The economic sustainability of cross-border feeder towns to neighbouring countries such as Zimbabwe has taken a massive beating during the Covid-19 coronavirus lockdown.
In Musina, which is located about 15km from the Beitbridge border gate that separates Zimbabwe and South Africa, shop owners say the lockdown has practically destroyed their businesses.
“We are struggling because business is bad right now because of the coronavirus. Most of our customers from Zimbabwe are not able to come and buy anymore, so we lose half of the customers,” said Rana Masut, who owns a shop in the small town of Musina.
He said that, in the past three months, his income had dropped from roughly R6 000 per day to about R1 000 on a good day, due to the closure of international borders as a result of Covid-19.
Musina has agriculture, tourism and game farming as its major economic strengths.
Some Zimbabwean migrant workers in these industries are the sole breadwinners for their families but, since the start of the lockdown, transporting food back home has been a challenge.
“We don’t know when they are going to open the borders but the situation right now is very challenging because we cannot send any food back home. Our relatives in Zimbabwe are suffering,” said a Zimbabwean truck driver City Press spoke to by the border gate.
With no prospects of jobs, young people such as 22-year-old Webster Mdlongwa, who works as a shop assistant in one of the small retail shops in Musina, said that, before the lockdown business was booming because Zimbabweans bought most of their goods in South Africa.
Food, groceries, winter blankets and clothing were the most sought after items, he said.
“They buy everything here in Musina, so you can imagine what the lockdown has done. I might be unemployed again if the lockdown continues, after struggling to find a job since I matriculated three years ago,” said Mdlongwa, who lives in Phase 3 in Musina.
He said that he had also tried to look for a job in Polokwane, which is about two hours away from his home, but he had no luck.
Another shop owner, Shohel Rana, said that, without their Zimbabwean customers, their businesses were as good as dead.
“Most of our customers come from Zimbabwe and Zambia so we cannot survive without them, otherwise we close the shop and move on,” said Rana.
“You can see for yourself that we have stock, but we do not have customers, so I don’t know how I am going to pay rent this month.
“This lockdown has been the worst for my business, and I might have to think about closing down if things do not change,” Rana explained.
Another businessman, Hermanus Schoeman, who owns the oldest security business in the town and is also the owner and founder of Limpopo Safaris, said the economic effects of the lockdown had crippled the local economy.
“You must understand that 50% of the local buying market is from Zimbabwe and the other half is generated from agricultural produce and tourism, particularly from the game hunting industry.
“As I speak to you right now, I have lost bookings worth R20 million from international tourists who want to come and hunt game here,” said Schoeman.
HARARE – Planned anti-government protests on July 31 have spread panic in President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government which is contemplating re-introducing a tough lockdown in Harare and Bulawayo to stop all gatherings, according to Zimlive.
A minister also bizarrely claimed on Wednesday that Mnangagwa’s rivals had devised a “mechanism of spreading coronavirus” during the protests, which involves using tear smoke cannisters similar to those used by police.
Deputy defence minister Victor Matemadanda, speaking at a news conference, accused the opposition of receiving funds from western embassies to foment chaos.
“We know they (opposition) have been given more than US$300,000 to sustain the demonstration but obviously they are being encouraged to break the law against Covid-19,” Matemadanda said.
“They think that there’s going to be firing of teargas and we are reliably informed that they also have some cannisters containing Covid-19 active material. They hope to spread Covid to Zimbabweans. We are reliably informed that they have a mechanism of spreading coronavirus which has been brought in by those who are funding this.”
He did not explain why the opposition would deliberately and indiscriminately spread the virus, with the risk of harming its own supporters.
Mnangagwa’s regime is also planning to reintroduce a hard lockdown, which would prevent opposition supporters from gathering. Government spokesman Ndavaningi Mangwana claimed, however, the lockdown would be in response to rising coronavirus infections in the two major cities.
“Harare has the vast majority of Covid-19 cases. Yesterday (Tuesday), Bulawayo recorded 30 of the 53 positive cases. If there is any scaling up of containment measures, a more surgical approach is better. It means full scale lockdown should only apply to Harare and Bulawayo,” Mangwana wrote on Twitter.
Zimbabwe first introduced a national lockdown on March 30 to contain the spread of the virus, but this has been eased and most businesses have been allowed to re-open. Cases have spiked, however. On Wednesday, the ministry of health reported 98 new coronavirus cases – the highest daily increase to date. Of that number, 47 were local transmissions. Zimbabwe now has 885 cases.
Zimbabweans have been mobilising online for the planned protests under the hashtags #ZanuPFMustGo and #July31. Transform Zimbabwe leader Jacob Ngarivhume first called for the demonstrations to mark the second anniversary of a disputed election which Mnangagwa’s rivals say he stole.
Main opposition leader Nelson Chamisa said his MDC Alliance party would support the demonstrations, but fears about that Mnangagwa will use the army and police to crush the protests as he has twice done in August 2018 and January 2019 with over two dozen people losing their lives.
MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa on Wednesday had a torrid time trying to calm hundreds of MDC Alliance members from attacking MDC-T leader Thokozani Khupe, Lovemore Madhuku and other political rivals who had travelled for his mother’s funeral in Gutu.
Chamisa was initially hurriedly called in to protect Khupe who was being blocked by angry MDC Alliance supporters from attending entering the village altogether.
Khupe was eventually allowed to join the tense proceedings.
Madhuku, who Chamisa had invited to greet the crowd had to cut his speech very short as MDC Alliance supporters demanded him to address Chamisa as President.
“Madhuku has a legal and political history, he is here with us to mourn Gogo Chamisa, some of us hold no grudges,” Chamisa said of a politician and lawyer who helped party rival Khupe win a court challenge against the opposition leader’s legitimacy.
Chamisa urged tolerance.
“Madhuku has his own history. Yes, we disagree politically, but we agree with him on many issues about this country.
“What he has done to come and coming as far as Harare to mourn with us should be respected.
“To appreciate that, I say Prof Madhuku, thank you for coming to mourn my mother, we want citizens that live in peace and love.
“We must build this country after forgiveness.
“You are here to mourn my mother who has departed, I have never seen thousands of villagers gathering here for someone who is not in politics, a vegetable vendor like my late mother.”
Chamisa added, “We came here out of love and we must leave after the burial in love, no one has been forced to come.
“No one should be denied a chance to mourn the dear departed, even if there are issues that hurt you, issues that are happening that you don’t agree with.
“Even if it was my brother, the one I contest in elections, you know him (Mnangagwa), you have to be patient because this is a funeral.
“We are not here to be divided along political lines. This is not an MDC or Zanu PF rally, this is Gogo Chamisa’s funeral.
“This is a funeral and death is a unifier, those who have high blood pressure, let it go lower in the name of Jesus.”
Chamisa appealed with followers to “remember this is a funeral which knows no boundary”.
The number of coronavirus cases in Zimbabwe today rocketed to 885 after a record 98 people tested positive.
Fifty-one were returning residents with 28 from Botswana, 22 from South Africa and one from Eswatini (Swaziland) while 47 were local transmissions.
Five people from Matebeleland North recovered raising the figure to 206.
Zimbabwe now has 670 active cases after testing 82 077 people.
Deputy Health Minister John Mangwiro said the spike in the number of cases in recent weeks was a sign that people were mixing instead of staying at home.
“It’s a sign that people who are coming from outside especially from South Africa, people are mixing rather than keeping each other safe, we really need to take more care, need to really emphasise on our safety,” Dr Mangwiro said.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa has urged MDC Alliance leader Advocate Nelson Chamisa and the entire Chamisa family to remain strong and hopeful following the passing on of Mbuya Chamisa on Monday.
Mbuya Chamisa, who was mother to Mr Chamisa, was laid to rest at her rural home in Gutu this Wednesday.
In his condolence message to the Chamisa family, President Mnangagwa said the unexpected loss of a mother creates a deep void and a sense of deep sorrow and loss, imploring the family to remain strong in such difficult times.
Many have described Mbuya Chamisa as a hard-working woman who ensured that her children got a decent education.
Her sons Nelson and Dalmond spoke glowingly about the sacrifices she made for them.
“Munozviziva here kuti ndiende kuchikoro mudzimai akarara apa uyu Mai vangu ava,vaienda kunotegesa huku vachitengesa murivo, vazhinji venyu munofunga kuti mdakangomuka ndiri advocate, zvakabva ku hard work yamai ava.” (For me to get a decent education, it is because of my late mother, she would go and sell chickens and other foodstuffs. Most of you think it was an easy road for me to be an advocate, all this came from this hardworking woman.)
Other family members said Mbuya Chamisa’s death is a great loss to the family.
Mbuya Chamisa collapsed and died at her rural home in Gutu on Monday.
The economic sustainability of cross-border feeder towns to neighbouring countries such as Zimbabwe has taken a massive beating during the Covid-19 coronavirus lockdown.
In Musina, which is located about 15km from the Beitbridge border gate that separates Zimbabwe and South Africa, shop owners say the lockdown has practically destroyed their businesses.
“We are struggling because business is bad right now because of the coronavirus. Most of our customers from Zimbabwe are not able to come and buy anymore, so we lose half of the customers,” said Rana Masut, who owns a shop in the small town of Musina.
He said that, in the past three months, his income had dropped from roughly R6 000 per day to about R1 000 on a good day, due to the closure of international borders as a result of Covid-19.
Musina has agriculture, tourism and game farming as its major economic strengths.
Some Zimbabwean migrant workers in these industries are the sole breadwinners for their families but, since the start of the lockdown, transporting food back home has been a challenge.
“We don’t know when they are going to open the borders but the situation right now is very challenging because we cannot send any food back home. Our relatives in Zimbabwe are suffering,” said a Zimbabwean truck driver City Press spoke to by the border gate.
He said the only possible solution for transporting goods to their home country was to smuggle them through the border fence.
With no prospects of jobs, young people such as 22-year-old Webster Mdlongwa, who works as a shop assistant in one of the small retail shops in Musina, said that, before the lockdown business was booming because Zimbabweans bought most of their goods in South Africa.
Food, groceries, winter blankets and clothing were the most sought after items, he said.
“They buy everything here in Musina, so you can imagine what the lockdown has done. I might be unemployed again if the lockdown continues, after struggling to find a job since I matriculated three years ago,” said Mdlongwa, who lives in Phase 3 in Musina.
He said that he had also tried to look for a job in Polokwane, which is about two hours away from his home, but he had no luck.
Another shop owner, Shohel Rana, said that, without their Zimbabwean customers, their businesses were as good as dead.
“Most of our customers come from Zimbabwe and Zambia so we cannot survive without them, otherwise we close the shop and move on,” said Rana.
“You can see for yourself that we have stock, but we do not have customers, so I don’t know how I am going to pay rent this month.
“This lockdown has been the worst for my business, and I might have to think about closing down if things do not change,” Rana explained.
Another businessman, Hermanus Schoeman, who owns the oldest security business in the town and is also the owner and founder of Limpopo Safaris, said the economic effects of the lockdown had crippled the local economy.
“You must understand that 50% of the local buying market is from Zimbabwe and the other half is generated from agricultural produce and tourism, particularly from the game hunting industry.
“As I speak to you right now, I have lost bookings worth R20 million from international tourists who want to come and hunt game here,” said Schoeman.
Zesa has fired eight top managers, demoted two and suspended three while the other is serving three months’ notice pending dismissal over malpractices picked up in the forensic audit published last year.
A number of other managers are set to be transferred to posts in other provinces.
Those that have been fired are Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC) operations director Engineer John Chirikutsi, ZPC finance director Mr Hubert Chiwara, ZETDC managing director Engineer Julian Chinembiri, ZETDC finance director Thokozani Dhliwayo, Zesa Enterprises (Zent) managing director Mr Tererai Mutasa, plus two Zent managers identified as Tichivangana and Dafana.
ZPC general manager Mr Washington Mareya has been given three months notice.
Suspended are Zesa head corporate services Mr Rufaro Pasipanodya, Zesa public relations manager Mr Fullard Gwasira and Mr Obson Matunja from the audit department, all suspended pending investigations into possible personal use of Zesa vehicles or a potential fuel coupon scam involving $18 000.
Others suspended last week include section engineer metering Engineer Leonard Chitsina, and Mr Freeman Chikonzo, senior manager Information and Technology pending investigations on a potential fraud involving a local electrical company.
More bosses could be fired once other disciplinary hearings have been concluded while several survivors are said to have been “strongly warned”.
The massive layoffs exercise across the company’s top management layer, executed last Thursday is part of efforts by Zesa Holdings executive chairman Sydney Gata to clean up Zesa’s governance structures compromised in the last few years.
Most executives were fired or suspended or demoted over accusations of alarming financial misdeeds with all fingered in either shoddy deals or ineptitude or following some recommendations of a forensic audit into the operations Zesa and its subsidiaries, conducted by PriceWaterhouseCoopers (PwC) which called for disciplinary action against managers suspected to have milked the power utility millions of dollars and misuse of resources such as fuel.
The shakeup comes at a time when the power utility has been under severe scrutiny from the government, the sole shareholder in the company.
The company has been reeling under heavy losses for years.
The PwC audit unearthed startling accounts of corruption, multi-million dollar tender irregularities, the collapse of governance systems among other transgressions.
It was a bombshell development.
It is understood that prior to officially announcing the changes on Friday at Zesa Training Centre, Gata dispatched the dismissal, suspension and demotion letters to those affected on Thursday.
He then called for a staff meeting at the company’s training centre where he officially announced the dismissals, suspensions and demotions.
Insiders said there is anxiety at the power utility as workers feel Gatais not done yet.
Gata’s focus since his appointment has been to re-organise the top leadership structure of the power utility to remove redundancies, transform Zesa into a vibrant entity by amalgamating Zesa’s four units—ZETDC, Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC), Powertel and ZENT—into one integrated company in a bid to cut costs, weed out corruption and bad management and boost power generation and reduce inefficiencies at the State-owned entity.
Zimbabwe’s auditor-general, Mildred Chiri, is set to be removed from the Special Procurement Oversight Committee (SPOC) due to her conflict of interest.
The autonomy of auditors in the performance of their professional duties has always been considered a cornerstone of the profession.
Auditors should submit independent opinions.
In this respect, Chiri’s presence in SPOC, gives rise to a conflict of interest since she would come back and audit the books of procuring State entities which use public funds, a situation which calls for transparency to ensure that the government gets the best terms and value for money.
It also reduces corruption.
Procurement Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (PRAZ) CEO Nyasha Chizu said the authority was working on amending the Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets Act to close some gaps especially in the Special Procurement Oversight Committee, in which the auditor-general is part of.
“There is a proposal to remove her because of conflict of interest,” Chizu said.
Under part X111 of the Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets Act, contracts could be scrutinised by SPOC which shall report to the minister and PRAZ.
The chair of the SPOC is the Attorney general’s office, deputised by the Accountant General.
The Auditor General and the principal director at Public Works are part of the committee.
The Committee will ensure monitoring, evaluation, and professionalism of the decentralised procurement which is now taking place in the procurement Management Unit within the independent enterprises.
Procurement is a strategic tool in public services delivery hence the need to professionalise and modernise the process.
“Regulations for professionalisation of practitioners are not yet out. Once out, we will regulate,” Chizu said, adding that the authority is proposing the transitional period by one year meant to ensure that systems are put in place.
The magnitude of government expenditure is between 20% and 25% of the 2020 National Budget, which is currently at about ZWL$60bn.
The new Act abolished the State Procurement Board which was the supervisor, responsible for making procurement decisions.
And it created PRAZ, which is no longer involved in the adjudication and awarding of tenders like before.
The award of tenders is now being done by accounting officers in various state departments and companies, with the authority, only playing a supervisory and monitoring role to ensure government entities comply with the new Act and other set standards.
Public sectors are supposed to establish procurement management units which are supposed to be manned by licensed professional procurement officers in the terms of the Public Procurement and Public Disposal Act [chapter 22:23].
However, the progress on the implementation of the legislation had been lagging with some public services turning a blind eye on the employment of the Act.
Reluctance in the adoption of the act can be caused by the inability to accept responsibilities.
Zimbabwe has recorded 98 new coronavirus cases bringing the total number of officially recorded cases to 885.
In a statement, the Ministry of Health and Child Care said the new cases include returnees from Botswana (28), South Africa (22), Swaziland (1) and 47 local cases who are isolated.
The Ministry also reports that 23 of the local cases are contacts of known confirmed cases adding that investigations were underway to establish the source of infection for other 4 local cases.
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Five people recovered from the virus bringing the total number of recoveries in the country to 206 while fatalities remain at 9.
Harare still has the highest cumulative number of cases, 250 followed by Bulawayo which has 154 cases. The bulk of cases in Bulawayo have been recorded in the past 2 days.
ServicesBuildingHomeGroceries DatingJobsCommercialHealth Meanwhile, eighteen health workers in the same ward at the United Bulawayo Hospitals (UBH) have tested positive for COVID-19 after a man admitted as a patient earlier tested positive.
Affected staff members were placed in self-isolation at home after a man admitted to the hospital tested positive for COVID-19.
The exact number of health workers who came into contact with him was not immediately availed, but results of 18 of them came positive.
Recently, 68 health workers at the hospital were forced to self-isolate at home after a 79-year-old woman who tested positive died at the referral facility, but their status could not be established immediately.
Last month, 14 nurses at Mpilo Central Hospital who were part of 197 isolating at home tested positive for Covid-19 after coming into contact with patients who were infected with Covid-19.
EIGHTEEN health personnel working in the same ward at the United Bulawayo Hospitals (UBH) have tested positive for Covid-19 after allegedly attending to an infected patient.
The hospital staff members were placed on self-isolation at home after a male adult admitted to the hospital tested positive for Covid-19. The exact number of health workers who came into contact with him was not immediately availed but results of 18 of them came positive after tests.
Recently, 68 health workers at the hospital were forced to self-isolate at home after a 79-year old woman who tested positive died at the referral facility, but their status could not be established immediately.
Last month, 14 nurses at Mpilo Central Hospital who were part of 197 isolating at home tested positive for Covid-19 after coming into contact with patients who were coronavirus positive.
Acting UBH chief executive officer Dr Narcissus Dzvanga yesterday said the hospital has activated its infection control prevention unit after the latest Covid-19 confirmed cases.
“At the moment the figure that has been sent to me is that 18 have tested positive for Covid-19. We are still categorising them although some are student nurses, general practitioners and nurse aids,” said Dr Dzvanga.
He said the health workers tested positive while they were self-isolating at home.
Dr Dzvanga said they contracted the virus after coming into contact with a patient who had come to the hospital for treatment after he was paralysed after being injured.
“We have a screening process that is done at the entrance of the hospital. So, if you got any features or temperatures are within Covid-19 classification, you don’t even go beyond the screening point. But this case had different circumstances altogether. The index case is a young man who got injured while trying to carry a 50kg bag of maize and got paralysed. There was no direct finding of Covid-19 at presentation. But when we started to test the patient routinely that is when it was picked. The staff that you are talking about are from the same ward where he was admitted. It’s not like he was moving up and down the hospital,” said Dr Dzvanga.
Acting UBH chief executive officer Dr Narcissus Dzvanga
However, officials at the hospital suspect that the patient could have also contracted the virus while at the medical institution.
A source said there was a likelihood that a health worker unknowingly infected the patient with the virus.
“This patient has been at the hospital for almost two months and I doubt if he could not have been identified had he carried the virus all that long.
“This could be a case of an asymptomatic health worker who didn’t know that they had the virus attending to him and infecting him with Covid-19,” said the source.
In line with Covid-19 prevention measures to minimise the risk of local transmissions, Cabinet recently resolved that all positive patients be placed in an isolation facility as some people were not adhering to procedures while at home.
On Tuesday, the country recorded 53 new Covid-19 cases and the 18 UBH cases are part of the 34 local transmissions recorded on that day. The remaining 19 cases were of people coming from South Africa (16) and Botswana (3).
This was the first time that the country recorded more local transmissions than imported cases.
Most of the people who had been testing positive for Covid-19 in Zimbabwe were those returning home from South Africa, Botswana, Mozambique, the United Kingdom, the United States among other countries.
Cote d’Ivoire Prime Minister Amadou Gon Coulibally has died.
Gon Coulibally who was 61 had been undergoing treatment for a heart condition in France.
He collapsed suddenly during a cabinet meeting and later died in hospital.
Gon Coulibally had been serving as Prime Minister since 2017. He was previously secretary general of the presidency under President Alassane Ouattara from 2011 to 2017
The Zimbabwe National Road Administration has increased toll fees with immediate effect.
Light vehicles which used to pay ZWL$10 toll fees now have to fork out ZWL$45.
Vehicle license is now pegged at $750 per period.
The changes were made by Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development Joel Biggie Matiza in two statutory instruments gazetted yesterday.
Toll fees are $45 for light motor vehicles, $70 for mini-buses, $90 for buses, $115 for heavy motor vehicles and $225 for haulage trucks. Motor cycles continue to be exempted from toll fees.
People living within 10km of a toll gate can pay $50 a day without any discount or $3 000 a month, giving them the right to go through that particular toll gate whenever they need to without paying any further fees.
There are discounts that can reduce the fee a bit further. Vehicle licence fees are charged in 14 mass categories. The fees for a four month term are:
Up to 1 500kg $750
1 501kg to 2 250kg $950
2 251kg to 3 000kg $1 125
3 001kg to 3 750kg $2 250 3 751kg to 4 250kg $2 800 4 251kg to 5 000kg $3 375 5 001kg to 5 750kg $3 750 5 751kg to 6 250kg $3 950 6 251kg to 7 000kg $4 500 7 001kg to 7 750kg $4 875 7 751kg to 9 250kg $5 250 9 251kg to 10 000kg $5 625, 10 001kg to 10 750kg $7 500 10 751kg and above $11 250-The Herald
Scores of Midlands State University (MSU) final year students were this week left in panic mode after failing to sit for their final examinations because of late registration.
University authorities however, allayed the students’ fears saying there were separate arrangements for those who had registered late, to write their examinations ahead of the scheduled graduation in December.
“The examinations started on Monday at our Zvishavane campus but we were shocked when were barred from entering the examination room and the invigilators claimed that we were not registered. They said only those who were sitting the exams had registered on or before May 31, 2020.
“Technically, they were saying we had not paid our fees in full because it is not possible to register before paying the full fees,” said one of the students who declined to be identified.
Others said they were frustrated and were still camped on campus as they were still not clear on their fate.
“Some of us are from Harare. I had come with food and accommodation money to last the two weeks of examinations but now that we have been barred from writing exams, I don’t even know how long I will be here,” said another concerned student.
The students said they could not pay their fees in time for registration owing economic challenges brought about by the Covid-19 lockdown.
“Everyone knows the challenges that were brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic and we were supposed to be allowed to just write our exams and pay later,” she said.
MSU public relations director, Mrs Mirirai Mawere, however said the institution had already made sitting arrangements for students who had not registered on or before the May 31 deadline-The Herald
Kwekwe magistrate Mr Storey Rushambwa has been dismissed for handling a case while on official vacation, but still has to face a criminal trial for abuse of public office.
Mr Rushambwa (48), who was suspended from work in December 2019 together with Clerk of Court Mr Bright Mpiyabo (45), was dismissed after a Judicial Services Commission (JSC) disciplinary committee found him guilty of misconduct.
JSC spokesperson Ms Rumbidzai Takawira said yesterday confirmed.
“The commission found him guilty and imposed the penalty of discharge from service on June 29,” said Ms Takawira.
Mr Rushambwa has been charged before the Gweru courts and comes up for further remand or trial on July 29- The Herald
FOUR police officers yesterday appeared in court for allegedly stealing firearms from the National Armaments at Morris Depot.
Liberty Musindo (36), Innocent Dube (44), Davison Makaza (25) and Tawabarira Marowa (34) were charged with theft when they appeared before Harare magistrate Mrs Barbra Mateko.
They were freed on $3 000 bail each and ordered to report every Friday at their nearest police stations and to continue residing at their given addresses.
The court heard that on an unknown date to the State during the period extending from April to June 19, 2020, Musindo who is stationed at the national armaments connived with Dube and Marowa who are also police officers and also in the company of three others namely, Charles Mabhiza, Nhawu Jongwe and Wellington Nata who have since appeared in court for stealing firearms from the National Armaments.
It is the State’s case that the syndicate on different occasions stole firearms from their workplace.
The court heard that Makaza would receive the stolen firearms secretly, take them into the workshop at his workplace where he would alter the original serial numbers of the stolen firearms and replace them with fictitious serial numbers in order to disguise the origin of the firearms before returning them to Dube and Marowa.
It is alleged that Dube and Marowa would then collect the stolen firearms with erased serial numbers from Makaza and source for potential buyers and share the proceeds.
It is the State’s case that on June 19 the officer-in-charge national armaments, Chief Inspector Madenyika, discovered that some pistols were missing from the armoury and carried out a stocktake during which he discovered that four CZ pistols including, a Tokarev pistol inscribed ZRP 096, were missing.
The court heard that investigations were carried out leading to the arrest of Mabhiza and subsequent recovery of two CZ pistols.
It is alleged that further investigations led to the arrest of the other three accused persons. The total value of the guns stolen was US$5 000- The Herald
Eric Dier has received a four-match ban for his actions after the FA Cup match against Norwich on 4 March.
The Tottenham midfielder climbed over seats to confront a fan who was arguing with his brother. The incident happened after Spurs had lost a fifth-round penalty shoot-out to the Canaries at home.
The ban comes into play with immediate effect, and the England international has also been fined £40,000.
The FA said on Twitter: “The Tottenham Hotspur player admitted that his actions at the conclusion of a fixture against Norwich City in The FA Cup on 4 March 2020 were improper but denied that they were also threatening.
“An independent Regulatory Commission subsequently found Eric Dier’s actions to be threatening.”-Soccer 24
*People of Zimbabwe*, We have been subjected to abject poverty due to numerous challenges that we have faced as a nation.
These have ranged from rampant corruption to maladministration, causing much suffering to the average Zimbabwean.
Be that as it may, even the Civil Service has been left in a dilemma and there has been a lot of outcry from different sectors. It is in this moment that the people have come together in solidarity and decided to stage a demonstration which has been scheduled for the 31st of July 2020.
My leaders, let me take you back to what happened in August 2018. People got shot, people were battered, people were imprisoned and some were treated in an inhumane way.
To which end did the demo assist us with? Let me take you to the recent alleged abduction of the MDC-A trio, after alleging that they had been abducted, they were arrested and had to spend nights in remand prison all because of a “demo.”
My fellow leaders we all know that a lot of these “so called demonstrations” have happened and they achieved nothing, all we got was property vandalism and ill treatment from the security forces.
Those who called for the Demonstrations were not there. Those who got shot have permanent scars and no one compensated them. Is this what we want to continue with?
What if we stood up as citizens and pressured our own leaders to negotiate better deals for us when they are in government, in Parliament or in whichever office they hold so that we can have better livelihoods.
What if we stopped politics of hate speech and violence? I believe we are being used in a fight that doesn’t represent us.
Let us be productive, let us lead our people in a way that won’t put blemish on our collars. Last but not least let me say, We believe that each individual has a right and free will to do as they please within the stipulations of the law, we believe citizens of Zimbabwe will do what is right on the 31st of July 2020.
The ruling ZANU PF this Tuesday recalled Chivi South legislator Killer Zivhu from Parliament.
Zivhu was expelled from the party early June after proposing a dialogue between president Emmerson Mnangagwa and MDC Alliance leader, Nelson Chamisa.
The recall was announced by the Speaker of the National Assembly Jacob Mudenda who said he was notified on 1 July that Killer Zivhu was no longer a Zanu PF member.
Mudenda said: Section 129(1)(k) of the Constitution provides that the seat of MP becomes vacant if a member has ceased to belong to a political party of which he or she was elected into Parliament, and the political party concerned by written notice to the Speaker has declared that the Member has ceased to belong to it.
Pursuant to the above, I hereby inform the House that a vacancy has arisen in the National Assembly by operation of the law and the necessary administrative measures will be taken to inform the President and the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission of the existence of a vacancy in line with section 39(1) of the Electoral Act Chapter 213 as amended.
The development brings to 22 the total number of parliamentarians recalled since this May with the majority of the recalled being members of the MDC Alliance-NewsDay
By A Correspondent- A Bulawayo woman dumped her abusive “husband” who was constantly harassing her and at the same time refusing to pay lobola for her claiming she was worthless and useless during their 10-year cohabitation which was also blessed with two children aged five and nine.
After being incensed by his abusive behaviour and reluctance to take their relationship to the next level Patience Mangena (31) filed a protection order against Rodger Mthethwa (55), a teacher based in Swaziland.
In her application in which she labelled Mthethwa a drunkard, womaniser, violent and oppressive man Mangena who is also a teacher in Bulawayo said she was no longer interested in him adding that she was now focused on raising their two children.
She claimed she was living on borrowed time after Mthethwa threatened to kill her if ever she dumped him.
“I am a woman aged 31 and have been in a relationship for 12 years with Rodger Mthethwa aged 55 years. We have two children together aged nine and five. We don’t stay together and he refused to pay lobola saying I am valueless and useless. He is staying with his wife and I am staying with my two children.
“I am doing everything by myself and he has been forcing me to commit to the relationship by threatening me saying that he will kill me and escape to Swaziland if ever I try to end the relationship. Life with him has been difficult because he is a drunkard, womaniser, oppressive and abusive. He has been verbally, emotionally and physically abusing me. I reported him to the police several times but nothing happened to him,” complained Mangena.
She said Mthethwa was forcibly taking her money to pursue other businesses with his wife.
“He never allowed me to engage in business and surprisingly he is demanding all the money that I am raising from selling cakes and Tupperware using it to build his homestead in Nyamandlovu. He also took my money and bought bricks to develop a residential stand that is in his wife’s name,” said Mangena.
She added: “I told him that I am no longer interested in him but he is still coming to my place and even at night trying to break down the doors. I am really scared because he will end up killing me and as a result, I want a protection order to be granted against him so that he stops stalking and abusing me”.
Responding to whether or not he had a problem with the granting of the protection order, Mthethwa told the court that Mangena was still his wife because he paid for her education.
“I am not opposed to her application but it should be clear that she is my wife. I don’t mind even if the order is granted in her favour but I was about to go and pay lobola for her,” said Mthethwa.
He also labelled his estranged “wife” a liar.
“My wife is a liar. She claims that we never stayed together but this is due to work commitments than anything else. I never missed coming home on any school holiday. By calling me her boyfriend I wonder if she is acknowledging that she now has a boyfriend when our marriage is still subsisting.
“My wife also describes me as oppressive, suppressive and a dictator when I actually sponsored her education from Ordinary Level to college and she is now a teacher. Education is enlightenment, not oppression and how could she have attended these educational institutions when she is not allowed to step outside the gate,” argued Mthethwa.
Presiding magistrate Tinashe Tashaya, however, ordered Mthethwa to observe Mangena’s peace by not verbally, emotionally and physically abusing her and visiting her place as well as communicating with her in any way.
The MDC Alliance has castigated the persecution and harassment of youth assembly national organising secretary and ward 4, Masvingo Urban councillor, Godfrey Kurauone.
By Fanuel Chinowaita- Marange Residents calls for the immidiate dispersal of Marange Apostolic Sect members who are having their Annual Festival in Mafararikwa, Bocha Marange.
According to a statement by a disgruntled resident, the gathering started on 1 July and will end on 21 July although there is a pandemic which has claimed thousands of people around the world.
Disgruntled residents also added that the government has shown that it does not care of human lives but only power.
They said the gathering of Marange Apostolic Sect members is nothing else but political.
The residents put blame on the government and the Manicaland Covid 19 task force which is led by Residential Minister Ellen Gwaradzimba.
In a statement from Manicaland, residents said, “In *Bocha Marange* the Apostolic sect is having its *Annual Festival* from July 1 to 21 without any restrictions and worries.
“No masks are being worn. No social distancing in their lorries and cars. Over 10 000 congregants are converging from all the Seven districts of Manicaland.
“It is a shame that the game of politics is in the matrix that okayed such a huge gathering for three weeks.
“If *COVID-19* fight is a state of emergency and a disaster then the Manicaland Covid-19 Task force Committee, The Mutare District Taskforce Committee, The Mafararikwa community, The Marange Community, The Zvipiripiri community should raise a red flag.
“The gathering should be dismantled and dispersed with immediate effect. We can not canvass votes or catapult political mileage at the expense of citizenry lives in Manicaland and Zimbabwe at large.
Mamelodi Sundowns have confirmed the return of coach Rulani Mokwena.
The gaffer will assist head coach Pitso Mosimane, a post he held during his first stint with the club between 2014 and 2017. He will also work alongside assistants Manqoba Mngqithi and Wendell Robinson.
Mokwena became a free agent at the end of last month after Chippa United decided against giving him a new contract when his loan stay expired. His parent club at that time, Orlando Pirates, also parted ways with him in the same week.
Here is the statement by the Sundowns:
Former Mamelodi Sundown assistant coach, Rulani Mokwena, is expected to re-join the Chloorkop side in the same capacity, having parted ways with the Club back in 2017 to join arch rivals, Orlando Pirates.
Mokwena will travel to Rustenburg to join the Brazilians in camp as soon as he has received the results for his COVID-19 test. If everything goes according to plan, he will join the team by the end of this week. The experienced Mokwena spent more than 3 years with Sundowns before embarking on a journey to coach some of the most competitive sides in the PSL. He also took the time to capacitate himself by travelling to Europe to study at the current EPL Champions, Liverpool.
The President of Mamelodi Sundowns, Dr. Patrice Motsepe welcomed Mokwena back home to the Mamelodi Sundowns family as the Club looks to reinforce the Technical team as they continue to aspire to dominate in the CAF Champions League to earn the 2nd star for the Club and beyond. Mokwena will add a new dimension to our already accomplished technical team and will make a valuable contribution to Sundowns-Soccer 24
Eric Dier has received a four-match ban for his actions after the FA Cup match against Norwich on 4 March.
The Tottenham midfielder climbed over seats to confront a fan who was arguing with his brother. The incident happened after Spurs had lost a fifth-round penalty shoot-out to the Canaries at home.
The ban comes into play with immediate effect, and the England international has also been fined £40,000.
The FA said on Twitter: “The Tottenham Hotspur player admitted that his actions at the conclusion of a fixture against Norwich City in The FA Cup on 4 March 2020 were improper but denied that they were also threatening.
“An independent Regulatory Commission subsequently found Eric Dier’s actions to be threatening.”-Soccer 24
Warriors skipper Knowledge Musona will wear the iconic number 10 shirt at Belgian side KAS Eupen next season.
The 30-year-old former Kaizer Chiefs man’s loan spell at Eupen was extended for another season after an impressive time at the Belgian outfit.
Reports of coach Benat San Jose offering the ‘Smiling Assasin’ the iconic shirt, usually worn by the most influential player in a football team, had been rife in Belgian media and former Warriors team manager Wellington Mpandare, who is in constant contact with Musona, did confirm to Soccer24 that it is true.
“Yes, that is correct. They gave him the number 10 shirt the day the loan was extended. They regard him as the darling of the club that’s why they did so,” Mpandare said-Soccer 24
MDC Alliance National youth organiser and ward 4 councillor Mr Godfrey Kuraone has been denied bail.
Councillor Kuraone is accused of undermining the authority of the President.
Human rights lawyer, Advocate Martin Mureri said:
“Today, the Masvingo Magistrate refused to grant bail to MDC Alliance National youth organiser Mr Godfrey Kuraone.
However, we respectfully disagree with the judgment. Therefore, we are going to appeal to Masvingo High Court in the next few days.”
Masvingo deputy provincial spokesperson leader Lee Machachi said : “As MDC Alliance party led by President Chamisa we are heartbroken by the judgment that denied our ward 4 councillor and National youth organiser Kuraone bail. We thank our hardworking lawyer advocate Martin Mureri for representing our National youth organiser. In addition, we trust the High court judge will grant our youthful leader bail. “
On Thursday councillor Kuraone’s relatives, friends, council employees, ward 4 residents, civic organizations came to give solidarity to MDC National youth organiser.
After the court proceedings today at 12:25pm, MDC Alliance leaders and supporters travelled to President Chamisa’s homestead to pay burial Gogo Chamisa.
Leader Alaika Time who attended councillor Kuraone’s court and then travelled to Gutu for Gogo Chamisa’s burial said:
“We appreciate advocate Mafa for giving fuel money and councillor Musekiwa who ferried us in his car to Gutu to bury our beloved Mother Gogo Chamisa today.”
Approximately, 15 000 people attended Gogo Chamisa’s burial today in Gutu.
By Fanuel Chinowaita- Marange Residents calls for the immidiate dispersal of Marange Apostolic Sect members who are having their Annual Festival in Mafararikwa, Bocha Marange.
According to a statement by a disgruntled resident, the gathering started on 1 July and will end on 21 July although there is a pandemic which has claimed thousands of people around the world.
Disgruntled residents also added that the government has shown that it does not care of human lives but only power.
They said the gathering of Marange Apostolic Sect members is nothing else but political.
The residents put blame on the government and the Manicaland Covid 19 task force which is led by Residential Minister Ellen Gwaradzimba.
In a statement from Manicaland, residents said, “In *Bocha Marange* the Apostolic sect is having its *Annual Festival* from July 1 to 21 without any restrictions and worries.
“No masks are being worn. No social distancing in their lorries and cars. Over 10 000 congregants are converging from all the Seven districts of Manicaland.
“It is a shame that the game of politics is in the matrix that okayed such a huge gathering for three weeks.
“If *COVID-19* fight is a state of emergency and a disaster then the Manicaland Covid-19 Task force Committee, The Mutare District Taskforce Committee, The Mafararikwa community, The Marange Community, The Zvipiripiri community should raise a red flag.
“The gathering should be dismantled and dispersed with immediate effect. We can not canvass votes or catapult political mileage at the expense of citizenry lives in Manicaland and Zimbabwe at large.
MDC Alliance National youth organiser and ward 4 councillor Mr Godfrey Kuraone has been denied bail.
Councillor Kuraone is accused of undermining the authority of the President.
Human rights lawyer, Advocate Martin Mureri said:
“Today, the Masvingo Magistrate refused to grant bail to MDC Alliance National youth organiser Mr Godfrey Kuraone.
However, we respectfully disagree with the judgment. Therefore, we are going to appeal to Masvingo High Court in the next few days.”
Masvingo deputy provincial spokesperson leader Lee Machachi said : “As MDC Alliance party led by President Chamisa we are heartbroken by the judgment that denied our ward 4 councillor and National youth organiser Kuraone bail. We thank our hardworking lawyer advocate Martin Mureri for representing our National youth organiser. In addition, we trust the High court judge will grant our youthful leader bail. “
On Thursday councillor Kuraone’s relatives, friends, council employees, ward 4 residents, civic organizations came to give solidarity to MDC National youth organiser.
After the court proceedings today at 12:25pm, MDC Alliance leaders and supporters travelled to President Chamisa’s homestead to pay burial Gogo Chamisa.
Leader Alaika Time who attended councillor Kuraone’s court and then travelled to Gutu for Gogo Chamisa’s burial said:
“We appreciate advocate Mafa for giving fuel money and councillor Musekiwa who ferried us in his car to Gutu to bury our beloved Mother Gogo Chamisa today.”
Approximately, 15 000 people attended Gogo Chamisa’s burial today in Gutu.
“Zimbabwe is like a soldier marking time and not going anywhere,” you wrote in a local publication.
“Our government has been so dysfunctional for a very long time, but the majority of the people feel in the air the winds of change blowing in from all four corners of the country.”
You are right, Zimbabwe has indeed been “marking time (40 years to be precise) and not going anywhere”!
“Insanity is repeating the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result,” said the great Physicist Albert Einstein.
We have been participating in rigged elections for 40 years, 40 bloody years, and every time we have expected a different result, expected Zanu PF to lose. If that does not speak volumes of the insanity in our country then nothing else will!
The tragedy about insanity is the insane rarely ever have the intellectual sober moment to comprehend their serious mental limitations, especially when years of making the same foolish mistakes has become the norm.
It is common for the insane can even consider themselves wiser than King Solomon! “Hupenzi inyama yengakava!” (The insane are stubbornly insane!) as one would say in Shona.
“This is the right time for people who have suffered under the leadership of this regime to rally behind enterprising politician Jacob Ngarivhume who has set the pace and taken it upon himself to lead the struggle,” you argued.
“The joining of Nelson Chamisa of MDC-Alliance, Dr Noah Manyika from Build Zimbabwe and Nkosana Moyo of APA to join the masses is a welcome move.”
These four gentlemen, you are arguing the nation to rally behind, are quintessential examples of the “insane being stubbornly insane”! Nelson Chamisa and his MDC colleagues stubbornly refused to implement the democratic reforms designed to stop Zanu PF rigging the elections during the 2008 to 2013 GNU.
The four named gentlemen plus hundreds of other opposition candidates, there were 23 presidential candidates alone, participated in the July 2018 elections although it was clear Zanu PF was rigging the elections. By participation gave credibility to the flawed electoral process which in turn gave some modicum of legitimacy to the vote rigging Zanu PF regime.
“We want political reforms and these reforms must have people’s consultation. We want credible elections in this country. We don’t want a repeat of the past,” announced Nelson Chamisa in his hour-long e-rally.
“So, there are no 2023 elections without reforms. We have the capacity to say there are no elections, and they will not be held because we are the people. We want elections with comprehensive electoral and political reforms.”
Chamisa was just saying that to fool people into believing the penny has finally dropped, he now fully appreciates the futility of participating in these flawed and illegal elections. He has made similar undertakings in the past only to discard them. He will do so again.
Ever since the embarrassment of having to share power with MDC during the 2008 GNU, Zanu PF leaders have learned they can continue rigging the elections as long as the party allows the opposition to win a few gravy train seat. The opposition’s participation has been the façade that Zimbabwe is a healthy multiparty democracy and therefore does not need another GNU.
Just before the 2023 elections, Zanu PF will probably amend the constitution to create Leader of Opposition and Shadow cabinet; the holders will be entitled to ministerial limos, generous salaries, etc., etc.
Just to spice up the opposition bait! Zanu PF knows it does not need to implement even one reform to be guaranteed of the opposition’s full house participation in the 2023 elections. Chamisa will join in the scramble for the gravy train scraps.
“MDC has stringent measures to stop Zanu PF rigging elections!” was Chamisa’s feeble excuse for participating in the 2018 elections. Rest assured he will come up with yet another feeble excuse for participating in the 2023 elections with no reforms!
“The people are ready from 31st July 2020 to occupy the streets in all major cities and towns. Workers are planning to stop work except hospitals. Diaspora must also play a role and occupy embassies,” you argued.
“Let the 31st of July 2020 be the start of a journey and mark the beginning of peace and prosperity to progressive Zimbabweans. Together we can.”
A rousing clarion call indeed but all to no purpose. One look at what you want the nation to join the street protests for; shows this is just another exercise in futility!
“The current government lacks the inclusiveness of other progressive ideas. It does not even attempt to engage the opposition and always suspect it as the greatest impediment to its policies.”
In November 2017 Zimbabweans were on the street celebrating the removal one dictator but only to replace him with another dictator. Now you want to remove this corrupt, incompetent and tyrannical Zanu PF dictatorship but only to replace it with the equally corrupt and incompetent MDC regime. The same MDC leaders whose breath-taking incompetence costed the nation many golden opportunities to end the dictatorship. Of course, this is just marking time and going nowhere. How anyone can view that as making progress, beggars belief!
Our mothers are our heroines, greatest supporters and guiding lights.
They stand by us through thick and thin – never giving up, always believing, leading the way and lighting our path. When we lose our way, they gently guide us back, lifting us in prayer and believing that our best is yet to come. Gogo Chamisa was one such heroine.
Born on the 25th of June 1954,
Gogo Chamisa a humble princess of the Masarire Chieftainship in Bikita of Masvingo, was one of nine children.
She was a hardworking, entrepreneurial and multi-talented woman.
She was a strong believer in education as a catalyst for social mobility, dedicating herself to educating her 6 children, two girls and four boys, together with her husband. She was a staunch champion of equality, toiling hard to empower the girl child even when it was not fashionable to do so.
Gogo Chamisa was a philanthropist and a champion of community engagement, always extending a helping hand to the vulnerable around her.
A florist with a passion for ornamental gardening and a strict enforcer of cleanliness, Gogo Chamisa leaves behind a community transformed by her presence. The Chamisa homestead, popularly known as KwaMai Neri, is known for its exceptional market garden and the highly sought after chickens Gogo Chamisa sold.
Most importantly Gogo Chamisa was a prayer warrior, pillar of faith and a leader in the church. She was lovingly known as Mai Mfundisi and served as a faithful leader in the Women’s Fellowship.
Sadly, she was called to be with the Lord barely a fortnight after her 66th birthday, taking with her to eternity, the guidance and covering only a mother can provide.
Her children will always remember the values she emphasised including respect, discipline, integrity, industry and the dignity of hard work. Her teachings will remain among the living, forever guiding us along the right path until we too return to dust.
Gogo Chamisa, collapsed and died as she tended to her beloved garden. It was in this seemingly ordinary moment that the Lord decided to call this brave and courageous woman home.
Although she will no longer be with us here on earth, may the seeds of her earthly labour continue to bear fruit in all who had the privilege to know her.
*People of Zimbabwe*, We have been subjected to abject poverty due to numerous challenges that we have faced as a nation.
These have ranged from rampant corruption to maladministration, causing much suffering to the average Zimbabwean.
Be that as it may, even the Civil Service has been left in a dilemma and there has been a lot of outcry from different sectors. It is in this moment that the people have come together in solidarity and decided to stage a demonstration which has been scheduled for the 31st of July 2020.
My leaders, let me take you back to what happened in August 2018. People got shot, people were battered, people were imprisoned and some were treated in an inhumane way.
To which end did the demo assist us with? Let me take you to the recent alleged abduction of the MDC-A trio, after alleging that they had been abducted, they were arrested and had to spend nights in remand prison all because of a “demo.”
My fellow leaders we all know that a lot of these “so called demonstrations” have happened and they achieved nothing, all we got was property vandalism and ill treatment from the security forces.
Those who called for the Demonstrations were not there. Those who got shot have permanent scars and no one compensated them. Is this what we want to continue with?
What if we stood up as citizens and pressured our own leaders to negotiate better deals for us when they are in government, in Parliament or in whichever office they hold so that we can have better livelihoods.
What if we stopped politics of hate speech and violence? I believe we are being used in a fight that doesn’t represent us.
Let us be productive, let us lead our people in a way that won’t put blemish on our collars. Last but not least let me say, We believe that each individual has a right and free will to do as they please within the stipulations of the law, we believe citizens of Zimbabwe will do what is right on the 31st of July 2020.
Our mothers are our heroines, greatest supporters and guiding lights.
They stand by us through thick and thin – never giving up, always believing, leading the way and lighting our path. When we lose our way, they gently guide us back, lifting us in prayer and believing that our best is yet to come. Gogo Chamisa was one such heroine.
Born on the 25th of June 1954,
Gogo Chamisa a humble princess of the Masarire Chieftainship in Bikita of Masvingo, was one of nine children.
She was a hardworking, entrepreneurial and multi-talented woman.
She was a strong believer in education as a catalyst for social mobility, dedicating herself to educating her 6 children, two girls and four boys, together with her husband. She was a staunch champion of equality, toiling hard to empower the girl child even when it was not fashionable to do so.
Gogo Chamisa was a philanthropist and a champion of community engagement, always extending a helping hand to the vulnerable around her.
A florist with a passion for ornamental gardening and a strict enforcer of cleanliness, Gogo Chamisa leaves behind a community transformed by her presence. The Chamisa homestead, popularly known as KwaMai Neri, is known for its exceptional market garden and the highly sought after chickens Gogo Chamisa sold.
Most importantly Gogo Chamisa was a prayer warrior, pillar of faith and a leader in the church. She was lovingly known as Mai Mfundisi and served as a faithful leader in the Women’s Fellowship.
Sadly, she was called to be with the Lord barely a fortnight after her 66th birthday, taking with her to eternity, the guidance and covering only a mother can provide.
Her children will always remember the values she emphasised including respect, discipline, integrity, industry and the dignity of hard work. Her teachings will remain among the living, forever guiding us along the right path until we too return to dust.
Gogo Chamisa, collapsed and died as she tended to her beloved garden. It was in this seemingly ordinary moment that the Lord decided to call this brave and courageous woman home.
Although she will no longer be with us here on earth, may the seeds of her earthly labour continue to bear fruit in all who had the privilege to know her.
“Zimbabwe is a like a soldier marking time and not going anywhere,” you wrote in a local publication.
“Our government has been so dysfunctional for a very long time, but the majority of the people feel in the air the winds of change blowing in from all four corners of the country.”
You are right, Zimbabwe has indeed been “marking time (40 years to be precise) and not going anywhere”!
“Insanity is repeating the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result,” said the great Physicist Albert Einstein.
We have been participating in rigged elections for 40 years, 40 bloody years, and every time we have expected a different result, expected Zanu PF to lose. If that does not speak volumes of the insanity in our country then nothing else will!
The tragedy about insanity is the insane rarely ever have the intellectual sober moment to comprehend their serious mental limitations, especially when years of making the same foolish mistakes has become the norm.
It is common for the insane can even consider themselves wiser than King Solomon! “Hupenzi inyama yengakava!” (The insane are stubbornly insane!) as one would say in Shona.
“This is the right time for people who have suffered under the leadership of this regime to rally behind enterprising politician Jacob Ngarivhume who has set the pace and taken it upon himself to lead the struggle,” you argued.
“The joining of Nelson Chamisa of MDC-Alliance, Dr Noah Manyika from Build Zimbabwe and Nkosana Moyo of APA to join the masses is a welcome move.”
These four gentlemen, you are arguing the nation to rally behind, are quintessential examples of the “insane being stubbornly insane”! Nelson Chamisa and his MDC colleagues stubbornly refused to implement the democratic reforms designed to stop Zanu PF rigging the elections during the 2008 to 2013 GNU.
The four named gentlemen plus hundreds of other opposition candidates, there were 23 presidential candidates alone, participated in the July 2018 elections although it was clear Zanu PF was rigging the elections. By participation gave credibility to the flawed electoral process which in turn gave some modicum of legitimacy to the vote rigging Zanu PF regime.
“We want political reforms and these reforms must have people’s consultation. We want credible elections in this country. We don’t want a repeat of the past,” announced Nelson Chamisa in his hour-long e-rally.
“So, there are no 2023 elections without reforms. We have the capacity to say there are no elections, and they will not be held because we are the people. We want elections with comprehensive electoral and political reforms.”
Chamisa was just saying that to fool people into believing the penny has finally dropped, he now fully appreciates the futility of participating in these flawed and illegal elections. He has made similar undertakings in the past only to discard them. He will do so again.
Ever since the embarrassment of having to share power with MDC during the 2008 GNU, Zanu PF leaders have learned they can continue rigging the elections as long as the party allows the opposition to win a few gravy train seat. The opposition’s participation has been the façade that Zimbabwe is a healthy multiparty democracy and therefore does not need another GNU.
Just before the 2023 elections, Zanu PF will probably amend the constitution to create Leader of Opposition and Shadow cabinet; the holders will be entitled to ministerial limos, generous salaries, etc., etc. Just to spice up the opposition bait! Zanu PF knows it does not need to implement even one reform to be guaranteed of the opposition’s full house participation in the 2023 elections. Chamisa will join in the scramble for the gravy train scraps.
“MDC has stringent measures to stop Zanu PF rigging elections!” was Chamisa’s feeble excuse for participating in the 2018 elections. Rest assured he will come up with yet another feeble excuse for participating in the 2023 elections with no reforms!
“The people are ready from 31st July 2020 to occupy the streets in all major cities and towns. Workers are planning to stop work except hospitals. Diaspora must also play a role and occupy embassies,” you argued.
“Let the 31st of July 2020 be the start of a journey and mark the beginning of peace and prosperity to progressive Zimbabweans. Together we can.”
A rousing clarion call indeed but all to no purpose. One look at what you want the nation to join the street protests for; shows this is just another exercise in futility!
“The current government lacks the inclusiveness of other progressive ideas. It does not even attempt to engage the opposition and always suspect it as the greatest impediment to its policies.”
In November 2017 Zimbabweans were on the street celebrating the removal one dictator but only to replace him with another dictator. Now you want to remove this corrupt, incompetent and tyrannical Zanu PF dictatorship but only to replace it with the equally corrupt and incompetent MDC regime. The same MDC leaders whose breath-taking incompetence costed the nation many golden opportunities to end the dictatorship. Of course, this is just marking time and going nowhere. How anyone can view that as making progress, beggars belief!
To the Chamisa family. We of The UANC family,are deeply saddened at the loss of your mother, Ambuya Chamisa. Losing mother is devastating to one’s sense of security because mother represents security.
Rev Muzorewa
As always, but especially now, we are in solidarity with you as you mourn. We can only assure you that the ultimate comforting peace comes from God, our Creator. Our words can never say it all, but we know that the consoling peace that come from God passes all understanding. Also, please be assured, mother’s prayers already laid an unshaken solid foundation for your strength to carry on in the struggle for a just society, especially in times like this and forever. May Ambuya Chamisa’s soul rest in eternal peace, with God, in the heavens. Rev Dr GWINYAI MUZOREWA– President of THE UANC. UNITY IS POWER!
By A Correspondent- The government has released vehicle registration and licencing fees in a government gazette that was published today.
The SI shows some of the items on the list which are pegged in ZWL but vehicle registration is pegged in USD.
new vehicle registration fees
The government also increased toll gate fees today in a similar SI that will see light motor vehicles paying $45 per vehicle on all tailgates countrywide.
SCAM – Victims of the con-artist Tafadzwa Bezel Mbofana seek justice and reimbursement:
IN what would be described as fate, destiny or mere coincidence, a group of hardworking Zimbabweans currently residing in more than a dozen countries fell victim to a conman named Tafadzwa Bezel Mbofana, a Zimbabwean national currently based in Capetown, South Africa. The victims have since formed a formidable front to fight for justice, his deportation and reimbursement of their money advanced to the con artist.
It is not clear as to when Mr Mbofana relocated to South Africa, where he launched an apparel, entertainment and beverage brand called Ruffkurts.
In a very competitive industry, comes costs to promote, market and sustain the lifestyle and the business, Mr Mbofana turned to unsuspecting friends, families and strangers alike to keep up and maintain appearances. He duped more than 15 Zimbabwean victims that have since ganged up on him demanding their money back.
Because the number of victims keep increasing, the story has since caught the attention of social, radio and newspapers in Zimbabwe. One of the most popular newspaper, H – metro has since broken the story before StarFM, ZiFM and Sports FM joined.
Mr Mbofana met his victims under various circumstances, advanced his plot to promote, market and sell Ruffkurts products.
In a twist of events and commentary, there is another Zimbabwean brand called Ruffcuts, founded in 2001 by Zimbabwe’s presidential candidate, Mr Marco Machona, who also claim that this is a copy cat of the original iconic Zimbabwean brand that sponsored Channel O hip hop tours in Zimbabwe, the same brand sponsored Zim up coming musicians, DJs, comedians and even premier soccer league Caps United. It is assumed that Mbofana stole the businesses concept before relocating to South Africa. Its not yet established how much compensation President Machona would seek from Mr Mbofana. His attorneys are studying the evidence. -Hmetro
AN atmosphere of relief engulfed the Dube family and the Nkulumane 5 community when a well wisher stepped in and covered funeral costs for the late Mr Armando Dube who succumbed to a combination of illnesses on Monday morning.
Mr Dube died at his home after having breathing complications on Sunday night.
His widow, Mrs Thukhe Dube was unable to assist the situation due to financial incapacitation. This saw the Zivhu Foundation coming to the rescue and paid R5000 that was needed to cover the funeral expenses and give Mr Dube a dignified sent off.
Speaking to Gogo Dube at her home on Wednesday morning, Mr Killer Zivhu the founder of the Zivhu foundation said he saw the family’s plight when he read an online story carried by this publication on Sunday.
“I read the story in the Sunday News and I decided to bring in adult diapers which i thought would help Khulu Dube but as I was coming to Bulawayo with the diapers, I heard that he had died and I decided to proceed and assist as I had also been informed that the family was without any financial assistance,” he said.
“I have paid for the coffin and other needs from the funeral parlor. As Zimbabweans we need to assist each other, I thank God that I was put in the right position at the right time and now we can bury Khulu.
I urge people who live in communities with vulnerable aged people to help each other, treat every woman as your mother or granny, same applies to the men, treat them as your own father or grandfather. I am grateful for the support that the Nkulumane community has rendered to the family. They have been coming and helping and standing with Gogo Dube,” he said.
“I am also grateful to journalists who expose such stories, this is what the people need to hear so that they get assistance,” he added.
Mr Zivhu pledged to assist gogo Dube with other needs. He said he would bring in groceries from time to time.
Gogo Dube who was grief stricken shed tears after she was informed that the funeral expenses have been cleared and it would enable her to give her husband a befitting send off.
Neighbours to the family said they were grateful for the kind gesture that had been extended to the family saying as a community they had lost hope on what to do as they had limited funds.
The community has provisionally set aside the burial of Khulu Dube to tomorrow at Athlone Cemetery.
Norton independent legislature Temba Mliswa has endorsed the 31 July demonstration against corruption saying it resonates with he has been pushing for in parliament though he castigated citizens for being passive and reluctant to stand up against such excesses.
Posting on Twitter the firebrand politician hailed the protest as a good initiative as corruption was destroying the country.
I'm also in support &endorse the anti-corruption March slated for #31stJuly. I have been pushing the same issues as a legislator in Parliament. Much of what I have done in Parliament is to represent people but they have largely remained passive, scared& reluctant to stand up.
— Sabhuku Temba P. Mliswa (@TembaMliswa) July 7, 2020
THAILAND’s cabinet approved a civil partnership bill on Wednesday that would recognise same-sex unions with almost the same legal rights as married couples, in one of the most liberal moves yet for a largely conservative nation known for its tolerance.
If passed by parliament, the legislation would make Thailand only the second place in Asia to allow registration of same-sex unions, with couples able to adopt a child and afforded rights to inheritance and joint property ownership.
“The Civil Partnership Bill is an important step for Thai society in promoting equal rights and supporting the rights of same-sex couples to build families and live as partners,” Ratchada Thanadirek, a deputy government spokeswoman, wrote on Facebook.
The bill, however, stipulates that one party in a same-sex union must be Thai.
A largely conservative Buddhist society, Thailand has a reputation for openness and free-wheeling attitudes.
It has long been a draw for same-sex couples, with a vibrant lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender social scene for locals and expatriates, and targeted campaigns to attract LGBT travellers.
The bill was introduced in 2018 but the previous legislature was unable to pass it before last year’s election.
Taiwan last year became the first place in Asia to legalize same-sex marriage. Vietnam has decriminalised same-sex weddings but does not recognise unions of the same sex.
Kittinan Daramadhaj, president of Rainbow Sky Association of Thailand, said the bill essentially allows same-sex couples to marry but stops short of calling it a “marriage”, which is legally defined as being between a man and woman.
“What’s in a name? It’s the content that matters,” he told Reuters.
“‘Civil partnership’ shouldn’t distract from the fact that it’s about the legal registration of unions.”
Kittinan said the bill, if passed, would “sufficiently alleviate pains and support the human rights of LGBT people”.
A Thai lawmaker representing LGBT groups is pushing separately for marriage to be redefined as being between “two persons”.
Structural works on the imposing six-storey Parliament Building in Mount Hampden sitting on a 70-metre platform above the scenic surrounding area, symbolically projecting legislative supremacy, are 100 percent complete, save for finishing internal and external undertakings.
Speaking on the side-lines of an Appreciation Tour of the New Parliament Building by Service Chiefs yesterday, Ministry of Local Government and Public Works acting Permanent Secretary Mr Christopher Shumba said: “The final details are with the engineers, but we are happy that we are ahead of schedule. As you can see the tour indicates that we are almost through.
“The opening, however, is going to be delayed a bit because of Covid-19. The number of people working here has also been reduced, so that is our main worry. It becomes a bit difficult for us to give you the actual opening day.”
Engineer Henry Hungwe, who is the acting chief director for Public Works in the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works weighed in:
“No more structural works will be undertaken, therefore, the super-structure is now 100 percent complete. What is only left are internal and external finishing endeavours to enhance the beauty of the structure and make it usable. Such works to do with electricity, water supplies, air conditioning and all that which makes habitation comfortable, are what they are working on now.
On the work currently in progress he revealed that, although “little work” is going on “there are about 80 Chinese workmen who are plastering, doing the wiring for electricity, and some air-conditioning works from the top coming down.”
“Because of Covid-19, we are off-programme by about three months, but we were expecting the building to be done by April 2021. If the number of workmen is increased, they might be able to catch up. Locals are expected to be engaged by the end of this month; and a team that will be bringing in the fittings from China is also expected by then,” he added.
Zimbabwe Republic Police Commissioner-General Godwin Matanga appreciated the progress thus far, adding that they will advance their recommendations in due course.
“One behalf of the Zimbabwe Republic Police, I would like to thank the Minister of Local Government and Public Works for inviting us to see the developments taking place at this New Parliament Building.
“We are going to sit with other stakeholders, and come up with specific recommendations as far as security arrangements for this New Parliament Building are concerned. For now it is very important for us to ensure that we situate our police station inside the building itself, at the convenience of the contractor of course.
“But for now we appreciate it so much. . . I hope we are going to be invited once more to make sure that we make some final checks and recommendations to the building.”
Also in attendance were Director- General of the Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) Ambassador Isaac Moyo, Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Service (ZPCS) Commissioner-General Retired Major-General Paradzai Zimondi, ZPCS Deputy Commissioner-General Moses Chihobvu, Zimbabwe Defence Forces Inspector-General Major-General Kasirai Tazira, and Ministry of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Permanent Secretary Mrs Virginia Mabiza.
Matemadanda says: @nelsonchamisa grew up in a Rhodesian cantonment area… "and his value system as a result of that, is naturally against the liberation of this country…" pic.twitter.com/umFILuUQh7
A returnee operating a shebeen in Kadoma’s Rimuka suburb has contributed to confirmed Covid-19 cases in the city with four positive confirmed cases from that homestead alone, a communique from the city health department has revealed.
To date City of Kadoma has 11 confirmed positive Covid-19 cases. Positive cases continue on an upward spiral with most of the 11 identified so far having a history of travelling from South Africa. The shebeen operator is a border jumper returnee from South Africa. Only two of the 11 are local cases.
In the media update availed yesterday, city health director Dr Daniel Chirundu said the Covid-19 confirmed cases were all under management. “We have a total of 11 confirmed positive covid-19 cases. Two of these are local and the rest have a history of travelling abroad,” he said.
Tabulated information indicates that eight of the positive cases are from sprawling Rimuka high density suburb while two have been registered in Cherrybank suburb. Only one case points to crowded Ingezi township. Sadly, those living with people who came from SA are infecting locals at their homes.
“A case in point is that of a returnee who infected three others at their single quarter (SQ) home in Rimuka. The returnee spread the virus to his wife, granddaughter and another close relative.
“In Cherrybank both husband and wife are Covid-19 positive having returned from SA. All the people with confirmed cases of the highly infectious disease are in isolation at Kadoma General Hospital save for two isolated at home in Cherrybank.
The highest number of returnees are border jumpers coming back home in the aftermath of globally felt lockdowns. The country’s Covid-19 cases top 700 with eight deaths so far. People flouting quarantine protocol are scuttling efforts to contain the spread of the virus.
Nelson Chamisa inviting Lovemore Madhuku to greet the crowd at the burial.
Thousands of people mostly MDC Alliance supporters and locals descended on Makwiramiti village in Gutu to bury Gogo Chamisa, the mother of the MDC Alliance President, Nelson Chamisa.
Amoungst the thousands was NCA leader and lawyer Lovemore Madhuku who was given a chance to greet the crowd by Chamisa. Also present was MDC T President Thokozani Khupe who was initially blocked from approaching the village by some youths until Chamisa intervened.
The entire MDC Alliance standing Committee, MDC parliamentarians and other party leaders from across the country were also in attendance.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa sent a condolence message yesterday to Chamisa and members of his family.
Watch video downloading below courtesy of ZimDaily. Please be patient while the video downloads.
The leader of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change Tsvangirai (MDC-T), Thokozani Khupe was heavily embarrassed on Wednesday at the funeral of Mbuya Chamisa, the mother of MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa at Chidyamakuni Village, Makwiriwindi area of Chiwara.
Mbuya Chamisa died on Monday at her rural home in Gutu, the cause of her death has not yet been revealed.
Khupe apparently turned up at the burial to mourn her MDC rival, Chamisa, before she was turned away by security officials at the homestead. Her spokesperson Khaliphani Phugeni confirmed the incident to ZimEye.com.
@DrThokozaniKhupe was this morning kicked out of Gogo Chamisa funeral, her spokesperson has confirmed. "But today it was about offering the Chamisa family our condolences," said Khalipani Phugeni as he complained
Eye witnesses said that when Khupe’s vehicles arrived at the gate the angry youths barred her from entering the Chamisa residence.
“The vehicles were stopped at the gate as Khupe tried to enter the residence,” said one eye witness.
“The organising secretary, Amos Chibaya, intervened but to no success as the youths vowed to beat up Khupe and her aides.“
“Chibaya had to ask Chamisa to come so that the issue can be resolved,” the eye witness said.
The leader of the Labour, Economists and African Democrats (LEAD), Linda Masarira posted on Twitter this Wednesday criticising the incident. She said:
I hear that @DrThoko_Khupe has been embarrassed & chased away @nelsonchamisa mothers funeral. What happened to Ubuntu? Since when do we chase away people at funerals. It is high time that @nelsonchamisa calls his supporters to order. A leader should instil values in his followers.
Khupe and Chamisa are fighting over the leadership of the MDC which has, since 1999, been under the leadership of the late former Prime Minister, Morgan Tsvangirai unto succumbing to cancer in 2018.
That Obadiah Moyo had to be relieved from his post as Health and Child Care minister, was not something even up for contestation. His tenure was largely disastrous and that he has been fingered in graft claims is just but one side to it all. It is not clear whether he was just incompetent or even worse, unwilling to do better. Either way, he was out of sorts. And when he was demoted in the Covid-19 task force was essentially a dead man walking.
That someone so out of his depth had been kept for so long is an issue. Perhaps one did not know if he would not be up for the task. It was always going to be difficult. His predecessor Dr David Parirenyatwa was poor as well so the position needed a massive upgrade to take it all on.
And it is in this context that Mnangagwa has to start looking at his ministries. An increasingly unsettled citizenry is asking for a better life. For the last 25 years or so, it has been told that things will get better and they have not. And appointing people clearly not up for the task in a system driven by patronage was the undoing of the late Robert Mugabe.
The struggle for Mnangagwa in finding a replacement for the health ministry will be difficult. It has hard to think who in the houses of parliament would inspire confidence in the country as a person up to the task, dealing with this very difficult ministry. The party isn’t exactly teeming with talent in that particular regard.
Beyond this, it has to go beyond firing. Yes, Mnangagwa is a stickler for the process but when someone is accused of corruption, a trial should not take months to even start prosecuting. Prisca Mupfumira, fired as Tourism minister over her own graft issues, still walks about among us with citizens feeling another catch and release is happening.
Moyo is accused of working with a company believed to be linked to a terrorist organisation in the USD60m graft claims, The Gulen Movement It is the organisation linked to the attempted coup in Turkey a few years ago. We are not suggesting that Moyo knew of the links but the seriousness of the accusation begs urgent action. What else is happening, that is putting the country at risk? Does anyone have a handle on this?
As well, surely Moyo cannot be treated as a lone wolf. Who else was working with him? This extends beyond people in government. There has to be more to this than just kicking one person out. There have to be more people charged. Yes, Drax International’s Delish Nguwaya is charged – he is now out on bail by the way – but if we reduce graft to two people colluding on issues this huge then there is a massive worry when interrogating the checks and balances of a system of governance.
At the end of the day, there is a massive task at hand.
South Africa has temporarily closed its Beitbridge Border Post after one of its customs officers tested positive for the novel coronavirus this week.
According to border officials the border was closed to allow health authorities to carryout fumigation to minimize chances of spreading.
Presently the South Africans are clearing commercial traffic which is within their customs yard pending further action.
They have stopped accepting trucks from either side of the border until the fumigation is done.
The South African Revenue Services (SARS) has since sent a notice to inter border agencies in Zimbabwe advising them of the latest development.
“Please be advised that SARS Beitbridge has been temporarily closed with immediate effect,” said SARS.
“Trucks that are currently inside the yard will be processed in order for them to leave but those that are still in the queue to enter customs will not be allowed into the yard.
“SARS BBG management is in a meeting right now and they will update us with full details once the meeting is over. The issue is Covid-19 related and may entail further closure for deep cleaning and fumigation”.
SARS spokesperson, Sicelo Mkosi was not readily available for further details.
However, border officials said they were hopeful operations would resume at full strength soon.
Since the beginning of the lockdown, an average of 1000 trucks have been using the border post daily.
Traffic through Beitbridge peaked after other countries in the region closed their borders to contain the spread of the corona virus.
Zimbabwe remains a viable transit route for Zambia, Malawi, Angola, Tanzania, DRC and Mozambique.
The incident comes a few days after Musina Police station was also closed for fumigation when one police officer tested for covid-19.
Zimbabwe Revenue Authority’s (ZIMRA), regional manager, Mr Innocent Chikuni said recently during a tour of Beitbridge by Finance Minister (Professor Mthuli Ncube) the border had become arguably the COVID-19 hotspot in the country.
He said they were regularly and consistently providing information/updates on the diseases and the Ministry of Health and Child Care and World Health Organisation’s protection guidelines to both border agencies and travelers.
“We are consistently disinfecting our work stations, providing appropriate PPE – Face mask / PE Work suits/ Sanitizers/ document disinfecting – to staff, maintaining social distance and using temperature guns / sanitizers at the entry gate into the border offices – to cater for border agents and other persons,” said Mr Chikuni.
Whose Statue Must Zimbabwe Erect in Harare: NEHANDA NYAKASIKANA or SYLVIA MAPHOSA? Is this honouring Nehanda, and not insulting Nyakasikana's injured soul?
Who's Statue Must Zimbabwe Erect in Harare: NEHANDA NYAKASIKANA or SYLVIA MAPHOSA? Is this honouring Nehanda, and not insulting Nyakasikana's injured soul? pic.twitter.com/8IRLMdbJLm
Whose Statue Must Zimbabwe Erect in Harare: NEHANDA NYAKASIKANA or SYLVIA MAPHOSA? Is this honouring Nehanda, and not insulting Nyakasikana's injured soul?
Who's Statue Must Zimbabwe Erect in Harare: NEHANDA NYAKASIKANA or SYLVIA MAPHOSA? Is this honouring Nehanda, and not insulting Nyakasikana's injured soul? pic.twitter.com/8IRLMdbJLm
By Nomusa Garikai- The MDC e-rally gave the party leaders the opportunity to once again grandstand and drum their chest like silverback gorillas!
“The video by this nurse (protesting nurse) is a reflection of the true situation that our country has reached. There is no better description other than to say that the country has gone to the dogs. This is the sign of what is to come. One day is one day!” proclaimed Job Sikhala, MDC A vice chairperson.
“The comfort zones for these people (in government) will soon be a bonfire. People are ready. They are just waiting for leadership!”
The people of Zimbabwe have risked life and limb to elect MDC leaders into power on the promise the party will implement the democratic reform, democratic changes, to end the Zanu PF dictatorship. MDC has been on the political stage now for 20 years, 5 of which they were in the GNU, and have failed to implement even one reform!
Did MDC leaders fail to implement the reforms to take the nation to the edge, “the country gone to the dogs”, so there can be street protests? This is just nonsense! These MDC village idiots are refusing to accept they have sold-out and are now pretending their failures were indeed part and parcel of their master plan to drive the nation into a crisis from which they will lead us out of.
This is no different from the economic prosperity mirage Zanu PF has been promoting these last 40 years. Zimbabwe had a thriving economy in 1980 Zanu PF misrule has all but destroyed the economy and Zanu PF has never acknowledge it is corrupt, incompetent and has no clue how to revive the economy.
However, the party has without failure maintained it had the solution to make Zimbabwe prosperous. Zanu PF did not have to destroy everything to make the country prosperous and yet that is exactly what the regime has been saying in its double Dutch!
Both Zanu PF and MDC have proven beyond doubt that they are corrupt, incompetent and utterly irrelevant, they are the problem and not the solution; the sooner the nation accepts that reality the sooner the nation can start focusing on the task of finding a way out of the mess.
“This time, the wave (protests) will be unstoppable. I don’t make empty threats. I am not that character. I am a practical man. We deserve our peace and happiness,” continued Sikhala.
“People governing our country should take responsibility for their failures. Trying to use other people as scapegoats is dangerous to their (the government’s) very survival.”
MDC has its own share of failures to take care of, charity begins at home. As for the unstoppable protests, this is exactly the situation the nation has been avoiding. Turning Zimbabwe into another Libya is the nightmare scenario we have been dreading but which is now a certainty.
If Zimbabwe is dragged into violent social unrest then both Zanu PF and MDC leaders will have a lot to answer for because it is these two parties blatant betrayal of the nation to feed their insatiable greed for power and wealth that has led to this.
“I am a practical man!” Yeah right! Then why have you failed to implement even one reform in 20 years and saved the nation from the 40 years and counting Zanu PF nightmare!
By Nomusa Garikai- “Our party detractors continue with their anti-establishment agendas. The party is aware of the plan for mass protests (on July 31) being organised by the MDC Alliance renegades: Tajamuka, the Front for Economic Emancipation of Zimbabwe being led by the expelled youth commissar Godfrey Tsenengamu and other media protagonists,” charged Obert Mpofu, Zanu PF secretary for administration.
“Our security departments should constantly alert us on this clear and present danger of the activities of this unholy alliance.”
This is just nonsense coming from a regime that has learned nothing from history and its own blunders. History tell us that human beings are no sheep that will go to the slaughter quietly forever amen; there will always come a day when they will say enough is enough.
Zanu PF misrule has turned Zimbabwe from a country with promising economic prospects into a basket-case of a failed state. 40 years of corrupt and tyrannical rule has destroyed the Zimbabwe economy forcing millions of its people into a live of abject poverty.
34% of Zimbabwe’s 16 m population live in extreme poverty, according to a 2019 WB report. This means they cannot afford even one decent meal a day much less the other basic necessities such as education and health care. All the other nations in the region had single digit figures living in adject poverty. The only other nations with comparable figures living in extreme poverty were South Sudan and Yemen; countries that has a raging civil war.
The corona virus outbreak is going to hit Zimbabwe very hard given the country was stone-broke and its health services had all but collapsed before the pandemic. Many people are going to die of corona virus or poverty related problems and the percent of those living in extreme poverty is soaring well above the 34%. Anyone can tell you this situation is socially, politically and morally unsustainable.
Change is in the air! But since Zanu PF has frustrated all efforts to bring about change peaceful by slamming the door shut again and again to the holding free, fair and credible elections; that leaves only one other option, violent change.
Social unrest in long overdue because the regime has boxed the nation into a corner. There is talk of street protests, another military coup or a combination of both; desperate people will do desperate things, Zimbabweans are desperate to end the Zanu PF dictatorship.
The tragedy with street protests much worse military uprising is they will cause a lot of death and destruction and, worst of all, may leave society is a worse off state than before the uprising. One has only to look at the sorry state countries like Libya and Iraq are in; they got rid of the hated dictator and his regime but have found it very difficult to truth each other.
The people of Zimbabwe must leave no stone unturned to pressure Zanu PF to step down now, time is fast running out, because the street protests or worse will end the Zanu PF dictatorship but at great cost to the nation. Frankly, we should have never allowed Zanu PF to hold the nation to ransom all these last 40 years and drag us this close to the edge of the precipitous abyss.
Zanu PF can hunt down all the party’s so-called detractors but unless it hunts down everyone of the 34% plus now living in abject poverty then the “clear and present danger” of serious social unrest will remain.
The economic situation in Zimbabwe is now so unbearable change is a certainty what is yet to be decided is whether it is peaceful or violent change and when will it happen.
By A Correspondent- Hlalani Kuhle/Garikayi is reportedly giving local authorities a hard time as they are having problems registering some of the benefactors of the houses as some of them cannot be traced to be registered.
The matter came to light as Matabeleland South Local Authorities told National Housing Minister Daniel Garwe that they were having a hard time tracing the owners of the houses:
Speaking about the project and its headaches Matobo Rural District Council CEO Elvis Sibanda said:
Some of the beneficiaries are nowhere to be found, the documents that we have is just a scheduled list of names, for example, E. Sibanda with ID number but no address and no communication. Those people are paying nothing to the council and I want to believe that they are not paying anything to the ministry of national housing,
Hlalani Kuhle/Garikayi is a housing project that was launched after the infamous 2005 Murambatsvina that destroyed illegal structures in major cities and were handed over to local authorities by the government in 2009.
D. A serious meeting of the serious government of Zimbabwe to discuss serious provincial affairs and other serious government things. pic.twitter.com/AvePS2ODf9
Just establish who has the Event Management , Decor & Flower arrangement tender to understand why this is a perennial feature , just like the Government VVIP travel tender . Centre piece flower in Cabinet is the most expensive in the world post Nov 17 !
By A Correspondent- MDCT acting president Dr Thokozani Khupe was this morning barred from attending the funeral for gogo Chamisa in Gutu.
ZimEye this morning exclusively ran the story revealing that Dr Khupe however managed to offer her condolences to MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa following his intervention hwere he restrained party stalwarts who did not want to see her at the burial of Zimbabwe’s main opposition leader’s mother’s funeral.
“She was able to offer her condolences to the Chamisas after the intervention of president Nelson Chamisa but she did not stay for the burial proceedings. She immediately left.
Confirmed Dr Khupe’s spokesperson Khalipani Phugeni in an exclusive interview with ZimEye:
“We did attend the burial briefly and Dr Khupe had an opportunity to pay her last respects to Advocate Nelson Chamisa. Of course you would expect skirmishes here given the current context and backgroundand there but we are happy that Dr Khupe was able to offer her condolences.
Today our focus was on bidding farewell to gogo Chamisa, what we want to do is we will not give so much energy and credence to everything else but the family and consoling the Chamisa family. Everything else we will address at a later stage.”
Added Chamisa while addressing mourners:
“We thank everyone who has come here to mourn with us regardless of their political background and we really appreciate your presence. Whatever our differences, this is not about politics but a celebration of the life of my mother, a prayer warrior…we really appreciate your presence and this is for everyone.”
Watch the parliamentary question and answer session where Members of Parliament take turns to question cabinet ministers on a variety of issues and government programmes.
By A Correspondent- A haulage truck driver died after the vehicle’s horse collapsed on him while attempting to attend to a mechanical fault.
Matabeleland South provincial police spokesperson Chief Inspector Philisani Ndebele confirmed the incident which occurred on Monday in Bubi along the Masvingo-Beitbridge Road.
He said Leroy Nyakabawo (34) from Warren Park in Harare was driving a haulage truck when it developed a mechanical fault and he tilted the truck’s horse to check the problem and it collapsed, crushing him.
“I can confirm that we recorded a sudden death case which occurred at the 212 kilometre peg along the Masvingo-Beitbridge Road in Bubi area. Leroy Nyakabawo was driving a haulage truck belonging to a South African based company when the vehicle developed a fault,” he said.
“He pulled off the road and tilted the truck horse to attend to the fault. While he was at it the truck horse collapsed and crushed Nyakabawo and he died on the spot.
“The matter was reported to the police who attended the scene. Nyakabawo’s body was ferried to Beitbridge District Hospital Mortuary. Investigations are underway.”
By A Correspondent- A Chinese national Zhang Xuelin (41) who is accused of shooting his employees over a salary dispute at Reden Mine located in Shamrock Gweru recently, has been granted a 10 000ZWL bail by a High Court Judge in Masvingo.
In granting Xuelin bail today (Tuesday) Justice Garainesu Mawadze ordered Xuelin to reside at his known address number 1 Maple Road, Windsor Park in Gweru and to report at ZRP Gweru every Friday until the case is finalised.
Xuelin was also ordered not to interfere with state witnesses. Justice Mawadze ordered the accused to surrender his passport and temporary resident permit with the Clerk of Court in Gweru.
Xuelin will also be subjected to any immigration regulations in terms of the law says Justice Mawadze in granting him bail.
The Chinese national who was arrested three weeks ago, first appeared at the Gweru magistrates court on the 22nd of June, 2020 and was remanded in custody to 7 July, 2020.
Xuelin appeared before Magistrate Edwin Marecha and was not asked to plead since he had no ‘certified’ interpreter.
Zhang was arrested after he shot and injured two employees Wendy Chikwaira (30) and Kennedy Tachiona (39).
It is the states’ case that on the 21st of June, 2020 at about 0915 hours, the two complainants namely Kennethy Tachiona aged 39 years of Reden Mine, Shamrock Gweru and Wendy Chikwaira aged 30 years of Reden Mine, Shamrock in Gweru were amongst about 30 mine workers who were having a dispute with the accused over their wages.
The accused was inside the yard while the complainants were outside the yard.
The accused was proposing to pay his workers in Zimbabwean Dollars while the workers were demanding to be paid in United States of American Dollars.
The first complainant Tachiona argued that the accused Xuelin had promised to pay them in United States of American Dollars at the time when they got employed.
According to the state, that did not go down well with the accused who then listed those who were on the fore front and promised to terminate their employment contracts.
The court papers further stated that the first complainant was amongst those listed and was told by the accused that he had been fired. The first complainant then told the accused to give him his wages and terminal benefits.
It is the states’ case that the two Tachiona and Xuelin failed to reach an agreement and Tachiona opened the gate and charged towards the Xuelin. Tachiona was refrained by Blessing Manyeruke a security guard at the mine.
The court papers further shows that a verbal altercation ensued and during the misunderstanding, Xuelin drew his FN pistol serial number 76C25381 and fired towards Tachiona.
He shot him thrice on the right thigh and twice on the left thigh resulting in him falling to the ground.
The record states that Tachiona was 7 metres away when he was hot.
Tachiona, who is the complainant number one, sustained serious bullet open wounds on both legs.
It is said Xeulin further kicked Tachiona with his booted feet all over his body. Xuelin then fired one shot towards other workers and the bullet grazed the second complainant Wendy Chikwaira’ chin and he suffered a serious wound on the chin and the other workers dispersed.
The matter was reported to the police leading to Xuelin’ arrest.
Police recovered the firearm from Xuelin and five spent cartridges were also recovered at the scene.
Xuelin is expected back in court on the 6th of August, 2020.
Whose Statue Must Zimbabwe Erect in Harare: NEHANDA NYAKASIKANA or SYLVIA MAPHOSA? Is this honouring Nehanda, and not insulting Nyakasikana's injured soul?
Who's Statue Must Zimbabwe Erect in Harare: NEHANDA NYAKASIKANA or SYLVIA MAPHOSA? Is this honouring Nehanda, and not insulting Nyakasikana's injured soul? pic.twitter.com/8IRLMdbJLm
By A Correspondent- ANC KwaZulu-Natal spokesperson and former KwaDukuza mayor Ricardo Mthembu has died after contracting Covid-19, an ANC official confirmed on Wednesday.
“Yes, it’s true, he has gone. Everyone is very on edge, we can’t say much at the moment,” the source in the General Gizenga Mpanza Region (KwaDukuza) said.
Mthembu was a popular figure in KZN politics, manning the helm of the KwaDukuza municipality, north of Durban, cementing a stronghold constituency for the ANC on the coast.
Shortly after the general elections on 8 May last year, Mthembu, who was rumoured to be taking up an MEC position, was inducted as a member of the provincial legislature and appointed spokesperson of the ANC in KZN.
He had been at the KwaDukuza Private Hospital for around a week receiving treatment for the virus.
This is a developing story. More information to follow.
@DrThokozaniKhupe was this morning kicked out of Gogo Chamisa funeral, her spokesperson has confirmed. "But today it was about offering the Chamisa family our condolences," said Khalipani Phugeni as he complained
@DrThokozaniKhupe was this morning kicked out of Gogo Chamisa funeral, her spokesperson has confirmed. "But today it was about offering the Chamisa family our condolences," said Khalipani Phugeni as he complained
Zharare, was shot at after he was accused of selling groceries & drugs at an undesignated place at Jambanja Market in Chitungwiza. ZRP members alleged that Zharare was stopped by police officers who were on patrol but he attempted to runover 2 police officers.
namely Constable Marimbashiri & Constable Mukorombindo with his vehicle. Zharare, who is detained at Chitungwiza Central Hospital, was remanded in custody to Thursday.
By A Correspondent| Amnesty International has urged the government of Zimbabwe to drop charges leveled against 13 nurses who were arrested and charged with contravening lockdown regulations.
In a statement, Muleya Mwananyanda, Amnesty International’s Deputy Director for Southern Africa, said:
“The charges levelled against these nurses, to enforce COVID-19 lockdown regulations, are clearly aimed at preventing them from organizing and speaking out against low wages and terrible working conditions.
“Zimbabwean authorities are arbitrarily using lockdown regulations to silence medical professionals and activists. The nurses were simply expressing their frustrations with their employer over the failure to address low salaries and longstanding poor working conditions. This, like other labour disputes currently unfolding in Zimbabwe, is a result of the neglect of health care services and the failure by the government to provide adequate remuneration.
“Zimbabwean authorities must stop intimidating, harassing and suppressing dissent and instead start listening to the genuine concerns of healthcare workers. This is essential to effectively contain the spread of the virus.”
By A Correspondent- Bulawayo City Council departments have requested an increase in the control measures put in place to prevent the sprouting of cockroaches, rodents, and mosquitoes in the city.
This is revealed in the latest council minutes.
“Seven requisitions were received from departments for the control of mosquitoes, rodents, and bed bugs. Cockroach spraying and rodenticiding was done at the Tower Block, City hall and revenue Hall,” reads the minutes.
“Spraying to control lice infestation at the Polytech and United College of Education was also conducted The Director of Health Services reported (5th June 2020) as follows on the above-mentioned matter:-Mosquito ControlIn the absence of mosquito control chemicals the section had continued clearing of Council clinics of overgrowth.”
The minutes state that the clinics that had been covered were PMR, Luveve, Nketa, Tshabalala, Emakhandeni and Thorngrove Hospital. Monitoring of streams for mosquito breeding had continued and Larviciding was done at Mthombowesizwe stream where heavy breeding was observed.
“Disinfection of Public Places The exercise had continued and the following areas had been covered: Cowdray Park, Luveve, Emakhandeni, Njube, Mpopoma, Barbourfields, Mzilikazi, Tshabalala, Sizinda, Nketa and Nkulumane 10and 12. Hydrogen Peroxide was used for disinfection,” reads the minutes in part.
By A Correspondent- A Dete man, 65, reportedly killed himself by hanging leaving behind a note for his children telling them that he was tired of living with his 47-year-old wife.
The state media reports that Never Sibanda of Siamateme village under Chief Nelukoba woke up at midnight claiming that he had trouble sleeping and wanted to go and sit outside.
It is said that his wife Ms Sarah Ncube (47) noticed in the morning that Sibanda never returned to bed.
She then told family members who then conducted a search, they traced Sibanda’s footprints to the family graveyard where they found him dead.
On searching the body, police discovered a suicide note written: “Goodbye my children, stay safe. I have failed to stay with your mother. Yours Father.”
It is not clear why Sibanda was tired of living with his wife.
JUDGMENT day for gold dealer Baron Dube who allegedly shot and killed a member of a rival mining gang in Esigodini following a dispute, has been set for July 31.
Dube (44) of Habane Extension township appeared before Bulawayo High Court judge Justice Maxwell Takuva facing murder charges in connection with the death of Prince Antony Bvundura (22).
Dube, who is out on $2 000 bail, allegedly fatally shot Bvundura in September 2018 in the heat of a fight over a mining claim at Block 13 Atlas Mine in Esigodini.
He allegedly used a Voere 458 calibre rifle.
Dube, who is out on $2 000 bail, allegedly fatally shot Bvundura in September 2018 in the heat of a fight over a mining claim at Block 13 Atlas Mine in Esigodini.
The shooting happened at a mine belonging to Mr Tendai Musanangura and Dube said Mr Musanangura had authorised him to occupy it. Mr Musanangura however denied granting the authority.
Dube, who is being represented by Mr Leopold Mudisi of Mutendi, Mudisi and Shumba Legal Practitioners, told the court that the firearm accidentally discharged after he stepped on a rock and fell down while fleeing from a mob, which was throwing stones at him while baying for his blood.
Dube argued that the rifle, which he is alleged to have used to shoot the deceased, was not loaded on that particular day and his driver, Mr Saidi Mhlanga corroborated his evidence.
Dube said he fell into a pit while fleeing from the mob and didn’t realise that he had shot a person until the following day when police arrested him.
He denied that he opened fire at his rivals during violent skirmishes, claiming he was the victim. He also denied that there was a gold rush at the mine.
“I was fleeing from the illegal gold panners who were conducting illegal mining activities at the mine which I was assigned to occupy by the owner,” he said.
Under cross-examination, Dube failed to justify why he had to arm himself since he purported that his intention was not to fight anyone.
Upon his arrest he was found with a gun loaded with seven rounds of ammunition.
“I was fleeing from the illegal gold panners who were conducting illegal mining activities at the mine which I was assigned to occupy by the owner,” he said.
The prosecutor, Mrs Sifiso Ndlovu-Sibanda said on September 26, 2018, the now-deceased went to work at Block 13 Atlas Mine in Esigodini in the company of his workmates. On the same day, Dube arranged a gang of about 20 people so that they could disperse everyone and take over the mine where there was a gold rush.
“At about 11PM, the accused person armed himself with two guns, a revolver and a rifle and his accomplices were carrying machetes, axes, shovels and picks. He drove to the mine in his Toyota Land Cruiser with his gang and on arrival at the mine, he chased away all miners, claiming he had been granted authority to operate at the mine by the owner,” said Mrs Ndlovu-Sibanda.
The court heard that the now-deceased, who was part of a group of miners fleeing during the skirmishes, was shot and he died on the spot.
According to the post mortem results the cause of death was gunshot wound, heart destruction and hypovolemic shock.
A State witness, Mr Mkhululi Sibanda, in his testimony last year, told the court that Dube and his hired thugs chased away everyone at the mine, claiming the area was his.
Mr Musanangura also denied giving Dube permission to enter his mining area when he took to the witness stand at the commencement of the trial in November last year.
By A Correspondent| A Condolence Book has been opened for those who would like to express their condolences to MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa following the loss of his mother earlier this week.
According to the MDC Alliance, the book will be at at The Chambers, 11th Floor, Old Mutual Centre, Cnr Third Street and Jason Moyo and will be open It will be open between 10am and 3pm today, 8/7/20 to 10/7/20.
High Court Judge Justice Neville Wamambo on Monday 6 July 2020 ended the week-long detention of Ephraim Muthombeni, the Director of Masvingo Centre for Research Advocacy and Community Development (MACRAD), who was arrested last month and charged with undermining authority of or insulting President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
Justice Wamambo set Muthombeni free after he had been denied bail on Monday 29 June 2020 by Masvingo Magistrate Mbonisi Ndlovu, who ruled that the 28 year-old MACRAD leader is a flight risk and could escape from standing trial.
In setting Muthombeni free, Justice Wamambo ordered him to pay bail amounting to RTGS$1 000 and to report once every month at Masvingo Police Station and to continue residing at his given residential address and not to interfere with witnesses until his matter is finalised.
Muthombeni, who was represented by Martin Mureri of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR), 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.”
Meanwhile, ZRP members on Monday 6 July 2020 arrested Godfrey Kurauone, the Councillor for Ward 4 in Masvingo Urban constituency and charged him with undermining authority of or insulting President Mnangagwa as defined in section 33(2)(a)(i) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act.
The law enforcement agents charged that the 33 year-old Kurauone accused President Mnangagwa during an address to some commuters, who were queuing and waiting to board a state-owned Zimbabwe United Passenger Company bus, of leading a corrupt administration and hence should resign.
Kurauone, who is represented by Mureri of ZLHR, is alleged to have uttered the words; “Let’s us unite and remove this corrupt government and Mnangagwa. President Mnangagwa and his criminals must go.” Kurauone is scheduled to appear at Masvingo Magistrates Court on Tuesday 7 July 2020.
A Zimbabwean court on Tuesday 7 July 2020 set free 11 nurses who were arrested on Monday 6 July 2020 and charged with contravening some national lockdown regulations after they allegedly gathered at Sally Mugabe Central Hospital in Harare for a feedback meeting pertaining to a litany of grievances against their employer.
Although Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) members first arrested 13 nurses at Sally Mugabe Central Hospital and charged them with partaking in a gathering or convening a gathering, two of the nurses namely Adelaide Mandizvidza and Georgina Muchemwa, who are breastfeeding, were released on Monday 6 July 2020 after paying some admission of guilty fines so as to allow them to attend to their children.
At Mbare Magistrates Court, prosecutors alleged that the 11 nurses namely Ndadyei Gudza, Raikai Chibharo, Moses Sigauke, Michelle Magonye, Kumbirai Maiswa, Trish Chireka, Nyasha Kapesi, Evermay Chikoka, Lucas Sharara, Samson Gurupira and Laiza Magwizi participated or convened a gathering knowing that such gathering is prohibited in terms of section 5(3)(a) of Statutory Instrument 83 of 2020 Public Health (COVID 19 Prevention, Containment and Treatment Regulations) National Lockdown) Order, 2020.
Prosecutors charged that the nurses who are employed at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals, Chitungwiza Central Hospital and Sally Mugabe Central Hospital and numbered about 100 gathered at Sally Mugabe Central Hospital intending to stage a demonstration and proceeded to sing protest songs and waved some placards in contravention of national lockdown regulations.
The nurses were ordered to pay RTGS$1 000 bail and to report once a week at various police stations.
Sigauke, one of the nurses, was also charged with incitement as defined in section 187 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act, after he allegedly recorded a video while in police detention at Mbare Police Station and posted it on Facebook encouraging other nurses to come and join the detained nurses in demonstrating at Mbare Police Station.
The state alleges that Sigauke posted a message on Facebook which reads; “Ngatingouya tizadze camp tese tiite demo yedu tiri mu camp. Handiti ndimo munonzi muri illegal,” which if loosely translated means; “Let’s all gather at the police station and stage our demonstration.”
By posting such a message, prosecutors charged that Sigauke had incited nurses to gather at Mbare Police Station and demonstrate and cause violence. For allegedly committing this offence, Sigauke was ordered to pay RTGS$500 in bail money.
The nurses will return to court on 22 July 2020 with Sigauke also appearing in court on the additional charge of incitement on 23 July 2020.
Health and Child Care Minister Dr Obadiah Moyo was yesterday fired by President Mnangagwa for inappropriate conduct.
He is facing criminal charges over a procurement deal for overpriced medical supplies that was eventually killed on Treasury’s instructions.
Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet Dr Misheck Sibanda announced the decision in a statement that under his constitutional authority, the President “removed Dr Obadiah Moyo from the office of Cabinet Minister with immediate effect for conduct inappropriate for a Government Minister,” Dr Sibanda said.
Dr Moyo is facing charges of corruption and criminal abuse office over his role in the murky US$60 million deal with medical supplier Drax International.
He was released on $50 000 bail plus a surety of the title deeds for his wife’s house in Eastlea, and is awaiting trial.
Professor Amon Murwira is the acting Health and Child Care Minister.
A picture that went viral on social media in Zimbabwe two weeks ago reminded many of an equally famous picture from 2007 of a young boy smiling as he carried wads of notes at the height of the country’s hyperinflation.
The picture showed two men lifting a brown box outside the Harare Magistrate’s Court.
Inside the box was apparently Z$50,000 in small denomination notes – Zimbabwe has no higher denomination than 20 dollars – bail money for Obadiah Moyo.
Assuming he followed cash-withdrawal limits imposed by the central bank in response to an acute cash shortage, it would have taken him a year to withdraw the amount.
Obadiah Moyo, a former disc jockey who claims to be a medical doctor without being able to prove that he has a medical degree, is one of the least respected figures in President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s increasingly unpopular government.
He is a man who can be said to have enthusiastically taken every crisis in the health sector as an opportunity to worsen it.
In 2018, he mismanaged a long running doctor’s strike. Hospitals are chronically short of essential supplies. In February, he cheerfully told the nation that it was perfectly fine to travel to China, while welcoming all visitors at a time when China was not only the epicentre of the Coronavirus, but the Beijing government itself was restricting travel.
And the family of Zimbabwe’s first Covid death, the broadcaster Zororo Makamba, has implicated him directly in the negligence that led to his death.
So it was a surprise to no one that he is now embroiled in a public procurement scandal.
Over the last few months, Moyo awarded a US$60 million Covid-19 supply contract to a shelf company called Drax without going to public tender.
The scandal came to full public attention at the end of May after it emerged the company involved, Drax International, had invoiced government US$28 for disposable masks whose wholesale price is under US$4 from reputable local suppliers.
The inflated invoice triggered sustained public outrage forcing the government, who had initially denied that payment had been made, to take action. A parallel Interpol investigation, triggered after US$2 million was paid to the company’s newly opened account in Hungary, has put to rest government claims that no payment had been made.
To add embarrassment to scandal, Drax, initially said to be registered in Switzerland, then in the UAE, seems to be a fraud orchestrated by Delish Nguwaya, a known career criminal who has a record of extortion, armed robbery, cocaine possession and impersonation of a law enforcement agent.
The minister was arrested, as were three executives at the state-owned National Pharmaceutical Company. Nguwaya is also on bail awaiting trial on fraud charges. Legal analysts have dismissed the prosecution as deliberately incompetent, noting that Nguwaya signed a contract and delivered as per that agreement. Culpability lies elsewhere.
In a country with transparent processes, Moyo’s arrest would have been greeted as positive.
To Zimbabweans however, now cynical after arrests of many high level officials that don’t end up in successful prosecution, this is simply another theatrical act in what they call a “catch and release“ programme that is meant to fool the public into believing that Mnangagwa is cracking down on corruption while no one actually pays for it.
After all the unfortunate who end up being arrested and humiliated are Mnangagwa’s rivals.
Just recently, former Energy minister, Samuel Undenge, linked to a faction loyal to ex-president Robert Mugabe was sentenced to 30 months in prison for awarding a US$12,000 public relations contract without going to tender.
Meanwhile, two permanent secretaries that signed off on the Drax deal have not been arrested.
This failure to act on seemingly unassailable evidence against officials loyal to Mnangagwa accused of far graver abuses has thus laid bare the impotence of Zimbabwe’s various anti-corruption organs of state.
To add to the murkiness around who authorised Nguwaya is speculation that Moyo is taking the fall for persons closer to the president than he is. Pictures have circulated online showing Nguwaya with the president, his wife Auxilia Mnangagwa and one of their sons, a businessman frequently linked to illegal currency trading.
That a known criminal was cleared to have such proximity to the President and his family has raised speculation that Nguwaya either exploited this proximity, or he is merely the front for others, suspicions that were only strengthened when Zanu PF spokesman Patrick Chinamasa held a press conference to threaten journalists for linking Nguwaya to members of the president’s family.
After his arrest, Moyo promptly posted bail and was freed.
The kid glove treatment extended to the minister and other public officials highlights the selective nature of justice in Zimbabwe.
In contrast, three young women from the main opposition party the MDC Alliance toiled for weeks in prison on charges of breaking Covid 19 public order regulations during a flash protest over rising food prices.
The women claim that they were abducted and tortured by suspected state security agents.
They now face additional charges of filing false police reports. In denying them bail, a magistrate said their alleged actions had caused harm to the economy.
Zimbabweans may well wonder why it is that the actions of a minister who abuses his office to conspire with a known criminal to prejudice the state of millions of dollars are not similarly considered prejudicial to the state.
High Court Judge Justice Neville Wamambo on Monday 6 July 2020 ended the week-long detention of Ephraim Muthombeni, the Director of Masvingo Centre for Research Advocacy and Community Development (MACRAD), who was arrested last month and charged with undermining authority of or insulting President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
Justice Wamambo set Muthombeni free after he had been denied bail on Monday 29 June 2020 by Masvingo Magistrate Mbonisi Ndlovu, who ruled that the 28 year-old MACRAD leader is a flight risk and could escape from standing trial.
In setting Muthombeni free, Justice Wamambo ordered him to pay bail amounting to RTGS$1 000 and to report once every month at Masvingo Police Station and to continue residing at his given residential address and not to interfere with witnesses until his matter is finalised.
Muthombeni, who was represented by Martin Mureri of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR), 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 ma prices 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.”
Meanwhile, ZRP members on Monday 6 July 2020 arrested Godfrey Kurauone, the Councillor for Ward 4 in Masvingo Urban constituency and charged him with undermining authority of or insulting President Mnangagwa as defined in section 33(2)(a)(i) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act.
The law enforcement agents charged that the 33 year-old Kurauone accused President Mnangagwa during an address to some commuters, who were queuing and waiting to board a state-owned Zimbabwe United Passenger Company bus, of leading a corrupt administration and hence should resign.
Kurauone, who is represented by Mureri of ZLHR, is alleged to have uttered the words; “Let’s us unite and remove this corrupt government and Mnangagwa. President Mnangagwa and his criminals must go.” Kurauone is scheduled to appear at Masvingo Magistrates Court on Tuesday 7 July 2020.
By Kennedy Kaitano- It comes as no surprise that the Ministry of Health has barred the gathering that had been planned to elect a replacement for the late MDC founding President, Dr. Richard Tsvangirai.
I have been all along been advising the Dr. Khupe led faction that they should plan to hold the elections in a manner that complies with the prevailing Coronavirus situation to no avail.
The Supreme Court Judgement was passed during lockdown, with all indications that the virus was to be with us for a while. I advised about the voting being decentralised, advice which got to the planners, but was ignored.
Most importantly, I also advised the Khupe faction that they were not planning the event in accordance to the MDC Constitution. This is because the National Council of the 2014 MDC-T structures had not met to discuss and communicate the Extra Ordinary Congress as required by Section 6.2.6 of the Constitution. This section stipulates that “a notice convening an Extra-Ordinary Congress shall be sent to all members entitled to attend and to each branch by the National Council at least one month before the date of the meeting”.
This advice was ignored, even after the majority members of the MDC-T 2014 structures met and made a formal request to have their contribution included in the discussion to plan for the Extra Ordinary Congress.
Amid all this, there seemed to be attempts by the rival groups within the faction to outfox each other to land the Presidency instead of addressing issues that ensure that the Extra Ordinary Congress met the requirements of the Supreme Court ruling and the MDC Constitution.
Media reports quoted Senator Mwonzora backers saying “(Dr. Thokozani) Khupe had attempted to breach the Supreme Court ruling” by pushing back the Extra Ordinary Congress, while Senator Mwonzora is quoted to have warned the MDC-T Khupe faction Standing Committee that failure to hold the Extra Ordinary Congress within the stipulated period would “expose the party to lawsuits which could be disastrous”, and the position remains pretty much the same.
But I had warned the Khupe faction that they were spending precious time doing things that were outside the Party Constitution, and outside the Supreme Court ruling instead of following the Constitution, even suggesting that they could involve the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions which gave birth to the MDC to mediate in the MDC disputes, and all advice fell on deaf ears.
As I advised, the election of a replacement for Dr. Tsvangirai had to be done under the prevailing conditions. The media says 4500 delegates had been expected to vote for the President, and apart from those based in South Africa, The United Kingdom and the United States, these 4500 delegates would have been coming from 210 Constituencies across the country, making the average delegates per constituency 38 people.
Voting could have taken place at the constituency level, and results communicated to those gathered at the Congress centre, mainly the candidates and their managers.
In this age of Information and Communication Technology, speeches would have been delivered electronically as is common practice these days.
Instead of proper planning, the Khupe faction was obsessed with firing members and recalling legislators to create space for Dr. Khupe to become leader of the House in Parliament, and to distribute positions in the legislature to other trusted colleagues.
It would appear reason only prevailed less than a month before the deadline by which the Extra Ordinary Congress would have been held, when despite an earlier snub, a decision was reached to finally meet with the appropriate MDC-T on Wednesday 8 July 2020, 23 days before the deadline to hold the Extra Ordinary Congress.
That would not have given adequate time to call for an Extra Ordinary Congress as required by the MDC Constitution.
My many warnings to the MDC T Khupe faction were not carried privately, but were addressed to the relevant players and copied to various local and international organisations, including the United Nations agencies, the International Parliamentarians Union, SADC, Parliament of Zimbabwe, the Zimbabwean Senate President, and to the Minister of Justice among others.
As far as facts are concerned, the Extra Ordinary Congress suggested by the Supreme Court of Zimbabwe has failed, and as a member of the MDC-T as at 2014, I will appeal to the Courts of law if anyone tries to hold an Extra Ordinary Congress of the MDC-T.
The MDC-T led by Dr. Khupe which held its Congress in Bulawayo in 2018 is now free to continue with life as at 30 March 2020 before the Supreme Court Judgement was announced, and likewise, the MDC Alliance can now revert to its 30 March 2020 position.
Of course there have been changes in the Harvest House occupancy, but those are things that the relevant parties can always talk about. Senator Morgan Komichi, Senator Douglas Mwonzora, and Senator Elias Mudzuri are free to join MDC-T which held its Congress in Bulawayo in 2018 if they wish, or make peace with their MDC Alliance colleagues.
The Supreme Court has indeed been a test of intelligence of some of the potential leaders of Zimbabwe, and the result is all out there for the public to judge.
I hope there have been some important lessons learnt, and those in the MDC T Khupe faction who still aspire for leadership roles to pull the country out of the mess it was dumped into by Zanu PF can reflect and take corrective measures to improve their credibility in the eyes of the electorate.
BULAWAYO is now leading in terms of Covid-19 deaths after a 54-year-old Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) manager succumbed to the virus at a private hospital on Sunday, forcing the closure of its Mhlahlandlela Government Complex offices yesterday.
The city has so far recorded four deaths followed by Harare where three people have died of Covid-19.
Mashonaland East and Midlands provinces recorded one death each bringing the total number of Covid-19 deaths in Zimbabwe to nine.
Following the death of the Zimra manager Mr Thabani Sibanda on Sunday, the Mhlahlandlela offices have been closed for disinfection and will reopen on Monday.
When Chronicle visited the offices yesterday, the main entrance at the reception area was under lock and key and on the notice board there was a notice notifying clients of the temporary closure.
“The Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) hereby wishes to advise its valued clients that the offices will be closed from July 7, 2020 to July 11, 2020. Staff will be working from home and during this period there will be limited services,” read part of the notice.
In an internal circular, Zimra Commissioner-General Ms Faith Mazani said the Ministry of Health and Child Care has started testing their staff at Mhlahlandlela Building for Covid-19. She said all the tested staff members will be required to go on a mandatory quarantine for 14 days.
“We encourage all staff members to remain vigilant and consistent in practising safety and health measures as prescribed by the WHO guidelines and as advised through the Ministry of Health and Child Care,” she wrote.
Zimra spokesperson Mr Francis Chimanda declined to comment on the cause of Mr Sibanda’s death.
“Zimra cannot provide comment on an individual’s health issues. All I can say is that we have temporarily closed offices at Mhlahlandlela Complex in Bulawayo from Tuesday, 7 July 2020 and will reopen on Monday, 13 July 2020 to allow full disinfection of the premises,” he said.
A family spokesperson said Mr Sibanda was buried yesterday, but could not give further details.
Sources at Zimra and health officials who declined to be named said Mr Sibanda had succumbed to Covid-19.
In its update on Covid-19, the Ministry of Health and Child Care said: “As at 06 July 2020, Zimbabwe had 734 confirmed cases, including 197 recoveries and nine deaths. We regret to report the death of a male aged 54 from Bulawayo province who tested positive on Sunday and had no travel history.”
Bulawayo provincial medical director Dr Welcome Mlilo said Bulawayo now has four Covid-19 deaths.
“I can confirm that we have recorded a fourth Covid-19 death in Bulawayo metropolitan province after a 54-year-old man with comorbidity succumbed at a health facility over the weekend,” he said.
“The Covid-19 prevention measures remain unchanged. We continue to encourage good hygiene especially hand washing as well as observing social distancing and wearing of face masks in public space.”
In May, Zimra closed its city centre offices in Bulawayo after a member of staff tested positive for Covid-19.
The employee was one of three employees who served an infected client at the Zimra’s Bulawayo port offices on March 18.
Having received the information that the client had tested positive for Covid-19, the three officers then proceeded to self- quarantine from March 27 to April 26.
Upon returning to work on April 27, the three officers were tested and one of the results came out positive while the other two tested negative and management decided to briefly close the offices for disinfection.
It is with great sorrow that we learnt of the untimely passing away of Mai Chamisa, mother to Mdca President Nelson Chamisa on 6 July 2020.
On behalf of myself as President and indeed on behalf of Zimbabwe African People’s Union-ZAPU, I would like to offer my deepest condolences to Nelson and the Chamisa family.
We pray for God’s comforting hand to touch them and console their hearts as they go through this difficult time.
By Nomusa Garikai- The MDC e-rally gave the party leaders the opportunity to once again grandstand and drum their chest like silverback gorillas!
“The video by this nurse (protesting nurse) is a reflection of the true situation that our country has reached. There is no better description other than to say that the country has gone to the dogs. This is the sign of what is to come. One day is one day!” proclaimed Job Sikhala, MDC A vice chairperson.
“The comfort zones for these people (in government) will soon be a bonfire. People are ready. They are just waiting for leadership!”
The people of Zimbabwe have risked life and limb to elect MDC leaders into power on the promise the party will implement the democratic reform, democratic changes, to end the Zanu PF dictatorship. MDC has been on the political stage now for 20 years, 5 of which they were in the GNU, and have failed to implement even one reform!
Did MDC leaders fail to implement the reforms to take the nation to the edge, “the country gone to the dogs”, so there can be street protests? This is just nonsense! These MDC village idiots are refusing to accept they have sold-out and are now pretending their failures were indeed part and parcel of their master plan to drive the nation into a crisis from which they will lead us out of.
This is no different from the economic prosperity mirage Zanu PF has been promoting these last 40 years. Zimbabwe had a thriving economy in 1980 Zanu PF misrule has all but destroyed the economy and Zanu PF has never acknowledge it is corrupt, incompetent and has no clue how to revive the economy.
However, the party has without failure maintained it had the solution to make Zimbabwe prosperous. Zanu PF did not have to destroy everything to make the country prosperous and yet that is exactly what the regime has been saying in its double Dutch!
Both Zanu PF and MDC have proven beyond doubt that they are corrupt, incompetent and utterly irrelevant, they are the problem and not the solution; the sooner the nation accepts that reality the sooner the nation can start focusing on the task of finding a way out of the mess.
“This time, the wave (protests) will be unstoppable. I don’t make empty threats. I am not that character. I am a practical man. We deserve our peace and happiness,” continued Sikhala.
“People governing our country should take responsibility for their failures. Trying to use other people as scapegoats is dangerous to their (the government’s) very survival.”
MDC has its own share of failures to take care of, charity begins at home. As for the unstoppable protests, this is exactly the situation the nation has been avoiding. Turning Zimbabwe into another Libya is the nightmare scenario we have been dreading but which is now a certainty.
If Zimbabwe is dragged into violent social unrest then both Zanu PF and MDC leaders will have a lot to answer for because it is these two parties blatant betrayal of the nation to feed their insatiable greed for power and wealth that has led to this.
“I am a practical man!” Yeah right! Then why have you failed to implement even one reform in 20 years and saved the nation from the 40 years and counting Zanu PF nightmare!
By Nomusa Garikai- “Our party detractors continue with their anti-establishment agendas. The party is aware of the plan for mass protests (on July 31) being organised by the MDC Alliance renegades: Tajamuka, the Front for Economic Emancipation of Zimbabwe being led by the expelled youth commissar Godfrey Tsenengamu and other media protagonists,” charged Obert Mpofu, Zanu PF secretary for administration.
“Our security departments should constantly alert us on this clear and present danger of the activities of this unholy alliance.”
This is just nonsense coming from a regime that has learned nothing from history and its own blunders. History tell us that human beings are no sheep that will go to the slaughter quietly forever amen; there will always come a day when they will say enough is enough.
Zanu PF misrule has turned Zimbabwe from a country with promising economic prospects into a basket-case of a failed state. 40 years of corrupt and tyrannical rule has destroyed the Zimbabwe economy forcing millions of its people into a live of abject poverty.
34% of Zimbabwe’s 16 m population live in extreme poverty, according to a 2019 WB report. This means they cannot afford even one decent meal a day much less the other basic necessities such as education and health care. All the other nations in the region had single digit figures living in adject poverty. The only other nations with comparable figures living in extreme poverty were South Sudan and Yemen; countries that has a raging civil war.
The corona virus outbreak is going to hit Zimbabwe very hard given the country was stone-broke and its health services had all but collapsed before the pandemic. Many people are going to die of corona virus or poverty related problems and the percent of those living in extreme poverty is soaring well above the 34%. Anyone can tell you this situation is socially, politically and morally unsustainable.
Change is in the air! But since Zanu PF has frustrated all efforts to bring about change peaceful by slamming the door shut again and again to the holding free, fair and credible elections; that leaves only one other option, violent change.
Social unrest in long overdue because the regime has boxed the nation into a corner. There is talk of street protests, another military coup or a combination of both; desperate people will do desperate things, Zimbabweans are desperate to end the Zanu PF dictatorship.
The tragedy with street protests much worse military uprising is they will cause a lot of death and destruction and, worst of all, may leave society is a worse off state than before the uprising. One has only to look at the sorry state countries like Libya and Iraq are in; they got rid of the hated dictator and his regime but have found it very difficult to truth each other.
The people of Zimbabwe must leave no stone unturned to pressure Zanu PF to step down now, time is fast running out, because the street protests or worse will end the Zanu PF dictatorship but at great cost to the nation. Frankly, we should have never allowed Zanu PF to hold the nation to ransom all these last 40 years and drag us this close to the edge of the precipitous abyss.
Zanu PF can hunt down all the party’s so-called detractors but unless it hunts down everyone of the 34% plus now living in abject poverty then the “clear and present danger” of serious social unrest will remain. The economic situation in Zimbabwe is now so unbearable change is a certainty what is yet to be decided is whether it is peaceful or violent change and when will it happen.
Our mothers are our heroines, greatest supporters and guiding lights. They stand by us through thick and thin – never giving up, always believing, leading the way and lighting our path. When we lose our way, they gently guide us back, lifting us in prayer and believing that our best is yet to come. Gogo Chamisa was one such heroine.
Born on the 25th of June 1954,
Gogo Chamisa
a humble princess of the Masarire Chieftainship in Bikita of Masvingo, was one of nine children.
She was a hardworking, entrepreneurial and multi-talented woman.
She was a strong believer in education as a catalyst for social mobility, dedicating herself to educating her 6 children, two girls and four boys, together with her husband. She was a staunch champion of equality, toiling hard to empower the girl child even when it was not fashionable to do so.
Gogo Chamisa was a philanthropist and a champion of community engagement, always extending a helping hand to the vulnerable around her.
A florist with a passion for ornamental gardening and a strict enforcer of cleanliness, Gogo Chamisa leaves behind a community transformed by her presence. The Chamisa homestead, popularly known as KwaMai Neri, is known for its exceptional market garden and the highly sought after chickens Gogo Chamisa sold.
Most importantly Gogo Chamisa was a prayer warrior, pillar of faith and a leader in the church. She was lovingly known as Mai Mfundisi and served as a faithful leader in the Women’s Fellowship.
Sadly, she was called to be with the Lord barely a fortnight after her 66th birthday, taking with her to eternity, the guidance and covering only a mother can provide.
Her children will always remember the values she emphasised including respect, discipline, integrity, industry and the dignity of hard work. Her teachings will remain among the living, forever guiding us along the right path until we too return to dust.
Gogo Chamisa, collapsed and died as she tended to her beloved garden. It was in this seemingly ordinary moment that the Lord decided to call this brave and courageous woman home. Although she will no longer be with us here on earth, may the seeds of her earthly labour continue to bear fruit in all who had the privilege to know her.
Rest in power Mai Mfundisi, Mai Neri!!!
Nelson Chamisa is the leader of the main opposition, MDC Alliance.
Government workers and their representatives have rejected the government’s US$13 equivalent of the 50 percent salary increment awarded last month.
Government on Tuesday awarded civil servants a 50 percent salary hike which translated loosely to US$13 as Zimbabwe’s largest labour body, the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) said it will embark on a strike beginning next week.
The development also comes as 13 nurses were on Monday arrested after staging demonstrations at Harare Central and Parirenyatwa Hospitals demanding higher wages saying that the current salaries were useless against the runaway inflation.
Doctors at public health centres have also vowed to join the on-going industrial action by nurses in solidarity with their arrested colleagues.
In its latest increment, the government deposited $1 290 into civil servants’ accounts but the workers are demanding salaries to be pegged in US dollars because the economy has since partially dollarized.
“Dear Minister of Finance (Mthuli Ncube); we have seen your 50% increment. What is $1 290 RTGS? What do our members use it for? Where do you guys get this nonsense, no to schools opening on 28 July,” charged the Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ) in response to the figure.
Peter Mutasa, the president of ZCTU warned that starting next week, they will roll out massive demonstrations.
“The arrest of striking nurses shows that ours is a pariah state. Instead of shutting out genuine voices demanding fair labour conditions, the government must shut out poverty. All workers must prepare for massive peaceful protests, we have no time,” said Mutasa.
Speaking at a solidarity protest for the arrested nurses, Tapiwanashe Kusotera, a member of the Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors’ Association said they are joining the industrial action which was begun by nurses on June 18 until the arrested health workers had been released.
“For now, the government must release our nurses whom they arrested for demanding a living wage then we can start to discuss the way forward.
“You cannot arrest a nurse and expect me as a doctor to work, how? So for now release our colleagues and we are able to engage each other thereafter,” Kusotera said.
The health workers want to be paid their salaries in US dollars as they allege the local currency was valueless and not enough to sustain their wellbeing.
Enoch Dongo, the president of the Zimbabwe Nurses Association said all they are asking for was a living wage.
“We are saying to our employer pay us in US dollars or give us salaries that are equivalent to what we used to earn on 1 October 2019,” he said.
The latest industrial action comes as the country’s economy is paralysed and wages have been eroded.
The health workers had a torrid time with police officers who were against their picketing and industrial action.
The annual inflation surged to 785 percent in May from 765.57 percent in April, according to the Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (Zimstat).
The month-on-month inflation rate in May was 15.13 percent from April’s 17.64 percent.
While many civil servants earn around $5 000, Zimbabwe’s poverty datum line (PDL) increased to $7 426 in April from $6 421 in March.
The data shows financial requirements for a family of five to live a basic comfortable life and not be deemed poor continued to go up.
“The Total Consumption Poverty Line for one person during the same period was $1 485,16 while that for an average of five persons per household stood at $7 425,81,” Zimstat said.
The rise in the cost of living reflects the impact of inflation caused mainly by exchange rate instability which has seen the local currency lose its value against the United States dollar, while prices of basic commodities skyrocket.
LONGER CLIP – "They (Mwonzora and Khupe) have exposed themselves in what they are doing. And how they have killed Mai Chamisa, tell them I have said it," says @Amaikitapic.twitter.com/Sj11mnuBQL
Zimbabwe’s coronavirus cases have jumped to 787 after 53 people – 16 returnees from South Africa, 3 from Botswana and 34 locals tested positive for the virus on Tuesday.
The Ministry of Health and Child Care notes that 29 of the local cases are contacts of known confirmed cases.
Meanwhile, 4 people recovered bringing the total number of recoveries to 201 while deaths are at 9.
To date, a total of 81 335 tests have been done.
The Ministry of Health and Child Care has also called on Zimbabweans to report any returning citizens who abscond quarantine so as “to protect yourself and others.”
Harare has the highest number of cases (250) which are mainly imported cases, while Bulawayo has recorded the highest number of local cases.
The cases so far recorded in the country, however, do not have a specific trend and are largely influenced by the volumes of returnees.
The Trump administration has notified Congress and the United Nations that the United States is formally withdrawing from the World Health Organization, multiple officials tell CNN, a move that comes amid a rising number of coronavirus cases throughout the Americas over the past week.
The withdrawal, which goes into effect next July, has drawn criticism from bipartisan lawmakers, medical associations, advocacy organizations and allies abroad. Presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden vowed Tuesday to reverse the decision “on (his) first day” if elected.
Sen. Robert Menendez, the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee tweeted the news Tuesday.
“Congress received notification that POTUS officially withdrew the U.S. from the @WHOin the midst of a pandemic. To call Trump’s response to COVID chaotic & incoherent doesn’t do it justice. This won’t protect American lives or interests—it leaves Americans sick & America alone,” he wrote.
A State Department official also confirmed that “the United States’ notice of withdrawal, effective July 6, 2021, has been submitted to the UN Secretary-General, who is the depository for the WHO.” The spokesperson for Secretary-General António Guterres said he had received the notice and “is in the process of verifying with the World Health Organization whether all the conditions for such withdrawal are met.” Those conditions “include giving a one-year notice and fully meeting the payment of assessed financial obligations.”
The letter addressed to the UN is very short, around three sentences, a source briefed on the correspondence told CNN, and it triggers a one-year withdrawal timeline. However, this source also cautioned that they cannot confirm they saw the final version of the letter.
Among its current functions, the WHO is attempting to coordinate efforts to get personal safety and medical equipment, like ventilators, to hospitals around the world. Elizabeth Cousens, the president and CEO of the UN Foundation, said the organization is “indispensable” in the fight against Covid-19.
Loyce Pace, president and executive director of Global Health Council, echoed that point, telling CNN: “Thousands of people have spoken, from health experts to heads of state and heroes on the frontlines: the world needs WHO. This move signals a dangerous gamble in the midst of a pandemic we have yet to conquer, and without a viable alternative to WHO.”
Some have warned that withdrawal in the current environment could also interfere with clinical trials essential for developing vaccines, as well as efforts to trace the spread of the virus globally.
‘Short-sighted, unnecessary, and unequivocally dangerous’ President Donald Trump said he was halting funding to the organization in mid-April and announced his intention to withdraw from the WHO in May after he said it “failed to make the requested and greatly needed reforms.” Trump had denounced the US’ contribution to the WHO — $400-500 million — in comparison to China’s and consistently accused the organization of aiding China in allegedly covering up the origins of the virus and allowing its spread.
While lawmakers from both parties have long cited systemic problems with the WHO, many have also denounced the President’s decision to withdraw during a once-in-a-century global pandemic.
Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi called it “is an act of true senselessness.” Republican Sen. Lamar Alexander, chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, said he disagreed with Trump’s decision.
“If the administration has specific recommendations for reforms of the WHO, it should submit those recommendations to Congress, and we can work together to make those happen,” he said.
Last month, despite alleging that the World Health Organization “enabled” the Chinese government’s sweeping cover-up of the coronavirus pandemic’s origins, members of the GOP China task force urged Trump to reconsider his decision to terminate relations with the international body, arguing that the US can do more to affect change as a member.
Cousens, the head of the UN Foundation, called the decision “short-sighted, unnecessary, and unequivocally dangerous” and said that the US’ “ability to lead and shape an agenda for reform is drastically diminished when they step out of the field of play.”
“There’s no question but that working within an institution like the World Health Organization allows the United States and others to leverage their resources to have much greater impact,” she told CNN.
She pointed to the WHO’s work in “distributing millions of pieces of personal protective equipment to medical facilities around the world, millions of diagnostic tests, tracking the virus’ spread across borders, coordinating global efforts to develop a vaccine, … coordinating research among over 100 countries … along with all of the work that they do in low resource and more humanitarian settings.”
Move comes as virus is surging The heads of the American Medical Association, American Academy of Pediatrics, American Academy of Family Physicians and American College of Physicians condemned the move to withdraw from the WHO, saying in a statement that it “puts the health of our country at grave risk.”
“This dangerous withdrawal not only impacts the global response against COVID-19, but also undermines efforts to address other major public health threats,” they said in a joint statement. “We call on Congress to reject the Administration’s withdrawal from the WHO and make every effort to preserve the United States’ relationship with this valued global institution. Now is the time to invest in global health, rather than turn back.”
The number of coronavirus cases continues to surge across the US and in various countries around the world.
There are at least 2,953,423 cases of coronavirus in the US, and at least 130,546 people have died from the virus in the country, according to Johns Hopkins University’s tally.
In the span of a week and a half, the number of US coronavirus cases reported each day has doubled, and officials are saying this is still the first wave of the pandemic.
Trump has repeatedly insisted that the rise of cases in the US is purely the result of increased testing, but a WHO official knocked down that claim on Monday.
WHO scientists and experts are scheduled to travel to China this weekend to investigate the origins of the novel coronavirus, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus announced on Tuesday.
Specifically, experts will be seeking to trace the narrative of how the coronavirus might have spread from the wild to possibly farm animals to humans, said Dr. Mike Ryan, executive director of WHO’s Health Emergencies Program.
Biden vows to reverse decision The Trump administration has already diverted funding from the WHO and the process to formally withdraw will take a year to complete. Critics of the decision hope that the withdrawal decision will be reversed if Trump loses the presidential election in November. In a tweet Tuesday, Biden vowed to do so if elected.
“Americans are safer when America is engaged in strengthening global health. On my first day as President, I will rejoin the @WHO and restore our leadership on the world stage,” he wrote.
US allies have rallied to the support of the WHO, with a top diplomat from Germany calling for global solidarity and Italy’s Health Minister criticizing Trump’s decision as “serious and wrong”.
Trump’s decision to permanently terminate the US relationship with the WHO follows a years-long pattern of railing against global organizations, with the President claiming that the US is being taken advantage of. The President has questioned US funding to the United Nations and NATO, withdrawn from the Paris climate accord and repeatedly criticized the World Trade Organization.
Speaker of parliament Jacob Mudenda has announced the recall of Chivhi South MP, Killer Zivhu after his recall from the house by Zanu PF.
Announcing his expulsion Tuesday, National Assembly Speaker Jacob Mudenda said the controversial businessman-turned-ruling party politician had ceased to be MP.
“On 1st of July, 2020, Parliament was notified by Zanu PF party that Honourable Killer Zivhu, member of the National Assembly for Chivi South Constituency had ceased to be a member of Zimbabwe African National Union (Patriotic Front) Party (Zanu-PF) and therefore, no-longer represents the interests of the party in parliament with effect from 1st July, 2020.
“Section 129 (I) (k) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe provides that, the seat of a member of Parliament becomes vacant if the member has ceased to belong to the political party of which he or she was a member when elected to Parliament and the political party concerned, by written notice to the Speaker or to the President of the Senate as the case may be, has declared that the member has ceased to belong to it.
“Pursuant to the above, I do hereby inform the House that a vacancy has arisen in the National Assembly by the operation of the law.
“The necessary administrative measures will be taken to inform His Excellency, the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe and the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) of the existence of the vacancy in line with Section 39(I) of the Electoral Act [Chapter 2:13], as amended.”
Firebrand MDC Alliance deputy chairperson, Job Sikhala has filed a $1,5 million lawsuit against government over his arrest and prosecution last year.
Sikhala was arrested and accused of treason after he told a rally in Masvingo July last year the MDC was going to remove President Emmerson Mnangagwa before the 2023 elections.
In his summons, he cited Kazembe, Police Commissioner General Godwin Matanga and Prosecutor General Kumbirai Hodzi as first, second and third respondents, respectively.
Others cited as respondents include officers who arrested him and some he accused of terrorising him during his detention.
His lawyers said, “The plaintiff claims, which are issued against the defendants jointly and severally the one paying the other to be absolved are for payment in the sum of $200 000, being damages for unlawful and wrongful arrest; $300 000 for pain, shock and suffering and contumelia; $200 000 being damages for unlawful and wrongful detention; $300 000 special damages for loss of income; $200 000 for malicious prosecution and $300 000 for travel, accommodation, subsistence and legal expenses incurred by the plaintiff as a result of wrongful and unlawful conduct of the defendants plus interest and costs of suit”.
Further reads Sikhala’s court papers, “The claims are arising from the unlawful arrest and detention of the plaintiff on the 9th of July 2019 and malicious prosecution of the plaintiff, caused by the defendants acting in the course of and within the scope of their employment.
“On the 9th of July 2019, the plaintiff was arrested by the sixth defendant a policeman who was acting within the course and scope of his employment as a policeman under the command and overall supervision of first and second defendants.”
Sikhala also said he was detained under inhumane and degrading conditions in which there were insufficient blankets to a point of spending the cold night without a blanket.
“There were no functional ablution facilities in the cells resulting in the entire place smelling of human excrement,” he said.
The MDC legislator also said there was no running water in the cells and no toilet paper was provided.
He said again at Bikita Police station, he was subjected to inhumane and degrading treatment also during the journey to the police station.
“He was blindfolded and a hood placed over his head.
“He suffered verbal insults and threats from the police officers who were transporting him to Bikita Police Station,” his lawyers said.
“He was denied an opportunity to relieve himself despite a specific relief to answer the call of nature.”
Sikhala said when he was in remand prison, a mentally depraved prisoner was allowed access into his cell where he would relieve himself on his blankets.
“A letter was sent to prison authorities who are yet to respond,” said his lawyers.
Sikhala also said he was maliciously prosecuted before he was acquitted by the High court on February 14 this year.
He said he lost business during the time he was forced to attend court.
Also, as a member of the National Assembly, he was entitled to allowances from parliament based on his attendance, but he missed some sessions thereby losing the allowances.
“Cumulatively, plaintiff has lost income in the sum of $300 0000 which is due and payable to him from the defendants, jointly and severally, the one paying the other to be absolved,” wrote his lawyers Mbizo, Muchadehama and Makoni Legal practitioners .
Gweru miner shot and injured by the Chinese v businessman
The Gweru mine manager, who allegedly shot and injured two of his employees following a pay dispute at the company premises a fortnight ago, has been granted $10 000 bail by Masvingo High Court judge, Justice Garainesu Mawadze.
Zihang Xuelin (50), a manager at Reden Mine, is facing attempted murder charges after he shot one of his employees, Mr Kenneth Tichaona three times on both legs before shooting at by-standers resulting in a bullet razing through the chin of another worker.
He was denied bail on his initial appearance before Gweru magistrate, Mr Edwin Marecha.
Justice Mawadze, however, consented to bail and advised Xuelin to surrender his passport and reside at his Gweru Windsor address as part of his bail conditions.
Xuelin was also ordered to report every Friday at Gweru central police Station.
Xuelin yesterday again briefly appeared before magistrate Marecha and was remanded to August 6, 2020 for a trial.
The State case against Xuelin is that on Monday June 22, 2020 at around 11 am, the complainant, Mr Tichaona was among the 30 Reden Mine employees who gathered at the mine premises where they had a pay dispute with their employer.
The court heard that the employees were demanding to be paid in hard currency while the employer insisted on paying in local currency. This did not go down well with the employees, resulting in an altercation and mini-demonstration.
The employees led by Mr Tichaona then charged towards the accused who then fired two warning shots into the air but the group continued charging towards him, the court heard.
It is the State’s case that the accused then used the company pistol that was in his possession to shoot Mr Tichaona three times on both legs, resulting in him falling to the ground.
The accused again shot at the group of employees and a bullet grazed through the chin of one employee, Mr Wendy Chikwaira, the court further heard.
Mr Tichaona was later taken to a private hospital with serious leg injuries while Mr Chikwaira sustained a minor wound on the chin. Ms Mildred Mukucha appeared for the State.
Psychology Maziwisa and Oscar Pambuka at Harare magistrates court
Jailed former Energy and Power Development Minister Samuel Undenge has no prospects of success on a second appeal against his conviction and sentence for corruption, the High Court ruled when throwing out his application for leave to appeal to the Supreme Court.
Undenge was slapped with an effective 30-month jail term after being convicted of criminal abuse of office by a Harare Magistrates’ Court for corruptly instructing the Zimbabwe Power Company, Zesa’s generation arm, to hire former President Robert Mugabe’s blue eyed boys former Highfield MP Psychology Maziwisa and former ZBC news anchor Oscar Pambuka as consultants for which they were paid US$12 659.
He appealed against both conviction and sentence to the High Court, but the two-judge bench that heard this appeal found the magistrate had acted correctly and he was then returned to the Magistrates Court where he was committed to prison.
He then applied for leave to make a second appeal to the Supreme Court, and for bail pending the outcome of that appeal, both applications made through his lawyer, Mr Alec Muchadehama, to the High Court.
But in a judgment delivered on Monday, Justice Joseph Musakwa concluded that Undenge’s prospects of success on appeal against his conviction and his sentence were nil.
This also had a bearing on the former minister’s application for bail pending appeal, which in any case, is predicated on prospects of success in the intended appeal.
A 65-YEAR-OLD man from Dete in Hwange District allegedly hanged himself at his family’s graveyard and left a suicide note saying he was tired of living with his wife.
Never Sibanda of Siamateme village under Chief Nelukoba allegedly addressed the note to his children, telling them that he had failed to live with their mother Ms Sarah Ncube (47).
Police reportedly found the suicide note in the pocket of a jacket that Sibanda was wearing when he hanged himself.
The suicide note, according to police papers reads: “Goodbye my children, stay safe. I have failed to stay with your mother. Yours father.”
The incident happened on Sunday night and Sibanda’s body was found on Monday morning hanging with a rope from a tree at the graveyard, about a kilometre away from his homestead.
Matabeleland North police spokesperson Chief Inspector Siphiwe Makonese could not comment on the matter as she was not reachable on her mobile phone yesterday.
Chief Nelukoba said he was yet to get full details of the matter.
However, he bemoaned prevalence of domestic violence cases involving women as aggressors, saying he had summoned a couple from Dopota area for a hearing at his court tomorrow after a man filed a report of being abused by his wife.
“I haven’t got full details on that one but I will investigate it. I am worried about cases of violence by women on their husbands judging by the cases I am handling. As we speak there is a man who came to report about domestic violence perpetuated by his wife and I have since summoned the couple to come on Thursday for hearing,” said Chief Nelukoba.
Police sources said Sibanda retired to bed with his wife around 9pm on Sunday before he woke up at midnight, telling her that he was failing to sleep and needed to sit outside.
Ms Ncube allegedly did not bother to check on him and she continued sleeping.
She only noticed in the morning that her husband had not returned to bed.
She informed other family members who conducted a search and they traced the now deceased’s footprints which led them to the family graveyard where they found him dead.
A report was made to the police who retrieved the body.
Matabeleland North provincial magistrate Mrs Sekai Chiwundura waived post-mortem as no foul play was suspected.
Government has repatriated 54 Zimbabweans from Mozambique, mainly cross-border traders caught up in the state of emergency declared in that country at the end of March to fight Covid-19.
While goverment is busy repatriating the poor citizens, deputy minister of industry and commerce Raj Modi has remained living in luxury in Australia for three months.
The 61-year-old was travelling on business when Australia imposed a lockdown on March 20, before Zimbabwe closed its borders to foreigners on March 30.
Modi reportedly owns three supermarkets in Australia and runs a liquor wholesale business in Bulawayo.
Government spokesman Nick Mangwana confirmed Modi’s lengthy absence.
“I can confirm that deputy minister Modi is in Australia and is making arrangements to come back home,” Mangwana said.
The 54 Zimbabweans who came on Sunday from Mozambique, take the total number of citizens assisted to return home since the outbreak of Covid-19 to 252.
The repatriation was done with cooperation from the Mozambican government.
Zimbabwe’s Ambassador to Mozambique, Douglas Nyikayaramba, confirmed the development to The Herald last night.
“I can confirm that the Embassy of the Republic of Zimbabwe to the Republic of Mozambique in Maputo is repatriating Zimbabwean nationals mainly cross-border traders who were caught up in the State of Emergency declared on 31st March 2020 by His Excellency President (Filipe) Nyusi to mitigate the spread of Covid-19 pandemic.
“To date, a total of 252 nationals have departed Maputo for Harare via Chicualacuala/Sango Border Post in five separate groups,” said Ambassador Nyikayaramba.
