnangagwa is the current chairperson of the SADC Troika on Organ on Defence, Politics and Security Cooperation.

“Because of the location of Mozambique, you cannot go as one country to settle a problem that will overflow to a number of countries,” Muchinguri told the legislators.

“So we take that regional posture. So it is not correct, no country will dare go into a situation, whether it was in DRC, again it was SADC or everywhere that we have gone to, we do have treaties and conventions. We respect those. We abide by certain rules and regulations, principles of SADC that another country cannot go into another territory without general understanding and agreement.

“As chair of the regional bloc currently, Zimbabwe will not act alone, we have Malawi which was also a cause of concern and we did as a region deploy our own observers and technical teams to assess the situation.”

Own Correspondent

Deputy Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet (in charge of communications) George Charamba has accused the opposition MDC Alliance of sabotaging the economy in order to force for regime change.

In a state media report, Charamba said there is a political dimension to the current challenges as the country is facing a multi-pronged assault from some elements determined to turn the public against President Mnangagwa and the Second Republic.

“There is a very strange coincidence that we have noticed over quite some months between the implosive politics within the opposition, self-implosive politics, and heightened illicit activity in the economy. You have that mayhem in the MDC whose sum effect is that of weakening the opposition in the country on the one and then you have increased below the law and out of the law activities in the economy.

“We have realised that there is a clear nexus between runaway market activities and runaway opposition politics, that more and more, the security threat to this country, the destabilisation to this country is finding expressing through the market, so there is heightened smuggling of gold, there is heightened transactions, there is release of precious foreign currency into the black market, all to create a generalised instability which have the effect of creating disenchantment on the part of the Government,” said Mr Charamba.

The MDC is presently consumed in serious power struggles due to the failure of its leaders to adhere to its own party rules and constitutionalism and with the opposition self-disemboweling, Mr Charamba said the country detractors and anti-Second Republic funders are now trying to use the market as a form of opposition against the Government.

“The politics are being shaped from the market, it is as if we are being told, if you won’t have MDC-Alliance for an opposition then we will create an opposition for you through illicit market activities, through illicit NGOs, through disgruntled unions and through embassies mostly so given to making anti-government statements, when you coalesce that you will realise that we are in a phase where destabilisation has assumed a market form. The calculation was a health sector led generalised public strike, we are aware of such plots,” said Mr Charamba.

Last week, the Government announced the suspension of phone-based mobile money transactions and trading on the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange (ZSE) so as to allow for investigations into illegal dealings connected with the foreign currency black market and also to put in place reforms that restore mobile money platforms to their original purpose.

Own Correspondent

Ministry of Information secretary, Nick Mangwana says that five police officers have tested positive for the deadly Covid-19, while the death toll from the pandemic in the country has risen to seven.

The government spokesperson also confirmed that two Zimbabweans tested Covid-19 positive in neighbouring Namibia.

“Two Zimbabweans in Namibia have tested positive to #Covid19Zim. Back home, five members of @PoliceZimbabwe have tested positive as well. This shows how the police are part of the frontline staff vulnerably exposed to risk as they go about their law and order jobs,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Health Ministry Monday confirmed the death of a 49-year-old man from Bulawayo from Covid-19, bringing the total deaths to seven.

“Today (Monday), we regret to report one facility death of a male aged 49 from Bulawayo Province, who tested positive today with a history of travel from South Africa and had no co-morbidities,” the ministry said in its daily Covid-19 update.

“Seven cases tested for Covid-19 today (Monday). These include returnees from South Africa, 2, Botswana, 1, and four local cases who are isolated. Three of the local cases are contacts to a known confirmed case, investigations are underway to establish the source of infection for the other case.

“Bulawayo reported 10 new recoveries. As at 29 June 2020, Zimbabwe had 574 confirmed cases, including 152 recoveries and seven deaths.”

The Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (ZERA) is assessing an application for an electricity tariff increase that was recently lodged by the Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC).

ZERA chief executive Mr Eddington Mazambani said they wanted to ensure a balance between affordability on the part of consumers and ZETDC’s viability.

“Tariff increases are not granted easily, we will conduct an extensive interrogation and scrutinisation of the proposed tariffs to ensure that they are justified.”

Mr Mazambani said their assessment might see the tariffs being reviewed upwards or downwards.

ZESA spokesperson Mr Fullard Gwasira confirmed that they applied for an increase in tariffs but declined to give specific details.

This month the power company lowered electricity tariffs by between 11 percent and 25 percent and introduced a new low-cost tariff band that reduces electricity charges for purchases of units in excess of 200 kilowatt hour (kwh) but not exceeding 300kwh per month in response to customer requests for low priced units. The first 50 units, under the June lowered tariff band, were pegged at 52c per kwh, 51 to 200 units cost $1.14 per kwh while 201 to 300 units have been reduced to $3.12 per kwh from $4.88 per kwh.

The proposed tariff adjustments according to the application, Mr Mazambani said, were aimed at cushioning the power entity as inflation continues to rise. The energy regulator has also put in place a system which will see fuel prices being adjusted weekly.

Mr Mazambani said the price adjustments were also aimed at making sure that the commodity is available on the market.

Candidates registered for Zimsec O-Level and A-Level exams are set to write their examinations as scheduled, beginning today, without certainty if teachers will attend the examinations.

Some teacher unions, Junior Members of Parliament and the Zimbabwe Deaf Trust are still worried that even with safeguards, many candidates may have problems getting to the centres and many are not prepared to write since schools have been closed for almost four months. They thought the exams should be delayed further.

Announcing the progress in Harare yesterday, Primary and Secondary Education Minister Ambassador Cain Mathema stressed that all obligatory processes have been put into place to ascertain “the safety of candidates and invigilators during the course of the examinations”.

“To this end, thermometers, disinfectants, face masks, wash facilities and hand sanitisers have been procured for all examination centres to protect from Covid-19. Examination centres have also been disinfected in line with Ministry of Health and Child Care guidelines.”

Minister Mathema thanked the First Family, the inter-ministerial taskforce against Covid-19, headed by Vice President Kembo Mohadi, the Ministry of Health and Child Care, and other stakeholders for making the June exams a reality through their “guidance and assistance” in readying the centres in tandem with the World Health Organisation guidelines.

The June 2020 examination period for O-Level will run from today to July 20, while the A-Level sessions will begin today and end on July 23.

Teachers unions have vowed to boycott the invigilation of the examinations arguing that the government has failed to meet regulations stipulated by a High Court order to protect teachers and learners against the Coronavirus (COVID-19).

The High Court on June 19, ruled that for the examinations to proceed, the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, Ministry of Health and Child Care, ZIMSEC had to provide protective resources at all examination centres.

President of the Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ) Takavafira Zhou said that teachers’ unions held a meeting, Monday, where they reached a consensus that they will not report for duty until all the World Health Organisation (WHO) requirements are met.

Zhou said the government is in contempt of court and the issue at hand is a matter of life and death hence the teachers are not going to risk their lives by going to work when there are no resources to protect them nor the learners.

“Nothing has been done at the examination centres to ensure that we are protected. Teachers are not employed by ZIMSEC. As it stands no transport allowance has been availed to the teachers to enable them to go to their respective centres. We are still under lockdown, the least ZIMSEC could have done was to craft exemption letters for teachers to travel to places where they will be invigilating but they didn’t,” Zhou said.

“No masks or sanitisers have been availed. Schools have not been disinfected as yet. We are not returning to work until these standards are met. The government has failed to honour the High Court ruling. Life is very precious and as teachers, we have chosen t to preserve it by staying at home.”

Good evening my fellow Zimbabweans
Today the National Taskforce on COVID19 met and received reports from its Subcommittees and also deliberated on the following matters:
• HEALTH STRATEGY AND INFRASTRUCTURE
Whilst focusing on protecting the nation from COVID19, Government has not lost sight of other health challenges bedeviling our communities. It is in this context that the Taskforce noted with sadness the Typhoid and Dysentery in some Bulawayo suburbs. So far, Bulawayo has reported five community and seven hospital deaths. Government has therefore embarked on an intensive bulk water trucking programme to affected communities. Water samples from these areas are also undergoing analysis.
On another note, Government values the safety of health workers and their families. To protect frontline workers’ families from possible infections, Crown Plaza, Marondera Hotel and Khayela Guest Lodge are being used for quarantining frontline staff at Government’s expense.

The Taskforce was informed that Treasury has concurred to the recruitment of an additionally 500 health workers including doctors, nurses, and technicians for ICU/HDU and Isolation centres across the country. This recruitment will go a long way in boosting our health services’ capacity to respond and treat COVID19 cases.

• QUARANTINE AND ISOLATION FACILITIES
The country has witnessed a surge in positive cases, especially among returnees. There are 1770 returnees in quarantine facilities across the country, with the highest number of returnees being housed in Harare.
The Taskforce has noted that while the standard procedure according to WHO guidelines is the self-solation of asymptomatic positive cases, there are some cases that are unable to self-isolate in their homes. Such cases are being housed at isolation centres intended for those who require treatment. It has also been noted that there are some cases that have the capacity to self-isolate but are not adhering to self-isolation protocols and are putting communities at risk.
We have recommended that all positive cases at private and public quarantine facilities be moved to specific isolation centres in order to prevent the further spread of COVID19.

• MATERIALS PRODUCTION SUBCOMMITEE
The National Taskforce was informed by the Subcommittee that the demand for sanitizers has increased due to the national requirement that all entities have sanitizer /wash facilities at entry points. Let me take this opportunity to commend the nation for adhering to COVID19 preventative and protective measures such as hand washing and sanitizing.
• RE-OPENING OF UNIVERSITIES, COLLEGES, PRIMARY AND SECODNDARY SCHOOLS
The Taskforce received reports from the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development and from the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education on re-opening plans and Standard Operating Procedures for the Prevention and Management of COVID19 at learning institutions.
The Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development presented detailed individual State Universities and Colleges re-opening plans in light of the COVID19 pandemic.
By way of summary of this report, measures being taken to combat COVID19, tertiary education students, visitors and staff are as follows:
 All Tertiary Education institutions are required to have ONE or, at most TWO, entrances to the entire institution.
 All students and staff entering and exiting the institution cited above shall be required to go through screening.
 Institution shall ensure students and employees are educated on the symptoms and the measures to take if COVID 19 symptoms manifest.
 A capacity utilization chart/timetable shall be provided to Ministry Tertiary Education Compliance Inspectors satisfactorily adjusted to ensure that all classrooms observe and maintain acceptable physical distancing.
 Depending on student volumes, timetables may have to be adjusted to ensure an even wider spread of students.
 Students and employees will be encouraged to leave the institutions as soon as classes or work is completed for the day. These measures will be enforced by College Security Officials who patrol institution campuses at all times and by all senior staff and tutors.
 No sporting activities are to be conducted at all institutions.
 All institutions are to be fumigated prior to re-opening.
 If any employee or student shows symptoms of COVID 19 whilst on campus, a report shall immediately be made to the institution health department for appropriate medical assistance.
The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education tabled Standard Operating Procedures for the Prevention and Management of COVID-19 and other Influenza like Illnesses in the Primary and Secondary Education Sector” which the National Taskforce adopted.
The SOPs, which were crafted in line with the Health School Policy, are meant to guide the conduct school business in a safe and healthy environment for all. The list of requirements will be updated depending on the nature of the public health pandemic at any time.
The SOPs measures include:
 enforcement of the “stay at home if unwell” policy for learners, teachers, and school staff with symptoms
 each school shall establish a temporary Isolation Holding Bay.
 Apart from the major disinfection of all school buildings and grounds before the re-opening of schools, schools should clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces such as door handles, desks, toys, teaching aids, and play equipment.
 All sporting activities, which include matches, choral practice, indoor games and festivals are prohibited until further notice.
The Taskforce noted that strict compliance to these SOPs is required by all and failure to observe these guidelines would compromise the health and safety of all. This would be in breach of the Public Health Act and relevant COVDI19 prevention and control measures. Heads of Office at National, Provincial, District and school level authorities have the responsibility to ensure and enforce compliance.
I wish to express best wishes to all students that are commencing their June/July Examinations tomorrow. Government has put in place measures to keep both learners and staff safe.
COMING TO OTHER ISSUES OUTSIDE OF THE NATIONAL TASKFORCE
• MEDIA REFORM
Government has embarked on a media reform programme. This includes legislative reforms, media cultural reform and registering new players in television. I wish to inform the nation that the deadline for applicants to lodge their applications for television players is tomorrow, 30June 2020. We take this opportunity to wish applicants all the best. The Second Republic means what it says on the media landscape reform.

• LOCAL CURRENCY
We have also received reports of some shops and business owners who are refusing to accept local currency as legal tender for goods and services. We wish to reiterate that the ZW$ is a legal medium of exchange and should be accepted.
My fellow Zimbabweans, as our positive cases rise, let us not become lax thinking that this virus is limited to returnees. We have to be vigilant and work collectively. Protective and preventative measures are there to assist us in combating COVID19.
Let us stay safe out there, minimize movement, sanitize and wash our hands, and observe social distancing.
I thank you.

State Media

Chief Coordinator National Response to the Covid-19 Pandemic, Dr Agnes Mahomva, has said although it is too early to claim victory, Zimbabwe’s Covid-19 cases seem to be stabilising, with very low levels of community infection.

She, however, stressed that people must not be complacent as the coming few weeks would be defining.

Dr Mahomva made the remarks at the Zimbabwe National Defence University where she was delivering a lecture on Public Health and National Security yesterday.

She said measures to arrest the spike in Covid-19 cases by using lockdowns had been largely effective.

“Ministry of Health and Child Care has been working with a group of scientists from the University of Zimbabwe doing mathematical modelling and projections,” said Dr Mahomva.

“When we started, they were looking at other countries and the projections were high, but as we are moving, their forecasts now have lower figures,” said Dr Mahomva.

Zimbabwe has seen a rise in cases, most being attributed to returning nationals tested in quarantine after arrival.

“The numbers are going up, but there is no need to panic,” said Dr Mahomva.

“We knew the numbers were going to rise, the question was when and how. We think at the moment, things are stabilising, but with these kind of things you need a few weeks before you can make a conclusion because the numbers may begin rising again.”

Dr Mahomva said public health and social measures like lockdowns and mask wearing regulations were meant to protect the most vulnerable members of society.

Zimbabwe has been under lockdown since the end of March, with an ever growing number of exemptions, but the actual lockdown has now been declared to be indefinite, leaving the Government with the legal powers to adjust levels and adjust levels of exemption.

Dr Mahomva addressed concerns that Covid-19 may be incubating in communities far from the authorities’ radar due to lack of adequate testing.

“We are not having those large numbers in communities,” she said.

“One might say we are not testing communities so how can we be sure, but comparing mortality rates from last year, the figures show that there is nothing unusual.

“We cannot be missing anything. Of course, there may be a few cases here and there we may fail to detect, but there is nothing unusual in our communities.”

Dr Mahomva emphasised the need to ensure Covid-19 messaging was engaging and inspiring behaviour change.

Zimbabwe’s coronavirus cases have risen to 574 after 7 more people have tested positive for the virus.

The new cases-4 are local while 2 and 1, in that order, are from South Africa and Botswana.

Bulawayo recorded 10 new recoveries bringing the total number of recoveries in the country to 152.

The country also recorded another coronavirus related death bringing the total number of deaths to 7.- Health Ministry

Farai Dziva|Abducted MDC Alliance Goromonzi South Youth Assembly District Chairperson Davison Chamisa who was abducted by state security agents has been found alive.

However, he was brutalised and drugged.

“We have located Davison Chamisa in Norton.
He was drugged ,brutalised ,assaulted and dumped at a railway line while unconscious.

He was injected with an unknown substance and made to consume pills and was forced to drink urine. He cant walk,” MDC Alliance said in a statement.

Chamisa was abducted on Sunday following an “arrest” by the police.

Farai Dziva|Abducted MDC Alliance Goromonzi South Youth Assembly District Chairperson Davison Chamisa who was abducted by state security agents has been found alive.

However, he was brutalised and drugged.

“We have located Davison Chamisa in Norton.
He was drugged ,brutalised ,assaulted and dumped at a railway line while unconscious.

He was injected with an unknown substance and made to consume pills and was forced to drink urine. He cant walk,” MDC Alliance said in a statement.

Chamisa was abducted on Sunday following an “arrest” by the police.

Farai Dziva|MDC Alliance president Advocate Nelson Chamisa has said Emmerson Mnangagwa is behind the recall of the opposition party’s MPs.

Chamisa has also accused his political rival of using bully-boy tactics in a bid to force MDC Alliance to join POLAD.

Chamisa has declared his party will not join POLAD, a discredited discussion platform.

Below is part of Chamisa’s interview with ENCA:

Former Finance Minister and MDC Alliance Vice President Tendai Biti has said the move by the government to ban mobile money transactions and trading at the Stock Exchange does not make sense as they were not to blame for the prevailing economic downfall.

Commenting on the issue the firebrand politician and lawyer said:

It does not make economic sense. The reason why we have a black market in the economy is not because of Ecocash or the stock exchange, it’s because we are simply not producing.

You cannot have a government that specialises in creating difficulties for its citizens. Think of the millions of people who cannot access money in banks who rely on mobile transfers.

Biti’s sentiments were echoed by Zimbabwe Information and Communication Technologies chairman Jacob Mutisi who also said:

This will put a dent to our crippled economy and completely shut down the nation’s biggest e-commerce platform.

The problem in Zimbabwe is not Ecocash or mobile money fraud, externalisation or pure advanced airtime sales, but the dysfunctional government policies in general and on the fiscal and monetary policies in particular.

The move by the government to suspend trading at the stock exchange and ban some mobile money transactions came on the day the ZWL reached a new low and traded $100 against a single American dollar- The Standard

By A Correspondent- Another member of the MDC Alliance led by Nelson Chamisa has been arrested in connection with a flash hunger protest that was launched in Warren Park on the 13th of May this year.

Three other MDC Alliance officials – Joana Mamombe, Cecilia Chimbiri and Netsai Marova are now out of custody on bail after they were also arrested over the same matter.

The latest development was announced by the party via its accounts on social media platforms.

The MDC Alliance posted:

Makomborero Haruzivishe has been arrested at Mbare Magistrate court over the Warren Park Flash Demonstration. He has been taken to Harare Central CID Law and Order.

The state says those who participated in the protests violated lockdown regulations which prohibit gatherings comprised of more than 50 people.

Meanwhile, some view the latest arrests of opposition officials and human rights defenders is an indication of the state’s strategy to silence voices of dissent.

These arrests have attracted the attention of the international community which has in the recent past castigated the state.

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The minister of Primary and Secondary Education, Cain Mathema has said June examinations will proceed as initially planned.

The statement is issued amid resistance from teachers and learners to the proposed dates.

They argue that the dates are inconvenient since learners had no time for studies adding that some schools have not taken enough required measures to curb the spread of the coronavirus pandemic which saw studies suspended in March.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education is adamant that necessary measures to ensure the safety of candidates and invigilators are already in place.

Below is Mathema’s press statement in full.

The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education would like to advise parents/guardians, learners and the public that the ZIMSEC June 2020 Examinations are set to commence as scheduled on Tuesday, the 30th of June 2020. The examination timetable, as announced by ZIMSEC, will be adhered to.

The Ministry would like to assure the nation that necessary measures have been put in place to ensure the safety of candidates and invigilators during the course of the examinations. To this end, thermometers, disinfectants, face masks, wash facilities and hand sanitisers have been procured for all examination centres to protect from COVID-19. Examination centres have also been disinfected in line with Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC) guidelines.

I would like to extend my sincere gratitude, to His Excellency, President E.D. Mnangagwa, Her Excellency, the First Lady Amai Auxillia Mnangagwa, the Inter-Ministerial Taskforce on the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, led by Hon. Vice President K.C.D. Mohadi, the Ministry of Health and Child Care and all the other Ministries for their guidance and assistance in getting the centres ready for examinations in line with the World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines.

By A Correspondent- The Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition (CiZC) is shocked by the government of Zimbabwe’s claims that it fully complied with recommendations of the Motlanthe Commission of inquiry into August 1, 2018 events during which the army killed six civilians with 35 others injured.

As a Coalition, we view such an announcement, without any evidence backing it, as a refusal by the government to be accountable for human rights violations and lack of respect to the unfortunate lives lost, a situation that has hindered previous efforts on National Healing and Reconciliation.

It is evident that none of those responsible for the killings has been brought to book and convicted.

Further to that, members of the Army and Police who were in breach of their professional duties and discipline are yet to be identified for their internal investigations and appropriate sanction as again recommended by the Commission.

If in any case, the Commission recommendations had been implemented, then some of the killings, beatings and human rights violations perpetrated during the lockdown might have been prevented.

It is important to underline that there has not been any meaningful or sincere effort towards reform and transformation from the government of Zimbabwe except mere politicking.

National Healing and Reconciliation also recommended by the Motlanthe Commission continues to be a pipe dream in Zimbabwe owing to lack of sincerity on the part of authorities and this explains why results of the Commission that investigated the Gukurahundi Massacres which claimed more than 20 000 lives remains a top-secret up to now. Victims of these massacres, their relatives, stakeholders and the nation at large have waited for justice in vain for more than three decades.

As a Coalition, we have always maintained that the Motlanthe Commission was set up with an interest to absolve President Emmerson Mnangagwa, ZANU PF and the Zimbabwe National Army from the killings of civilians who were demonstrating against electoral fraud.

We reiterate that, those involved in the killings should be brought to book and that the government should fully compensate all victims of August 1, 2018 army shootings.

We recommend that the government should set up an all-inclusive National Dialogue platform and an all stakeholders healing and reconciliation platform for the country to move forward.

By A Correspondent- Pastor Shingi Munyeza who is a member of the Presidential Advisory Council (PAC) initiated to advise president Mnangagwa has said mocked the president’s “Zimbabwe is Open for Business” mantra.

He said instead of opening the country’s doors to the international and local investors, Zimbabwe has registered an increase in the number of human rights abuses and bad governance practices. He posted on Twitter:

“ZIMBABWE IS OPEN FOR BUSINESS” Our new “BUSINESS” is now 1. CORRUPTION 2. INCOMPETENCE 3. POLICY INCONSISTENCY 4. ABDUCTIONS 5. GENERAL CLUELESSNESS

TSVAGAI CHATEMESA MUSORO VEDUWE [Address the real issues]

In 2017, when he ascended to power replacing his long time boss and mentor, President Mnangagwa announced that Zimbabwe had opened for business following two decades of isolation from the international community.

He also pledged to fight corruption which is arguably one of the issues that have seen the country’s once-vibrant economy collapsing.

The mantra resulted in the implementation of a cocktail of measures meant to engage and re-engage the international community although some argued that the measures, including economic and political reforms, were superficial.

A year later, reports of human rights violations and corruption were reported with government officials and state security forces being the main culprits.

More: Shingi Munyeza

Africa University has announced that local students with evidence that they can pay their fees in foreign currency will be permitted to pay their August 2020 Semester fees in United States Dollars.

We present below the memo which announced the development.

This communication relates to the above mentioned to give you information on the fees structure effective August 2020 Fees payment –

International students

International students are still required by law to pay their fees in United States Dollars i.e Cash or Telegraphic Transfers, International VISA, Mastercard or Other accepted international payment platforms. The Fees in United States Dollars (USD) remain unchanged as per the schedule below.

Fees Payment for Local students

Local students paying fees in ZWL/RTGS Dollars, the fees are reflected in the schedule below. Local students with evidence that they have free funds are now permitted by law to settle their fees in United States Dollars (USD). RTGS / ZWL Fees for the First Semester are as per schedule below.

NB: Fees in ZWL / RTGS Dollars will be reviewed on a Semester basis and interest charged on late payments.

Fees for Students on attachment

Students proceeding on Industrial Attachment are advised that their fees will remain pegged at 75 % of tuition fees for their Attachment year. All other fees components will remain unchanged.

Registration

ALL Students including those proceeding on attachment are required to register for the Semester and this should be done after payment of the prerequisite fees. Failure to register and pay fees on time will result in students being considered unregistered and repeating your attachment year. Please be guided accordingly.

NB: Kindly ensure that you use the correct banking details and you send through your proof of payment with your details.

For any queries and further clarification, the Business Office team is at your service. You

can contact them via email using the following addresses: [email protected] ,

[email protected] or [email protected]

Students Memo August 2020 Semester Fees

Zimbabwe today said that it was not taking lightly attempts to instigate instability in the country through spreading rumours of an imminent coup, and will bring to book those peddling the falsehoods.

Early this month, the government and security services dismissed reports of an imminent coup, saying this was part of a wider plot to destabilise the country.

This was after various online media carried claims of an imminent military coup backed by opposition and disgruntled former members of the ruling ZANU-PF party.

In dismissing the alleged coup, Home Affairs Minister, Kazembe Kazembe said not only were the rumours of a coup false, they were meant to instigate it and trigger instability in the country.

Kazembe said self-exiled former Cabinet Minister Saviour Kasukuwere, opposition MDC-Alliance member Job Sikhala, a number of civil society organisations and certain diplomatic missions were actively supporting and peddling the false coup narrative.

Today, Defence and War Veterans Minister Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri told Parliament that such misinformation was dangerous and purveyors of it ought to be dealt toughly.

“These are people who are bent on bringing the country into disrepute so I cannot tell you how we are going to deal with it but the net is closing in on them, I can assure you. This is not something we can take lightly,” she said.

She said the Zimbabwe Defence Forces was a professional unit, which carried out its duties in terms of the Constitution.

“We are dealing with it. We have to deal with it because they misinform (the public). We already have a bill to that effect on how we deal with people who peddle lies particularly on security situations because what we want is for our people at every given time to have confidence in their own security forces, their capacity and capability to protect the people of Zimbabwe and also for us to be able to operate and ensure that we develop our country.”

– New Ziana